MLB Draft: Minnesota Twins Pick RHP Kyle Gibson in First Round

The baseball draft isn't quite like the one you see each spring in football or the one you see each summer in basketball.

The players selected don't often make an impact until some years later, and while nearly every draftee in the other drafts sign, those selected in the MLB draft often have the choice of signing, going to college, or even an independent league. 

Nonetheless, a roster is composed of several draft picks, and while it takes many years for most players to develop into major leaguers, everybody starts somewhere. Joe Mauer started as the first overall pick, Justin Morneau started off as a third-rounder, Joe Nathan started as a sixth-rounder, and so on.

With their first-round selection and the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins drafted Kyle Gibson. Whether he'll ever make it to the majors is hard to tell, but just like Mauer, Morneau, and everybody else, he'll start somewhere and could someday be a regular in the rotation.

Gibson was ranked as the fourth prospect on Baseball America's draft list before he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his forearm. He probably won't pitch until late July, but could still get some innings in before the minor-league seasons come to an end. 

The young righty from Missouri hits 93 mph with his fastball, 84 mph with his slider, and 82 mph with his changeup.

He projects as a top-of-the-rotation starter, and the Twins hope they'll see him there within a few years.