Blog Comments

Merck has another year of eligibility left. He red-shirted in 2011 after undergoing TJ surgery. His Facebook status on draft day: “Horrible Day. Disappointed”

The Twins will probably save a half mill (or less) on Buxton, and that could very well go Mazzilli's way. What does he stand to gain re-entering as a college senior? He is interesting case though and I hope the Twins get it done with him.

Kaleb Merck is a college senior. If he does not sign this means life outside of baseball (other than ILs) for a year (at least) which is a risky proposition, unless he does not care to play ball...

I'd put Mazzilli on the doubtful, based on what I heard from CT, unless Buxton signed for a mil or 2 less and they spend a decent amount on Mazzilli.

I hope he will hurt opposing pitchers with his speed on the bases! Sorry, someone had to do it...He's gonna be a great addition to our farm system and to pun lovers like me.

Merck is listed as a senior on MLB's draft tracker, but he redshirted last season (2011), so he still has a year of eligibility left. Obviously, he could realize he has an opportunity to play professional baseball and sign, but after seeing seniors fly off the board yesterday, he could return to school and go higher (though his bonus isn't going to be great either way).

DJ Hicks will sign. I'm fairly certain the he just graduated and there is really no benefit in returning to college for his last year of eligibility. I would guess his bonus is well below the 100K threshold.

I thought Merck was a senior, where's he gonna go?

Any chance the Twins hang on to Dalton Hicks? I didn't know anything about him until the draft, but his size is awesome and he was named to HS All Star teams with the biggest names from the 08 high school class.

Stroman has been falling on many mocks I've seen. I would love for the Twins to take him at #32. I just think there are too many teams in the teens and twenties that might see a guy that could help in this year's pennant race. I always thought he'd be a perfect fit for the Nationals at #16, now I'm seeing him in the twenties. He's too good for that.

I don't think Wacha will drop out of the teens.

I'd rather take a risk on a high-school arm falling than taking a low-ceiling college guy, but that's just me. If one of the top college guys fall ala Kyle Gibson, absolutely go for it.

I believe I read that Ryan or Rantz is hoping that 6 of the first 8 picks are pitchers.

I feel like there is going to be a high college arm that will drop to #32, there always seems to be one, possibly Stroman or Watcha. I'm hoping for that and then Brown at 42, wishful thinking I guess.

Thanks guys! I'm just hoping I hit on at least a few of the names I've mentioned up to this point.

This is seriously terrific... I like the local look and also the look at guys from places the Twins have drafted before or with family or some previous relation to the Twins. Thank you for this!

Nice write up.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/dr...pe=franch_year

A good year-by-year look to see who the Twins drafted and what importance having a great first rounder is compared to just drafting good players.........

Hensley could very well be gone but you never know, Shooter Hunt was projected to go 10-15 in 2008 and he fell to us (although now we know why). I'm personally hoping for Smoral anyways. As far as Buttery goes I brought him up because I've heard he's had a lot of helium as of late and some people are projecting him as a late first rounder. I haven't seen or heard a lot and I thought you guys may have. Great series though.

From what I hear, Hensley will be off the board in the late teens to mid-twenties. I haven't really taken the time to learn too much about him, simply cause I don't think he'll be in play when the sandwich round rolls around.

Buttrey is a different case. I would lump him in with a lot of high school guys that will probably go late sandwich, early second. The thing about Buttrey is that he could go to Arkansas for two years and really improve his draft stock. That could cause him to slide.

What are your thoughts on the Ty's, Ty Hansly and Ty Buttery? I've heard a lot about Buttery that he could be a top of the order guy in the Mussina mold(probably because of the knuckle curve) although there is a lot of debate on his ranking, I've seen him as high as late first round and as low as third round. Hansly has had his stock rise over the past few weeks but his delivery scares me, he is all arm and that could mean potential injury problems down the road. Do you guys see either of these guys at 32 or 42?

I agree with your take on Willingham. But, unlike most of the other clowns, I think that what he brings to the table (or in a trade) will/should be part of fielding a competitive team in 2015. With his current contract, it will probably have to be through a trade.

With an eye on 2015, this is spot on with one exception: you've got to let go of Willingham. By then there will be somebody homegrown who can hit better than he will at age 36, and most likely field and run the bases better, for less than 1/10th the price.

Well, just like that two problems off the roster... Walters and Mastroianni will get a chance to be a part of a long-term solution.

I think Lin - and really Pettersen and Bryant - provides some maturity and flexibility in the lineup. All three are guys that play hard, give good at-bats and (although I didn't see Pettersen in the field) are solid defenders. Lin didn't do anything great, but he played left and center and took a lot of pitches. We won't see any on Top 30 prospect lists, but those types of players are invaluable to the organization.

I saw Hicks his first and second year in Beloit and I thought he looked more advanced both times than Sano. This weekend, I was really hoping that I'd see a guy that didn't belong... but I didn't. The Twins will do what's best for him and it will be a couple of years before he's truly in the conversation.