Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/28): Berrios Nearly No-Nos

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota has been well represented in recent years at MLB's annual Futures Game. In each of the last two seasons, Jose Berrios has been the Twins representative on the World Team. When the game was played at Target Field in 2014, Berrios was joined by Kennys Vargas and Alex Meyer. The year before that featured Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano in front of the minor leagues' biggest audience.

 

Earlier today, the rosters for the 2016 Futures Game were announced. Relief pitcher JT Chargois will be the Twins lone representative in San Diego. Chargois made his debut earlier this season and it didn't go exactly to plan. Minnesota promptly sent him back to Rochester and he has continued to dominate at that level. Maybe this was his reward for being sent packing after a disastrous debut.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Pawtucket 0

Box Score

Miguel Sano continues to shake the rust off with his rehab appearances in Rochester. For the second straight game, Sano hit a home run but he struck out multiple times. Fans will be happy to know that he was back at third base and he wasn't charged with any errors. John Ryan Murphy went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

 

Jose Berrios was dominant on the mound as he had a no hitter going into the seventh frame. In the end, he allowed one hit in seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Marcus Walden took over for Berrios and earned his sixth hold. Like Sano, Trevor May is also on rehab assignment. He pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth with a pair of strikeouts for his first save.

 

Rochester continues to clear a path through the International League. The win moved the Red Wings to 13 games over .500. Even with the great record, the club trails Scranton/WB for the top spot in the International League North but leads the wild card standings.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 3, Palm Beach 2

Box Score

Fort Myers first baseman Trey Vavra was featured in an MiLB.com video where he talked about playing baseball in Australia and the connections he has to his baseball family.

 

The Miracle have seen multiple starting pitchers move up to Chattanooga and that has resulted in opportunities for other starting pitchers. Fernando Romero was making his second Florida State League and he pitched much better than his first appearance. In 7.0 innings, he allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out five. More importantly, he didn't allow a walk. Yorman Landa picked up his sixth save, a two-inning outing, with two strikeouts.

 

Joe Maloney collected four hits and Fort Myers needed both of the two runs he drove in. After his MiLB video appearance earlier in the day, Trey Vavra went 2-for-3 with the team's only extra-base hit, his ninth double. Chris Paul and Edgar Corcino both scored runs on the way to the Miracle victory. The win moves Fort Myers back to .500 on the season at 37-37 and the team is 3-2 since the second half started.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Quad Cities 5

Box Score

The Kernels popped off five runs in the second inning. Brian Olson drove in a run with a double to start the scoring. Luis Arraez knocked a two-out single to plate a couple more runs. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Austin Diemer capped off the scoring with his first double. Every hitter in the Kernels line-up collected a hit with Daniel Kihle and Brad Hartong both having multi-hit nights at the plate.

 

Sam Clay made it into the sixth inning by allowing four runs on five hits. With seven strikeouts in this game, he struck out at least seven batters for the third time in his last five starts. Michael Cederoth finished off the sixth for Clay but walked two and allowed two inherited runners to score. Williams Ramirez stopped some of the bleeding as he pitching two innings and didn't allow a run. He struck out three and walked one. Tom Hackimer ran into a little bit of a mess in the ninth but only allowed one run.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 0, Johnson City 2 (Game 1- 7 Innings)

Box Score

The E-Twins got rained out on Monday night so they got to carry their perfect 4-0 record into Tuesday night's double-header. But all good things must come to an end as Elizabethton suffered its first loss of the season even though they out-hit Johnson City four to two.

 

No member of the E-Twins reached base more than once. The team was limited to one at-bat with a runner in scoring position and Shane Carrier couldn't come through with a hit. Amaurys Minier, Mitchell Kranson, and Bryant Hayman all went 1-for-3. Casey Scoggins collected one hit in his two plate appearances.

 

Sean Poppen took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits. He struck out two and walked three in 3.1 innings. Andrew Vasquez finished the final 2.2 frames without allowing a run as he added two strikeouts.

 

Elizabethton 1, Johnson City 3 (Game 2- 7 Innings)

Box Score

After waiting multiple games and a rain delay for their first loss, the E-Twins suffered two losses in a matter of hours. Elizabethton got out to an early lead on a first inning home run from Jaylin Davis but the offense would go cold from there. The team left five runners on base and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Bryant Hayman went 2-for-3 with his first double.

 

Jose Martinez tried to make it through five innings but he ran into some trouble in the fifth. He was pulled after allowing three runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out three and walked a pair of batters. Johan Quezada finished off the game without allowing a hit as he walked two and struck out three.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 4, GCL Orioles 2

Box Score

The GCL Twins pitching staff limited the GCL Orioles to four hits in this game. Taylor Clemensia started and went 3.2 innings by allowing one run with five walks and four strikeouts. Clemensia was relieved by Onas Farfan who struck out four in two shutout innings. Brady Anderson, C.K. Irby, and Patrick McGuff finished off the game by combining to allow three total base runners and striking out four.

 

On the offensive side of the ball, the Twins needed only five hits to push across four runs. Luis Martinez led the way with a 3-for-3 day including two doubles and two runs scored. Akil Baddoo drove in a pair of runs and Dane Hutcheon reached base twice.

 

With the win, the GCL Twins improved to 2-2 at this early juncture of their season.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Luis Martinez, GCL Twins

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Pawtucket (12:35 CST) - LHP Logan Darnell (8-5, 3.29 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Pensacola (6:30 CST) - LHP David Hurlbut (5-3, 3.61 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge (7-3, 1.58 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (7:00 CST) - RHP Miles Nordgren (3-3, 2.73 ERA)

Elizabethton vs. Pulaski (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - TBD

 

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

 

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[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Seems like Sano has his timing back and is back up to full speed. Do you know how the Twins approach rehab assignments?

[laloesch]

Good.  He is hitting well and positioned at 3rd.  Time for the Twins to move Plouffe.  Simple as that.  Also time to call Berrios and Chargois back up.

[Old Twins Cap]

 

Good.  He is hitting well and positioned at 3rd.  Time for the Twins to move Plouffe.  Simple as that.  Also time to call Berrios and Chargois back up.

 

Lol. 

 

You know these are the Twins, right?

[Cody Christie]

 

Good.  He is hitting well and positioned at 3rd.  Time for the Twins to move Plouffe.  Simple as that.  Also time to call Berrios and Chargois back up.

My guess is they will leave Chargois down until at least after the Futures Game.

[Cody Christie]

 

Seems like Sano has his timing back and is back up to full speed. Do you know how the Twins approach rehab assignments?

My guess is Sano plays a few more games in Rochester before ending his rehab. A few too many strikeouts the last couple games. 

[FormerMinnasotan]

Looks like Berrios is hitting his stride, just like he has done for most of his career. I wouldn't be offended if he pitches one or two more starts in AAA. Anything extra will give Berrios more confidence heading back to the Bigs. I especially like seeing his control/command is at the level we are used to seeing.

 

Also, I continue to be impressed with Fernando Romero. Not only does he have over powering stuff, but his control is much better than most thought it would be (6 walks in 40 innings). Add to the fact he is still pretty green makes me think Romero possibly could have more upside than any of our pitching prospects (including Jose Berrios).

[gunnarthor]

Nice start by Berrios.  Good to see.  I would imagine he'll be up after the all-star break or about two weeks.  

[Mike Sixel]

I love reading these reports every day, thanks everyone.

 

I also love reading that Berrios has pitched well again!

[ThejacKmp]

I also love reading these reports - they keep me coming back in this dreadful season.

That said, this headline is super deceiving. Berrios didn't almost no-no, he gave up a hit in the 7th and then was pulled. Almost no-no is when a guy gets into the ninth (or maybe eighth if he finishes the ninth?)

 

Keep up the good work!

[jorgenswest]

The next time Berrios and Chargois come up needs to be the last time. Once up, they need to let the work out any struggles at the major league level. Once they are confident there is nothing else to learn at AAA, bring them up. I don't think we can assess that readiness with a stat line though.

[Cody Christie]

 

The next time Berrios and Chargois come up needs to be the last time. Once up, they need to let the work out any struggles at the major league level. Once they are confident there is nothing else to learn at AAA, bring them up. I don't think we can assess that readiness with a stat line though.

Yeah, it's tough to go straight off what the stats show. We do get reports from the media personal but it's not exactly an in-depth scouting report. 

 

The big thing with Berrios and Chargois will be control. If they can show consistency with their control, they will be called back up.

[Cody Christie]

 

That said, this headline is super deceiving. Berrios didn't almost no-no, he gave up a hit in the 7th and then was pulled. Almost no-no is when a guy gets into the ninth (or maybe eighth if he finishes the ninth?)

I was going for a headline that would bring in some readers that don't always read the Minor League Reports. The point was to show that he had a really good start and had "no-hit" stuff on this night. 

 

Berrios was at 96 pitches (64 strikes) so I think they might have sent him back out there for the eighth if he hadn't given up a hit. 

[amjgt]

I can't wait for Berrios to burn through 30 more innings over his next 4 (AAA) starts only to have him shutdown by mid September.

[Cody Christie]

 

I can't wait for Berrios to burn through 30 more innings over his next 4 (AAA) starts only to have him shutdown by mid September.

If he's shutdown in mid-September, he'd only miss a couple starts. The Twins won't have much to play for at that point.

 

Another thought...Not having him on the mound at that point could mean the club is getting closer to the number one pick in next year's draft.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I can't wait for Berrios to burn through 30 more innings over his next 4 (AAA) starts only to have him shutdown by mid September.

I know you're mostly joking, but there should be no reason Berrios has to be shut down at any point this year, unless we suspect he is hurt.  He threw 166 innings last year.

 

Even if your comment became true (that he makes 4 more AAA starts, covering 30 innings), he'd be at 114 total for the season with only ~12 turns through the MLB rotation remaining.  Even if he managed to average 6 innings per start in those, he'd finish at 186.  That would be the smallest year-to-year innings increase, either in raw totals (20 innings) or by percentage (~12%), of his pro career to date.

 

Of course, I certainly don't need to see him make 4 more starts in AAA either...

[DocBauer]

Agreed on Berios up and Shaggy after the Futures Game. But for the love of all that is holy...how can a team with such aweful starting pitching keep May in the bullpen?

 

Stretch him out for goodness sake and roll with it and see what you have once and for all! Am I missing something here?

 

PS: the Milb report is my favorite part as well. Really appreciate all the hard work!

[Seth Stohs]

 

 

The big thing with Berrios and Chargois will be control. If they can show consistency with their control, they will be called back up.

 

Control, but maybe even more important, command. Absolutely the key for both.

[nytwinsfan]

Hey, anyone know when Lewis Thorpe starts playing?

 

[tobi0040]

When Berrios comes back he better throw up about five straight gems. Otherwise he might as well keep his bag packed.

[Cody Christie]

 

When Berrios comes back he better throw up about five straight gems. Otherwise he might as well keep his bag packed.

I'm guessing he will have a longer leash than that... especially if the team trades one of their starters in the next month.

[Cody Christie]

 

Hey, anyone know when Lewis Thorpe starts playing?

I haven't heard anything on him at this point.

[TRex]

...maybe not the right place, but how about Burdi?

[Cody Christie]

 

...maybe not the right place, but how about Burdi?

This story was from the middle of June. http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-nick-burdi-setback-to-bone-bruise-ailment/

 

Sounds like he had a setback to his bone bruise. Wasn't suppose to throw for at least 10 days. I haven't heard anything about him throwing up to this point. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Ok, the term "bruise" must have changed over the years.

How do you have a setback from a bruise?