Twins select North Carolina first baseman

NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball’s amateur draft began with the first of a pandemic-shortened five rounds.

Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Detroit Tigers. The Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad at No. 2. Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer was third and went to Miami. Texas A&M lefty Asa Lacy was No. 4 to Kansas City. Vanderbilt shortstop Austin Martin went to Toronto to round out the first five picks.

The Minnesota Twins selected North Carolina first baseman Aaron Sabato with the No. 27 overall pick. Sabato was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 41 prospect in the class. This represents the fifth straight season in which the Twins have drafted a position player with their first selection of the Draft.

The MLB Draft continues Thursday with Rounds 2-5.

(mlb.com/twins contributed to this report)