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Logan Shore, RHP, Florida
Drafted by the Twins out of Coon Rapids (MN) in the 29th round in 2013, Shore chose to head to Florida and immediately become their Friday night starter. In his 208 innings as a collegian, the 6-2, 210-lb right-hander has struck out 152 and allowed only 183 hits and 44 walks. Not bad considering he was stepping into the most competitive league in the NCAA.
Stats aside, Shore left the state of Minnesota as it’s second-best prep prospect (behind someone we’ll talk about later) and now has a MLB-ready fastball that sits in the low-90s and an above-average chang-up that scouts rave about. He’s still working on his breaking ball, but there is belief that if he can tighten it up, it will be - at a minimum - a MLB-average slider.
Seeing Shore’s name included on this list should be no surprise. Doogie Wolfson has been talking about the connection for quite some time and points out it should be no surprise that - if available - Shore is drafted by the Twins at #16.
Ryan Boldt, OF, Nebraska
Boldt was considered the top prep prospect in the state of Minnesota entering his senior year at Red Wing. After a knee injury eliminated all but one game of his senior year, he saw his first-round stock fall and was eventually drafted in the 22nd round by the Red Sox but also passed on signing and is currently entering his junior season with the Cornhuskers.
Solidly built at 6-2, 220, Boldt shares many physical characteristics with Mike Trout. This isn’t to say that Boldt will ever be anywhere near as good as present-day Mike Trout - he won’t - but the player the Angels thought they were drafting when they drafted Trout is similar to the player that the team that drafts Boldt is getting - a very good athlete, a solid hitter, a player with the potential to hit for a little bit of power and steal some bases while playing a capable outfield. Trout far exceeded those expectations (obviously). (Note: Please understand this isn’t a Boldt/Trout comparison. Physically, there is a resemblance. Trout was not an uberprospect entering the draft. In fact, out of high school, Boldt was probably the more highly-regarded prospect. But guys get better and, sometimes, they become the all-time greats.)
Another popular comparison you’ll see is to Boldt’s current coach, Darin Erstad, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover with the Angels.
Zack Burdi, RHRP, Louisville
The connection here is obviously current farmhand Nick Burdi, twice drafted by the Twins and the older brother of Zack. The youngest Burdi is also blessed with a powerful right arm, though he hasn’t lit the up radar gun quite as much as his older brother; think more mid-90s than high-90s.
Filling the closer role that his brother vacated, Burdi saved nine games in 2015 for Louisville, striking out 30 in 29 ⅓ innings. He allowed only 16 hits and eight walks. Interestingly, he made only 20 appearances, so he wasn’t strictly used as a one-inning closer. While Nick employs a more violent delivery, some scouts believe that Zack could be given a chance to start. The youngest Burdi has a lot of work to do in that regard, as both his off-speed and breaking offerings are far from ready.
Chad Hockin, RHRP, Cal-St. Fullerton
What’s the connection here? None other than Chad’s mother, Erin, daughter of the late, great Harmon Killebrew. The bloodlines have left an impact, though, as Hockin lists the Twins as his favorite team and Target Field as his favorite stadium on his player bio.
Hockin is a two-pitch reliever for Fullerton currently, hittable in his 18 appearances (21 hits in 18 ⅓ innings). But he showed signs of life with an uptick in his fastball in his appearance in the Cape Cod League. The Twins have always seemed to value time in the wood-bat league and in 13 innings, Hockin struck out 19 and allowed only eight hits and five walks. If he can build on that success, Hockin could be a Day One pick.
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That’s four players with Twins ties - but no in-state players - the team could be considering when the draft rolls around in June. Who are you interested in?
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