Twins select Minnesota native Matt Wallner No. 39 overall

With the 39th pick in the 2019 MLB amateur draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Matt Wallner, a junior outfielder from the University of Southern Mississippi.

It's a homecoming for Wallner, a Minnesota native who was named East Metro Player of the Year while starring at Forest Lakes High School. Wallner was originally drafted by the Twins in the 32nd round (963rd overall) of the 2016 draft; he spurned them at that time in favor of college. He originally committed to play at North Dakota, but when that school's baseball program disbanded, he moved on to Southern Miss.

Originally a two-way player for the Golden Eagles, Wallner abandoned the mound this year due to a forearm injury. The decision proved wise, as he was named a first-team All-Conference USA outfielder.

Wallner, Southern Miss' all-time home-run leader, becomes the highest-ever draft pick in his school's history.

Bio

Age: 21
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 220 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
School: Southern Mississippi
Pick value (No. 39): $1,906,800
MLB.com money quote: "Primarily a center fielder in his first two years at Southern Miss, Wallner has below-average speed and moved to right field this spring. He definitely has the arm strength for right, reaching 97 mph with his fastball and complementing it with a hard slider and splitter as a reliever. Some scouts have more interest in him as a pitcher, though he hasn't taken the mound as a junior after straining his forearm in February and has made clear his desire to play regularly in pro ball."

2019 stats (as of June 3)

Take a look ...

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)