Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/13): Wells, Rodriguez Continue To Impress

[Seth Stohs]

While the Twins focused their draft and signings on pitching in recent years, it’s clear that the focus has again been put on hitting and we’re seeing that in the lowest levels. The organization’s top pitching prospects (still in the minors) are in Ft. Myers and Chattanooga. However, there are certainly some intriguing bats on the rookie league rosters.

 

On this night, the Twins got some nice starts from some of their second-tier pitching prospects, showing that they continue to add depth in terms of pitching prospects.

 

There were a couple of transactions of note on Saturday as well:

• On Friday night, we learned that Andrew Albers had been designated for assignment by the Twins. On Saturday afternoon, we learned that fellow-lefty Ryan O’Rourke had been added to the 40-man roster and the 24-man roster.
• The Red Wings roster was down to just 22, so they needed help. As we noted yesterday, lefty David Hurlbut was promoted from Chattanooga and was supposed to start for the Red Wings on Saturday. Jake Reed and Omar Bencomo were also promoted from the Lookouts to Rochester.

With that, let’s get to the Minor League Report for Saturday.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester, Scranton/Wilkes Barre

Box Score

 

This game was rained out. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 1, Birmingham 3

Box Score

 

Kohl Stewart struggled with control again, and fell to 6-6 with a 3.25 ERA with the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on four hits and five walks in 4.2 innings on the mound. He also hit two batters. He struck out three. Alan Busenitz came into the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth and allowed two of the three runners to core. He gave up two hits and struck out one in 1.1 innings. Mason Melotakis struck out three in a scoreless seventh inning. Raul Fernandez worked a perfect eight inning.

 

The Lookouts managed just five hits in the game. Ryan Walker hit his third triple. Jairo Rodriguez hit his first double. Zach Granite had a single and added to his league-leading stolen base total with this 41st steal.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 7, Charlotte 1

Box Score

 

It’s hard to remember that Dereck Rodriguez had a 7.71 ERA through his first seven starts in Cedar Rapids. Over his final nine starts in Iowa, he posted a 3.02 ERA. After throwing 6.2 innings of one-run ball on Saturday night, Rodriguez has a 1.98 ERA through his first two starts with the Miracle. He earned his first Florida State League win. The right-hander gave up four hits, walked none and struck out seven in this game.

 

Todd Van Steensel gave up a single before he got the final out of the seventh inning. He then threw a perfect eighth frame. Nick Anderson struck out two in a one-hit, scoreless ninth.

The Miracle scored seven runs despite having just four hits in the game. They were assisted by ten walks. Infielder Chris Ibarra went 2-4 with a walk and his first Florida State League double, well, and his first Florida State League single, his first two hits since joining the Miracle last week. Joe Maloney and Tanner English each walked twice. AJ Murray and Daniel Kihle both had a walk and went 1-3.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Kane County 1

Box Score

 

Through six innings, the game was tied at one. However, the Kernels scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead. They added two insurance runs in the ninth to complete their seventh straight win over Kane County this season.

 

Lachlan Wells started the game with five scoreless innings. He gave up an unearned run in the sixth, but that was it. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five to improve to 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA. Max Cordy gave up a hit and walked two, but he didn’t give up a run in his inning. Tom Hackimer worked the final two innings without allowing a run for his third save.

 

Sean Miller had hits in his first three at bats. His sacrifice fly in the seventh inning gave the Kernels a lead they didn’t relinquish. He ended the game 3-4 with two RBI. Luis Arraez with another multi-hit game. He weas 3-5.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 6, Bluefield 9

Box Score

 

It was a rough game for the Twins pitching and defense in this one. Five errors certainly didn’t help the cause. Jose Martinez gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out three. Alex Robinson came on and gave up a run on one hit, three walks and a hit batter over two innings. Johan Quezada walked a batter and hit a batter in a one-run eighth inning.

 

Alex Kiriloff went 2-5 and hit his sixth home run. Ariel Montesino went 3-5. Shane Carrier went 2-5. Lewin Diaz added his 13th double.

 

For Bluefield, Vlad Guerrero, Jr. went 3-5, his second straight three-hit game. The 17-year-old is hitting .277 on the season.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 6, GCL Red Sox 1

Box Score

 

For the second straight day, the Twins topped the Red Sox. Huascar Ynoa set the tone with another strong start. The right-hander gave up one run over five innings. He surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out six. He improved to 3-4 and dropped his ERA to 2.13.

 

Matz Schutte allowed two hits over 1.1 scoreless innings. Zach Strecker struck out three over 2.2 perfect innings to record his fourth save.

 

The Twins had nice offensive performances from several players on Saturday. Zach Featherstone went 2-3. He was hit by a pitch and hit his third and fourth homers. Aaron Whitefield went 2-4 with a walk, his fifth double and his 25th stolen base. Akil Baddoo went 1-2 with two walks and his second home run. Lean Marrero hit his second double. Dane Hutcheon walked three times and stole his fourth base.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Dereck Rodriguez, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Akil Baddoo/Zach Featherstone, GCL Twins

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (12:35 CST) (doubleheader) - LHP David Hurlbut and RHP Omar Bencomo

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (6:30 CST) - RHP Ryan Eades

Charlotte @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) - RHP Keaton Steele

Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 CST) – RHP Tyler Beardsley

Elizabethton @ Bluefield (6:05 CST) - TBD

 

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

 

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[nyazbeck]

So who is filling the aa roster

[clutterheart]

Last year Vielma had 35 Stolen bases in 47 attempts. This year he only 9-16. Any ideas to as why the attempts are way down?

[roger]

Do you see Kiriloff moving up to Cedar Rapids when the ETon season ends?

[Seth Stohs]

 

So who is filling the aa roster

 

To be determined...

 

My guess is Albers will be back in Rochester and on their roster by Monday night. I'd guess Bencomo will go back to Chattanooga. But it would be good for a Van Steensel or Anderson or Westphal or something to move up to Chattanooga.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Do you see Kiriloff moving up to Cedar Rapids when the ETon season ends?

 

I think it's very possible, especially if the Kernels end up in the playoffs.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Last year Vielma had 35 Stolen bases in 47 attempts. This year he only 9-16. Any ideas to as why the attempts are way down?

 

He's had two stints on the disabled list. That could be a big part of it.

[Han Joelo]

Any chance they push Romero to AA?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Any chance they push Romero to AA?

 

Not sure there's much incentive to doing so, unless the Lookouts have a chance to be in the playoffs.

[diehardtwinsfan]

It seems like Rodriguez has been in the Twins org forever, though for a time he was at CF... So here's a question, I'm assuming he's a minor league FA at some point, but if not, at what point do the Twins protect him on the 40 man?  He really seems like he has turned a corner, and you do have to be patient given his first couple years in the minors have come as a hitter.

[Bob Sacamento]

Videos from the GCL on Saturday:

 

Huascar Ynoa was 91-97 mph with his fastball averaging 94.  His slider was 77-81mph, his curve was 72-74mph and his change was 81-83mph.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtCpwjiITw8

 

 

Akil Baddoo's 2run homer down the right field line:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQmk9dOPrIY

 

Lean Marrero  double off the Green Monster

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePr4j6Bv39w

 

Matz Schutte on the mound:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKf9I8D28pM

 

Aaron Whitefield on the bases, stealing second and getting picked off

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD10E5S7Vno

 

Justin Hazard at the plate

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjVIb2WqoXE

 

Kidany Salva 2016 17th round pick:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZHVRvgJN_c

[Seth Stohs]

 

It seems like Rodriguez has been in the Twins org forever, though for a time he was at CF... So here's a question, I'm assuming he's a minor league FA at some point, but if not, at what point do the Twins protect him on the 40 man?  He really seems like he has turned a corner, and you do have to be patient given his first couple years in the minors have come as a hitter.

 

He was drafted in 2011, so he can become a 6-year minor league free agent after the 2017 season. 

 

He's been Rule 5 eligible the last couple of years, but since he hadn't pitched in a full season team yet he wasn't a risk to be taken. 

 

They may need to consider adding him this year... but they would have to add him before the World Series ends next year when he would become a free agent.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd probably gamble on this offseason given he's getting his first taste of high A, but if that continues, I'd probably add him next season.  Seems to me he had a pretty strong arm if memory serves me right.

[gbg]

What's amazing about the Ft. Myers game is that none of their seven runs came off a hit. All the runs scored as a result of bases-loaded walks, wild pitches with runners on third, or ground outs. They were 0-fer with RISP, but still scored seven runs.