Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/3): Vargas, Albers Lead Red Wings

[Seth Stohs]

On Friday night, the Twins minor league affiliates recorded one win and two losses. Rain took away a Miracle game and they will play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Two starters had quality starts. One starter threw seven shutout innings. There was a big grand slam and some extra-base hits from former (and probably future) Twins as well. And, seven members of the Miracle were named All-Stars.

 

Continue reading if you would like just a little bit more information from your Minor League Report.HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL STAR

The Florida State League announced its All-Star rosters on Friday afternoon. Seven Ft. Myers Miracle players were named to the initial roster. These players were named All Stars:

 

 

 

LHP Stephen Gonsalves

LHP Tyler Jay

RHP Kohl Stewart

RH RP Todd Van Steensel

RH RP Raul Fernandez

1B Trey Vavra

OF Edgar Corcino

Obviously Stewart won’t be participating since he was promoted to Chattanooga last week. Gonsalves is the favorite to get the start. The one surprise is that SS Nick Gordon is not on the initial rosters.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Louisville 0

Box Score

 

Eighteen half-innings were played in this game. Runs were scored in just one of them. In the top of the 3rd inning, Kennys Vargas came to the plate with the bases loaded. He uncoiled for his eighth home run of the season, a grand slam. Later in the inning, the Red Wings scored a fifth run on a sacrifice fly from Adam Brett Walker.

 

Vargas went 2-3 with two walks. Along with the homer, he also knocked his seventh double. Jorge Polanco went 3-5. Eddie Rosario went 2-5 with his seventh double. Logan Schafer made his Red Wings debut. He batted eighth and played right field. He went 1-3 with a walk.

 

Andrew Albers was again terrific. The Canadian left-hander threw seven shutout innings. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out five. Marcus Walden and Sean Burnett each worked a scoreless inning to maintain the shutout.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Birmingham 3

Box Score

 

The Lookouts got a real strong start from right-hander Aaron Slegers. He gave up one run on three hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out six. Mike Strong came in and gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the seventh. His ERA jumps up to 9.95. Corey Williams pitched the eighth inning without allowing a run.

 

The Lookouts managed just five hits and two walks in the game. Dalton Hicks reached base four times. He went 2-2 with two walks. Zach Granite was 2-5 with his sixth double. He also stole his 25th base.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers , Daytona

Box Score

 

This game was postponed by rain. The teams will play two games on Saturday afternoon. The Miracle will send out two talented lefties, Randy Rosario and Stephen Gonsalves.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Peoria 13

Box Score

 

Coming off the best start of his career, Miles Nordgren struggled early in this game, but he did show some mental fortitude. In his previous start, he struck out 12 and walked none over seven shutout innings. On this night he gave up eight runs in the first two innings. Yet somehow, he was able to stop the bleeding there and ended up working 5.1 innings. He gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out three. In the sixth, he was relieved by Kuo Hua Lo who got out of that inning. Lo walked two over 2.2 scoreless innings.

 

Cam Booser came in for the first time since his return from the disabled list. It wasn’t good. He gave up five runs on three hits and four walks and recorded just two outs. Sam Gibbons came on and got the final out.

 

Nelson Molina continues to hit. He went 2-4 and drove in two runs. LaMonte Wade went 1-3 with two walks. Daniel Kihle went 2-4, and Alex Perez went 2-5.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Andrew Albers,Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Louisville (5:05 p.m. CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (6:30 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart

Daytona @ Ft. Myers (DH starting at 3:05 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario, LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

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

 

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[nyazbeck]

Why would bencomo start isn't that Stewart's spot in the rotation

[Seth Stohs]

 

Why would bencomo start isn't that Stewart's spot in the rotation

 

We'll find out... 

 

In the Lookouts press notes, it says Bencomo, but there is a lot of thought that Stewart will make that start - unless they're going to have him skip a start as a way to keep innings down.

[David HK]

My guy this season, and most of last, and hopefully sometime soon in Mpls- is that Granite kid.

 

I mean, he deserves promotion based on that name alone.

 

But wow, he's been a Ricky Henderson type of leadoff hitter so far in his minor league career.  I hope he'll be in Roch later this year, or at the start of next.

[HitInAPinch]

What's the deal with Kennys Vargas?  Is he still considered a prospect?

[Seth Stohs]

 

My guy this season, and most of last, and hopefully sometime soon in Mpls- is that Granite kid.

 

I mean, he deserves promotion based on that name alone.

 

But wow, he's been a Ricky Henderson type of leadoff hitter so far in his minor league career.  I hope he'll be in Roch later this year, or at the start of next.

 

Honestly, I was shocked that Granite started the season in Chattanooga rather than Ft. Myers. I thought it was just because Shannon Wilkerson started the season on the DL. But he's been good all year. He has good speed. He's a little guy, but as a Staten Island guy, he's got great confidence and has a lot of fun. He's OK defensively, definitely more of a LF. Offensively, he has always taken very professional at bats. He'll take pitches and slap strikes. He's definitely a prospect at this point. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

What's the deal with Kennys Vargas?  Is he still considered a prospect?

 

Depends on your definition of prospect.

 

For my "Prospect Rankings" he isn't because he lost his rookie eligibility in 2014.

 

If you're just wondering if he has a chance to contribute again in the big leagues, then the answer is... probably, at some point. Maybe.

[ashbury]

If you're just wondering if he has a chance to contribute again in the big leagues, then the answer is... probably, at some point. Maybe.

A chance.

Probably.

At some point.

Maybe.

 

So, I'll put you down as Very High on this player?

[jokin]

 

A chance.

Probably.

At some point.

Maybe.

 

So, I'll put you down as Very High on this player?

 

Just not for the MN Twins.

[Seth Stohs]

 

A chance.

Probably.

At some point.

Maybe.

 

So, I'll put you down as Very High on this player?

 

I mean, he can put up the numbers Byung Ho Park is right now, probably... but i think there is a viewable ceiling with him too.

 

[bluechipper]

 

I mean, he can put up the numbers Byung Ho Park is right now, probably... but i think there is a viewable ceiling with him too.

Vargas has a .755 OPS in AAA right now. Park is at .782 facing MLB pitching for the first time. Those numbers are just not going to cut it for Vargas as a DH-only player.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Why would bencomo start isn't that Stewart's spot in the rotation

 

Somewhat expected, but I just got the Lookouts game notes and it says that Kohl Stewart is starting tonight. 

[spinowner]

I have no reason not to think Albers is a great guy and all, but if our season gets to the point where he starts a game for the Twins it will mean things have gone from very bad to even worse.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I have no reason not to think Albers is a great guy and all, but if our season gets to the point where he starts a game for the Twins it will mean things have gone from very bad to even worse.

 

Are we not to the "even worse" category already?

[Seth Stohs]

Felix Jorge will replace Kohl Stewart on the FSL All Star roster.

 

Also, Nick Gordon will be on the roster as well. 

[ashbury]

I mean, he can put up the numbers Byung Ho Park is right now, probably... but i think there is a viewable ceiling with him too.

Oh, I knew what you meant. I was just thinking that if you had added even one more qualifier, you'd have had yourself a weather forecast. "Overnight, partly Vargas, with a 50 percent chance of probabilities."

[DocBauer]

While well thought of, I don't think Vargas was ever a TOP prospect, but a pretty good one nonetheless. And his 2014 season had us all convinced, I think, that he could be a solid fixture for us. Not an Ortiz kind of fixture, but solid BA, mid 20's HR, switch hitter, etc.

 

And then 2015 happened for/to him.

 

Again, he was probably my top pick for surprise minor leaguer this year. And he's been making me look smarter and smarter.

 

What would be even smarter, IMHO, is a move of Sano to 3B, and an audition of Park and Mauer in a corner OF spot. It's not ideal to be sure, but is Sano the only guy not immune to an OF position switch to get him in the lineup? Just might a quality young DH in Vargas if given another shot.

[jokin]

 

Vargas has a .755 OPS in AAA right now. Park is at .782 facing MLB pitching for the first time. Those numbers are just not going to cut it for Vargas as a DH-only player.

 

From the category of "What Have You Done For Me Lately":

 

May 2 through June 4 production:

 

​​Vargas @ AAA: .287/.404/.516/(.920) BB%/K%: 17.4%/18.4% BB/K: 23/25

 

Park @ MLB: .206/.318/.380/(.698) BB%/K%: 10.3%/30.8% BB/K: 11/32

 

Regardless of this relative outperformance, and barring injury, I still don't think Vargas will be called up any time soon, probably never.

 

 

[scottz]

Andrew Albers = Tommy Milone ???