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In recent years, it has been fun to follow the Twins draft, especially during the really bad years when the Twins received some very high draft picks. For me, it’s also fun to hear the names of Minnesota natives get selected and get the opportunity to live out a dream. Today, we take a quick glimpse to see which Minnesotans could be drafted. It is unusual to have Minnesota natives in the first round. Guys like Joe Mauer and Glen Perkins are rare. But last year, Burnsville’s Sam Carlson was a second-round pick of the Mariners. Michael Baumann, a Mahtomedi graduate who went to Jacksonville University, was a third-round pick. The Twins drafted Woodbury’s Max Meyer late in the draft a year ago. He didn’t sign and he’s currently the closer for the NCAA regional-hosting Gophers. UPDATED - See bottom of article for results of draft. Where were Minnesotans selected?As we are just days away from the 2018 MLB Draft, there are a few Minnesota natives that could find themselves drafted in the first ten rounds of the draft. And that Gophers baseball team that faced the Twins in an exhibition game in February could have as many as eight players drafted this year. We’ll get to those Gophers, but let’s start with the guy who just might be the highest player from Minnesota to be drafted. SEAN HJELLE Hjelle graduated from Mahtomedi High School three years ago. Despite being 6-10 and working with an upper-80s fastball, he went undrafted. He decided to go to the University of Kentucky. He worked out of their bullpen as a freshman. Last year as a sophomore, he moved into their rotation and was the SEC Pitcher of the Year. Now 6-11, Hjelle sits in the 92-94 range with his fastball and touches 95 and 96 at times. He also has a good changeup and curveball, both pitches in the low 80s. Unlike many tall pitchers, Hjelle is very coordinated and has a very repeatable delivery. He is expected to be taken anywhere from the late first round to the early second round. JAKE IRVIN The Minnesota Twins drafted the Bloomington Jefferson grad in the 37th round of the 2015 draft. He chose to attend Oklahoma where he has become a Friday night starter and an All American. He has gone 18-7 during his three years. In 2018, he is 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA. He struck out 109 batters in 91 2/3 innings (just 24 walks). At 6-6 and 225 pounds, he’s got a great build for a pitcher. He’s got good mechanics and a fastball that reaches to 93-94 mph. He also throws a slider and a changeup as well. He could be drafted as high as the second round and should be selected before the fifth round ends. SETH HALVORSEN There are a lot of good high school starting pitchers in the draft this year, and Seth Halversen from Heritage Christian Academy is the tops from Minnesota. He has a commitment to the University of Missouri where he would pitch and play shortstop. In terms of the draft, it is clear that he would be seen as a pitcher. He considers himself a shortstop first, but he obviously understands that he’s got a big arm. He has a very strong arm and has hit 95 and even 96 on some radar guns this spring. He also has a hard slider in the upper 70s that could be a real good pitch. In comparison to Carlson, Halvorsen is much more raw. But he’s got good size and big potential. He could be taken as early as the late second round. He should be taken in the third or fourth rounds. But as always, money will factor into it and if he doesn’t get his number, he could fall and happily head to Missouri. AIDAN MALDONADO Maldonado attends Rosemount High School and has a commitment to play at Illinois next year. However, he is an intriguing draft possibility. While he stands just 6-0 tall and weighs in at just 175 pounds, he has already been clocked up to 95 mph. He’s got a real smooth delivery with efficient arm action along with a three-pitch mix. Right now, he primarily works anywhere from 88-92 mph but he’s got room to add more velocity. He fits in as a potential fifth to seventh round pick though signability may push him back a few rounds, or potentially down to the later rounds for a team willing to take a flyer. GUS VARLAND Varland has a lot of steam. The right-hander from Concordia-St. Paul has reached 97 mph with his fastball this spring. He went 7-1 with a 1.04 ERA his junior season. In 60 1/3 innings, he struck out 79 and walked 14. He’s high energy and kind of a max effort guy. He’s got a decent slider too. Probably profiles as a reliever eventually, especially as he’s just 6-1 and 190 pounds. The North St. Paul graduate could be a Day 2 draft pick. His brother (Louie) has a very similar profile and could be drafted next year. THE GOPHERS The Gophers are having a remarkable season. When we talked to some of their seniors on the podcast before the season, there was definitely an excitement. The theme then was that they had a veteran lineup and some very talented, but very young pitchers. Today, they host their first regional tournament in over a decade as they take on Canisius. There could be anywhere from five to eight Gophers drafted, and here is a little bit about each. TERRIN VAVRA Vavra is the son of long-time Twins coach Joe Vavra (now with the Tigers) and the brother of former Twins minor leaguers Tanner Vavra and Trey Vavra. As good as those two were, there was an acceptance that Terrin had the most talent. The Menomonie, Wisconsin, native received a late offer from the Gophers and accepted. Just this week, he was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America. In 53 games, he’s hit .385/.458/.620 (1.078) with 11 doubles, three triples and ten home runs. He could got as high as the fourth or fifth round of the draft. Listen to Terrin’s appearance on my podcast. BEN MEZZENGA The Shoreview native attended Totino-Grace High School. Now a junior, he got a bigger opportunity to play and took advantage. In 54 games played, Mezzenga hit .381/.470/.440 (.910) with eight doubles and a triple. He’s stolen 11 bases. He’s a real good athlete who can play all around the outfield. He could be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick. ALEX BOXWELL The outfielder is a senior from Coon Rapids. He was injured during his junior season which likely cost him from being drafted and also caused him to miss the Cape Cod League opportunity. This season, he's hitting .264/.315/.393 (.708) with seven doubles, a triple and four homers. He also has a team-leading 19 stolen bases. Boxwell is intriguing because he is a such a good athlete. He's got power potential and great speed. REGGIE MEYER In 15 starts this year for the Gophers, Meyer is 7-3 with a 2.75 ERA. In 95 innings, he’s walked 13 and struck out 65. Meyer is a redshirt junior who also went to Totino-Grace in high school. He went 5-1 in 2017. He stands 6-4 and 210 pounds. He’s pitched real well for the Gophers late in the year and threw a complete game shutout in the Big 10 tournament. He tops out right around 90, but he’s got a good feel for pitching and command of three pitches. He’s got a year of eligibility remaining, so he may come back even when he gets selected sometime on Day 3. NICK LACKNEY The 6-4, 205 pound left-hander is from Wisconsin Bay, but he chose to attend Minnesota. After working in relief his first two Gophers seasons, he made 10 starts for them in 2018. He went 4-2 despite an ERA over five. He struck out 43 batters in 45 2/3 innings. The numbers may not jump off the charts, but he’s left-handed and throws into the 90s. Could be a Day 3 pick, though he likely would come back for his senior season. JACKSON ROSE Rose is a senior from Omaha who would love to finish his college career playing at the College World Series in Omaha. The 6-2 right-hander has really become a reliable bullpen option for John Anderson. This year, he worked 27 innings over 20 appearances. He posted a 2.00 ERA. He struck out 26 batters and walked 13. Probably a late-round flyer. JAKE STEVENSON Jake Stevenson is a hard-throwing right-hander. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, he’s strong and his velocity is now reaching into the low and mid-90s. He made seven starts and worked out of the bullpen five times. The junior from Waconia posted a 5.52 ERA, and in 29 1/3 innings, he walked 16 and struck out 15. So, based on the numbers, you can see why it is the scouting stuff that could make him a late-round pick. MICAH COFFEY Coffey came to Minnesota from Batavia, Illinois. The 6-1, 200 pound corner infielder has had a really strong career with the Gophers. He got off to a slow start this year, but he’s now hitting .281/.370/.414 (.784) with nine doubles, two triples and five home runs. He is a good athlete with a strong arm and a good approach at the plate and potential to hit for some power. Listen to Micah’s appearance on my podcast which also included Clark Beeker, Hector Lujan and Cory Provus.. TOBY HANSON Hanson was off to a fast start in his senior season. He had a strong junior season in which he played all 57 games and returned for his senior year. Unfortunately, a wrist injury cost him nearly a month and slowed down his numbers. Overall, he’s’ still hit .306/.382/.439 (.821) with 14 doubles, two triples and a homer. At 6-2 and 220 pounds,, he does have potential to hit for power (when his wrists are right). The Delano grad has played a lot of first base but early this year he was playing in right field as well. Listen to Toby’s appearanceon my podcast which also includes Aaron Slegers, Royce Lewis, Brent Rooker and Alex Kirilloff. LUKE PETTERSEN Pettersen has played all four seasons for the Gophers since joining the school from Minnetonka High School. The 6-0, 185 pound, second baseman has been the team’s leadoff hitter throughout his senior season. He is hitting .333/.415/.414 (.829) with 13 doubles, one triple and his first college home run. His 13 stolen bases led the team. Luke’s brother AJ played for the Gophers and was the Twins 25th round pick in 2011 and spent four years in the organization. Luke Pettersen appeared on the first episode of my podcast (with Jonathan Mayo, Stephen Gonsalves, LaMonte Wade and Tyler Wells) and then Episode 7 of the podcast (with Dick Bremer, Jake Reed, Jordan Gore and Pat Mahomes). While Vavra could be drafted in the first five rounds or so, it’s really hard to predict where the seniors will be drafted. As you know, senior-signs can help a team stay under its draft allotment because they sign for way below slot value. Most of them will be selected sometime on Day 3. OTHER POSSIBLE DRAFT PICKS Here are a few more Minnesota-related names to remember as you watch and listen to the draft next week. DALTON ROACH As a junior, Roach went 10-1 with a 1.56 ERA for Mankato. He struck out 128 and walked just 12 batters in 86 2/3 innings. He went undrafted despite the big numbers. He returned for his senior season and went 8-2 with a 3.30 ERA. In 71 innings, he walked 15 and struck out 86. He has an upper-80s fastball that reaches into the low-90s. He’s got four pitches and could be a mid-Day 3 pick by the right team. HENRY DeCASTER DeCaster is a junior at St. Thomas. The right-handed pitcher went 8-3 with a 2.42 ERA for the Tommies in 2018. The Mounds View graduate stands 6-3 and 190 pounds, so he’s got room to grow. His fastball sits in the upper 80s and reaches into the 90s. Possible late-round pick. NICOLAS JUIAIRE Juiaire goes to Lakeville North High School. The catcher has committed to Texas Christian University. He doesn’t have the size typically seen in a higher draft pick, but he’s worth watching. He’s just 5-8 and 175 pounds. He’s good behind the plate. He’s got a strong and accurate arm. He’s got quick feet. He frequently has “pop times” below 2.0. He is a switch hitter with gap-to-gap power. He’s had a solid spring offensively. He’s a real good athlete and could be a later-round draft pick for someone. DYLAN TEBRAKE The right-hander from Rocori High School has had several scouts at most of his starts this year. Over a year ago, he committed to play at Creighton University in Omaha. He has had a strong season this year In fact, he threw seven innings of a no hitter against a Parker Hageman led Holy Angels team this year. In another game about two weeks ago, he was taken out at 75 pitches on a Tuesday. Why? To appease pro scouts who wanted to see him on that Saturday. NATHANIEL PETERSON Peterson is another player from Lakeville North. He has committed to Oklahoma State. The lefty from Lakeville North generally got pretty good control of a fastball that reaches 90 or just a tick above,, and he’s got a good feel for his secondary pitches. He stands 5-11, or maybe 6-0, so if he grows, he’s got room for improvement. Likely a late-round pick, if selected at all this year. He may be one to remember for the 2021 draft though. DAVID RODERICK Roderick is a right-hander who reaches back and throws over 90 mph with his fastball already. He has really come a long way in the last couple of years. He was a very skinny kid with an awkward motion and delivery as recently as two years ago. But he’s filled out and the Minnetonka grad is now throwing harder with a much more fluid delivery. He is committed to Oklahoma. If the right scout saw him on the right day, he could be drafted in the teens, but with a strong commitment, he’s likely headed to college. There should be several Minnesotans drafted next week in the 2018 MLB Draft. There are even three or four of these guys who will be drafted in the top five rounds. If you want to get excited about the 2019 MLB Draft, names like Matt Wallner and Michael Busch could be first-round picks. Feel free to discuss the names mentioned above, and let me know if I missed anyone. UPDATED The draft is complete. Here is a list of Minnesotans drafted: Sean Hjelle - RHP - 2nd round - (Kentucky, Mahtomedi HS) Terrin Vavra - SS - 3rd round - Colorado Rockies (Gophers) Luke Becker - 2B - 9th round - San Diego Padres (Kentucky, ,Fairmont, MN) Gus Varland - RHP - 14th round - Oakland A's (North St. Paul, Concordia St. Paul) Jacob Rhinesmith - OF - 18th round - Washington Nationals (Western Kentucky, Shakopee HS) Ryan Tapani - RHP - 21st round - Washington Nationals (Creighton, Providence Academy) Dalton Roach - RHP - 21st round - Houston Astros (Minn State - Mankato) Kellin Rholl - LHP - 25th round - Cleveland (Angelo St., Mound View) Zach Seipel - RHP - 27th round - Atlanta (UM-Crookston, Eagan)) Micah Coffey - SS - 30th round - Chicago White Sox (Gophers) Seth Halvorsen - RHP - 30th round - Minnesota Twins (Heritage Christian Academy) Jackson Rose - RHP - 35th round - Miami Marlins (Gophers) Tyler Reichenborn - OF - 35th round - LA Dodgers (Iowa Western CC, Blaine HS) Brandon Williamson - LHP - 36th round - Milwaukee Brewers (North Iowa Area CC, Welcome, MN) Reggie Meyer - RHP - 38th round - Texas Rangers (Gophers, Totino-Grace) Aidan Maldonado - RHP - 38th round - Milwaukee Brewers (Rosemount HS) Click here to view the article

On Monday night, Seth was joined by three new guests on Episode 9 of his weekly Twins On Deck Podcast. Leading off the show was Gophers junior shortstop Terrin Vavra. He was followed by Twins right-handed pitching prospect Randy Dobnak. The final guest was the Twins Scouting Director Sean Johnson. You can listen the entire show here, or go to iTunes and search "Minnesota Sports Weekly."It was a fun-filled episode of Twins On Deck last night. As the season gets going, we're likely to have just three guests each week rather than the five guests we've had throughout the offseason. Today in Ft. Myers, minor leaguers will be reporting to spring training. It's obviously a big day for over 100 MLB hopefuls as they get a new opportunity to make an impression and move up the ladder. The last name of our first guest is familiar to Twins fans. Terrin Vavra is the son of former Twins coach (hitting coach, bench coach, etc.) Joe Vavra who joined Ron Gardenhire's staff in Detroit this offseason. He is the younger brother of former Twins minor leaguers Tanner Vavra and Trey Vavra. Terrin is the shortstop for the Minnesota Gophers again this year, and he's off to a fantastic start.Through the team's first 12 games, he is hitting .420/.482/.580 (1.062) with a double, two triples and a home run. We discussed Tanner's youth and some of his memories from being in the Twins clubhouse at Metrodome, Target Field and Hammond Stadium. But we also talk about his terrific season and career-to-date at the University of Minnesota. Not only is he hitting, but he's got just one error on the season at shortstop. The second guest may be a more unfamiliar name to many Twins fans, but he certainly is intriguing. Randy Dobnak went to Division II Alderson Broadus University in West Virginia where he was a four-year starting pitcher. He went undrafted and was set to play in the USPBL (United Shores Professional Baseball League) when he got a call from the Twins. He quickly signed and reported to Elizabethton. He then joined the Cedar Rapids Kernels and made a start for them at the end of the season, and another in the playoffs. I often say that it's a lot of fun to follow the top prospects and the first round picks, but the stories of the four-year college guys and the non-drafted free agents are often just as fun and more interesting. Find out about Dobnak's background and what he's got that made him interesting to the Twins staff. Finally, we were joined by the Twins Scouting Director, Sean Johnson. Now working hard for his second draft in charge, Johnson noted the he watched 11 baseball games in four days last weekend, came home for part of a day, and then flew out again to watch a lot more baseball. It's amazing what the scouts do for an organization, usually without my fanfare. Get to know Sean's path from player at Wichita State, to Twins area scout and up to the Scouting Director position. Learn what the Twins look for in scouts and what the schedule really looks like for them. We discussed the collaboration between the scouting department and the front office and even the on-field staff. As he noted, "We want to get everybody’s opinion on a topic." For instance, later this month, Johnson and some of the scouting supervisors will be at spring training for a few days to meet with people. "We’re going to have a video meeting with our player development, mainly the coaches. We’re going to (discuss) some guys that we’re considering at pick 20, that we think might be there, and get their insight. What do you think of this delivery? What do you think of this swing? Which we did last year as well and it was super helpful on guys like Royce Lewis and Blayne Enlow, just to name a couple. The insights that they gave us kind of kept us in the race on those guys and gave us confidence to take them. So there’s no boundaries here when we talk about decision-making across the board, whether it’s scouting or whether to move a guy up in player development. There’s a lot of people who get asked their opinion which really connects this group, and I think it’s at a level it’s never been at before and it feels really good to get it to that level." Speaking of Royce Lewis. He was a guest on Episode 2 and Episode 8 of the Twins On Deck Podcast. He continues to note that he had no idea that the Twins were going to take him at #1 until he heard the selection on TV. So I asked Sean how long before they made the pick they knew they were going to take Royce Lewis. "Going back to that day, we tried to keep the decision open until the very end. Some of that is talking to the agents, but like I’ve said, Royce was our guy. This was the guy we wanted, our group wanted. So it was a matter of making sure we could get the agreement done with Scott Boras and his group." Johnson continued, "He’s telling the truth. He didn’t know because, I’m going to say, seven minutes before the draft we knew were were taking him. He couldn’t have known. His reaction, you could tell if you were watching on TV, he was truly… that was real emotion, which is who he is. He’s a great kid, as you know and as most of the Twins fans will come to know. He’s just as good of a kid as you can come across, and we’re glad to have him." There's so much more interesting discussion with Sean Johnson and with all three of our guests in this week's podcast, so be sure to check it out. And if you haven't, see below for a listing of the guests from the previous episodes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To listen to Monday night's show, click here. Either way, you'll want to listen and learn more about some Twins minor leaguers and more. Also, if you subscribe to "Minnesota Sports Weekly" on iTunes, you'll also be able to listen to these shows. PREVIOUS EPISODES While you're eagerly anticipating tonight's show, tune in to some of the previous episodes... Episode 1: Twins (LaMonte Wade, Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Wells), Gophers (Luke Pettersen), MLB.com's prospect guru Jonathan Mayo. Episode 2: Twins (Aaron Slegers, Alex Kirilloff, Brent Rooker, Royce Lewis), Gophers (Toby Hanson) Episode 3: Twins (Bryan Sammons, Ryley Widell, Zack Littell, Travis Blankenhorn), Gophers (Alex Boxwell) Episode 4: Twins (Zack Granite, Nelson Molina, Lewis Thorpe, Josh Rabe), and Baseball HQ prospect guru, Chris Blessing. Episode 5: Twins prospects Charlie Barnes, Alex Robles, Tyler Watson, David Banuelos. Episode 6: Twins prospects Clark Beeker and Hector Lujan, Gopher senior infielder Micah Coffey, and Twins radio voice Cory Provus. Episode 7: Twins prospects Jake Reed and Jordan Gore, Gophers senior infielder Luke Pettersen, former Twins pitcher Pat Mahomes, and Twins TV voice Dick Bremer. Episode 8: Twins prospects Royce Lewis, Trey Cabbage and Sean Miller, former Twins prospect and current Miracle hitting coach Steve Singleton, and former Twins prospect and Gophers shortstop AJ Pettersen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, take a moment and join this year's Twins Adopt-A-Prospect. Get to know all about a Twins prospect, start a forum thread for them and then brag them up throughout the season. Check it out right here. Click here to view the article

It’s a busy time of year for the Gophers baseball program. On Tuesday, they played NDSU. On Thursday, they played a game against Hawaii. Today, they completed the Dairy Queen Classic by playing Iowa after playing Oral Roberts on Friday and Hawaii on Saturday. The schedule doesn’t slow down as they will play South Dakota State on Tuesday night and Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Then they’ll play a three-game series against Missouri State. That will end their 13-game homestand at US Bank Stadium.Today, we get to know more about right-handed pitcher Tim Shannon. Coming into the season, he had pitched in 52 career games for the Gophers including 23 starts. This year, he has been working out of the bullpen for the Gophers (and making a fairly significant mechanical alteration). The Hopkins graduate grew up miles away from the Metrodome (and now Target Field) and was a big Twins fans. Let’s spend a little time today getting to know him. Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Hopkins, were you a big Twins fan? Did you get to many games? Who were some of your favorite ballplayers? Tim Shannon (TS): I was always a huge Twins fan, and my family actually had season tickets for most of my childhood. I went to tons of games, and a good amount of playoff games as well, including Game 163 against the Tigers in 2009 which was definitely a highlight. My favorite players were Delmon Young, Alexi Casilla, and Michael Cuddyer. SS: What were some of the highlights of your high school career? TS: High school baseball was a phenomenal experience for me, and I have a lot of great memories from it. If I had to pick one, it would be a win that I got against Wayzata in 2012 to get into the state tournament. SS: What was it about the University of Minnesota that made you decide to play for the Gophers? TS: I really wanted to be part of the Gopher baseball family. I knew many of the guys on the team, and had heard nothing but good things about the coaches and support staff. SS: Have you played summer ball through your college years? TS: I have played in the Northwoods League with the Waterloo Bucks. My time in summer ball has been some of my favorite in the sport, and I made a lot of good friends in my time there. The Northwoods League is also a tremendous place to grow as a collegiate player and gain experience. SS: Which pitches do you throw, and what makes you successful on the mound? TS: This is my first year as a submariner, and so far it has been a blast. I rely mostly on deception and movement, and throw a sinking fastball, a frisbee slider, and a ridiculously slow changeup. SS: What have been some of the highlights of your time with the Gophers? TS: The big one is obviously winning the Big Ten Title in 2016. The team we had that year was a special group of guys that were really close on and off the field, and the things that we had to deal with off the field, including the passing of Todd Oakes, only worked to bring us closer. As far as personal highlights, my first career start came on the road at the University of Texas and I pitched pretty well. The next day, Auggie Garrido came and found me and told me he was impressed with the way that I threw, and that was a really cool moment for me. SS: What are your goals for the 2017 season? TS: My goals for the 2017 season are to help out in any way that I can out of the bullpen. One of the perks of being a submarine guy is that it doesn't take much of a toll on my arm, so I should be available for many of the games which is exciting for me. I also hope to grow as a leader on and off the field, especially as one of the older guys on the team. SS: What is your major, and what are your career goals going forward? (How does baseball fit into that equation?) TS: I am a political science major, and a sport management minor. I am hoping to go to law school down the road, and would love to work as an agent within the baseball field. Thank you to Tim Shannon for taking time to answer our questions. We certainly wish him continued success throughout the season and beyond. GOPHER NOTES On Thursday, Hawaii topped the Gophers 11-2, though going into the ninth inning, it was a 5-2 game. Terrin Vavra went 3-4 with a stolen base in the game. Micah Coffey went 2-4 with a double. Jordan Smith added his first home run of the year. Friday night, the Gophers played Oral Roberts in their first game of the Dairy Queen Classic. It went to the 13th inning when catcher Cole McDevitt hit a sacrifice fly to win the game. McDevitt went 2-4 with a walk and two RBIs in the game. Jordan Smith went 2-5 with a walk and a double. Terrin Vavra also had two hits. Ben Mezzenga went 1-4 with two walks. Lucas Gilbreath had his best start of the year. He gave up two unearned runs in the first inning and ended with six innings of just one-hit baseball. He walked three and struck out five. Jackson Rose threw two scoreless innings. Brian Glowicki gave up a run in his two innings. Nick Lackney finished the game with three shutout innings with a walk and three strikeouts. On Saturday night, the Twins were unable to get the bats going against Hawaii, falling 4-0. Brett Schulze started and was solid again. The freshman worked five innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. Tim Shannon struck out two over the final five outs. Terrin Vavra was 2-4 with a stolen base. Luke Pettersen was 1-3 with a walk. On Sunday, the Gophers played an afternoon game against Iowa. It won’t count as a Big 10 game, but the Gophers were able to pick up a 6-3 win. Toby Anderson was on the mound to start the game. He gave up a three-run homer in the first inning, but he settled down nicely. In total, he went six innings and gave up three runs on three hits. He walked four and struck out four. Nick Lackney got the next five outs, and Brian Glowicki recorded the final four outs for the save. Ben Mezzenga led off and went 2-4 with a walk. Luke Pettersen also went 2-4. Jordan Smith went 1-3 with a walk and his second home run. Micah Coffey was 1-3 with a walk, a double and a couple of RBIs. In the four games, shortstop Terrin Vavra went a combined 7-17 (.412) with a couple of stolen bases. After starting the season 5-27, it was a nice turnaround for the infielder. Vavra has more Twins ties that most. His father is Joe Vavra, the Twins current bench coach who has served the organization for a couple of decades. His brother Tanner Vavra spent three seasons in the Twins farm system, reaching Ft. Myers and twice being awarded a Harmon Killebrew Award. He spent 2016 with the St. Paul Saints. Another older brother, Trey Vavra, is a first baseman in the Twins system. He spent 2016 with the Miracle. He’s been named to his league’s All-Star team each of the last two years.Senior Jordan Smith also had a strong four-game weekend. He went 5-15 (.333) with two walks, a double and two home runs. The senior from Eden Prairie plays left field for the Gophers.Coming into the weekend, Luke Pettersen led the country with a .667 batting average. He went 3-13 with a walk in the Dairy Queen Classic. He is now hitting .529 (18-34) on the season.Micah Coffey leads the team with nine RBIs. Smith and Toby Hanson each have eight.Nick Lackney is a left-handed reliever from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. He has appeared in four games and pitched nine innings. He has yet to give up a run. He has given up just one hit and struck out seven. He also has seven walks.Again, things stay busy this week for the Gophers. The 13-game US Bank homestand is eight games over. There will be five more games there for baseball fans to watch over the next week. Again South Dakota State will be here on Tuesday, and Milwaukee will be there on Wednesday. Missouri State then comes in for a three-game series next weekend. Then they are on the road for a couple of weeks. Feel free to discuss the Gophers, the Dairy Queen Classic and more. Feel free to ask questions and discuss college baseball. Click here to view the article