After drafting two high schoolers on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, the Twins on Monday chose a college player with each of their nine picks, starting with two lefthanded pitchers from the Big Ten.
With their second-round pick, the Twins chose the 6-5 Steven Hajjar from Michigan. And in the third round, the Twins got the 6-3 Cade Povich from Nebraska.
Hajjar, a Massachusetts native, started 14 games this season and went 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA for Michigan, with 110 strikeouts and 29 walks in 81 2⁄3 innings. The signing bonus draft slot for that No. 61 pick is $1.13 million. Hajjar still has two years of eligibility remaining at Michigan.
Povich, a Nebraska native, went 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA for the Cornhuskers this season, with 88 strikeouts and 22 walks in 81 innings. His signing bonus slot is $593,100.
On Sunday, the Twins picked 18-year-old righthander Chase Petty with their first-round pick (No. 26 overall) and Noah Miller, a shortstop from Ozaukee High School in Fredonia, Wisc. with their competitive-balance pick (No. 36 overall).
In Monday's fourth round, the Twins took Oklahoma State third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand. He batted .361 with 15 home runs, 66 RBI, a .442 on-base percentage and .661 slugging percentage for the Cowboys this season.
Rounding out Monday's Twins selections:
— Fifth round: Christian MacLeod, LHP, Mississippi State
— Sixth round: Travis Adams, RHP, Sacramento State
— Seventh round: Jake Rucker, 3B, Tennessee
— Eighth round: Noah Carednas, C, UCLA
— Ninth round: Patrick Winkel, C, Connecticut
— 10th round: Ernie Yake, SS, Gonzaga
The final rounds of the draft come Tuesday.
