2016 Twins MLB Draft Recap

The MLB Draft consists of 40 rounds, and a couple of bonus rounds. Let’s take a look at who the Twins drafted this weekend. Note that, as we move into the later rounds, the volume of information on each player tends to shrink. Some won’t have any kind of analysis because it wouldn’t be fair with so little info.

By The Numbers

Pitchers:

Total = 17 (40.5%)

LHP/RHP = 3/14 (7.1%/33.3%)

Position Players:

Total = 25 (59.5%)

Outfielders = 10 (23.8%)

Infielders = 15 (35.7%)

The Players

Round 1 (15): Alex Kirilloff, OF, Plum Senior HS

Toolsy outfielder who projects to have a good bat with some pop. Seems to be more of a corner outfielder with his speed being his main weakness. Could end up in RF at some point.

Round 2 (56): Ben Rortvedt, C, Verona Area HS

Bat first catcher whose defense should be enough to let him stay there. One of the better bats in the "high school catcher" class.

Lottery Round B (73) - Jose Miranda, SS, Leadership Christian Academy

This is a pick they got for not signing Kyle Cody last year. Solid all around prospect with good hands and a nice bat. Could move to 3B at some point because of his build, but right now has a SS body.

Lottery Round B (74) - Akil Baddoo, OF, Salem HS

I've heard comps to Rondell White and also Jacque Jones. He seems to be a bat first outfielder with some decent speed. Perhaps a corner outfielder in the future.

Round 3 (93): Griffin Jax, RHP, Air Force

Being in the Air Force will make signability an interesting matter for Jax. Number 82 on MLB’s top 100, appears to be a good value pick.

Round 4 (123): Thomas Hackimer, RHP, St Johns

He’s a sidearmer, so he’s the reincarnation of Pat Neshek. His twitter profile reads

Round 5 (153): Jordan Balazovic, RHP, St Martin Secondary School

Fastball at 88-92, also features an average changeup, a curveball that needs some work, and plus control.

Round 6 (183): Alex Schick, RHP, UC Berkeley

Apparently they call him "The Blade". If he signs, he’ll likely be a starter. His fastball is a plus pitch, and he has a nice 12-6 curve to go along with it.

Round 7 (213): Matt Albanese, CF, Bryant University

The Twins must think his bat will play at the pro level, as he had good college numbers.

Round 8 (243): Shane Carrier, OF, Fullerton College

Starting a trend of California players, Shane Carrier has a lot of pop in his bat, not sure about his other tools though.

Round 9 (273): Mitchell Kranson, C, UC Berkeley

Although he played most of his games this year at third base, Kranson caught all of the pitches in the College Station Regional last year, and worked out for many teams as a catcher. His left-handed bat plays up, but the power is mostly in the gap. Quick but not fast. Full report here.

Also, look at this freakin’ stash:

That is near Carl Pavano levels of awesome.

Round 10 (303): Brandon Lopez, SS, Miami

Semifinalist in the Brooks Wallace award for the best shortstop in the nation. He has a .392 batting average this season, but is known primarily for his glove in Miami.

Round 11 (333): Tyler Beninghoff, RHP, Rockhurst HS (In Kansas City)

Really all I know is that he throws hard, and is coming off of some injuries. Sign-ability may be an issue.

Round 12 (363): Zach Featherstone, LF, Tallahassee CC

Very cool name, but could be a reach in the 12th round.

Round 13 (393): Ryan Mason, RHP, UC Berkeley

I found an interesting article on Mason. It's a good read. Apparently he's crazy?

Round 14 (423): Andre Jernigan, SS, Xavier U

Hit .252 for Xavier last year, and stole 16 bases. Named the Big East player of the year.

Round 15 (453): Tyler Wells, RHP, Cal St. San Bernardino

In 2015 he had 74 strikeouts with 29 walks in 65.2 innings as a starter for Cal State.

Round 16 (483): Tyler Beardsley, RHP, Cal St. Sacramento

Round 17 (513): Kidany Salva, C, Klein Forest HS

Here's a video of Salva running, throwing, and hitting.

Has a very high Henry Blanco potential, I’d say 90.

Round 18 (543): Tim Richards, SS, Cal St. Fullerton

Ranked as the 321st best prospect on Minor League Ball's top 650 draft prospects list.

Round 19 (573): Sean Poppen, RHP, Harvard U

Struck out 48 and walked just 13 over 50.2 innings of work last year for Harvard. Majoring in chemistry and physics, and engineering sciences. He's probably the smartest player we've taken.

Round 20 (603): Shamoy Christopher, C, Roane State CC

Round 21 (633): Domenick Carlinii, LHP, Southeastern Louisiana U

Looks to be mostly a relief pitcher. Struck out 30 in 24 innings of work last year. He's left handed, breathing, and can strike some people out, looks pretty good to me.

Round 22 (663): Hank Morrison, OF, Mercyhurst Col

Not to be confused with the pitcher for the 1887 Indianapolis Hoosiers. Hit .322 in 2014 for Mercyhurst with 3 HR, 3 2B, 2 3B.

Round 23 (693): Caleb Hamilton, SS, Oregon State

Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention.

Round 24 (723): Matt Byars, C, Michigan State University

Hit .364 for Michigan State in 2015, so his bat could be good.

Round 25 (753): Colton Davis, RHP, Western California

Another relief pitcher, 89 Ks in 67.1 IP.

Round 26 (783): Greg Deichmann, 3B, LSU

Seems to have a bit of pop in his bat, otherwise I don't know much about him. LSU has him at 1B.

Round 27 (813): Scott Ogrin, LF, Valencia HS

Round 28 (843): Matt Jones, LHP, Sinclair SS

He has a good curveball and a decent frame so he should be able to add to his 84 MPH fastball (this was 2 years ago, it's probably higher now).

Round 29 (873): Dane Hutcheon, SS, U Montevallo

Round 30 (903): Quin Grogan, RHP, Lewis-Clark State

Pitched 72.1 innings and struck out 41 for Lewis-Clark Warriors in 2015.

Round 31 (933): Juan Gamez, C, North Dakota St.

Hit .196 for the Bison, threw out 15/46 (32.6%) of base runners. Seems to be more of a defensive catcher.

Round 32 (963): Matt Wallner, RHP, Forrest Lake HS

Twins get a local kid here.

Round 33 (993): Clark Beeker, RHP, Davidson College

A starter in college, he threw 95.1 innings and got 75 strikeouts in 2015 as a senior.

Round 34 (1023): Joe Cronin, SS, Boston College

Not Hall of Fame SS Joe Cronin from the Red Sox, who was also president of the AL for 14 years.

Round 35 (1053): Austin Tribby, LHP, University of Missouri Columbia

Relief pitcher, made some spot starts this year. Pitched 52.1 innings and struck out 54.

Round 36 (1083): Patrick McGuff, RHP, Morehead State University

Made 18 appearances in 2016 for the Eagles including 8 starts, tossing 59 innings and striking out 63.

Round 37 (1113): Danny Mayer, OF, U Pacific

Skilled with the bat and on the mound in high school.

Round 38 (1143): Brent Rooker, RF, Mississippi State

Round 39 (1173): Casey Scoggins, CF, U Tampa

Round 40 (1203): TJ Collet, C, North Vigo HS

By my count, that’s 7 players from California in this draft, and 10 since 2014 (Chris Paul, Trevor Hildenberger, and Michael Theofanopolous) taken by the Twins. I guess scouts like the weather down there.

Obviously time will tell, but I can’t see any glaring weaknesses in this draft. There is a convention (we programmers love our conventions) that says you should draft 50% pitchers, and the Twins fell below that number by 10% or so. I don’t think this is a big deal but I thought I’d mention it.

What do you guys think about this years Twins draft? Also, if you have anything to add about any of the prospects here, leave a comment.