The Minnesota Twins wrapped up their 2014 MLB Draft Saturday with rounds 11 through 40 – adding 30 players to their list of picks, including six prospects with Minnesota ties.
The first two names might be familiar to Minnesota residents.
In the ninth round, Robbinsdale native Max Murphy heard his name called by the Twins. Murphy, 21, currenlty plays center field for Braldey University in Illinois. He hit .314 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI, plus notched 10 stolen bases as a junior with the Braves this season.
His 27 total home runs are the sixth-most in Bradley University history.
“We like him,” Twins scouting director Deron Johnson tells MLB.com. “We had him at a workout on Monday and he did well. He hit a few balls out of the park. He’s a strong kid. He’s only 5-foot-11 but he’s put together pretty good. He runs well and he throws well.”
With their 12th-round pick, the Twins selected Pat Kelly – a Red Wing native who now plays college ball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Kelly, 21, graduated from Red Wing High School in 2011, after a senior year in which he hit .436 with five home runs. Kelly was one of seven finalists for the 2011 Minnesota Minute Men Mr. Baseball Award and was a 2011 All-Metro pick by the Minneapolis Star Tribune that season.
He hit .311 this year for the Cornhuskers while playing second base, tallying a team-high 55 RBI and 37 runs scored in 62 games played. He’s a two-time First-Team All-Big 10 selection, and earned a handful of freshman All-American awards following his first year in college.
More Minnesotans
Other Minnesota players by the Twins:
– Onas Farfan, a left-handed hurler from Ridgewater College, in the 21st round. The sophomore went 1-5 in seven games this season, sporting a 4.58 ERA, and 38 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. KSTP says Farfan is the first product of the Twins’ Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program to be drafted.
– Blake Schmitt, a shortstop at the University of Maryland who helped Eden Prairie win the state title in 2010, was taken by the Twins in the 26th round. He went to Des Moines Area Community College for two years before joining Maryland in 2013. He started 54 games at shortstop for Maryland as a junior that year.
– In round 34, the team selected pitcher Mike Baumann from Mahtomedi High School. As WCCO writes, he’s hoping to help get Mahtomedi in the state tournament this year, which he’s never done before. He’s committed to Jacksonville University.
– And in the following round picked Brad Mathiowetz, a catcher from Rochester Mayo High School. The Post-Bulletin says he’s committed to play at Des Moines Area Community College next year. He hit 18 home runs for Rochester Mayo as a senior – No. 2 on the all-time single season list in the state – and knocked in 54 RBI – third on the all-tiome list. All while hitting .540.
Six other Minnesota players were taken by teams in the MLB Draft.
– Sam Hentges, LHP, Mounds View High School; fourth round, Cleveland Indians.
– Paul Voelker, RHP, Wayzata High School (currently plays for Dallas Baptist in Texas); 10th round, Detroit Tigers.
– Lucas Long, RHP, Holy Angels High School (currently plays for University of San Diego); 24th round, Baltimore Orioles.
– Alec Crawford, RHP, Wilton High School, Iowa (currently plays for the University of Minnesota); 25th round, Colorado Rockies.
– Jason Hoppe, RHP, Sauk Rapids-Rice (currently plays for MSU Mankato); 27th round, Texas Rangers.
– Kyle Fischer, RHP, New Ulm High School (currently plays for St. Cloud State); 30th round, Miami Marlins.
