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Twins Draft Kohl Stewart in 1st Round, Ryan Eades in 2nd Round in First Night of MLB Draft

The Twins used their first two picks on a pair of right handed hurlers, hopefully boosting their arms for the future.

By Maija Varda
Bud Selig (collective groan) announced the MLB draft picks.
Bud Selig (collective groan) announced the MLB draft picks.
Mike Stobe

The MLB player draft kicked off tonight, which includes all amature prospects from the USA (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. The Twins drafted 4th overall (first round pick), and then 43rd overall (second round pick) tonight, but the draft will continue for the next couple days as well.

So far, here is what the Twins got:

No. 4 Pick, Kohl Stewart

Kohl Stewart is a right handed pitcher, and was considered the best high school pitcher (as opposed to college) in this year's draft. Although just a high schooler, Stewart has already thrown pitches clocked as high as 97 mph for his team at St. Pius X High School in Houston, Texas. By many, he is reported as having perhaps the highest ceiling overall in the draft.

Like the Twins' first overall pick in 2001, Kohl Stewart is an all-around athlete. He has already committed to being the starting quaterback, and pitcher, at Texas A&M--but I have a feeling that, being a fourth overall pick in baseball with one of the most promising young farm teams, he will sign with the Twins.

In fact, Kohl Stewart gave a quick salute to Twins fans via twitter after the announcement of his draft:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>WHAT'S UP TWIN NATION!!!!</p>&mdash; Kohl Stewart (@KohlStewart1) <a href="https://twitter.com/KohlStewart1/status/342787040343097345">June 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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I love the enthusiasm! But I quickly tweeted back:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/kohlstewart1">kohlstewart1</a> It's Twins Territory!!!!</p>&mdash; myjah (@KirbysLeftEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirbysLeftEye/status/342787644658446336">June 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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In a good sign for the Twins, Kohl is also a quick learner:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>TWINS TERRITORY***</p>&mdash; Kohl Stewart (@KohlStewart1) <a href="https://twitter.com/KohlStewart1/status/342805200161095680">June 7, 2013</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Welcome to Twins Territory, Kohl!

No. 43 pick, Ryan Eades

The Twins' second pick of the night, Ryadn Eades, is also a right handed pitcher but from Louisiana State University. Last year at LSU Eades was 8-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 16 starts. Eades was drafted in the 19th round by the Colorado Rockies in 2010, but dreading pitching at Coors Field instead chose to go to college.

Eades had labrum surgery in his senior year of high school but bounced back quickly, and the Twins reportedly have no concerns about his durability.

The Twins desperately need pitching--but their draft strategy is to pick the best player available, and they feel that is what Eades was. "Our philosophy is to select the best player available on the board," Minnesota scouting director Deron Johnson told FSN. "Eades was the best player in that particular round. And we got starting pitching, which is good. We definitely need starting pitching in this organization."

Welcome to Twins Territory, Ryan!

*****

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