Day 2 of the draft is in the books! The first 15 rounds are complete, with rounds 16-40 scheduled for tomorrow.
The Twins just kept taking pitchers. Of the 18 selections they had today, 13 are pitchers. Here's a rundown of the final five picks, with Baseball America's takes.
11. Taylor Rogers, LHP, Kentucky
Rogers won't blow up any radar guns, but his pitchability made him a weekend starter for three years at Kentucky and helped him earn the win at the Cape Cod League all-star game last summer. At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Rogers is more skinny than projectable, so his stuff isn't likely to get much better. He'll touch 90-91 mph with his fastball early in games but usually settles in at 87-88 mph. His curveball and changeup are effective, and he compensates for his lack of a plus pitch with outstanding command of his offerings. He has sound mechanics and repeats them well, though at times he's around the strike zone too much.
12. Alex Muren, RHP, Cal-St. Northridge
Like his older brother Drew, Muren is a quality athlete who split time between hitting and pitching for Northridge in 2010 and '11, before focusing on pitching as a junior this year. Muren caught scouts' attention by running his fastball up to 96-97 mph in the fall, but he has pitched in the 90-94 range this spring. Despite his power arm, Muren hasn't missed many bats this spring, posting a 43-26 strikeout-walk mark through 84 innings. Scouts like his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and athleticism, but he lacks deception and pitches on a flat plane. His below-average slider/cutter sometimes show depth in the 80-83 mph range and can reach 85-87. However, he doesn't run the pitch in against righthanders, instead leaving it in a hitters' comfort zone over the plate. He lacks feel for a changeup, despite the Matadors' efforts to teach him a circle change. Muren's body and pure arm strength make him an intriguing sleeper, but one scout referred to him as "a block of clay." Given his lack of polish and underdeveloped secondary stuff, he profiles best as a reliever.
13. Erich Knab, RHP, Carolina Forest High, S.C.
A Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) JC signee, Knab is considered signable, but he's a long-term project. He has a good frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, and arm strength with a low 90s fastball that touches 95 mph. However, he has a stiff delivery that he doesn't repeat well and poor command. His secondary stuff is a work-in-progress and he doesn't show much aptitude for pitching.
