Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/13): Offense All Around

[Seth Stohs]

Three Red Wings participated in the AAA All-Star game on Wednesday night in Charlotte. Kohl Stewart was on the mound attempting to duplicate Stephen Gonsalves’s Tuesday night performance. He got a lot of support from his offense. The Kernels put up big offensive numbers in the suburbs of Cleveland. Elizabethton powered its way to a win. It was a busy day in the organization, so continue on to read much more.If you missed it, here is the Twins minor league leaderboard through Tuesday.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score

 

While the majority of the Red Wings team remains on their All-Star break, three members of the roster were on the International League roster for the AAA All-Star Game.

 

Lefty Jason Wheeler was given the start against the Pacific Coast League All-Stars. He gave up a double in the first inning but was able to get out of it without allowing a run. In the 2nd, he gave up a single which was soon followed by a home run by Travis Taijeron. He gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in his two innings. He struck out one. Jose Berrios pitched the fourth inning. He gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning.

 

Jorge Polanco was the one hitter in the International League team. He had an infield single in his first at-bat. He doubled in his second at-bat. He ended his evening 2-3.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 11, Tennessee 1

Box Score

 

On Wednesday afternoon, Kohl Stewart was on the mound looking to give the Lookouts a second straight quality start. Stewart was up to the challenge. He gave up one run on seven hits over the first seven innings. He walked three and struck out three. He improved to 3-4 with a 3.74 ERA with the Lookouts. Zack Jones came on and was again very good. He threw two more shutout innings and had one strikeout. He now has thrown eight scoreless innings since his return to the organization. He has given up two hits, walked two and struck out 11.

 

The offense came through to help as well. The top three hitters in the lineup each had three hits. Zach Granite was 3-5 with two runs scored. Niko Goodrum also was 3-5 and scored twice. Ryan Walker hit third and was 3-4 with a walk. He added his fifth double, scored three runs and stole his seventh base. The RBI production came from the five through seven spots in the lineup.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 3, Tampa 8

Box Score

 

The Miracle fell behind early and were unable to come back. Keaton Steele made the start. He gave up six runs on ten hits in just three innings. He walked two and struck out two. Michael Theofanopoulos gave up one run on two hits and a walk over the next two innings. He struck out one. Nick Anderson went the next two innings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out four. John Curtiss struck out one in the final inning.

 

Alex Perez went 2-4 with his fifth double. Daniel Kihle was also 2-4. Nick Gordon (17), Chris Paul (13), Trey Vavra (12) and Brian Navarreto (5) each hit a double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Lake County 4

Box Score

 

Cody Stashak was strong again, and the Kernels offense provided plenty of offense, half of the runs coming on one blast.

 

Stashak improved to 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA. In six innings, he gave up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Two of the hits he gave up came off the bat of a rehabbing Michael Brantley. Andrew Vasquez pitched the seventh. The left-hander gave up two runs on a hit and a walk. He struck out two. Williams Ramirez picked up his second save. He walked one and struck one out over two scoreless innings.

 

Jermaine Palacios went 3-5 with his eighth double. Luis Arraez went 3-5 with his 20th double. Zander Wiel went 2-4 with a walk. Kevin Garcia was 2-4 with his third double. Casey Scoggins added his second double. Jaylin Davis was 2-4 with his second double. However, the big blast came in the fifth went Davis launched his first Midwest League home run, a grand slam that put the Kernels ahead for good.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 8, Danville 2

Box Score

 

The E-Twins got off to a quick start with a couple of big home runs early. It was plenty of offense on this night. In the top of the first inning, Lewin Diaz hit a two-run homer, his third of the season. In the top of the 2nd inning, Travis Blankenhorn - who had doubled ahead of the Diaz homer - hit a three-run homer to give Elizabethton a 5-1 lead. Alex Kiriloff also had two hits including his fourth double. Trey Cabbage went 1-2 with two walks. Brandon Lopez was 1-3 with two walks.

 

Tyler Beardsley went the first four innings. He gave up no runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out three. Austin Tribby struck out three over the next three innings. He gave up just one hit. Alex Robinson threw the final two innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out four.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 3, GCL Orioles 7

Box Score

 

Bo Hellquist was again on the mound for the Twins in this one. The lefty gave up one run on four hits over four innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk. Daniel Martinez worked the next two innings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out two. Callan Pearce is now up to eight shutout innings on the season after throwing two more scoreless innings on Wednesday. The Twins went into the ninth inning with a one-run lead. Closer Garrett Kelly came on and was charged with five runs on four hits and a walk. Both of the outs he got came on strikeouts. Onas Farfan came on with two on. Both inherited runners scored but he did get the final out.

 

Joe Cronin went 2-4. Aaron Whitefield went 1-3 with a walk, his second double, an RBI and his fifth stolen base. Manuel Guzman was also 1-3 with a walk. Kolton Kendrick walked twice.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Kohl Stewart, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jaylin Davis, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Norfolk @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Pat Dean

Mobile @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - LHP David Hurlbut

Ft. Myers @ Tampa (6:00 CST) - LHP Randy Rosario

Cedar Rapids @ Lake County (10:00 am CST) – LHP Lachlan Wells

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (6:00 CST) - RHP Domenick Carlini

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00 am CST) - No Game Scheduled

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

 

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[TRex]

I apologize in advance, because there is no way this can come out right, but...

 

is Travis Blankenhorn really this good?

 

I know we don't like to get too excited over short-season players, but it looks like his bat is for real.

[Jeff A]

Is the Joe Cronin who plays for the GCL Twins any relation to THE Joe Cronin?

[drivlikejehu]

 

I apologize in advance, because there is no way this can come out right, but...

 

is Travis Blankenhorn really this good?

 

I know we don't like to get too excited over short-season players, but it looks like his bat is for real.

 

Appalachian League results aren't terribly meaningful. It's also an easy place for left-handed batters to hit home runs. So really there just isn't much to go on stats wise . . . he strikes out too much but seems to be hitting the ball at least reasonably hard. Combined with his draft status, I think he's towards the back end of the top 20 Twins prospects.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Is the Joe Cronin who plays for the GCL Twins any relation to THE Joe Cronin?

Nope, no relation:

http://www.pressherald.com/2014/05/14/steve_solloway__joe_cronin_lives_with_joe_cronin_/

[DJL44]

I think the more relevant question for Blankenhorn is whether he can handle 2B. There were questions whether he could stick at 3B. At 1B or LF he will have to really hit to impress.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I think the more relevant question for Blankenhorn is whether he can handle 2B. There were questions whether he could stick at 3B. At 1B or LF he will have to really hit to impress.

He had a few rough patches while getting more acquainted with the position in Instructs and EXST but has slowly built up on his fundamentals foundation.  He's not going to win any gold gloves, his range up the middle isn't the greatest but he fields the balls that are hit to him.  

[Einstein1]

Luis Arraez keeps raking.  He's just 19, he's hit everywhere he's been.  What kind of prospect is he?   

[Mike Sixel]

 

He had a few rough patches while getting more acquainted with the position in Instructs and EXST but has slowly built up on his fundamentals foundation.  He's not going to win any gold gloves, his range up the middle isn't the greatest but he fields the balls that are hit to him.  

 

so he's Jeter?

Edited July 14, 2016 by Mike Sixel

[bluechipper]

Jermaine Palacios is finally getting it going. In his last 10 games, he's hitting .308.

 

I think it should also be noted that Stuart Turner hit a 3 run HR yesterday, and he's hitting .353 over his last 10 games.

[Jham]

Is Kohl Stewart's upside still ace/ 2 or is the stuff never going to translate to k's? Is his upside realistically Blackburn/silva? Or could Scott Erickson still emerge?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Is Kohl Stewart's upside still ace/ 2 or is the stuff never going to translate to k's? Is his upside realistically Blackburn/silva? Or could Scott Erickson still emerge?

 

I know I've never seen him, and I know I'm not scout......but I think his upside is still a number 2......which makes him an awesome prospect.

[d-mac]

Anyone else alarmed that Kiriloff has yet to draw a walk? Even Rosario walked at 9.1% of the time at E-town. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Anyone else alarmed that Kiriloff has yet to draw a walk? Even Rosario walked at 9.1% of the time at E-town. 

 

Nope, just swing baby, and hit the bleep out of those low level pitches. He's going to learn plenty that way.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I know I've never seen him, and I know I'm not scout......but I think his upside is still a number 2......which makes him an awesome prospect.

 

Yeah, the upside is there.  Definitely need to see continued improvements in the K category.  He's taken a nice step forward this season.  He needs to take another one next season.