Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/25): Sammons Shuts Out Snappers

[Seth Stohs]

Adalberto Mejia continued to make his case for another opportunity with the Twins with a strong showing in Game 1 of a double header for the Red Wings. He was good, but his performance would likely rank second out of three really strong starts in the Twins system on Monday night. There wasn’t a lot of offense in the system, in part because Elizabethton got rained out, but there were some big, clutch hits.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Fernando Romero was placed back on the Rochester roster.

• Jordan Pacheco was reinstated from the Disabled List. Wynston Sawyer was placed on the disabled list with a fractured hamate bone.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Game 1 - Rochester 4, Syracuse 1

Box Score

 

Adalberto Mejia put together another terrific start. Will it be his last with the Red Wings before re-joining the Twins rotation? The left-hander gave up one run on just two hits over six innings. He didn’t allow a hit until there was an out in the sixth inning. He walked two and struck out four. John Curtiss gave up a hit and walked two in the seventh, but he didn’t give up a run and recorded his seventh save.

 

LaMonte Wade provided the power. His first AAA homer, a three-run shot, was more than enough for the Red Wings. Zack Granite and Willians Astudillo each added a double. Granite stole his ninth base. Astudillo was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance and left the game. Byron Buxton’s rehab continued, and he went 0-4 with two strikeouts.

 

Game 2 - Rochester 3, Syracuse 2 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

The second game of the double header needed an extra inning to decide it. It was a bullpen game for the Red Wings as Gabriel Moya started. In 2 2/3 innings, he gave up a run on four hits. He struck out three without issuing a walk. DJ Baxendale came on and threw two scoreless innings. He gave up four hits and struck out one. Nick Andersen then threw 2 1/3 innings. He gave up no runs on two hits. He walked none and struck out two. Tyler Duffey got the eighth inning and took the loss. He gave up two runs (1 earned, due to starting the inning at second base) on one hit and an intentional walk.

 

Jordan Pacheco, returning from the DL, went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Edgar Corcino also played his first Red Wings game of this season and hit his first double. The Red Wings had just five hits. Byron Buxton went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in this game.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Biloxi 4

Box Score

 

Kohl Stewart had another solid start on Monday night. The right-hander gave up one run on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out eight batters. Sam Clay came on and gave up a run on two hits and a walk and recorded two outs. He struck one out. Ryne Harper gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning. Tyler Jay pitched the ninth and gave up one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out one.

 

Alex Perez led the offense. He went 2-for-4 with his fifth double and an RBI. Andy Wilkins went 1-for-2 with two walks and his fourth double. Brent Rooker added his 16th double.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 0

Box Score

 

Bryan Sammons was the start of this game for the Kernels. The 2017 draft pick tossed eight shutout innings. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out five. With the Win, he improves to 4-4 with a 2.69 ERA. Calvin Faucher recorded his second save. He gave up a hit and a walk, and struck out two, in maintaining and completing the shutout.

 

Jose Miranda led the offense with his 15th and 16th doubles. Jordan Gore was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jacob Pearson hit a single and walked. Royce Lewis walked twice and stole his 17th base. David Banuelos hit his seventh double.

 

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton , Johnson City

Box Score

 

Rain and poor field condition meant no game for the E-Twins on Monday night.

 

 

GCL Twins Talk

GCL Twins 5, GCL Rays 2

Box Score

 

After a tough first outing, Andriu Marin put together a good start on Monday. He gave up two runs on three hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Lefty Petru Balan threw two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and a walk while striking out one. Steven Cruz picked up his first Save after throwing two shutout frames. He gave up two hits and struck two out.

 

Victor Tademo went 3-for-5. Estamy Urena went 2-for-3 with two walks. Kidany Salva was 2-for-3. He was also hit by a pitch, had a sacrifice fly and a stolen base. Austin Hale caught the second half of the game and knocked his first double. Aaron Whitefield’s rehab continued as he went 1-for-4 with a walk.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Victor Tademo, GCL Twins (3-5)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Bryan Sammons, Cedar Rapids Kernels (8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 0-2, 2 BB, R, SB(17)

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - Did not pitch

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-8, R, 2 K

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - No Game.

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 1-4, 2B(16), K

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, K

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - Did not pitch

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 1-5, 2 BB, HR(1), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#18 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) - Game rained out

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (1 HR allowed)

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - Disabled List, began rehab on June 19.

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Syracuse (6:35 CST) - RHP Zack Littell (1-3, 3.05 ERA)

Biloxi @ Chattanooga (10:15 am CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (4-4, 4.26 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Tampa (5:30 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (0-0, 5.29 ERA)

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina (2-2, 3.68 ERA)

Johnson City @ Elizabethton (5:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - TBD

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have.

 

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[Old Twins Cap]

Buxton, geez.  No answers.

 

There goes the entire paradigm of Twins' rebuild.

 

Another five years of mediocrity.

 

At least.

 

I may not live long enough to see another Twins' team in the playoffs.

 

[drock2190]

It would be nice if there was a category for Buxton and Sano underneath the prospects list, showing their stats since they might be down in the minors for awhile. 

[Danchat]

I think it's time for Mejia to get called up and stay up for good. The problem is that if you want him to start on Friday, he'd be losing a day of rest, so Slegers might be the better fit to get that start.

[D.C Twins]

After pouring over advanced metrics, I have come up with a nuanced opinion about Romero's demotion in this lost season...…

 

Booooooooooooooooooooo      (Deep breathe) 

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (passed out)

[nater79a]

 

I think it's time for Mejia to get called up and stay up for good. The problem is that if you want him to start on Friday, he'd be losing a day of rest, so Slegers might be the better fit to get that start.

 

Believe Mejia would start on Saturday with normal rest. 

Berrios toes the rubber on Friday.

[nater79a]

 

Buxton, geez.  No answers.

 

There goes the entire paradigm of Twins' rebuild.

 

Another five years of mediocrity.

 

At least.

 

I may not live long enough to see another Twins' team in the playoffs.

 

 

Yeah, not good for Buck. 

1 for 8 with four K's. 

<Sigh...>

[Seth Stohs]

 

Buxton, geez.  No answers.

 

There goes the entire paradigm of Twins' rebuild.

 

Another five years of mediocrity.

 

At least.

 

I may not live long enough to see another Twins' team in the playoffs.

 

Slight overreaction?

[Wyorev]

I’m with Seth on the overreaction suggestion.

At the same time, I think Mr. Buxton needs to stay in the minors until he puts together a full week with a strikeout rate closer to 10%, rather than 25%, much less wherever he’s at for this short stint in Rochester. It seems to be near 40% this past week.

[Wyorev]

I should have simply checked - Buxton’s strikeout rate is over 42%.

He seems so lost at the plate, and one thing that’s tough to watch is how passive and reactive he seems during his at bats.

Byron is such a wonderful athlete who moves so well, and he looks like a statue up there, rather than the elite, athletic ball player he is.

He doesn’t necessarily need a leg kick, but his present approach does not seem to offer him a chance to tap into his God given gifts.

I sure hope he figures it out, it will be wonderful if he does.

[h2oface]

Should we review the TD posters' preseason projections for Buxton and Sano? Maybe MVP meant something other than MVP?

 

[jorgenswest]

Buxton, geez.  No answers.

 

There goes the entire paradigm of Twins' rebuild.

 

Another five years of mediocrity.

 

At least.

 

I may not live long enough to see another Twins' team in the playoffs.

If he is down there and working to make changes to his swing or approach then it isn’t going to go well immediately. He may need longer than a rehab stay.

[Ncgo4]

Buxton and Sano. Sano and Buxton. What might have been. What might or might not ever be. One guy has ballooned to 300 lbs and the other has no body fat at all and thinks it’s Ok to run full speed ito the wall to catch a fly ball.

 

If I were to bet on either of them...who knows. Do think it’s a certainty that the toe heals. The likelihood that Sano will take charge of his diet is very slight at best.

[puckstopper1]

I LOVE Sammons' stat line yesterday (8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K) - unlike the "K" happy crowd that would rather see a starter go 5.2 IP and whiff 11.

[rdehring]

Really like how Miranda's season has been going.  After a very cold start, May was much better with June better than May.  And he won't turn 20 until later this week.  This kid probably is the best 3B prospect in the organization.  Lets hope he keeps getting better every step of the way.

 

Lots to like when looking at Sammons' numbers.  The only negative I see is that his strikeouts are down a bit from last year at Cedar Rapids, although that wasn't all that many innings.  The other knock is that at 23, he is a bit old.  Assuming he came out of college last year as a senior.  For those of you who have seen him, does he have the stuff to be a potential big leaguer?  Or is it likely that his ceiling is more of another AAAA starter?

 

Stewart's results were better last night, although he still had a 1.50 WHIP.  I guess baby steps are good.

[Otto von Ballpark]

It would be nice if there was a category for Buxton and Sano underneath the prospects list, showing their stats since they might be down in the minors for awhile.

A list of Twins 40-man guys who are no longer prospects but are playing in the minors might be nice. Although I think they are always mentioned in the game recaps anyway -- I generally just read those and don't check the list at the bottom.

Edited June 26, 2018 by spycake

[Seth Stohs]

 

If he is down there and working to make changes to his swing or approach then it isn’t going to go well immediately. He may need longer than a rehab stay.

 

No reason to not use the full 20 days. 

[MangLitch]

Stewart looks like he may be settling into a nice groove, although only 4 games. But since his two 6 ER gaffes, 4 games/1.48 ERA/10.74 K/9 ........ albeit with a 1.48 whip but if he can continue to get punchouts he can continue to bail himself out.

 

Man, Stewart coming on late would be a fantastic development for the pitching pipeline. Berrios, Romero, Graterol, Gonzo, Stewart etc..... wouldn't look bad in a few years. 

 

I have nothing to say about buxton and sano that hasn't already been said.... bummer dude...... so far anyways. 

[Vanimal46]

Stewart looks like he may be settling into a nice groove, although only 4 games. But since his two 6 ER gaffes, 4 games/1.48 ERA/10.74 K/9 ........ albeit with a 1.48 whip but if he can continue to get punchouts he can continue to bail himself out.

 

Man, Stewart coming on late would be a fantastic development for the pitching pipeline. Berrios, Romero, Graterol, Gonzo, Stewart etc..... wouldn't look bad in a few years.

 

I have nothing to say about buxton and sano that hasn't already been said.... bummer dude...... so far anyways.

Stewart was left for dead by many fans, myself included. It's a very nice development to see him strike out more batters.

[gunnarthor]

I think the Twins would be wise to let Buxton have his full rehab assignment in the minors before bringing him back up. One of his problems over the last several years is that he's been in and out of lineups too often, either because of injury and/or demotions. He hasn't even about 120 at bats in the majors and AAA this year and only played in 35 games.

 

Last year he struggled a bit but was able to make the adjustments a couple different times as needed and the team let him work it out and he remained more or less healthy. 

[Loosey]

I want to see Buxton succeed so badly.  But it does get discouraging to see him struggle so badly in the majors and then go down to rehab in AAA and struggle there as well.  

 

We all know he has the ability.  We have seen it for stretches.  I'm beginning to think its between the ears.  He is thinking TOO much and not letting his natural ability just shine through.  A previous poster said he looks like a statue.  I think he looks very rigid and tense when he is hitting.  Almost like he has a million thoughts about his swing, pitch recognition, etc. running through his head each pitch.

 

I really hope he has something click soon.  Because the July-September Bryon Buxton from last year was something pretty damn exciting to watch.

[Parker Hageman]

The ending of the Red Wings' second game was amazing.

 

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/1011430349887418368

[SirLoin]

 

No reason to not use the full 20 days. 

 

Shouldn't he stay in Rochester after the 20 days (activated....then sent down) until he can at least hit AAA pitching with some consistency?  

[rdehring]

 

Stewart looks like he may be settling into a nice groove, although only 4 games. But since his two 6 ER gaffes, 4 games/1.48 ERA/10.74 K/9 ........ albeit with a 1.48 whip but if he can continue to get punchouts he can continue to bail himself out.

 

Man, Stewart coming on late would be a fantastic development for the pitching pipeline. Berrios, Romero, Graterol, Gonzo, Stewart etc..... wouldn't look bad in a few years. 

 

I have nothing to say about buxton and sano that hasn't already been said.... bummer dude...... so far anyways. 

Don't forget the young man who could, not saying will, be the best of all of them...Lewis Thorpe.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Stewart looks like he may be settling into a nice groove, although only 4 games. But since his two 6 ER gaffes, 4 games/1.48 ERA/10.74 K/9 ........ albeit with a 1.48 whip but if he can continue to get punchouts he can continue to bail himself out.

 

Stewart is repeating AA for a third year, and his improved K rate is still only league average (23%). Remember, this is a league where Luke Bard struck out 34% last year, and Nik Turley 52%. Strikeouts are a big part of the modern game, but that also means that strikeout numbers aren't necessarily indicative of special talent anymore.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Shouldn't he stay in Rochester after the 20 days (activated....then sent down) until he can at least hit AAA pitching with some consistency?  

 

To be determined in about 10-12 more days. If hes' still completely lost, then sure. If not, ,get him up here to continue.

 

Also, 20 days for rehab, but the Twins could also "option" him after that point, and if they call him up within something like 10 days, the option wouldn't count. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe they should have optioned Buxton already? Using rehab to tweak his swing costs service time. Now he is only 18 days away from reaching 3 full years service time. Obviously they would much rather see him start hitting well, but absent that, they might as well have tried to get an extra year of control in case he gets hurt again or it doesn't click for awhile.

 

Same for Sano, although he was 31 days ahead of Buxton in service time already -- but they could have optioned him a few days earlier and had some protection in case he too failed to adjust quickly or got injured in the minor leagues.

 

Crazy to think we will only control these guys for 3 seasons beyond this one.

[birddog]

I would like to know if Buxton is forced to bunt in the minors and if not why? I would like to see him attempt a bunt for a base hit at least once a game, and especially in the minors shouldn't he be doing what he needs to make himself a better on-base guy?

 

With Buck, what is the minimum we should expect with the bat to have his glove on the field? I would love to think ceiling with him, but am afraid we have to expect floor.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Maybe they should have optioned Buxton already? Using rehab to tweak his swing costs service time. Now he is only 18 days away from reaching 3 full years service time. Obviously they would much rather see him start hitting well, but absent that, they might as well have tried to get an extra year of control in case he gets hurt again or it doesn't click for awhile.

Same for Sano, although he was 31 days ahead of Buxton in service time already -- but they could have optioned him a few days earlier and had some protection in case he too failed to adjust quickly or got injured in the minor leagues.

Crazy to think we will only control these guys for 3 seasons beyond this one.

 

Hence the small window many of us have discussed.....

[ashbury]

Stewart looks like he may be settling into a nice groove, although only 4 games. But since his two 6 ER gaffes, 4 games/1.48 ERA/10.74 K/9 ........ albeit with a 1.48 whip but if he can continue to get punchouts he can continue to bail himself out.

Stewart is repeating AA for a third year, and his improved K rate is still only league average (23%). Remember, this is a league where Luke Bard struck out 34% last year, and Nik Turley 52%. Strikeouts are a big part of the modern game, but that also means that strikeout numbers aren't necessarily indicative of special talent anymore.

Looks like a nice 4-game stretch, but I was concerned when the WHIP number was posted; the fancy ERA under 2 seems aided by timely outs (or untimely hitting by opponents). But I checked, and BA on balls in play during these 4 games is high, almost .400. These two aspects of "luck" may have cancelled each other out. Encouragingly, two of those games were against opponents who had cuffed him around in the two bad starts preceding these. I'm back to, "nice 4-game stretch."