The 2020 MLB Draft was held just a few days ago, and it was an interesting draft for the Twins. I’m not a huge fan of how it turned out for the Twins, but hopefully it looks better for us in the future.
Round 1, Pick 27
The Twins took first baseman Aaron Sabato out of the University of North Carolina with their first pick. I’m a big fan of this pick. Some scouts say he has the second most power in this draft, just behind Spencer Torkelson, who went first overall to the Tigers. He’s not that great of a fielder, which leads scouts to think he’ll be a designated hitter or first baseman in the MLB. Very below average speed, but that’s a common trait for first basemen/designated hitters. Almost all of Sabato’s value comes from his bat. He has the potential to reach the MLB decently fast, which means he could possibly replace Nelson Cruz if the Twins brought him back for a year or two.
Round 2, Pick 59
I thought this was an interesting pick for the Twins. I thought we were going to pick up a college pitcher like Clayton Beeter, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, the Twins took outfielder Alerick Soularie from the University of Tennessee. His bat can be good at times, but also inconsistent. Soularie has solid power, but not an overwhelming amount like Sabato has. Soularie isn’t terribly fast, so it hurts his defense in centerfield. He also doesn’t have the powerful profile of a corner outfielder. He has been working at second base a little bit though. Many believe he’ll move to second base in the long run.
Round 4, Pick 128
The Twins went with 17-year old pitcher Marco Raya from United South High School in Laredo, Texas with this pick. This is another pick I liked quite a bit. I’ve watched some of his stuff on video, and it’s not bad. He generates a lot of spin with his pitches. His fastball is average, but his slider and changeup are both above average pitches. I could definitely see him as an impactful back of the rotation starter or reliever for the Twins.
Round 5, Pick 158
The Twins went with another power hitter with this pick. Outfielder Kala’i Rosario from Waiakea High School in Hilo, Hawaii. Above average power, below average everything else besides arm strength. I am concerned about him possibly not being able to consistently hit enough to show his power, which sucks because it’s where most of his value comes from. This was a solid pick for the Twins in my opinion.
Overall, this was a decent draft for the Twins. Could’ve been better I thought, and there’s no reason to not trust what Derek Falvey, Thad Levine, and scouting director Sean Johnson are doing. They’ve drafted pretty well since they took over in 2017, and I think this draft will turn out nicely.
