 06/05/2002 9:04 pm ET
A familiar name pops up in draft
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sticking with the usual tradition, not many standout players were selected in Day Two of the First Year Player Draft.
But Twins observers should be pretty familiar with the last name of Minnesota's 38th round pick.
Shortstop Toby Gardenhire of Roseville, Minn. was the 1,142th overall pick in the draft. He currently plays collegiate baseball with Westark Community College in Arkansas.
His father, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, could not have been happier about the choice.
"That's exciting," Ron Gardenhire said. "He's fired up."
Twins Scouting Director Mike Radcliff called the 19-year-old Gardenhire a good player that the organization has kept an eye on in high school and college, regardless of his last name.
"He's earned the right to be a draft pick," Radcliff said. "He has some abilities and tools and we're going to be watching. At some point, we'd like to try and sign him. It wasn't just because Ron is our manager."
Radcliff provided an honest scouting report about the draftee.
"He can really play. He probably doesn't run as good as a middle infield guy," Radcliff said. "Other than that, this guy can pick it up, throw it and put his bat on the ball. (Running) might be his true lacking tool."
It's still a little premature to expect the Gardenhires to follow the father-son Major League traditions of the Bells, Boones and Ripkens. Radcliff said that Toby isn't expected to sign with the organization, at least not right away. He will be playing in a summer baseball league and then still has another year of junior college eligibility remaining.
Other than the 38th round pick, Radcliff considered the draft's second day to be typical.
"The second day is all about projection," Radcliff said. "We filled some organizational needs for the lower minor league clubs, position wise. If we get any value from the draft, it will be the high school pitchers -- if they're bigger, stronger and throw it harder."
Minnesota has had some second day pitching selections pay dividends for the organization. Two current examples with the Twins are Eddie Guardado and J.C. Romero. Guardado was a 21st round pick in 1990 and Romero was a 21st round pick in 1997.
While the chances of second-day picks making the Major Leagues are slim, there's still a chance that some rough talent can be harvested.
"We're trying to find a guy that's going to turn into something he isn't now," Radcliff said. "Take guys who don't throw it hard right now. Because of maturity and coaching and experience, maybe they'll turn into somebody that throws harder."
Mark Sheldon covers the Twins for MLB.com and can be reached at
marksheldon@twinsbaseball.com.
This article was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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TWINS 2002 DRAFT PICKS |
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| 20 |
KEIUNTA D SPAN |
CF |
TAMPA CATHOLIC HS |
| 61 |
JESSE A CRAIN |
RHP |
U HOUSTON |
| 92 |
MARK A SAULS |
RHP |
BAY HS |
| 122 |
ALEXANDER E MERRICKS |
LHP |
OXNARD HS |
| 152 |
MICHAEL C THOMAS |
CF |
A CRAWFORD MOSLEY HS |
| 182 |
PATRICK J NESHEK |
RHP |
BUTLER U |
| 212 |
WILLIAM D BARRETT |
LHP CF |
U SAN DIEGO |
| 242 |
ADAM A LIND |
1B |
HIGHLAND HS |
| 272 |
DOUG D DEEDS |
OF |
OHIO ST U |
| 302 |
KYLE R PHILLIPS |
C |
EL CAPITAN HS |
| 332 |
EVAN D MEEK |
RHP |
INGLEMOOR HS |
| 362 |
JEFFREY B CLEMENT |
C |
MARSHALLTOWN HS |
| 392 |
WILLIAM C PETTIT |
RHP |
LOUISIANA ST U |
| 422 |
GARRETT L MOCK |
RHP |
GRAYSON COUNTY COL |
| 452 |
ADAM B HARBEN |
RHP |
U ARKANSAS FT SMITH JC |
| 482 |
KC J JONES |
RHP |
EATONVILLE HS |
| 512 |
ADAM T HAWES |
RHP |
ST THERESA'S CATHOLIC HS |
| 542 |
JAVIER R LOPEZ |
RF |
GALVESTON JC |
| 572 |
ADAM L DANIELS |
LHP |
NO SCHOOL |
| 602 |
RYAN G SCHREPPEL |
LHP |
LINCOLN HS |
| 632 |
THOMAS J PRUNTY |
RHP |
U MIAMI |
| 662 |
MICHAEL J SIMS |
LF |
MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST U |
| 692 |
DANIEL MATIENZO |
C |
U MIAMI |
| 722 |
JOSHUA C PETERSEN |
1B |
JUPITER COMMUNITY HS |
| 752 |
JUSTIN A KEELING |
LHP |
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN U |
| 782 |
JARED K JOHNSON |
RHP |
CIMARRON-MEMORIAL HS |
| 812 |
RONALD PERODIN |
CF |
EL CAMINO COL |
| 842 |
HASAN K RASHEED |
CF |
WHITES CREEK HS |
| 872 |
JAMES B AVERY |
RHP |
CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HS |
| 902 |
ROBERTO MARTINEZ |
RHP |
ST PETERSBURG JC |
| 932 |
TERRY S KILLION |
RHP |
BOWIE HS |
| 962 |
JONATHON W KOCH |
RHP |
LAKE CITY CC |
| 992 |
THOMAS J FERRARA |
RHP |
BREVARD CC |
| 1022 |
CHRISTIAN A CASTORRI |
RHP |
THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL HS |
| 1052 |
TARRENCE T PATTERSON |
CF |
BARTOW HS |
| 1082 |
JOHN B CAHILL |
RHP |
LAKEWOOD HS |
| 1112 |
MICHAEL A COSTANTINO |
3B |
SOMERSET HS |
| 1142 |
TOBY J GARDENHIRE |
SS |
WESTARK CC |
| 1172 |
BRANDON P DODDO |
C |
COOPER CITY HS |
| 1202 |
RODNEY A STORY |
LHP |
GULF COAST CC |
| 1232 |
CHRISTOPHER T BROWN |
2B |
COOPER CITY HS |
| 1262 |
KYLE Z GEIGER |
C |
REND LAKE |
| 1291 |
JACOB B JEAN |
LHP |
COSUMNES RIVER COL |
| 1319 |
CHRISTOPHER A BEATTY |
LHP |
KOKOMO HS |
| 1346 |
JOHN P STOCCO |
RHP |
HOLY ANGELS HS |
| 1373 |
WAYNE C RENFROW |
RHP |
KELLAM HS |
| 1399 |
BRANDON CARLTON |
LHP |
BAY HS |
| 1425 |
BRANDON J COHEN |
CF |
RIVER DELL HS |
| 1450 |
BROCK A PETERSON |
3B |
W F WEST HS |
| 1474 |
MICHAEL A BALLARD |
LHP |
OCEAN LAKES HS |
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