Yes, another shortstop, which happens a lot in professional baseball, because at all levels of the game, shortstop is where teams usually play their best athletes. And for these kids’ entire lives, up until they are drafted, that’s always been them.

Like last year at Wake Forest, when Marek Houston proved to be far better than his collegiate competition, slashing .354/.458/.597 (1.055 OPS) with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and a 46/46 K/BB ratio. Oh and he successfully took 19 of the 21 bases he tried to steal, too.

One of my 2025 draft crushes: Wake Forest SS Marek Houston.

He's not known for his power, but he gets all of this for a no-doubt bomb off the scoreboard. 101.8 EV, 405 feet. Really good contact skills with great defensive instincts at SS. He'll be on our initial 2025 rankings. pic.twitter.com/91CEuTIbHK

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) May 22, 2024

Related: Report: Minnesota Twins Planning for Quiet Trade Deadline

Now, the superstar Demon Deacon is looking forward to his first professional opportunity, which will come fast. Luckily, before his life got too hectic, I was able to catch up with Houston a couple of days after he was drafted by the Twins.

Marek Houston no fan of MLB Draft process, but MN Twins fans will love him

In our brief conversations, I got to know Minnesota’s latest top just a little bit. And it didn’t take more than a few messages back and forth before I realized that this kid is an old-school type gamer who takes pride in his defense (more on that below). No doubt, I expect Houston to grow on the fanbase rather quickly, if he plays well.

“I’m a competitor. I like to compete, and once the game starts it’s about winning. As a hitter I’m looking to get on base and see what the situation holds for me. Defensively I want to be reliable and take away hits from the other team.” — Marek Houston

Houston tried to soak in the draft process as much as possible and told me that he had a great meeting with the Minnesota Twins and loved the people they have in the organization. He described the overall draft process, however, as confusing.

The 6’3″, 205 lb athlete said he had an idea of where he would go, but “when the time comes it’s all a big mystery”. Overall, it sounds like going through the steps of getting drafted and dealing with all the outside noise lent to more unneeded stress, than anything else. Without a doubt, he sounds happy that it’s over and excited to be a Twin.

“The draft process was honestly very confusing. You have an idea where you may go, but when the time comes it’s all a big mystery. I had a great meeting with the Twins a couple days before and loved what they were about and the people they have…I’m excited to be a part of an organization that I have already heard so many great things about.” — Marek Houston

When Houston lands in Minneapolis to put pen to paper he will be visiting the state for the first time. He has seen plenty of Target Field, from afar, and knows some of the stars who have worn the Minnesota Twins uniform.

Houston can stick at shortstop, ready to prove offense is legit

Before he can think about living in the Twin Cities, though, he has to fight his way up the minor league ladder. Defensively, there’s no reason why Marek Houston can’t stick at shortstop.

In fact, MLB Pipeline tagged him as the best defensive shortstop in the 2025 MLB Draft. That now gives the MN Twins two straight drafts where their top pick could legitimately stick at SS, after they selected Kaelen Culpepper in 2024. He represented the Twins in the MLB All-Star Futures Game this year

MAREK HOUSTON (@WakeBaseball) ARE YOU KIDDING‼️‼️

1 more out…

Top 9 | 7-4 Bourne pic.twitter.com/1HKv82KK16

— Bourne Braves (@BourneBraves) August 9, 2024

Offensively, Houston’s game took off during his final collegiate season, especially from a power standpoint. After posting just 12 home runs in his first 119 college games, Marek overhauled his offensive approach last season and it lead to some incredible results.

“I’m looking to keep improving at all levels of my game. You can always get better if you are putting in the work. I think the most exciting part about pro ball is the high level players and pitchers you face. I think I will learn a lot just from being around those types of players.” — Marek Houston

Now, he’s determined to prove to himself and anyone else who cares that he was worth the 16th overall pick, and hopefully even more.

MLB Commish: Minnesota Twins Sale is Imminent

With a significant amount of college experience behind him, and a polished defensive game, he could be a fast mover. Look for the MN Twins to send him to Fort Myers initially, but a push to Cedar Rapids by the end of the year makes sense.

The Twins spent their first pick in the first round (No. 16) on Wake Forest shortstop, Marek Houston ($4.93 million slot value), who will rightfully garner most of the fanfare surrounding Minnesota’s 2025 draft class. They also took Alabama pitcher Riley Quick later in the first round (No. 36).

In total, Falvey and his front office made 21 picks between Sunday and Monday, some more interesting than others. Here are the four I believe to be the most interesting out of the bunch.

Riley Quick is more than just a new MN Twins pitcher

With their Competitive Balance Round A pick the Minnesota Twins grabbed Alabama pitcher Riley Quick. The 6’6″ right-hander stayed home to pitch for Alabama after being the state’s top prep prospect back in 2022. He wasn’t just a pitcher though, and left high school as a four-star offensive lineman.

Tough decisions ahead for touted 2-sport prospect Riley Quick — a 4-star OT and a dominant pitcher (VIP) https://t.co/9Wy6TPJGuX pic.twitter.com/Sley4CscbN

— Keith Niebuhr (@On3Keith) May 31, 2021

He started as a reliever for the Crimson Tide but underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. He made 14 starts this year and topped out at 99 mph. Quick posted a 3.92 ERA and had a 70/24 K/BB across 62 innings. He allowed just five home runs.

There is a ton of projection for any prospect, but there are scouts around the league who believe Quick could settle in as one of the best arms in the organization. Quick’s fastball and slider are both plus pitches, and he has real potential as a future front-end starter in the big leagues.

🎨ing 96 to wrap up the 1st 😤@rileyquick12 I #RollTide pic.twitter.com/2PEVUOZinJ

— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) February 22, 2025

Quick told me after being selected by the Twins that playing football helped his baseball career a lot. He did say he needed to learn to separate the emotional and aggressive aspect between the two sports. While he didn’t suit up for Alabama, pitching there and experiencing the entire Crimson Tide athletics scene is something he called the best time of his life.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Tracker

Minnesota has shown an ability to get additional velocity from guys like Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews. Quick is excited about going to an organization that could help him reach triple digits. He said he’s a guy who likes to rear back and throw as hard as he can at times. The MN Twins will look to harness that.

Quentin Young and Bruin Agbayani are bloodline picks for Twins

Every year there are sons, nephews, cousins, and other relations of former big league players that infiltrate the MLB Draft. This year is no different. And surprise, it’s another Holliday.

Matt Holliday already has one son, Jackson (the 2022 No. 1 overall pick), in the big leagues. Soon, he will likely add another, after Ethan Holliday was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies. But the Minnesota Twins also dipped their toe into the MLB gene pool this year.

In fact, they went after baseball bloodlines twice in this draft. Bruin Agbayani, whose dad (Benny Agbayani) was a 30th round MLB Draft pick in 1993 and played five big league seasons, was Hawaii’s top prospect and the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year.

3B Bruin Agbayani has been making hard contact early on this year with a 33.3% Hard Hit% and a max exit velocity of 108.3mph.💨

The Saint Louis HS (HI) infielder has five hits in as many games to start the summer.@MLBDraftLeague | @FrederickKeys pic.twitter.com/HGHEKVA9NB

— MLB Draft League Data (@draftleaguedata) June 9, 2025

At this point in their development, Agbayani doesn’t have the offensive upside that Young does, but he does bring a professional-style to the batter’s box that kind of reminds me of Brooks Lee. And who knows a kid like Bruin will develop into.

Then, there’s Quentin Young, nephew of Dmitri Young and (one-time Twin) Delmon Young. Unsurprisingly, the 18-year-old’s prospect profile is built on power, and a proneness to strikeouts. But as a prep prospect, there is a lot of room for development.

For now, Young plays shortstop, but he probably won’t stick there. More likely, he projects as a third baseman or corner outfielder. Like his uncles, Quentin has a strong arm, probably his best defensive attribute early on. No doubt, both of these two will be guys to watch over the next few years.

Quentin Young confirmed this home run ball was located on La Tienda Dr. and returned to him by a parent on Saturday night. Former OCS Head of Athletics Jan Hethcock said in the 25 years of baseball at Oaks no one has cleared the stadium to dead center. 450 ft is the best guess. pic.twitter.com/ize3rPdosl

— Oaks Christian Lions (@OaksChrstnLions) March 11, 2025

Jason Reitz could give MN Twins a new record

Bailey Ober is someone that the Minnesota Twins have turned into a capable big league starter thanks to his extension. The 6’9″ frame is substantial and allows him to get on hitters in a hurry. Fourth round selection Jason Reitz from Oregon dwarfs him at 6’11”.

Reitz started his career at St. Mary’s (WCC), where he played for two seasons, before transferring to Oregon. He pitched in the Cape Cod league last summer and turned in a solid 3.50 ERA with a 73/29 K/BB ratio across 64 1/3 innings this season.

If Reitz makes it to the big leagues, he’ll tie former Twins reliever Jon Rauch and Minnesota native Sean Hjelle as the tallest pitchers to ever take a major league mound. Jason can touch 98 mph, but he’s raw. If the right tweaks are made, however, he could very well surpass Ober both in height and long-term ability.

Tallest Man Drafted

6'11" pitcher Jason Reitz is selected by the @Twins with the 119th pick of the 2025 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/Mfju4tJOGu

— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2025

BONUS: The Twins wrapped up the draft by making a fun full circle moment come to fruition in the 14th round. After taking Utah pitcher Merit Jones in the 20th round last season he didn’t sign. Jones went back to school and jumped up to the 14th round after owning a 2.14 ERA across 21 innings as a reliever.

The hope for all franchises is that they will hit on multiple draft picks and generate future All-Star Game representatives from them. Minnesota’s roster currently boasts five of their own former first round picks (Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis).

They have four selections in the first three rounds on Sunday, and another 16 to make on day two Monday. Their most recent top selections include Culpepper, Charlee Soto, and Walker Jenkins.

Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Picks – 2025

Minnesota owns the 16th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. They also have the 36th overall pick in the first round as part of the competitive balance round. The rest of their selections are outlined below.

MN Twins take Marek Houston 16th overall

The Minnesota Twins used their 16th overall pick on Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston. The collegiate infielder was ranked between 14th and 23rd by different publications, so he fell right within their range. He’s seen as more of a defensive talent, but MLB Pipeline provided a nice rundown.

“Houston wasn’t a high-profile recruit but won Wake Forest’s shortstop role as a freshman in 2023 and helped the Demon Deacons finish third at the Men’s College World Series. A Cape Cod League All-Star last summer, he has developed into arguably the best defensive shortstop in the Draft. He overhauled his offensive approach in fall practice and hit for more power during his junior season. Houston earns solid-to-plus grades for his quickness and arm strength, and some evaluators will go even higher than that on his ability to play shortstop. He has smooth actions and plenty of range to both sides and should be a high-quality defender at the big league level. Should he not hit enough to merit an everyday role, he has the tools to play almost anywhere on the diamond as a utilityman. In his first two college seasons, the righty-swinging Houston had a contact-over-impact mentality and projected as an average hitter with below-average power. Now that he has added muscle and sold out for power, he may find 12-15 homers per season while providing less in the way of batting average. His speed plays better in the field than it does on the bases.”

MLB Pipeline

Marek Houston is the pick. Plus defender and runner, with the offense coming around.

The Twins have really valued these athletes with speed in recent drafts#MNTwins
pic.twitter.com/Nad8luqoYC

— Twins Talk (@LetsTalk_Twins) July 13, 2025

Houston has spent three years at Wake Forest. In 61 games this year he slashed .354/.458/.597 with 14 doubles and 15 home runs. He split strikeouts and walks at 46 apiece. The plus-defender will probably regress a bit at the plate in pro ball, but there’s no reason he can’t stick at shortstop.

The Twins made a high-floor selection with their first pick, and there’s an opportunity for them to save some money on the collegiate selection as well. The slot value checks in at $4.93 million. Their draft pool is 12th largest in baseball at $12.653 million.

This seems like more of a safe selection that a high-upside one. The Twins have gone with big bat prospects in the late first round, save for Kaelen Culpepper, so this deviates a bit from their previous plan.

Pitcher Riley Quick rounds out Minnesota Twins 1st round picks

After taking a collegiate shortstop with their first overall pick, the MN Twins stayed in the collegiate ranks with selection number two. They used their Competitive Balance (Round A) choice on Alabama pitcher Riley Quick.

“Quick was Alabama’s top high school baseball prospect in 2022, as well as a four-star offensive lineman who drew interest from college football programs, but he was determined to pitch for the Crimson Tide. After a successful freshman season in Alabama’s bullpen, he blew out his elbow in his first college start in 2024 and had Tommy John surgery. He returned quicker than normal, making it back for the start of the 2025 season and staying healthy other than missing a late-March start with a bad blister. Quick has the power stuff to go in the first round, beginning with a heavy sinker that sits at 96-97 mph and tops out at 99, and the 6-foot-6, 255-pounder holds his velocity throughout his starts. His mid-80s slider can be a wipeout offering with two-plane depth, and he can turn it into a cutter that climbs as high as 95 mph. He also flashes a solid upper-80s changeup with fade and sink. Though Quick’s fastball and slider grade as plus-plus at their best and he can back them up with a quality changeup, he doesn’t miss nearly as many bats as his pure stuff indicates he should. His pitches move so much that they can be difficult to harness, leaving him with decent control but spotty command. He has logged fewer innings than most third-year college pitchers and the hope is that he’ll approach his frontline-starter ceiling as he gains more experience and polish.”

MLB Pipeline

The Alabama pitcher started 14 games this season and compiled a 3.92 ERA. Across 62 innings he posted a 70/24 K/BB and allowed just five home runs. Obviously he has seen a high level of competition in the SEC and he has a strong frame at 6’6″ 255 pounds.

Riley Quick at #36 to Minnesota! Love this pick for the Twins and thought Quick could slip into the 1st round

Had TJ in 24’, big body SP at 6’6/250 with an upper 90s FB, and two plus secondaries with his CH and Cutter. Strike throwing took major strides in 25’.

Mid rotation… pic.twitter.com/LFzP09RTNt

— Owen Hurd (@Owen_FBB) July 14, 2025

Quick showed the definition of his surname after undergoing Tommy John surgery after his first start in 2024. With the injury behind him, it’s more likely there is a clean bill of health ahead of him.

With plenty of college experience, both in the bullpen and as a starter, under his belt it’s possible he sees a fast track to the big leagues.

MN Twins make prep pick in Quentin Young

After a pair of collegiate picks to open the 2025 MLB Draft the Minnesota Twins grabbed their first prep talent. Shortstop Quentin Young is a value pick that MLB Pipeline ranked 37th overall and was selected with the 54th pick. He’s an LSU commit that the Twins likely will go over slot for after the two college talents. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because it should be.

“The nephew of Dmitri and Delmon, Young was initially slated to be a part of the 2026 Draft class but reclassified to join this year’s crop. Young’s physicality and ceiling were on display all summer at events like MLB’s High School All-American Game and USA Baseball’s 18U team in World Cup qualifying. The 6-foot-6 Young has a ton of projection, obvious baseball bloodlines and some loud tools. He has huge raw power that some evaluators put top-of-the-scale grades on. He has bat speed and some feel to hit, but there are some swing-and-miss concerns and trouble recognizing spin that cropped up over the summer, leading some to worry a bit about how much he’ll tap into that raw pop consistently. Young moves well for his size and his athleticism shows up defensively. He actually doesn’t look terrible at shortstop, his position in high school, though he’s likely to move to third if he’s going to stay on the dirt. Some think he might be best suited in right field, where a plus arm that can fire 95-mph fastballs off the mound profiles well. Committed to LSU, Young could provide a team with a Jayson Werth-type of toolbox if he can to a more consistent hit tool, with scouts who laud his work ethic believing he can do just that.”

MLB Pipeline

Way back in 2007 the Minnesota Twins traded Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Eduardo Morlan, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie for Delmon Young. Nearly 20 years later they have now drafted his nephew.

Quentin Young posted exit velos up to 115 mph today at the MLB Draft Combine 👀

The LSU commit ranks No. 55 on our draft board.

Nephew of Delmon and Dmitri Young.

BA 500: https://t.co/7bXWNyFXsR pic.twitter.com/wmkPDcUg27

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 17, 2025

Across 29 games as a senior Young batted .381 with four doubles and 14 home runs. Both Dmitri and Delmon has successful big league careers. The Twins would love to get more from Quentin than they did his uncle.

James Ellwanger is another pitcher to round out MLB Draft day 1

After a pair of shortstops in their first three picks, the Minnesota Twins went back to the pitching well with their final first day selection. James Ellwanger spent two seasons at Dallas Baptist and is now headed to pro ball.

“Ellwanger’s fastball shot into the mid-90s midway through his Texas high school senior season in 2023 and made him a top-three-rounds prospect, but his signability dropped him to the Nationals in the 19th round and sent him to Dallas Baptist. He touched 99 mph in his college debut last February, then missed most of March and April with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow before performing well in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He’s one of the most intriguing sophomores in the 2025 college crop but has labored to throw strikes this spring. When Ellwanger is dialed in, he can sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and blow it by batters in the zone with ample carry and armside run, though he has fought his control and command of the pitch throughout 2025. His low-80s curveball has good shape and has been his most reliable offering, while his mid-80s slider has been crushed so much that he has begun toying with a low-90s cutter. He barely uses his mid-80s changeup but it will dive at the plate at times. After working just 30 2/3 innings between Dallas Baptist and the Cape in 2024, Ellwanger needs innings to hone his craft and prove he can do more than just overpower hitters with his heater. He’s athletic but will have to polish and repeat his three-quarters delivery to develop average control and command. He still has projection remaining in his 6-foot-4 frame, so his arsenal could become even more powerful.”

MLB Pipeline

Ellwanger started just eight games as a 20-year-old in 2024. This season he made 16 appearances with 14 starts. His 3.98 ERA across 63.1 IP was hampered by lots of traffic in the form of 39 walks. He struck out a crazy 95 batters (13.5 K/9) and allowed just two home runs.

46. James Ellwanger:
High octane righty at 6’5”, 200 lbs. Fluid delivery + loose arm. FB 95-98 T100 with + IVB is his go to weapon, mixing in a low-80s slider. 22 K's in 13 IP this summer. Improved command with a 3rd offering flashed and theres serious 1st round upside. pic.twitter.com/1lU9vfyC0H

— Jackson (@jacksonab_) December 30, 2024

The Twins have been capable of adding velocity for professional arms, and that could make Ellwanger even more nasty. The command and control need to be reigned in, and he didn’t show that in either season with Dallas Baptist. He had experience (13.0 IP) on The Cape, and that experience should serve him well as he transitions to the next level.

Ellwanger is another prospect that is a value pick according to MLB Pipeline. Despite being drafted 88th overall, he was ranked the 76th overall prospect.

The rest of the MN Twins crop

Fourth round pick Jason Reitz will be difficult to miss. He’s 6’11” which means he’ll tower over even Bailey Ober. If the Minnesota Timberwolves need to borrow a pitcher, they have their guy. Should he make the big leagues, he would join former Twins reliever Jon Rauch and Minnesota-native Sean Hjelle as the tallest players to compete in Major League Baseball. Reitz has previously had Tommy John surgery (senior year of high school) and transferred to Oregon after pitching on The Cape.

Tallest Man Drafted

6'11" pitcher Jason Reitz is selected by the @Twins with the 119th pick of the 2025 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/Mfju4tJOGu

— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2025

Agbayani is the son of former big leaguer Benny Agbayani. Bruin brings the bloodline to the professional ranks and is the first left-handed hitter taken by Minnesota in this draft.

Matt Barr touches 97 mph with his fastball and is a big spin guy. He had 94 strikeouts in just 57 innings last season and that’s why he owned a 1.74 ERA.

Minnesota clearly liked what they saw when scouting Elon this season. They grabbed third baseman Ryan Sprock in the 8th round and then followed that pick with teammate Justin Mitrovich in the 9th round. Mitrovich is a right-handed pitcher and both players are four-year juniors.

Related: MN Twins Swing Trade for New Bullpen Arm

The MN Twins grabbed a former second round pick prospect in Kolten Smith. The Georgia pitcher played collegiately for Wes Johnson. He is the former Minnesota pitching coach.

Last season the Twins drafted Merit Jones in the 20th round. He didn’t sign and went back to college. This year they took him again with their 14th round selection. He told me, “I couldn’t be happier! I’m so happy the Twins have given me a second chance. God is good!”

In total the MN Twins 21 picks. Of them just two are high school players. 13 are pitchers, with one being left-handed. They grabbed four shortstops, two third basemen, a second baseman, and one outfield prospect.

Minnesota Twins own 16th overall MLB Draft pick in 2025

On Tuesday night during the MLB Winter Meetings, Major League Baseball held their newly instituted draft lotter. The Minnesota Twins held just 1.1% odds to land the first overall pick. The process is set up to determine the top six picks. Washington, with just a 10.2% chance to grab the first overall pick, landed the top spot.

Here's the 2025 MLB Draft order: https://t.co/OnU01qLQ7V pic.twitter.com/smVqK0fX0X

— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) December 11, 2024

Minnesota slid down the draft board due to Seattle, St. Louis, Chicago, and Sacramento (Oakland) all checking in ahead of them. The Twins came up big during the lottery in 2023 when they launched up to the fifth pick and nabbed Walker Jenkins.

The Twins haven’t had the 16th overall pick since they landed Lenny Faedo with that selection in 1978. The only other time in franchise history that Minnesota owned the 16th overall pick was when they selected Alex Rowell ten years prior. He never advanced past Double-A.

Related: Minnesota Twins Gain Additional 1st Round Draft Pick for 2025

For a team unwilling to spend money, making the most of draft picks is a must. Recent selections beyond the 16th overall pick include Trevor Larnach, Kaelan Culpepper, and Chase Petty.

Who do the Twins take in the MLB Draft?

It’s far too early to actually project what the Major League Baseball Draft will look like. You can probably bet on Jackson Holliday’s brother, Ethan, son of Matt Holiday, going first overall to Washington. Beyond that it’s a crapshoot. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline gave his thoughts in an initial mock draft, however.

“Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina – The best all-around catcher and top college sophomore in the Draft, Stevenson stands out most with his power and arm strength.”

Jim Callis on the Twins selection at number 16 (MLB Pipeline)

As a 19-year-old with North Carolina, Stevenson had a .955 OPS in 64 games. He blasted 14 homers and had a near-neutral 55/48 K/BB. Controlling the running game is a skill Twins backstops have lacked, and his arm could make a difference.

Luke Stevenson’s game-tying homer tonight was his 14th of the season, the most by a @DiamondHeels catcher since Benji Johnson hit 14 in 2006. pic.twitter.com/jmidOcqUVo

— Pat James (@patjames24) June 8, 2024

Minnesota’s catching position is rather barren, and that’s only going to get more real if and when they trade Christian Vazquez. He’s not a long term answer anyways, but it doesn’t seem like Jair Camargo will be. That puts a ton of eggs in the basket of Ryan Jeffers.

Jeffers played a career-best 122 games last season but posted just a 103 OPS+. His 133 OPS+ in 2023 came with just 96 games played. It’s been either injury or ineffectiveness that has held him back, and he’s hardly a standout defender.

Related: Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings (2025 ed.)

The system has a couple of options, but only Ricardo Olivar ranks in the top 20. Another backstop makes a good deal of sense, especially in the middle of the first round.

A second first round pick for the Minnesota Twins

For competitive balance purposes, Major League Baseball tries to give lower revenue markets additional opportunities to gain talent. As you may have guessed, the Minnesota Twins are consistently among the organizations rewarded for spending less. In 2025, that will mean an additional first round pick.

The #MNTwins have been awarded the 4th overall pick in Comp Round A during the 2025 #MLBDraft.

That takes place following the first round.

The pick can be traded.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) December 6, 2024

With the fourth pick in Competitive Balance – Round A, the Twins should make their additional selection at 34th overall. This will be impacted by the signings of Corbin Burnes, Anthony Santander, and Christian Walker. Their eventual contracts could push Minnesota’s competitive balance 1st rounder back to 37th overall.

Last season they grabbed Kyle DeBarge with a compensatory pick rewarded for losing pitcher Sonny Gray. His selection was made as the 33rd overall pick. The last Competitive Balance pick Minnesota made was Charlee Soto (also 34th overall) in 2023.

Related: Do-It-All Minnesota Twins Prospect Pegged as Possible 2025 ROY Candidate

Right now the Twins have quite a loaded farm system, and they will look to add to that group over the summer. There should be more prospect graduations this upcoming season. With little movement expected in free agency, supplementing the big league roster from within should be expected.

Draft lottery could reward Twins too

At the Winter Meetings this week, the Major League Baseball Draft Lottery will take place. The draw happens on Tuesday at 4:30 pm central time. The Twins have just a 1.09% chance at the first overall pick (12th best), but that doesn’t mean they can’t move into the top six picks.

Walker Jenkins last game of the season was his best game at Double-A, recording his first XBH and RBI

2-for-5
2B (110 mph)
RBI
R

The 19-year-old started the season at Low-A and is currently ranked the No. 2 prospect in MLB by @MLBPipeline🌟#MNTwins

pic.twitter.com/ZzcbvHA8Ek

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) September 16, 2024

In 2023 the Twins owned just a 0.9% chance to land the top pick and moved up to fifth. That put them in contention for a difference maker during a draft with multiple candidates to go first overall. They grabbed Walker Jenkins and he has since become one of the best prospects across the entire sport.

Related: Minnesota Twins Full 2025 Coaching Staff Announced

This draft doesn’t have the same steam as the 2023 class, but any opportunity for Minnesota to move up would be welcomed. The more that Derek Falvey and Sean Johnson can stack the farm system, the better.

The Minnesota Twins continue to sign their 2020 draft picks, in spite of the craziness surrounding Major League Baseball’s return. The latest news is that 1st Round pick, Aaron Sabato has signed a contract with the team. As reported by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the deal is for $2.75 million.

There’s the number on Sabato. Goes slightly over slot with both Soularie and Raya coming in under.

The #MNTwins have now made it official with 3 of 4 picks. https://t.co/v3T3r1rbij

— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 23, 2020

With Sabato being selected 27th overall, the slot value for that pick from MLB was $2.57 million. This means the Twins have offered the power-hitting first-baseman slightly more than the suggested baseline.

The Twins were able to offer Sabato more money because their 2nd and 3rd round picks (OF Alerick Soularie and RHP Marco Raya) signed for less than their slot value. Soularie signed for $900,000 instead of his $1.185 million value, while Raya signed for $410,000 instead of $442,900.

Per @JonathanMayo, the #Twins have agreed to terms with first-round #MLBDraft pick Aaron Sabato for $2.75M (slot value = $2.57M).

Here’s a closer look at all of the @Twins‘ 2020 @MLBDraft picks, slot values & signing bonuses: https://t.co/tiYfqPP77h pic.twitter.com/JHNurwS1NA

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 23, 2020

On offense, Sabato RAKES! He finished his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, with a .332 average, 25 home runs, and 81 RBI. However, he does have his share of issues on defense.

As our own Cameron Thompson wrote, that does limit his value. But it is clear that the Minnesota Twins front office is valuing players who have better offensive potential instead of an ability to win a Gold Glove.

LOCKING IN THE DRAFT CLASS

This now means the Twins have signed three of their four draft picks. The only holdout is outfielder Kala’i Rosario, who’s slot value is $330,100. Yet the team and fans should both expect Rosario to sign. Especially with Soularie and Raya signing under slot value. Falvine now has $522,600 of the draft’s initial allotment ($4,528,600) to offer Rosario. In short, it is likely to happen.

With Major League Baseball on the returning too, everything seems to be falling into place for the Minnesota Twins. From a potential World Series run in 2020 to the signing of draft picks to lead to the continued dominance of the Bomba Squad!

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Twins wrapped up their 2020 MLB Draft, late Thursday. It seemed like a successful and very productive two night virtual outing. They drafted Aaron Sabato (North Carolina – 1B) with the 27th overall pick on night one, and went into night two with just three picks for four rounds.

The Twins started and ended day two, like so many things they do these days… with more hitting! Alerick Soularie (Tennessee – OF) got a “TC” hat first, at pick 59 (2), then they took their only pitcher of the night, Marco Raya (United South H.S.[TX] – RHP) with the 128 (4) overall pick, and then eventually finished the night with Kala’i Rosario (Waiakea H.S. [HI] – OF/1B) at pick 158 (5).

Over the next few days, like any good fan, I went looking for more information and more “expert opinions”… on my favorite team’s draft. I quickly remembered, however, why local coverage is always better than national. Two MLB writers from the same outlet, Keith Law and Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) both wrote about the Twins draft… but the outlook was a bit different.

One is national and has to write something about 30 other teams (some of which his readers care much more about than others) and the other is local, and will pour over hours… (ok days) of research surrounding any major maneuvers the Minnesota Twins make. Let’s compare.

AARON SABATO

We think @SabatoAaron will fit right in with our squad!#MNTwins #BombaSquad | @ACCBaseball @DiamondHeels pic.twitter.com/fAHDqxz3qt

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 11, 2020

UNC first baseman Aaron Sabato (1) is a draft-eligible sophomore who got himself into the first round with huge exit velocities and a brief track record of patience and power. He’s a below-average defender at first base, and there’s a good chance he ends up at DH, but he should have the bat to be valuable there.

Keith Law – The Athletic

Sabato joins Brent Rooker (No. 35 in 2017), Trevor Larnach (No. 20 in 2018) and Matt Wallner (No. 39 in 2019) in a farm system overflowing with former college superstars boasting huge power potential and limited defensive chops.

Unlike the previous regime, Falvey, Levine and scouting director Sean Johnson repeatedly target polished college hitters with excellent production facing high-level competition. Old-school scouting still plays a big part, but the increased availability of advanced data on college players enables teams like the Twins to crunch numbers like never before.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

Keith’s take on Sabato, who hits absolute piss missiles and is possibly one of the most MLB-ready power hitters in this draft, is underwhelming and generic. He seems… disappointed with the pick.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gleeman compares Sabato’s stats to #1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, and his place in the Twins system, up there with with the organizations best hitters. It would be preposterous, at this time, to say Sabato is a better prospect than Torkelson or any of the guys Gleeman lists in the excerpt above. He definitely deserves more respect than Law is giving him, though. Law’s criticism gets worse, though.

ALERICK SOULARIE

Alerick Soularie (2) is a young junior at Tennessee, turning 21 next month, who’s had success in the SEC despite an awkward swing that sees his back side collapse. He can’t play center and doesn’t project to the power for a corner. 

Keith Law – The Athletic

[Scouting Director] Johnson expects Soularie to be a corner outfielder, but said he’ll also get some looks in center field and at second base. While not a great athlete, he’s seen as at least average defensively in the outfield, with decent speed. But make no mistake, like the majority of the college position players taken by Falvey and Levine, he was drafted for his hitting. They keep stockpiling big bats.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

Keith Law isn’t the only MLB analyst doubting Alerick Soularie. He doesn’t have the prettiest swing, strongest arm or fastest legs, but Soularie has been a staple of consistency vs the best collegiate competition in the country (SEC).

Soulaire was a JUCO product, right out of high school at San Jacinto College in Houston. There, he impressed scouts and received an offer to play for the University of Tennessee. In his first full season as a Volunteer, Soularie posted a .357 avg, 11 HR, 48 RBI and 8 stolen bases. He’s plays with a chip on his and now has another doubter (Law) to prove wrong.

Sean Johnson (Scouting Director) says the Twins plan on using Soularie, not only in the outfield, but at second base as well. There is a lot of negativity surrounding his defense, so that’s an interesting comment.

MARCO RAYA

Marco Raya (4) is an undersized right-hander from Laredo, Texas, with average velocity from a high slot and a max-effort delivery.

Keith Law – The Athletic

Raya is worth just one sentence to Keith Law, apparently. The Twins only had FOUR draft picks to talk about and one sentence full of disappointment is all he can muster… If there is anything that current Twins pitchers Sergio Romo (5-11, 185 lbs) and Cody Stashak (6-2, 169 lbs) have taught us, it’s that size doesn’t matter (as an MLB pitcher). Sorry to get your hopes up fellas.

Also Raya throws mid-90’s and has a higher spin rate than Jose Berrios. If that’s “average velocity” then Average is ok by me…

You see Marco Raya with a couple fastballs at 92 mph with a 2300 rpm spin rate in the video above. For context, here are the averages of a few current #MNTwins pitchers:

Jake Odorizzi: 92.9 mph, 2236 spin
Jose Berrios 93.1 mph, 2190 spin
Kenta Maeda 92.1 mph, 2287 spin

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) June 12, 2020

Raya is only 17 years old and has a very long path to the majors, so wtf does Keith Law know about where he will be as an MLB pitcher? Let’s just throw away all of the research the Twins have done, with this one shitty generic sentence. Numbers don’t lie and, despite his lack of size, Raya jumps off the page statistically and has a very promising outlook.

Kala’i Rosario

The Twins finished off the draft by selecting Kala’i Rosario, a young power hitter from Hawaii. Keith Law, surprisingly, had nothing negative to say about Rosario and actually believes he can become a regular on the Twins roster.

Because Law couldn’t get a shot in on Rosario, he had to finish his Twins section with one last shot at the entire 4-player draft.

Hitting tutorial with #MNTwins newly drafted OF/3B prospect Kala’i Rosario. pic.twitter.com/sMJAvL40in

— Twins Dingers (@TwinsDingers) June 12, 2020

Kala’i Rosario (5), a high school outfielder from Hilo, Hawai’i, has big raw power and impressive bat speed, driving the ball well in spite of a very early stride and weight transfer, and if he hits enough to get to that power in games he’ll have a chance to be a regular in an outfield corner. Sabato could come up very quickly, but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of upside here [for the Twins’ draft as a whole].

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

A five-round Major League Baseball draft makes easy work for front offices around the league, especially when the non-pandemic season ‘norm’ is 40. The Minnesota Twins only had four selections in this year’s truncated draft. They lost their third-round selection earlier this offseason, when they signed Josh Donaldson and traded their competitive-balance pick (67) and Brusdar Graterol, to the Dodgers, for Kenta Maeda.

With only 4 picks in an already (EXTREMELY) short draft, it was imperative the Twins made quality selections this year. Relying heavily on relatively under-scouted players, the Twins focused on adding power and depth to an already loaded farm system. Let’s take a look at the next generation of baseball in the Twin Cities (hopefully):

The next big star could join your favorite team tonight. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/bEzfMEMVqV

— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2020

AARON SABATO (1B) — 1st ROUND (27th OVERALL)

As our own Cameron Thompson wrote on Wednesday night, Sabato fits right in with the Bomba Squad narrative. The University of North Carolina first baseman finished his collegiate career with a .332 average that included 25 home runs and 81 RBI. The kid can MASH!

Rated as one of the best power hitters in the draft, there is a lot to like about Sabato’s offensive potential, in an already potent lineup. However, he has some deficiencies in his defense, which is why he dropped to pick 27.

The Minnesota Twins are looking to ensure the Bomba Squad isn’t just a one year anomaly. Adding Sabato to a list of prospects that include Brent Rooker, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff and Matt Wallner, will help make “The Bomba Squad” a long-term moniker.

ALERICK SOULARIE (OF) — 2nd ROUND (59th OVERALL)

One powerful bat wasn’t enough for this Twins’ front office. Alerick Soularie (OF – University of Tennessee), was somewhat of a shock pick among fans. He did NOT rank inside any top-100 lists…

A preseason first-team all-SEC player coming into 2020, he ranked in the top three for AVG, OBP, and SLG in 2019. He hit at a .357 clip, with 11 HR, 46 RBI, and 13 doubles in 2019 and a superb strikeout to walk ratio.

In 2020, he saw a slight dipped a bit, prior to COVID-19 shutting the season down. Soularie batted just .267 in that shortened time, but did hit five dingers while driving in 17 runs. It may not be the selection we thought Derek Falvey and Thad Levine would make, but Soularie’s upsides make it worth the risk.

2019 SEC OPS leaders
1. JJ Bleday 1.166 (No. 4 overall pick, 2019 Draft)
2. Austin Martin 1.090 (No 5 overall pick, 2020 Draft)
3. Alerick Soularie 1.068 (No. 59 overall pick , 2020 Draft)#MNTwins

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) June 11, 2020

2020 #MNTwins second round pick Alerick Soularie was second on Tennessee with 11 home runs last season. His 1.068 OPS was first on the team among players who appeared in at least 20 games. pic.twitter.com/YAOt9MiGAp

— Twins Dingers (@TwinsDingers) June 11, 2020

MARCO RAYA (RHP) — 4th ROUND (128th OVERALL)

At only 17-years old, Raya is a high-ceiling pitching project for the Minnesota Twins. High schoolers are difficult to peg but Raya, a six-foot and 160 pound Texas Tech commit from United South High School in Laredo (TX), has shown signs of greatness throughout his young career.

Marco Raya 2020 Laredo Tx . Mid 90,s Fastball , above avg Slider and Change- up / rate is up to 2800 rpm on slider and 2700 rpm on fastball??? pic.twitter.com/jLSY5Jp23H

— omar washington (@owash5006) April 16, 2020

You see Marco Raya with a couple fastballs at 92 mph with a 2300 rpm spin rate in the video above. For context, here are the averages of a few current #MNTwins pitchers:

Jake Odorizzi: 92.9 mph, 2236 spin
Jose Berrios 93.1 mph, 2190 spin
Kenta Maeda 92.1 mph, 2287 spin

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) June 12, 2020

His shortened senior season saw him go 2-0, with a 0.00 ERA and 36 K, in just 18 IP — yeah, go back and read those stats again — High school hitters never stood a chance, compiling just three hits, a .054 AVG, and .131 OBP. Raya already has a higher spin rate than any of the Twins’ top pitchers.

Raya was committed to Texas Tech it looks like he will forego that commitment, in order to sign with the Twins. He is slotted for $442,900 at pick 128 — *Scoffs from Edina* — but Falvine may have offered more. Either way, we don’t make this pick if there is any doubt he was going pro.

Source: #MNTwins 4th round pick Marco Raya has an agreement with Minnesota. He'll forgo his commitment to Texas Tech.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 12, 2020

KALA’I ROSARIO (OF) — 5th ROUND (158th OVERALL)

Another masher? Color me surprised!

Rosario, a 6′ 1″ and 205 pound outfielder from Waiakea High School in Hawaii, put himself on the map back in 2019 during the Area Code Games. While there, he slugged 21 home runs in the home run derby.

He played well in his shortened senior year, hitting .343 with five dingers and 11 RBI. With a top exit velocity of 105 MPH (99.8 percentile), this is another kid who can rake. He has even studied hitting under Koten and Kean Wong’s father, Kaha. Talk about a leg up.

If he can hone in on utilizing his plus-plus power, expect another addition to the Bomba Squad sooner, rather than later. He was the perfect ending to the 2020 Minnesota Twins draft… which was really just a hardcore hunt for MORE POWER!

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

With the 27th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins drafted 1B Aaron Sabato, out of the University of North Carolina on Wednesday night. Sabato fits the Bomba Squad narrative perfectly, as he is a whole lotta dude, coming in at 6-2, 230 lbs… and he loves dropping BOMBS.

Sabato finished his college career with a batting average of .332, 25 HR, and 81 RBI. He was rated as one of the best power hitters in this years draft, after breaking the Tar Heels Freshman home run record with 18. Sabato even hit a 455 ft BOMB in the shortened 2020 season. This dude can straight up mash.

Welcome to the #BombaSquad, @SabatoAaron!#MLBDraft | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/PiogOss2qc

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 11, 2020

Although there is some question around Aaron Sabato’s defense, which limits his value, he has all the tools to be a difference maker as an MLB 1st baseman or DH. This is the first time since 2005 (Henry Sanchez), that the Twins have taken a 1st baseman in the first round.

One thing is quite obvious: the Twins are trying to keep the Bomba Squad alive far beyond 2020. Even when Nelson Cruz moves to the next stage of his life, youngsters like Sano, Kepler, Rooker, Kirilloff, Larnach and now Sabato wait in the wings.

Look for the Twins to break the home run record every year for the next fifty years*

*sarcasm

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

In a Draft Day shocker, the Miami Marlins just drafted Minnesota Golden Gopher, Max Meyer with the THIRD OVERALL PICK in tonight’s MLB Draft! That makes him the highest drafted Gopher Baseball player since Paul Molitor was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers with the #3 pick in the 1977 MLB Draft.

This is something that Max Meyer has been wanting and working for, since he was a kid. In an interview with Justin Gaard on the Golden Gopher Podcast, Meyer tells JG, “This will be the first day all that work pays off”.

The @Marlins select Minnesota RHP Max Meyer with the 3rd overall pick in the #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/yyeZN0Kxxo

— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2020

Miami will be getting a hard worker and someone with natural talent. Meyer spent the last 8 weeks prepping for the draft and getting ready for the bigs. His focus though has not been his pitching it has been his lower body and putting on muscle. He went into the 2019 season at 160, and says he now weighs 200 pounds!

The Woodbury native has been prepping for this day since he was a kid. As the youngest brother he’s been battling uphill since the day he was born. Being young with big expectations, shouldn’t bother him.

Meyer played multiple sports, growing up, one of those being hockey. His athleticism and ability to adapt is something that will obviously help the Marlins and Max, with any obstacles he might face, as he climbs to the MLB.

THE PICK IS IN, THE PARTY'S ON.

With our first pick in the 2020 #MLBDraft – at No. 3 – the Miami Marlins select …

[#305OnTheRise] pic.twitter.com/MKJidZPXiC

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 10, 2020

Sherry Cerny | Minnesota Sports Fan