Minnesota Twins 2017 draft class has a star in Royce Lewis and great depth

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 17: Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins holds up a jersey with number one overall draft pick Royce Lewis and agent Scott Boras at a press conference on June 17, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 17: Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins holds up a jersey with number one overall draft pick Royce Lewis and agent Scott Boras at a press conference on June 17, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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Round 6, Pick 1: SS Ricky De La Torre

The Twins picked up another solid shortstop prospect in the 6th round as they drafted Ricky De La Torre out of Puerto Rico HS. With the GCL Twins, De La Torre hit .268/.341/.359 with a 701 OPS. He also added 25 runs, three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 12 RBIs, and five stolen bases. De La Torre is currently in extended spring training.

Round 7, Pick 1: LHP Ryley Widell

The Twins drafted Ryley Widell out of Central Arizona College. In 2017 while playing for Elizabethton Widell went 0-2 in eight games and 29.2 innings pitched. In those innings, Widell turned in a 2.43 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 41/20 K/BB ratio. Widell is also awaiting official 2018 action as he is working in extended spring training.

Round 8, Pick 1: LHP Bryan Sammons

After being drafted out of Western Carolina, Bryan Sammons went to Elizabethton where he went 2-0 in seven games (three starts) and tossed 24.2 innings. Over that span, he held a 1.46 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a 31/7 K/BB. Sammons was then promoted to Cedar Rapids. There he went 5-1 in 13 games throwing 50.1 innings with a 2.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 66/18 K/BB. To start 2018, Sammons has remained in Cedar Rapids. He is currently 0-3 over 34.0 innings with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. His K/BB ratio is currently at 27/12.

Round 9, Pick 1: OF Mark Contreras

From Cal-Riverside, Mark Contreras went to Elizabethton. There he hit a good .275/.319/.421 with a .740 OPS. To open 2018, Contreras hit the cover off the ball while with Cedar Rapids. He slashed .440/.481/.560 and had a 1.041 OPS. That earned him an early promotion to Fort Myers where he continues to fill up the stat sheet even if his slash line isn’t quite as impressive. Contreras is currently hitting .260/.360/.438 and has seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs with the Miracle.

Round 10, Pick 1: RHP Calvin Faucher

Right-hander Calvin Faucher came to the Twins out of Cal-Irvine. In Elizabethton in 2017, he went 3-0 in five games, pitched 7.1 innings, and recorded a save. Faucher held and ERA 1.23 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a13/3 K/BB. Faucher began 2018 with Fort Myers where at age 22 was a year younger than the league average. He struggled in six games and had a 7.30 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP before being sent to Cedar Rapids. Faucher has rebounded there holding a 0.00 ERA over 11 innings.

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