Day 1 of the 2008 MLB Draft is done and 6 rounds and 2 compensation rounds worth of players have been chosen. Although the big talk was prep shortstop Tim Beckham (cue the Bend It Like Beckham references) being taken 1st overall, the Twins had a good first day. They made 8 total picks and here they are:
Aaron Hicks, OF, Woodrow Wilson HS, CA 14th overall
Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, University of Miami 27th overall
Steven Hunt, RHP, Tulane University 31st overall
Tyler Ladendorf, SS, Howard College 60th overall
Robert Lanigan, RHP, Adelphi University 92nd overall
Daniel Ortiz, CF, Benjamin Harrison HS 126th overall
Nicholas Romero, 3B, San Diego State University 156th overall
Brett Hermsen, RHP, West Delaware HS, IA 186th overall
Hicks was one of the outfielders the Twins were rumored to be targeting at 14 and he brings his great athleticism and tools to the outfield. Hunt has command issues but great stuff. Ladendorf, who sports athleticism as one of his traits, has developed many more tools over the last year.
The Twins didn’t really address any organizational needs, except for their lack of depth at 3rd with the selection of Romero, but that’s not really what they sought. More often then not, teams will take the best player available. With many more rounds to go, it can be assured the Twins will keep trying to find hidden gems in the later rounds.
