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If the industry has anything to say about it, the Twins will be selecting shortstop Nick Gordon with the fifth overall pick in tonight's draft. We've been tracking mock drafts for the last few weeks, and in 11 of the last 14 drafts (going back to May 16), it's been Gordon to Minnesota. Keith Law, Baseball America, John Sickels, Jim Callis - Gordon to the Twins.
Gordon to the Twins.
Gordon to the Twins.
And nothing has changed. Keith Law and John Manuel both released updated mocks today, and here's what they had to say.
Law: This is the lock of the draft. Unless Brady Aiken gets here, which he won't, they're taking Gordon.
Manuel: The pick the industry seemed most sure about is the Twins', though they'd shift gears, perhaps to Hartford lefthander Sean Newcomb, if the Cubs cut a deal with Gordon at No. 4.
On Twitter a short while ago, I asked Minor League Ball head honcho and minor league guru his thoughts.
@TwinkieTown Barring something weird like the Cubs or Astros picking him, yeah Gordon seems like the obvious choice with Nola as #2
— johnsickels (@MinorLeagueBall) June 5, 2014
Everyone is willing to list a caveat or two, and they should. But if you thought that the industry's consensus was pretty airtight over the last week, then today it's been taken to a whole new level. I'll leave you with a pair of tweets from Darren Wolfson from this morning. Darren is closer to the Twins than pretty much anyone, and here's what he had to say.
(1/2) Big-shots Radcliff & Johnson each have seen HS SS Nick Gordon in person over 10 times. Told #MNTwins have seen him more than anyone.
— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) June 5, 2014
(2/2) Radcliff: "Profiles as a SS and has hit skills. Real talented player." I'll continue to make Gordon the favorite if he's there at 5.
— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) June 5, 2014
Will the Twins take Gordon? Or will they prove the world wrong and go with someone else? I tend to agree with Sickels: if Minnesota shies away from the shortstop, it'll probably be for Aaron Nola.