‘Rare opportunity’ for Twins at No. 1

MINNEAPOLIS — The last time the Twins had the No. 1 pick in the draft, they had to decide between a can’t-miss pitching prospect and a hometown hero they hoped would help them dig out of a decade of futility.

In 2001, it was an excruciating choice between USC ace Mark Prior and St. Paul prep catcher Joe Mauer. The Twins have the first pick again. If they connect Monday as they did in 2001, another rebirth could follow.

“It’s a rare opportunity that you get this chance, and you want to get it right as best you can,” manager Paul Molitor said.

It’s the first major decision for new chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, 34, brought in from the Indians. His top options include California high school SS/RHP Hunter Greene, Vanderbilt RHP Kyle Wright, Louisville 1B/LHP Brendan McKay, North Carolina high school LHP MacKenzie Gore and California high school SS/OF Royce Lewis.

“I don’t know that there’s one that stands out from the rest,” Falvey said. “We think there are a lot of good players.”

The Twins’ situation is eerily similar to where they were in 2001, coming off a 69-93 finish, their eighth straight losing season. But they won 85 games the same year they chose Mauer, paving the way for a run of six AL Central titles in nine seasons.

Mauer got called up in 2004. He was one of the best-hitting catchers baseball has ever seen, a three-time batting champion and the AL MVP in 2009. Injuries contributed to a steep decline the last three seasons, but he has surged this season.

Prior reached the majors in 2002 and was an All-Star in his second season with the Cubs. But he developed arm problems and has not pitched in the majors since 2006.