Twins reach deal with No. 74 pick for $750K

June 15th, 2016

The Twins have reached a deal with Akil Baddoo, their Lottery Round B Draft pick, according to MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis.
The 74th overall selection from Salem High School (Conyers, Ga.), Baddoo received a $750,000 deal. The slot value at that pick was $865,200. The Twins have not confirmed the deal.
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Baddoo, ranked No. 72 overall among Draft prospects by MLBPipeline.com, has drawn comparisons to Carl Crawford and other prominent veterans for his combination of power and speed.

"We really like Akil," Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said. "He's kind of in the Jacque Jones mold. He can really hit. He's got a good swing. He's really aggressive."
Johnson added that the Twins envision Baddoo in center field, despite the scouting concerns about his arm strength.
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"He's a center fielder," Johnson said. "The knock on him is his arm strength. He has a different arm action. The kid can really hit. We think he has the potential to add power. He's strong. He's a good hitter who squares the ball up."
Baddoo was one of four batters the Twins took with their first four picks. Among those, their first-round pick, outfielder Alex Kirilloff, remains unsigned, as does another Lottery Round B pick, shortstop Jose Miranda.