Chris Parmelee is eager to make it to the major leagues, if for no other reason than to play in the Metrodome.
The Twins' first pick (20th overall) in Tuesday's first-year draft got his first look at the Dome last Friday when he went through a private workout. The lefthanded-hitting outfielder said it was "10 times better" seeing it in person than seeing it on television.
"I absolutely loved the field," Parmelee said. "Too bad they're going to move out in a couple years. As soon as I walked on the field I could see myself playing for this organization."
The handful of pitches he pulled into the upper deck in right field might have affected his opinion as well. Parmelee's power definitely got the Twins' attention.
"It's why we took him first," Twins director of scouting Mike Radcliff said. "We believe in that particular tool. We believe he will have home run power down the road."
Parmelee has good size (6-1, 195), and hit 11 home runs for Chino Hills (Calif.) High School this season. But he stopped short of calling himself a power hitter.
"I consider myself a gap-to-gap hitter," Parmelee said. "I'll get my occasional home runs, but more of a gap hitter."
The Twins went for power again in the second round when they selected William Benson out of Joliet Catholic (Ill.) High School. They selected Bella Vista (Calif.) High School pitcher Tyler Robertson, a 6-5 lefthander, in the third round.
The Twins used later picks to select Rochester Mayo outfielder Aaron Senne (Twins' 16th pick, 396th overall) and MSU, Mankato outfielder Mark Dolenc (Twins' 18th, 456th overall).
The Twins used all but five of their 19 picks on position players. Four of the five pitchers are lefthanded.
"We wanted to get as many bats as we felt comfortable with," Radcliff said. "The ceiling changes on a bat as you get further down on the list, so I'm not going to tell you that all of them are going to be major league stars. But if there is a need in our minor leagues it is offense, so we feel good about meeting that objective."
Radcliff said Parmelee is one of two hitters the Twins had targeted, and they were able to draft both. The other is Jared Mitchell, a high school outfielder from Westgate, La., whom they selected in the 10th round.
Mitchell, a high school quarterback, has signed a letter of intent to play football at LSU. Radcliff said it was worth the gamble in hopes Mitchell will opt for baseball.
The Twins see little gamble in drafting Parmelee.
"We've been watching him a long time," Radcliff said. "He's an advanced bat. We have great conviction in his makeup. He's probably going to be able to play right field or first base well.
"If he reaches the ceiling we have for him as a hitter, he'll be a middle-of-the-lineup impact player down the road."
Parmelee has signed to play at Cal State Fullerton, but said he expects to sign with the Twins instead of attending college.
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