Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/2): Walker Homers, Plouffe Rehabs

[Cody Christie]

Not every prospect is going to make it to their ultimate goal. That's the nature of baseball. However, last year's Southern League MVP Max Kepler is sure making hitting at the big league level look pretty easy.

 

A night after becoming the fifth Twins player with three home runs in a game, Kepler cranked another one out in Cleveland. His 13 home runs since June 26 are the most in the American League (two ahead of Brian Dozier). Minnesota's 49 home runs are the most during that same stretch.

 

Are any players following in Kepler's footsteps? Read on to find out.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Pawtucket 3

Box Score

With Monday's trade deadline passing, there were a flurry of roster moves that impacted the Rochester roster. Newly acquired pitchers Adalberto Mejia and Pat Light were both assigned to the Red Wings. Trevor Plouffe also joined Rochester as part of his rehab assignment.

 

On Tuesday, Jason Wheeler didn't have his best stuff but he was still able to put the Red Wings in position to come out on top. While pitching into the sixth frame, he gave up three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk. DJ Baxendale, Sean Burnett and JT Chargois put up zeros the rest of the way to close out the win. Chargois allowed two base runners in the ninth but still earned his ninth save.

 

Trevor Plouffe helped get things started for Rochester as he singled to start the second frame. Adam Brett Walker followed with his 21st home run. Things kept moving with Logan Schafer singling before stealing second base. Wilfredo Tovar doubled in Schafer and John Ryan Murphy capped the four-run inning with an RBI single.

 

Schafer had a three-hit night, reaching base in all four plate appearances. He also threw out a runner for his fourth outfield assist. Plouffe finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Daniel Palka and Byung Ho Park each added a double as part of the Triple-P (Palka, Park, Plouffe) middle of the line-up.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga --, Mobile -- (Postponed- Rain)

After being rained out on Tuesday, the Lookouts sit at 56-51 on the season and 20-17 in the second half. Kohl Stewart was a tough luck loser as he threw six innings and allowed one earned run but still took the loss. Monday's trade deadline impacted the Chattanooga roster as Alan Busenitz, the minor league player included with Hector Santiago, was assigned to the Lookouts.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 5, Burlington 11

Box Score

The Kernels tied things up in the top of the seventh inning at 5-5 but the bullpen imploded in the bottom half of the frame. Kuo Hua Lo allowed nine runs, six earned, on eight hits including two home runs. Sam Gibbons started and scattered six hits while limiting the Bees to two earned runs. He struck out two and walked three. Tom Hackimer pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to end the game.

 

Even in victory, the Bees couldn't get Luiz Arraez out in this game. Arraez finished with a career-high five hits along with two RBIs. He is hitting .335 with the Kernels this year. JJ Fernandez collected his 22nd double as part of a two-hit effort. Chris Ibarra also had a double and those were the only extra-base hits for Cedar Rapids.

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Elizabethton 6, Princeton 12

Box Score

The E-Twins offense had plenty of opportunities with runners in scoring position but the club went 2-for-16 in those situations and left nine runners on base. Shane Carrier led the way offensively by going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Alex Kirilloff, Amaurys Minier and Travis Blankenhorn all went 2-for-5 with each player adding a double. It was Kirilloff's eighth double and he's up to 21 RBIs.

 

Blankenhorn had a very rough night in the field as he was charged with three errors, one fielding and two throwing. Add an Ariel Montesino throwing error and there were seven unearned runs scored against the E-Twins pitching staff.

 

Tyler Wells couldn't make it through four innings and allowed six earned runs on eight hits. Alex Robinson pitched 2.1 innings and limited the Rays to one run on a solo home run. Austin Tribby was asked to get a few extra outs as four unearned runs were scored with him on the mound. Quin Grogan finished the game with a pair of strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 6, GCL Orioles 1

Box Score

Huascar Ynoa put the GCL Twins in a great position to win after hurling five shutout frames. He limited the Rays to one hit with five strikeouts and one walk. Onas Fanfar kept the shutout going with three scoreless frames while striking out three. Moises Gomez ran into a little trouble in the ninth by giving up a run on two hits and two walks. Garrett Kelly finished off the final frame for his second save.

 

Every Twins hitter reached base at least once but the club didn't manage a single extra-base hit. Gorge Munoz drove in two runs as part of a two-hit effort. He also stole his fifth base. Aaron Whitefield scored three runs out of the the lead-off spot. The win moves the GCL Twins to two games over .500 and the team is in the midst of a three game winning streak.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Huascar Ynoa, GCL Twins

Hitter of the Day – Shane Carrier, Elizabethton Twins

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs Pawtucket (6:05 CST) - LHP Pat Dean (4-6, 5.29 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (5:05 CST) - TBD (Rain delay could alter rotation)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (Game 2) - TBD

Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) -LHP Randy Rosario (6-6, 3.60 ERA)

Cedar Rapids vs Clinton (6:35 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins vs GCL Rays (11:00AM CST) - TBD

 

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

 

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[operation mindcrime]

Is Lewin Diaz injured or something?

[Taildragger8791]

Mystefied as to how Chargois is still in AAA with an ERA of almost 1.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Lewin Diaz injured or something?

 

Have you heard anything? He played a full game on Monday night. 

[Jordan1212]

I believe because all he throws is fastball and as you see mlb players hit fastballs he needs a change up that looks the same imagine like Liriano before Tommy John surgery he was like a video game change up at 90-91 that's what Chargois needs in my opinion

[Stateofhokey]

ABW better get a cup of coffee after this year in year out performance.  He may chase some wild pitches but MLB pitchers have to keep it closer to the strike zone. Kepler is proving that. IMO.

[nytwinsfan]

Seth, Cody, Jeremy, any word on Wander Javier's recovery? Really a bummer that he's losing most of the season.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, Cody, Jeremy, any word on Wander Javier's recovery? Really a bummer that he's losing most of the season.

 

He likely won't play the rest of this year. He will likely be ready for Instructs in the DR this Fall. 

[Taildragger8791]

 

I believe because all he throws is fastball and as you see mlb players hit fastballs he needs a change up that looks the same imagine like Liriano before Tommy John surgery he was like a video game change up at 90-91 that's what Chargois needs in my opinion

 

Chargois reportedly has three above average pitches, including a power changeup and breaking ball. I don't think that's the issue.

[Seth Stohs]

 

ABW better get a cup of coffee after this year in year out performance.  He may chase some wild pitches but MLB pitchers have to keep it closer to the strike zone. Kepler is proving that. IMO.

 

I'm not sure there's any correlation between what Walker is doing and what Kepler is doing. Kepler's always had a good approach and known the strike zone and that improved as he moved up. Walker is great when he gets a mistake. He is making strides and has been much better of late, but there's very little similar about Kepler and Walker. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I believe because all he throws is fastball and as you see mlb players hit fastballs he needs a change up that looks the same imagine like Liriano before Tommy John surgery he was like a video game change up at 90-91 that's what Chargois needs in my opinion

 

Chargois has a fastball, a changeup and a slurve, and all are pretty solid. They all can use some work, but he's close. I'm also told that he has made some adjustments even since moving back down and is better today than he was a month ago.

[Monkeypaws]

Walker led the Southern League in HRs last season, the FSL the year before that, and the Midwest League the year before that. He tied for the Appy league lead in 2012.

 

His 21 homers now lead the IL. He's consistent, that's for sure.

[nytwinsfan]

 

He likely won't play the rest of this year. He will likely be ready for Instructs in the DR this Fall. 

Uggh, I thought it was just a hamstring? WTF happened?

[drivlikejehu]

 

Walker led the Southern League in HRs last season, the FSL the year before that, and the Midwest League the year before that. He tied for the Appy league lead in 2012.

 

His 21 homers now lead the IL. He's consistent, that's for sure.

 

He's consistent in more than just that. wRC+ by year:

 

2012 [R] - 118

2013 [A] - 130

2014 [A+] - 111

2015 [AA] - 125

2016 [AAA] - 124

 

Nothing special for his age. He's never been one of the best hitters in a league or even on his own team. People like home runs, understandably, and get excited, but even if you ignore the fact MLB pitchers will dominate Walker, his actual minor league numbers aren't particularly great.

 

He's just stayed healthy and at one level per year, so he's accumulated a lot of counting stats. 

Edited August 3, 2016 by drivlikejehu

[Seth Stohs]

 

Uggh, I thought it was just a hamstring? WTF happened?

 

It is "just a hamstring." It's a muscle that isn't always easy to recover from. He came back and re-aggravated it. Did he come back too early? Maybe, or maybe he pushed it. Who knows? Injuries happen.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

It is "just a hamstring." It's a muscle that isn't always easy to recover from. He came back and re-aggravated it. Did he come back too early? Maybe, or maybe he pushed it. Who knows? Injuries happen.

Yes a hamstring injury is NEVER "just a hamstring", it's one of the most important muscles for an athlete in general but it is also one of the most vulnerable to damage.  The injury differs based upon the severity of the grade (I, II, or III) as well as where the injury occurred (was it in the belly of the muscle, tendon insertion or origin) in addition to the fact of which one of the hamstring muscles it was (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris).  So a "just hamstring" injury can be anywhere from two week layoff to eight-ten week layoff or longer if it's "hamstring syndrome" or needs surgery.

 

That is all for Dr. Tarr's injury synopsis for today

[Teflon]

With as active as the Texas Rangers were at the trade deadline, I kept waiting for a Twins deal that would package Adam Brett Walker so we could have...

[Cody Christie]

 

With as active as the Texas Rangers were at the trade deadline, I kept waiting for a Twins deal that would package Adam Brett Walker so we could have...

He is in an interesting place since the Twins have other DH type players ahead of him on the roster. My guess is he spends most of next year at Triple-A and will fill-in when others are injured at the big league level.