Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/24): Duran Dazzles and Arraez Goes Yard

[Ted Schwerzler]

Acquired by the Twins in exchange for Eduardo Escobar, Jhoan Duran got to face his former team tonight. With the Kernels playing the Cougars, Duran’s former Diamondbacks farm teammates were in the opposing batters box tonight. Up a couple of levels, the light hitting Luis Arraez brought his boomstick as the Lookouts left the field victorious.Transactions

Rochester Red Wings

ADD INF Alex Perez from Chattanooga

DEL C Willians Astudillo recalled by Twins

Chattanooga Lookouts

ADD INF Joe Cronin from Fort Myers

Fort Myers Miracle

LHP Alex Robinson placed on the 7 day DL

LHP Bryan Sammons placed on the 7 day DL

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Syracuse 3, Rochester 0

Box Score

 

The Red Wings found themselves down early in this one. Chase De Jong yielded an earned run in the second inning, and that proved to be an insurmountable tally for the away team. De Jong did turn in a very nice start, and wound up throwing 6 1/3 innings ceding three runs, walking one, and striking out four.

 

Byron Buxton was back in the lineup for the Red Wings in this one. He’s yet to play on back-to-back days, but did go 0-4 in this one. Each plate appearance ended with a ball put in play, and the assumption would be that he’ll be recalled by the Twins within the next week or so.

 

Jake Reed finished the final five outs of this one, and continues to be a force in relief. He tallied a single strikeout but didn’t allow any hits or walks. His 2.03 ERA is dazzling, and he remains a potential option for the Twins to look at down the stretch.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Jacksonville 3

Box Score

 

Tonight Jorge Alcala had his number called by the Lookouts. The former Astros prospect turned in five innings, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out four. Former Dodgers prospect Dustin Smeltzer picked up a two inning save and struck out four.

 

The first inning started with a bang for the Lookouts. Leading off for the home team, Luis Arraez blasted his second homer of the season for Chattanooga. Jaylin Davis then doubled home Brent Rooker, who reached first on a walk and then second on a wild pitch. An Andy Wilkins ground out plated Davis for the inning’s third run.

 

Not to be denied, the Jumbo Shrimp drew even in the third inning on a two run bomb, and a 3-3 tie would stand until the sixth. Arraez helped the cause again, this time with a sac fly, and that fourth run ended up being the difference.

 

Game two of the five game set takes place tomorrow night.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 3, St. Lucie 2

Box Score

 

Charlie Barnes was on the bump for this one, and another solid outing brings his ERA below 3.00 on the year. He lasted five innings giving up just one run on five hits while striking out two and walking one. Ryan Mason and Hector Lujan did good work in relief to keep this one in the win column for Fort Myers.

 

Trailing in the top of the third, the Miracle evened things up with a run on a wild pitch. From there, Taylor Grzelakowski singled in Ernie De La Trinidad in the fourth, and another wild pitch allowed Caleb Hamilton to cross the plate in the eighth. The Mets did plate a run in the bottom half of that inning, but they were not able to get any closer than one run.

 

These two teams square off again tomorrow night.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Kane County 1

Box Score

 

Jhoan Duran got to face his old team for the first time in the Twins organization tonight, and he looked absolutely dominant. Working 6 2/3 innings, he gave up just one hit while walking three and fanning ten. The win was his seventh of the season.

 

Trevor Larnach and Ryan Jeffers combined to go 0-for-7 in the middle of the lineup in this one, but their teammates rallied to pick them up. Michael Helman started the scoring with a solo shot in the first, his second of the year for Cedar Rapids. The Kernels then added two more on a Michael Davis bases-loaded single in the seventh.

 

Picking up his first save of the season for the Kernels, Johan Quezada ceded the only run on a balk in the eighth. These two clubs will play game two of the series tomorrow night.

 

ELIZABETHTON TWINS TALK

Elizabethton 7, Bristol 3

Box Score

 

Austin Schulfer got the nod in this one and his five innings of work saw three unearned runs score on six hits. He’d be around long enough for the win, and it pushed his record to 3-0 on the season.

 

The game’s first run scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, as DaShawn Keirsey gave the E-Twins a 1-0 lead. Yunior Severino helped to pile on with a two-RBI single in the second, and then Trevor Casanova left the yard for a solo shot (his third) in the third.

 

Leading 4-1 after the third inning, the E-Twins would need to lock things down after two more Bristol runners scored in the fifth. A one-run game got a bit less sticky however, thanks to a three-run eighth for the good guys. Jean Carlos Arias delivered with a sac fly, then Ricky De La Torre drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Capping off the scoring, Severino picked up his third RBI of the evening on a sac fly.

 

Game two of the series takes place tomorrow night.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Johan Duran (CR): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Luis Arraez (CHAT): 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(2)

 

TOP 20 PROSPECT PERFORMANCE

1. Royce Lewis (FM): 0-4, BB

2. Alex Kirilloff (FM): 2-5, K

4. Nick Gordon (ROC): 0-3, 2 K

6. Trevor Larnach (CR): 0-4, K

7. Brent Rooker (CHAT): 0-3, R, BB, K

8. Akil Baddoo (CR): 1-4, K

12. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 0-4

13. Travis Blankenhorn (FM): 0-3, R, BB, K

16. Yunior Severino (ET): 1-3, 3 RBI

18. Ryan Jeffers (CR): 0-3, BB

20. Luis Arraez (CHAT): 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(2)

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester (6:05pm) – TBD

Chattanooga (6:15pm) – TBD

Fort Myers (5:30pm) – Griffin Jax (3-2, 3.04 ERA)

Cedar Rapids (6:35pm) –Edwar Colina (7-4, 2.48 ERA)

Elizabethton (6:00pm) - TBD

 

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

 

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[tarheeltwinsfan]

Nick G. is having a rough time getting hits. ?  Who will play 2B next year for the Twinkies?

[AZTwin]

Duran is really looking intriguing

[Pitz]

Nick G. is having a rough time getting hits. ? Who will play 2B next year for the Twinkies?

Arraez??

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Arraez??

Probably not ready either. I'm guessing a FA... hoping we can get Escobar back. 

[Pitz]

Probably not ready either. I'm guessing a FA... hoping we can get Escobar back.

Agreed all around. Suggested Arraez mostly in jest.

[bird]

Signing Escobar would fill the huge hole left when we traded Escobar.

[ashbury]

Agreed all around. Suggested Arraez mostly in jest.

The fact someone would take it seriously speaks volumes about the middle infield pipeline, even though from some perspectives it's a strength.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Agreed all around. Suggested Arraez mostly in jest.

Even in jest, maybe a September promotion wouldn't be bad for Arraez. I am not even sure I would want to rely on Gordon as an injury replacement in early 2019 either.

[howieramone2]

It sure hasn't taken long for our trade returnees to make their presence felt, particularly starting pitching. Looks to me like our window has been extended. Kudos to the new regime.

 

Edited August 25, 2018 by howieramone2

[rdehring]

De La Trinidad had another good game, which has been the norm for him.  Also good nights from Smeltzer and that Duran kid.  It sure is exciting to think about what he could become.  Lots of nice talent added last month.

 

Hope Arraez continues hitting like he has this last month.  Want to see him get his AA average up to .320 to match what he hit at Fort Myers.  With zero drop off moving from Hi-A to AA, he seems destined for the Twins second base slot sometime next year.

 

Took notice of Keirsey in your report.  With everything else going on we tend to forget about him, but he is having a very nice rookie season.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Jake Reed finished the final five outs of this one, and continues to be a force in relief. He tallied a single strikeout but didn’t allow any hits or walks. His 2.03 ERA is dazzling, and he remains a potential option for the Twins to look at down the stretch.

 

Good point. Reed has improved his K rate recently, and has been quite good -- opponents batting only .205/.288/.288 for the season, and only .105/.190/.132 over the last 28 days.

 

I have no idea how that will translate to MLB, but they could easily DL Addison Reed, and 60 day DL Belisle, and call up Jake Reed for a look.

[108Stitches]

Charlie Barnes is having a solid season. Alcala once again flops. I said before, I don’t hate that he throws near 100, but that doesn’t matter if you have no control of it and get hit when when you do put it in the zone.

[IaFan1]

"Up a couple of levels, the light hitting Luis Arraez brought his boomstick as the Lookouts left the field victorious."                                                                                                               

  I wonder if Luis Arraez is asking himself what he has to do to get a little respect. Lifetime .330 hitter. Sure only 6 HR's, but only K's once every ten at bats & a .383 OBP. I would think he will pass Nick Gordon on the depth chart. And him playing 2B for the Twins next year is not all that far fetched.

[David HK]

 

Nick G. is having a rough time getting hits. ?  Who will play 2B next year for the Twinkies?

 

Arraez??

In jest or not, I'm likin' me some Luis Arraez.

 

I hope he gets a good look in the spring. We might have a baby Altuve on our hands.

 

Nothing would please me more than to get Esco back, too, but that is FAR from a given. Seems to be a lot of posts that reflect some wishful thinking there.

[rdehring]

 

In jest or not, I'm likin' me some Luis Arraez.

 

I hope he gets a good look in the spring. We might have a baby Altuve on our hands.

 

Nothing would please me more than to get Esco back, too, but that is FAR from a given. Seems to be a lot of posts that reflect some wishful thinking there.

Although Seth has pointed out that he lacks Altuve's quickness and power.  But a guy who hits for a high average and doesn't strike out sure can play for me.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

 

A little early to make any conclusions. They were solid trades, but the front office will not have accomplished much if they can't develop them into MLB talent, or flip them for MLB talent.

It's always too early for praise.

[ashbury]

It's always too early for praise.

Moderator's note: I've had to remove other posts in this thread for being overly personal, dismissive, or disputatious. Please stick to actual discussion, not sniping at fellow members.

[Han Joelo]

What would Arraez look like as a big leaguer?  The current version of Forsythe?

[puckstopper1]

In the write-up Ted said "Byron Buxton was back in the lineup for the Red Wings in this one. He’s yet to play on back-to-back days, but did go 0-4 in this one. Each plate appearance ended with a ball put in play, and the assumption would be that he’ll be recalled by the Twins within the next week or so."

 

WHY????

 

I know there was a string about this a few weeks ago, but Buxton has shown nothing over the past several weeks to indicate he should be called. up.  This season is lost for him and the Twins.  Give him an early start on the off season and hopefully he can come back stronger (mentally and health wise) next Spring.

[bird]

 

 

 

Nothing would please me more than to get Esco back, too, but that is FAR from a given. Seems to be a lot of posts that reflect some wishful thinking there.

 

You might be right. They'd probably have to agree with his agents that he's worth what they say he is. This might be one of the rare times I think the player and his agent are right too.

 

If I'm the GM, I'm going to outbid others and overpay him a bit if I have to and give him the length he wants too. He'll be a good 2B for a year or two, a good UT thereafter, and a good teammate always from what we hear.

Edited August 25, 2018 by birdwatcher

[wabene]

Signing Escobar would fill the huge hole left when we traded Escobar.

That whole would be overflowing with Escobar and prospects!!

[wabene]

off-seasons are for dreaming (is it off-season already) and I agree with birdwatcher I would be aggressive in signing Caballo.

[caninatl04]

I wonder how much it would cost to hang onto Forsythe for one more year? He may be a good insurance policy for say 3 mill.