David Shinskie

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #29 prospect in 2007
  Even for a player with athleticism, a plus arm, a pro body and good results, it's hard to make the Twins' 40-man roster. Such was the case for Shinskie, who didn't earn a 40-man spot and wasn't selected in the Rule 5 draft. Shinskie, a former high school quarterback, threw more strikes in low Class A than he had in previous seasons. He still blew six of 17 save opportunities because of his lack of feel for anything offspeed. He didn't respond to a promotion to Double-A, and the Twins realize that aptitude is not one of Shinskie's strengths. They hope being left off the 40-man gets a message through to a pitcher with a fastball that parks at 90-92 mph and tops out at 94-95. At times, Shinskie throws a plus hard slider in the mid-80s range, but he doesn't throw quality strikes with either pitch consistently enough to start. His future is in the bullpen, and he'll work in that role in high Class A in 2007.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #27 prospect in 2005
  Shinskie was recruited as a quarterback by several Big Ten Conference football programs out of Mount Carmel Area High, where he passed for 57 touchdowns and led the team to a pair of Pennsylvania 2-A titles. He signed to play football and baseball at Delaware, then gave that up for a $280,000 bonus from the Twins. He's one of several former quarterbacks in the organization, a list that includes righthander T.J. Prunty, a backup at Miami; catchers Joe Mauer (Florida State) and Eli Tintor (Minnesota-Duluth), who turned down college scholarships; and righty Colby Miller, who won an Oklahoma 4-A state championship in 1999. Shinskie has average stuff across the board, pitching at 89-91 mph and topping out at 93. He has a good slider that he locates well and a circle change that he throws in the mid- 70s. A strike-thrower, he projects as a third or fourth starter at best. However, his athleticism and football background make him a good bet to tough it out along the way. He has strong makeup and shows good competitiveness. He wasn't dominant in the Appalachian League in his first full pro season, but he should move up to low Class A, where rotation spots will be at a premium.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #20 prospect in 2004
  Shinskie was recruited by several Big Ten Conference football programs as a quarterback before deciding to play two sports at Delaware. He passed for 6,334 yards and 57 touchdowns as a prepster, winning two Pennsylvania 2-A titles at Mount Carmel High. But he put all thoughts of the gridiron behind him after signing for $280,000 as a fourth-round pick. Shinskie fastball reached 93 mph with boring action during the spring, when he went just 1-5 at Mount Carmel, and sat at 89-91 mph in his pro debut. The Twins project him to consistently reach the low 90s as he becomes more accustomed to pitching every fifth day. His 81-mph slider is just OK right now, though he locates it well and it has good downward movement. Shinskie needs to refine his 75-76 mph circle changeup and improve his feel for pitching. He tends to overthrow when he falls behind in the count. He has the strong body, athleticism and competitive makeup to develop into a workhorse. He'll move slow like most of Twins high school draftees, starting 2004 in extended spring training.