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Thanks, Seth. Didn't even think about his not being on the 40-man. Do you know, does he get a raise to his salary at AAA because of the promotion to the 40-man? If so, that is a huge benefit for him. I guess a related question is whether or not MLB has a minimum comp for players on the 40-man when they are in the minors?

Was surprised when I saw that in the Strib over coffee this morning, Seth. Assume he is the 27th man for the doubleheader and will be back in Saint Paul of Saturday. Don't have any expectations of how he will do. Hopefully, the good Barnes will show up and not the one who has struggled in several games this year.

First thing I check every morning is how Javier did. Was 0-5, so that was an off night. Need to get him back on base starting tonight. Gonna have to start checking Isola every game as he sure is getting it done. Interesting reading Dman's comment above about Bechtold. If my memory is right, he was drafted either the same year or a year after Miranda. Always looked at them as two guys battling for the same 3B job with a future Twins team. Always looked at Miranda being the hitter and Bechtold the defensive specialist. Other than a handful of Wichita games I have watched this year, I have never seen Bechtold play an inning at third. So my viewing him as this defensive whiz may not be all that accurate. Expect there are others here today that know better how strong he is at the hot corner. But he sure has been hitting the ball well this year. One of these pair should sure as heck be ready to replace Donaldson either next year or certainly by 2023. Heck, wouldn't it be great if they both played their way into deserving the position? Saw Whitefield continues hitting the ball well. Very interesting and exciting prospect. Will be back watching Wichita tonight as Balazovic is on the hill.

Great article, Nick. And great question. We are going to know a heck of a lot more 16 days from now what the FO really thinks about this team and its future. My biggest concern is whether or not they will get a FAIR return if they do trade Berrios, Rogers or Buxton. And really, to make that move the return should be better than just fair.

Interesting, had forgotten about Graterol. Also, Thorpe. But that brings to mind Hendriks, who although a reliever may be the best International pitcher they have signed.

Interesting article, John, and interesting discussion. As I read this, I get the feeling that although the Phillies need help to have any shot of making the playoffs, the Twins are not a great fit.

Do you know Dman what the actual numbers are for Rooker for say the first half of the season and the second half? I recall that he was disappointing us early a few years ago, then tore the cover off the ball the last couple months. Last year he was at the ALT Site, then hit very well late in the year for the Twins. Is it possible he is just flat out a slow starter who gets really good as the season goes on?

We talk about how the Twins haven't developed many top starting pitchers from the draft. But what seems worse is that they haven't developed any top starting pitchers from their International signings. I can't remember who they may have signed that become a solid starter, can you? Yes, Santana was from Venezuela, but they got him via Rule 5/trade. Carlos Silva came via a trade, didn't he? Duran is an International guy who is a top prospect, but he also came in a trade. Who is the top International pitcher they have signed since say 1996...which is 25 years?

Although I would have preferred the next Chris Sale with their first pick, I do like the high upside of both of those high school kids. Everything I have read makes it sound like there aren't going to be a lot of high school kids drafted each year. Seems that MLB was telling us something when they eliminated 40 low level minor league teams. That is that they are going to be a lot more like football with colleges providing the first three years of development to the majority of kids coming out of high school. Was excited when I read about Canterino a few years ago. Must say I was not excited this week reading about any of the pitchers taken beginning with round two. Hopefully, one of them has some Josh Winder in him and gets us excited a year or two down the road. And thanks for all the work you put in to keep us informed during this year's draft. It is appreciated.

What a beat down by the Saints, eh Steve? Recall watching their game against Columbus a few weeks ago. The Clippers had Reyes and Pena playing for them that day, so it goes both ways with these rehab assignments. Great seeing Garver back on the field, although I must say I am surprised he was the catcher rather than DH in his first game. And Miranda just keeps hitting. Really got to believe this kid is for real and should be a big part of the Twins future. Also good seeing Jax have a solid start in his first game back. As usual, checked the Kernels box score and saw that Javier was 2-5 with a walk and run scored. Another nice game to build on his current hitting streak. Saw that Urbina had just one hit, but a big one. If my math is correct, Pena was 4 for 7 on the day, which is about what his batting average is for the season (0.563). This kid can't keep hitting like this, can he?

Am I correct that the only two HS kids taken were the first two picks? Certainly doesn't seem that they are working the bonus pool to grab that HS kid in round 11 or wherever and going over the $125K to keep him from college. Don't know, but where there a lot fewer high school kids taken this year than normal? With the reduction of minor league teams, maybe baseball is shifting to more like football where they put more emphasis on college for training rather than the low minor leagues. Find the 11th round pick to be interesting. Comments like "electric two pitch combo" seems more exciting than most of the throwers taken yesterday. Considering he is/was injured, he may be thinking of going back for his senior season to increase his value in next year's draft. In that case, they may intend to use any dollars saved to get him on board this year.

Thanks for the report, Seth. The highlights for me were a six game sweep by the Kernels and Winder being back on the mound in the Futures Game after what could have been a really bad outcome from being hit in the head/neck with that line drive. Have a questions about a couple kids. I see Rozek was signed as a 25-year old free agent. I see he is a local kid but know nothing about what he has been doing before signing? The other is the Pena kid that is tearing it up for the FCL (I need to get used to that name) Twins. I see he was an International signing, but know very little about him. Was he one of the top kids signed that year? Was there some hype surrounding the Twins getting him?

Love your comments, Doc. And believe that this duo is going to go on to be great MLB hitters. Defensively, Larnach in left and Kirilloff at first will be serviceable. Also agree that Rortvedt and Celestino are getting a great opportunity to fail with their bats. When they are returned to AAA later this year and hopefully the start to next, they will take those failures and work to be solid hitters when they return. In both cases, their defense combined with an average bat should keep them with the Twins long-term. Add Miranda, and the Twins have a very nice group of young guys to blend in with a couple of the last 'core' to put them in the hunt next year and beyond. None are pitchers and that is a huge problem, but the everyday lineup is going to be fine.

Looking at the second day, I thought "I don't know." Know absolutely nothing about any of these guys. Love that they focused on college pitchers in 4 of 5 rounds (2-6). Yet, when reading about the pitchers nothing jumps off the page to excite me. But then I guess if it did they would have been first round picks. Certainly no one like Canterino a few years ago who I believe was taken in the second round. So I just have to sit back and wait to see how hard they work and what the Twins staff can do with them. Assume 3 of the 4 will never make it to the big leagues, just hope like heck the fourth becomes another Josh Winder! Still wondering why so many people had negative comments about the Miller kid taken with their Comp pick. Checked out his brother, who is on Cleveland's 40-man and has been called up a bit this year. Don't know where he was drafted out of high school, or if he was. But see that he was a third round pick in 2018 out of college. Well, if this kid is that much better than his brother to be a first round/comp pick, his future should be very bright. I know I would be happy as the proverbial pig in you know what should: a) he get his first taste with the Twins in say five years (he is high school vs. his brother coming out of college); and b) I am still around to see it.

See that the shortstop taken in the tenth round was a senior. I don’t know if he has another year (COVID), but normally he is someone who would get a minimal bonus giving them some extra dollars to sign another pick.

Perkins was BIG 10, and that turned out good.

First concern I see is that he is a redshirt sophomore. With his only having one year, plus a few innings during COVID last year, is he going to be a player who thinks he can move up and make a lot more $$$ by going back for his junior season? Assume they know what he will sign for and the second round slot is around there, but that was my first thought.

Thanks for the response, Seth. I don't always write that well, Seth, and often find it difficult to clearly say what I am thinking. I guess my point when I made that comment dealt with the fact that what people are writing today has meaning. Yes, the Twins have said he isn't a burner. That doesn't mean he is slow or doesn't run well, it means he doesn't have plus speed. Yet, somehow I have seen it written several times here and elsewhere that he probably won't stick at short because of his lack of speed. Does that mean that the writer is saying he is slow? I don't know, but that is how I read it. Thus, my point that by one making that statement, it gets picked up elsewhere and before we know it the consensus is that he is slow and won't be able to stick at short. He may never reach AA or he may become an All-Star. Which happens remains to be seen and is up to him.

That isn't what the Twins seem to be saying. If you look at his build, he doesn't seem like the type who is going to bulk up so much it will slow him down. The little I have seen, yes very little, he looks athletic. With the Twins saying all positive things about his athleticism, etc., it is surprising to me how a few small comments on this and other sites already have him bulking up, being slow and moving off short. That isn't what I have seen. Will also question scouting grades for a lot of kids like him. How many scouts have actually seen him play? Plus, in spring high school ball in Wisconsin, like Minnesota, no one is running real fast in April.

Nothing is wrong, Jeremy. Was saying one of the reasons I like him is because he is a fellow Badger!

Question, Dman. Where did you get that he doesn't run well? He looks to be athletic and the little I have seen is that he is a good runner, not blazing speed, but certainly not slow.

As pointed out in the article and by Darwin 22, a six game sweep by the Kernels is impressive. Also a question, what do we know about Rozek? Seems recently signed at 25 year old, but doesn't have any prior minor league track record?

Thanks for another good read on this week, Nick. Aren’t the Twins and Detroit also tied for third? Cringed a bit when I read your comments about trades for Kepler and Berrios. Yes, if an offer is too good to refuse they could/should move them. But after feeling a rebuild is necessary much of the spring, I am changing to think retooling makes more sense. Yes, pitching needs help, lots of help. But the place to start is keeping José. And a lineup with Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Garver, Arraez and the two rookies can be very good. Yes, it was Detroit. But I loved to see some fight back in this team this week.

Great writing, Seth. Was really down on the draft yesterday morning, expecting the Twins to take another big bat who can’t play defense. After reading this and feeling the excitement the Twins appear to have, gotta be pumped. Now let’s hope that one, heck both, are lottery tickets who break in when they are 21 or 22. Hopefully they can get both signed for near slot.

Really like this pick, but then he is another Wisconsin kid. Will he turn into another Ben Rortvedt success? Seems to be solid to good at all aspects of the game. On the clip I saw, was smooth defensively with good range and arm. Runs well and solid bat from both sides of the plate. Would I have been happier with two college pitchers who were considered Top 10 falling to the Twins? Sure, but this appears to me to be a better draft at the top than the last. Couple years.