Minnesota Twins: Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects to Go After at No. 8
By Otto Johnson
Minnesota Twins Draft Prospect No. 10: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell University
The first player on our list is 21-year-old shortstop Zach Neto from Campbell University. Undrafted and lightly recruited out of high school, Neto sat on the bench his freshman year of college and once he got into the lineup he never looked back. Here’s his statline from 2020-2022:
- 100 G, .403/.500/.751, 72 XBH (27 HR), 108 RBI, 31 SB, 56-49 BB-K
He’s got a funky swing and load-up, but he moves the bat well enough to hit for good power and contact at the major league level. He isn’t guaranteed to have the range to stay at short, but he has great feel for the game and a solid enough arm to give it a shot. He’d be a really good option if some of the other players on this list go ahead of him.
Minnesota Twins Draft Prospect No. 9: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS (GA)
The first of two high school pitchers on the list, Dylan Lesko was expected to be the top pitcher off the board in the draft before he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery a couple months back. Regardless, he should still might be the first pitcher picked in a thin class for arms.
Lesko has a solid frame with a fastball that lives around 93-95 but can reach as fast as 97. His best offspeed is an elite changeup that he delivers well and is tough to differentiate from his fastball. He also has a potentially elite curveball that could use a little more work.
Of all the pitchers in the draft, Lesko has ace-level potential if he can come back strong from his injury. If the Twins feel confident in his arm, he could end up being a steal for the team at the bottom of the Top 10.
Minnesota Twins Draft Prospect No. 8: Brock Porter, RHP, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (MI)
The other top high school pitcher in the draft, Brock Porter might not have Lesko’s feel for the mound but he might have better stuff. Porter’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and has reached triple digits, and he has a good four pitch mix. He also has an elite changeup, a strong slider, and a curveball with a ton of spin that just needs some harnessing.
He’s big too, with a 6’4″ frame and as he gets older he’s continuing to improve his command and ability. The Twins might have to pay a little above slot to get Porter at 8, but he’s got a lot of upside for a system without a ton of upside.
Minnesota Twins Draft Prospect No. 7: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
The next player on the list is the first of two catchers in our Top 10: Daniel Susac. Susac just turned 21 in May, and even though he’s tall for a catcher, he may have the tools to stay there long-term.
In his two years at the University of Arizona, Susac played 125 games, slashed .352/.413/.586, pounded 70 XBH (24 HR) and knocked in 126 RBI. He struck out a lot in college, but that’s something he can work on with time while his bat pushes him through the minors.
He’s got a strong arm and while his pitch-framing is a work in progress, the Minnesota Twins organization have shown they’re really good at helping players develop that skill. As an added bonus, he’d likely move quickly through the minors for a team that’s really thin on catching prospects (and on MLB catchers).