Twins sign first-round draft pick RHP Kohl Stewart
Twins Also Sign 22 Other Players from the 2013 First-Year Player Draft
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Twins announced today the signing of right-handed pitcher Kohl Stewart from St. Pius X (Houston, Texas) High School, whom they selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The 18-year-old was the top ranked high school pitching prospect in the country according to Baseball America and MLB.com. Stewart, a 6-foot-3, 208-pound First-Team Rawlings All-American, made eight starts for St. Pius X, posting a record of 5-1 with a 0.18 ERA in 40.0 innings pitched, 59 strikeouts and 16 walks. He was named Texas All-Region First-Team in 2013. As a junior in 2012, the right-hander went 8-0 with 72 strikeouts in 54.0 innings pitched, leading St. Pius X to the TAPPS 5A Title.
A native of Tomball, Texas, Stewart was a two-sport athlete and was recruited to pitch and play quarterback at Texas A&M. As a senior, he threw for 2,560 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Other top 10 picks that have signed include: third round pick Stuart Turner, a catcher from Ole Miss; fourth round pick Stephen Gonsalves, a left-handed pitcher from Cathedral Catholic (San Marcos, Calif.) High School; sixth round pick Brian Navaretto, a catcher from Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla.; seventh round pick Brian Gilbert, a right-handed pitcher from Seton Hall University (N.J.); ninth round pick Mitch Garver, a catcher from the University of New Mexico; 10th round pick C.K. Irby, a right-handed pitcher from Samford University (Ala.).
Additional draft picks that have signed include: 11th round pick Nelson Molina (INF), 12th round pick Ethan Mildren (RHP), 13th round pick Brandon Peterson (RHP), 14th round pick Zach Granite (OF), 15th round pick Derrick Penilla (LHP), 17th round pick Tanner Mendonca (RHP), 18th round pick Ryan Walker (SS), 19th Jared Wilson (RHP), 20th round pick Jason Kanzler (OF), 21st round pick Tyler Stirewalt (RHP), 22nd round pick Alex Swim (C), 23rd round pick Zach Hayden (RHP), 24th round pick Brandon Easton (LHP), 25th round pick Chad Christensen (OF), 30th round pick Tanner Vavra (2B) and 32nd round pick Carlos Avila Jr. (SS).
As of today, the Twins have signed a total of 23 players from the 2013 draft, including 21 of their first 25 picks.