Twins Secure Second-Round Win With Quentin Young
According to Twins vice president of amateur scouting Sean Johnson, the organization knew it was taking an injury risk when it drafted Quentin Young in the second round.
Not a risk to Young, the SoCal high school shortstop they chose, but to Johnson’s scouts.
“We thought he would be off the board by then,” Johnson said. “To be able to get him where we took him, our scouts are doing gymnastics. You know, roundoffs, back handsprings.
“We always say, ‘You get me this guy in this round, I’ll do a back flip.’ They’re in there, still trying to do it.”
That’s how excited the Twins were to add the upside of Young, the 18-year-old nephew of former Twins outfielder Delmon Young. Delmon and Dimitri were both first-round picks out of high school, and both had lengthy big league careers.
Quentin hails from Oaks Christian High in suburban Los Angeles. He had been projected as a potential first-round pick, so it’s safe to say the Twins didn’t expect to see his name still on the board an hour after they chose Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston in the first round.
“We’re thrilled to have Quentin on night one,” Johnson said. “He’s one of those players who have been famous as a teenager . . . After getting to know Quentin and what he’s all about, he’s got some of the highest upside in the whole draft.”
At 6-foot-6, Young has an unusual body type for a shortstop, but “when you go watch him play, he can move,” Johnson said. “It will depend on what his body looks like when he matures.
“Adding it all together, you’re hoping he has a chance to play somewhere on the dirt. He’s shockingly agile and he has really good hands, and we have high hopes that he will be able to stay on the infield.”
Young’s bat projects to keep him in the lineup no matter where he ends up defensively, and “defense aside, his upside with the bat is tremendous,” Johnson said.
“If he fulfills that potential, his position will take care of itself.”
