Minnesota Twins: A late August look at notable performances of 2018 draft selections
Round 19, Pick 574: Austin Schulfer RHP
Elizabethton Rookie League, age 22, 6′ 2″, 175 lbs
Signed For $1,000
Austin Schulfer is on a roll. The 22-year-old Wisconsin native has not given up an earned run in his last six appearances, surrendering 16 hits over 23 innings.
On the season for Elizabethton, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior right-hander posts a 3-0 record, with a 1.27 ERA, 33 hits, one home run. 32 strikeouts and 15 walks over 39 innings of work. He has also hit five batters. Opposing batters are hitting .236 against him, with a WHIP of 1.23.
Schulfer allows quite a few runners but does a good job of stranding them on base. His 1.20 ground-out/air-out ratio (GO/AO) isn’t promising, nor his 6′ 2″, 175-pound frame. That said, he is getting impressive results.
Round 24, Pick 724: Michael Davis SS
Cedar Rapids A-Level, age 22, 6′ 0″, 200 lbs
Signed For $1,000
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Michael 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, with a line of ..292 .325 .567, a nine doubles, eight home runs, 21 RBI’s, 22 runs scored, 39 K’s, and six walks in 120 at-bats.
On defense, Davis has committed eight errors in 153 total chances for a fielding percentage of .948.
At 6′, 200 lbs, and 22 years of age, Davis may not project well as a major league shortstop. But if he can hold the position and keep hitting with power, he could be an intriguing prospect.
Round 40, Pick 1,204: Tyler Webb OF
GCL Twins Rookie League, Age 22, 6′ 0″, 175 lbs
Signed For $1,000
The final player taken in the 2018 draft, Tyler Webb was baseball’s version the NFL’s “Mr Irrelevant”.
Assigned to rookie league Elizabethton, Tyler Webb had a troubling slash line of .268/.302/.268, in 41 at-bats. Demoted the GCLTwins, his stats increased with a slash of .294 .398 .363. A nice on-base-percentage, but the .363 slugging percentage is a problem. His plate discipline is good with 15 strikeouts versus 12 walks, His batting average over the last ten games is .156.
On defense, the right-hander has collected six outfield assists without committing an error.
Next. Minnesota Twins would be applauded for 2018 trade deadline. dark
The real snag for Webb’s outlook is that he is 2.3 years older than the average Gulf Coast League batter. As pick number 1,204, the odds were very long to begin with, but you have to pull for a Mr Irrelevant.