2019 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

inb4 pitchforks

 

Another infielder

Wonder if the draft strategy has anything to do with expecting that they will be trading from our high end SS depth for bullpen help for the playoff run. Need to restock as it is always a valuable position group.

Will Holland, Auburn, SS.

 

Yeah, this is definitely interesting. Perhaps they see a weakness on the hitting side in the lower minors? Lots of MIs... 

 

Still want to see some high schoolers. I've got to think these guys will be going under slot. 

Back to the shortstops!!!! Jim Callis said this guy is an absolute steal here!!!! Congrats to Will Holland!!! Go Twins!!!!!

Fangraphs has this guy highly ranked....

 

TLDR
Holland is a 70 runner with 50 raw power that can passably play all three positions up the middle but his swing mechanics and skills can't match his tools.

Perhaps they’re loading up on infielders because they plan on dealing 2-3 of the upper level guys at the deadline.

As I've pointed out... I'm a big fan of drafting guys who played high school ball in Georgia... Will Holland could be a steal!

 

Perhaps they’re loading up on infielders because they plan on dealing 2-3 of the upper level guys at the deadline.

 

they still need a couple dozen new arms to fill out rosters......

 

they still need a couple dozen new arms to fill out rosters......

 

Isn't the draft 40 rounds long?  I'd like to see some pitching soon too, but we are barely even 15% thru this thing.

 

they still need a couple dozen new arms to fill out rosters......

 

Rounds 17-40?  We're winning every game 11-10?

Grabbing too many guys with potential hit tool problems.  To me that doesn't bode well as those guys typically can't do well enough to make it to MLB.  I liked the past two drafts better when they went for players with good hit tools and more average to slightly above average measurables.  If you can't hit the best you can be is a utlity player.  Not getting a good vibe from this draft so far.  Too much risk for me.

I’m guessing we will hear shortly that Steer and to some extent Gray signed for below slot. Then the Twins will use that extra money to grab a few guys who slip. Then some of the Twins fans who can’t help but see the sky falling can take a breath.

Holland is more intriguing to me than the last two.  Seems like a good pick in the 5th round.

 

Sounds like he's a bit of a reclamation project that they'll need to work on mechanically.  But it's hard to find tools like his in the 5th round.

 

 

Isn't the draft 40 rounds long?  I'd like to see some pitching soon too, but we are barely even 15% thru this thing.

 

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts. 

For whatever reason I'm unable to quote or like anyone's comment's !!!! This happens a lot and it's incredibly frustrating!!!!!! I agree with Rcrose29 about trading some prospects especially Nick Gordon!!! I think Brent Rooker will be traded now that we drafted Matt Wallner.

If Holland was a steal who fell because of an off year, is there a risk he will do what Rooker did following his junior year?  Will $360,000+/- be enough to discourage Holland from returning for his senior year in hope of going higher in the 2020 draft, much higher?

 

Grabbing too many guys with potential hit tool problems.  To me that doesn't bode well as those guys typically can't do well enough to make it to MLB.  I liked the past two drafts better when they went for players with good hit tools and more average to slightly above average measurables.  If you can't hit the best you can be is a utlity player.  Not getting a good vibe from this draft so far.  Too much risk for me.

 

The primary risk with almost all prospects is that they just aren't good enough. If they don't have the tools to make a difference, who cares if they have a mechanically sound swing?

 

You can try to fix mechanics much easier than you can improve athleticism. That's why teams have a minor league infrastructure, to hone players' skills and get the most of out their tools.

 

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts. 

Knock it off! Seriously! No one wants only gushing, positive posts ... but some get tired of the constant whining without bringing forth any real discussion. This has been your mantra just about every draft ... 'Why aren't the Twins drafting pitching? They are never going to sign any or trade for any.' I've heard it over and over. Take a step back.

Ever notice that they have pitching machines for hitters to practice on, but they don't have any hitting machines for pitchers to practice on. Hmmmm.

 

Knock it off! Seriously! No one wants only gushing, positive posts ... but some get tired of the constant whining without bringing forth any real discussion. This has been your mantra just about every draft ... 'Why aren't the Twins drafting pitching? They are never going to sign any or trade for any.' I've heard it over and over. Take a step back.

 

Just like every year I asked why the Vikings didn't take OL early......sometimes an organizational philosophy isn't great, even if everything else about the team is. 

 

If Holland was a steal who fell because of an off year, is there a risk he will do what Rooker did following his junior year?  Will $360,000+/- be enough to discourage Holland from returning for his senior year in hope of going higher in the 2020 draft, much higher?

 

Usually they know his number.  There should be savings with a few other picks, I wouldn't think they would have to use a lot of it on him.

 

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts. 

While not exactly a full substitute, it is worth factoring the pitching talent that was brought in at the trade deadline last year. According to Fangraphs FV rankings at the deadline, Duran, Rijo, Alcala, and Smeltzer all would have slid into the top 120 players in this draft. So it is kind of like they spent a 2nd, two 3rds and a 4th round pick on pitchers... last year at the trade deadline.

 

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts. 

I understand what you are saying, but I am a big believer in drafting the BPA. The MLB draft is such a crapshoot and the players (especially after the first couple rounds) are so far away from the majors drafting for position alone wouldn't be optimal. Obviously you need to diversify, but if you truly believe the position player you are taking is a tier above the pitcher, take the position player every time. 

 

While not exactly a full substitute, it is worth factoring the pitching talent that was brought in at the trade deadline last year. According to Fangraphs FV rankings at the deadline, Duran, Rijo, Alcala, and Smeltzer all would have slid into the top 120 players in this draft. So it is kind of like they spent a 2nd, two 3rds and a 4th round pick on pitchers... last year at the trade deadline.

 

agreed, and I acknowledged and praised that. But, now that they are entering the competitive phase of the rebuild, they hopefully aren't trading MLB players for prospects for the next 5 years or so. 

 

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts. 

How many good/great pitchers do you think are even drafted outside of the first round? Not many, but it does happen.

 

Something to keep in mind is that this current bonus pool system has only been around since 2012, and I think teams only really learned how to use it strategically a couple years after that. So it's tough to really try to look back with this short a timeline, but back in 2015, Chris Paddock, one of the best pitchers in baseball right now, was taken in the eighth round.

Also interesting to note that the Twins have drafted position players with 4 of their first 5 picks, and not one of them is a catcher.  They have normally drafted a couple catchers by now......

 

Holland is more intriguing to me than the last two.  Seems like a good pick in the 5th round.

 

Sounds like he's a bit of a reclamation project that they'll need to work on mechanically.  But it's hard to find tools like his in the 5th round.

Yeah, these guys are all very unfamiliar to me, so much more research will need to be done, but I won't be at all surprised if my first prospect list after the draft has Holland above both Steer and Gray.

How many good/great pitchers do you think get drafted around round 5? 

 

I guess I should bail on the thread, it seems like people only want positive, gushing, posts.

 

Cole Sands and Jordan Balazovic to name a couple from the last few drafts who look very promising.

JG
3:21 Did the Twins reach on Kavaco or is the potential worth the risk?
Keith Law
3:21 Both could be true, I think. There is plenty of potential there. I think there's more hit tool risk than they do, obviously.

 

Also interesting to note that the Twins have drafted position players with 4 of their first 5 picks, and not one of them is a catcher.  They have normally drafted a couple catchers by now......

 

Might be that the team is approaching organizational strengths and weaknesses as they see drafts allow them.  They took quite a few catchers last year (or the year before, I forget), so perhaps they are just letting the draft come to them.

 

I'm sure they are looking at their depth charts, available spots, etc. as they draft.  None of us are doing so. They may feel their lower minors will be set at pitching and catching for a year and would rather not create a glut if they like infielders better.

 

The organization's player development and drafting since the new regime took over has looked good so far.  Probably best to sit back, take a gander, and wait to see what they do.