Twins nab IU third baseman DeMuth in Round 8

In the eighth round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Twins selected their first infielder, Indiana third baseman Dustin DeMuth, No. 230 overall.

Indiana had its most successful baseball season in decades this year, and DeMuth is a big reason why.

The third baseman showed the ability to hit and run, leading the team in batting average -- .396 with 40 RBIs-- and finishing second in stolen bases. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, he has the frame that suggests more power in the future, though his approach at the plate is more base-hit oriented for now.

"He's a good athlete, kind of reminds us of a Corey Koskie -- a former Twins third baseman -- he can throw and he can run for a guy his size," scouting director Deron Johnson said. "We think the power may come late. He's got a pretty good swing. He's got kind of a gap-type approach right now, but he makes contact. We like the way he goes about it."

DeMuth's a capable third baseman, though there's work to be done there, with a fielding percentage of .927.