Kirby Puckett

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 1984
  The Twins’ first-round selection in the January 1982 draft, Puckett is built along the lines of former big league outfielder Jim Wynn, and shows promises of producing along the same lines as Wynn, too. Puckett broke in with a flurry at Elizabethton, earning MVP honors in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 1982 when he hit .382 and stole 43 bases. And he kept on knocking them over at high Class A Visalia last year, where he produced with the bat (.314, 29 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs and 97 RBIs), with his feet (48 stolen bases) and with his glove. Puckett has outstanding speed and uses it offensively and defensively. He has a strong arm. And he can hit. More than that, he has great instincts, on the bases and in the field. He also adapts well to new ideas. Puckett can come in a hurry if the Twins are so inclined. And once he does make it to the big leagues, he promises to be a crowd favorite. Not only does he have ability, but he has charisma. “He’s got a bubbly personality,” said one California League observer. “He’s the kind of kid who walks on the field and the fans fall in love with him. The way he goes about playing the game creates an enthusiasm that is transmitted to the people in the stands.”
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #4 prospect in 1983
  Perhaps too high of a rating for a one-year pro, but he was the player of the year in the Rookie-level Appalachian League after hitting .382 at Elizabethton. Puckett is small in stature, but Twins farm director George Brophy said he is in the Jim Wynn mold--“a strong little man.”

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #5 prospect in 1983
  Another player in his first full year of pro ball, Puckett gave indications of the offensive talent many scouts and managers believe he has. After starting the year with a 16-game hitting streak, he finished at .314 for Visalia, with nine homers and 97 RBIs. Puckett has been likened to former major leaguer Jimmy Wynn because of his size (5-foot-8, 175 pounds) and strength. Wynn, who played for the Astros and Dodgers, was known as the "Toy Cannon." The 22-year-old Puckett, who spent a year at Bradley University but was drafted by the Twins in January 1982 out of Triton Junior College in River Grove, Ill. (he signed at the end of Triton’s 1982 season), he also stole 48 bases this year in 59 tries and scored 105 runs to finish second in the league to Donell Nixon. “He’s not very big,” Stockton manager Terry Bevington said. “But he’s got massive legs. He’s really strong, and he can run.” “I think he’s capable of hitting 20 home runs if he learns to get the bat head out in front and pulls the ball to left field,” Visalia manager Harry Warner said. In the California League’s four-game championship series, Puckett went 9-for-16, scored five runs, drove in two more and was successful on all 10 of his stolen base attempts. California League president Joe Gagliardi specially recognized him before presenting the championship trophy.
• 
  Ranked American League #7 prospect in 1982
  Puckett is one of the outstanding young hitters in baseball, despite his 5-foot-8 size. He led Appalachian League in hitting (.382), runs (65), hits (105) and stolen bases (43) in first pro season. He was the No. 1 draft choice of Minnesota in January 1982 and signed with the Twins in June after a spectacular season at Triton Junior College, leading the Illinois program to the national finals by hitting .472 in 69 games, with 90 runs, 120 hits, 28 doubles, eight triples, 16 homers, 78 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. Puckett played his freshman season of college ball at Bradley University, where he hit .378-8-41 with 21 steals in 53 games before transferring to Triton JC. In summer of 1981 was No. 2 hitter in Central Illinois Collegiate League, batting .390 with seven homers, 36 RBIs, 19 steals in 42 games.

• December, 1983 Scouting Report
  The Twins’ first-round selection in the January 1982 draft, Puckett is built along the lines of former big league outfielder Jim Wynn, and shows promises of producing along the same lines as Wynn, too. Puckett broke in with a flurry at Elizabethton, earning MVP honors in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 1982 when he hit .382 and stole 43 bases. And he kept on knocking them over at high Class A Visalia last year, where he produced with the bat (.314, 29 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs and 97 RBIs), with his feet (48 stolen bases) and with his glove. Puckett has outstanding speed and uses it offensively and defensively. He has a strong arm. And he can hit. More than that, he has great instincts, on the bases and in the field. He also adapts well to new ideas. Puckett can come in a hurry if the Twins are so inclined. And once he does make it to the big leagues, he promises to be a crowd favorite. Not only does he have ability, but he has charisma. “He’s got a bubbly personality,” said one California League observer. “He’s the kind of kid who walks on the field and the fans fall in love with him. The way he goes about playing the game creates an enthusiasm that is transmitted to the people in the stands.”
• December, 1982 Scouting Report
  Perhaps too high of a rating for a one-year pro, but he was the player of the year in the Rookie-level Appalachian League after hitting .382 at Elizabethton. Puckett is small in stature, but Twins farm director George Brophy said he is in the Jim Wynn mold--“a strong little man.”
• December, 1982 Scouting Report
  Another player in his first full year of pro ball, Puckett gave indications of the offensive talent many scouts and managers believe he has. After starting the year with a 16-game hitting streak, he finished at .314 for Visalia, with nine homers and 97 RBIs. Puckett has been likened to former major leaguer Jimmy Wynn because of his size (5-foot-8, 175 pounds) and strength. Wynn, who played for the Astros and Dodgers, was known as the "Toy Cannon." The 22-year-old Puckett, who spent a year at Bradley University but was drafted by the Twins in January 1982 out of Triton Junior College in River Grove, Ill. (he signed at the end of Triton’s 1982 season), he also stole 48 bases this year in 59 tries and scored 105 runs to finish second in the league to Donell Nixon. “He’s not very big,” Stockton manager Terry Bevington said. “But he’s got massive legs. He’s really strong, and he can run.” “I think he’s capable of hitting 20 home runs if he learns to get the bat head out in front and pulls the ball to left field,” Visalia manager Harry Warner said. In the California League’s four-game championship series, Puckett went 9-for-16, scored five runs, drove in two more and was successful on all 10 of his stolen base attempts. California League president Joe Gagliardi specially recognized him before presenting the championship trophy.
• December, 1981 Scouting Report
  Puckett is one of the outstanding young hitters in baseball, despite his 5-foot-8 size. He led Appalachian League in hitting (.382), runs (65), hits (105) and stolen bases (43) in first pro season. He was the No. 1 draft choice of Minnesota in January 1982 and signed with the Twins in June after a spectacular season at Triton Junior College, leading the Illinois program to the national finals by hitting .472 in 69 games, with 90 runs, 120 hits, 28 doubles, eight triples, 16 homers, 78 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. Puckett played his freshman season of college ball at Bradley University, where he hit .378-8-41 with 21 steals in 53 games before transferring to Triton JC. In summer of 1981 was No. 2 hitter in Central Illinois Collegiate League, batting .390 with seven homers, 36 RBIs, 19 steals in 42 games.