On Monday night, the deadline came and went for 2010 draft picks to sign. The Twins signed each of their top ten picks. They signed 31 of their 50 selections. I have been getting a lot of questions about who the Twins have signed, and which didn't. Others are curious how those that have signed have done in their professional debut, so here is a quick look at the Twins 2010 draft (with more detail for the first 14 picks):

1. Alex Wimmers – RHP – 21 years old – Wimmers was drafted out of Ohio State where he was the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year the last two seasons. He was touted as being one of the most big league ready at draft time. A typical Twins pitcher, he tops out at 92, maybe 93, but his changeup is already very advanced. Wimmers took two months off before signing on August 6th for the slot value of $1.332 million. He reported to Ft. Myers and was just activated. So he should be making his debut soon. He could advance quickly. 2. Niko Goodrum – SS – 18 years old – Goodrum is a tremendous athlete out of Fayetteville (GA) high school. He was drafted as a SS, but he has the athleticism to play anywhere on the field. Goodrum signed on June 23rd (for $514,800) and immediately reported to Ft. Myers where he joined the Gulf Coast League team. Through Tuesday, he was hitting .147/.214/.186 with four doubles. In 111 plate appearances, he has struck out 30 times, with nine walks. The switch-hitter has really struggled in a very small sample against right-handed pitching. He has got 1-27 (.037) with 13 strikeouts. But these numbers should not be surprising. He was drafted as a high-risk, high-reward project with good all around potential. 3. Pat Dean – LHP – 21 years old – Dean was drafted out of Boston College. He was immediately compared to the likes of Glen Perkins and Brian Duensing based on being left-handed, not real big, and 'crafty.' He experienced some early season injuries. He signed on June 20th for $319,500 and was sent to Ft. Myers. He was brought along slowly, starting the season pitching out of the GCL Twins bullpen. In five innings, he gave up no runs, three hits and no walks. He moved up to Elizabethton where he has been starting. He has made two starts and is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 11 innings. 4. Eddie Rosario – OF – 18 years old – Rosario was called the top hitting prospect from Puerto Rico in this year's draft. Rosario signed for $200,000 on June 20th. He is playing for the GCL Twins and is one of their more exciting players. Hitting at the top of the order, Rosario is hitting .309/.350/.442 with nine doubles, two triples and three home runs. In 176 plate appearances, he has 11 walks and 23 strikeouts. The biggest surprise is that he is now 22-24 in stolen base attempts, and I'm told he is very solid defensively. 5. Nate Roberts – OF – 21 years old – Roberts began his college career at Northwestern in 2008, but he spent 2009 at Parkland College. He spent 2010 at High Point University where he was MVP of the Big South conference after hitting .416/.575/.746 with 10 doubles and 19 home runs. He was hit by a pitch 25 times, walked 53 times and struck out just 35 times. He signed on June 24th for $149,400 and later began his season in Elizabethton. In 31 games, he has hit .321/.423/.554 with nine doubles, a triple and five home runs. 6. Logan Darnell – LHP – 21 years old – Darnell waited until July 13th to sign with the Twins out of the University of Kentucky. Upon signing (for $125,000), he was sent to Elizabethton where he has worked out of the bullpen and as a starter already. In eight games, three starts for the E-Twins, he has gone 1-3 with a 3.66 ERA. In 19.2 innings, he has walked two and struck out 16. 7. Matt Hauser – RHP – 22 years old – The harsh realities of the major league draft/signing bonus situation is that seniors in college have no leverage. While other 7th round picks around him got around $125,000, Hauser signed for $45,000 out of the University of San Diego on June 21st. He reported to Elizabethton and struck out 13 hitters in nine innings before being promoted to Beloit. After throwing in four games for the Snappers, he was shut down with elbow tendonitis. Hauser is a hard thrower, capable of hitting 96-97 mph. 8. Lance Ray – 1B/OF – 20 years old – A second University of Kentucky draftee, Ray has had a terrific professional debut since signing on June 21st for $125,000. He hit .317 with six extra base hits in 17 games at Elizabethton. He was promoted to Beloit where he has hit .268/.362/.412 with five doubles and three home runs in 28 games. 9. Kyle Knudson – C – 22 years old – The Twins drafted the senior from the University of Minnesota for just $25,000. He has caught and DHed at Elizabethton since signing June 21st. He is hitting .265/.301/.361 with eight doubles and two home runs. 10. JaDamion Williams – SS – 19 years old – The Twins selected the high school shortstop from Odessa, Florida, and signed him on June 20th for $125,000. In 30 games in the GCL, he is hitting .198/.281/.279 with four extra base hits. 11. Tyler Kuresa – 1B – 17 years old – Kuresa is the highest drafted pick that the Twins were unable to sign, and yet, it was no surprise because he fell so far due to signability concerns. The Oakmont high school (California) is bound for the University of Oregon. 12. Steve Maxwell – RHP – 22 years old – I have no idea why Maxwell would not sign with the Twins at this time. He is going to turn 23 in December and will head back to Texas Christian for his senior year. 13. Ryan O'Rourke – LHP – 22 years old – The Twins signed the senior from Merrimack College in Massachusetts on June 21st. He has pitched in 12 games for Elizabethton and started five games. He is 1-3 with a 5.45 ERA. In 39.2 innings, he has 37 strikeouts and just seven walks. 14. Deandre Smelter – RHP – 18 years old – The right-handed pitcher from Macon, Georgia, was available this late solely because he made it known that he was going to Georgia Tech. It was definitely worth the effort and giving him two months to see if he would change his mind. Scouts loved him, but he did not sign and will be a part of Ramblin' Wreck! At this point, the summaries will get a little smaller, and only for those that signed. Those top 14 picks were the most noteworthy ones. They took a chance on Kuresa and Smelter. They signed all of their top ten picks, which is terrific! Before the draft, I said that I thought the Twins needed to draft a ton of college pitchers in the later rounds and move them up quickly to Beloit so that they could keep Adrian Salcedo, BJ Hermsen, Michael Tonkin and Blayne Weller in Elizabethton. The Twins got some good college arms, and a couple of them have been solid. Signed: 16. Clinton Dempster – LHP – 20 years old – The left-handed pitcher from Nicholls State signed quickly. After pitching in four games at Elizabethton, he moved up to Beloit. He has pitched in eight games (5 starts). He has gone 3-2 with a save. In 29 innings, he has walked 17 and struck out 25. 18. David Gutierrez – RHP – 22 years old – Carlos Gutierrez's younger brother pitched for Miami in the College World Series and then signed with the Twins and reported to Elizabethton. In 14 games, he is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.60 ERA. In 27.2 innings, he has eight walks and 25 strikeouts. 21. Nathan Fawbush – RHP – 20 years old – The 6-7 righty signed out of Georgia Perimeter College. He pitched three games in the GCL in the first half of July but has not pitched since July 15. 23. Dallas Gallant – RHP – 21 years old – The hard-throwing righty from Sam Houston State signed late and has pitched now in just two games with the E-Twins. 25. Andy Leer – IF – 22 years old – The infielder from the University of Mary signed quickly and went to Elizabethton where he got off to a quick start. In 50 games, he is now hitting .263/.315/.387 with 12 doubles and four home runs. 26. Kelly Closs – C – 18 years old – The 6-3, 205 pound catcher from high school in Texas just signed on Monday's deadline. He will report to Ft. Myers and eventually may participate with the GCL Twins. 27. Brandon Henderson – OF – 21 years old – After signing out of Fresno CC, Henderson was sent to Elizabethton. In 86 plate appearances, he has hit .263/.344/.313 with four doubles, six walks and 27 strikeouts. 28. Jamaal Hawkins – SS – 21 years old – the 5-9, 180 pound middle infielder from Jacksonville University signed early and went to Elizabethton. He has hit .237/.349/.460 with four doubles and one home run in 170 plate appearances. He has walked 18 times and struck out 38 times. 29. Brian Burke – 3B/1B – 24 years old – The Lewis-Clark St. College infielder is already 24, but he has put up very strong numbers in Elizabethton. In 189 plate appearances, he has hit .278/.349/.460 with 12 doubles, a triple and six home runs. He has 13 walks to go with 49 strikeouts. 33. Justin Parker – LHP – 20 years old – Parker has made ten starts for the GCL Twins. He is 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA. In 48.2 innings, he gave up 50 hits, walked 11 and struck out 33. 34. Kyle Necke – RHP – 23 years old – Necke signed out of UC-Irvine early. He pitched on June 23, but his next appearance was not until July 18. He gave up two runs in two innings in those games. However, at that time, he decided he was done. Arm problems haunted him, and he requested his release. 35. Nick Alloway – RHP – 21 years old – Signed out of Gloucester County College, Alloway has been pitching with the GCL Twins. In 12 games (1 start), he has thrown 20.1 innings. He has 31 strikeouts but 14 walks. He is 2-1 with a 4.87 ERA and two saves. 36. Kelvin Mention – OF – 18 years old – The prep outfielder from Florida signed on the final signing day. Like Closs, he will report to Ft. Myers and eventually play with the GCL Twins. 39. Bart Carter – LHP – 23 years old – Carter signed early out of Western Kentucky University. He has pitched 13 games with the GCL Twins. In 20.2 innings, he has four walks and 17 strikeouts. He is 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA. He did move across the parking lot and pitch in one game with the Ft. Myers Miracle. He gave up three runs in 1.1 innings. 41. Sam Spangler – LHP – 22 years old – The University of Hawaii alum signed and pitched in nine games (2 starts) for Elizabethton. He went 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA. In 20 innings, he has six walks and 21 strikeouts. He was promoted to Beloit where he pitched six games (2 starts) and gone 0-1 with a 11.70 ERA. In 10 innings, he has walked four and struck out 12. 42. Brett Carroll – LHP – 23 years old – Carroll signed the William Paterson University early and sent him to the GCL Twins team. He has gone 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA. In 12 games and 23.1 innings, he has given up 24 hits, seven walks and struck out 19. 43. Derek Christensen – RHP – Christensen signed in mid-July out of Salt Lake CC and reported to the GCL Twins. In just four games and seven innings, he has walked four and struck out six. He is also 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. 44. David Deminsky – LHP – 23 years old – Another local product, the St. Cloud State lefty signed and was sent to the GCL Twins. In 10 games (8 starts), he is 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA. In 53.1 innings, he has walked eight and struck out 51. Any questions or comments on the Twins or the minor league system? Feel free to leave your questions and comments here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Mark Your Calendar - On Saturday throughout the Twins game, TwinsCentric and Sooze will be hosting a Viewing Party at Howie's in downtown St. Cloud. There will again be drink and appetizer specials, and several prizes handed out. As always, it is fun to bring a bunch of Twins fans together, and for the first time, we will do so in the outstate!
  • Seth will be on the Nine to Noon Show with Paul Allen on KFAN, its affiliates and KFAN.com at about 9:20, talking about the Twins.