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Twins arm themselves in 2011 Draft
MINNEAPOLIS — One thing that seemed clear about the Twins’ strategy in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft is that they targeted pitchers, especially college arms and big left-handers.
Out of 52 selections, the Twins selected 35 pitchers. Of those, 16 were left-handed, and 19 were college pitchers. After selecting 21 pitchers on Day 2, the Twins came back for 13 more on the third day of the Draft on Wednesday.
“I wouldn’t say we just targeted college pitching,” Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said. “That’s just kind of how it fell. In the history of the Draft, a lot of times after the 10th or 11th round, it’s tough to sign a high school player. Those kids are going to go to school.”
The Twins bucked the trends a bit in their drafting patterns, selecting two infielders on Day 1 before going pitching-heavy on Days 2 and 3. Overall, however, the 2011 Draft saw teams focus heavily on pitching on Day 1 and switch to bats on Day 2.
The first two right-handers selected by the Twins — Hudson Boyd at No. 55, and Madison Boer at No. 87 — both look to have the potential to move relatively quickly through the system.
Another pick the Twins really liked was their third-round selection, left-hander Corey Williams out of Vanderbilt University. Williams is a power reliever who can touch 95 mph with his fastball.
“We like [Williams’] potential,” Johnson said. “He’s got a good arm; he’s a bullpen guy with three solid pitches. We definitely plan on signing him.”
With so many picks used on pitching, the Twins took only 17 position players in the Draft. After selecting a pair of infielders on Day 1 when they got shortstop Levi Michael at No. 30 and third baseman Travis Harrison at No. 55, the Twins drafted seven position players on Day 2 and eight on Day 3.
Six of those position players were shortstops and six were outfielders, while they also picked up two catchers, a pair of second basemen and one third baseman in Harrison. Like the pitchers, most (10 of 17) of the position players drafted by the Twins were collegiate athletes.
Again, the Twins were looking for older prospects to plug into their system, and Michael is another pick who could move quickly through the Minors to the big leagues. Johnson said he was happy to get some athletic middle infielders, something he thought could benefit the young players already in the organization at those positions.
Overall, Johnson said the Twins were able to fill some organizational needs with this year’s Draft, especially with the big power arms selected. With their Day 3 picks, the Twins filled some needs at the lower levels of the organization and also took some guys that they’ll keep an eye on as they take part in collegiate summer competition, like the Cape Cod League.
“We took a few guys that we’re going to attempt to sign; we’ll follow them in the summer,” Johnson said. “A few of them are going to the Cape; I think a few of them might be in the Northwoods League. We’ll monitor them [and] their progress during the summer, and we’ll make a decision at some point during the summer.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Twins load up on arms in Day 2 of Draft
MINNEAPOLIS — After not selecting any with their three first-day picks, the second day of the Twins’ 2011 First-Year Player Draft was heavy on collegiate pitchers.
Out of 29 picks on Tuesday, 13 were used on college pitchers, two on junior college pitchers and six on high school arms.
Not only did the Twins draft a lot of pitchers, they drafted a lot of left-handers and a lot of big pitchers.
Twelve of the 21 pitchers drafted by the Twins were left-handed. All but one pitcher selected was over 6-foot, with lefties Jason Wheeler at 6-foot-8 and Adam McCreery at 6-foot-8 being the tallest.
“We went with some pretty big-bodied pitchers,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. “We got some guys that we liked, and some guys that we thought had a chance to start.”
Another trend for the Twins was shortstops, of which they selected four. Three of those were college shortstops, while one was a high school prospect.
It was a position the Twins were targeting on both of the Draft’s first two days, and they hoped to get some older middle infielders in their system to go along with the younger ones already there.
“It all started with Levi Michael,” Johnson said, referring to the Twins’ first-round pick. “It carried on down to Adam Bryant and Tyler Grimes.”
While they would have liked to get some catchers in the draft to build depth in the organization behind the plate, things did not line up well for the Twins to do so.
They selected just one catcher in the first 30 picks of the Draft.
“We definitely would’ve liked to get one up high,” Johnson said. “We got picked a couple times early in the Draft and it just didn’t fall this year. So we had to make an adjustment and we went elsewhere.”
Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CT Wednesday on MLB.com, where fans will receive exclusive coverage of Day 3, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player.
You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Round 2, Madison Boer, RHP, University of Oregon
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., Boer can run his fastball up as high as 96 mph and uses his slider as his out pitch. Boer also has a nasty splitter, and likely profiles as a starter or closer. He had a 2.27 ERA this year, striking out 74 batters against 34 walks in 99 innings.
Round 3, Corey Williams, LHP, Vanderbilt University
A power relief pitcher this year for Vanderbilt, Williams can touch 95 mph with his fastball. He had a 5.64 ERA in 24 appearances this year for the Commodores, after missing much of last season when his kneecap was shattered by a line drive against the Florida Gators.
Round 4, Matt Summers, RHP, UC-Irvine
Previously drafted by the Yankees, Summers was the Big West Pitcher of the Year in 2011. Summers was 11-2 with a 1.72 ERA, striking out 96 batters in 109 2/3 innings over 16 starts. He also tossed the fourth no-hitter in school history against Long Beach State.
Round 5, Tyler Grimes, SS, Wichita State
With 27 stolen bases in 31 attempts this season, Grimes’ speed is one of his biggest assets. Grimes is a pesky leadoff-type hitter, and he batted .300/.467/.420 for the Shockers this season with five home runs and 32 RBIs. He committed 30 errors in 329 chances in 2011.
Round 6, Ivan Rodriguez, CF, Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Fla.)
Son of former American League MVP and 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the younger Rodriguez has always been an outfielder. Once clocked at 95 mph on a throw from center field to home plate, Rodriguez has also tried his hand at pitching.
Round 7, Steven Gruver, LHP, University of Tennessee
Tossing two complete games, Gruver had his best collegiate season as a junior. He went 5-7 with a 3.95 ERA for the Volunteers, striking out 84 in 95 2/3 innings. For his career at Tennessee, he had 165 strikeouts in 184 innings.
Round 8, Jason Wheeler, LHP, Loyola Marymount
Named the Northwoods League pitcher of the year in 2010, Wheeler went 8-1 with a 1.35 ERA last summer for the St. Cloud River Bats. Wheeler went 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA as a junior at Loyola Marymount, striking out 71 batters in 103 innings while allowing just 24 walks.
Round 9, Nicholas Bryant, SS, Troy University
One of 50 players named to the Golden Spikes List. Bryant, who goes by his middle name, Adam, hit .337 this year with a team-high 11 home runs and a .570 slugging percentage. He is Troy University’s all-time hits leader with 276 hits over his four-year career.
Round 10, Brett Lee, LHP, St. Petersburg Junior College
In his second year with the Titans, Lee tossed 80 innings over 19 games, posting a 5.06 ERA with 75 strikeouts against 25 walks. The native of Pensacola, Fla., is listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds.
Round 11, Tyler Jones, RHP, Louisiana State University
Previously drafted last year in the 21st round by the White Sox, Jones was a Junior College all-American at Madison Area Technical College, which he lead to the 2010 Junior College World Series. Jones was 4-0 with a 5.22 ERA in 14 appearances this year with LSU.
Round 12, Matthew Koch, C, Loyola Marymount
Named the West Coast Conference player of the month for May, Koch hit .313/.357/.483 this season for Loyola Marymount, with 22 doubles, four home runs and 39 RBIs. He was previously drafted by the Rays in the 22nd round of last year’s Draft.
Round 13, Steven Evans, LHP, Liberty University
Over 100 1/3 innings, Evans struck out 83 with 29 walks in 16 games (15 starts) for Liberty this season. He posted a 2.87 ERA while going 7-3 and earning second team all-Big South honors. Opposing batters only hit .211 off Evans, but he also hit 22 of them.
Round 14, Adam McCreery, LHP, Bonita HS (Calif.)
Committed to play collegiate baseball at Arizona State University, McCreery is a 6-foot-8 lefty. He missed much of the 2011 season with an elbow injury and was slowly worked back. He threw a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in a 5-1 victory last month.
Round 15, Josue Montanez, LHP, Miami Dade CC
Previously drafted by the Padres last year in the 25th round, Montanez went 7-2 this season with a 2.59 ERA, tossing 66 innings over 14 games. Montanez struck out 70 batters while walking just 19. He also gave up 33 runs on 58 hits.
Round 16, Austin Malinowski, LHP, Centennial HS (Minn.)
A local product, Malinowski is committed to Arizona. Malinowski threw a one-hitter last month to lead Centennial past Andover for a 10-0 victory. The lefty made the All-Metro team as a junior after posting a 7-0 record with a 0.85 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 41 innings.
Round 17, Joshua Burris, RHP, LSU-Eunice
Listed as utility player for the Bengals, Burris went 1-1 with a 4.64 ERA in 13 appearances as a freshman. He earned one save while striking out 32 batters and walking 20 over 21 1/3 innings. He also batted .273 with a triple, a home run and seven RBIs.
Round 18, Corey Kimes, LHP, University of Illinois
Kimes went 4-4 this year with a 5.15 ERA for the Illini, striking out 57 batters with 39 walks in 16 games, 15 starts. The lefty was named the No. 9 prospect in the Prospect League by Baseball America after going 5-1 with a 2.64 ERA with the Springfield Sliders.
Round 19, Tyler Koelling, CF, Southern Mississippi
As a senior, Koelling was the recipient of the Cellular South Ferris Trophy, awarded since 2004 to the best collegiate baseball player in Mississippi. Koelling batted .362/.409/.500 in 55 games this season, with four home runs, 46 RBIs, and just nine strikeouts.
Round 20, Brian Anderson, SS, Deer Creek High School (Okla.)
In addition to shortstop, Brian Anderson also was a pitcher in high school. In April, he came within one out of a no-hitter before allowing a single. Anderson helped lead Deer Creek to the Class 5A state championship game, where they lost.
Round 21, Michael Howard, LHP, Prescott High School (Ariz.)
Committed to Baylor University next year, Howard is a 6-foot, 165-pound lefty. He threw a no-hitter in March against Sunset High School (Ore.) in the Coach Bob National Tournament, striking out 16 batters.
Round 22, James Ramsey, RF, Florida State University
A team leader on and off the field, Ramsey batted .358/.438/.591 this year for the Seminoles, with 10 home runs and 66 RBIs. He also walked 30 times and stole 11 bases in 14 attempts. FSU is still alive, facing Texas A&M in the Super Regional round this weekend.
Round 23, Timothy Shibuya, RHP, UC-San Diego
A native of Wyoming, Shibuya was 11-4 with a 2.12 ERA in 15 starts as a senior. He struck 109 against just 12 walks in 110 1/3 innings. Shibuya is the all-time wins and strikeouts leader at UCSD and was the California Collegiate Athletic Association Co-Pitcher of the Year.
Round 24, Nick Burdi, RHP, Downer’s Grove HS (Ill.)
Projected to go much higher in the Draft by many, Burdi is committed to the University of Louisville. He has a fastball that reaches the upper 90s and a devastating breaking ball. One of the top Illinois prep pitchers this year, Burdi projects as a back-of-the-bullpen arm.
Round 25, Adam Pettersen, SS, University of Minnesota
A native of Minnetonka, Minn., Pettersen was a freshman All-American in 2009. Pettersen, who goes by AJ, batted .344/.394/.426 with one home run, 12 RBIs and eight stolen bases for the Gophers this year. He played in the Cape Cod League in 2010 for the Hyannis Mets.
Round 26, Trent Higginbotham, RHP, Clay Chalkville HS (Ala.)
Committed to Shelton State Community College, Higginbotham is 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hander. His fastball has been recorded as high as 89 mph, with little movement. He also has a big breaking curveball and a solid changeup.
Round 27, Chris Mazza, RHP, Menlo College (Calif.)
He did it all for the Oaks, swinging a big bat, playing stellar defense in the infield and closing games on the mound. Mazza hit .337/.420/.517 as a senior this year, with 58 hits in 48 games. He also recorded a 2.73 ERA, going 3-4 in 19 appearances with nine saves.
Round 28, David Hurlbut, LHP, Cal State Fullerton
Nicknamed “Booty”, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefty models his game after Giants left-hander Barry Zito. Hurlbut was 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA, recording 20 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings for Cal State Fullerton this year. Opponents hit .275 off him.
Round 29, Derek Thompson, LHP, Teutopolis High School (Ill.)
Committed to John A. Logan Junior College, Thompson, a 6-foot-3 lefty, helped lead the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes baseball team to a second consecutive Illinois Class 2A Championship as a senior.
Round 30, William Clinard, RHP, Vanderbilt University
A 6-foot-4, 225-pound redshirt sophomore, Clinard was 1-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 31 appearances for the Commodores this year. He recorded 36 strikeouts over 31 innings, while walking just eight batters. Opponents hit .274 off Clinard.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Boer surprised when picked by hometown Twins
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — When his name was called Tuesday morning, Madison Boer thought his parents were joking with him. After all, he didn’t expect to go until the third or even fourth round.
But they weren’t joking. With the 87th overall pick, the Twins used their second-round selection on Boer, a right-hander out of the University of Oregon.
“I was having breakfast and I had a mouthful of pancakes,” Boer said. “I was kind of waiting for the third round to come around and my parents started freaking out. I was like, ‘What happened?’ I thought they were joking with me, I was kind of getting angry, and then they go, ‘No, look, look.’ And then I saw and I was pretty excited.”
Not only was Boer picked a round before he expected to go, he had been selected by his hometown Twins. Before pitching for the Ducks, Boer was an Eden Prairie High School standout.
Boer was a three-time letter winner for Eden Prairie, while also earning first-team All-State and All-Conference honors before graduating in 2008.
While he may not have expected to go in the second round, the Twins definitely thought Boer had the right makeup to be selected No. 87.
“We had consensus second-round numbers on Madison Boer,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. “We thought he was a second-round talent, we loved his body, we love his tools. It just so happened that he was from here.”
However it worked out, Boer couldn’t think of a much better team to be drafted by than the Twins.
“I think it’s pretty fitting and I’m really excited to potentially get to the Majors in a couple years and hopefully help out the home team,” Boer said. “My parents still live about 25 minutes from Target Field.”
A 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander, Boer posted a 3-6 record and a 2.27 ERA in 18 games (12 starts) as a junior this year with Oregon. He recorded 74 strikeouts against 34 walks in 99 innings.
Boer can run his fastball up as high as 96 mph, with his slider as his out pitch. He also has a nasty splitter, and likely profiles as a starter or a closer. He did both this season for the Ducks, picking up three saves toward the end of the year when shifted to the closer’s role.
“He can do both, we think he feels he’s comfortable coming out of the bullpen, but he’s got pitches to start,” Johnson said. “It’s almost like a Carlos Gutierrez situation a few years ago. How he performs after we sign him will dictate which role he’ll end up being in.”
As long as he gets to pitch, Boer said either starting or closing is OK with him.
“I always say it’s most fun to pitch when the game is on the line,” Boer said. “But it’s also very fun to have your own game and a weekly schedule and that whole deal. I’d say it balances out and I’d just like to pitch whenever they want me to.
“I think I’ll probably start at first, and then if they don’t think I can start anymore maybe they’ll make me a reliever and I can see if I can close.”
Boer is still on campus in Eugene, Ore., with one more final exam remaining this week.
While he is still focusing on school, he said he’s more likely to sign than not, especially with it being his hometown club.
“I’m probably leaning toward signing,” Boer said. “I was telling teams that I was prepared to sign in the third, so I’ll probably have to hold to that by signing in the second.”
Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CT Wednesday on MLB.com, where fans will receive exclusive coverage of Day 3, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player.
You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Twins take Pudge’s son in sixth round
MINNEAPOLIS — When he was a kid and his father played for the Rangers, Ivan Rodriguez used to tell his dad he wanted to follow in his footsteps. On Tuesday, he got one step closer to that dream.
With the 208th pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the Minnesota Twins drafted center fielder Rodriguez — who goes by “Dereck.” He is the son of 1999 American League MVP and 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez of the Nationals.
The younger Rodriguez never took to catching like his father, instead finding himself in the outfield. Rodriguez attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami, Fla.
“We took a flier on him. He’s got good tools,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. “He’s a totally different body than his dad. He’s about 6-2, 6-3, 185 [pounds]. So, he’s a tall, lean kid. He’s got really good tools. He can throw, he’s got raw power and he’s a solid runner.”
In a 2010 national showcase, Rodriguez was clocked at 95 mph on a throw from center field to home plate. He’s also tried his hand at pitching, where he has also reached the low-to-mid-90s on the radar gun, but prefers the outfield.
The Twins also prefer Rodriguez in the outfield, and Johnson said that while they’ll send him down as a center fielder, Rodriguez is likely to end up as a corner outfielder at the next level.
As for Rodriguez’s ability on the mound, Johnson said it was there, but they like his bat better.
“He can run it up to 92 we’ve seen,” Johnson said. “We like his bat, we think he’s got potential offensively.”
His father, who has played for the Rangers, Marlins, Tigers, Yankees, Astros and Nationals, was a part of the 2003 World Series champion Florida club. He has won 13 Gold Glove Awards, a record for catchers, and seven Silver Slugger Awards.
Before the Nationals’ game with the Giants in San Francisco on Tuesday, Pudge shared his thoughts.
“Very proud for him,” Pudge said. “He is a good kid. That was his dream when I started putting the glove and bat on his hands when he was a little kid. Just to see him come to the park when I was with the Rangers. He would be with me in the clubhouse. He told me that he wanted too be here one day.
“It’s a big day for him, a big day for me. Now he is getting ready to prepare, go to Spring Training, start working hard.”
Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CT Wednesday on MLB.com, where fans will receive exclusive coverage of Day 3, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player.
You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Twins pick high-ceiling prep arm in Boyd
Right-hander grew up near club’s Spring Training facility
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
With the 55th pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the Twins selected Boyd, out of Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Fla. The pick was a compensatory selection that the Twins received after losing reliever Jesse Crain in free agency. The Twins also grabbed two hitters on the first day of the Draft — infielder Levi Michael from the University of North Carolina and third baseman Travis Harrison from from Tustin High School in Tustin, Calif.
The Twins project Boyd as either a starter or a dominant closer.
“We’re going to set him out as a starter,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. “His low-end, we think he might be a Jonathan Broxton-type of guy. He’s got a good arm, up to 95. I saw him up to 97 when I saw him.”
The Twins did not have to go far to find Boyd, either.
Before transferring to Bishop Verot, Boyd pitched for South Fort Myers High School, which is right across the street from the Twins’ Spring Training facility.
“They were always in the backyard, so me and my buds, we would always sneak in and watch the Minor League Spring Training games because we didn’t have to pay for those tickets,” Boyd said. “We always saw them play, and I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about the Twins, so I couldn’t be happier to be drafted by this team.”
Boyd is committed to play for the University of Florida and said he would choose what he thought was best for himself and his family, whether that was signing with the Twins or pursuing a collegiate career with the Gators.
Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday on MLB.com, where fans will receive exclusive coverage of Days 2 and 3, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player.
You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Twins grab prep slugger Harrison at No. 50
Club projects third baseman to one day hit in middle of order
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
“Big, strong right-handed hitting third baseman,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. “We really like his bat. He’s a big kid and right-handed power is really hard to get in the draft.”
Harrison, who was a 2011 Preseason Rawlings First-Team All-American, is committed to play for the University of Southern California and said he was unsure if he would sign with the Twins or pursue a collegiate career. He batted .486 with 13 home runs during his senior season.
While he can put on a show during batting practice with his power, Harrison considers himself more of a well-rounded hitter.
“I really see myself as an all-around hitter,” Harrison said. “I consider myself a power hitter, but I also consider myself a hitter for average.”
The question mark for Harrison is on defense. Johnson said he sees Harrison as either a left fielder or third baseman at the next level, with the former being more likely than the latter.
Harrison said he plans to continue working at third base until someone tells him to move to another position.
Regardless of where he fits on the diamond, the Twins think Harrison can eventually anchor the middle of their lineup.
“We’re buying a bat there,” Johnson said. “Buying a middle-of-the-lineup type bat. A potential four- or five-hole hitter.”
Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday on MLB.com, where fans will receive exclusive coverage of Days 2 and 3, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player.
You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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