Here's an update on Twins picks on Day 3.
16. Will Hurt, SS, Lexington (Kent.) Catholic
Read a little about Hurt here and here.
17. Dalton Hicks, 1B, Central Florida
Good size. 6-5, 228.
From Baseball America:
Hicks took a medical redshirt in 2010 after an undiagnosed collapsed lung required two surgeries to repair. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder pitched and hit as a freshman but has focused on the bat since then, providing a reliable power bat in Central Florida's lineup. Scouts describe him as "lumbering" on defense, and he's too slow to move to the outfield, where his arm strength could be an asset. He's a first baseman/DH type with strength, plus raw power and some hittability whose overall package falls a bit shy compared to other big first basemen in the draft such as Ben Waldrip, Preston Tucker and Matt Snyder.
http://www.ucfathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hicks_dj00.html
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6833
18. William LaMarche, RHP, Chabot CC
Good size. Member of the Tommy John club.
From Baseball America:
LaMarche played in high school with Stanford third baseman Stephen Piscotty and started out his college career at Long Beach State in 2010 but never pitched for the Dirtbags because he needed Tommy John surgery. A workout monster, LaMarche came back strong and has powerful thighs and a barrel chest as part of his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. Coming out of the bullpen, his fastball sits in the 94-96 mph range and he runs it up as high as 98, but he's still learning to harness his stuff. He's been used sparingly this year and doesn't have much in the way of secondary stuff. He's added a cutter this year, but he mostly tries to just blow hitters away with his gas. LaMarche has some funk to his delivery--he separates early, but has a really quick arm. With the delivery issues, below-average control and lack of secondary stuff, LaMarche is certainly a project and is committed to Louisiana State for next year if he doesn't sign.
19. Jonathan Murphy, OF, Jacksonville.
Brother of the Mets' Daniel Murphy.
Here's his college profile page
Here's a story about the family.
20. Zach Larson, OF, Lakewood Ranch High (FL.)
Ranked as the 84th best prospect out of a deep Florida class.
La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts. Mark Rosen borrows him occasionally for WCCO-TV.
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Baseball America's John Manuel to join Twins scouting department
Twins try to savor unexpected run to the postseason
Persistent pain in left leg keeps Sano off of wild card game roster
Grossman replaces Sano as Twins' DH, and bats at the bottom of lineup
StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.
Comments will be reviewed before being published.