Kyle Carr's second time around in the Major League Baseball draft went much better than the first.

The 6-foot-5 hard-throwing left-handed pitcher from Linton was drafted in the 31st round in 2005, just weeks after he graduated from Linton High School. On Friday, Carr - who just completed his junior year at the University of Minnesota - was taken in the 12th round by the same team that drafted him three years ago - the Minnesota Twins.

Carr, the 366th pick overall, was pleased on both counts.

"The 12th round was about where I expected to be taken," the 21-year-old said Friday from his parents' home in Linton. "And I like that the Twins took me again. I've learned a lot about them in the last three years, and I'm impressed with them. They're a good organization. They get high marks for player development."

In 2005, Carr decided to attend the University of Minnesota and play college baseball rather than join the Twins organization. Going the NCAA route meant he couldn't re-enter the draft until 2008. He spent his first two seasons with the Gophers as a reliever, but moved into the starting rotation this spring. He earned all-Big 10 honors in 2007 after going 5-2 with eight saves in 22 relief appearances. In a starting role this season, Carr went 2-7 with a 6.13 earned run average and 67 strikeouts in 69 innings.

Carr said he was contacted by other Major League clubs throughout the spring. Many had expressed interest, enough to make Carr think that he might be taken somewhere in the first 10 rounds of the 50-round draft. However, a rough finish to the 2008 campaign and recent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee may have hurt his draft status, he said.

"Knee surgery sort of scares people away," Carr said. "But it was only minor surgery and I'm recovering well. I should be up and throwing again in a week or so. I think if I hadn't hurt my knee and if I had finished the season a little better, I might have gone earlier. But I'm happy with where I was taken, and I'm happy to have a chance to play pro ball. It doesn't matter if you're taken in the first round, second round or 50th round. You gotta play. You gotta work to make it."

Carr, whose fastball travels in excess of 90 miles per hour, said he'll meet with Twins representatives next week to discuss options. If he signs a contract with the organization, he'll begin play in the minor league short season later this month. If he doesn't sign, he'll return to the University of Minnesota to finish his eligibility.

"There's a lot to think about between now and then. … I won't be making any decisions until I hear what (the Twins) have to say," Carr said. "On the one hand, I wouldn't mind going back to the Gophers for my last year. I'm just one year from graduating, and I love playing college ball. I've got great coaches and great teammates, and I love the atmosphere of the college game. Plus, it would give me another year to learn more and improve. But on the other hand, I don't know if I'll ever get another chance like this. It's a chance for me to chase a dream. When I got drafted three years ago, I didn't think I was ready to take that step. Now I think I'm ready."

The Twins also selected two of Carr's college teammates - outfielder Matt Nohelty in the 18th round, and third baseman Nate Hanson in the 28th round.

Another North Dakotan, multi-sport standout Zac Elgie of Minot, was drafted in the 12th round as well. The 18-year-old right-handed hitting first baseman, who just graduated from Minot High School, was taken by the Oakland Athletics two spots ahead of Carr.

The 6-foot-2 Elgie, who batted .473, smacked 34 homers and drove in 114 runs in 65 games for the Minot Vistas American Legion team last summer, signed a letter of intent this spring to play baseball at the University of Kansas.

The Athletics also selected Virgil Hill, Jr., son of former boxing champion Virgil Hill, in the 35th round.

The younger Hill is an outfielder from Mission Junior College (Calif.).