Twins Select Brent Rooker, Landon Leach On Day 1

scouting reports of Leach sound a lot like like Hudson Boyd's did to me, hopefully he can have more success than Hudson did

Was about to type this as well from reading the scouting report

I get the baseball draft is wayyyyyyyyyy more difficult to rank and "mock" than the NFL draft, particularly since some of the aspects of the draft are not that public such as "signability", and this is demonstrated in the range of the ranks of players selected even in the top 2 rounds:  In round 1, MLB.com #49 went 16, #98 went Comp A pick 31, #187 went 2nd round pick 67.

I get all that.  

But, it seemed to me that the Twins picks some guys that had a consensus ranking way lower than when we selected.  

The guy we selected 1.1 was ranked 5th by Baseball America, MLB, and Keith Law.  Everyone rushed to the conclusion that the Twins were trying to save draft slot money and we would be "wowed" with the remaining 2 picks in Day 1.

Then at #35, their Comp A selection, the Twins selected Brent Rooker who looks like a nice prospect, but a) he is a college senior with limited negotiating power to go over slot and was ranked #45 by BA, #50 by MLB, and #91 by Keith Law.  Again, I think he is actually a better prospect than those rankings because I value the "wood bat" data, but again the consensus is we reached.

Then at #37 we picks Landon Leach.  Again, were is the "BOOM".  Leach has is committed to a solid baseball school, Texas, but I don't think he was the type of prospect that anyone thinks we need to go over slot.  He was ranked #85 by BA, #101 by MLB, and wan't in Law's top 100.

Again, I get it.  Most of these rankings are based on composite views they get from sources, and Keith Law has almost certainly never seen Landon Leach pitch.  WIth his 3 pitch arsenal he could one day be the best starter from this draft.  We really don't know.

But if Lewis isn't signing for under slot I just dont see the selection.  He is a solid draft pick but he probably isn't going to be a MLB SS and he might not have enough power to be a corner outfielder. He is a lot of projection and a lot of development, and his ETA is many years off.

But, neither of the two other Day 1 picks look like overslot guys, were ranked way lower than we took them, and I just don't see the logic in what the Twins are doing.

Only ONE pitcher in the first three!  One might think the Twins were San Diego.

So, who's left?  Anyone have a link to best remaining players? I am looking for even a little hope from what, so far, must be considered an unmitigated disaster.

 

And, where would on slot these three among the current top prospects for the Twins?  #5, #15 and #20?

https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/undrafted

There's still some low 1st round/high second round level talent available, although at this point I'm not encouraged.

This is quite depressing. Lewis can't hit and doesnt have a position. The next guy is a DH who will be 23 in class A ball,playing behind lewin diaz who is two years younger. And then we got the Canadian Kohl Stewart. At least we won't have to suffer through hearing the cliche" we couldn't believe he was still available " line. What a huge disappointment.

And as far as the new additions ranking in Twins prospect lists, Lewis should be ranked lower than Javier and Palacios. Rooker will struggle to be a top 50 Twin. And Leach should not be ranked.

And as far as the new additions ranking in Twins prospect lists, Lewis should be ranked lower than Javier and Palacios. Rooker will struggle to be a top 50 Twin. And Leach should not be ranked.

This is a SLIGHT exaggeration me thinks.

Falvey on his selection of Lewis.  A little tidbit on Boras.

http://stmedia.stimg.co/FALVEY21.JPG?w=600&h=600

I think baseball is changing.  Again.

Drafting pitching is seen as a huge risk, not knowing who will crater, get injured or just not work out.

So, you wait, and obtain pitching once the smoke clears.

Speed, power, defense, those are the elements you can draft and develop.  Imagine if Lewis approaches a Lindor or Correa in terms of speed, power and arm.

You have a top of the line-up, plus defender, who can run and pressure the other team.

Pitching?  You get it in other ways.

I think baseball is changing.  Again.

 

Drafting pitching is seen as a huge risk, not knowing who will crater, get injured or just not work out.

 

So, you wait, and obtain pitching once the smoke clears.

 

Speed, power, defense, those are the elements you can draft and develop.  Imagine if Lewis approaches a Lindor or Correa in terms of speed, power and arm.

 

You have a top of the line-up, plus defender, who can run and pressure the other team.

 

Pitching?  You get it in other ways.

How?  Teams like the Twins can't/won't go out and spend for an ace in the free agent market.

Sorry, but this feels like the new FO was trying to demonstrate how smart they are and I think they got outsmarted.  With all the quality shortstops at a young age, maybe we are going to package them and trade for a top of the line starter. 

I feel no compunction to go easy and be patient with the FO.  At this stage the Breslow, Belisle, Wilf, Heston, Giminez, Castro moves are not that impressive and neither is the draft.  After the last six years the last thing that the team should expect is patience.  It is their job to prove to us that they know what they are doing.  

The players that are making a difference this year are from TR and Bill Smith.                                                                       

Unlike every person on this board, Falvey and Levine's job depends on acquiring pitching. So I very, very seriously doubt it's something they are disinterested in.

Here is a video of Rooker as he was getting drafted

https://www.facebook.com/HailStateBB/videos/1759344020747427/

This is a SLIGHT exaggeration me thinks.

The Twins drafted Rooker in the 38th rd when he was a junior. That puts him below most of the twins draftees.

Rooker was a really popular pick on here before the Twins actually, you know, picked him.

While I can't say I understand the plan there must be one as Falvey seemed stressed about making sure the whole draft was successful not just the first few rounds.  They must be looking for and identified the type of players they think will be successful.

While there might not be a ton of great names left every year it seems several teams draft High Schoolers in the later rounds like 30 and beyond but don't have the pool money to convince them to sign.  Maybe they want more lottery picks like that.  You could take Rooker as an example.  They picked him at 38 but couldn't get him to sign.

I don't know what the plan but there has to be one.  If they got the first pick under slot and then the senior sign Rooker will be lucky to see half the money for his slot and the Canadian should be under slot too so there should be money to play with.  What they end up doing with it is hard to say at least right now.