Blankenhorn A Premium Athlete — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

FORT MYERS, Fla.—Travis Blankenhorn was Steph Curry when he played basketball in high school. He dominated games with his scoring ability, collected 1,588 career points and led Pottsville (Pa.) High to 28 straight wins his senior year.

Blankenhorn was an ersatz Richard Sherman, too, as a smart ball-hawker who became a starter in the football team’s defensive backfield while a freshman—and an all-state receiver when Pottsville had the ball.

No wonder vice president for player personnel Mike Radcliff brags that the Twins “have some pretty lofty comparisons” for their young third-base prospect. He’s talking about baseball players, but it’s clear the Twins were impressed with Blankenhorn’s talent for other sports when they made him their third-round pick last June.

“High school kids are all projection,” Radcliff said, “but when you start with such a high level of athleticism, an all-around talent for a variety of sports, it’s just a terrific foundation for a prospect. He brings a lot of skills in one package.”

That’s why the Twins aren’t discouraged by the numbers Blankenhorn put up shortly after signing a below-slot deal of $650,000. He hit .243/.306/.326 with three home runs in 39 games at Rookie-level Elizabethton.

Those numbers hide what the Twins suspect was late-season fatigue. Blankenhorn was batting .289 until a 2-for-30 (.067) finish dragged his average down.

“He can hit,” Radcliff said. “He has a good lefthanded swing and a strong, raw-boned frame. We think he’ll develop a frame like (ex-Twin Corey) Koskie.”

Blankenhorn played shortstop in high school but has outgrown the position as a pro.

“We think he’s a natural third baseman,” Radcliff said. “He’s got the glove, the arm, the willingness to work at it. A lot of guys come in with tools. He’s got an all-around athleticism that will help him make the most of them.”

TWIN KILLINGS

• Second baseman Levi Michael, a first-round pick in 2011, decided to stop switch-hitting and bat only righthanded.

• Outfielder Adam Brett Walker, who led the Double-A Southern League in homers (31) and strikeouts (195) last season, had difficulty throwing with velocity and accuracy, so the Twins assigned him several extra workouts to address the problem before optioning him to Triple-A Rochester.