Nothing preppy about Minnesota's top four picks.

Pick #22:  Kyle Gibson, RHP
U Missouri Columbia
Age:  21

Looking around the 'net at scouting reports on Gibson, there are a lot of things that come up every time.

• Three-pitch pitcher, leading with a solid fastball
  
• He's tall and maybe a bit too thin
• Good makeup
• Already has mound presence
• Good command
• Very projectable

Where the reports vary, primarily there are two points of dissention.  First, either his changeup is already a plus-pitch and better than his slider, or it's not much more than a "show me" pitch; one he can throw just to let hitters know its there and to keep them from sitting on the fastball or slider.  Second, how projectable is he?  Either he's a guy who fits as a strong number two type, or he looks mid-rotation.  Right now the Twins have plenty of mid-rotation types, so it would be great to see Gibson fully healthy and comfortable in 2010 to see where he's at. He'll turn 22 before the end of the MLB playoffs.

Thoughts:  It would have been hard to pick a better pitcher at this point in the draft.  There may have been lower-risk ones on the board, but none with the potential ceiling.  I'm more than pleased with the selection of Gibson.

Pick #46:  Matthew Bashore, LHP
Indiana University
Age:  21

Just 21 in April, Bashore has been a strikeout pitcher the last couple of seasons.  He was a big part of Indiana U's pitching staff, largel as a stater.  His fastball is good, upper-80's to low-90's with good vertical and horizontal movement according to scouting reports.  Bashore's biggest challenge as he makes the transition to the professional ranks will be to add a second quality pitch.  And then hopefully a third.  Right now it sounds like his breaking ball is below average, and the off-speed pitch is entirely a "show-me" offering.  Without another pitch to compliment his fastball, with Bashore's physical abilities he could still put up some good numbers in the lower levels of the farm.  But if he wants to succeed, even as a reliever, pitch development is a must.

Thoughts:  To me, Bashore is a project.  But if the Twins can get him to up the game on his secondary pitches he could be in the Minnesota bullpen in 2012.

Pick #70:  Billy Bullock, RHP
U of Florida
Age:  21

Bullock improved his stock over the last three months.  Ih March, nobody knew about him.  But from April on, he became the best collegiate closer in the draft.  Where his fastball used to settle in the upper-80's and low-90's, be started touching 96-98 every time out.  Whether his delivery was tweaked to tap that velocity potential or whether he just started letting loose, I have no diea, but I do know that some scouts have graded his fastball as an All-Star pitch.  His secondary pitches need work, but at this point in the draft that's not really a surprise.  The slider needs a little angle on it, as well as consistency in quality and control.  His changeup has no movement with velocity in the lower 80's, which wouldn't be so bad with that fastball, except that he telegraphs it by slowing down his arm.  The mechanics need work, because right now he isn't too fluid in the second half of his delivery, but there's no denying that the Twins must really like his arm strength and that fastball.  ESPN brings up that the pitcher most like him from the 2008 draft class, Ryan Perry, is currently in MLB.

Thoughts:  The fastball intrigues me, but I'm curious about whee the velocity spike came from. And even with an upper-90's fastball, which he'll need to take a litte off of to retain command of anyway, a one-pitch pitcher won't find success very often.  If he develops another pitch or two though, he could be vey exciting.

Pick #101:  Ben Tootle, RHP
Jacksonville State U
Age:  21

Early in the college season, Tootle was seen as a solid first-round choice.  Then he caught a bug, which kept him out for about a month; when he returned he'd lost weight, and velocity off of his incredible fastball.  His stock fell.  He recovered, getting the fastball back up to 97 mph, but what happened in the interum was enough to keep him out of the first round.  Tootle has a very high leg kick, which appears to help him get drive off the rubber.  Right now he categorizes as a two-pitch power pitcher, with a relatively flat (but very fast) fastball and a hard slider (or curve, depending on the report).  All reports are uniform on his chaneup, which needs a lot of work.  He definitely projects as a bullpen arm, but while his fastball isn't rated as highly as Bullock's, his breaking ball/fastball combination potential both grade out above average.  He's aggressive on the mound, and with two quality pitches could move quickly.

Thoughts:  Tootle is a great selection for the third round.  As long as he's healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if he's the first of this group to reach the majors.

Matt Bashore
Pos:  LHP
School:  Indiana University
Born:  4-6-1988
Height:  6' 32
Weight:  200 lbs
Bats:  Left
Throws:  Left

From The Baseball Cube:

Control:  25
K-Rating:  82
Efficiency:  51

Pitching Statistics

Select clippings from ESPN's Insider scouting report:

89-92 mph fastball that sinks and cuts...below-average curveball 78-80 mph..."show me" changeup...three-quarter delivery...currently lacks a quality second pitch...

Kyle Gibson
Pos:  RHP
School:  U Missouri Columbia, MO
Born:  10-23-1987
Height:  6' 6"
Weight:  210 lbs
Bats:  Right
Throws:  Right

From MLB.com's Draft Reports:  "Projectable as a front-of-the-rotation type...complete package of stuff, presence and command...low-90's fastball, hard slider and plus changeup..."

Selections from ESPN's Insider scouting report on Gibson:

Good, downhill-plane fastball...changeup and slider project as plus pitches, with the changeup better right now...command and control above average...one of the better delieveries in the draft, but has a strong recoil...projects to be middle-rotation starter very quickly...

From Saber Scouting, a great site:

Physical Description - Perfect pitcher’s body. Ultra projectable, long legs. Thin as a rail, plenty of room to grow and bulk up. Square shoulders, looks like a coat hanger. Not yet physically mature. Built like a younger Mark Prior.

Fastball - Sits at 88-90, touches 91. There is plenty more to come. Huge projection, looks like he’s throwing much harder. Throws a heavy ball with good, late life. Easy mechanics makes the ball appear to be jumping out of his hand. Has command east to west but need to work down in the zone. Should soon be sitting 92-93 plus life, could dominate with fastballs down in the zone.

Slider - 80-83 hard slider with 10-4 break. Near unhittable when spotted against right-handers. Has trouble spotting vs. lefties. Plus pitch when located but he needs to find more consistency. Stays on top, rarely hangs it. Can throw for strikes and bury it also. Legitimate strikeout pitch.

Changeup - 79-81 MPH changeup is rarely used. Does not trust it and shows to be essentially a two-pitch pitcher. Very straight, this pitch needs a lot of work. Alters arm speed and lacks feel. He needs this pitch to combat lefties. Big hole in his arsenal.

Mechanics - Smooth, easy arm action, shouldn’t have serious arm problems. Very little effort. Has a pause in his delivery just before his release, allows his arm to catch up. Drifts out over the rubber, weight leaks forwards, costs him a few ticks of his velocity. Doesn’t drive with his legs, relies on his fast arm. Throws over the top, creating good downward action. No windup.

Notes - Not a pitcher at this stage, more of a thrower. Projection is key. Needs to get stronger. Natural movement keeps him away from the middle of the plate. Doesn’t look like a natural athlete, awkward fielding his position. Likes to work insider. Easy delivery appears to lull hitters and makes his fastball more effective.

Adjusted Overall Future Potential: 63

Present Group: P, Future Group: A-

Projected Role: #2 starter

Draft Projection: Top Ten Picks (’09)

Ratings from The Baseball Cube:

Control:  89
K-Rating:  98
Efficiency:  92

Pitching Statistics

Round 1 Archives
Pick 1:  Washington Nationals, Stephen Strausburg, RHP
Pick 2:  Seattle Mariners, Dustin Ackley, CF/1B
Pick 3:  San Diego Padres, Donavan Tate, CF
Pick 4:  Pittsburgh Pirates, Jorge Sanchez, C
Pick 5:  Baltimore Orioles, Matthew Hobgood, RHP
Pick 6:  San Francisco Giants, Zack Wheeler, RHP
Pick 7:  Atlanta Braves, Mike Minor, LHP
Pick 8:  Cincinnati Reds, Mike Leake, RHP
Pick 9:  Detroit Tigers, Jacob Turner, RHP
Pick 10:  Washington Nationals, Drew Storen, RHP
Pick 11:  Colorado Rockies, Tyler Matzek, LHP
Pick 12:  Kansas City Royals, Aaron Crow, RHP
Pick 13:  Oakland Athletics, Grant Green, SS
Pick 14:  Texas Rangers, Matt Purke, LHP
Pick 15:  Cleveland Indians:  Alex White, RHP
Pick 16:  Arizona Diamondbacks:  Bobby Borchering, 3B
Pick 17:  Arizona Diamondbacks:  A.J. Pollock, CF
Pick 18:  Florida Marlins:  Chad James, LHP
Pick 19:  St. Louis Cardinals:  Shelby Miller, RHP
Pick 20:  Toronto Blue Jays:  Chad Jenkins, RHP
Pick 21:  Houston Astros, Jiovanni Mier, SS
Pick 22:  Minnesota Twins, Kyle Gibson, RHP
Pick 23:  Chicago White Sox, Jared Mitchell, CF
Pick 24:  Los Angeles Angels, Randal Grichuk, RF
Pick 25:  Los Angeles Angels, Mike Trout, CF
Pick 26:  Milwaukee Brewers, Eric Arnett, RHP
Pick 27:  Seattle Mariners, Nick Franklin, SS 
Pick 28:  Boston Red Sox, Reymond Fuentes, CF
Pick 29:  New York Yankees, Zack Heathcott, CF
Pick 30:  Tampa Bay Rays, LeVon Washington, 2B
Pick 31:  Chicago Cubs, Brett Jackson, CF
Pick 32:  Colorado Rockies, Tim Wheeler, CF

Continue reading this post »

(These will be the last two I cover on the front page.)

In Round 2, with pick 60, the Minnesota Twins select Tyler Ladendorf, SS, Howard College, 03/07/1988

Height:  5'11"    Weight:  190 lbs
Bats/Throws:  Right/Right

From MLB.com's Draft Central scouting report:

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In Round 3, with pick 92, the Minnesota Twins select Robert Lanigan, RHP, Adelphi University, 05/05/1987

There is no readily available scouting information on Lanigan.  Feel free to note your own in the comments.

Minnesota Twins select Steven Hunt, RHP, Tulane University, 08/16/1986.

Height:  6'3"    Weight:  200 lbs
Bats/Throws:  Right/Right

From MLB.com's Draft Central scouting report.

Pitching at Tulane University (2006 at University of Virginia)

Minnesota Twins select Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, University of Miami, 09/22/1986

From Keith Law :

Now this is the biggest surprise of the first round so far. Gutierrez is another college closer whose fastball tops out at 94 with sink. But he doesn't have a viable second pitch, not even a breaking ball. I don't think a team should take a player with only one pitch in the first round. But the Twins have always had success with power arms out of their bullpen.

Stats at the University of Miami

From John Manuel at BA:

Count on Mike Radcliff and the Twins to make waves. After taking Aaron Hicks as an outfielder at 14, the Twins took BA’s No. 82 ranked player in our Top 200, with Carlos Gutierrez, the Hurricanes’ righthander. No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Miami has now placed three players in the first round.

Gutierrez is the biggest surprise in the first round but honestly I like Gutierrez as much as several of the other closers taken ahead of him. He doesn’t have Ryan Perry’s pure velocity, but I’d take Gutierrez’s fastball due to its superior movement, sink and command, plus he’s no soft-tosser at 90-93 mph. Plus his slider can be an average pitch at times. He’s had Tommy John surgery but he’s also been money for Miami this year.

That said, Gutierrez likely would have been available later. The Twins obviously were convicted in Gutierrez, but it’s a surprising pick, one of a string of surprises in the last five picks.

Minnesota Twins select Aaron Hicks, Outfielder, Woodrow Wilson High School, Born 10/02/1989

Height:  6'2"    Weight:  170 lbs
Bats/Throws:  Right/Right

Comments from MLB.com's Draft Tracker:

Hicks is one of the more athletic outfielders in the high school ranks and perhaps in the Draft class.  How high he gets drafted depends on how highly people project what he can become.  He's got a ton of tools, but will he learn how to use them?  Someone is sure to take that chance.

From MLB.com's Draft Central Scouting Report:

From Keith Law's in-progress first-round draft analysis at ESPN.go.com:

In terms of tools, Hicks is one of the top three or four players in the draft. He's first-rounder as an outfielder and a pitcher. He is relatively unpolished, so he should take a long time to get to the majors. He's gotten by a lot on strength and bat speed for now. The Twins will have to work with him on his hitting approach. He has a chance to be a switch-hitting Andrew McCutchen, one of the top prospects in the minors.

HS Stats at Wilson HS:

Batting

Fielding

Pitching

From John Manuel, who's live-blogging over at Baseball America:

As expected, Minnesota selected Aaron Hicks and announced him as an outfielder. Hicks has pushed his fastball up to 97 mph, and many teams liked him better on the mound. But Hicks wants to hit, and BA’s Dave Perkin has been on Hicks as a hitter since, well, before we hired him.

From ESPN's Draft Tracker (Insider Required):

...As a hitter, Hicks has outstanding bat speed from both sides of the plate, accelerating his wrists from a fairly deep load to still generate plus plate coverage. He generates power from the right-hand side just from his wrists and forearms, similar to Andrew McCutchen. From the left side his swing has a little more loft and he gets good carry on balls. His power is easy and is only going to improve with better instruction, but he's still raw as a hitter, with poor pitch recognition and an unwillingness to use the count to his advantage. In right field, his instincts aren't great, but he covers a good amount of ground and has a rifle for an arm. As a pitcher, Hicks works in the 92-95 mph range but has hit 97 repeatedly this spring, and could settle in at 94-97 as he matures physically. He throws a hard, downward-diving slider and a changeup with a hard tumble -- in fact, everything he does as a pitcher is hard, from his lightning-quick arm to a stiff front leg as he lands....