PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 02: Detail of baseballs during batting practice to the MLB opening day game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 2, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 02: Detail of baseballs during batting practice to the MLB opening day game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 2, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
The Minnesota Twins rounded out their draft with a healthy dose of catchers and pitchers. Here are the Day 2 and some notable Day 3 selections.
The Minnesota Twins found themselves drafting two college bats with their first two selections of the 2018 MLB draft. In the first round they drafted outfielder Trevor Larnach out of Oregon State. We at Puckett’s Pond took a quick look at the high floor prospect shortly after he was drafted here. With their second selection, the Twins selected a bat first catcher out of UNC-Wilmington, Ryan Jeffers. Someone we also wrote about shortly after he was drafted here.
Into Day 2 of the draft it looked as though the Twins likely saved some pool money based on who they drafted Day 1. That gave the Twins draft team the ability to look at some players that had maybe dropped lower than they expected. The Twins could then use then plan to use that extra pool money and draft players they plan to try to pay over slot for to get them into the Twins system.
With a couple picks missing from the Twins arsenal after signing Lance Lynn and trading another away in the Phil Hughes trade. Let’s pick up with the Twins selections in the 4th round.
4th Round: DeShawn Keirsey, CF, Utah
With their fourth-round pick, the Twins selected DeShawn Keirsey out of Utah. While there is some concern with how Keirsey will be affected going forward by a hip injury he sustained this looks like a solid selection by the Twins. Leading up to the draft 2080baseball.com even included Keirsey as a potential Day One selection in their center field preview.
Keirsey’s best tool pre-injury was his speed which was graded out as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He appears to be progressing well as he strengthens his hip and is still rated at 60 with his speed (mlb.com). Keirsey also has a very good bat to ball skills as was exhibited over his college career. He led Utah in many offensive categories and was second in the Pac-12 with a .386 batting average. Keirsey also had a .440 OBP and .609 slugging percentage and Pac-12 leading 23 doubles this past season.
5th Round: Cole Sands, RHP, Florida State
At first glance, Cole Sands doesn’t look that impressive based on the numbers he has churned out in college. In 2018 he is 7-4 with a 4.54 ERA IN 14 games started. Even as a pitcher who isn’t going to miss a lot of bats, he does have a 88/25 K/BB ratio and .225 batting average against. Even if the numbers don’t show it, there is promise in the right-hander and brother of Chicago Cubs minor leaguer Carson Sands.
The younger Cole Sands has been a solid starting pitcher for three seasons with a good college program which has something to say for itself. Coaches always are going to say the best about their own players around draft time, but Florida State associate head coach Mike Bell had an especially encouraging comparison for Sands. Bell said,
“I kind of compare him to a gentleman I had the pleasure of coaching when I was at the University of Oklahoma by the name of Garrett Richards. Garret was, I don’t wanna say a late bloomer, but he was a guy who always had potential, always had the stuff. And really it wasn’t until his junior year that he put the whole package together. I think you’re gonna see Cole’s career take off at the next level.”
The Twins would be very excited if Sands could develop into a Richards level pitcher and be a solid 3-5 starter in a future Twins rotation.
6th Round: Charles Mack, SS, Williamsville East HS (NY)
In the sixth round and 184th overall, the Twins went with a high school shortstop. Mack is considered to be fairly athletic but may not have quite enough range to stick as a shortstop. What is a plus is Mack’s arm which will allow him to be able to play at positions like third base, second base, or even a corner outfield spot. Mack also shows the ability to grow as a hitter, especially in the power department. Something that will be essential for him if he lands in a corner position professionally. Mack is committed to Clemson and was ranked as the 133rd prospect by MLB.com.
7th Round: Josh Winder, RHP, Virginia Military Institute (VA)
The Twins chose a tall right-handed pitcher out of Virginia Military Institute in Josh Winder with their 7th round selection. Winder became the highest selected player out of VMA since 1995 when Ryan Glynn was selected in the fourth round. The 6’5″ pitcher had a record of 5-6 this past season with a 5.40 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 85 innings. In an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch it looks like Winder is “leaning toward” joining the Twins minor league system instead returning to VMA for his senior season.
8th Round: Chris Williams, Catcher, Clemson
The Twins went with another catcher who swings a bat with some power in Chris Williams out of Clemson. There is definite improvement that needs to happen with Williams’ swing in order for him to be a successful major leaguer. Mlb.com mentions some concern in his ability to recognize and hit breaking balls. 2018 was also Williams’ first season as a catcher for Clemson. The hope will be that the former utility infielder will be able to develop and grow in his ability to handle a pitching staff.
9th Round: Willie Joe Garry Jr., CF, Pascagoula HS
The Twins selection of high school outfielder Willie Joe Garry Jr was a bit of a surprise. Garry Jr’s name wasn’t present on ranking lists, not even the top 500 put out by Baseball America. His high school career and some strong performances with his Perfect Game team gave the Twins enough faith in Garry Jr’s ability to develop to take him here with the 274th overall pick. Andrew Thares at Twins Daily mentions that Garry Jr. has good bat speed and power could come as his body matures and fills out. Garry Jr’s first task after learning that he was drafted by the Twins? He was going to head out to purchase a Twins jersey and hat!
10th Round: Regi Grace, RHP, Madison Central HS (MS)
With the final selection of Day 2 the Twins selected right-handed pitcher Regi Grace out of Madison Central High school in Mississippi. Grace appears to be a strong pitcher who has the ability to continue to add to his velocity as he matures. After spending a lot of time with a fastball in the low 90s, he as already been able to bump it up and has had his fastball clocked in the mid-90s. Grace is committed to play for Mississippi State so the Twins may have to wait until July to hear if the prep right-hander will join their system.
Notable Day 3 Selections
12th Round: Jon Olsen, RHP, UCLA
Jon Olsen is a 6’2″ right-handed pitcher who had his season cut short to only six starts due to injury. In those six games he tossed 28.2 innings with a 2.20 ERA and 28 strikeouts. His teammates would go on to meet the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in the regional. Little did Olsen know that Minnesota was the home state of his next potential employer. In 2017, Olsen was an All Pac-12 selection.
22nd Round: Jacob Blank, RHP, Augustana College (IL)
Jacob Blank was a member of the Division II national champions Augustana College Vikings. He was named the Division II Pitcher of the Year IN 2017. That season, Blank pitched 69 innings and collected 86 strikeouts, a 0.78 ERA, and only 15 walks. This season Blank tossed 81.2 innings with a 1.98 ERA and an insane K/BB ratio of 100/11.
Round 30: Seth Halverson, RHP, Heritage Christian Academy (MN)
Of course it is always great when we get to see “one of us” be selected by the Twins. Seth Halverson has some electric stuff as he has a fastball that can ramp up into the mid-90s. The only problem is that Halverson isn’t likely to sign with the Twins after being drafted this low and being ranked by MLB.com as the 162nd player. He will instead likely hold true to his commitment with the University of Missouri.
