Twins take Big Ten lefthanders Steven Hajjar and Cade Povich on Day 2 of MLB Draft

After gambling on a pair of high school prospects on the draft's first day, the Twins went a more conventional route Monday by choosing nine more players, all of them with collegiate experience. But that doesn't mean it was routine. Far from it.

"Day 2 is the most up-and-down, roller-coaster situation. We ended up with nine players today, but [were] in on 100 that you think you might have a chance to draft," said Sean Johnson, the Twins scouting director, after drafting four pitchers, three infielders and two catchers. "As soon as you start talking about Player A, someone else takes him. … So it's a lot of fun, it's a lot of heartbreak, it's a lot of excitement."

And it was a lot of familiarity for Minnesota fans, at least in the second and third rounds. The Twins chose a pair of Big Ten lefthanders, taking 6-5 Steven Hajjar from Michigan with the 61st overall pick, and 6-3 Cade Povich of Nebraska at No. 98.

"Hajjar's got a full mix. We've seen the curveball [especially effective] at times, the changeup at times," Johnson said of the Wolverine, a Massachusetts native who went 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 81⅔ innings this season. "He was up to 97 [miles per hour] but we don't think he's going to pitch there."

Povich, a Nebraska native, went 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA for the Cornhuskers this year, with 88 strikeouts and 22 walks in 81 innings. "He's got a little bit of development left. We think our player development [coaches] can make him stronger, more physical. Four good pitches, too."

Hajjar's bonus slot is worth $1.13 million, though he has two seasons of eligibility remaining, while Povich's signing-bonus slot is $593,100.

Oklahoma State third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who batted .361 with 15 home runs and 66 RBI for the Cowboys this season, was their fourth-round pick. "The numbers are what they are. We think they're real," Johnson said. "He came to our workout in California before the draft, and we got a chance to know him a little better."

Rounding out Monday's selections:

On the draft's first day, the Twins chose high school righthander Chase Petty from New Jersey 26th overall, and shortstop Noah Miller of Ozaukee High in Fredonia, Wis,. with the 36th pick.

"College pitching was definitely one of the deeper buckets in this group, so we feel good about the arms we got," Johnson said. "We grabbed some hitters along the way, too, and kind of finished the day with a couple of catchers. To get those guys at the back end felt really good.".

You can see the complete list of picks as they're made by tapping here.