Seven Hitters for the Twins #5 Pick in the 2023 MLB Draft

I like the Shortstop with power the best even if he moves off of short the hitting profile looks really, really good.  Call me crazy but I also really like 80 graded speed of the centerfielder even if he doesn't have a power stroke right now.  We have seen with Buxton that even elite centerfield defense can be a real difference maker and this guy looks like he has a solid bat just likely not much power.

I agree there looks to be lots of really good options for the top 5.  There are a couple of pitchers who could move into the top 5 as well.  This should be a really exciting draft for the Twins.  

My question is whether or not there is a big time catcher who could be available at #5.  You know, somebody named Johnny Bench?

Will you be doing a similar review of potential pitchers?  My hope would be that if Bench isn't available, they would find that proverbial ACE with this pick.  You know, Chris Sale, Jr.

Watching Bradfield steal home w/o the pitcher making a play, got me pumped. This is something that can really rally a team. Love his speed!

I'm looking forward to your reviews Jeremy. I'm also hoping to nab a LH or switch hitting/ defensive catcher or a front-line SP in there. 

There are currently 2 pitchers that could be taken in the top 10.  Possibly 4-5 in the top 20.   Then another 5 -6 for the rest of the first round.  There is much more pitching depth for 2023 than the last 2 years.  

Chase Dollander looks elite.  Both him and Crews will likely go 1-2

Hursten Waldrep is currently the #8 prospect.  He is an elite pitcher maybe not quite the command of Dollander. 

21 minutes ago, IA Bean Counter said:

There are currently 2 pitchers that could be taken in the top 10.  Possibly 4-5 in the top 20.   Then another 5 -6 for the rest of the first round.  There is much more pitching depth for 2023 than the last 2 years.  

Chase Dollander looks elite.  Both him and Crews will likely go 1-2

Hursten Waldrep is currently the #8 prospect.  He is an elite pitcher maybe not quite the command of Dollander. 

 

Yeah I think Dollander if he remains dominant has a good chance to go number 1.  Pittsburgh can't play in FA for pitchers so will need to draft arms to get there.  Nats could use pitching too but they are a wild card as they could use everything.  I think they are more set at position players than pitching so they could go pitching with their top pick(s) as well.

Jack Hurley is a 5 tool OF'er out of Virginia Tech that looks interesting.

22 minutes ago, Dman said:

Yeah I think Dollander if he remains dominant has a good chance to go number 1.  Pittsburgh can't play in FA for pitchers so will need to draft arms to get there.  Nats could use pitching too but they are a wild card as they could use everything.  I think they are more set at position players than pitching so they could go pitching with their top pick(s) as well.

 

Dollander I have seen stated that he is the best pitching prospect in the last 10 years.  Essentially Since 2019 there has been a dearth of pitching prospects,  Both the 2019 and 2022 drafts were stated as some of the worst pitching drafts in decades, you had the covid draft of 2020 and 2021 wasn't much better.  I could see teams going more pitching heavy in this draft due to the lack of elite quality of pitching in the previous drafts.   

Three thoughts.  It is fun to speculate but so much can change between now and July depending on how players perform next spring, injuries, etc.  Still, whatever happens, we are likely to get a high end prospect in what is thought to be an excellent draft.  Second, the Twins usually go for toolsy guys, especially infielders, so I think the plethora of good shortstops this year will be real attractive to them regardless of Correa's fate with the Twins.  Finally, unless Dollander drops, I cannot see them taking a pitcher at 5.  That would be a more realistic possiblity for their second pick if they don't trade it.

Whatever the first four picks are, DO NOT draft a power bat with a lot of swing-and-miss!!!  We've seen enough of those.  (Actually, we haven't "seen" any of them because they never get past AA level.)

Enrique Bradfield, y'all! That kid's got Buxton speed, but he already knows how to steal bases. It took Buck something like four years to develop just decent stealing technique. Bradfield looks like he can steal bases at will, almost like Ricky Henderson. And that speed will play in center or wherever they can fit him in. Do you even bother trying to get him to hit home runs? Just get on base with a flat swing and a stingy eye, then cause wonderful havoc for the opposing pitcher. 

Hey Twins, draft this Bradfield guy, so we have a reason to watch games again. 

As of now, any of Dollander, Crews, Langford, Gonzalez, or Bradfield will do fine. Those are probably the top 5 college picks and we have #5. Ideally Dollander or Langford (Crews is the most unlikely) falls to us.  What a great stroke of luck that lottery was.

1 hour ago, jimbo92107 said:

Enrique Bradfield, y'all! That kid's got Buxton speed, but he already knows how to steal bases. It took Buck something like four years to develop just decent stealing technique. Bradfield looks like he can steal bases at will, almost like Ricky Henderson. And that speed will play in center or wherever they can fit him in. Do you even bother trying to get him to hit home runs? Just get on base with a flat swing and a stingy eye, then cause wonderful havoc for the opposing pitcher. 

Hey Twins, draft this Bradfield guy, so we have a reason to watch games again. 

It took Buck 4 years to get on base consistently enough to steal bases.

Numbers do not mean as much for college hitters as they see very few elite pitchers in college.  Contact skills and speed impress me, with enough pop to at least hit the gaps.  I am all for wearing the pitcher down and forcing them to throw strikes.  That is why I love Arreaz.  Julian looks to be in the same mold. Just move them faster thru the system, as we are seeing more 21 - 23 year olds reaching the majors and producing, and less players unless elite staying past 32.   Unless you are sure the pitcher is going to make it, I am against taking a pitcher at 5, maybe using the comp pick if one looks good. 

Wouldn't surprise me to see them target a guy like Wilken who has tremendous power and a lot of swing and miss. Problem is, it's impossible to predict if he could be the next Aaron Judge or another Miguel Sano.

21 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Watching Bradfield steal home w/o the pitcher making a play, got me pumped. This is something that can really rally a team. Love his speed!

I'm looking forward to your reviews Jeremy. I'm also hoping to nab a LH or switch hitting/ defensive catcher or a front-line SP in there. 

Think Billy Hamilton with an acceptable OPS. I enjoyed Hamilton as a pinch runner, but thought somebody should slap Baldelli when he put Hamilton in the starting lineup. No such reserve with Bradfield.

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Where do you plan to get great pitching? It's not like Lewis or Buxton is healthy.....

I know it's a problem, but pitchers miss a lot more than hitters in the top 5.  That is unless a fairly sure thing drops to us at 5, take a good hitter.  I like the ones that walk a lot and make contact.  Arraez is a pest.  I like that comp and type of player.

Speed is great but without power that’s a pass at number five. I’m hoping for a college power arm that can move up quickly and has a high ceiling. 

Agree on passing on a power bat with a lot of swing and miss. We don’t need another Aaron Sabato positionless player who strikes out 40% of the time and bats .200. .

Bradfield is one of the few College baseball players I actually know and he's such an exciting player to watch. At number 5, idk he might be a reach.