Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/14): Kirilloff Blasts Off

[Tom Froemming]

Alex Kirilloff has been among the most impressive prospects in the Twins system all year, but he may have had his best game yet in what was an impressive offensive output from the Kernels Thursday night. Also, some familiar faces had strong performances for Rochester and there were some noteworthy transactions.TRANSACTIONS

Hmmm, where to start? Well, I suppose Miguel Sano being demoted to Fort Myers was something worth mentioning, huh? Joe Mauer’s rehab assignment with Rochester ended. He was 0-for-10 with two strikeouts and no walks. Also, Jake Cave was optioned to Rochester.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Buffalo 1

Box Score

 

W: Adalberto Mejia (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)

SV: John Curtiss (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)

Multi-hit games: Zack Granite, Kennys Vargas

 

Adalberto Mejia! Zack Granite! Kennys Vargas! Remember those guys? Well, they’re still around, and they all helped lift the Red Wings to a win tonight.

 

Mejia gave up just one run on four hits in six innings of work, lowering his ERA to 3.47 on the season. He struck out six and walked three batters. Granite was 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored while Vargas was 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.

 

Nick Anderson had hit a bit of a rough patch, but he got back on track again tonight, pitching two scoreless innings. John Curtis picked up his fourth save. All three of Rochester’s runs were scored in the first inning.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Birmingham 3, Chattanooga 0

Box Score

 

SP: Omar Bencomo (5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)

 

It was a really rough night for the Chattanooga bats. The Lookouts were shut out, only had five hits, drew zero walks and struck out 11 times.

 

I usually don’t mention opposing players, but Birmingham pitcher Dane Dunning is looking like a stud. He was a first-round pick out of Florida back in 2016 and made most of the top 100 prospect lists this season. He was originally drafted by the Nationals, who traded him to the … Chicago White Sox. Aw man, seriously?

 

Edgar Corcino got the only extra-base hit of the night for Chattanooga, a double. Omar Bencomo gave up three runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out seven. Tyler Jay (two innings) and Cody Stashak (one inning) combined for a scoreless night from the bullpen.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach 3, Fort Myers 2 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

SP: Charlie Barnes (5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)

HR: Taylor Grzelakowski (6)

Multi-hit games: Ben Rortvedt, Travis Blankenhorn

 

Charlie Barnes didn’t get his first full season as a professional off to a great start, but he’s been rolling as of late. Last year’s fourth-round pick had a 5.14 ERA through his first five starts, but since then he’s pitched to a 3.12 mark.

 

Barnes gave up one run on just two hits in 5 2/3 innings tonight, but unfortunately the Miracle bullpen couldn’t hold a one-run lead. Ben Rortvedt was 3-for-4. They’ve all been singles, but he’s 6-for-15 (.400) since being promoted.

 

Rortvedt’s arrival has provided an opportunity for fellow catcher Taylor Gzelakowski to get work in elsewhere. He started in left field tonight and hit his sixth homer. Travis Blankenhorn and Jaylin DAvis each reached safely twice and they also both stole a base.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 10, Kane County 3

Box Score

 

W: Bailey Ober (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)

HR: Alex Kirilloff 2 (13)

Multi-hit games: Kirilloff, Robby Rinn, Royce Lewis, Jose Miranda, David Banuelos

 

Take a bow, Alex Kirilloff. This was his first four-hit game of the season and second multi-homer effort. He’s tearing apart Midwest League pitching, posting a line of .329/.386/.608.

 

It would have been understandable if Alex had gotten off to a slow start after missing all of last season, but he’s been a beast from the get-go. In a season that hasn’t had many positives for Twins fans, this young man represents a brilliant beam of sunshine.

 

There were plenty of other strong performers for Cedar Rapids, as Robby Rinn had three hits, both Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda had two doubles and David Banuelos reached safely three times.

 

The Kernels were actually trailing 1-0 after the first inning, but Bailey Ober ended up getting settled in. He went seven innings, needing only 79 pitches to do so, and gave up two runs on four hits and one walk. He struck out seven batters and threw 72.2 percent of his pitches for strikes.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Bailey Ober, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Alex Kirilloff, Cedar Rapids

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Prospects performed:

 

1. Royce Lewis, CR: 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, BB

2. Fernando Romero, MIN

3. Nick Gordon, ROC: 0-for-4

4. Stephen Gonsalves, ROC: Did not pitch.

5. Alex Kirilloff, CR: 4-for-6, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBIs

6. Wander Javier: Out for the season with a shoulder injury.

7. Brent Rooker, CHAT: 0-for-4, 2 Ks

8. Blayne Enlow, CR: Did not pitch.

9. Brusdar Graterol, CR: Did not pitch.

10. Akil Baddoo, CR: 1-for-5, BB

11. Zack Littell, ROC: Did not pitch.

12. Lewis Thorpe, CHAT: Did not pitch.

13. Lewin Diaz, FM: 1-for-5, K

14. LaMonte Wade, ROC: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BBs

15. Mitch Garver, MIN

16. Ben Rortvedt, FM: 3-for-4

17. Travis Blankenhorn, FM: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K

18. Yunior Severino: Expected to join E-Town.

19. Tyler Jay, CHAT: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

20. Felix Jorge: Out with knee injury.

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Buffalo, 6:05 pm CT (Zack Littell)

Chattanooga at Birmingham, 7:05 pm CT (Kohl Stewart)

Fort Myers OFF

Cedar Rapids vs. Peoria, 6:35 pm CT (Bryan Sammons)

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the games.

 

Click here to view the article

[h2oface]

Mauer 0/10 with 2 strikeouts and no walks? More than ready for the current Twins' offense, eh?

[Doctor Wu]

 

Mauer 0/10 with 2 strikeouts and no walks? More than ready for the current Twins' offense, eh?

Ouch, Well, it will no doubt be a seamless transition. Hopefully, he can still field the ball, if nothing else,

[Doctor Wu]

Adalberto Mejia! Actually, i HAD forgotten all about him. Good to see him turn in an impressive pitching performance ... but can he hit?

[slash129]

Gordon still proving that he's far from big league ready (down to 642 OPS and 78 wRC+), yet many still want him promoted ASAP.  At least his BABIP is getting closer to normalized, so we can see what he really is.

[slash129]

Was just checking Kirilloffs Twitter ... That dude is pretty religious .... Maybe he can get promoted to FTM soon and help Sano have a literal "come to Jesus" moment .... Whatever works!!

[Han Joelo]

"Adalberto Mejia! Zack Granite! Kennys Vargas! Remember those guys?"

 

Yeah!  They were solid (or potentially solid) contributors who have not contributed jack squat.  Its almost like the whole organization is pressing.  All three of them had/have openings this year, but instead of being ready to next man up it, they weren't.  Granite is obvious, but if Vargas was simply mashing and not striking out a ton, I could see him getting a shot right now.  And Meija, well, some excuses I guess, but he's been jumped by a lot of guys.  Anyway, glad they had a good game.

[gunnarthor]

It's only 7 games but Wade has 5 walks against just one strike out in AAA and 31 walks against 21 strike outs in the minors this year. The guy gets on base.  

 

I'd be ok if the FO switched him and Kepler tomorrow. Let this kid get a try out in the majors and let Kepler figure some things out in AAA b/c he's been really bad for six plus weeks now.

[John Kelsey]

 

It's only 7 games but Wade has 5 walks against just one strike out in AAA and 31 walks against 21 strike outs in the minors this year. The guy gets on base.  

 

I'd be ok if the FO switched him and Kepler tomorrow. Let this kid get a try out in the majors and let Kepler figure some things out in AAA b/c he's been really bad for six plus weeks now.

 

This team is trotting out Ryan LaMarre and ROBBIE GROSSMAN in the outfield and you want to send down Kepler???

[Halsey Hall]

 

Was just checking Kirilloffs Twitter ... That dude is pretty religious .... Maybe he can get promoted to FTM soon and help Sano have a literal "come to Jesus" moment .... Whatever works!!

Kirilloff autographs balls with Col 3:23 under his name. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Was just checking Kirilloffs Twitter ... That dude is pretty religious .... Maybe he can get promoted to FTM soon and help Sano have a literal "come to Jesus" moment .... Whatever works!!

Kirilloff was "raised in a deeply religious family" and home-schooled / online school, and he was committed to Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell) before the draft.

 

https://www.twincities.com/2016/06/11/minnesota-twins-alex-kirilloff/

[h2oface]

 

Gordon still proving that he's far from big league ready (down to 642 OPS and 78 wRC+), yet many still want him promoted ASAP.  At least his BABIP is getting closer to normalized, so we can see what he really is.

 

 

A one week of slowing down, and that negates the rest of the year? He had weeks like this in AA, too. He will have weeks like this in the Show. What he has been proving, with the whole sample size, and not just the couple weeks in AAA, is that this is the outlier, and not the trend. Sure, just keep him put, and waste it in the minors instead of seeing if he can help the only team that counts. Nobody is ever sure of readiness, until the opportunity is present. No one can know unless the opportunity is given. It surely can't hurt the big league team to see, at this point.