3 Players the Twins Could Target With Their First-Round Pick

The 2019 MLB Draft is less than a week away, which means that we're two full months into the MLB season. Teams like the Minnesota Twins know now more than ever what they're strong at, and where they could use some improvement. Luckily, the Twins are one of those teams that are in a position to win now with the current team they've built, and in the future with their solid list of prospects like Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff and Brusdar Gaterol. There's a chance they could deal one of these prospects in an effort to chase a World Series ring, but they shouldn't skip a beat, as they have the 13th pick in the draft, giving them the opportunity to replenish their farm system right away. With that said, let's take a look at three prospects the Twins will be considering taking with their first-round pick.

3. Brett Baty

Brett Baty is slightly older than the rest of the high school class, as he is currently over 19 years old. Is this an issue? Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, he compares well to fellow third base prospect Josh Jung. Jung projects to be one of the first college bats taken in this class because of his polished approach at the plate, and Baty is no different. Like Jung, he ranks as one of the best all-around hitters in his class, and is built similarly at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. With a 55 hit and power tool according to MLB.com, Baty has some of the better raw power in the Draft, thanks to great bat speed and strength in his sweet left-handed swing. He truly is an advanced hitter, as he isn’t fooled easily by breaking pitches, makes consistently hard contact and isn’t an all-or-nothing kind of guy at the plate. Combine his clean hit tool with his plus defense at the hot corner, and he could be a steal at this position for the Twins.

2. Shea Langeliers

Shea Langeliers is MLB.com’s 10th ranked prospect, and that’s for a very good reason. The catching product out of Baylor stands at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and missed time due to a broken hamate bone, but has rebounded to have a very nice bookend to his college career. Langeliers hit .311 with six homers and 28 runs batted in, which has helped him to get a top 10-15 projection in the draft. His calling card is really his defense, as he is an incredible defender behind the dish. One could even argue that if you gave him a season or two in the minors, he could be a quality MLB catcher. Of course, the Twins won’t be doing that to him, as they’ll want his bat to develop to catch up to the rest of his tools. With his patient eye, it could very well happen. In all likelihood, Langeliers enters the MLB with an average hit and power tool, and develops into a slightly above average power bat. Pair that with his incredible defense, and Langeliers could wind up being one of the best catchers in baseball in just a few short years. The Twins don't have a catcher quite like Shea in the minors, and that could change come Monday.

1. Corbin Carroll

If Corbin Carroll is left on the board at 13, there’s every chance that the Twins snag one of the better high school hitters in the class. Carroll is a little small, as he’s just 5-foot-11, 161 pounds, but don’t let that scare you. He’s often compared to Andrew Benintendi, who is an inch shorter, and nine pounds heavier. If the young outfielder wants to develop his power, he’s definitely going to need to put on some muscle here. Carroll carries a 60 hit tool, and has shown the ability to spray the ball all over the field as a lefty, which is a huge positive given the absurd shifts we see today in the majors. He also has incredible speed, which helps him play an awesome center field. Again, if he puts on the muscle, the Twins could be looking at a five-tool player, which is incredibly hard to pass up. They should not hesitate to snag Carroll if he’s available at this spot. He could turn into something special, even if the power never comes.