A Review of the Minnesota Twins' 1994 MLB Draft

Second Round

Pick No. 42: Cleatus Davidson, SS-2B, Lake Whales HS

Drafted out of high school, the 17-year old was sent to the Gulf Coast League. He spent two years with the GCL Twins before advancing to the Appy League, where he found his groove at the plate. Davidson hit .296/.355/.421 in 1995 as an 18-year old. As he got older, however, Davidson began slipping into minor-league obscurity.

It wasn't until 1999 when Davidson breached the major leagues and even then he only played in twelve games. While his .136/.136/.136 batting line reeks of small sample size, Davidson returned to his trek through the minor league world where he played with a total of four teams' minor league affiliates before joining independent minor-league teams.

In 2008 Davidson played with the Long Beach Armada, where he played second base and shortstop while batting .258/.336/.392.

Third Round

Pick No. 71: AJ Pierzynski, C, Dr. Phillips HS

Pierzynski tore up the minor league system of the Twins right from the start. As a 17-year old in the Gulf Coast League, Pierzynski batted .289/.337/.375 with 44 hits in 43 games. He advanced rather quickly, entering AAA in 1998 as a 21-year old.

Pierzynski spent the next two years hopping between Double-A and Triple-A before being called up on a full-time basis in 2001.

The Twins had enjoyed the services of four catches since the end of Brian Harper's career in Minnesota in 1993. Matt Walbeck, Greg Myers, Terry Steinbach, and Matt LeCroy all took pitches for the Twins before AJ Pierzynski arrived on the scene.

Besides being an amazing defensive catcher, Pierzynski batted .301/.341/.447 for the six years through 2003. 

Pierzynski was one of the best young catchers in the league and his trade value was sky-high. Hours worth of trade negotiations later, and Twins fans can collectively sing, "Thank You Brian Sabean," the general manager of the San Francisco Giants. He gave up Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Nathan... and we all know how that trade worked out.

Pierzynski was signed as a free agent by the rival White Sox in 2005. His career has been a successful one, even though he alienated the entire Twins' fanbase during his stint in Minnesota.

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