Minnesota Twins 2008 Draft Coverage
by Mike Spier for RedWingsBaseball.com

With the 14 th pick in the 2008 first year player draft, the Minnesota Twins select…

Aaron Hicks.

The 18-year old Hicks is a high school player out of Long Beach, Calif. that scouts, according to Baseball America (BA), call the “finest prep outfielder/pitcher prospect in the greater Los Angeles area since Daryl Strawberry in the early 1980s.”

The switch-hitting Hicks is considered a five-tool player that projects to begin his career as a centerfielder. According to BA, which ranked him as the 13 th best player in the draft, some scouts project him as an above-average hitter with above-average power that has great speed and easy range. Hicks also has the ability to pitch. In a mid-May start, his fastballs were clocking at 94-97 mph.

“I’m ready to go out there and show them what I can do as an outfielder,” Hicks told ESPN. “The Twins are a great organization and I’m ready to play for them.”

For the 27 th pick, one they got in compensation from the Los Angeles Angels for Torii Hunter, the Twins selected Carlos Gutierrez, a relief pitcher out of the University of Miami. Although he was the lowest ranked BA prospect in the first round (#82), he came back from Tommy John Surgery to be considered the best closer in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the Hurricanes this season. According to BA, Gutierrez has a low-90’s fastball that has late life with a heavy sink. He also has a slider and sinker in his repertoire. With development, he could move up to the majors fast because his sinker, according to scouts, is currently a major league-plus pitch.

Four picks later, at No. 31, Minnesota drafted Shooter Hunt out of the University of Tulane. To some he may be considered a steal at that point in the draft as he was projected by BA to be picked up as the tenth overall pick by the Houston Astros. His overall rating was No. 11, two better than the Twins’ first pick Hicks. He has a lively fastball that sits at 91-92 and tops out at 94 mph. Sometimes the 21-year old has a tendency to avoid contact rather than be aggressive which results in more walks. According to BA, his biggest adjustment will be to trust his stuff so he can keep his pitch count down but he has the ability to become a major league starter.

Click here for the official press release from the Twins with more details on Thursday's picks.

Click here for a summary of all of the Twins' picks.