Minnesota Twins Draft Options Part 2

In part 2 of this I thought I would touch on some of the dos and don'ts in Monday's draft. As everyone knows the Twins only have one pick (21st overall) on day one and in the top 70 picks. This puts more pressure on Bill Smith and the talent evaluators to get this pick right. It is important that Minnesota does not pay attention to the helium balloons on certain prospects as well as needs and make sure they get the best player available. Also in my opinion I think the Twins should try to ignore the signability of the high prices guys. The Twins have tended to stick by their guy with slot money, mainly because they usually have multiple picks in the first couple rounds and they need to allocate their money up for each of them. They do not have this problem with the one pick. In addition to that the Twins have spent more money now due to the addition to Target Field so the approaching $100 million dollar pay roll should be an indacation that more money can be spent through talent development. Case in point the roughly $5 million dollars given to Miguel Sano, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco.

Players To Be High On:

*Dylan Covey RHP, Maranatha HS, Pasadena, Calif.: High school arms are not usually in the Twins mold but but very few fit the Twins strategy as much as Covey at the top of the board. Its rare to see an 18 year old who already has a good feel for pitching. At 6'2", 200 pounds Covey does not have much more projection in terms of size but he already has a 3 pitch mix that makes him the most polished of the high school arms and some of the college guys. I have seen some drafts where Covey falls and others where he goes as high as 9th. Either way this is a guy the Twins should keep an eye on because he has Tim Hudson potential.

*Brandon Workman RHP, Texas: Workman is a perfect name for a bull dog pitcher. He brings a low to mid 90s fastball with a lot of late life as well as a good curve ball. Workman is 6'5" and has number 2 starter potential. Most drafts have him going at the end of round one and sources have said that Workman is a candidate to be selected by Minnesota.

Guys I Am On the Border With:

*Alex Wimmers RHP Ohio State: Wimmers has been on the Twins draft minds all season. He pitches in the Big 10, has great control and has potential to be the next Mike Leake as some scouts have said. But I have also read conflicting reports about Wimmers, mainly the one about his velocity. Some have him as a guy in the low to mid 90s, other have him as a guy who sits 88 to 92 and that will drop as he gets to an every 5th day schedule. All I am saying is Wimmers may be a guy who might now transition well the the pro game.

Just Does Not Make Sense:

*Mike Kvasnicka, OF/C, Minnesota: I am sure why people like the idea of this pick. Taking the local kid who has some very good potential and the switch hitting ability. But if Kvasnicka was not from Minnesota would you really be this high on him. He is on helium watch right now because and is soaring up draft boards. Mainly because if his future ability to catch. But the Twins do not need a catcher or an outfielder and if they were interested in one they are better off taking one out of high school so they do not have to be pressured in development. If the Twins take Kvasnicka they will go through a process that could take 3 to 4 years by which he could be 25 years old before being Major League ready.

*Kolbrin Vitek, 2B, Ball State: I was a fan of Vitek a couple weeks ago, but now I am backing off. Mainly because it sounds like he will not be able to stay at 2B. He has a very good bat, but hits for average with little power and the move for him immanently seems to be to center field. The Twins have a 1st rounder with that mold that they took in 2007 who is doing quit well.