Thursday Afternoon, June 5, 2008
And the Twins Select...
A lefty pitcher from
the Kansas City Monarchs and the Birmingham Black Barons, Bill “Lefty” Bell. Major League Baseball,
in an effort led by Dave Winfield,
honored the Negro Leagues by holding a one round Negro League draft. The
players were each announced and then had a picture taken with a plaque of the
teams. Bell, Winfield, Jimmy Lee
Solomon (from MLB Executive) and Twins representative Tony Oliva were in the picture.
I just want to post the Twins picks as they make them so that we have a place for people to discuss who they took or didn't take. So, this posting will update as appropriate.
1 (#14) – Aaron Hicks –
OF – Woodrow Wilson High School… California.
I know that the Twins have taken Parmelee, Benson and Revere in the last two years and two of their current starting OF are 22 years old, but you never mind a potential five tool guy. Clearly he has great makeup too. I don’t think he’ll be as advanced as Ben Revere has proven to be. I think he’s more along the Benson line in that he probably will need a little more time.
1 (#27) – Carlos Gutierrez
– Relief Pitcher – U. of Miami (BA ranked him #82… but say he’s a fast track
guy)
This is a very confusing pick in that he was not rated real high. I am guessing he would have been available at 31, and probably 62, so it is strange. Reports are that the closer could be moved to starting, comparing him to Derek Lowe. That mades the fact that right now he only has one pitch more alarming. If he’s in the bullpen, he could move up quickly. I don’t get it, but we shall see.
1S (#31) – Shooter Hunt
– RHP – Tulane (Wow!! This is impressive!! Surprising!)
We talk a lot about small
sample size. Hunt was the #4 pitching prospect a month ago, then he struggled
down the stretch this season, so he fell to this spot. I think that the
bigger picture is more important then a few weeks at the end of a long
season. I think this could prove to be a very good pick.
(Round 2 will start at 5:15)
2 (#60) - Tyler Ladendorf - SS - Howard College (fourth year college guy, good speed, could show some power.)
3 (#92) - Robert Lanigan - RHP - Adelphi University
4 (#126) - Daniel Ortiz - CF - Benjamin Harrison HS (from Puerto Rico - Another guy that MLB.com doesn't have any information on)
5 (#156) - Nicholas Romero - 3B - San Diego State (maybe he will hit like his college coach!! Maybe?)
6 (#186) - Brett Hermsen - RHP - West Delaware HS (He is 6-6, something that the Twins find important - see Beloit starting rotation)
Six rounds complete on Day 1... Tomorrow, they will likely try to get through the remaining 44 rounds.
Please comment if you like.