Minnesota Twins Draft Choice No. 3: Steve Hajjar, LHP, Michigan
Round/Pick: Round 2, Pick 61
MLB.com Pre-Draft Prospect Rankings: No. 100
Pros: Great Changeup, Good Mix, Projectable Frame
Cons: Inconsistent Fastball
Our first college athlete! The Twins’ picked left-hander Steve Hajjar out of Michigan with the 61st pick of the draft, and he will immediately slot in as the top left-handed prospect in the entire system, which says an equal amount about him as it does the quality of the pitching in the Twins’ system.
Hajjar was very good at Michigan, getting better in year two and using his changeup to mow down batters, leading the Big Ten in strikeouts. He improved his control in year two, but the big issuer with him has been his fastball.
Hajjar’s fastball has touched mid-90s before, and when he has that going for him, he’s really good, but when it sits in the upper 80’s to low 90’s, he’s just not the same pitcher. The Twins believer they can fix that, as Hajjar is only 20 years old and his 6’5″ frame still has some projectability left in it.
You could nitpick about how Joe Rock may have been the better choice at this pick, but the Twins needed to add as much talent as possible and it comes at a position of need. I don’t expect him to race through the system, but with a high floor and a good pitch mix, I think we’ll see him in the majors before anyone else in this draft. Grade: A-.