Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/21): Gonsalves Returns

[Steve Lein]

There were only three games on Tuesday as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos had the day off and another contest was rained out. In Fort Myers, the game that was suspended due to rain yesterday was finished, in addition to a regularly scheduled bill. In the games that were played, a top pitching prospect in Triple-A made his first start of the 2019 season, while a slugger in the Florida State League continued a scorching hot stretch with another home run (though technically he hit it yesterday).Keep reading to find out how all of your favorite Minnesota Twins prospects performed on Tuesday!

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Stephen Gonsalves was activated from the injured list and made the start for Rochester.
• Nick Gordon also was activated for the Red Wings and was back atop their batting order on the lineup card.

RED WINGS REPORT

Buffalo 5, Rochester 0

Box Score

 

Left-handed starter Stephen Gonsalves made his much anticipated 2019 debut for the Red Wings on Tuesday night, but he definitely looked rusty. He only allowed one run but was able to finish only two innings as he walked five while striking out two as just 23 of his 51 pitches went for strikes (45%).

 

D.J. Baxendale was the first man up in relief and delivered three perfect innings. 25 of his 36 pitches went for strikes (69%) as he switched up the mojo on the Bisons and struck out four. Zack Weiss went the next two frames and also struck out four, but a double-steal from Buffalo was followed by a wild-pitch in the sixth to put them up 2-0.

 

Trevor Hildenberger was brought in for his second appearance back in Triple-A in the eighth and delivered a one-two-three inning, striking out two. But the ninth didn’t go nearly that well. He finished the game for the Red Wings but in the process allowed three runs on five hits for the final score of 5-0. He finished with three K’s.

 

While the Bisons only outhit the home team 7-6, they were able to cash in some of their opportunities by going 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position compared to the Red Wings 0-for-10 effort. Randy Cesar (2-for-3, 2B) and Jordany Valdespin (2-for-3, BB) each had two hits and Zander Wiel also added a double. Nick Gordon went 0-for-5 in his return from the injured list.

 

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Scheduled day off

 

Pensacola lost their first series of the season against the Mobile BayBears over the weekend but that can’t overshadow one of the best starts in Southern League history since they switched their schedule format to five games series. They did win the final two games of that series and got the day off on Tuesday as they travel to play the Tennessee Smokies and look to start another streak.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Bradenton 7, Fort Myers 2 (completion of game suspended on 5/20)

Box Score

 

After rains moved in on Monday causing a suspension of play, Fort Myers and Bradenton recommenced the action in the top of the fourth inning at 11:00 in the morning on Tuesday. To that point the Marauders had taken a 3-1 lead against Miracle starter Jhoan Duran who finished 3 2/3 innings. He allowed those runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three and was responsible for two runners on base when the game resumed with Calvin Faucher on the mound.

 

He delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings, getting them through the seventh by allowing just two hits and striking out five. When he was done the game was still in reach and the Fort Myers offense did manage to push a run across to make it 3-2, but it was not to be.

 

Bradenton put up four runs in the eighth against Ricky Ramirez thanks to a bases- clearing double being followed by an RBI single. Ramirez wouldn’t allow another run and finished the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out three total hitters.

 

The first run of the game for the Miracle came on a Lewin Diaz home run, his eighth of the year and continues a hot stretch that has vaulted him into the Florida State League lead in OPS at .933 (they should probably promote him

[h2oface]

Hildenberger. Wow.

[rdehring]

I see that the Twins writer had a piece mentioning Javier this morning.  Like everyone, he is saying he is expected back on the field soon. 

 

Am anxious to see how Stewart does tonight as I expect the Twins will need him for more than a spot double header start before the season is over.

 

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Thanks for the good report. 

[puckstopper1]

Red Wings box score was certainly ugly to look at with Gonsalves, Gordon and Hildenberger's performances. 

 

Hopeful it was just "rust" for Gonsalves and Gordon.  I also really hope Hildy figures it out - soon!

Edited May 22, 2019 by puckstopper1

[Seth Stohs]

 

I see that the Twins writer had a piece mentioning Javier this morning.  Like everyone, he is saying he is expected back on the field soon. 

 

Am anxious to see how Stewart does tonight as I expect the Twins will need him for more than a spot double header start before the season is over.

 

Here is the tweet from when the beat writers asked about Javier last night.

 

 

 

[jmlease1]

Glad to see guys finally getting healthy. not going to overreact to 1 outing on a guy coming off injury. Just hope they can all get consistent PT and stay healthy well into the summer.

 

Have to wonder if Gordon wasn't pressing a bit seeing how well Arraez is doing in MLB...

[nicksaviking]

It's starting to look like it's going to be a disappointing end to what three years ago looked like a great story for Hildenberger.

 

Still, even it he doesn't get another shot, overall it was pretty good run for a guy drafted in the 22nd round.

[Seth Stohs]

 

It's starting to look like it's going to be a disappointing end to what three years ago looked like a great story for Hildenberger.

 

Still, even it he doesn't get another shot, overall it was pretty good run for a guy drafted in the 22nd round.

 

It was a great pick for the 22nd round... and, every reliever in history (with maybe 2-3 exceptions) has had a streak like this... He'll work through it and hopefully figure it out. Happens all the time. No need to be giving up on him yet. 

[Aerodeliria]

 

It was a great pick for the 22nd round... and, every reliever in history (with maybe 2-3 exceptions) has had a streak like this... He'll work through it and hopefully figure it out. Happens all the time. No need to be giving up on him yet. 

 

I agree completely. It seems unlikely that his career is over. Over long stretches, he really had been lights out and then, suddenly he can't get anyone out? There must be something that changes in his delivery...maybe it is such a small change that it is almost imperceptible.

[Darius]

I know it’s early, but I’ve been looking for more out of Larnach.

 

He hasn’t been that terrible, it’s early, etc. But, I expected him to rocket through the system. The .768 OPS in High A at age 22+ isn’t a real great start to his season.

 

Any insight on this? Is he struggling with something? Just your run of the mill slow-ish start? Bad luck?

 

Again, he hasn’t been terrible. Maybe my expectations are way out of whack. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the years of Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Lewis, Kirillof, etc. raking in an unearthly manner.

[mikelink45]

I find myself jumping to the prospect list when I read these reviews and I have to say this has not been a year where the prospects have risen to give me anything that i really find hopeful.  It would be good if you could give a periodic update on the list, not just the day.  

 

For example I checked a few:

Royce Lewis .238 .310 .345 .655

Alex Kiriloff .214 .313 .286 .598

Brusdar Graterol 5 0  1.89

Trevor Larnach 287 .358 .420 .778

Wander Javier - no stats, no games

Brent Rooker .222 .278 .478 .756

Jhoan Duran 0 4 4.60
Lewis Thorpe 3 2 6.70

Blayne Enlow 4 3 4.95
 Akil Baddoo .214 .290 .393 .683

 

That is our top ten - I like Graterol and Larnach is okay.  Overall our top ten is not performing like a top ten in my expectations.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I know it’s early, but I’ve been looking for more out of Larnach.

He hasn’t been that terrible, it’s early, etc. But, I expected him to rocket through the system. The .768 OPS in High A at age 22+ isn’t a real great start to his season.

Any insight on this? Is he struggling with something? Just your run of the mill slow-ish start? Bad luck?

Again, he hasn’t been terrible. Maybe my expectations are way out of whack. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the years of Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Lewis, Kirillof, etc. raking in an unearthly manner.

In the FSL, that OPS is good for a 124 wRC+. And he's been better than that recently -- .855 OPS over the last 28 days.