June 14, 2009 – The 2009 draft is over and the Twins drafted 29 pitchers (including 17 collegiate arms) and 22 position players. The Twins used their first 4 picks to draft pitchers. The 22 position players were broken down as follows, 5 catchers, 8 infielders, and nice outfielders. Of the 51 players drafted, only 22 were not college players which seems to be a lower number than usual. I think it is nice to see the Twins taking college players that have proven they can play at the college level. Now we will see if the Twins can sign 30 or 35 of these players to contracts, particularly their top picks.
With their first four picks of the draft, the Twins took four college pitchers: Kyle Gibson of Missouri, Matthew Bashore from Indiana, Florida’s William Bullock and Benjamin Tootle out of Jacksonville State. The Twins top pick Gibson may turn out to be a low risk/high reward pick, but it all depends on Gibson’s arm which has been hurt and has limited his innings this year. There are a number of reports floating around on what Gibson’s problem was ranging from his shoulder to his elbow but the reports that the Twins want to believe are that he had a forearm issue and that it is not a serious problem and that all Gibson needs is rest. We will have to wait and see but it will be interesting to see if the Twins have Gibson pitch this year if they sign him in the near future or if they shut him down for 2009.
Drafting pitchers in the first round has not exactly been the Twins forte since the free agent draft started back in 1965. Let’s take a look at some stud pitchers the Twins have selected in the first round.
2008 – Collegiate RHP Carlos Gutierrez picked # 27 over all – Now a SP in A ball with Ft. Myers.
2005 – Collegiate RHP Matt Garza picked # 25 over all – Came up with the Twins in 2006 and since then was traded to Tampa Bay.
2004 – Collegiate LHP Glen Perkins picked # 22 over all – Has been with the Twins off an on since 2006.
2004 – High School RHP Kyle Waldrop picked # 25 over all – Now a RP in A ball with Ft. Myers.
2000 – Collegiate RHP Adam Johnson picked # 2 over all – Pitched a total of 9 major league games, all for the Twins in 2001 and 2003 and finished wih a career ERA of 10.25.
1998 – Collegiate LHP Ryan Mills picked # 6 over all – Never threw a major league pitch.
1995 – Collegiate LHP Mark Redman picked # 13 over all – Pitched for the Twins from 1999-2001 before moving on. Pitched in 219 major league games through 2008.
1992 – High School LHP Dan Serafini picked # 26 over all – Pitched for the Twins between 1996-1998 before moving on. Pitched in 104 major league games and finished career after 2007.
1990 – High School RHP Todd Ritchie picked # 12 over all – Pitched for the Twins in 1997-1998 before moving on. Pitched in 185 games and finished career in 2004.
1988 – Collegiate RHP Johnny Ard picked # 20 over all – Never pitched in the majors.
1987 – High School RHP Willie Banks picked # 3 over all – Pitched for the Twins in 1991-1993 before being traded. Pitched 181 major league games before career ended in 2002.
1985 – High School RHP Jeff Bumgarner picked # 13 over all – Never pitched in the majors.
1983 – Collegiate RHP Tim Belcher picked # 1 over all but Twins could not sign him.
1982 – Collegiate LHP Bryan Oelkers picked # 4 over all – Pitched for the Twin in 1984 and the Indians in 1986 and his big league career lasted 12 games.
1973 – Collegiate LHP Eddie Bane picked # 11 over all – Pitched for the Twins in 1973, 1975 and 1976 and finished his major league career after 44 games.
1972 – Collegiate RHP Dick Ruthven picked # 8 over all but would not sign with Minnesota.
So would you pay big bucks to a pitcher that you drafted in the first round? The Twins history of drafting pitchers in the first round is not exactly stellar but you never know if that next pick is going to be the next Cy Young.
Now let’s take a moment to review all of the Twins first round picks for the last 10 years.
2008 – High School OF Aaron Hicks # 14 over all – Currently with Gulf Coast Twins in Rookie league.
2008 – Collegiate RHP Carlos Gutierrez # 27 over all – Currently a SP for A ball Ft. Myers.
2007 – High School OF Ben Revere # 28 over all – Currently an OF for A ball Ft. Myers.
2006 – High School OF Chris Parmelee # 20 over all – Currently an OF for A ball Ft. Myers.
2005 – Collegiate RHP Matt Garza # 25 over all – Debuted with the Twins in 2006 and since traded to Tampa Bay.
2004 – High School SS Trevor Plouffe # 20 over all – Playing SS for AAA Rochester.
2004 – Collegiate LHP Glen Perkins # 22 over all – Debuted with Twins in 2006 and currently in starting rotation.
2004 – High School RHP Kyle Waldrop # 25 over all – Now a RP for A ball Ft. Myers.
2003 – High School 3B Matt Moses # 21 over all – Now playing OF for AA New Britain.
2002 – High School OF Denard Span # 20 over all – Starting OF for Twins and debuted in 2008.
2001 – High School C Joe Mauer # 1 over all – Catching for Twins since debut in 2004.
2000 – Collegiate RHP Adam Johnson # 2 over all – Is out of baseball after pitching for Twins in 2001 and 2003 with a career record of 1-3 in 9 games with a 10.25 ERA.
1999 – High School OF BJ Garbe # 5 over all – Released by Twins in 2005 and out of baseball in 2006.