Twins add LSU righty Eades in second round

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins continued to address their biggest organizational need, picking Louisiana State University right-hander Ryan Eades with the No. 43 overall pick in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft on Thursday night.

The selection of Eades came after the Twins took right-handed pitcher Kohl Stewart from St. Pius X High School in Houston as the No. 4 overall pick in the first round.

Eades, 21, is 8-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 16 starts as a junior this year with 77 strikeouts and 30 walks in 96 innings with the Tigers, who are currently participating in the College World Series. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has a career 17-5 record with a 3.59 ERA with 76 walks and 171 strikeouts in 51 career appearances (39 starts) over three seasons with LSU. He was also the Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Year in '11.

"He's a starter," Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said. "Good body. Really good athlete. Good competitor, and he's got an out-pitch curveball. He's been anywhere from 90 to 96 [mph]. He's got a really good fastball. He needs to work on his fastball and needs work on his changeup, but we feel he's got a chance to start."

Eades, who possesses a 94-mph fastball along with a changeup and curveball, is a high-risk, high-reward selection given his injury history. The Slidell, La., native had right labrum surgery as a high school senior but hasn't had any injury concerns since then. He was also selected by the Rockies in the 19th round of the 2010 Draft after his senior year at Northshore High School.

"Our doctors cleared him," Johnson said. "We were free to select him, so we aren't afraid of that. He's had a pretty good workload this year, and he's held up."