Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
June 18, 2006
Looking Back

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun looks at the 2001 draft and decides the Twins made the correct first pick after all.

Five years after the draft, Prior, 25, is on the disabled list for the fifth time since July 2003. He hasn't pitched for the Cubs this season and has made just 48 starts since that outstanding 2003 campaign. And Mauer? Entering the weekend, he was leading the majors in hitting in just his second full season. He won the most recent American League Player of the Week honor. Only 23, he is believed to be just the third player in baseball history to reach base four times in five consecutive games. He is also among the league leaders in throwing out runners, and is continually praised by his teammates.

"He's technically sound at almost every facet of the game," Ryan said. "Mechanically, he has a beautiful swing. Receiving, he's soft and quiet. At the plate, he is calm and quiet. Throwing, his ball is true with velocity. He's still learning, believe me."

Prior returns to the big leagues today, and still has plenty of time to prove he should have been #1. Mauer won't make it easy for him, however.

Update: Paul Sullivan details Prior's prior comebacks.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:21 AM | Draft | TrackBack (0)
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