Heaney, who I gave a scouting report on here, started off his season last night as Oklahoma State's Friday night starter. While his OSU team was beaten 6-0 by Cal Poly, Heaney turned in a good start going 7 innings giving up only 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 10 and walking 3. A good start for the enigmatic lefty who has been fairly inconsistent his first two years at OSU, and could really solidify his position in the top 50 of the draft with a solid spring. Lucas Giolito made his first start of the year today and I hope to have some more news on him up early next week.
Full stats on Heaney's start can be found here.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
2012 Twins Draft Preview- #72
In finishing up my early preview of the Twins first 5 picks and their potential draft options, we take a look at who might be available at #72 this summer.
Taylore Cherry- RHP School: Butler HS, Vandalia, Ohio Ht: 6'9" Wt: 260
For those of you who were upset when the Twins traded former giant pitching prospect Loek Van Mil, here is a possible replacement for us to follow. Unlike Van Mil, Cherry has some polish and a pretty easy delivery for someone his size. He throws primarily a 2 seam fastball at 89-92 with heavy sink and has been clocked as high as 94. He also throws a loopy curve and a solid change up in the low 80's. He doesn't stay on top of the curve and with his low arm slot it has been suggested he try throwing a slider and see if that takes. If the change up keeps improving and his command and control continue to improve Cherry could be a solid mid-rotation work horse ala Justin Masterson.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He is physically imposing on the mound and does show a smooth delivery that he repeats well. His arm slot is very low, he struggles to stay on top of the ball, and doesn't show great command or control. If the Twins can have him raise the arm slot to a more true 3/4's, hopefully his command would improve and continue to do so as he matures. His curve did look pretty slurvish and he struggled to throw it inside. He did show a few good change ups to left-handers which leads me to belief he can stick as a starter with a huge platoon split in the pro's.
D.J Davis- OF B/T: L/R School: Stone HS, Wiggins, Miss. Ht: 6'0" Wt: 175
Davis' calling card is his speed, as it has been rated by scouts as 80 on the 20-80 scale. As a left-hander who gets out of the box quick, he is a player the Twins love-- much like Ben Revere. But like Revere, he is pretty raw as a baseball player, though he could grow into an above average CF and top of the order threat. He already shows good patience at the plate and looks to use his speed once he gets on base. Baseball America suggests he needs to make some mechanical adjustments at the plate, but he has the athleticism to do so.
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D.J. Baxendale- RHP School: Arkansas Ht: 6'2" Wt: 190
Much like Brady Rogers from ASU, Baxendale is an aggressive strike thrower with good control and command but only mediocre stuff. So, in other words, he is a typical Twins pitcher and draft pick like Kevin Slowey or Alex Wimmers. His fastball is 88-91 with some movement, and he pitches down in the zone with it, complimenting it with a good change up. Both his breaking balls rate as below average, though he did start throwing a cutter in the summer that helped keep hitters from squaring him up as consistently.
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Taylore Cherry- RHP School: Butler HS, Vandalia, Ohio Ht: 6'9" Wt: 260
For those of you who were upset when the Twins traded former giant pitching prospect Loek Van Mil, here is a possible replacement for us to follow. Unlike Van Mil, Cherry has some polish and a pretty easy delivery for someone his size. He throws primarily a 2 seam fastball at 89-92 with heavy sink and has been clocked as high as 94. He also throws a loopy curve and a solid change up in the low 80's. He doesn't stay on top of the curve and with his low arm slot it has been suggested he try throwing a slider and see if that takes. If the change up keeps improving and his command and control continue to improve Cherry could be a solid mid-rotation work horse ala Justin Masterson.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He is physically imposing on the mound and does show a smooth delivery that he repeats well. His arm slot is very low, he struggles to stay on top of the ball, and doesn't show great command or control. If the Twins can have him raise the arm slot to a more true 3/4's, hopefully his command would improve and continue to do so as he matures. His curve did look pretty slurvish and he struggled to throw it inside. He did show a few good change ups to left-handers which leads me to belief he can stick as a starter with a huge platoon split in the pro's.
D.J Davis- OF B/T: L/R School: Stone HS, Wiggins, Miss. Ht: 6'0" Wt: 175
Davis' calling card is his speed, as it has been rated by scouts as 80 on the 20-80 scale. As a left-hander who gets out of the box quick, he is a player the Twins love-- much like Ben Revere. But like Revere, he is pretty raw as a baseball player, though he could grow into an above average CF and top of the order threat. He already shows good patience at the plate and looks to use his speed once he gets on base. Baseball America suggests he needs to make some mechanical adjustments at the plate, but he has the athleticism to do so.
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D.J. Baxendale- RHP School: Arkansas Ht: 6'2" Wt: 190
Much like Brady Rogers from ASU, Baxendale is an aggressive strike thrower with good control and command but only mediocre stuff. So, in other words, he is a typical Twins pitcher and draft pick like Kevin Slowey or Alex Wimmers. His fastball is 88-91 with some movement, and he pitches down in the zone with it, complimenting it with a good change up. Both his breaking balls rate as below average, though he did start throwing a cutter in the summer that helped keep hitters from squaring him up as consistently.
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Quick update on Lucas Giolito a potential #2 pick in draft...
The Southern California Invitational at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif was held last week and Giolito was one of the many high school prospects to participate. I thought I would share the thoughts of a couple notable scouts who saw him there, where they think he is, and what he needs to improve on going forward. Keith Law of ESPN Scouts Inc. said Giolito had the best fastball at the event and ,in a surprise to me, rated his change up above his breaking ball which he called a "low-80s slider" and not the hard curve I have read he throws. Law also said Giolito has struggled with his command and control most of the times Law has seen him, but still is the best high school arm in the draft class and just needs a solid spring, showing some improvement to make sure he is the first HS arm taken. Baseball America's Aaron Fitt said that Giolito looked "strong as usual, though he was not as electric as he often was this fall". Fitt also mentioned that Giolito didn't throw the "plus-plus curveball" that he was throwing in the fall that had a lot of scouts buzzing. (so maybe he does throw a curve but didnt show it because it is early in the year??). So it sounds like both scouts liked what he showed but were not blown away by Giolito's performance at the showcase, but it is still very early and a lot can change by draft day. If he can show improved command and control this spring as while as an improved slider or show the plus curveball he threw in the fall he could solidify his chances of being taken in the top 5 of the draft and possibly by the Twins at #2.
*one interesting note from Law who was answering a question in his comments page said that he believes Giolito's teammate Max Fried may end up higher on some draft boards then Giolito. So Fried is another possible name to keep an eye for on this spring. (Fried was rated the 14th best prospect by Baseball America and I will try to have a scouting report on him up in the next couple of days.)
*one interesting note from Law who was answering a question in his comments page said that he believes Giolito's teammate Max Fried may end up higher on some draft boards then Giolito. So Fried is another possible name to keep an eye for on this spring. (Fried was rated the 14th best prospect by Baseball America and I will try to have a scouting report on him up in the next couple of days.)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2012 Twins Draft Preview- Pick #63
We finally get to the 2nd round of the draft after only 60 first round and compensation picks and who might be available for the Twins as they continue to try and add impact prospects to a farm system that really could use a jolt in the arm.
James Ramsey- OF B/T: L/R School: Florida State Ht: 6'0" W: 190
The Twins picked Ramsey in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft and apparently he turned down a pretty significant bonus offer to return to FSU for his Sr. season. Baseball America in their draft recap last year said that the Twins view Ramsey as a Jason Kipnis type of player and were very disappointed that they could not sign him. I would not be surprised if the Twins grab him again if he is available here as he is the player they love to have. He is a high baseball IQ, high energy player whose dad coaches high school baseball. He does not project to have a single plus tool but does grade out as average in all 5 categories. He mashed all summer on the Cape hitting .313/.448/.571 with more walks then k's. Since he doesn't have have great range it may be tough for him to hold down CF long term and with out massive power projection he may struggle to be more then a fourth outfielder but if he continues to hit and get on base he may be able to be an average regular in one of the corners.
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Zach Eflin- RHP School: Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla Ht: 6'5" Wt: 180
Eflin is another intriguing high school power arm who has a big frame and the potential for 3 solid pitches. He already works 90-93 with a fastball that shows good sink, something the Twins love their pitchers to use as it helps generate ground balls. His best secondary pitch is a circle change that mimics the movement he gets on his fastball but with a good 10 mph gap sitting at 80-83. He also throws a 12-6 curve that is inconsistent but shows some promise and could be above average in the future. His size offers some more projectability with a chance to increase his velocity as he fills out.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He stands tall through out his delivery and comes nearly straight over the top creating a good downhill plane. He could get more out of his lower half and lands slightly on the third base side of the mound causing him to throw across his body. He has a bit of a head snap and effort in his delivery which are not always good as they can indicate future arm troubles as snapping the head can put undue stress on the shoulder and neck.
Brady Rogers RHP School: Arizona State Ht: 6'2" Wt: 190
Again Rogers is exactly the type of pitcher who the Twins typically draft, a polished college pitcher who pounds the strike zone and who actually had the same amount of walks as he did wins (9) as a soph. at ASU. He controls and commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and usually sits in the 88-90 range. He supplements that with 3 average secondary pitches a curveball, slider, and a changeup. If he is available it will be a good test of the Twins commitment to bring in more power arms.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Rogers has a compact delivery and seems to get the most out of his smaller frame. I wouldn't call him a max effort guy but it also isn't the smoothest delivery ever. There isn't a lot of projection in his frame and he is going to have to live off his impressive control in the big leagues and probably has a Kevin Slowey type of ceiling as a solid #4 starter at best.
James Ramsey- OF B/T: L/R School: Florida State Ht: 6'0" W: 190
The Twins picked Ramsey in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft and apparently he turned down a pretty significant bonus offer to return to FSU for his Sr. season. Baseball America in their draft recap last year said that the Twins view Ramsey as a Jason Kipnis type of player and were very disappointed that they could not sign him. I would not be surprised if the Twins grab him again if he is available here as he is the player they love to have. He is a high baseball IQ, high energy player whose dad coaches high school baseball. He does not project to have a single plus tool but does grade out as average in all 5 categories. He mashed all summer on the Cape hitting .313/.448/.571 with more walks then k's. Since he doesn't have have great range it may be tough for him to hold down CF long term and with out massive power projection he may struggle to be more then a fourth outfielder but if he continues to hit and get on base he may be able to be an average regular in one of the corners.
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Zach Eflin- RHP School: Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla Ht: 6'5" Wt: 180
Eflin is another intriguing high school power arm who has a big frame and the potential for 3 solid pitches. He already works 90-93 with a fastball that shows good sink, something the Twins love their pitchers to use as it helps generate ground balls. His best secondary pitch is a circle change that mimics the movement he gets on his fastball but with a good 10 mph gap sitting at 80-83. He also throws a 12-6 curve that is inconsistent but shows some promise and could be above average in the future. His size offers some more projectability with a chance to increase his velocity as he fills out.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He stands tall through out his delivery and comes nearly straight over the top creating a good downhill plane. He could get more out of his lower half and lands slightly on the third base side of the mound causing him to throw across his body. He has a bit of a head snap and effort in his delivery which are not always good as they can indicate future arm troubles as snapping the head can put undue stress on the shoulder and neck.
Brady Rogers RHP School: Arizona State Ht: 6'2" Wt: 190
Again Rogers is exactly the type of pitcher who the Twins typically draft, a polished college pitcher who pounds the strike zone and who actually had the same amount of walks as he did wins (9) as a soph. at ASU. He controls and commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and usually sits in the 88-90 range. He supplements that with 3 average secondary pitches a curveball, slider, and a changeup. If he is available it will be a good test of the Twins commitment to bring in more power arms.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Rogers has a compact delivery and seems to get the most out of his smaller frame. I wouldn't call him a max effort guy but it also isn't the smoothest delivery ever. There isn't a lot of projection in his frame and he is going to have to live off his impressive control in the big leagues and probably has a Kevin Slowey type of ceiling as a solid #4 starter at best.
Friday, February 10, 2012
2012 Twins Draft Preview- Pick #42
After looking at the #2 & #32 picks in the upcoming draft, I wanted to look at a couple of players who could be available when the Twins select at #42.
Andrew Heaney- LHP School: Oklahoma State Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175
If any player in the top 100 fits the Twins profile for pitching it would be Heaney. He is a command/control lefty who gets people out by pounding the strike zone and changing speeds. His "fastball" usually sits in 88-90 range but has been up to 91-92 in shorter stints. He features a couple breaking balls including a a sharp curve that could be an above average pitch and also mixes in a change and cutter that help keep righthanders from teeing off on his below average fastball. He will change his arm slot and speeds to keep hitters off balance dropping almost to below a 3/4's slot against lefties. He still has room to fill out in his frame and is known to be a great teammate and a hard worker.
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: Heaney is the first minute of the video and at first I thought that maybe he was just taking his warm ups really lightly. After seeing the little game footage Heaney needs some work with his mechanics. He is all arm and doesn't use his lower half at all leading to a lot of effort in his delivery. His arm slot is pretty low and would lead me to believe he would struggle to keep the ball down in the zone and stay on top of his breaking balls. If the Twins could get him to use his lower half he may even be able to add a couple of mph to his fastball and ease the wear and tear on his shoulder and arm. If not, I see him more then likely destined to be a Loogy as he would not be able to hold up to a full season workload as a starter or even middle relief.
Nolan Sanburn-RHP School: Arkansas Ht 6'1" Wt: 205
If Heaney fits the current Twins mantra of pitch to contact then Sanburn would fit the supposed new need for "Power Arms" I have heard Terry Ryan mention this offseason. Though he is currently a reliever some scouts believe he should be given the chance to start in the pros and the Twins have tried, albeit not successfully (see Carlos Gutierrez), to take College relievers and turn them into big league starters. Sanborn features a hard 91-94 mhp fastball that has reached 98 and basically tries to overpower hitters with it. In the Northwoods League this past summer he was used as a starter and was able to hold his velocity okay to give the belief that he could transition to the rotation. His secondary pitches need work but his 81-85 mph slider shows the potential to be a plus pitch. His Change-up needs work and the development of that pitch would indicate if he can stick in the rotation or would move to the bullpen. As a draft eligible sophomore he has age on his side and at worst he could develop into the Twins version of Drew Storen who was also taken as a soph out of college though Storen was a lot more highly regarded as a prospect.
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Jesse Winker- 1B/OF B/T: L/R School: Olympia HS, Orlando
Winker reminds me of Chris Parmalee a bit as a prospect and is projected to be one of the better high school bats in the draft. He doesn't fit the Twins preferred mold of an athletic outfielder but he can hit and has the potential for bit time power. Scouts say has a pretty left handed swing and generates power with his hips and torso. He gets good extension with his arms and should continue to show good bat speed as he grows. He is not supremely athletic and profiles as a LF or a 1B so the bat is going to have to blossom for him to be a impact player.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He shows a prototype lefty swing with good extension and hip rotation but he almost traps his hands behind his body leading to a longer swing and creating a small hole up and in. He would need to correct that keeping his hands even and not dropping them in the load and it is a fairly fixable hitch it just takes repetition.
Andrew Heaney- LHP School: Oklahoma State Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175
If any player in the top 100 fits the Twins profile for pitching it would be Heaney. He is a command/control lefty who gets people out by pounding the strike zone and changing speeds. His "fastball" usually sits in 88-90 range but has been up to 91-92 in shorter stints. He features a couple breaking balls including a a sharp curve that could be an above average pitch and also mixes in a change and cutter that help keep righthanders from teeing off on his below average fastball. He will change his arm slot and speeds to keep hitters off balance dropping almost to below a 3/4's slot against lefties. He still has room to fill out in his frame and is known to be a great teammate and a hard worker.
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: Heaney is the first minute of the video and at first I thought that maybe he was just taking his warm ups really lightly. After seeing the little game footage Heaney needs some work with his mechanics. He is all arm and doesn't use his lower half at all leading to a lot of effort in his delivery. His arm slot is pretty low and would lead me to believe he would struggle to keep the ball down in the zone and stay on top of his breaking balls. If the Twins could get him to use his lower half he may even be able to add a couple of mph to his fastball and ease the wear and tear on his shoulder and arm. If not, I see him more then likely destined to be a Loogy as he would not be able to hold up to a full season workload as a starter or even middle relief.
Nolan Sanburn-RHP School: Arkansas Ht 6'1" Wt: 205
If Heaney fits the current Twins mantra of pitch to contact then Sanburn would fit the supposed new need for "Power Arms" I have heard Terry Ryan mention this offseason. Though he is currently a reliever some scouts believe he should be given the chance to start in the pros and the Twins have tried, albeit not successfully (see Carlos Gutierrez), to take College relievers and turn them into big league starters. Sanborn features a hard 91-94 mhp fastball that has reached 98 and basically tries to overpower hitters with it. In the Northwoods League this past summer he was used as a starter and was able to hold his velocity okay to give the belief that he could transition to the rotation. His secondary pitches need work but his 81-85 mph slider shows the potential to be a plus pitch. His Change-up needs work and the development of that pitch would indicate if he can stick in the rotation or would move to the bullpen. As a draft eligible sophomore he has age on his side and at worst he could develop into the Twins version of Drew Storen who was also taken as a soph out of college though Storen was a lot more highly regarded as a prospect.
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Jesse Winker- 1B/OF B/T: L/R School: Olympia HS, Orlando
Winker reminds me of Chris Parmalee a bit as a prospect and is projected to be one of the better high school bats in the draft. He doesn't fit the Twins preferred mold of an athletic outfielder but he can hit and has the potential for bit time power. Scouts say has a pretty left handed swing and generates power with his hips and torso. He gets good extension with his arms and should continue to show good bat speed as he grows. He is not supremely athletic and profiles as a LF or a 1B so the bat is going to have to blossom for him to be a impact player.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He shows a prototype lefty swing with good extension and hip rotation but he almost traps his hands behind his body leading to a longer swing and creating a small hole up and in. He would need to correct that keeping his hands even and not dropping them in the load and it is a fairly fixable hitch it just takes repetition.
Monday, February 6, 2012
2012 Twins Draft Preview- Pick #32
After letting Cuddyer walk the Twins gained the #32 pick in the draft and hopefully should be able to land another talented prospect to help reestablish the farm system. Below are 3 options I believe the Twins will be considering assuming a preferred option doesn't slide to them.
Brandon Kline - RHP School: Virgina Ht: 6'3" Wt: 190
Kline fits the Twins profile as a polished college arm but may have slightly more upside then previous draft options. He was the closer for the Cavaliers College World Series teams in 2011, but is expected to transition to the rotation this spring. He has a big projectable frame and features a hard fastball that usually sits 90-93 with a really good slider in the low 80's. It will be important to see if he can develop a feel for a change up while starting otherwise he may end up as a two pitch reliever. If he can show feel for a change up or something else to get lefthanders out and improve his control/command he could profile as a solid #3 starter in the majors similar to a Edwin Jackson.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Kline has a good amount of effort in his delivery and strides slightly towards third base causing him to throw across his body. He does repeat his delivery well and if the stride can be corrected his control/command should improve. It will be interesting to see how he handles a starters workload and how he performs this spring could cause him to move up or down in the draft.
Courtney Hawkins- OF B/T: R/R School: Carroll High Corpus Christi,TX Ht: 6'3" Wt: 210
Hawkins fits the Twins mold as an athletic high school outfielder with a strong arm and good speed. As he is already pretty large the chances of him staying in CF are zero but his arm and power would profile in right. His best tool is that power and he puts on big time power shows in BP and was one of only two players to homer in last years area code games. He has a really aggressive approach and its doesn't always benefit him as he is prone to expand the zone. He also had struggled against off speed stuff but has shown the ability to handle high velocity guys. He also pitches and shows a strong low 90's arm, with that and his batting profile I think his upside is 2009 Delmon Young but his downside is every other year of Delmon but hopefully with better defense.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He shows good leverage and strength in his swing but he gets onto his front foot too early and needs to let the ball get deeper in the hitting zone. I would have him widen his base a little more and try and remove that toe tap he is currently using as I can only think of a couple of major leaguers who can successfully hit that way.
Luke Sims- RHP School: Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. Ht: 6'2" Wt: 195
Sims is one of the better high schools arms in these years draft has a chance to be a steal this late in the draft if he doesn't improve his stock over the course of the spring. He doesn't have the prototypical frame but according to Baseball America repeats his delivery really well and gets good leverage from using his legs well. He offers the potential for three plus pitches with a fastball that sits 90-93, A very good curve in the high 70's, as well a potentially plus changup in the low 80's. He throws a lot of strikes which is obviously something the Twins love their pitchers to do. If he can keep developing his off speed stuff he has the potential to be a solid #3 start ala Scott Baker.
Video Clip: None Available
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Brandon Kline - RHP School: Virgina Ht: 6'3" Wt: 190
Kline fits the Twins profile as a polished college arm but may have slightly more upside then previous draft options. He was the closer for the Cavaliers College World Series teams in 2011, but is expected to transition to the rotation this spring. He has a big projectable frame and features a hard fastball that usually sits 90-93 with a really good slider in the low 80's. It will be important to see if he can develop a feel for a change up while starting otherwise he may end up as a two pitch reliever. If he can show feel for a change up or something else to get lefthanders out and improve his control/command he could profile as a solid #3 starter in the majors similar to a Edwin Jackson.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Kline has a good amount of effort in his delivery and strides slightly towards third base causing him to throw across his body. He does repeat his delivery well and if the stride can be corrected his control/command should improve. It will be interesting to see how he handles a starters workload and how he performs this spring could cause him to move up or down in the draft.
Courtney Hawkins- OF B/T: R/R School: Carroll High Corpus Christi,TX Ht: 6'3" Wt: 210
Hawkins fits the Twins mold as an athletic high school outfielder with a strong arm and good speed. As he is already pretty large the chances of him staying in CF are zero but his arm and power would profile in right. His best tool is that power and he puts on big time power shows in BP and was one of only two players to homer in last years area code games. He has a really aggressive approach and its doesn't always benefit him as he is prone to expand the zone. He also had struggled against off speed stuff but has shown the ability to handle high velocity guys. He also pitches and shows a strong low 90's arm, with that and his batting profile I think his upside is 2009 Delmon Young but his downside is every other year of Delmon but hopefully with better defense.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: He shows good leverage and strength in his swing but he gets onto his front foot too early and needs to let the ball get deeper in the hitting zone. I would have him widen his base a little more and try and remove that toe tap he is currently using as I can only think of a couple of major leaguers who can successfully hit that way.
Luke Sims- RHP School: Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. Ht: 6'2" Wt: 195
Sims is one of the better high schools arms in these years draft has a chance to be a steal this late in the draft if he doesn't improve his stock over the course of the spring. He doesn't have the prototypical frame but according to Baseball America repeats his delivery really well and gets good leverage from using his legs well. He offers the potential for three plus pitches with a fastball that sits 90-93, A very good curve in the high 70's, as well a potentially plus changup in the low 80's. He throws a lot of strikes which is obviously something the Twins love their pitchers to do. If he can keep developing his off speed stuff he has the potential to be a solid #3 start ala Scott Baker.
Video Clip: None Available
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Friday, February 3, 2012
2012 Twins Draft Preview- Part 1
With the Twins having so many top drafty picks I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at who should be available at each spot we draft in the top 100. Today I want to look at the top options for the #2 pick in the draft.
Mark Appel- SP - RHP School: Stanford Ht: 6'5" Wt: 190
Appel has a prototypical aces frame which allows him to get good leverage on his plus fastball and helps generate ground balls. His fastball typically sits 93-95 in games but has been clocked as high as 98 mph. He also features a potentially plus slider In the mid 80's. He has been developing a circle change that showed potential during his time with team USA in the summer. Despite his power repertoire he still tended to pitch to contact at Stanford only striking out 86 in 110 innings. His command of his pitches need to improve and as it does the strike outs should improve as he currently leaves to many pitches up in the zone. Appel has the potential to grow into a Justin Verlander type of Ace for the Twins if his command approves and he continues to improve his secondary pitches. If the change up doesn't improve and the command doesn't as well he may be pushed to the bullpen as a two pitch reliever and would probably be successful in that role but at the price tag of a #2 draft pick it would be considered a disappointing result.
Availability at #2: 50% I think it is going to tough for Houston to pass up on a fairly polished college arm who could move through the system quickly as they rebuild. If they do I would bet that the Twins would be happy to take their preferred college arm at #2.
Video clip: Click Here
Video analysis: He has a pretty clean delivery but I do think he tends to rush through it towards the end which results in some slight arm drag. If the Twins can smooth that out and get him a little more upright it could help him improve his command.
Lucas Giolito- SP - RHP School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. Ht: 6'6" Wt: 230
A similar pitcher in terms of profile to Appel, Giolito has the big workhorse pitchers frame and the power pitchess to go with it. He also sits in the 93-95 range with his fastball and can run it into the upper 90's. He differs from Appel with his preferred breaking ball being a hard 11-5 curve that already looks like a plus offering in the low 80's. He offers a show me change up in the low to mid 80's but hasn't had the need for it against high school competition. He also has good, smooth mechanics which causes his fastball to jump on hitters and create the appearance that he is throwing even harder. He is signed to attend UCLA but the prospects of a 7 figure pay day plus the fact that he probably would not be able to improve his draft stock at all lead me to believe that he will sign.
Availability at #2: 50% No high school right hander has ever been selected #1 in the draft but the Astros are far enough from contending that drafting the younger right hander may be more appealing to them as they can let him develop with out the need to rush him. If he is available at #2 the Twins would have to break their mold of drafting more polished college pitchers and I don't know how the risk averse front office would feel about committing 6+ million dollars to a high schooler but I would hope their mantra of adding more power arms would over rule any doubts because Giolito has the ceiling of a dominant #1 or #2 starter in the Josh Beckett mold
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: The first thing that jumped out to me is the smooth delivery and arm action Giolito has. He repeats the delivery really well in the video and that bodes well for future command and control. I noticed the video that he was able to throw his curve ball for a strike to either side of the plate which is a plus as well. The one change up I thought I saw looked a little rough out of his hand and hopefully with experience the release will be smoother. He does get good arm side run on his fast ball as well.
Byron Buxton- OF B/T: R/R - School: Appling County HS, Baxley, Ga. Ht: 6'2 Wt: 170
Buxton is the type of player the Twins love to take in their draft, a toolsy, athletic high schooler with excellent speed. He profiles as a CF with 70 grade speed and has thrown in the low 90's as a pitcher so his arm should profile as plus as well. He sounds alot like Aaron Hicks but may be a bit more advanced with the bat then Hicks was at the same age which gives a pretty good picture of how talented Buxton may be. Baseball America offers a comparison of a hybrid between the Upton Brothers which again shows just how much potential scouts see in him. He is committed to Georgia but again with the large bonus and the unlikely chance he would improve his draft position he should be fairly signable.
Availability at #2: 70% I think Houston is going to grab one of the pitchers above but if they decide to grab what is most likely the top bat in the draft I wouldn't be surprised. If the Astros grab Appel though, I think the chances are high that the Twins would grab Buxton at #2 given their affinity for his type of player. I think Buxton is more talented then the other players he follows in the organization and once he fills out could become a star RF with Juston Upton as a hopeful ceiling.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Buxton starts with an open stance and after seeing his swing I can definitely see the B.J. Upton comps as their set up and swings are similar. He loads with a slight bat wrap but makes up for it with explosive hands, he gets good torque keeping his hips and shoulder closed, and finishes with good extension on his swing which should help him drive balls as he gets older and fills out.
Deven Marrero SS B/T: R/R School: Arizona State Ht: 6'1" Wt: 180
Marrero is the top college bat in the draft and is said to be one of the most complete players in the draft profiling average or above tools in all 5 categories. He is known as one of the better defensive short stops in college and his reads and reactions lead most to believe that he will stick at short in pro ball. He also features a plus arm which allows him to make the throw from the deep hole. His bat profiles as a solid average hitter with good doubles power that could grow into average power as he continues to fill out. He hits well to all fields and shows a simple compact swing. He is not the fastest player but uses his speed extremely well on the basepaths and displays a high baseball IQ. He is known as a grinder and plays the game hard which the Twins obviously love in their middle infielders.
Availability at #2: 100% I dont think he has the ceiling to be a #1 draft pick and in most drafts would probably be in the back of the top 10 but with this being a top 5 heavy first round he could slid up to #2 in the draft if the Twins want to grab another high probability middle infielder to pair with Levi Michaels from last year.
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: He has a pretty pronounced bat wrap (wrapping the bat around the head of the barrel is almost pointing at the Short Stop) and I would hope the Twins instructors would work with him to lesson that as it makes his swing longer then it needs to be. He does a good job in the video of keeping his hands inside the ball and does have a fairly compact swing despite the bat wrap. He could profile as a above average everday shortstop in the big leagues with a J.J. Hardy type of player with a little less power.
Mike Zunino- C - B/T: R/R School: Florida ht: 6'2" Wt: 215
He has proven himself as the top catching prospect in the draft by winning the SEC Conference player of the year and posting an impressive .371/.442./674 in his soph season. His prototypical catchers size and power bat would be a welcome addition to any lineup and has shown to be a solid defender but has needs to improve on catching more base stealers as he has only thrown out about 33% so far a number likely to go down as he faces better competition in pro ball. His coach praises his receiving ability and his leadership qualities which are both good things in a catcher. Baseball America compared him a slightly better version of top prospect Yasmini Grandal.
Availibility at #2: 100% I again dont think he has the ceiling the Astros new front office is looking for in their first draft so if the Twins wanted to grab Zunino in preparation for the eventual Mauer move from catcher I could hardly blame them.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis:
A video of a late game home run off an all American closer certainly leads to a biased scouting report but in the at bat he shows good patients laying off a couple of pitches before hammering a pitch. After watching older videos it seems that he used hit with a slight arm bar which can make it harder for hitters to get around on quality fastballs. Hes got a short swing and showed good power even after the transition to the new bats last year.
So those are the 5 players I think the Twins are/will be targeting on when the pick 2nd in this years draft. If I were there GM and had everything unfold perfectly for me I think I would hope for Appel to slide to #2 and allow me to grab a potential frontline starter/power arm my origination sorely needs. If Appel is gone I think I would prefer to grab either Giolito or Buxton due to their high ceilings over the higher predictability of Marrero or Zunino.
Mark Appel- SP - RHP School: Stanford Ht: 6'5" Wt: 190
Appel has a prototypical aces frame which allows him to get good leverage on his plus fastball and helps generate ground balls. His fastball typically sits 93-95 in games but has been clocked as high as 98 mph. He also features a potentially plus slider In the mid 80's. He has been developing a circle change that showed potential during his time with team USA in the summer. Despite his power repertoire he still tended to pitch to contact at Stanford only striking out 86 in 110 innings. His command of his pitches need to improve and as it does the strike outs should improve as he currently leaves to many pitches up in the zone. Appel has the potential to grow into a Justin Verlander type of Ace for the Twins if his command approves and he continues to improve his secondary pitches. If the change up doesn't improve and the command doesn't as well he may be pushed to the bullpen as a two pitch reliever and would probably be successful in that role but at the price tag of a #2 draft pick it would be considered a disappointing result.
Availability at #2: 50% I think it is going to tough for Houston to pass up on a fairly polished college arm who could move through the system quickly as they rebuild. If they do I would bet that the Twins would be happy to take their preferred college arm at #2.
Video clip: Click Here
Video analysis: He has a pretty clean delivery but I do think he tends to rush through it towards the end which results in some slight arm drag. If the Twins can smooth that out and get him a little more upright it could help him improve his command.
Lucas Giolito- SP - RHP School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. Ht: 6'6" Wt: 230
A similar pitcher in terms of profile to Appel, Giolito has the big workhorse pitchers frame and the power pitchess to go with it. He also sits in the 93-95 range with his fastball and can run it into the upper 90's. He differs from Appel with his preferred breaking ball being a hard 11-5 curve that already looks like a plus offering in the low 80's. He offers a show me change up in the low to mid 80's but hasn't had the need for it against high school competition. He also has good, smooth mechanics which causes his fastball to jump on hitters and create the appearance that he is throwing even harder. He is signed to attend UCLA but the prospects of a 7 figure pay day plus the fact that he probably would not be able to improve his draft stock at all lead me to believe that he will sign.
Availability at #2: 50% No high school right hander has ever been selected #1 in the draft but the Astros are far enough from contending that drafting the younger right hander may be more appealing to them as they can let him develop with out the need to rush him. If he is available at #2 the Twins would have to break their mold of drafting more polished college pitchers and I don't know how the risk averse front office would feel about committing 6+ million dollars to a high schooler but I would hope their mantra of adding more power arms would over rule any doubts because Giolito has the ceiling of a dominant #1 or #2 starter in the Josh Beckett mold
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: The first thing that jumped out to me is the smooth delivery and arm action Giolito has. He repeats the delivery really well in the video and that bodes well for future command and control. I noticed the video that he was able to throw his curve ball for a strike to either side of the plate which is a plus as well. The one change up I thought I saw looked a little rough out of his hand and hopefully with experience the release will be smoother. He does get good arm side run on his fast ball as well.
Byron Buxton- OF B/T: R/R - School: Appling County HS, Baxley, Ga. Ht: 6'2 Wt: 170
Buxton is the type of player the Twins love to take in their draft, a toolsy, athletic high schooler with excellent speed. He profiles as a CF with 70 grade speed and has thrown in the low 90's as a pitcher so his arm should profile as plus as well. He sounds alot like Aaron Hicks but may be a bit more advanced with the bat then Hicks was at the same age which gives a pretty good picture of how talented Buxton may be. Baseball America offers a comparison of a hybrid between the Upton Brothers which again shows just how much potential scouts see in him. He is committed to Georgia but again with the large bonus and the unlikely chance he would improve his draft position he should be fairly signable.
Availability at #2: 70% I think Houston is going to grab one of the pitchers above but if they decide to grab what is most likely the top bat in the draft I wouldn't be surprised. If the Astros grab Appel though, I think the chances are high that the Twins would grab Buxton at #2 given their affinity for his type of player. I think Buxton is more talented then the other players he follows in the organization and once he fills out could become a star RF with Juston Upton as a hopeful ceiling.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis: Buxton starts with an open stance and after seeing his swing I can definitely see the B.J. Upton comps as their set up and swings are similar. He loads with a slight bat wrap but makes up for it with explosive hands, he gets good torque keeping his hips and shoulder closed, and finishes with good extension on his swing which should help him drive balls as he gets older and fills out.
Deven Marrero SS B/T: R/R School: Arizona State Ht: 6'1" Wt: 180
Marrero is the top college bat in the draft and is said to be one of the most complete players in the draft profiling average or above tools in all 5 categories. He is known as one of the better defensive short stops in college and his reads and reactions lead most to believe that he will stick at short in pro ball. He also features a plus arm which allows him to make the throw from the deep hole. His bat profiles as a solid average hitter with good doubles power that could grow into average power as he continues to fill out. He hits well to all fields and shows a simple compact swing. He is not the fastest player but uses his speed extremely well on the basepaths and displays a high baseball IQ. He is known as a grinder and plays the game hard which the Twins obviously love in their middle infielders.
Availability at #2: 100% I dont think he has the ceiling to be a #1 draft pick and in most drafts would probably be in the back of the top 10 but with this being a top 5 heavy first round he could slid up to #2 in the draft if the Twins want to grab another high probability middle infielder to pair with Levi Michaels from last year.
Video Clip: Click here
Video Analysis: He has a pretty pronounced bat wrap (wrapping the bat around the head of the barrel is almost pointing at the Short Stop) and I would hope the Twins instructors would work with him to lesson that as it makes his swing longer then it needs to be. He does a good job in the video of keeping his hands inside the ball and does have a fairly compact swing despite the bat wrap. He could profile as a above average everday shortstop in the big leagues with a J.J. Hardy type of player with a little less power.
Mike Zunino- C - B/T: R/R School: Florida ht: 6'2" Wt: 215
He has proven himself as the top catching prospect in the draft by winning the SEC Conference player of the year and posting an impressive .371/.442./674 in his soph season. His prototypical catchers size and power bat would be a welcome addition to any lineup and has shown to be a solid defender but has needs to improve on catching more base stealers as he has only thrown out about 33% so far a number likely to go down as he faces better competition in pro ball. His coach praises his receiving ability and his leadership qualities which are both good things in a catcher. Baseball America compared him a slightly better version of top prospect Yasmini Grandal.
Availibility at #2: 100% I again dont think he has the ceiling the Astros new front office is looking for in their first draft so if the Twins wanted to grab Zunino in preparation for the eventual Mauer move from catcher I could hardly blame them.
Video Clip: Click Here
Video Analysis:
A video of a late game home run off an all American closer certainly leads to a biased scouting report but in the at bat he shows good patients laying off a couple of pitches before hammering a pitch. After watching older videos it seems that he used hit with a slight arm bar which can make it harder for hitters to get around on quality fastballs. Hes got a short swing and showed good power even after the transition to the new bats last year.
So those are the 5 players I think the Twins are/will be targeting on when the pick 2nd in this years draft. If I were there GM and had everything unfold perfectly for me I think I would hope for Appel to slide to #2 and allow me to grab a potential frontline starter/power arm my origination sorely needs. If Appel is gone I think I would prefer to grab either Giolito or Buxton due to their high ceilings over the higher predictability of Marrero or Zunino.
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