Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/6): Rooker Starts it Off With a Bang

[Ted Schwerzler]

Half of the Minnesota Twins affiliates are in action this morning, with the Cedar Rapids Kernels playing a second straight doubleheader. On top of the big league action, and the final day of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, it's a busy day across the organization. Check back throughout the day as the action unfolds throughout the systemTRANSACTIONS AND NEWS

Rochester Red Wings

Add RHP Zack Littell

Release INF Jermaine Curtis

 

Fort Myers Miracle

Taylor Grzelakowski was named to the Florida State League All Star Game today.

 

Cedar Rapids Kernels

Activated C David Banuelos off DL

Activated RHP Brusdar Graterol off DL

Placed C Ben Rodriguez on DL

Brusdar Graterol, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, and Jared Finkel were named to the Midwest League All Star Game

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Indianapolis 7, Rochester 2

Box Score

 

In just a three game set with Indianapolis, the Red Wings were looking to take tonight's game in order to knot up the series. Giving up seven runs on 12 hits and mustering just four of their own, the effort fell short.

 

Aaron Slegers was on the bump, and he was staked to a 1-0 lead after Rochester's first at-bat. Jake Cave was able to drive a ball deep enough, allowing Zack Granite to score from third. The sac fly was Cave's 25th RBI on the year. After allowing the Indians to draw even, Chris Carter put the home team back on top with his 4th HR of the season.

 

Leading 2-1 through the 5th inning, that's where things went downhill for Rochester. Slegers would be removed from the game shortly after allowing a third run to score on a solo shot. In the 6th, another would follow, and runs were posted in both the 8th and 9th innings as well. A final of 7-2 dropped Rochester in a 2-0 series hole, with an ability to get one back during tomorrow's day game.

 

Cameron Rupp made his Twins organization debut in this one. He batted seventh and went 0-2 with two strikeouts and two walks. He has a July 15th opt out that can be exercised should he not be placed on the big league roster by that point.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Mobile 15, Chattanooga 4

Box Score

 

Coming off an 11-6 loss yesterday, the Lookouts were trying to exact some revenge against Mobile today. Despite getting out to a 1-0 lead early in the first inning, it wouldn’t hold up and the BayBears piled on.

 

After a LaMonte Wade walk to start off the home half of the first, Brent Rooker drove in the game’s first run on his 13th double. Starter Anthony Marzi was given a lead, but the third inning would spell danger for the Chattanooga hurler. Mobile answered the Lookouts run with eight of their own, and the deficit only grew from there.

 

Not rolling over, the Chattanooga offense responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning. A Zander Wiel single drove in LaMonte Wade and put Brent Rooker at third base. Edgar Corcino then scored Rooker on a sac fly during the very next at-bat.

 

Rooker, the lone Lookout hitter to have a strong day at the dish, hit his eighth home run of the season in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for Chattanooga, that tally was their last of the game. With Mobile scoring four in the fifth, three in the sixth, and two more in the ninth, the final rested at 17-4. Both Alex Perez and Tanner English worked as position players on in relief to round out the eighth and ninth innings in this one.

 

Having taken the middle three games of the series, Mobile will win the five game set. Chattanooga can look to salvage an extra game as they square off one last time tomorrow evening.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach 9, Fort Myers 5 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

This game saw 14 runners cross the plate, and there was a total of 22 hits recorded. Unfortunately for the Miracle, the majority in both categories were recorded by Palm Beach. Having dropped the first two in the series, an offensive outburst was the result this club was looking for.

 

Early on, things were going well for Fort Myers. Putting up a crooked number in the second inning, Luis Arraez doubled and Mitchell Kranson singled to score three runners. The lead wouldn't hold up however, as all three were given back in the top half of the 4th.

 

Palm Beach then took their first lead in the 5th, to the tune of a 4-3 tally. A Shane Carrier single for the Miracle knotted things up in the bottom half, and the roller coaster affair would continue. Fort Myers then jumped back out on top in the bottom of the sixth, this time with Arraez delivering again, on a sac fly.

 

As had been the case throughout the entirety of the game, the lead would be short lived. A Palm Beach home run off of Ryan Mason would send the Miracle to bat in the seventh tied at five. Neither team could push anything across in the 8th or 9th, and this one would head to extras.

 

The final blow on the evening came against Miracle All-Star Andrew Vasquez. With the bases loaded, Palm Beach's Dylan Carlson lifted a grand slam to right field. Down 9-5, Fort Myers wasn't able to pull even again and they fell to 0-3 in the series. Looking to salvage a game, they'll have one last opportunity tomorrow night.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Game 1: Beloit 4, Cedar Rapids 3 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

Brusdar Graterol returned from the disabled list (hand contusion) to start this one for Cedar Rapids. He was on cruise control most of the game, and allowing just two runs over six strong innings, his final line was another good one.

 

Beloit got the scoring started in the top half of the fifth inning, tallying one against Graterol. Andrew Bechtold scored on a David Banuelos single in the bottom half, to knot the game up. Unfortunately the lead was short lived with the Snappers striking again in the top of the 6th.

 

Down to their last raps in the bottom of the seventh inning, Bechtold led off with his second double of the game. After two quick outs, Jordan Gore found himself at the dish with the game on the line. The Kernels were down to their final strike when Gore ground a single through the infield to right, scoring Bechtold and forcing extras.

 

In the extra frame, Calvin Faucher came on for Toby Gardenhire, and was tasked with holding the automatic runner at second. After a Beloit sac bunt, the runner came in to score on a wild pitch. The Snappers added an insurance tally before their half of the inning was over, and Cedar Rapids faced a 4-2 deficit.

 

Royce Lewis was tabbed the automatic runner for the Kernels in the bottom of the 8th, and he scored on a Robby Rinn two-out single. Needing to push one more across, the rally fell short as Jacob Pearson was caught stealing with Bechtold at the plate. A split of their second straight doubleheader would again be the goal in game two.

Game 2: Beloit 3, Cedar Rapids 0 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

Tanner Kiest was making his second start in the Twins organization, and this one would be of the abbreviated sort. Despite allowing just two runs in the first frame, he needed 36 pitches to get through the inning. With the new organizational rule limiting minor leaguers at 35 pitches, he was then removed from the game.

 

Randy Dobnak came on in relief, and he gave the Kernels everything they could ask for. Throwing six innings of one-run baseball, the three-run deficit was a score that allowed the offense opportunity to rally. The bats went cold after the seven-hit performance in the first game, and two base knocks were all the squad could muster.

 

Having played four games in two days, the Kernels (and Snappers) will welcome a one game affair to close out the series tomorrow night. With the Kernels trailing three games to one in this set, they'll look to draw closer to even as the end the three day homestand.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Brent Rooker 2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR(8), 2 BB

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Brusdar Graterol 7.0 IP 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, R

3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 1-4

5. Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) – (2 Games) 1-5, 2 BB, K

7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR(8), 2 BB

9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – 7.0 IP 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – (2 Games) 1-5, 2 BB, 3 K

13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-5, 2 K

14. LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) – 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB

15. Mitch Garver (Minnesota) – 2-4, 2B

16. Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, K

17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 0-4, BB, K

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Indianapolis @ Rochester (11:35AM CST) – LHP Dietrich Enns (4-5, 4.81 ERA)

Mobile @ Chattanooga (6:15PM CST) – TBD

Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (0-0, 5.79 ERA)

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.86 ERA)

 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games!

 

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[Homer Hanky]

Where do we put the new draft picks in the prospect order?

 

[gunnarthor]

Nice to see Rooker get more walks and home runs.

[gunnarthor]

 

Where do we put the new draft picks in the prospect order?

I'm sure that'll come out in the next few days but I really only think Larnach is in our top 10 right now. I could be wrong but I don't know if the others get in there. Larnach could fit in anywhere between 5-10, really. I think Lewis, Gordon, Kiriloff and Gonsalves are clearly ahead of him (assuming Romero isn't a prospect). So I think we slip him somewhere around Rooker, Graterol, Baddoo, Diaz, Enlow. Maybe ahead of Baddoo?

[slash129]

Are Lewis and Kirilloff chopped liver? No chance to win hitter of the day?

 

J/k ... I'd probably gamble on Rooker's day meaning no edit as well.

[Ted Schwerzler]

 

Where do we put the new draft picks in the prospect order?

 

Believe the rankings come from consensus or Seth a bit down the line. I'll be redoing my prospect rankings at Off The Baggy tomorrow. Larnach is the only one I'll have in the top 15.

[Ted Schwerzler]

 

Are Lewis and Kirilloff chopped liver? No chance to win hitter of the day?

J/k ... I'd probably gamble on Rooker's day meaning no edit as well.

Hey, this is a living document haha. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Where do we put the new draft picks in the prospect order?

 

here was my top-of-head rankings on Monday night after their first pick or two... The 2nd round guy (Jeffers) isn't a Top 10 guy yet, maybe closer to 15-20, I suppose.

 

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm sure that'll come out in the next few days but I really only think Larnach is in our top 10 right now. I could be wrong but I don't know if the others get in there. Larnach could fit in anywhere between 5-10, really. I think Lewis, Gordon, Kiriloff and Gonsalves are clearly ahead of him (assuming Romero isn't a prospect). So I think we slip him somewhere around Rooker, Graterol, Baddoo, Diaz, Enlow. Maybe ahead of Baddoo?

Romero is still a prospect until he reaches 50 MLB innings, so 3 more starts, probably.

[108Stitches]

When you look up “great days in Twins baseball” it ain’t gonna be this date.

[rdehring]

Congrats to Grz.  And its fantastic to have Graterol back on the hill in Cedar Rapids.  Hopefully, he stays healthy the rest of the year and gets a promotion to Fort Myers by July.  I really want to see this kid in a Twins uniform by September, 2019.  Berrios, Romero and Graterol has an awfully good sound!

 

And what a nice game for Rooker.  If he can start hitting more home runs regularly, maybe he will force the Twins to include him as a September callup.

[ThejacKmp]

 

When you look up “great days in Twins baseball” it ain’t gonna be this date.

 

What if they drafted a future three-time MVP in the 29th round and a future Cy Young winner in the 34th? Then this will be a great day in Twins baseball!

[dbminn]

Congratulations to Grzelly! He's had a pretty remarkable ride the past few years. (As reported here at TD and nowhere else)

[dbminn]

 

here was my top-of-head rankings on Monday night after their first pick or two... The 2nd round guy (Jeffers) isn't a Top 10 guy yet, maybe closer to 15-20, I suppose.

 

 

 

I'll be very happy if Larnach progresses as fast as Rooker. 

[Mike Sixel]

Lanarch will be fifth, I'd guess, in national lists, maybe fourth. Ahead of Gonsalves and Badoo

[HrbekRules]

I don't see how Larnach could possibly be ranked ahead of Rooker at this point.  Rooker has already shown he is capable of hitting at AA, Larnach hasn't.  I'm not saying Larnach can't move ahead of Rooker by the end of this year, just don't see how he can be ranked ahead of him right now.  My list would go:

 

1) Lewis

2) Graterol

3) Romero

4) Kirilloff

5) Gordon

6) Gonsalves

7) Rooker

8) Baddoo

9) Larnach

10) Wade

 

[Mike Sixel]

Romero won't be in the lists soon.... And certainly not at year end.

[Mr. Brooks]

I don't see how Larnach could possibly be ranked ahead of Rooker at this point. Rooker has already shown he is capable of hitting at AA, Larnach hasn't. I'm not saying Larnach can't move ahead of Rooker by the end of this year, just don't see how he can be ranked ahead of him right now. My list would go:

 

1) Lewis

2) Graterol

3) Romero

4) Kirilloff

5) Gordon

6) Gonsalves

7) Rooker

8) Baddoo

9) Larnach

10) Wade

Draft picks slot in based on tools. Larnach will be ahead of Rooker, at every single publication, IMO.

By your logic, Lewis and Kirilloff should drop below Rooker too.