Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: Outfielder Trevor Larnach #11 of the Oregon State Beavers reacts after hitting a two run home run to give the Beavers a 5-3 lead in the ninth inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE – JUNE 27: Outfielder Trevor Larnach #11 of the Oregon State Beavers reacts after hitting a two run home run to give the Beavers a 5-3 lead in the ninth inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
The Minnesota Twins draft selections have begun their professional careers and here is an early look at some notable performances.
The Minnesota Twins front office had quite an adjustment to make from their 2017 draft to the 2018 version. With much less in the way of picks and slot money to spend they weren’t able to “splash” in quite the same way they did in 2017. While some criticized the Twins draft, it seems the team still landed some good talent. Here is a look at the early returns on thirteen notable Minnesota Twins selections from the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Larnach has had a rather pedestrian start with the rookie league E-Twins after helping to lead the Oregon State Beavers to the College World Series championship. He has a slash line of .278/.391/ .333, with two doubles and 11 RBI’s in 36 at-bats. Known for his strong plate discipline, Larnach has carried over his strong plate discipline skills to professional ball with seven walks against 6 K’s Larnach is a left-handed hitter who throws with his right arm. He has played in right field in each of his ten games, picking up one outfield assist.
MLB Top 200 Draft Rank: Unranked Slot Value: $1,140,600 Signed For: $800,000
Jeffers was assigned to Class A Cedar Rapids from the Rookie League E-Twins on July 18. He currently leads the Appalachian League in batting average, OBP, and OPS, and is seventh in slugging percentage. His slash line at Elizabethton was a stunning .422/.543/.578, for an On-base Plus Slugging percent of 1.121, with seven doubles, four home runs, 20 walks, and 16 K’s!
Since his recent arrival in Cedar Rapids, Jeffers has cooled off. He has just two hits in 19 at-bats, including a double, 2 RBI’s, three walks, and five K’s. Those numbers will certainly rise.
While Jeffers has been used mostly as a designated hitter this season, the hope is that he can develop into a playable catcher. In 12 full games behind the plate, the right-hander has allowed two passed balls while committing two errors in 115 total chances for a .983 fielding percentage. He has thrown out one of seven attempted base stealers.
MLB Top 200 Draft Rank: 144, Slot Value: $442,600, Signed For: $600,000
After a slow start, the left-handed hitting center fielder has a slash line of .333/.393/.480, with five doubles and three triples in 75 at-bats. He has eight walks against ten strikeouts. Keirsey is hitting .410, with 10 RBI’s in his last ten games. On defense, he has yet to commit an error or earn an assist in 144 innings of play.
MLB Top 200 Draft Rank: 133, Slot Value: $253,700, Signed For: $500,000
Committed to Clemson, Mack signed with the Twins for nearly double the slot value. He has had a slow start, registering a line of .200/.308/.244, two doubles, 11 Ks and six walks. On defense, the Twins project him at third base. In a dozen games at the hot corner, Mack has committed two errors in 40 chances for a .950 fielding percentage.
Williams, who reportedly signed with the Twins for $10,000, is paying off high early dividends. The right-handed slugger is hitting .278/.400/.578, with five doubles, 11 home runs and 36 RBI’s in 125 at-bats. He has drawn 26 walks against 28 K’s. Williams went 2-4, with a pair of home runs in the E-Twins 7-4 loss to the Bristol Pirates on Sunday. On defense, he has committed four errors in 281 total chances for a .986 fielding percentage.
Garry suffered a horrendous start to his professional career. His batting average was sitting at .094 on July 17 but looks to be coming around with 6 hits in his last 26 at-bats. For the year, the former Pearl River Community College commit has a .155/.279/207 slash, three doubles, two RBI’s, 19 K’s, and seven walks. On defense, Garry has been working at all three outfield positions. He has committed two errors in 28 chances for a .929 fielding percentage.
Garry had his best outing on Sunday, going 2-4, with two RBI’s and three runs, bumping his average up 20 points.
Round 10: RHP Regi Grace
GCL Twins, Age 18, 6′ 1″, 215 lbs
Slot Value: $138,400 Signed For $350,000
The Twins went over $200,000 above the value of the pick to lure Grace away from Mississippi State. The young right-hander has yet to allow an earned run in eight and one-third innings. He has a 2-0 record, while allowing six hits, striking out seven and walking two. Grace has a WHIP of .096, and the opposition is hitting a meager .194 when facing him.
Helman is hitting a robust .405/.465/.622, with a triple, two home runs and seven RBI’s in 37 at-bats. Just three K’s to go along with three walks. On defense, he has had problems during very short stints at shortstop and the outfield. He has committed three errors in nine total innings playing out of position. At second base, Helman has strong numbers. The right-hander has committed just one error while tallying 18 putouts, 20 assists, and seven double plays in 15 innings.
Casanova is a catching prospect worth watching. He is hitting .300/.364/.433, with nine doubles, a home run, and nine RBI’s in 90 at-bats. The left-handed batter has drawn eight walks to go along with 25 K’s. On defense, Casanova has allowed two passed balls in 110 innings behind the plate, no errors committed, and he has thrown out five of ten attempted base stealers.
Davis could be a diamond in the rough. The right-handed batting shortstop collected six hits in 14 at-bats, including a home run and four RBI’s with the Rookie League E-Twins before being moved up to Class A Cedar Rapids. He has handled the promotion well in the early going, with a line of .314/.351/600, a double, three home runs, nine runs scored, nine K’s, and two walks in 35 at-bats. Davis has a combined line of .347/.396/.612 for an OPS of 1.008. On defense, he has committed just one error in 58 total chances for a fielding percentage of .983.
Round 25: DH/1B/LF La Ron Smith
GCL Twins, Age 17, 6′ 2″, 200 lbs
Signed For $125,000
Smith is a notable later round pick because the Twins enticed the Canadian native to forgo his commitment to the University of Alabama with a $125,000 signing bonus. Being used almost exclusively as a designated hitter, the right-hander has six hits in 23 at-bats, including one double and an RBI to go along with 2 K´s and seven walks.
The final player taken in the 2018 draft, Webb was baseball’s version the NFL’s “Mr Irrelevant”. After torching the GCL to the tune of .418/529/.491, with nine walks and just eight K’s in 17 games he was assigned to the E-Twins. His Appy league slash is .268/.302/.268, with 2 walks and 12 K´s. His combined season line is .354/442/837. On defense, the right-hander has collected five assists without committing an error.
dark. Next. Twins should keep, not trade, Kyle Gibson
With only three prospects selected from among MLB’s pre-draft top 200 list, the Twins front office was the subject of much post-draft criticism. Ironically, their unranked 2nd round choice is the shining star so far. That said, it is far too early to make any sort of reliable future evaluations for any of these players. But it is early enough to look for trends. We will continue to keep an eye on their progress and take another look at the draft class at the end of August.
