Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/29): De La Trinidad Makes His Mark, Williams Homers Twice

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota’s farm system has evolved over the last month. This year’s draft class is settling into their roles with their newly assigned clubs. The Twins have also been active over the last week by trading away Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Pressly for five new players and other trades could still be on the horizon.

 

Players from this year’s draft and newly acquired players had an impact on Sunday’s action.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Louisville 3 (10 Innings)

Box Score

Rochester took an early lead in this one but it would quickly fade away. Jeremy Hazelbaker drew a one-out walk in the third inning before Taylor Motter cracked a two-run home run. In the bottom of the third, Stephen Gonsalves quickly surrendered the lead. Three singles, a walk, and a sacrifice fly meant the game was tied. Gonsavles pitched six innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

 

On rehab, Addison Reed pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit. He had one strikeout and walked two batters. John Curtiss struck out three and walked one over two scoreless innings. Luke Bard took the loss but the only run he allowed was the runner who started on second in extra-innings.

 

Rochester didn’t have much offense outside of that third frame. The team was limited to three hits and five walks.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Tennessee 8

Box Score

This game evolved from a pitcher’s duel in the early innings before the Smokies bats woke up. Omar Bencomo pitched into the fifth inning and allowed two runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked two. Sam Clay ran into the most damage. He couldn’t pitch a full inning and he allowed four runs on four hits. Paco Rodriguez and Andrew Vasquez each pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed a run each.

 

Zander Wiel lead the offensive charge. He went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles. Brent Rooker and Luis Arraez both had multi-hit games and Arraez drove in two runs. Jaylin Davis added his 8^th double, one of the team’s three extra-base hits.

 

Overall, the team went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8, Daytona 6

Box Score

The Miracle struck the final couple of blows in this back-and-forth contest. Newly acquired Ernie De La Trinidad went 3-for-4 with a three-run bomb and he scored two runs in the game. Alex Kirilloff continued to stay hot as he finished 2-for-5 and his late inning double extended his hit streak to 13 games. He also scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch and drove in an important run in the seventh inning.

 

Travis Blankenhorn went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and two RBI. Royce Lewis also had a multi-hit game. Mark Contreras reached base three times and scored two runs.

 

On the mound, Bryan Sammons got into some early trouble as he walked five batters in four innings of work. He allowed four earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts but he would be long gone before this one was decided. Colton Davis took over for Sammons but he allowed one run on two hits in his inning of work. Clark Beeker was a savior in this game. He limited Daytona to one hit over the four shutout innings to finish the game. He struck out three and didn’t walk any.

 

Fort Myers has won four consecutive series.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Quad Cities 6

Box Score

Cedar Rapids drew a season-high 10 walks but the team was limited to two hits en route to being shutout. In fact, every batter in the Kernels line-up reached base at least once with the exception of David Banuelos. Gabriel Maciel reached base three times out of the lead-off spot. Andrew Bechtold went 1-for-3 and had the team’s lone extra-base hit, a double. Jean Carlos Arias was held hitless but he reached base twice.

 

Jordan Balazovic ran into some early trouble as he surrendered four runs in the first innings. He settled in from there and only allowed one more run over the next five frames. He finished by allowing five runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Melvi Acosta pitched the final three innings and allowed one run on four hits with four strikeouts.

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 4, Bristol 7

Box Score

Three defensive errors allowed three unearned runs to be scored in this one and that was the difference. Brian Rapp started and lasted four innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk any but allowed four runs on six hits. Austin Schulfer saw two unearned runs score in three frames. He struck out three and walked two. Moises Gomez pitched a shutout inning. Zach Neff walked a batter in the ninth before ran cut this game short.

 

Chris Williams, a 2018 8^th round pick, continued his hot hitting. The Clemson product cranked a pair of home runs to up his season total to 11. First-round pick Trevor Larnach reached base twice and collected his second double of the season. Michael Helman added his second home run of the year.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Ernie De La Trinidad, Fort Myers (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, K)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Stephen Gonsalves, Rochester (6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 6 K, BB)

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. Please note that this Prospect Summary has been updated.

 

1. Royce Lewis (FM): 2-for-5, RBI, 2 R

2. Alex Kirilloff (FM): 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R

3. Brusdar Graterol (FM): Did not play.

4. Nick Gordon (ROC): 1-for-3, BB, K

5. Stephen Gonsalves (ROC): 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 K, BB

6. Trevor Larnach (ET): 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB

7. Brent Rooker (CHAT): 2-for-4, RBI, BB, K

8. Akil Baddoo (CR): 0-for-4, BB, 2 K

9. Wander Javier: Out of for the season

10. Zack Littell (ROC): Did not play.

11. Blayne Enlow (CR): Did not play.

12. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 0-for-2, 2 BB, K

13. Travis Blankenhorn (FM): 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K

14. Lewis Thorpe (CHAT): Did not play.

15. Ben Rortvedt (FM): Did not play.

16. Yunior Severino (ET): Did not play.

17. Lewin Diaz (FM): Did not play.

18. Ryan Jeffers (ET): Did not play.

19. Jacob Pearson (CR): Did not play.

20. Luis Arraez (CHAT): 2-for-5, 2 RBI

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Scranton/WB (6:05 CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (0-3, 4.50 ERA)

Rochester vs. Scranton/WB (Game 2) – TBD

Chattanooga @ Tennessee (6:00 CST) – TBD

Fort Myers – Scheduled Off-Day

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:05 CST) – RHP Jhoan Duran (5-4, 4.73 ERA)

Elizabethton – Scheduled Off-Day

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00 AM CST) – TBD

 

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

 

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[Han Joelo]

Any word on Buxton?  Played a couple days ago, hit a homer, then crickets.

 

Here's hoping Ernesto de la Trinidad someday makes the big leagues, becomes a fan favorite...and signs a nice contract extension.

 

 

[nater79a]

The jump from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers is proving to be a difficult one for some of the Twins' pitching prospects.  Tyler Watson (since returned to the Kernels), Brusdar Graterol and now Bryan Sammons have had a rough go of it with the Miracle after doing well with Cedar Rapids.  I guess Graterol did have a soild outing his last time out after struggling in his first few starts.

 

Has this historically been one of the tougher leaps  -  MWL to FSL -  for pitchers in the past?

 

 

[slash129]

Gordon has drawn a walk in 3 straight games now.

 

Progress!

[Dman]

I've got a feeling Ernesto de la Trinadad is going to be one of my favorite players.  Quite the top of the order FM has with Lewis, De La Trinadad, Kiriloff and the GRYZ.  Should be fun to watch those guys while they are there.  FM is the team to watch right now.

 

Wondering what is going to happen with promotions after the trade deadline. Kind of hoping they bump Kiriloff up but we'll have to wait and see how things work with all the new prospects they brought in.

[rdehring]

After a brief slump (2 games in 1 day with only 1 hit in each), good seeing Kirilloff back in the saddle.

 

Also good seeing Arraez batting average climbing ever so slightly (now almost .250) after making that tough jump to AA.  Has only been 22 games.  Is he getting comfortable so yesterday's multi hit game becomes his norm?

 

Has only been 5 games, but Jeffers has found hitting in Cedar Rapids much more difficult than at Elizabethton.  Let's hope he breaks out real soon.  Sticking with the Kernels, see that Balazovic has already pitched about 13% more innings than either of his first two professional seasons.  After some real nice starts, wonder if he is facing that 'tired arm' condition the last two times out? 

[goulik]

So with 5 new additions from trades, our top 20 watch at the end may no longer be our top 20... any chance we can add 3-4 of them at the bottom or that list can be expanded to 23 or 24?

 

 

PS THANK YOU for these updates daily and I love the layout of them this year!!!

Edited July 30, 2018 by goulik

[BJames]

Both AA and A+ line-ups are looking good.  I'm still watching the pitching at AAA

 

[Monkeypaws]

I think we can stop saying Kirilloff is on a hot streak - he's just a great hitter.

[gunnarthor]

I really hope they push Kiriloff to AA soon. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I've got a feeling Ernesto de la Trinadad is going to be one of my favorite players.  Quite the top of the order FM has with Lewis, De La Trinadad, Kiriloff and the GRYZ.  Should be fun to watch those guys while they are there.  FM is the team to watch right now.

 

Wondering what is going to happen with promotions after the trade deadline. Kind of hoping they bump Kiriloff up but we'll have to wait and see how things work with all the new prospects they brought in.

 

I feel like De La Trinidad profiles pretty similarly to Mark Contreras, who has been much better in Ft. Myers than I might have guessed, but that's a good thing. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

After a brief slump (2 games in 1 day with only 1 hit in each), good seeing Kirilloff back in the saddle.

 

Also good seeing Arraez batting average climbing ever so slightly (now almost .250) after making that tough jump to AA.  Has only been 22 games.  Is he getting comfortable so yesterday's multi hit game becomes his norm?

 

Has only been 5 games, but Jeffers has found hitting in Cedar Rapids much more difficult than at Elizabethton.  Let's hope he breaks out real soon.  Sticking with the Kernels, see that Balazovic has already pitched about 13% more innings than either of his first two professional seasons.  After some real nice starts, wonder if he is facing that 'tired arm' condition the last two times out? 

 

Regarding Balazovic, He's 13% over what he pitched in the GCL, but don't' forget that he pitched for 2-3 months in Extended Spring before that. I don't' know how many innings that is, but even if you assume 3 innings a week, that's another 30 innings he threw last year.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So with 5 new additions from trades, our top 20 watch at the end may no longer be our top 20... any chance we can add 3-4 of them at the bottom or that list can be expanded to 23 or 24?


PS THANK YOU for these updates daily and I love the layout of them this year!!!

 

Four of them went into my (very tentative) top 25, but I could see four of them being top 20 guys for me. De La Trinidad obviously isn't a Top 30 guy, but the other four are all very intriguing. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I think we can stop saying Kirilloff is on a hot streak - he's just a great hitter.

 

Yes. He is a legit very good hitter. 

 

The question I have for him at this point is just to see how he is able to do over the last 5-6 weeks. This is the most he's played. Missing last year due to Tommy John surgery clearly didn't slow down his bat. He's more than proven that. Now we''ll see how he does for a full season. Will he get tired? Will that effect his bat at all? Especially playing in the FSL?

[howieramone2]

 

Four of them went into my (very tentative) top 25, but I could see four of them being top 20 guys for me. De La Trinidad obviously isn't a Top 30 guy, but the other four are all very intriguing. 

A deep farm system just got deeper. On Inside Twins, Falvey called the pitcher they got for Pressly, a potential front line starter.

[rdehring]

 

Regarding Balazovic, He's 13% over what he pitched in the GCL, but don't' forget that he pitched for 2-3 months in Extended Spring before that. I don't' know how many innings that is, but even if you assume 3 innings a week, that's another 30 innings he threw last year.

Good point, Seth.  But after checking, he only pitched 3.2 innings before June 11 this year.  So I expect that he would have had nearly the same number of innings in EST this year.  Not trying to debate the specifics, rather wondering if he is hitting that time when some pitchers get a tired arm?

Edited July 30, 2018 by rdehring

[slash129]

 

A deep farm system just got deeper. On Inside Twins, Falvey called the pitcher they got for Pressly, a potential front line starter.

 

Falvey was saying the same thing in the press box the other night, but he's in a position where he needs to sell hope to the fans.  I'm not saying there isn't a front line starter possibility, but you have to take Falvey's words with a grain of salt.  You'd never expect him to say something like, "Yeah, we unloaded Pressly for a couple guys that can eat innings at AA and then they'll probably peter out in Rochester."

[Vanimal46]

I really hope they push Kiriloff to AA soon.

Same. Other teams have the luxury of aggressively pushing advanced bats through their system. I hope Kiriloff is our guy to put through the test.

[108Stitches]

Tyler Wells Instagram shows he’s on his way to Tennessee! Looks like he got the call up

[Seth Stohs]

 

A deep farm system just got deeper. On Inside Twins, Falvey called the pitcher they got for Pressly, a potential front line starter.

 

From my understanding, Alcala is closer, AA, and throws 96-100, but he really needs to work on both of his secondary pitches. Duran is younger and further away, but hes' 95-99 and has better - through still lots of room for improvement - secondary pitches. So, in theory, they could both be front line starters OR late-game relievers depending on that development. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Tyler Wells Instagram shows he’s on his way to Tennessee! Looks like he got the call up

 

Confirmed... 

[howieramone2]

 

Falvey was saying the same thing in the press box the other night, but he's in a position where he needs to sell hope to the fans.  I'm not saying there isn't a front line starter possibility, but you have to take Falvey's words with a grain of salt.  You'd never expect him to say something like, "Yeah, we unloaded Pressly for a couple guys that can eat innings at AA and then they'll probably peter out in Rochester."

I'm giving the new regime the benefit of the doubt. If he ends up being the next Alex Meyer or Trevor May, I'll know better. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm giving the new regime the benefit of the doubt. If he ends up being the next Alex Meyer or Trevor May, I'll know better. 

 

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation. 

[rdehring]

 

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation. 

We also should be looking at what the Twins traded away.  They gave up 2 months of Escobar and a year + 2 months of Pressley (that's right, isn't it?).  Getting four prospects in return with all four in their Top 20...plus another kid that's ripping the cover off the ball his first two games.  I view that as a good return.  Will any of them pan out?  We'll know in four or five years.  That's the unfortunately part, this is a long term investment.

[howieramone2]

 

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation. 

As you know, 90% of all prospects never make it out of "A" ball. 4 of the 5 look good to me. We picked up 2 good arms to improve our numbers, along with 2 athletic outfielders. I fully expect this to be our 3rd strong deadline in a row. No idea when we will see the results.

Edited July 30, 2018 by howieramone2

[nicksaviking]

 

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation. 

 

Out of five prospects where three or so are organizational top 30 guys? I'd expect one to turn into a decent contributor, two of them to make it to the show.

 

If none of them pan out it is on the front office, they picked these players themselves. I won't criticize them for making the decision to trade, but yeah, it's on them. 

 

And I fully supported them for doing it. It's just part of the job, Molitor has to make a decision whether to use Addison Reed for the third day in a row and Berrios has to decide if he trusts his curveball on a 3-2 count.

[Mr. Brooks]

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation.

I won't blame them at all. These are all lottery tickets, and I'm of "the more lottery tickets you can accumulate, the higher your odds of hitting one" line of approach.

 

If they are trading Gibson or Berrios or Rosario, then yeah, I'd judge the results, because you should be getting better than lottery tickets in those kinds of deals.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Out of five prospects where three or so are organizational top 30 guys? I'd expect one to turn into a decent contributor, two of them to make it to the show.

 

This is a reasonable expectation, or at least a reasonable hope. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I won't blame them at all. These are all lottery tickets, and I'm of "the more lottery tickets you can accumulate, the higher your odds of hitting one" line of approach.
 

 

Well said, and that'd my biggest point on why I think accumulating quantity to go with quality is so important. 

[gunnarthor]

 

Out of curiosity, and not directed at you but to the group... do fans expect that the prospects acquired in July trade deadline deals will pan out, and if they don't, it's on the front office? I mean, I get that thinking, but the nature of prospects is that most of them don't become stars, so I hope that people don't come out of these two trades with an assumption that the team will come away with an all star or two. That would be awesome if they did, but I don't 'think it should be the expectation. 

I don't expect all of them to pan out but I do expect some of them to pan out. It's not quite fair to compare these acquired prospects to "all prospects" in the sense that most prospects are just org filler. These guys clearly are not. But I do think that fans should expect the FO to make good trades. We've moved a lot of guys in the last year or so and we'll see what the returns are but if Garcia, Escobar, Kinztler, Lynn, Pressly and Duke (am I forgetting others?) are traded away for nothing in the long run, then it means our FO has some explaining to do. Doesn't mean they made a mistake necessarily but they have some explaining.