Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/15): Vargas Powers Wings, Jorge Dominates Again

[Seth Stohs]

The Red Wings got a big blast and held on. The Miracle got another great start - as we’ve come to expect - to go with enough offense to pull off the win. The Kernels also got a tremendous start and just enough offense near the end of the game to come away with a win.

 

A few more players drafted by the Twins last week have signed. Jeremy is keeping tabs on each signing here.

 

Because of the added players coming into the organization over the next couple of weeks, the Twins released six minor leaguers from extended spring training. Pitchers Rich Condeelis, Nate Gercken and Luis Hernandez were released. So were catcher Jose Ortiz, infielder Ruar Verkerk and outfielder Rowan Ebersohn.

 

Finally, top pick Alex Kirilloff was named to the USA Today High School All-American first-team today. His Plum High School team is playing today (Thursday) for the Pennsylvania State Championship. If you missed it, John and Jeremy interviewed him last Friday. Also, Doogie Wolfson interviewed him on this week’s Scoops podcast (along with a fun interview with Torii Hunter).Here is Wednesday night’s minor league update.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Columbus 1

Box Score

 

While there were other hits as the game went along, Kennys Vargas provided the biggest hit of the game in the third inning. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and unloaded for his ninth home run of the season. The grand slam gave the Red Wings a 4-0 lead, a lead they were able to hold onto the rest of the way.

 

Andrew Albers started and improved to 5-1 with the win. He gave up one run on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Sean Burnett came on and got the next five outs, two of them on strikeouts. Alex Wimmers threw two scoreless innings to record his fifth save of the season.

 

Vargas was 3-4 in the game including his 11th double. Eddie Rosario was 2-3 with a walk. Tommy Fields went 1-2 with two walks and his sixth double.

 

Danny Santana went 1-4. It was his second rehab game. After starting in right field on Tuesday night, he started in centerfield on Wednesday.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Montgomery 4

Box Score

 

The Lookouts fell behind early and just were unable to mount much of a rally the rest of the way. DJ Baxendale started. In just three innings, he gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck just one out. Raul Fernandez came on and gave up one run on three hits over his three innings. Mason Melotakis struck out two in his inning. Omar Bencomo struck out one in a perfect inning.

 

The Lookouts had six hits. Levi Michael had the lone extra-base hit, his fifth triple of the year. Zach Granite had an RBI single. Travis Harrison was 1-3 and added a sacrifice fly.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Lakeland 2

Box Score

 

Felix Jorge just continues to amaze and impress. Wednesday night was no exception. The right-hander started the game by throwing seven shutout innings. He gave up one in the eighth. Overall, he gave up one run on six hits over 7.2 innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk. He is now 6-3 with a 1.59 ERA. Brandon Peterson got the Miracle out of the 8th and then gave up one run in the ninth but held on for his fourth save. He struck out four in 1.1 innings.

 

TJ White was one of my breakout prospects coming into this season. He is a sturdy, 5-10 and 215 pounds, but he has really good speed and power. Due to need, he was pushed to AA to start the season and really struggled. Last week, he came back to teh Miracle and as you would expect he struggled to find his stroke again. But that’s changing. Moved to the leadoff spot, he went 3-4, was hit by a pitch and homered in this game. Nick Gordon, now batting third again, went 3-5 with his 11th double. Alex Perez went 2-4 with his first double with the Miracle. Brian Navarreto was also 2-4. Alex Real added his seventh double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 1

Box Score

 

This was quite the pitching matchup through the first seven innings. Burlington’s Jared Ruxer and Jhonny Polanco combined to throw seven shutout innings. Kernels right-hander Miles Nordgren matched zeroes with them. Nordgren gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out six.

 

Sam Gibbons came in for the eighth inning. He gave up one run on three hits. However, in the bottom of the inning, the Kernels were also able to get on the board. Sean Miller led off and reached on an error. After a one-out walk by Zander Wiel, Nelson Molina bounced one to first base. The first baseman fielded it but his throw to second base hit Wiel. Instead of a possible double play, Sean Miller scored the game-tying run. Next up was Daniel Kihle and he lined a single to score Zander Wiel.

 

Williams Ramirez came on for the ninth inning. He got the first two outs, but after a single, Michael Theofanopoulos came in and got the final out. It was Theofanopoulos’ second save.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – TJ White, Ft. Myers Miracle

 

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Columbus @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - Ryan Eades (vs Chih-Wei Hu)

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) – RHP Keaton Steele

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (7:00 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday's games.

 

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[Han Joelo]

Jorge helped turn two double plays, as well. I like this kid.

[jokin]

Perhaps I've missed it... but any reason why La Monte Wade has only played once since last Friday?

[Pitz]

Jorge has been impressively consistent - not giving up more than 3 earned runs in any of his starts (and that only once).

[dbminn]

Eddie Rosario has found his inner Joe Mauer - 4 BB in 5 games!

 

Seriously, looks like he's putting in his work.

[roger]

The best news of the day, Seth, is Rosario getting his 4th walk in the last ten games.  Compared to only five strikeouts, maybe he is turning the corner.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Jorge helped turn two double plays, as well. I like this kid.

 

For those that missed it, the Twins named him the top defensive pitcher in the minor leagues for 2015. Great athlete, very quick off the mound, fields his position very well.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Perhaps I've missed it... but any reason why La Monte Wade has only played once since last Friday?

 

According to Jeff Johnson (The Gazette in CR), he's been dealing with some hamstring issues.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Jorge has been impressively consistent - not giving up more than 3 earned runs in any of his starts (and that only once).

 

The stat I kept going back to last year and now can continue into this year:

 

Last year, he completed 6 innings in 20 of his 22 start (and completed 5 in the other two).

 

This year, he has completed 6 innings in 9 of his 10 starts (and completed 5 in the other). 

 

He's been tremendous.

[puckstopper1]

Perhaps the Twins will one day have their own "King Felix"  :-)

[Badsmerf]

I used to adopt Felix Jorge ing the adopt a prospect forum every year. I really like his fluid release and balance. It's effortless. I believe that is why he has been so consistent.

 

If he ends up getting to AA this year and continues this success does he enter the national prospect radar? Do the twins have 5 starting pitchers worthy of top 100 status?

[John Kelsey]

Is Ervin Santana a fair comp for Jorge?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Ervin Santana a fair comp for Jorge?

 

I think it's a solid comp. Long and wiry. Similar arm action. Good athlete. Similar pitch-mix. 

[FormerMinnasotan]

Does Jorge have a solid future with the Twins? I ask that as the Twins are likely to have to need to trade higher ranked pitching prospects to get something in return. I guess for now the "untouchable" pitching prospects are Berrios, Jay, Stewart, Gonsalves, and Fernando Romero. I see It that the Twins will have to trade either Jorge, Lewis Thorpe, or Randy LaBlanc as part of a trade deal or the deal won't be done. Thoughts?

[Badsmerf]

Not all will make it. The timeframe is advantageous for these guys too. A lot of radiation space will be available in a few years. The only guy that should have a cement spot is Berrios.

 

If they all are successful, then the twins have a young, MLB ready arm to trade. Could be a big piece in putting together a team that can compete in the playoffs.

[bluechipper]

Brandon Peterson appears to be returning to form. His season ERA is down to 2.42, and over his last 10 appearances, he's struck out 24 in only 15.1 innings.

[Mr. Brooks]

Does Jorge have a solid future with the Twins? I ask that as the Twins are likely to have to need to trade higher ranked pitching prospects to get something in return. I guess for now the "untouchable" pitching prospects are Berrios, Jay, Stewart, Gonsalves, and Fernando Romero. I see It that the Twins will have to trade either Jorge, Lewis Thorpe, or Randy LaBlanc as part of a trade deal or the deal won't be done. Thoughts?

Of those 8 guys, the odds say that at most maybe 3 of them will make it to the big leagues for a sustained period of time, and 1 maybe 2 will hit their ceiling.

That's just the nature of the beast with below AA prospects.

 

No need to trade any of them at this point.

 

If a few show sustained success at AA, then you can start thinking logjam.

Edited June 16, 2016 by Mr. Brooks

[drivlikejehu]

I'd like to see Jorge do well in AA before getting too excited. A lot of guys have enough control and offspeed stuff to get out minor leaguers, particularly at lower levels, but they don't have a Major League out pitch or truly elite command (minor league walk rates can be misleading in that regard). Maybe he could be a bullpen option if moving there allowed him to throw harder.