Minnesota Twins 2019 MLB Draft Report Card

Image credit: Keoni Cavaco (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam)

Every year at the conclusion of the regular season, Baseball America revisits each teams’ most recent draft class. Each class has its no-doubt, high-profile names to keep an eye on, but our annual draft report cards highlight the best tools, best debuts, late-round steals and more. Here are the names you need to know from every organization’s 2019 draft.

You can see the full Cleveland Indians 2019 draft class here. Find all of our 2019 draft report cards here.

Best Pure Hitter: SS Spencer Steer (3) has proved his hitting ability at a high level everywhere he’s gone, from college to the Cape Cod League and now in pro ball. He has a balanced swing, manages the strike zone well and finds the barrel a lot.

Best Power Hitter: OF Matt Wallner (1s) began his college career as a two-way player with power both on the mound and at the plate. He’s transitioned to a full-time outfielder, and his raw power helped him set Southern Mississippi’s career home run record (54) and tie its single-season mark (23). 3Bs Seth Gray (4) and Eduoard Julien (18) both have above-average raw power as well.

Fastest Runner: SS Will Holland (5) is a plus runner, and that speed plays well both on the bases and in the infield. SS Keoni Cavaco (1) can also flash plus speed.

Best Defensive Player: Cavaco stands out most for his glove, and he has all the tools to be a plus defender on the left side of the infield. His arm is well above-average, he has smooth hands and excellent range. How he fills out as he physically matures will determine whether that happens at shortstop or third base.

Best Athlete: Cavaco and Holland both offer high-end athleticism thanks to their fast-twitch ability, speed and body control.

Best Fastball: RHP Matt Canterino (2) can run his fastball up to 96 mph with carrying life and the ability to locate it well. RHP Casey Legumina (8) got hurt this spring, but at his best also can get his fastball up to 95-96 mph.

Best Secondary Pitch: Canterino throws both a curveball and slider that can be above-average offerings. His curveball is a hard downer and the better of the pair. Legumina has a power slider that he can throw up to 87 mph.

Best Pro Debut: Canterino pitched well in his debut, reaching low Class A Cedar Rapids and going 1-1, 1.35 in 20 innings in the Midwest League. RHP Cody Laweryson (14) also reached Cedar Rapids after a stellar summer with Rookie-level Elizabethton that saw him post a 59-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Most Intriguing Background: RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (6) is studying chemistry at Mercer with the intention of attending medical school one day. He is serious enough about that goal to go back to campus this fall to take classes, even leaving before Elizabethton’s season ended.

Closest To The Majors: Canterino was already the most advanced member of the Twins’ draft class even before his excellent pro debut. He’s clearly ahead of the pack on the road to Minnesota.

Best Late-Round Pick: The Twins were able to sign Julien, a draft-eligible sophomore, for a well-above slot deal. The Canadian native has some loud raw tools, starting with his power, but was inconsistent this spring at Auburn, not altogether unlike Holland.

The One Who Got Away: LHP Antoine Jean (17) was the only player the Twins drafted in the first 25 rounds who didn’t sign. The projectable Canadian native came on strong late but is instead headed to Alabama. LHP Drew Gilbert (35) and RHP Will Frisch (36) were high school teammates and the best prep players in Minnesota this spring but chose to continue their careers in college—Gilbert at Tennessee and Frisch at Oregon State.