Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/17): Pitchers and Power

[Seth Stohs]

Power and pitching have a way of getting noticed, in the big leagues or in the minor leagues, or frankly any level of organized baseball. On Friday night in the Minnesota Twins minor leagues, there were some big home runs (to go with Trevor Plouffe’s extra-innings, walk-off blast), but there were a couple of very strong pitching performances as well. Continue reading to find out all of the details about Friday night in the Twins farm system.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Pawtucket 6

Box Score

 

It was a matchup of left-handers in Pawtucket on Friday night. The Red Wings sent Jason Wheeler to the mound to face Paw Sox top pitching prospect Henry Owens. The Red Wings’ bats were able to touch up Owens for four runs on three hits and six walks in just 4.2 innings.

 

On the other side, Wheeler gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four. Lester Oliveros came on and gave up one run, while striking out two, in his inning. AJ Achter was charged with two runs on two hits and a walk in his inning. Michael Tonkin gave up a solo home run in the eighth inning.

 

The big hit off of Owens was a grand slam by Eddie Rosario. It was his first AAA home run. Doug Bernier had two hits. Reynaldo Rodriguez and a single and walked once.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Birmingham 6

Box Score

 

After being rained out on Thursday, JO Berrios finally made his second start of the season on Friday night. The good news? He struck out nine batters. However, he went just 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits, three walks and a hit batter. He needed 107 pitches and just 60 of them were strikes.

 

Jake Reed came on and was charged with one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Nick Burdi went the next two innings and was charged with an unearned run on one hit and one walk. He struck out two. DJ Johnson gave up a run on three hits in the ninth inning.

 

In the third inning, Miguel Sano came up with the bases loaded and launched his second home run of the year. The grand slam gave the Lookouts a 4-2 lead at the time. However, the Lookouts had only six hits. Levi Michael and Jorge Polanco each had a single and a walk in the game.

 

The Lookouts defense did not help the cause either. They totaled four errors, two of them were throws by Miguel Sano.

 

The Lookouts are now 5-2.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 7, St. Lucie 0

Box Score

 

On Thursday, Jason Kanzler had a bunt single to end his 0-23 start to the season. As you would expect, he busted out in style on Friday night. In his first at-bat, he gave the Miracle a 2-0 lead with a long, two-run homer. He added a double later in the game as well. His game ended a little early though.

 

In the 6^th inning, the Miracle started with a single, an error and a walk to load the bases. After two strikeouts, Jason Kanzler came to the plate. He went around on a check swing. At least, that’s what the home plate ump said, and called. Kanzler objected vehemently and was immediately ejected. Chad Christensen was called on to replace him, and he singled to right to score two more runs. Another run scored on a balk and the Miracle had a three-run sixth inning. The Miracle added another run in the 7^th inning to give them their seventh run.

 

Of course, an even more important story for the team occurred on the mound. Chih-Wei Hu started and threw seven shutout innings. He gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out ten for the Win. He had a three-ball count just twice in the game.

 

Tim Shibuya and JT Chargois each threw a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 5, Peoria 1

Box Score

 

It may not show from the final score, but this was quite the pitcher’s duel through most of the game. The Kernels were able to break their losing streak thanks to a big eighth inning.

 

Lefty Stephen Gonsalves got a no-decision, but he pitched very well. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk in his seven innings. He recorded ten strikeouts. Through his first two starts, he has given up two runs on ten hits in 13 innings. He has just one walk allowed and has struck out 19 batters. (I was a guest on the Talk 2 Contact podcast this week and predicted Gonsalves as the Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015. Hear who the others predicted for their minor league pitcher and hitter of the year.)

 

Gonsalves was replaced by Zach Tillery who pitched two scoreless innings in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season.

 

Max Murphy led the offense. He went 3-4 in the game. Tyler Kuresa had a 2-4 night. However, the big hit came from a guy who was getting a night off. Trey Vavra came up with two runners on base in the eighth inning of a tie game. He launched his second home run of the season, a three-run blast to give the Kernels a 5-1 lead.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Chih-Wei Hu, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Trey Vavra, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Pawtucket (12:05 CST) – RHP Mark Hamburger

Birmingham @ Chattanooga (5:15 CST) – RHP Greg Peavey

St. Lucie @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) – RHP Ethan Mildren

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) – RHP Michael Cederoth

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games.

 

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[DocBauer]

Hu and Go-Go......WOW.

 

Right there with you on Gonsalves as top Milb pitcher in the organization this season. My pick also.

[clutterheart]

Every year I get excited about a pitcher and think he could be fast tracked to the majors. Then he hits AA and doesnt dominate as I expected. Burdi is the latest example.

 

When will I learn...

Edited April 18, 2015 by clutterheart

[Hrbowski]

Chih-Wei Hu is looking like an ace!

[Dman]

I kind of thought that Hu would struggle a bit more than this in high A.  I really like how aggressive he is in the strike zone.

 

Gonsalves has always been solid but he looks fantastic to start the season.  How long before they move him up?  He doesn't seem challenged in low A.

 

Good to see Mad Max's bat come alive.  It was a long wait to get excited about him again.

[TJG]

I actually met the Chief's starter the other day, he seemed like a good guy, so I'm glad he had a good game.

[roger]

If the Miracle win behind Hu,

 

do they all say 'Wei-Win?'

 

I know, Seth, that is bad!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Every year I get excited about a pitcher and think he could be fast tracked to the majors. Then he hits AA and doesnt dominate as I expected. Burdi is the latest example.

 

When will I learn...

AA is probably the second biggest jump in terms of difficulty.   I expect them to struggle. It happens. They have to adjust. The ones that cannot flame out, and sometimes it takes time. Prospects that can dominate AA end up pretty high on the lists.

[Seth Stohs]

Just don't expect perfection. That's the key. They all need to adjust. As you said, some will, some won't. Reed and Burdi will be just fine when they throw strikes. Sano and Buxton will be just fine. It is a big step... 

[h2oface]

The Rochester pen seems to be regressing.

[jokin]

 

Hu and Go-Go......WOW. Right there with you on Gonsalves as top Milb pitcher in the organization this season. My pick also.

 

I still think it's going to be Berriios @ #1..... but Gonsalves should be a very strong co-2nd pick along with Hu.

[howieramone2]

 

Every year I get excited about a pitcher and think he could be fast tracked to the majors. Then he hits AA and doesnt dominate as I expected. Burdi is the latest example.

When will I learn...

 

It's the difference between real life and the movies.

[ashbury]

The Lookouts defense did not help the cause either. They totaled four errors, two of them were throws by Miguel Sano.

Anyone have more detailed information on the nature of the plays Sano had the errors on? My extremely SSS observation was he did rather well on difficult charge-and throw plays in front of him, but he could bollix up more routine looking plays to the second-base side.

[jimmer]

 

 he did rather well on difficult charge-and throw plays in front of him, but he could bollix up more routine looking plays to the second-base side.

seems Miggy Cabrera had the exact same way about him at 3B the last year he played there.

Edited April 19, 2015 by jimmer