Twins select high school third baseman in round three of draft

The Twins have selected Travis Blankenhorn, a third baseman from Pottsville Area High (Pa.) in the third round of the first-year player draft

Blankenhorn is a shortstop now but is expected to be a third baseman as a pro. He has good hands and a strong arm. His bat shows some power potential but scouts like him for approach at the plate, makeup and work ethic.

A good athlete, Blankenhorn was a hoops star as well. He's committed to Kentucky. Here's what Baseball America wrote about him:

If not for his baseball prowess, Blankenhorn may have had a future on the hardwood. The 6-foot-2 infielder scored just under 1,600 points in his high school basketball career, used his size and strength to dominate in eastern Pennsylvania. On the diamond, Blankenhorn's tools are not explosive, but he has multiple weapons, both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Blankenhorn has a pretty lefthanded swing with minimal load and a short, downhill bat path. He has above-average bat speed and good feel for hitting. Scouts project Blankenhorn to develop above-average power as he grows into his body. Defensively, Blankenhorn lacks the footspeed to stay at shortstop, but has an above-average throwing arm and projects well at third base. Blankenhorn is committed to Kentucky, but there are some teams that like him as high as the second round, and he could come off the board early if things go right on draft day. Blankenhorn's ultimate ceiling will be dictated by how well his hit tool translates to the next level. Those who believe in him see him as a potential fifth or sixth hitter in the lineup with no significant weaknesses, though he is a slightly below-average runner who's better underway.