Jamie Cameron

Man, just came here to say, what a first day! Twins grab a consensus top 7 players AND one of the pitchers they were linked with for number eight overall. Genuinely amped about that outcome. Also just want to gas up Jeremy. The amount he's put into the threads, the content, the planning etc. for the draft (both here and at Brewer Fanatic) is amazing. Enjoy day two everyone.

The Minnesota Twins selected Tanner Schobel at number 68 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft. Schobel is a shortstop out of Virginia Tech University. Tanner Schobel is a 5'10, 170-pound shortstop out of Virginia Tech. Although he didn't make the consensus top 56 players, Schobel checked in at 73rd overall on our consensus big board and is drafted around the range one would expect based on his evaluations. Schobel is young as a draft-eligible sophomore (he recently turned 21). In his freshman season at Virginia Tech who moved around the infield frequently, spending time at shortstop and second base. In his first season with the Hokies, he had a middling offensive output, putting up .279/.359/.441 with 7 home runs and 10 doubles. In between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Virginia Tech, Schobel played in the Cape Cod league, managing a .378 OBP and 3 home runs in 29 games. He showed additional pop in the 2022 season, hitting .362/.445/.689 with 19 home runs and 74 RBIs in 59 games and lifting more batted balls in the air, particularly to the pull side. Schobel is a solid player defensively and has versatility around the infield. He profiles as a good utility player who can move around the infield and do everything solidly. While his pull side power may not hold up professionally in a wooden bat environment, Schobel will still have solid line drive power, particularly to the pull side. Schobel's long term upside with the Twins will hinge on whether his newly developed pull side power can be maintained at the pro level (the Twins have been developing bats well in recent years). If it can, he has a chance to stick as a regular instead of a utility man. Either way, he will be a useful prospect for the Twins. The slot value for the #68 pick in $1 million. Schobel was recommended by Twins scout John Wilson What do you think of the Twins selecting Tanner Schobel at #68 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

With the 48th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Connor Prielipp, a left-handed pitcher out of the University of Alabama. Industry buzz had the Twins interested in Connor Prielipp at number eight overall in the draft. Instead, they were able to nab him with their second pick at #48 overall. The slot value for the #48 pick is $1.62 million. Jeremy Nygaard drafted Prielipp at #8 overall for the Twins in the Prospects Live Mock Draft. Prielipp already has two plus pitches. The first is a 60 grade fastball that sits 93-95 mph. His slider is his best secondary pitch and one of the better offerings in the entire draft. It generated 50% whiffs when he threw it in college. Finally, he has a serviceable changeup that is already above average, and can be developed further. Prielipp had good command pre-surgery, but this may take some time to return. Prielipp didn't allow a run in 21 innings pitched in the 2021 season before COVID halted play in the SEC. He struck out 35 hitters. Prielipp is 6'2, 205 pounds and still has a ton of projectability to add velocity, an endeavor the Twins have shown proficiency with. When he is fully recovered, I'd expect them to be able to add a tick or two to his fastball as he fills out more. Prielipp missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery. The Tomah, Wisconsin native was in line to be a top ten overall talent in the draft has he remained healthy. With his surgery and rehab behind him, Prielipp was able to throw multiple times in front of talent evaluators in late spring, including at the MLB Combine. Expect the Twins to bring Prielipp along slowly, but the upside here is a front of the rotation arm. Prielipp fell due to such a limited track record. If he can remain healthy, the Twins may have a steal at 48 overall. Prielipp was recommended by Twins scout Matt Williams. What do you think of the Twins taking Connor Prielipp at #48 overall? View full article

Ahead of the draft, which starts on Sunday night, let's check in with the Twins 2021 draft to see how last year's draft class is shaking out. 2022 Prospect PreviewToo often, as the draft approaches, we focus on the first-round pick and nothing else. That’s a mistake we’re doomed to repeat over and over again. It’s also true retrospectively, and it clouds our analysis and judgment. For example, thinking about the 2020 draft, folks immediately think about Aaron Sabato and less about Marco Raya. With that in mind ahead of draft kickoff on Sunday night, let’s check in with the Minnesota Twins draft class of 2021. It’s shaping up to be incredibly impressive. Round 1: Chase Petty, RHP (A-Ball) Petty was an exciting pick for the Twins, bucking a trend of not selecting prep pitchers in early rounds. A 102 mph fastball also added to the excitement (let’s hope they stick with the high-velocity trend). Petty was traded in the off-season to the Reds for Sonny Gray. So far in 2022, Petty has struck out 58 in 61 innings of work to go along with a 3.39 ERA in A ball, a solid start for a 19-year-old. (2022 Prospect Preview) (Preseason #9 Prospect) Competitive Balance A: Noah Miller, SS (Fort Myers) Miller is still just 19 and has spent all of 2022 at Fort Myers. A legitimate shortstop prospect, he has the defensive chops, movement, and range to stay at the position long-term. While Miller’s hitting is still a work in progress (.238 average) he has incredible strike zone control and has worked 50 walks in 73 games in 2022 (.365 OBP). Patience is key with Miller, but things are ticking over nicely in Fort Myers. (2022 Prospect Preview) (Sire of Ft. Myers Consideration) 2: Steven Hajjar, LHP (Fort Myers) The first of a pair of talented left-handed starters drafted by the Twins, Hajjar has battled injuries in 2022 but has been completely dominant when on the mound. Despite walks being an issue (23 in 37 innings), Hajjar has struck out 61 batters and limited opposing offenses to a .160 batting average. (2022 Prospect Preview) 3: Cade Povich, LHP (Cedar Rapids) Povich is another exciting talent from the early rounds of the 2021 draft that is proving abundant for the organization. Povich has a 3.62 ERA at Cedar Rapids in 69 2/3 innings of work in 2022. He’s also managed an eye-popping 97 strikeouts in that time. Povich has added velocity as he has filled out and has a ton more projectability in his frame. He’s one to watch for the Twins. (2022 Prospect Preview) (Twins Spotlight Interview) 4: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/3B (Wichita) Encarnacion Strand is another incredible success story in 2022, with a Jose Miranda-like breakout. He’s already crushed 26 home runs in his first 98 minor league games across three levels. After putting up a .370 OBP at Cedar Rapids he was promoted to Wichita. In his second Double-A game on Friday night, he clobbered two home runs. In 76 games this season across two levels, he’s managed a .616 SLG, 22 home runs, and 74 RBIs. Based purely on performance, Encarnacion-Strand would be a first-round pick in a redraft of 2021 selections. 5: Christian MacLeod, LHP (Rookie Ball) MacLeod has pitched just 1 2/3 innings so far in his pro career. His career with the Twins is yet to get off the ground because he had Tommy John surgery during spring training. 6: Travis Adams, RHP (Fort Myers) Adams has been in the rotation for Fort Myers all season, accumulating 14 starts. He’s pitched well overall, striking out 64 batters in 64 2/3 innings to go along with a 3.62 ERA and pinpoint control (15 walks). 7: Jake Rucker, 3B (Cedar Rapids) A 22-year-old third baseman, Rucker has played at two levels in 2022, recently being promoted to Cedar Rapids. In his first 12 games in Iowa, he has a .367 OBP. 8: Noah Cardenas, C (Fort Myers) The Twins eighth-round pick out of UCLA has been at Fort Myers all season after getting his feet wet in rookie ball at the end of 2021. Cardenas has shown excellent strike zone control, racking up 50 walks in 63 games, contributing to a gaudy .409 OBP. 9: Pat Winkel, C (Cedar Rapids) A college teammate of Kyler Fedko, Winkel is currently at Cedar Rapids. His season was delayed by almost two months on the Injured List. The Twins 9th round pick has a .726 OPS through his first 25 games at High A. 10: Ernie Yake, SS (St. Paul) Yake has played at four levels in 2022, mostly to plug holes for other promotions. He began the season in Ft. Myers but was called up to St. Paul when needed. He then spent time in Wichita. Currently, he is rehabbing in the FCL. Speaks to the confidence the organization has in his makeup, and his defense. 11: Brandon Birdsell, RHP (did not sign) Birdsell was a pitcher who fell in the draft due to injury concerns and opted to return to school at Texas Tech. He struck out 106 in 85 innings of work in college in 2022 and promises to be a top 150 pick this July. 12: Kyler Fedko, OF (Cedar Rapids) An outfielder selected out of UConn, Fedko lit up Fort Myers early in the 2022 season to the tune of a .422 OBP through 26 games. He was promoted to Cedar Rapids, where the on-base numbers still look good (.340). (Three Questions With... Interview) 13: David Festa, RHP (Cedar Rapids) Festa is one of the greatest early success stories of the 2021 draft. A weekend starter for Seton Hall, he checks in at 6’6, 185 pounds (so plenty of projectability left). Festa struck out 33 batters in just 24 innings at Fort Myers, sporting a 1.50 ERA. He was the starter in the Mussels first no-hitter of the season. After being promoted to Cedar Rapids, he’s kept at it. In 48-plus innings at High A, he has a 1.86 ERA with 51 punch outs. Festa sports an upper 90s fastball and is a rising star in the Twins system. (2022 Prospect Preview) (Twins Spotlight Interview) 14: Pierson Ohl, RHP (Fort Myers) Ohl was a pitcher Seth interviewed and we wrote up prior to the 2022 season. Drafted as a control pitcher, Ohl has put up impressive strikeout numbers so far at Fort Myers. In 55 innings, he’s struck out 65 batters. His great challenge is lower velocity. He’s surrendering a .282 batting average against in his 12 starts so far this season. (2022 Prospect Preview) (Twins Spotlight Interview) 15: Mikey Perez, SS (Fort Myers) The 22-year-old infielder already has 240 at-bats at Fort Myers in 2022. He’s hitting .222/.327/.396 through 70 games so far this season. 16: Jonathan Lavallee, RHP Lavallee has pitched very limited innings in 2022. After starting at rookie ball, he was moved up to Fort Myers. The 22-year-old is yet to give up a run in five innings of work in A ball, striking out six batters. 17: Dylan Neuse, SS (Cedar Rapids) An older prospect at 23, Neuse started the season at Fort Myers but was moved up to Cedar Rapids. He’s struggled in his first 26 games with the bat, hitting just .198, but is on base plenty (.343). His brother Sheldon plays for the Oakland A's. 18: Mike Paredes, RHP (Fort Myers) A 21-year-old right-handed pitcher, Paredes is at Fort Myers in 2022. In 54 plus innings pitched this season, he surrendered just a 2.15 ERA, striking out 44, and walking just 10. His highlight may be throwing the first six innings of one of the Mighty Mussels no-hitters. 19: Jaylen Nowlin, LHP (Fort Myers) Nowlin is a developmental arm to watch. Pitching for Fort Myers, largely in a starting role in 2022, he’s racked up 68 strikeouts in just 41.2 innings pitched. Walks have been a problem (25 so far in 2022), but he’s giving up a .226 average to opposing hitters. Keep an eye out for his development. 20: Dillon Tatum, C (Fort Myers) The 22 year old catcher drafted out of UC-Irvine is currently at Fort Myers. In 145 at-bats, he’s hitting just .166 with five home runs. He has also been the catcher for both of the Mussels no-hitters this season. How do you think the Twins 2021 draft class is shaping up? Who are the prospects you are most excited about? View full article

Thanks for reading! We are on the same page one thousand percent.

I had totally forgotten that, and now i am sad lol! Great callback.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Agreed, only about 50% of first rounders make the majors in any capacity. Crazy to try and evaluate it. I think they'll take an arm, just think it's more likely at 48 than 8.

Thanks for all your engagement with all the draft stuff, much appreciated. I have grown to like Jett more and more. The Bregman comp hooked me in lol. Neto is an interesting option, they could save there to spend more on an arm at 48. I'm also pro Cross over Berry. Sunday should be a lot of fun.

I've gotten more and more into the idea of the Twins selecting a catcher relatively early (I like Rushing a lot too). I think it's a strong possibility they alternate college/high school with their first two picks also save in one slot and pay up in another. Thanks for commenting!

In part two of our rankings, we profile the top 25 players in the 2022 MLB Draft based on consensus rankings from The Athletic, ESPN, MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and Prospects Live. I’ve been working on this project for Twins Daily for a long time. As part of our draft coverage this season, we are not releasing a ‘Top 50 Prospects’ piece. Instead, we’re going to do something different, that I hope will grow and evolve over time, a ‘Consensus Big Board’. If you missed it, here's a link to part 1 (prospects 56-26). What and Why? I’ve always enjoyed draft coverage and analysis, in all sports. Arif Hasan of The Athletic releases a consensus big board for the NFL Draft each year. The concept is simple, there’s value in consensus. Why rely on one set of rankings, or one big board, when you can rely on many? The consensus big board is simply an amalgamation of a few key industry sources on the MLB draft that will (hopefully) give more and greater insight into how prospects are viewed and the variance of those evaluations, a level of variance that is typically greater in MLB than in other major sports. How? As this is a first version of this process I kept things simple. I combined rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, ESPN (Kiley McDaniel), The Athletic (Keith Law), and Prospects Live to form a consensus top 56 prospects for the 2022 MLB draft. This is part two (prospects 25-1). I hope that this is a valuable resource for Twins fans and Twins Daily readers. Ultimately, I hope it is a useful resource for baseball fans of any team. If it’s well received, I plan on expanding the 2023 version to be a top 100 and include more sources. Additionally, I’d welcome any constructive feedback folks have, or simply to know whether you value this type of content. Notes For each prospect, they are listed by name, position, then high school or college attended. Their listed age is their age on draft day (July 17th). Additionally, you’ll notice a ‘high’ and ‘low’ number. These indicate what was the highest position that player appeared in a ranking from the sources I used and what was the lowest, giving an idea of if the evaluations are clustered or if there is a greater range for that prospect. Finally, ties (there were only a few) were broken by median, then mode. If they were still tied after that, I averaged the middle two evaluations. There’s a brief write up of each player to try and give a flavor of what the strengths and areas of growth in their games, but the majority of the work was compiling the data that went into the rankings. Let’s get stuck in to part two. 25. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, East Carolina Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 17 Low: 40 Evaluators were eagerly awaiting Whisenhunt’s 2022 season when he was ruled ineligible for the year after failing a drug test. Whisenhunt maintained the failed test was unintentional and due to supplements taken in the offseason. Whisenhunt has a fastball that sits between 92-95 mph and one of the best changeups in the draft (it generated close to 60% whiffs in 2021). Lastly, he has an average curveball and above average command. Whisenhunt has a polished skillset, with an elite off-speed pitch. Combine that with some projectability and its likely his name is called in the first round on July 17th. 24. Sterlin Thompson, OF, Florida Age: 21 B/T: L/R High: 19 Low: 36 Thompson is a 6’4 outfielder out of Florida who has shown a plus hit tool in his time with the Gators. Although he didn’t display obvious power, Thompson has a strong, line drive swing that could produce more power based on the size of his frame. Thompson has a good arm in the field and is likely destined for a corner outfield spot at the big league level. Thompson is a high floor, lower ceiling type prospect that makes sense at the back of the first round of beginning of the second. 23. Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 17 Low: 37 Prielipp looked destined to be a top ten overall pick before needing Tommy John surgery in 2021. With that out the way, Prelipp made his return and has thrown multiple bullpen sessions for evaluators in late spring. Prielipp boasts the type of arsenal that could make its way to the top 25 of global prospect lists. Two plus pitches, a good fastball and a devastating slider, an above average changeup and solid command. While he has a limited track record of pitching in games, Prielipp has the tools to become a frontline starting pitcher. He is one of the few pitchers the Twins have been linked to in the pre-draft process (along with Cade Horton). If the Twins want to gamble on a high upside arm, he should be available at eight. 22. Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga Age: 20 B/T: R/R High: 22 Low: 30 With a range of just eight in his evaluations across five major industry outlets, Hughes represents one of the most consistently evaluated college pitching prospects in this draft class. Hughes has the prototypical starting pitching body, at 6’4, 220 lbs. Hughes has a fastball that sits 93-94 mph but can reach 97 mph. He has a good but inconsistent slider that has the spin profile to become a plus pitch. Hughes also has a changeup that needs further development. There’s plenty of projectability here with a big frame and being just 20 years old on draft day. In a pretty thin class of college arms, Hughes is a safe bet to be a back of the rotation starter. 21. Jordan Beck, OF, Tennessee Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 14 Low: 36 Beck was a name evaluators linked to the Twins in early spring, connecting his profile to a player type the Derek Falvey led front office has often targeted in early rounds. Beck is a 6’3 outfielder with a strong athletic profile. He has good bat speed and generates good power, while having good speed for his size and a strong arm. The questions around Beck are rooted in his contact rates, as he can be overly aggressive at the plate. If his hit tool develops, Beck will be a very strong all around player and good value in the mid to late first round. 20. Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison Age: 20 B/T: L/L High: 15 Low: 35 DeLauter was close to a consensus top ten pick for the majority of the spring (except Law) before slipping at the end of the season. DeLauter put up incredible numbers at James Madison, albeit against middling opposition. A broken foot ended his 2022 season after a solid start. If DeLauter hits, he profiles as a middle of the order, bat first outfielder. He has plus raw power, is a good athlete with solid speed, and should be a solid defensive corner outfielder. 19. Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman HS, NV Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 13 Low: 27 Justin Crawford is the son of Carl, former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, speedster, and former All Star. Unsurprisingly, Crawford’s tools are set of by 70-grade speed and a 60-grade arm. Crawford already has a good hit tool, with strong bat to ball skills and has begun to generate hard contact and drive the ball with more consistency. Crawford is committed to LSU, but the opportunity for him to be an outstanding defensive center fielder with the potential for his hitting to continue to develop make him a safe bet for the middle of the first round. Someone is buying. 18. Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 11 Low: 32 Minnesota represent. Stillwater’s own Drew Gilbert has rocketed up draft boards this spring due to his strong performance for an incredible Volunteers team. Although undersized at 5’9, he hit 10 home runs and 20 doubles in 54 games for the Vols and was consistently the best hitter on the best regular season team in the country. Gilbert doesn’t have a weak tool and doesn’t have an outstanding one either. Some evaluators are split on whether there is more projectability in his game due to his smaller size. There has been steam linking him to the Twins in recent weeks, but it may be little more than a home town connection. Gilbert is the kind of player opposition players hate playing against and opposing fans love to hate. He’s likely to be a mid first round selection. 17. Cole Young, North Allegheny High School, PA Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 12 Low: 33 Pennsylvania is hardly a prep baseball hotbed. Alas, it produces one of the better high school prospects in the 2022 draft. Young’s plus tool currently is hit bat, with good contact skills. Young has a good enough arm and defense to remain at shortstop permanently, and has plenty of room and time to build on his already excellent hit tool. He is committed to Duke. 16. Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage High School, FL Age: 18 B/T: L/L High: 15 Low: 22 Barriera is a high school prep arm to dream on. The Vanderbilt commit has a fastball the regularly touches 96 mph, a good slider with a ton of horizontal movement, and a solid changeup. Add already above average command, some remaining projectability and a remarkably tight cluster of evaluations for a prep pitcher (a range of 15-22) and Barriera has the upside of a mid-rotation starting pitcher, with an already fairly polished skillset. 15. Jett Williams, SS/OF, Rockwall-Heath High School, TX Age: 18 B/T: S/R High: 11 Low: 21 Williams is one of the smallest players in the entire draft class, but he packs some excellent tools into a small package. Williams has good bat speed, leading to an above average hit tool and room to grow into more power. Williams has good strike zone control and rarely swings and misses. He has plus speed (has to with that name!). If a team thinks he can stick at shortstop, his already advanced plate approach should have him drafted in the teens. 14. Daniel Susac, C, Arizona Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 11 Low: 23 Susac has been a prospect of interest to Twins Daily readers due to a lack of organizational depth at catcher. Susac is a draft eligible sophomore, just turned 21. Despite his large frame (6’4) he moves well, has a rocket of an arm, and should be at least an average defender behind the plate. He has above average hit and power tools at the plate, hitting 12 home runs and 19 doubles in 2022 for the Wildcats. While he does chase off-speed and breaking balls, Susac has the ability to be a well above average offensive big-league backstop, with at least average defense. 13. Brock Porter, RHP, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School, MI Age: 19 B/T: R/R High: 9 Low: 24 Like Cole Young, Porter is another excellent prep prospect from a state that doesn’t typically produce that many. With Dylan Lesko recovering from Tommy John surgery, Porter is the best healthy prep arm in the draft class. At 6’3, 188 pounds, Porter has good amount of projectability left as he fills out. Porter already has two 70-grade pitches, a fastball that sits in the upper 90s, and a changeup that has a ton of horizontal action. Porter is committed to Clemson, but has a good chance to be the first pitcher off the board in a draft lacking in high end arm talent. 12. Zach Neto, SS, Campbell Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 9 Low: 17 Neto is a prospect whose stock is on the rise, and has been connected with the Twins at eight overall considerably in recent weeks. The shortstop prospect is likely to be Campbell’s first ever first round pick. Simply put, he does everything well. Neto slugged .751 over three collegiate seasons, and excelled in the Cape Cod league prior to the 2022 season. Neto is an aggressive base runner and has a great arm (he hit 93 mph as a relief pitcher in college). His arm, movement, and defense make him likely to stick a shortstop, although he played all infield positions in college and that defensive versatility never hurts. Neto is one of a handful of players who might be considered ‘favorites’ to be drafted by the Twins at eight. 11. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High School, GA Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 8 Low: 15 Lesko was a lock to be a top 10 pick and was trending towards the top five when he was hurt and Tommy John surgery ended his season. On talent alone, he’s the best prep arm in the class and could prove a good value pick in the teens. Lesko has a mid 90s fastball that tops out at 97 mph with the ability to command it well. This is paired with a devastating, 70-grade changeup, one that has been called ‘one of the best prep changeups ever scouted’. Lesko also features an above average curveball and good command. In 2021, he struck out 112 batters in just 60 innings of work. He has the tools needed to be a front of the rotation starting pitcher, but his injury has clouded his status ahead of Sunday. 10. Jacob Berry, CI, LSU Age: 21 B/T: S/R High: 7 Low: 27 Berry is a switch hitting corner outfielder who has drawn comparisons for his offensive game to Andrew Vaughn. Berry has good plate discipline, 60-grade hit and power tools, and is equally effective from both sides of the plate. While Berry is a little positionless, he probably fits best long term at first base. Many Twins fans have balked at the idea of drafting Berry as a stale, uninteresting pattern of the front office (bat first college players), but the bat is a true weapon. He’s one of three college hitters (Cross and Neto) most likely to be drafted by the Twins at eight IF the first round sticks to the consensus board through seven picks. 9. Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech Age: 21 B/T: L/R High: 8 Low: 13 The younger brother of Texas Rangers prospect Josh Jung, Jace is another bat first college player whose offensive tools deserve plenty of respect. Like Berry, Jung as 60-grade hit and power tools, displaying line drive ability all over the field. Jung has great discipline, owning a career 19 BB%. Similarly to Berry, his defensive home is uncertain. Jung’s bat more than makes up for this however, as there’s .285 hitter with 25-30 home run power upside. 8. Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 8 Low: 10 Cross has some of the most consistent evaluations in the entire draft class, with a range of just two across five evaluations on the consensus big board, ridiculous. The strong, athletic outfielder is a half step below Berry and Jung in terms of his hit and power tools, but miles ahead defensively. Although he played center field for the Hokies, he profiles as a defensively strong corner outfielder at the big league level with a solid arm and good speed. I’d bet Cross is among the first 12 picks on July 17th and is player who has been consistently linked to the Twins, who will value his outstanding exit velocities. 7. Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 6 Low: 7 College catchers don’t often have seasons like Parada did in 2022. In 59 games he hit 26 home runs and drove in 88 runners. Parada has a weird setup at the plate, laying the barrel of hit bat almost flat on his back, pointing straight down at the ground. Whatever works though, right? Parada grades out with 60-grade hit and power tools (around .285, 25 home run power). Although his defense is not yet a strength, it’s solid enough for him to be at least average behind the dish. Hitters with his upside and production at premium defensive positions don’t come around often. Parada will likely be off the board in the first six picks. 6. Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC Age: 17 B/T: L/R High: 2 Low: 8 Along with Walter Ford, Collier is one of two 17 year old's in the consensus top 56. Collier is a third baseman with big league bloodlines. He left high school after his sophomore year and transferred to Chipola, one of the best JC programs in the country (Andrew Bechtold is an alum). Collier slugged .537 with eight home runs. Collier already has a 60-grade hit tool and above average power. At 6’2, 210 pounds, there’s plenty left in the tank too. With a cannon of an arm, he’ll easily stick at third base. Collier could become an absolute monster if he hits a solid percentile on his development trajectory. He’s been mocked to the Twins plenty, but chances are he’s going in the first seven picks. He’s currently committed to Louisville. 5. Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, FL Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 2 Low: 7 Green is the best athlete in this class, bar none. Son of a Pro-Bowl tight end, Green’s tools are off the charts. A recent mock described him as a ‘more physical Byron Buxton’. Wow. Green has 70-grade power and is a 70-grade runner. A plus arm, combined with his athleticism mean he should be able to play elite center field defense. His remaining question marks are around his hit tool. If he can continue to develop it to be above average, Green could be an franchise caliber player. 4. Brooks Lee, SS, Cal-Poly Age: 21 B/T: S/R High: 2 Low: 5 The Twins have been doing their due diligence scouting Lee in recent days. While there have been mock drafts where he made it to eight, it’s likely the floor is too high, and the hit tool too good, for that to happen. If it did, the Twins should be sprinting to the podium. Lee played at Cal Poly under the coaching of his father (and well respected hitting coach) Larry Lee. He has a legit 70-grade hit tool, with the ability to develop above average power. He has a good glove and excellent arm but limited quickness inhibit his infield range and its likely he eventually moves to third base. Lee hardly ever strikes out, with elite bat to ball skills. He put together a .667 SLG in a spell in the Cape Cod league against solid competition. He has the best hit tool in college baseball and he’s as safe a pick as you can get in the top five. 3. Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS Mays High School, GA Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 2 Low: 7 Johnson has been consistently at the top of draft boards since the beginning of the pre-draft process. A compact 5’8, he has an elite hit tool and approach for a high-school player, with one of the smoothest swings in the draft. Don’t let his height fool you, however, Johnson has plus power as well thanks to great bat speed and barrel control. Johnson has a solid arm and a good glove, but is likely destined for second base long term. The Twins have been said to be interested in both Johnson and Collier, were one of the prep bats fall to them at eight. 2. Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School, OK Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 2 Low: 6 Holliday ascended to the top of draft boards in the second half of the spring, and boy was it a rapid rise. The son of former Cardinal Matt Holliday, Jackson seems like a lock for a top three pick. An increase in size and weight this spring boosted Holliday’s stock, such that he already has above average power to go with plus hit, a plus arm, and a plus run tool. His uncle would stand to be his head coach in college if he makes it to campus, but Holliday is beginning to look more and more like a future star. 1. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High School, GA Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 1 Low: 1 It’s simple. Druw Jones is the consensus number one prospect ahead of the draft. Like, on every big board you can find. The son of should-be-Hall-of-Famer Andruw Jones, there’s plenty that reminds of the great center fielder in his son’s game. Simply put, Jones is a five tool talent. Jones has a swing that is still developing but will generate plus power and is already driving the ball to all fields against good pitching. His athleticism really shines in the field, with plus speed, a plus arm, and incredible defense that should make him an elite center fielder for a decade. Jones is committed to Vanderbilt but should be the first or second overall selection. Who would you like to see the Twins take at 8? How about at 48? Where do you think the two Minnesotan's in the consensus 56 will go? Share your thoughts in the chat. View full article

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read and post, really appreciate the kind words. 1. I really like Rushing as a C option for the Twins in the second round. Big bat, and the Twins have shown an affinity for improving C defense. 3. The reason there are so few good ones is that, especially in high school, the best arms don't need one. They can rely on a fastball slider combo and are so dominant, their changeups get very little play. A lot are developmental pitches that they incorporate more actively after they turn pro. Thanks again for reading.

For the first time, Twins Daily is releasing a consensus big board for the MLB Draft. This combines rankings from Baseball America, ESPN, The Athletic, MLB Pipeline, and Prospects Live to form a consensus on the top 56 players in the draft. I’ve been working on this project for Twins Daily for a long time. As part of our draft coverage this season, we are not releasing a ‘Top 50 Prospects’ piece. Instead, we’re going to do something different, that I hope will grow and evolve over time, a ‘Consensus Big Board’. What and Why? I’ve always enjoyed draft coverage and analysis, in all sports. Arif Hasan of The Athletic releases a consensus big board for the NFL Draft each year. The concept is simple, there’s value in consensus. Why rely on one set of rankings, or one big board, when you can rely on many? The consensus big board is simply an amalgamation of a few key industry sources on the MLB draft that will (hopefully) give more and greater insight into how prospects are viewed and the variance of those evaluations, a level of variance that is typically greater in MLB than in other major sports. How? As this is a first version of this process I kept things simple. I combined rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, ESPN (Kiley McDaniel), The Athletic (Keith Law), and Prospects Live to form a consensus top 56 prospects for the 2022 MLB draft. This will be split into part one (56-26), and part two (26-1). I hope that this is a valuable resource for Twins fans and Twins Daily readers. Ultimately, I hope it is a useful resource for baseball fans of any team. If it’s well received, I plan on expanding the 2023 version to be a top 100 and include more sources. Additionally, I’d welcome any constructive feedback folks have, or simply to know whether you value this type of content. Notes For each prospect, they are listed by name, position, then high school or college attended. Their listed age is their age on draft day (July 17th). Additionally, you’ll notice a ‘high’ and ‘low’ number. These indicate what was the highest position that player appeared in a ranking from the sources I used and what was the lowest, giving an idea of if the evaluations are clustered or if there is a greater range for that prospect. Finally, ties (there were only a few) were broken by median, then mode. If they were still tied after that, I averaged the middle two evaluations. There’s a brief write up of each player to try and give a flavor of what the strengths and areas of growth in their games, but the majority of the work was compiling the data that went into the rankings. Before we start, a huge shout of appreciation to all the amazing outlets that do this work. In particular, Carlos Collazo and Geoff Pontes at BA, Joe Doyle and Will Hoefer at Prospects Live and the many other scouts (both amateur and professional) who provide amazing video, analysis, and content. Let’s get stuck in. NOTE: MLB Pipeline updated their rankings between me finalizing the consensus rankings on 07.12 and publishing them on 07.14 The update did not offer me enough time to add new rankings to the consensus board but there were minimal shifts to final MLB Pipeline rankings. 56. Mikey Romero, SS, Orange Lutheran HS, CA Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 40 Low: 79 The LSU commit is one of the best high school shortstop prospects in this year’s draft. Romero has the chance to have a plus hit tool and is a smooth defender but needs to add strength and power to generate more hard contact. 55. Roman Anthony, OF, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, FL Age: 18 B/T: L/R High: 31 Low: 74 Anthony is a powerful athlete and likely, an eventual corner outfielder (he plays center field currently). He has good power and has improved his contact this spring, whilst offering a good arm and solid defense. Anthony is committed to Ole Miss. 54. Adam Mazur, RHP, Iowa Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 24 Low: 70 Minnesota represent! Mazur is from Woodbury, MN, and has rocketed up draft boards after an outstanding 2022 season. Mazur has two distinct fastballs, one of which he cranks up to 97 mph. Mazur struck out 98 in 93 plus innings of work in 2022. There’s a wide range of evaluations for Mazur, but his stock has risen significantly this spring. 53. Logan Tanner, C, Mississippi St Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 37 Low: 69 Tanner is a solid defensive catcher with an absolute rocket of an arm (he hit 96 mph with his fastball in college). He has the potential to have above average, 20 home run power. Combined with good strike zone control, Tanner is one of the better college-catching prospects this season. 52. Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia Age: 22 B/T: R/R High: 45 Low: 60 Cannon is a tall (6’6), lean right-handed starting pitcher coming off his third season at Georgia. He offers a mid-90s fastball, a sinker, slider, and a cutter and boasts outstanding command. Cannon profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and should be able to move through the minor leagues at a good clip. 51. Landon Sims, RHP, Mississippi St Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 22 Low: 70 Sims is a college pitcher with a ton of variance in his evaluations, due to Tommy John surgery in March at the beginning of the college season. Had Sims stayed healthy and continued his strong production from the beginning of the season, he would have been a lock for the front end of the first round. He carries an excellent mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider. If he sticks as a starter he profiles as a middle of the rotation arm, but there’s a good chance he ends up as an elite, high-leverage bullpen arm. 50. Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas Age: 20 B/T: R/R High: 31 Low: 71 Wallace hit 15 home runs in his 2022 season with Arkansas. Although he is an average hitter with average power, he is a good defender at the hot corner, a solid base runner and has one of the best infield arms in college baseball. 49. Jake Bennett, LHP, Oklahoma Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 39 Low: 68 Bennett has an ideal build and skillset to become a back of the rotation starting pitcher in the major leagues. He’s 6’6, 235 pounds. He has a solid delivery with some deception, and has reverse splits due to a plus changeup which right handed hitters struggle with. Bennett also offers a solid fastball and a sweeping slider, in addition to good command. He still has some projectability because of his size, but the floor is already decently high. 48. Walter Ford, RHP, Pace High School, FL Age: 17 B/T: R/R High: 29 Low: 53 At just 17, Ford is one of the youngest prospects in the consensus top 56 (along with Cam Collier). Ford is an Alabama commit with an upper 90s fastball and a sharp slider. Ford has spotty command and needs to develop a third pitch, but he’s incredibly young and there is plenty of time for him to develop and outgrow these challenges. 47. Eric Brown, SS, Coastal Carolina Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 28 Low: 63 Brown is an excellent athlete and player with no one standout tool because they are all good. Despite a weird setup at the plate, he slugged .566 this spring with more walks than strikeouts. Brown has also proven himself in the Cape Cod league, earning an All-Star nod. A good arm and smooth movement make him one of the better defensive college shortstops, with a chance to stick at the position. 46. Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 20 Low: 80 You won’t come across a ton of 6’7 outfielders. Jones is an excellent athlete who has the potential to develop plus power. Jones hit 12 home runs and 20 doubles this spring for the Commodores. Jones is a good runner and solid defender but has a strikeout rate that needs to be curtailed in pro ball. 45. Payton Pallette, RHP, Arkansas Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 37 Low: 58 Pallette’s season was lost to Tommy John surgery after moving to a starting pitching role in 2021. He throws a solid to good mid 90s fastball and an excellent curveball. If Pallette can stay healthy and meets his ceiling, he could profile as a number two type starter in the majors. 44. Henry Bolte, OF, Palo Alto High School, CA Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 40 Low: NR Bolte is less well know than he should be when considering his tools, due to some of the prep high school outfielders at the top of the board (Jones and Green). He’s 6’3, 200 pounds and has some of the best tools on the draft board. Bolte has easy plus raw power and plus speed. His hit tool, and his commitment to the University of Texas, remain the biggest questions marks on his considerable upside. 43. Dalton Rushing, C, Louisville Age: 21 B/T: L/R High: 31 Low: 50 Rushing succeeded Henry Davis as Louisville’s primary catcher after Davis was drafted number one overall in 2021, no easy feat. Rushing had an impressive season with the bat in 2022, swatting 22 home runs to go with a cool 17% walk rate. Were it not for Kevin Parada, his offensive numbers would be more widely heralded. Rushing has a good arm and both solid and improving receiving behind the plate. 42. J. R. Ritchie, RHP, Bainbridge High School, WA Age: 19 B/T: R/R High: 21 Low: 52 Ritchie struck out 84 hitters in 39.1 innings this spring. In addition, his fastball velocity took a leap, sitting in the mid 90s but reaching 97 mph. Ritchie also has a curveball and a slider, with solid command. Although there’s not a ton of projectability given his smaller size, Ritchie has plenty to be excited about. He’s committed to UCLA. 41. Thomas Harrington, RHP, Campbell Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 35 Low: 48 Harrington has a nice profile as a draft-eligible sophomore who will just be 21 on draft day. Harrington has elite command and possessed one of the best K:BB ratios in the country in 2022. Over 15 starts, he managed a 30.0 K% and 4.9 BB%. On the mound he throws a fastball in the low to mid-90s. Harrington also possesses a changeup with good tumble and a slider, that can both be above average to good pitches. He already has a high floor, and projects to develop further with the upside of a number three starter. 40. Jacob Miller, RHP, Liberty Union High School, OH Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 29 Low: 59 Miller is a Louisville commit who has cranked his fastball up a notch this spring, reaching 96 mph. He also has two good breaking pitches, a slider and a curveball, with a changeup that can still be developed to be a solid pitch. Miller has good command and attacks the strike zone well. He should be picked in the first two rounds. 39. Owen Murphy, SS/RHP, Riverside-Brookfield High School, IL Age: 18 B/T: R/R High: 27 Low: NR Murphy is a two-way prospect committed to Notre Dame. On the mound he throws a low to mid 90s, high spin, four seam fastball. His secondary offerings are led by a good, slurvy curveball, and a developing changeup. Scouts has complimented Murphy’s competitive nature on the mound. He profiles as a mid-rotation starting pitcher. 38. Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego East High School, IL Age: 18 B/T: L/L High: 24 Low: 49 A 6’9 left-handed pitcher who will be just 18 on draft day, there’s a ton to like about Schultz. Schultz has a three quarter arm slot which, when paired with his length, makes his slider pretty baffling to hitters, especially lefties. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90s and he possesses good command and body control, particularly for a pitcher of his size. Schultz is thought to be a difficult sign away from the Commodores. 37. Brock Jones, OF, Stanford Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 20 Low: 57 Jones is an excellent all around athlete who boasts strong physical tools across the board. His hit tool and a weak arm are his biggest detractors right now. Jones has the opportunity to develop 20 all-aroundhome run power and to stick at center field, with good speed, range, and excellent defense. 36. Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma Age: 20 B/T: R/R High: 14 Low: 93 There are few players in the 2022 draft class with a wider range of evaluations than Cade Horton, a college right-handed pitcher the Twins have been linked with. Horton ascended draft boards at a remarkable pace off the back of an incredible College World Series performance for Oklahoma. Horton throws a high spin, high carry, 98 mph fastball, a hard slider he cranks up to 90 mph, and a slower curveball. Horton’s profile gives him the ceiling of a number two starting pitcher and his ascent has put him firmly in the round one conversation. 35. Dylan Beavers, OF, Cal Age: 20 B/T: L/R High: 22 Low: 52 Beavers is a 6’4, college outfielder with some of the most exciting tools at his position in the draft. He has easy plus power, good speed, strong defense, and an excellent arm. There are lots of questions about his hit tool however as he’s often late to the ball. Beavers upside is a low batting average (.235) with 25-30 home run power who can be an excellent defensive corner outfielder. 34. Justin Campbell, RHP, Oklahoma St Age: 21 B/T: L/R High: 27 Low: 39 At 6’7, 220 pounds, Justin Campbell is a big-bodied starting pitcher with a unique approach angle that hitters struggle to pick up. Campbell struck out 141 hitters in 101 innings in 2022 while walking just 25. Campbell’s fastball sits 92-94 mph but can go higher, with good run. Additionally, he offers a solid curveball, developing slider, and an good changeup. Campbell’s high floor will allow him to move quickly in the minors and he profiles as a number three or four starter in the major leagues. 33. Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond High School, SC Age: 18 B/T: S/R High: 15 Low: 44 Toman is one of many LSU commitments that could be drafted in the early rounds in mid July. Toman has a fairly wide range of evaluations, typical of a high school prospect. At his best, Toman has a good approach from both sides of the plate, driving the ball to all fields. He has one of the best combinations of hit and power tools of any high schooler in the class, but his defense is fringy at the moment. 32. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Independent Ball Age: 22 B/T: R/R High: 19 Low: 54 Rocker is one of the most famous prospects in the entire draft after the Mets balked at signing him due to his medicals in 2021. Rocker has an awesome one two punch with a fastball that an get to 99 mph and a devastating slider. Details of a shoulder surgery in September were recently made public. On talent alone, Rocker is the best non-prep arm in the class. Where he is selected, hinges entirely on his medicals. 31. Blake Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 25 Low: 52 Tidwell missed the first six weeks of the 2022 season due to shoulder soreness. Had he not, he’d likely feature higher on the consensus big board. The Tennessee right-hander features a fastball he can run up to 99 mph, a good sweeping slider, an above average changeup that generated a ton of whiffs, and a developing curveball. Although his command can use some refinement. There’s plenty of clay to be molded here into a good major league starting pitcher. 30. Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon St Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 18 Low: 56 Hjerpe has a huge evaluation range for a college pitcher, from 18 overall to 56 overall. Hjerpe doesn’t have a great fastball, which sits at 90-92 mph. Hjerpe combines it with a breaking ball from a three quarters slot that leads to a ton of deception. While Hjerpe doesn’t have a huge ceiling, being a left-handed college starting pitcher will likely elevate his floor to the back of the first round. 29. Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy, FL Age: 18 B/T: L/L High: 19 Low: 41 Ferris was an early first-round favorite prior to the beginning of the 2022 season. The 18 year old Ole Miss commit has plenty of projectability in a 6’4, 195 pound frame. Ferris’ fastball sits between 93-95 mph and he has an above average slider and changeup to compliment it. Ferris has suffered from inconsistent command at times, but has plenty of time to develop. He profiles as a mid-rotation starting pitcher if it all comes together. 28. Robbie Snelling, LHP, McQueen High School, NV Age: 18 B/T: R/L High: 16 Low: 55 Snelling is yet another LSU commit who is getting attention in the first two rounds of the draft (good luck telling Wes Johnson ‘no’). Snelling has been a helium prospect this spring, rapidly rising up draft boards in the latter half of the season. On the mound, he throws a fastball that sits between 90-95 mph, an excellent, sharply breaking curveball, and a changeup that he uses infrequently and needs further development. Snelling has good control and his projectability should lead to plenty of interest in the first round. 27. Jacob Melton, OF, Oregon St Age: 21 B/T: L/L High: 25 Low: 40 Melton is a college outfielder with a strong all around game. In 2022 he hit 15 home runs, slugged .684, and stole 20 bases. Excellent speed and solid defense give him the opportunity to stick at center field. Melton has a bit too much swing and miss at the plate, but has a strong overall profile and should move relatively quickly when drafted. 26. Peyton Graham, SS/3B, Oklahoma Age: 21 B/T: R/R High: 26 Low: 36 Graham has a tight clustering of evaluations due to his solid athleticism and strong overall tools. He slugged .661 with 19 home runs and 32 stolen bases in the regular season for an incredibly successful Oklahoma team. While Graham produces good exit velocities, he is a free swinger who could stand to cut down his strikeout and whiff rates. He has the ability to play multiple infield positions and his strong all-around game should give him a solid floor as an average major league regular. The second part of the Consensus Big Board (26-1 overall) will be posted at Twins Daily on Friday, July 15th. Who are players you think would be a good fit for the Twins at 48 overall? Or even 8? Share your thoughts in the comments. Any feedback on the project, format etc. will be gratefully received. View full article

Elijah Green is the best athlete in the 2022 draft class. Read up on a prospect recently described as 'a more physical Byron Buxton', and why the Twins might draft him, or stay away. As we get closer to the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday, Twins Daily is wrapping up its individual player draft profiles. Today, we look at a prospect who has the highest upside in the entire draft class, Elijah Green. Who is He? Elijah Green is a 6’3, 215-pound prep outfielder (and son of an NFL Pro Bowl tight end) who is committed to the University of Miami. Lee places as high as second overall and as low as seventh overall on industry big boards. He sits at number five overall on our consensus big board. Green will be just 18 on draft day. Why the Twins Will Draft Him In their recent mock draft, Prospects Live described Green as a ‘more physical Byron Buxton’. He’s the owner of the best overall tools in the draft and has the potential to have the greatest outcome of any player in the draft. Green is a right-handed hitter and can do everything well. He can hit with power to all fields, has 70-grade power, 70-grade speed, and a 60-grade arm. Early in his career, the knocks on Green have been his ability to hit elevated high-velocity fastballs, and to manage breaking and off-speed pitches, although these are fairly common concerns for prep hitters. Green has more than enough speed and arm to stay in center field long term, with his speed also likely to cause mayhem on the base paths. His remaining question remains his hit tool. Can he develop it enough to be above average and let the rest of his tools shine? There’s no prospect in this draft with more upside, and no more dynamic athlete Why the Twins Won't Draft Him The Twins don’t have a track record or taking prep hitters with their early draft picks. The last time they did in the first round was Keoni Cavaco in 2019, and although early, he has struggled in his career thus far. Green is a different proposition however in terms of his evaluations and tools, and Cavaco was a late riser in the draft process. While Green is a top-five talent, there’s certainly risk involved. The Marlins, thought to be a logical landing spot for him at five, have apparently ‘soured on Green’ according to Keith Law, who has him falling to the Royals at nine overall in his latest mock draft (he has the Twins taking Collier at eight). What are your thoughts on the Twins drafting Elijah Green? Do you think he’s a good fit for Minnesota? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Brooks Lee has been a name at the top of big boards since the beginning of the pre-draft process. In recent weeks, some mock drafts have him falling to the Twins at eight. Read up on why the Twins should jump at the chance to draft the best hitter in college baseball. As we get closer to the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday, Twins Daily is wrapping up its individual player draft profiles. Today, we look at a consensus top five prospect who could slip to the Twins at eight, Brooks Lee. Who is He? Brooks Lee is a 6’2, 205-pound shortstop who plays for Cal Poly under the tutelage of his father (and prestigious hitting coach), Larry Lee. Lee places as high as second overall and as low as fifth overall on industry big boards. He is fourth overall in our consensus big board There have been sources linking him with the Twins in recent weeks. He will be 21 on draft day. Why the Twins Will Draft Him Lee is one of the few prospects who has been at the top of big boards since the beginning of the pre-draft process. This spring for the Mustangs, he put together a 1.125 OPS and hit 15 home runs. Not to be stifled by wonderings about the strength of his conference, this outstanding performance was on the back of a .677 SLG in the Cape Cod League during the summer prior to the 2022 season. Lee is a switch hitter with a 65-70 grade hit tool and above-average power. Throughout his career, he has been able to generate more consistent power from the left side. Lee has incredible bat-to-ball skills and almost never strikes out. In 2022, he put together a 20 BB% and a measly 11 K%, making him one of the safest hitters in the class with an incredibly high floor. Lee has a good arm and is solid defensively but has limited speed that impedes his range. It’s likely that he eventually moved to third base at the major league level. While Twins fans may not have considered him as a possibility at number eight overall, he has a skill set that will appeal to the Twins model-based approach and should hit for average and good power at the major league level. Why the Twins Won't Draft Him While it’s been an assumption that Lee would be gone by the time the Twins pick at eight, the early stages of the first round always produce curveballs. It will take one team ahead of the Twins to be enamored with a prospect who is not considered ‘consensus top seven’ to upset draft boards and make a mockery of three months of mock drafts. That said, Lee is a relatively safe choice who should move quickly through the minors with an incredibly well-developed approach and skill set. I’d put the chances of him being around at eight overall at about ten percent. If he is, the Twins should be sprinting to the podium. What are your thoughts on the Twins drafting Brooks Lee? Do you think he’s a good fit for Minnesota? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Why is the farm system 'vaunted'? I think it's widely acknowledged to be the weakest its been in a long time.

So many kinder ways you could share that I made an error

The Twins dropped the opener of their two game series against the Brewers 6-3. Josh Winder struggled, the offense had little to offer, and three rain delays piled on the misery. Box Score Starting Pitcher: Josh Winder 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2 HR (85 pitches, 55 strikes) Homeruns: Jorge Polanco (13) Bottom 3 WPA: Josh Winder -.349, Gio Urshela -.169, Byron Buxton -.100 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) On Tuesday evening, after an off day, the Twins opened a two-game series against the Brewers, as part of a six-game homestand leading into the All-Star break. Here’s how the Twins lined up behind Josh Winder. Josh Winder, coming off a strong performance last time out, was looking to help the Twins rotation get back on track after significant recent struggles. In the top of the first inning, Andrew McCutchen drilled a two-run home run into the flower boxes in right field, giving the Brewers an early 2-0 lead. Brewers starting pitcher Jason Alexander hardly looked impressive to begin the game, almost beginning the game with back to back walks but being bailed out by some poor Twins at bats. In the second inning, the Twins cut the lead to one, with a solo shot to right field from Jorge Polanco, who has been incandescent since returning from the IL. Rain was the other significant factor early in the game Both of Gio Urshela’s first two at-bats were interrupted for the first two rain delays of the game, in the second and fourth inning respectively. After returning from the second rain delay, Winder ran into trouble. He walked Jace Peterson to lead off the inning, before a Jonathan Davis single scored Peterson from second. Willy Adames then hit his 18th home run of the year, a two run shot, to increase the lead to 5-2. It was a poor inning from Winder to cap what has been a desperate stretch from the rotation. Therein lies the frustration of the 2022 Twins at the moment. One phase of the team always seems to be struggling. After Carlos Correa hit into a double play to quickly cancel out a Luis Arraez walk in the bottom of the fifth inning, the game went into its third rain delay. After a 66 minute break, the teams resumed in the top of the sixth inning, with Trevor Megill relieving Josh Winder. Andrew McCutchen led off with a single before a throwing error from Megill on a pickoff attempt moved him to second base. Megill then threw a middle-middle fastball to Jace Peterson, who singled, extending the lead to 6-2. The Twins had a rally going in the sixth inning, with a two out walk to Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff getting grazed by a pitch. Kyle Garlick pinch-hit for Nick Gordon and was hit to load the bases. Gio Urshela grounded to short to end the threat and keep the lead 6-2. Megill and Jovani Moran combined for a scoreless seventh inning. The Twins clawed a run back in the bottom of the seventh. Luis Arraez just missed a home run to right center field, settling for a double. After a Carlos Correa single and a Byron Buxton fielders choice, the score was trimmed to 6-3 in favor of the Brewers. Moran added a scoreless eight inning before the Brewers bullpen heavy hitters went to work. Devin Williams entered the game and made the Twins look silly, inducing two weak groundouts and striking out Kyle Garlick in the eighth. Josh Hader entered the game in the ninth and that was the game. The loss drops the Twins to 48-41. Cleveland and Chicago split a double header. The Twins lead the AL Central by 3.5 games over Cleveland and 5 over the White Sox. Bullpen Usage Chart THU FRI SAT SUN TUE TOT Duffey 0 0 26 21 0 47 Megill 0 0 22 0 24 46 Cotton 0 42 0 0 0 42 Thielbar 0 13 0 23 0 36 Duran 0 0 14 16 0 30 Jax 0 0 15 11 0 26 Pagan 0 10 0 0 13 23 Moran 0 0 0 0 22 22 Next Up On Wednesday, the Twins will conclude their series against the Brewers. Joe Ryan goes for Minnesota against Aaron Ashby for Milwaukee. First pitch is 12:10 CT. Postgame Interviews - Coming Soon View full article