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It's that time once again, every year we "analyze" the Twins drafting decisions by summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of players. Rather than do that with any depth, direction or purpose (which is soooooo not our style), we rapidly blurt out 5 words and pass them off as "analysis" or "humorous"..hopefully you agree (and appreciate my endless attempts to reinvigorate the cliched "never give up on lefties)

Thanks to the many fine folks at Twins ...

Updated 06-12-2013 at 11:18 PM by John Bonnes

Tags: draft, five words or less

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Since 2010 the Minnesota Twins starting rotation has averaged a velocity of 90 miles per hour, which has been the lowest velocity in the American League. In that time, they have struck out the fewest amount of hitters (14.8%), had the third-highest ERA (4.76) and second-highest contact rate (83.6%).

In efforts to improve in these areas the Twins selected Kohl Stewart, a fireballer out of a Houston prep school whose skill set are projected to eventually help ...

Tags: draft, kohl stewart, minnesota twins

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With the fourth overall pick waiting for them on Thursday night, the Minnesota Twins are poised to choose from one of several high profile picks.

Rich with talent in the lower levels of the farm system, the organization has another chance at the fourth overall pick to backfill the minors with another highly-skilled player and continue to construct a solid future. Among the experts’ predictions for what could be available for the Twins at number four pick ...

Tags: draft, minnesota twins, terry ryan

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As Spring Training approaches, we’ve hashed and re-hashed Prospect Lists. We’ve dissected the signing of Kevin Correia many times over. We’ve projected lineups of every affiliate.

There are few things more informative than talking with those that are behind the information. So today let’s do something else. Let’s talk scouting with West Coast Scouting Supervisor Sean Johnson.

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First off, huge thanks to Sean! As baseball is starting to get rolling, he took ...

Tags: draft, scouting

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With the deadline being moved up by a month, we've seen many draft picks come to terms and report. I usually take the week following the draft to gather information and then make a (somewhat educated) guess at what draft picks will sign and which will return or go to college. (Going to have to shorten that time frame up in the future.)

Now that the draft has been shortened by 10 rounds, it is hard to use precedence to set a number on how many players the team will sign. I'm guessing ...

Updated 06-12-2012 at 05:18 PM by Jeremy Nygaard

Tags: buxton, draft, twins

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Last Tuesday night during Seth's weekly podcast, I expressed some surprise that the Twins hadn't drafted a middle infielder yet. Right away Wednesday morning, the Twins drafted a high schooler from Lexington (KY) Catholic (Ben Rever's alma mater).

Not only did they get a guy who can slot in nicely to the system's middle infield, but they got a guy that will go far in MiLB.com's annual "best name contest". I had the chance recently to exchange some emails with one of the newest Twins. ...

Updated 06-10-2012 at 08:43 PM by Jeremy Nygaard

Tags: draft, will hurt

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Some semi-random thoughts on a few of the players selected today:

Will Hurt, SS, Lexington (KY) Catholic HS – Committed to Coastal Carolina. Hurt is fast – and why wouldn’t he be, coming from the same high school as Ben Revere. As this point, I don’t think he’ll sign for 16^th round money, but that tune may change as the deadline approaches.

Zach Larson, CF, Lakewood (FL) Ranch HS – Though he was drafted in the 20^th round, Larson appears to be a high school guy that will ...

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The Twins added another right-handed pitcher from Rice in the 5th round - Tyler Duffey. Duffey currently shares the closer distinction with 2nd round pick J.T. Chargois. While Chargois was the higher-rated prospect, Duffey had the better numbers. Duffey, however, is not the power-pitcher that Chargois is, but will probably be given a chance to start given his ability to throw a low-90s fastball, a slider and a change-up. If the change-up doesn't come around, he'll be shifted back to the bullpen; ...

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The second round opened with the Twins selecting LHRP Mason Melotakis out of Northwestern State. Unlike Bard before him, who will get a chance to be a starter, Melotakis will most likely start in the bullpen. He sold himself with an excellent performance in the Cape Cod League. Melotakis is a mid-90s power arm that will probably pitch some rookie-ball innings and then join the Beloit bullpen this summer.

Nine picks later (and with Mitchell Brown still available!), the Twins took ...

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As expected, the Twins drafted Georgia OF Byron Buxton second overall (though it came with a little uncertainty after Carlos Correa, not Mark Appel, went first).

Shortly after 9:30 local time, the Twins were back on the clock. Conventional wisdom suggested the Twins were going to take local product Mitch Brown.

Instead, the Twins pegged Puerto Rican P Jose Orlando Berrios. Berrios (who I wrote about a few weeks ago) is the third Puerto Rican to go in the top two rounds ...

Updated 06-04-2012 at 10:45 PM by Jeremy Nygaard

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Last year we posted our most popular blog post ever...more popular than the blog about Delmon being gone, more popular than the blog about our love, more popular even than that time we published a new JD Salinger short story under our own names.

It was a draft-analysis in 5 words or less--sometimes it was logical, far more often it was totally inane (what else can you do for "Nick Burdi"--other than say it reminds you of "watch the birdie!").

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Updated 06-10-2012 at 10:17 PM by PeanutsFromHeaven

Tags: draft, prospects

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The last time the Twins owned the No. 2 pick in the MLB draft, they selected a college pitcher named Adam Johnson out of Cal State Fullerton. As most fans will recall, he cruised through the minors and made his major-league debut at the age of 21, but hit a wall and quickly fizzled out.

That's a scary memory as the Twins eye a handful of collegiate hurlers with this year's second pick, but fortunately the history of the draft slot has been much brighter since the Johnson bust.
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This is version 1.0 (and most likely the only one).

My mock draft:
1. Astros – P Mark Appel, Stanford. It comes down to him or Buxton.
2. Twins – OF Byron Buxton, Georgia HS. Correa gaining.
3. Mariners – SS Carlos Correa, Puerto Rico. The Mariners are unpredictable. I think it comes down to Correa or Buxton
4. Orioles – P Kevin Gausman, LSU. Bundy and Gausman could form a lethal combination.
5. Royals – P Kyle Zimmer, San Francisco. Will they pass ...

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Originally posted at www.ManCenter.com

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Looking through names that expect to called next week, there are a few that seem to fit various patterns that the Twins have followed over the last handful of years. None of these names have appeared in any other preview that I've written.

Luke Anderson, RHP, North Dakota State - Anderson is originally from Prior Lake, MN, so there is a very good chance he's been on the Twins radar for awhile. A senior with ...

Updated 06-03-2012 at 01:33 PM by Jeremy Nygaard

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