With the No. 1 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected high school shortstop Royce Lewis. The team passed on Louisville two-way star Brendan McKay, high school pitcher Hunter Greene, and others to add Lewis to its farm system.
MLB draft 2017: Royce Lewis selected No. 1 overall by Minnesota Twins
The Twins went for the high school shortstop with the first overall pick.
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
This is the third time ever that the Twins have had the top overall pick. They also selected pitcher Tim Belcher in 1983 and catcher Joe Mauer in 2001.
Lewis immediately adds upside to the Twins’ farm system. He’s a 6’2, 190-pound combination of tools that leaves scouts drooling. At the plate, he offers impressive power, and in the field his speed stands out. Arm strength may be his biggest question mark as a young shortstop, but it’s not expected to prevent him from sticking at the position.
The Twins did not pick the consensus No. 1 player in the class, however. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline both rate Lewis as the fifth-best prospect this year behind McKay, Greene, Kyle Wright, and MacKenzie Gore. Lewis is an undeniably good prospect, but it’s a little bit of a surprise that the Twins passed on McKay and Greene.
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