Hudson Boyd

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #34 prospect in 2013
  After Boyd and Dan Vogelbach teamed to lead Bishop Verot High (Fort Myers, Fla.) to the state 3-A championship in 2011, both went in the top two rounds of the draft and signed for seven-figure bonuses. While Vogelbach has thrived in the Cubs system, Boyd hasn't matched his success since signing for $1 million as the 55th overall pick. The Twins knew Boyd well because Fort Myers is also their spring-training home and understood they were going to have to keep after his conditioning. But they want him to also think about his pitching, not just his weight. Trimmer last season at 263 pounds, Boyd still elicits Jonathan Broxton comparisons for his size and thick lower half. He was expected to be a power pitcher like Broxton but hasn't shown that explosiveness as a pro, rarely hitting the 94s he showed in high school. Instead, Boyd often pitches with an upper-80s two-seam fastball and works at 90-91 mph with his four-seamer. His competitiveness and pitchability helped him rank third in the Rookie-level Appalachian League with a 2.95 ERA in his pro debut last summer. He flashed a plus curveball as an amateur and still has a feel for spin, but his curve lacks its former power. He throws a changeup as well. With lesser stuff than he had as an amateur, Boyd gets pounded when he leaves the ball up in the strike zone. The Twins hope he'll regain his past velocity as he continues to improve his body, and they're encouraged by his success last year. He has a shot to open 2013 in their low Class A Cedar Rapids rotation.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #18 prospect in 2012
  Boyd starred at two Fort Myers, Fla., area high schools during his prep career, first at South Fort Myers and then at Bishop Verot as a senior. He teamed with Cubs second-rounder Dan Vogelbach to lead Bishop Verot to the Florida 3-A state championship in 2011, with Boyd pitching a shutout in the semifinals and delivering the game-winning single with two out in the bottom of the seventh in the title game. The Twins, whose Florida operations are based in Fort Myers, had followed him for years. They drafted him 55th overall and bought him out of a Florida commitment with a $1 million bonus. Boyd's jumbo frame elicits comparisons to Bartolo Colon and Jonathan Broxton. After a summer layoff waiting to sign, he reported to instructional league at a whopping 278 pounds. He hired Kyle Gibson's wife, a nutritionist, to improve his diet, and he hoped to get back to 235-240 pounds by spring training. At his best, Boyd incorporates his lower half well into his delivery and maintains his velocity deep into games, usually working at 90-94 mph with his fastball. He topped out at 91 in instructional league. His power curveball features upper-70s velocity and tight, sharp action, giving him a second plus pitch. His arm action is fairly clean. Boyd didn't need a changeup much in high school, but Minnesota has a strong tradition of teaching the pitch and he'll strive to improve his arm speed and find a grip that works for him. If Boyd can keep his body in check, he could emerge as one of the system's best starting pitching prospects. He's likely to open 2012 in extended spring training before making his pro debut in Rookie ball in June.