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Let’s take a look at where the MLB Draft Class of 2016 is now

By Joshua Sadlock

TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers hits his first home run of the season during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers hits his first home run of the season during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 15: Alex Kirilloff #27 of the Minnesota Twins runs during a minor league game on March 15, 2019 at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 15: Alex Kirilloff #27 of the Minnesota Twins runs during a minor league game on March 15, 2019 at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

15. Minnesota Twins: Alex Kirilloff, OF, Plum HS (PA)

The Twins made Pennsylvania outfielder Alex Kirilloff their first round pick at 15, making him the first player picked from a cold-weather state. For players from north of the Mason-Dixon Line, cracking the upper echelon of the first round is always going to be a difficult task, but Kirilloff stood out for his pure swing and well-rounded set of tools.

Now in his fourth professional season, Kirlloff looks like one of the biggest steals of the draft at 15. There is a legitimate case to be made that he was the second-best pure hitter in the minor leagues behind Vlad Guerrero Jr. at the start of this season. Kirilloff makes hard contact to all fields and rarely strikes out.

Kirilloff has hit .322/.370/.515 in 219 professional games with 29 home runs and 147 RBI. He has struck out only 153 times and is coming off a 2018 campaign that saw him hit .348/.392/.578 with 20 home runs and 101 RBI, splitting time between Single-A and High-A. Even more impressive, he put up those numbers after missing the entire 2017 season recovering from Tommy John.

Minnesota is a surprise World Series contender this year, and could call on Kirilloff as soon as this season for a boost. He plays a solid enough right field, but could also transition to first base. Regardless, his bat is impossible to ignore and his position doesn’t matter much.

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