The Minnesota Twins announced that they have selected shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School (CA), with the first overall selection in the first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
In addition, the Twins also selected outfielder Brent Rooker from Mississippi State with the 35th overall pick in the Competitive Balance Round A, and right-handed pitcher Landon Leach from Pickering High School (Ont., CAN) with the 37th overall pick in the second round.
Lewis was rated as a top prospect in the draft by MLB.com. A versatile position player, Lewis played third base and center field at the start of his high school career before playing solely shortstop as a senior. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Lewis was named the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year in California.
Rooker finished his redshirt junior season at Mississippi State University hitting .387 (96-for-248) with 30 doubles, three triples, 23 home runs and 48 RBI in 67 games, winning the Triple Crown in the SEC.
Leach, a high school senior from Pickering, Ontario, Canana, recently converted from catcher to pitcher. Leach played for the Canadian Junior National team and was the closer last season.
