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Minnesota Twins: Velocity is Key to This Year’s Draft Pick

By Brandon Swoyer

Jun 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Kyle Wright (44) throws during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers in game one of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Kyle Wright (44) throws during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers in game one of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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With less than one week to go until the draft, the Minnesota Twins have a big opportunity to add a big arm to their farm team.

As we inch closer to the draft, rumors have been swirling about who the Minnesota Twins will be selecting with the first pick. It was reported that the team was leaning on passing on high school phenom Hunter Greene. Yet he was scheduled to work out for the team a week later.

Prior to those rumors, Brendan McKay was projected to be the top pick by three prominent baseball sites. Regardless of the latest rumors, the Twins need to focus on one thing before making their selection on June 12th: Velocity.

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The Minnesota Twins starting staff is dead last in fastball velocity since 2010 in the American League.

They also rank 29th out of 30 teams in all of baseball in the same category. Not surprisingly, this corresponds with them being ranked dead last in strikeouts in that same time period. The next closest team, the Colorado Rockies, has over 350 more.

For reference, if you were to add 350 strike outs to the 15th place team (Brewers), that would put them into 4th place just above the Cubs. The Twins would need that many just to get out of last place. This is a testament to how much the team has lacked a live arm since moving into Target Field.

That is why the number one pick is an important selection. Not that you can change your franchise with one player, like the way you can with the NBA.  With that being said, it is very important for a team that will never be able to spend in the top ten to be sure to get these decisions “Wright”.

Yes, I meant Wright. Kyle Wright that is.

Kyle Wright is a right handed pitcher from Vanderbilt that can touch close to 97 mph on the gun. From reading the scouting reports, he has the type of command that will hopefully help him get to the majors sooner, rather than later.

Those issues have plagued other high velocity pitchers in the past, yet Wright appears to have the potential to avoid those problems. Wright has two really good pitches. He has moving high velocity fastball, and a plus change up. He also mixes in a slider and curveball.

I am not a baseball scout, and I have never been a baseball scout. Yet, I have watched the pitchers with lower velocity be drafted over and over. The results of those drafts speak for themselves.

Kyle Gibson and Alex Wimmers are examples of pitch to contact pitchers the Twins have selected in recent years. They have had either little impact or negative impact since joining the team. Selecting a player with the stuff like Kyle Wright gives you a better chance at future success due to his velocity.

Next: Meet Brendan McKay: The Draft Pick Fans Hope to Avoid

Whether the Twins end up taking Kyle Wright, Hunter Greene or even Brendan McKay they need to make sure to get this decision correct. This team will surely depend on these picks in the future, let’s hope they put velocity high on their wish list.

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