In the last ten years the Twins have had four winning seasons and made the playoffs three times but in those seven play-off games their record is 0-7. So why the dry spell after the Twins had winning teams in 7 of 9 years before that?
If you look at the Twins drafts from 2009 thru current you might find your answer. The way baseball works you can’t expect your draft choices to produce in the big leagues for three or four years and it has been that way since who knows when. That baffles me because the NFL takes it players straight out of college, some after just three seasons and the next year they are professionals in the NFL. The NBA does it the same way but takes the cream of the crop college players after just one collegiate season and moves them to the pros. Baseball on the other hand is convinced that players out of high school or college can’t play in the big leagues. Oh, a handful of them have but for the most part you have to spend a few years in the minors and work you way up the ladder.
Lets take a look at the Twins drafts for the last 10 years and see what they have produced to help the Minnesota Twins field a winning team. To say that the drafts have been dismal is a huge understatement. The most recent three drafts have produced zippo to this point but the way baseball works their system, this is no shock to anyone.
The problem is that in ten years the Twins have spun the draft wheel they have found just two position players that have found full-time playing time and can be considered regulars with Minnesota. Brian Dozier a two-time All-Star was an eight round pick in 2009 and Eddie Rosario was a fourth round pick in 2010. Rosario just missed being an All-Star in 2018. Dozier was traded to the LA Dodgers in July of last year so all the Twins have now is Rosario.
Mitch Garver a 9th round pick in 2013 is a back-up catcher and Byron Buxton a 1st round pick in 2012 is once again going to get a shot at holding down a starting outfield position.
From a starting pitcher perspective, the Twins have drafted eight pitchers in the first round (including supplemental picks) and they have two starters to show for their efforts. Kyle Gibson a collegiate RHP was a number 1 pick and number 22 overall in 2009 and he won a spot in the rotation in 2014 and is still there today. Jose Berrios a high school RHP was selected number 1 and 32nd overall in 2012 and he moved into the Twins starting rotation on a regular basis in 2017. Kohl Stewart a high school 1st rounder and fourth overall RHP selection in 2013 finally debuted in 2018 and along with LHP Stephen Gonsalves a 4th round pick out of high school who also debuted in 2018 are fighting for a spot in the rotation but both are long shots out of spring training.
The Twins have had better luck with relievers for their bullpen and have added Trevor Hildenberger a 22nd round pick in 2014, Tyler Duffey a 5th round pick in 2012 has been up and down, and Taylor Rogers has been a fixture in the bullpen since 2016.
A team like Minnesota has to have a fresh infusion of talent from its minor league system on a regular basis if they are going to be competitive. They have not had that and you can see the results.
The question that needs to be answered is if the problem is with who they are drafting or is it that they are not developing their players properly be it in the minors or the big leagues.
Are the Twins too patient waiting for their players to bloom or are they to quick to cut their losses and give up on them too soon? I would like to know what you think.
2016-2018 Drafts
- No major league debuts as yet
2015
- Andrew Vasquez a LHP drafted in round 32 debuted with the Twins in 2018.
2014
- Trevor Hildenberger a RHP was drafted in round 22 and is currently with the Twins.
- John Curtiss a RHP drafted in round 6 debuted with the Twins in 2017 and was traded to the Angels for Daniel Ozoria on 1/15/2019.
- Nick Burdi a RHP drafted in 2nd round was lost to Phillies in 2017 Rule 5 draft and was then traded by Philly to the Pirates where he debuted in 2018.
2013
- Stuart Turner is a catcher and was a 3rd round selection and was lost by the Twins in the December 2016 Rule 5 draft to the Reds. Debuted in 2017 but is currently in Reds minor league system.
- Mitch Garver a catcher was a 9th round selection and debuted in 2017 and is currently Twins back-up catcher.
- Zack Granite an outfielder was a 14th round pick and debuted in 2017 and spent 2018 in minors.
- Aaron Slegers a RHP was a drafted in round 5 and debuted in 2017. Lost on waivers to the Pirates in January 2019.
- Kohl Stewart a RHP was a 1st round (fourth overall) pick and debuted with the Twins in 2018 and in the hunt to make the Twins team in 2019.
- Stephen Gonsalves a LHP was drafted in round 4 and debuted in 2018 and is in the hunt for a starting job with the Twins in 2019.
2012
- Byron Buxton an outfielder was a 1st round pick (second overall) and debuted in 2015 but has not won a big league job as yet. Will start for Twins in 2019 if he can hit.
- Tyler Duffey a RHP selected in round 5 debuted in 2015 and has been with the Twins off and on since.
- Taylor Rogers a LHP was picked in round 11 and debuted in 2016. Important member of the Twins relief crew.
- JT Chargois is a RHP was picked in round 2 and debuted in 2016. Lost on waivers to the Dodgers in February 2018 and appeared in 32 games for the Dodgers in 2018.
- Jose Berrios a RHP was a supplementary 1st round pick and is the ACE of the Twins rotation after debuting in 2016 and joined rotation in 2017.
- Luke Bard a RHP was a supplementary 1st round pick but was lost to the Angels in December 2017 Rule 5 draft. Returned to Twins in April 2018 and was granted free agency by Twins in November 2018.
2011
- Dereck Rodriguez was drafted as an outfielder in round 6. Here is where the story gets interesting. After several years of trying to be a position player, Rodriguez transitions into a right-handed pitcher in 2014 and by 2017 reaches AA Chattanooga. In November 2017 Rodriguez becomes a free agent and signs with the Giants. Rodriguez starts the 2018 season in AAA putting up a 4-1 record before the Giants call him up and put him in the starting rotation shortly before his 26th Birthday. Dereck, the son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez starts 19 games and puts up a 6-4 record with a 2.81 ERA in 118+ innings and he gives up just 98 hits. Cool story but you don’t hear much about it here in Minnesota, I wonder why?
- Jason Wheeler a LHP is a 8th round selection and debuted in early 2017 but appeared in just two games for the Twins before he was sold to the Dodgers. Wheeler was out of baseball in 2018.
2010
- Alex Wimmers a RHP was drafted in round 1 (21st overall) and debuted in 2016. Appeared in 22 games in 2016-2017 for Minnesota winning one, pitched 24.2 innings and walked 19 batters. Became a free agent after 2017 and signed with the Marlins but they too let him go and Wimmers finished the season in Independent ball.
- Niko Goodrum was drafted as a shortstop in the second round and debuted in September 2017. Goodrum became a free agent after 2017 and signed with the Tigers spending all of 2018 in Detroit playing six different positions.
- Pat Dean a LHP was drafted in round 3 and debuted early in 2016. The Twins released Dean after the 2016 season so he could pitch in Korea.
- Eddie Rosario was a 4th round pick as an outfielder and debuted in early 2015 and has been a regular pretty much since then.
- Logan Darnell a LHP was a 6th round selection and debuted in May 2014. Became a free agent after the 2016 season and is currently in the Rays organization.
- Ryan O’Rourke was a 13th round pick and debuted in July 2015. Became a free agent in November 2017 and now with Mets organization.
- A.J. Achter was drafted in round 43 and debuted in September 2014. Was picked up on waivers by Philly in November 2015.
2009
- Kyle Gibson a RHP was drafted in round 1 (22nd overall) and debuted with the Twins in June 2013 and has been in the starting rotation since.
- Chris Herrmann a catcher was a 6th round pick and debuted in September 2012. Herrmann was traded to Arizona for Dan Palka in November 2015.
- Brian Dozier a shortstop was selected in round 8 and debuted in May 2012 and became a regular in 2013. Dozier was traded to the Dodgers in July 2018.