Minnesota Twins: Draft Review

General Manager: Bill Smith
Farm Director: Jim Rantz
Scouting Director: Deron Johnson

2006-2009 Draft Results:
First three rounds included
x- over-draft signees ($200,000 or more)

2009 1st Round: Kyle Gibson, RHP, U of Missouri
1S. Matt Bashore, LHP, Indiana
2. Billy Bullock, RHP, Florida
3. Ben Tootle, RHP, Jacksonville State

If he can stay healthy, Gibson could be a real steal here for the Twins. The Missouri right-hander was set to go in the Top 10 picks before a stress fracture in his forearm caused him to slip to the Twins at the 22nd pick. He has solid control and good secondary pitches, which makes him a potential No. 2 starter, if everything clicks. Gibson’s pro debut will come in 2010 and he’ll likely begin the year in one of the Twins’ A-ball affiliates. Bashore is the second in a quartet of college pitchers taken with the club’s first four selections. He made just one relief appearance after being drafted, but the lefty features four pitches, including a splitter and a fastball that can touch 95 mph.

Bullock made 33 appearances after signing. He showed knock-out stuff in low-A by posting a strikeout rate of 11.96 K/9. Bullock did not allow a home run in his debut, despite a ground-ball rate of just 33.3%. He’ll need to get the ball down a little more consistently, as well as improve his control (4.10 BB/9) as he moves up the ladder. With a mid-90s fastball, though, and a durable frame, he has the potential to be a big-league closer. Tootle pitched just six innings after signing, but he was a nice grab in the third round. He has a mid-90s fastball but his secondary pitches are raw, so there’s talk of him turning to the bullpen in pro ball, despite pitching mainly out of the starting rotation in college. Like Bullock, there is potential there for as a late-game reliever.

The organization did its best Detroit Tigers impression, by stocking up on flame-throwing college arms. One of the best clubs at developing big-league pitchers, it will be interesting to see what the organization can do with the above hurlers.

2008 1st Round: Aaron Hicks, OF, California HS
1. Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Miami
1S. Shooter Hunt, RHP, Tulane
2. Tyler Ladendorf, SS, Texas JC
3. Bobby Lanigan, RHP, Adelphi
6x – B.J. Hermsen, RHP, Iowa HS
30x – Mike Tonkin, RHP, California HS

Hicks remains an exciting selection at the top of this draft, and you’ll read more about him next week when the Top 10 list is posted. A surprise first-round pick, Gutierrez has been inconsistent but his ground-ball numbers were insane (62.7%) in 2009. Hunt was considered a solid pick in ’08, but a lot can change in a year. After posting a walk rate of 7.76 BB/9 in low-A ball in his debut, the right-hander’s control actually worsened and he walked 58 batters in 32.2 innings (for a walk rate of more than 15.50 BB/9). Maybe Rick Ankiel can teach Hunt how to hit?

Ladendorf was considered an offensive-minded middle infielder when he was drafted, but he’s struggled to hit above .230 since signing. He was sent to Oakland in a trade. Lanigan has been solid in pro ball. He spent most of ’09 in low-A ball, where he posted a 3.55 FIP and allowed 130 hits in 123.1 innings of work. The right-hander has solid control (2.12 BB/9) but his overall stuff (fastball velo, secondary pitches) is inconsistent.

A football injury scared most teams away, but the club took a gamble on Hermsen and it’s paid off, so far. The right-hander can reach the low-90s with his fastball, and he also gets more than his fair share of ground-ball outs (52.3%). He did not allow a home run in 53.1 innings this past season, and his walk rate was just 0.68 BB/9. However, Hermsen is not going to continue posting BABIPs of .228. Tonkin is an interesting sleeper prospect. He has good fastball velocity, and the former prep pick displays above-average control for his age (1.48 BB/9). Perhaps he throws a few too many strikes to the young, aggressive hitters in rookie ball, because he allowed 55 hits in 54.1 innings of work in ’09. If he can improve his breaking ball, watch out.

2007 1st Round: Ben Revere, OF, Kentucky HS
2. Danny Rams, C/1B, Florida HS
3. Angel Morales, OF, Puerto Rico HS

Revere continues to defy the odds and has made believers out of his doubters. He’s one of the most unique and fascinating players in the minors, but it remains to be seen how well his skill set will play in the Majors. Regardless, he’s a Top 10 prospect.

Beyond the club’s first pick, this is a pretty “meh” draft. Rams is still young, but crazy-high BABIPs have not helped him hit for average, mainly due to his strikeout rates (44.0% in low-A). The raw power is there (.200 ISO), but he needs to get that swing under control. Morales is another unrefined prospect with strikeout tendencies and impressive power potential. The Puerto Rican outfielder made some strides in ’09.

2006 1st Round: Chris Parmalee, OF/1B, California HS
2. Joe Benson, OF, Illinois HS
3. Tyler Robertson, LHP, California HS
14x – Jeff Manship, RHP, Notre Dame

Parmalee, Benson, and Robertson are all top prospects. Anthony Slama was a nice find in the 30th round, while 14th rounder Jeff Manship and 19th rounder Danny Valencia find themselves on the club’s Top 10 prospects list.

The club selected Jared Mitchell in the 10th round, out of a Louisiana high school. The outfielder became a No. 1 draft pick of the White Sox in 2009.

Up Next: The Minnesota Twins Top 10 Prospects