Two of Minnesota's top picks with 'Betsy club   

By Wes Holtsclaw
star staff
wholtsclaw@starhq.com

  There is always a lot of pressure on top draft picks in any sport.
  Elizabethton sports the top overall pick of the Minnesota Twins and one of their first-round compensation picks on this year's squad in Northridge, California's Trevor Plouffe and Coral Springs, Florida's Matthew Fox, respectively.
  Plouffe was selected 20th overall in the first round of the Major League first-year players draft.
  The Baseball America High School All-American left Crespi High School with a .509 batting average, adding six homers and 20 RBIs.
  "It's definitely a lot different, but it's still going to be baseball," said Plouffe on Sunday. "The town seems awesome and all the people I've met seem really nice.
  "This organization is superb in bringing up talent from the farm systems all the way up. I'm really excited about that."
  The shortstop received a $1.5 million signing bonus and full tuition to attend the University of Southern California.
  He plans on improving his all-around game, defense and hitting during his stay in Elizabethton.
  "I'd like to help my team out any way I can," he said. "One of the best traits you can have is helping your team win."
  Trevor pitched in high school, but he's "definitely glad to get that out of the way."
  "I'm ready to focus on playing shortstop," he said.
  With Plouffe coming out of high school, in California, it's not a stretch to say his family has been worried about his move to Tennessee.
  "My mom's a little worrywart, but the family I'm staying with, the Hodges, are amazing," he said. "I'm sure when she comes down and meets them, she will be happy."
  Fox, on the other hand, comes to town after a solid collegiate career at Central Florida.
  "I'm real pumped. I'm real excited to get started with my career," Fox said Sunday. "I've only heard the best about Elizabethton and this whole organization. I'm just ready to get started and have a good summer."
  The 35th overall pick was selected after his impressive 14-2 season with a 1.85 ERA. He was the Pitcher of the Year in the Atlantic Sun conference and earned second team All-American honors.
  "This past year was my first year just pitching," said Fox, who used to play shortstop. "I've learned a lot, but I've got to learn and what better than to learn from professional coaches. They do a great job and I look forward to learning from the best."
  Matthew played in a similar college league in Virginia for the past two summers. It got him prepared for his final collegiate season and he hops that carries over in Elizabethton.
  "The good thing is, the last two summers I played up in Virginia in the Valley League," he said. "It's similar and a lot like this, minus being pro ball. I came up here expecting anything. Luckily it's a great town and a nice field, and we want to put together a good season here."
  But like many picks who have played in Elizabethton before, both hope to move on to bigger and better things down the road. They both know it will take plenty of work and patience.
  "It definitely motivates you to know that those players have begun down here and moved on in this league," Plouffe added. "It makes you realize you are on the right path. My dream is to play in the big leagues just like those guys and right here is a good place to start it off."