Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/13): Buxton, Wimmers, Walker

[Seth Stohs]

There was a pretty exciting transaction on Saturday that you’ve likely already heard about. Chattanooga continued its winning ways even without the man at the top of their lineup. They got big production from their stars, and Niko Goodrum made his AA debut. There were two very strong starts in the organization on Saturday as well. Check out the rest of the news and notes from Saturday in the Twins farm system.To see how the Twins affiliates are doing in the standings and who the statistical leaders are throughout the system, click here.

 

TRANSACTIONS

I’m not sure if you’ve heard yet or not… but the Twins promoted an outfielder named Byron Buxton from AA Chattanooga to the big leagues. A corresponding move is expected to be made on Sunday morning.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 5

Box Score

 

Jason Wheeler has really struggled, especially of late, with the Red Wings. He didn’t have a great day on Saturday, but he really helped out his Rochester teammates. The southpaw gave up five runs (4 earned) on 11 hits. He walked one and struck out four. Most important, he threw all eight innings, giving the bullpen a full day off a day after a bullpen game.

The Red Wings offense had seven hits, but they were able to score just one run. James Beresford added another two hits to make him the fifth Twins minor leaguer to surpass the 60 hits mark this season. The lone Red Wings run came on a solo home run by Reynaldo Rodriguez, his fourth homer of the season.

Danny Santana went 1-4 with two strikeouts. Oswaldo Arcia went 1-4 with a strikeout.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Birmingham 0

Box Score

 

Lost in the excitement of the Byron Buxton promotion, the Lookouts still had to play a game on Saturday night. Alex Wimmers was up to it. The right-hander gave up just two hits over 7.2 shutout innings. He walked two and struck out nine for the win. Jake Reed came on and gave up a hit before the final out of the eighth inning was recorded. Zack Jones struck out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Jorge Polanco took over Buxton’s leadoff spot in the lineup. He went 2-4 and stole his 13^th base. Niko Goodrum batted second and DHd. He went 2-4 with his first AA stolen base. Miguel Sano batted third. He went 1-2 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, his 12^th double and his fifth stolen base. Adam Brett Walker hit an eighth-inning, two-run homer in the 8^th inning to give the lookouts some insurance. Max Kepler took over in centerfield. He walked twice in the game.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Bradenton 3

Box Score

 

The Miracle got seven hits and five walks, but they were only able to score two runs. Chad Christensen went 1-3 and had a sacrifice fly. Marcus Knecht went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI. Zach Granite was 1-3 and walked twice.

The lanky right-hander went the first 5.2 innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out four. Brian Gilbert came on and struck out two in 1.1 hitless innings. He did walk one. DJ Johnson made his return to the Miracle with two perfect innings.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Lansing 1

Box Score

 

The Kernels had lost three in a row and seven of their last eight games. What they needed was a strong start, and Zach Tillery did just that. The right-hander started and gave up just two hits and a walk over six shutout innings. He struck out five.

 

Miles Nordgren came on and gave up one hit over two scoreless innings. Cameron Booser came on for the ninth. He had a strikeout, but he also walked two batters. Later, there was an error, but he ended the inning having allowed just one run (unearned). Tillery improved to 4-1. Booser recorded his sixth save.

The Kernels got three runs in the first inning and then held on. Edgar Corcino led off with his second triple. Nick Gordon singled him in. Gordon advanced to third base on a Zack Larson double. Brett Doe singled to left to score Gordon, and Larson scored on a wild pitch. That was it.

Gordon went 2-4 in the game. Brian Navarreto went 2-3 including his third double of the season. Larson’s double was his 13^th of the year.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Adam Brett Walker, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes Barre (12:05 CST) – LHP Taylor Rogers

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (3:00 CST) – JO Berrios

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (12:00 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Lansing @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons

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

 

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[Einstein1]

Good to see Wimmers coming around. 

 

Walker just keeps raking.  Can anyone fill me in on his defense?  Can he man a corner OF spot at the MLB level?  Or is he more of a DH?   

 

 

[curt1965]

How about Michael? I thought he was only going to be out 7-10 days with his ankle......

Is 'injury prone' going to be his final postscript?

[GMinTraining]

Hats off to Niko Goodrum in his AA debut as he went 2 - 4 with a stolen base.  Glad to see you with your guys again.  Easily could have been player of the day too.

[jimbo92107]

Alex Wimmers! Talk about a guy that's had to fight back from adversity. Wouldn't it be cool if he got back onto the prospect list!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

How about Michael? I thought he was only going to be out 7-10 days with his ankle...... Is 'injury prone' going to be his final postscript?

Reporting from Fort Myers, FL Complex, Levi Michael batted leadoff and played second base against the Red Sox.  In his first at bat, he flew out to LF, in his second at bat he grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, in his third at bat he grounded out to second baseman, and his final at bat he walked.  He worked counts all day like he usually does.  His ankle didn't appear to be a 100% on the bases or with lateral movement in the field, but seemed close, still stiff upon appearance. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, Wimmers has really come around of late...

 

And Walker was 1-4 with 3Ks.  Nice HR, but not that good a night otherwise. 

[highlander]

We will be at Sundays game in Arlington. Could it be Buxton's debut? Saturday we were 11th row behind home plate! Looking totally EPIC!

[highlander]

Don't know why i get multiple postings but Bux is worth it!

[Seth Stohs]

 

We will be at Sundays game in Arlington. Could it be Buxton's debut? Saturday we were 11th row behind home plate! Looking totally EPIC!

 

He's expected to land in Texas at about 11:30 and the game is at 2. He should be in the lineup.

[Seth Stohs]

 

How about Michael? I thought he was only going to be out 7-10 days with his ankle...... Is 'injury prone' going to be his final postscript?

 

High ankle sprains take a long time to heal. But, it's been almost two months. As Bob said above, he should be back soon. 

[Bob Sacamento]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/eab4TFBMGJA

 

Video of Adrian Salcedo pitching his inning of work on 6/13, looked good

 

[Bob Sacamento]

Video of Aussie Josh Guyer getting delivery advice after his outing

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0DBv91Low18

[Bob Sacamento]

 

High ankle sprains take a long time to heal. But, it's been almost two months. As Bob said above, he should be back soon. 

Exactly, high ankle sprains are far worse than lower (normal) ankle sprains and take longer to heal due to the force they constantly take and blood supply.  But in general, sprains are worse than strains in that they take longer to heal due to less blood supply to ligaments.

[nater79a]

 

yeah, Wimmers has really come around of late...

 

And Walker was 1-4 with 3Ks.  Nice HR, but not that good a night otherwise. 

 

Yes, and Wimmers' strikeout rate per 9 has been pretty impressive of late. Wouldn't mind seeing him as a September call-up depending on the Twins' status at the time and how he does the remainder of the season. Of course, he'd have to be added to the 40-man.