Minnesota Twins

Twins select prep OF/1B Kirilloff with No. 15 pick in MLB Draft

Published Jun. 9, 2016 8:58 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Twins selected Pittsburgh-area high school outfielder/first baseman Alex Kirilloff with the 15th-overall pick in the MLB Draft.

The 18-year-old lefthander has considerable raw power, according to mlb.com, and won an all-star home run derby last summer at Petco Park in San Diego. He's more athletic than his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame would indicate and has a strong arm that fires 87-90 mph fastballs on the mound, the site says.

"It's still settling in right now," Kirilloff said in a phone call on Thursday's Twins broadcast. "I'm just blessed with the opportunity. Emotions and excitement are running high right now."

Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said the organization envisions Kirilloff as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter, noting that he throws and hits well and is good at both first base and outfield.

"He's 100 percent baseball," Johnson said. "We expect big things from Alex."

Kirilloff was rated as the 15th best prospect in the draft by Baseball America. He has hit .539 with 30 runs and three home runs in 21 games this year for Plum High School, primarily playing first base, earning 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game First-Team All-America and Atlantic All-Region First-Team honors.

Twins scout Jay Weitzel recommended Kirilloff.

Reaction from tonight! @Twins @twinsdaily @MLBNetwork @MLBDraft @MLB pic.twitter.com/MmbwoiKJI2
— Alex Kirilloff (@AKirilloff19) June 10, 2016

Prep catcher selected in second round

The Twins selected catcher Ben Rortvedt from Verona Area High School (Wisconsin) with the 56th overall pick in the second round.

The 5-foot-10 Bortvedt, 18, bats left handed and throws right handed. MLB.com ranks him as the 51st best prospect for the draft.

Minnesota used the No. 73 pick in the draft on high-school shortstop Jose Miranda out of Puerto Rico and the 74th pick on Georgia high-school outfielder Akil Baddoo.