Highlighted by No. 1 pick Royce Lewis, the Twins wrapped up their 2017 draft class on Wednesday. According to MLB.com columnist Jim Callis, no other team made a better first impression in the draft.
Minnesota turned a few heads when they took Lewis first overall instead of players like Brendan McKay, Kyle Wright and Hunter Greene, but Callis called Lewis a legitimate No. 1 pick.
“[Lewis] offered a better combination of hitting ability and tools than any player available,” wrote Callis.
Brent Rooker was also taken on the first day of the draft and he was college baseball’s best hitter this year. He was the first player since Rafael Palmeiro to earn triple crown honors in the SEC conference.
Minnesota wrapped up the first day of the draft by taking Canadian high school pitcher Landon Leach, who already hovers around 95 with his sinking fastball.
Day 2 of the draft featured the Twins taking another prep arm in Blayne Enlow, who was the highest-rated player available and apparently posses the best curveball in the draft. Enlow even struck out Lewis in the 2017 High School All-Americans game.
Puerto Rico high schooler Ricardo De La Torre who was a sixth-round pick also had first round hype as early as this year.
With 50 rounds in a draft, obviously not everyone is going to pan out, but considering the Twins’ new regime of Derek Falvey and Thad LaVine aren’t even a year into their position, it appears Minnesota is trending in the right direction.
