Round 1, Pick 1- Matt Garza: Garza was as good as advertised during his inaugural season of professional baseball, as he made two stops during the 2005 season. After beginning the season with Elizabethton of the Appalachian League, Garza was promoted to the Beloit Snappers, and put up some impressive statistics along the way.At Fresno State, Garza was the 2005 Western Athletic Conference pitcher of the year, after going 5-2, with a 2.42 ERA in ten WAC appearances. In 68.2 innings of work, Garza struck out 67 batters, and finished the year with a WAC-best 120 strikeouts.
For Elizabethton, Garza only made four starts, and finished his Appalachian League season with a 1-1 record. He posted a 3.66 earned run average, struck out better than one batter per inning, and walked only six. In all, he threw 19.2 innings of work, struck out 25, and allowed only 14 hits all season long.
The Twins soon promoted the right-handed fire-baller to Beloit of the Midwest League, and Garza did not miss a step. He started in ten games for the Snappers, finished with a 3.54ERA, and struck out 64 batters in 56 innings of work.
For his efforts, Garza was named the tenth best prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America, and should start the season as an anchor on the Fort Myers Miracle. More recently, Garza was named the seventh best prospect in the entire organization by Baseball America, and was the only 2005 draftee to be named to the top ten list.
Round 1, Pick 2- Henry Sanchez: Sanchez signed late, and got a slow start to his professional career. However, most scouts see him as a potential 35+ home run guy, and I could not agree more. He has a sweet stroke from the right side, and is very big for a kid his age. He should get a taste of full-season ball in 2006.
At 6’3’’, 225, Sanchez does not look like your typical 18-year old. He was taken by the Twins with a supplemental pick (Number 39), out of Mission Bay High School. During his high school career, Sanchez hit 36 home runs, and finished his senior campaign with a .482 batting average. He was one of the most sought after high school players in the country.
Rated as the top prep first baseman out of high school, Sanchez signed with the Twins on July 15, 2005, and was assigned to the Twins of the Gulf Coast League. Had he gone to college, he was already rated as a preseason All-American by Baseball America, and by Louisville Slugger.
He appeared in 21 games for the GCL Twins after signing, and batted only .229, mostly because of his late start to the season. Coming off a broken hamate bone, Sanchez belted only two home runs, but he hit the ball hard most of the time. He did strike out 28 times in his 21 appearances, but that ratio is sure to go down as he gets more time in professional ball.
Overall, Baseball America saw enough in Sanchez this past season to rank him as the best power hitting prospect in the entire organization, and gave him the title of being the 20th best prospect in the entire organization. Next season, he should be right in the middle of the Beloit lineup, and will hit over 20 home runs.
Round 2, Pick 1- Andrew Thompson: Thompson, the son of former Major Leaguer Robbie, had a great 2005 season, as the 19-year old made it all the way to High-A. A left-handed hitting middle infielder, Thompson was drafted by the Twins out of Jupiter (Fla.) High School, and signed with the team on July 3. A “sandwich” pick, Thompson was assigned to the Gulf Coast League.
Thompson struggled a bit at the Gulf Coast League level, but the Twins saw enough in him during his 35-game stint to promote him all the way to High-A Fort Myers. For the GCL Twins, Thompson hit only .257, but showed a keen defensive skill, and baseball smarts far beyond his age. He ended his GCL season with two home runs, a triple, 22 runs scored, and 20 RBI.
His statistics at Fort Myers were much better, as the slick-fielding infielder batted .308 in his four game stint with the team. He scored twice, drove in a run, and even hit a double. He should be at Fort Myers once again to start the 2006 season, and may even make his way up to Double-A, if he continues to progress as a hitter.
For his efforts, Baseball America named Thompson the 17th best prospect in the entire Gulf Coast League, an honor he shared with fellow infielder, Paul Kelly. He was also ranked the 19th best prospect in the Twins’ organization by Baseball America, as he joined the ranks for first-year players having tremendous first seasons of professional baseball.
Round 2, Pick 2- Kevin Slowey: Slowey was almost unhittable during the 2005 season, as he established himself as one of the better pitchers in the Twins’ organization. A guy who can work out of the bullpen, or start a game, Slowey dominated on two levels in 2005, and should continue to move up the ladder in 2006. After starting his professional career with Elizabethton of the Appalachian League, Slowey then moved onto Beloit, when he was even more dominant at the full-season level.
Slowey was drafted by the Twins out of Wichita State University, where he won 14 games as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in both wins (29), and strikeouts (317). He was taken by the Twins in the second round, signed quickly, and was assigned to the Appalachian League.
It did not take Slowey long to make a name for himself, as he flirted with a perfect game in August, and was named Twins’ Minor League Player of the Week. That effort put him on everybody’s radar, and for good reason. He appeared in only four games for the E-Town Twins prior to his call-up to Beloit, and was used mostly as the team’s closer. He posted a 1.17 ERA during his time in the Apply League, and struck out 15 batters in 7.1 innings of work.
Once he arrived in Beloit, his star really began to shine. He flirted with a perfect game, won organizational honors, and put up staggering statistics. The right-hander threw 64.1 innings, struck out 68, and walked only eight batters all season long. He also finished the year with a 2.24 ERA, and had a 3-2 record.
Although he was not named to any league Top 20’s, Baseball America did see enough in him to name him the 13th best player in the Twins organization. He etched his name along side guys named Span, Kubel, Liriano, and Swarzak as a Top-15 prospect. He is currently the eighth best pitching prospect in the Twins’ organization, and is only going to get better next season.