The
Minnesota Twins are a
Major League Baseball (MLB)
franchise based in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the
American League Central division. Since the institution of MLB's
Rule 4 Draft, the Twins have selected 70 players in the first round. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is MLB's primary mechanism for assigning players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur clubs to its franchises. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.[1] In addition, teams which lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2]
Of the 70 players picked in the first round by Minnesota, 30 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 22 of these were right-handed, while 8 were left-handed. Twelve
outfielders were selected, while twelve
shortstops, seven
third basemen, four
catchers, four
first basemen and one player at
second base were taken as well.[3] Thirteen of the players came from high schools or universities in the state of California, and Florida follows with nine players. The Twins have drafted six players from Arizona, including five players from
Arizona State University.[3]
The Twins have made 16 selections in the supplemental round of the draft and have made the
first overall selection twice (
1983 and
2001).[3][8] They have also had 18 compensatory picks since the institution of the First-Year Player Draft in 1965.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][9][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[10] The Twins have six times failed to sign their first-round pick.[3]Eddie Leon (1965),
Dick Ruthven (1972),
Jamie Allen (1976), and
Tim Belcher (1983) all failed to sign with the Twins without the team receiving compensation.[11][12][13] The Twins did, however, receive a compensatory pick when they failed to sign
Jason Varitek (1993). Varitek did not sign and instead chose to enter the draft again the following year and was taken by the
Seattle Mariners.[14] Additionally,
Travis Lee, the Twins' only selection in 1996 and the second-overall pick of that draft, did not sign with the team. Lee's agent,
Scott Boras, did not communicate with the Twins for the first two weeks after the draft and then invoked a rarely used rule that a team was required to make a contract offer within 15 days of the draft or relinquish their rights to the player.[15] As a result, Lee and 3 other 1996 first-round picks who were Boras clients were granted
free agency and he ultimately signed with the
Arizona Diamondbacks.[15][16]
V Through the 2012 draft,
free agents were evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offered
arbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.[75] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.[76] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.[77]
a The Twins gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent
Jeff Reardon.[43]
b The Twins gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent
Gary Gaetti.[44]
The
Minnesota Twins are a
Major League Baseball (MLB)
franchise based in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the
American League Central division. Since the institution of MLB's
Rule 4 Draft, the Twins have selected 70 players in the first round. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is MLB's primary mechanism for assigning players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur clubs to its franchises. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.[1] In addition, teams which lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2]
Of the 70 players picked in the first round by Minnesota, 30 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 22 of these were right-handed, while 8 were left-handed. Twelve
outfielders were selected, while twelve
shortstops, seven
third basemen, four
catchers, four
first basemen and one player at
second base were taken as well.[3] Thirteen of the players came from high schools or universities in the state of California, and Florida follows with nine players. The Twins have drafted six players from Arizona, including five players from
Arizona State University.[3]
The Twins have made 16 selections in the supplemental round of the draft and have made the
first overall selection twice (
1983 and
2001).[3][8] They have also had 18 compensatory picks since the institution of the First-Year Player Draft in 1965.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][9][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[10] The Twins have six times failed to sign their first-round pick.[3]Eddie Leon (1965),
Dick Ruthven (1972),
Jamie Allen (1976), and
Tim Belcher (1983) all failed to sign with the Twins without the team receiving compensation.[11][12][13] The Twins did, however, receive a compensatory pick when they failed to sign
Jason Varitek (1993). Varitek did not sign and instead chose to enter the draft again the following year and was taken by the
Seattle Mariners.[14] Additionally,
Travis Lee, the Twins' only selection in 1996 and the second-overall pick of that draft, did not sign with the team. Lee's agent,
Scott Boras, did not communicate with the Twins for the first two weeks after the draft and then invoked a rarely used rule that a team was required to make a contract offer within 15 days of the draft or relinquish their rights to the player.[15] As a result, Lee and 3 other 1996 first-round picks who were Boras clients were granted
free agency and he ultimately signed with the
Arizona Diamondbacks.[15][16]
V Through the 2012 draft,
free agents were evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offered
arbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.[75] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.[76] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.[77]
a The Twins gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent
Jeff Reardon.[43]
b The Twins gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent
Gary Gaetti.[44]