Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/13): Bats Bats Bats

[Matt Braun]

There were only close games and blowouts throughout the Twins’ system on Saturday as for some reason no one wanted to win a game by a nice four run margin or something like that. Whatever, more for me to write about I guess. The offense took hold today as each squad had multiple hitters with multi-hit games and quite a few dingers were launched. All that and more in today’s edition of the minor league report.TRANSACTIONS

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Lehigh Valley 16

Box Score

 

Kohl Stewart: 2 ⅔ IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 63.1% strikes (53 of 84 pitches)

HR: Jaylin Davis (9), Brian Schales (2)

Multi-hit games: Drew Maggi (2-for-5), Ronald Torreyes (3-for-5, 2 2B, R), Wilin Rosario (2-for-5, 2 RBI)

 

The Rochester Red Wings were down early and could not recover against Lehigh Valley.

 

Kohl Stewart’s line looks ugly, but he did not get much support from his defense as the Red Wings had five errors in the game. Much of the mess could have been avoided in the first had a double play been turned, but the old saying that “you can’t assume a double play” was at play there and the four runs scored in the first were all earned.

 

Brent Rooker left the game early after he took an awkward slide while diving for a ball and the ball appeared to hit him in a place that you do not want baseballs to hit. I hope for his sake that it was just MiLB.tv’s quality that made it look that way because I would not wish that on anyone.

 

Jaylin Davis blasted his ninth home run with the Red Wings and his 19th homer of the year between AA and AAA. The oppo taco helped push his AAA OPS to a tasty 1.066 through 25 games.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 5, Montgomery 3

Box Score

 

Charlie Barnes: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 63.0% strikes (58 of 92 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Alex Kirilloff (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI), Iván De Jesús Jr. (2-for-4, 2B, R), Lewin Diaz (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Caleb Hamilton (2-for-4, RBI), Mark Contreras (2-for-4, 2B, R)

 

The Blue Wahoos won a fairly straightforward game this Saturday against the Montgomery Biscuits.

 

I saw straightforward because starter Charlie Barnes only gave up a single run over his six innings of work while the offense gave him five runs to work with.

 

Generally, it is a good sign when your 2-6 hitters all have a multi-hit game and well, I would have to say it worked out well for the Blue Wahoos. Along with that, the Blue Wahoos had six extra-base hits and twelve hits total while only striking out three times.

 

Alex Kirilloff continued his recent stretch of Alex Kirilloff-like hitting as he had yet another multi-hit game, a good sign as the young outfielder appears to have figured it out at AA.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 5, Bradenton 6 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

Lachlan Wells: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 68.6% strikes (59 of 86 pitches)

HR: Andrew Bechtold (1)

Multi-hit games: Gabriel Maciel (3-for-6, 3 R), Trevor Larnach (4-for-6, 3 RBI), Jose Miranda (2-for-6, RBI), Andrew Bechtold (3-for-5, HR, R, RBI)

 

The Miracle lost an absolute heartbreaker that doubled as one of the wildest games that was played all year.

 

Lachlan Wells and Tyler Watson imitated when Yoda rode on Luke’s back for training as Wells started the game (and went five innings) and Watson then went four innings afterwards. This was Watson’s first relief outing of the year.

 

The Miracle dropped fourteen hits over the eleven innings they played yet Andrew Bechtold’s first A+ home run was the only hit that went for extra bases.

 

In both the ninth and the 11th, the Miracle scored in the top half to take the lead but gave up run(s) in the bottom half. In the ninth it was one to tie the game and in the 11th it was two to lose it via a walk-off.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 12, Lansing 4

Box Score

 

Andrew Cabezas: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 72.8% strikes (67 of 92 pitches)

HR: Gabe Snyder (8)

Multi-hit games: Gabe Snyder (3-for-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI), Trevor Casanova (2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB)

 

Wins that are close and full of thrills are fun and all, but nothing beats just destroying another team which is what the Kernels did this Saturday.

 

Andrew Cabezas followed up his outstanding outing last week with a solid five inning showing. All three pitchers for the Kernels struck out three batters each which is some pretty cool symmetry.

 

You might be scratching your head when you realize the Kernels scored twelve runs but only had nine hits, but they also walked eight times which gave their offense plenty of chances to knock in runs. Only two hitters failed to reach base.

 

Gabe Snyder launched his eighth homer of the year and is now holding an OPS of .807 on the year at Cedar Rapids. I don’t know what is going on in the Twins’ system, but it seems like they have first basemen at every level who are absolutely destroying the ball... that’s good to see.

 

E-Town E-Notes

Elizabethton 3, Johnson City 2

Box Score

 

Sawyer Gipson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Ruben Santana (2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI), Willie Joe Garry Jr. (2-for-3, RBI)

 

Recent draft pick Sawyer Gipson made his debut in professional baseball with the Elizabethton Twins on Saturday. He tossed a pair of scoreless innings that came with three strikeouts. Ryan Shreve relieved Gipson and threw five scoreless innings of his own while striking out an impressive nine hitters. Shreve’s K/9 coming into the game was an astounding 16.03 so he has settled in nicely with Elizabethton.

 

The offense only put up four hits but two of those were doubles (both by Ruben Santana) and their six walks helped clog up the base paths. The final Ruben Santana double in the ninth proved to be the walk-off and the E-Town Twins squeaked out a win.

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Twins 1, GCL Red Sox 2

Box Score

 

Matt Canterino: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K,

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Jesus Feliz (2-for-4), Erick Rivera (2-for-3, BB), Bryson Gandy (2-for-3, BB)

 

Matt Canterino made his professional baseball debut on Saturday as he allowed one run over his two innings of work.

 

Keoni Cavaco was the DH and took a walk and hit a single. He also swiped a base.

 

Jeferson Morales had the lone extra-base hit for the GCL Twins with his triple in the third.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Charlie Barnes

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Trevor Larnach

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-5, BB, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - 4-for-6, 3 RBI

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - Did not play

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL Twins) - 1-for-4, BB, 2 K

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - 0-for-1 (left early with an injury)

#9 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#11 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-for-4, 2B

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-5, BB, 2 K

#14 - Luis Arraez (Twins) - 2-for-5, R

#15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) - 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - Did not play

#17 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Out for year with Tommy John surgery

#18 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - Did not play

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL Twins) - No game

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - 1-for-4, 3B, R

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (12:05 A.M.) - RHP Drew Hutchison

Montgomery @ Pensacola (5:05 P.M.) - RHP Jorge Alcala

Fort Myers @ Bradenton (12:00 P.M.) - RHP Bailey Ober

Lansing @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 P.M.) - RHP Kai-Wei Teng

Johnson City @ Elizabethton (4:00 P.M.) - RHP Prelander Berroa

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Saturday’s games.

 

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[waltomeal]

v

[Yossarian]

Schales' plate discipline is subpar.  While the FO has done a terrific job overall this year, the Schales-for-Nick-Anderson trade has been one-sided in Miami's favor.

[Aerodeliria]

Arraez continues to rake. His OBP is ridiculous, but because his plate discipline is outstanding, it's possible he can keep it above .400. Please don't trade him!

[twins1095]

Larnach/Rooker/Kirilloff/Arraez and Polanco are helping me stomach the struggles of Lewis/Javier

[rdehring]

Great seeing big games from both Larnach and Kirilloff.  Looks like we can put our concerns about Kirilloff behind us.  Just took him awhile to settle in after battling that wrist injury the first two plus months of the season.  I will second Aerodeliria's comment above for Kirilloff, please don't trade him!

[Darius]

Larnach is really raking. 100 hits and 140+ total bases in just over 80 games.

 

His OPS (.845) is actually lower than I would expect. But, he’s got a done of doubles and only 6 HRs. There’s an age old adage about doubles turning into home runs with experience/added strength.

 

The way things have been going with Lewis/Kirilloff, it looks like he may beat them both to the majors. He’s got to get a shot at AA this year, right? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities to see him in September next year.

[Mike Sixel]

Remember when entire said they could trade Gordon, because Lewis and Javier were locks to be here in the next year or two? Good times. I'd be careful dealing Gordon at this point. I'd do it for the right player, but I'd be careful.

[Mr. Brooks]

Remember when entire said they could trade Gordon, because Lewis and Javier were locks to be here in the next year or two? Good times. I'd be careful dealing Gordon at this point. I'd do it for the right player, but I'd be careful.

Good point.

The silver lining is that Arraez has surpassed them all, and SSS withstanding, looks like he might be an above average mlb starter.

[Mike Sixel]

Good point.

The silver lining is that Arraez has surpassed them all, and SSS withstanding, looks like he might be an above average mlb starter.

Agreed, but he's no shortstop. And, I love typos.... Sigh.

[Mr. Brooks]

Agreed, but he's no shortstop. And, I love typos.... Sigh.

I'm perfectly comfortable with Polanco at SS for the next 5 years.

[Obsvr]

 

 He’s got to get a shot at AA this year, right? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities to see him in September next year.

 

Unless he can play everyday there is zero chance he'll get to the majors next year.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Schales' plate discipline is subpar. While the FO has done a terrific job overall this year, the Schales-for-Nick-Anderson trade has been one-sided in Miami's favor.

Anderson has shown flashes, but has only produced 0.1 bWAR for Miami so far.

 

It's possible that the Twins knew Anderson was going to be selected in the Rule 5 draft, so they figured they might as well get something back for losing him. (Of course, we could have also opted to protect him ourselves, or see if a Rule 5 team would eventually return him like Bard.)

[Mike Sixel]

I'm perfectly comfortable with Polanco at SS for the next 5 years.

As am I. But AAA depth is handy. Or a utility guy you like. Which they have.....