Derek Falvey and the current regime took over the front office in the lead-up to the 2017 MLB Draft. Let’s look back at those draft classes to identify the best pick during their tenure.

The MLB Draft is one of the most unpredictable events on baseball’s annual calendar. With hundreds of players selected each summer and many never making it to the big leagues, the process of evaluating talent and finding hidden gems can define a franchise’s future.

For the Minnesota Twins, the last eight drafts have yielded a mixed bag, with some picks blossoming into stars, others becoming role players, and still others fading from prospect lists altogether.

Let’s take a closer look at the best draft pick from each of the last eight classes and how these players have made their mark on the organization.

2024: Khadim Diaw, C — 3rd Round, 96th Overall

It’s early, but this class could end up being a turning point in the Twins’ draft history.

While the top five picks from 2024 are all off to promising starts in the minor leagues (several already ranking among Minnesota’s top-20 prospects), it’s Diaw who stands out right now.

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Diaw, a toolsy catcher, has impressed scouts with his advanced approach at the plate and quick, athletic movements behind it. Defensively, he has areas to improve as a backstop, but his bat is what could make him special. Diaw has flashed gap power and a mature understanding of the strike zone, a rare quality in catchers this young. While there’s a long way to go, he looks like a player who could be knocking on the major league door within a few years, a rare find in the third Round.

2023: Luke Keaschall, IF — 2nd Round, 49th Overall

Keaschall made an unforgettable splash with the Twins in 2025, delivering an explosive seven-game debut that quickly made fans take notice.

Unfortunately, his rookie campaign was derailed when a hit-by-pitch broke his arm, shelving him until the second half of the season.

Still, Keaschall’s impact in those few games gave a glimpse of what he can become: a versatile, high-contact infielder with surprising pop. His ability to play multiple infield spots while providing a spark at the plate makes him one of the most exciting picks from recent years.

If he rebounds from injury as expected, Keaschall has the skills to become a borderline All-Star

2022: Zebby Matthews, RHP — 8th Round, 234th Overall

The 2022 draft is shaping up to be one of the best in recent franchise history. Brooks Lee has already reached the majors, and others like Connor Prielipp, Andrew Morris, Cory Lewis, and Tanner Schobel are legitimate prospects.

But the biggest surprise has been Zebby Matthews. Selected in the eighth Round, Matthews wasn’t a headline-grabbing pick, but his development has been nothing short of outstanding. His combination of command, pitchability, and an improving fastball has made him a big-league contributor far sooner than anyone expected. Matthews’ progression through the system is a testament to the Twins’ development staff and his own work ethic. For value and impact, he earns the nod from this class.

2021: David Festa, RHP — 13th Round, 399th Overall

Minnesota’s 2021 draft haul looked a little thin after the team traded away several top selections like Chase Petty, Noah Miller, Steve Hajjar, and Cade Povich in subsequent deals. Enter David Festa.

Festa, a late-round steal, has already cracked the major league rotation and looks like a foundational piece for the future. With a mid-90s fastball and solid secondary offerings, Festa’s raw stuff has translated well against big-league hitters. He may end up as one of the best value picks the Twins have made in the past decade. He’s proof that talent can be found well after the early rounds.

2020: Marco Raya, RHP — 4th Round, 128th Overall

The 2020 draft was one of the strangest in MLB history, limited to just five rounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many high school and college seasons were canceled, making scouting especially challenging.

Raya has emerged as the lone bright spot from that class for Minnesota. After a cautious buildup in the lower minors, Raya reached Triple-A in 2025, a testament to his potential despite inconsistent results this season.

He’s still young for the level and flashing the stuff that made him a fourth-round pick: a lively fastball and sharp secondary offerings. While the rest of this draft may fade into obscurity, Raya gives the Twins hope that they squeezed a future big-league arm from a challenging class.

2019: Matt Wallner, OF — 1st Round, 39th Overall

For all the criticism Minnesota rightfully received for taking Keoni Cavaco at No. 13 overall, they struck gold with Wallner later in the first round. Wallner has already produced 4.7 rWAR, delivering power and patience at the plate that plays in today’s game. He’s shaping into a reliable, above-average big-league outfielder, precisely the type of player every contending team needs.

Louis Varland, a 15th-round pick from this class, looks like a remarkable steal in his own right, but Wallner’s consistency, durability, and ceiling give him the edge as the best pick from 2019.

2018: Ryan Jeffers, C — 2nd Round, 59th Overall

Jeffers has quietly become one of the most valuable second-round picks in recent MLB history. Among 2018 second-round selections, his 8.0 rWAR more than doubles the next-best player (Parker Meadows, 3.2 rWAR). Only five players taken in the first Round have accumulated more value.

For the Twins, Jeffers has been instrumental in stabilizing the catching position, a historically difficult spot to fill. He’s provided a rare blend of good game calling, on-base skills, and power from behind the plate. When healthy, he’s been one of the team’s steadiest contributors, and at age 27, there’s plenty more to come.

2017: Bailey Ober, RHP — 12th Round, 346th Overall

Much of the spotlight from the 2017 draft shines on Royce Lewis, the No. 1 overall pick and current face of the franchise. But Ober deserves his moment in the sun. Ober, plucked in the 12th Round, has posted a 9.3 rWAR, better than every first-rounder from that draft except Hunter Greene (who the Twins passed over to draft Lewis).

The towering right-hander has evolved into one of Minnesota’s most dependable starters, showing elite command, deception, and the ability to miss bats without overpowering velocity. For a pick outside the top ten rounds to deliver this kind of production is exceedingly rare. Ober’s success highlights the importance of scouting beyond the early rounds and finding value in overlooked arms.

The Verdict: A Promising Eight-Year Run

Looking back over the last eight drafts, it’s clear the Twins have quietly built a pipeline of impact talent at various stages of development. From early-round successes like Jeffers and Wallner to late-round gems like Festa and Ober, Minnesota’s scouting and development apparatus has delivered quality big-league pieces that other organizations envy.

Not every class hit the mark. The 2020 draft (pandemic chaos and all) produced limited impact outside of Raya. The 2021 class saw most of its top picks flipped for immediate help in trades. But overall, these drafts helped shape the team that currently competes in the AL Central race and stocked the farm system with promising reinforcements.

The future looks bright, especially with players like Khadim Diaw, Luke Keaschall, and Zebby Matthews ready to make waves in the coming seasons. If even a few more from these recent classes reach their potential, the Twins could maintain their window of competitiveness well into the next decade.

For Minnesota, the next few seasons will reveal just how impactful these picks become. Still, early returns suggest this eight-year stretch could be remembered as one of the franchise’s strongest talent acquisition periods in recent memory.

Which picks stand out to you? How would you rank these picks? Leave a comment and start the discussion.