Front Page: Twins Minor League Report (8/23): Jhoan Duran Flirts With No-No, Strikes Out 11

[Tom Froemming]

Jhoan Duran was having a tough first taste of Double-A action, but everything seemed to click tonight. Duran carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Blayne Enlow picked up a win in his return from the IL, Matt Wallner hit his first homer with the Kernels and Seth Gray walked it off for E-Town. Come see what else happened Friday.TRANSACTIONS

RHP Blayne Enlow was activated off the IL and started for Fort Myers.

IF Jake Hirabayashi was assigned to Cedar Rapids while the Kernels placed 2B Yunior Severino on the IL with a thigh strain.

Elizabethton transferred RHP Casey Legumina on the 60-day IL retroactive 8/22.

The GCL Twins transferred OF Bryson Gandy to the 60-day IL.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Syracuse 5, Rochester 1

Box Score

 

Randy Dobnak: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 57.6% strikes (49 of 85 pitches)

HR: Ramon Flores (3)

Multi-hit games: None

 

Willians Astudillo started this game at third base and finished it in right field. He was also 1-for-4 with a strikeout. It was a quiet night for the Red Wings lineup, as Ramon Flores’ home run was their only extra-base hit.

 

Randy Dobnak pitched well enough to give Rochester a chance, holding the Mets to two runs over five innings. Fernando Romero had a tough night in relief, walking three batters and giving up three runs in his inning of work.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 3, Jackson 2

Box Score

 

Jhoan Duran: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Royce Lewis (3-for-4, 3 2Bs), Travis Blankenhorn (2-for-4, 2B)

 

Jhoan Duran entered this game with a 7.13 ERA over his first 24 innings with Pensacola. He did a 180, got pointed in the right direction and was an absolute beast tonight for the Blue Wahoos.

 

Duran carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, completed eight shutout innings and struck out 11 batters in what was an eye-opening performance. We’re getting very late in the minor league season, so it would be great to see him finish strong. Tonight was certainly a giant leap toward that direction.

 

For most of Duran’s outing, he was protecting a one-run lead. Travis Blankenhorn hit an RBI double in the second inning and that was it through six frames. In the seventh, the rehabbing LaMonte Wade hit an RBI double and scored on a Royce Lewis double, one of three two-baggers for Royce on the evening.

 

Those insurance runs proved to be massive, as Jackson rallied back to score two runs in the top of the ninth.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8, Palm Beach 3

Box Score

 

Blayne Enlow: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 65.9% strikes (56 of 85 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Jose Miranda (2-for-4, 2 2Bs, BB), Yelstin Encarnacion (2-for-4, BB)

 

Fort Myers jumped all over Palm Beach, scoring three runs in the first inning and five more in the second. That created a low-stress return to the mound for Blayne Enlow, who was making his first start since Aug. 10.

 

Enlow picked up the victory after throwing 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Four different Miracle hitters reached safely three times in this game. Jose Miranda had a pair of doubles and a walk. Yelstin Encarnacion also had two hits and a walk. Gabriel Maciel had a double and drew a pair of walks while Andrew Bechtold also had a hit and walked twice.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Clinton 6, Cedar Rapids 3

Box Score

 

Tyler Palm: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 60.3% strikes (47 of 78 pitches)

HR: Matt Wallner (1)

Multi-hit games: Wallner (2-for-4, 2B, HR, HBP), Wander Javier (2-for-4, BB)

 

Matt Wallner hit his first home run with the Kernels, his seventh on the season overall. Wander Javier reached base safely three times, but the rest of the Cedar Rapids lineup struggled to get much going.

 

This was a tight game through most of the middle innings, thanks to a couple of clean frames from Austin Schulfer, but Clinton tallied two runs in the eighth and the Kernels could not answer.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 6, Danville 5

Box Score

 

Owen Griffith: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

HR: Seth Gray (10), Charles Mack (7)

Multi-hit games: Gray (3-for-5, 2B, HR), Kidany Salva (2-for-4)

 

E-Town entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 5-4, but Willie Jo Garry Jr. sparked a rally with a one-out single. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch before Ruben Santana walked. Seth Gray stepped to the plate with the Twins down to their final out. He delivered a walk-off two-run double.

 

 

Gray, the Twins fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, also hit his 10th home run, becoming just the fourth Appy League hitter to reach double digits in dingers this season.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Red Sox 1, GCL Twins 0 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

Jesus Toledo: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: None

 

The GCL Twins got just two hits in this game, both singles. The rehabbing Luke Raley accounted for one of them. He also had an outfield assist. Jesus Toledo struggled with his control, walking three batters, but he managed to pitch three scoreless innings.

 

Junior Navas followed suit with three shutout innings of his own before Niall Windeler pitched a scoreless seventh. The only run of this game was scored on a solo homer by the Red Sox in the bottom of the eighth inning. This game actually ended on a single to the next batter, as it was called early due to weather.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Jhoan Duran, Pensacola

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Seth Gray, Elizabethton

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

1. Royce Lewis (PNS): 3-for-4, 3 2Bs, RBI

2. Alex Kirilloff (PNS): 1-for-4, E (fielding)

4. Trevor Larnach (PNS): 1-for-3, BB, K

5. Wander Javier (CR): 2-for-4, BB, R

7: Keoni Cavaco (GCL): 0-for-4, 2 K

9. Jhoan Duran (PNS): 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K

10. Blayne Enlow (FM): 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 65.9% strikes (56 of 85 pitches)

13. Ryan Jeffers (PNS): 1-for-4, 2B, R, K

15. Matt Wallner (CR): 2-for-4, HR, 2B, HBP, R, 3 RBIs

18. Jorge Alcala (ROC): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 40% strikes (2 of 5)

20. Travis Blankenhorn (PNS): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, K

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Syracuse, 6:05 pm CT (TBD)

Pensacola vs. Jackson, 6:05 pm CT (Bryan Sammons)

Fort Myers at Palm Beach, 4:30 pm CT (Chris Vallimont)

Cedar Rapids vs. Peoria, 6:35 pm CT (Andrew Cabezas)

Elizabethton vs. Danville, 5:30 pm CT (TBD)

GCL Twins vs. GCL Red Sox, 9:00 am CT (TBD)

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the games.

 

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[D.C Twins]

Lewis OPS above 0.700 for the first time in a loooong time at any level on 3 2Bs

 

Fingers crossed for signs of a major break out in the last month here!

[nater79a]

You know who's been playing really well the past 3 or 4 weeks?   Andrew Bechtold.

 

Have seen his name come up quite a bit lately on these recaps so I thought I'd do some digging:

 

Since July 30th he's slashing .338/.423/.471 (.894).

K% of 16.7 and a BB% of 12.8...solid numbers.   wRC+ of 166.

 

BABIP of .407 might be a little cautionary and you'd like to see the power numbers develop a little bit.   But he is a strong defender and definitely trending in the right right direction as of late in the Florida State League, a pitcher's league no less.

[MNT1996]

Pensacola has had some pitching studs roll through this year. Graterol, Alcala, Dubnak, Ober, Duran, Smeltzer. Future pitching looks bright. Unfortunately most of that talent can't help the current Twins pitching staff.

[beckmt]

 

Pensacola has had some pitching studs roll through this year. Graterol, Alcala, Dubnak, Ober, Duran, Smeltzer. Future pitching looks bright. Unfortunately most of that talent can't help the current Twins pitching staff.

Yes it can, we just have to bring some of it to Minnesota.  Certainly there are a few people who need to be replaced.

[Old Twins Cap]

Falvey and Levine's master plan is to generate enough internal talent, especially pitching, so the Twins will always be relevant in the American League Central.

 

I think they are about a year, to two years away from having that system in place.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I enjoyed reading this edition of Blue Wahoo Bites so much...that I read it again twice just to make me feel better. I was feeling depressed after having read about the Twinkies "not very pretty" loss last night. I'm better now, thank you.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Lewis OPS above 0.700 for the first time in a loooong time at any level on 3 2Bs

 

Fingers crossed for signs of a major break out in the last month here!

[rdehring]

Following yesterday's disappointing loss, the GCL Twins have a half game lead for the GCL wild card.  With one week remaining on their schedule one could say they are down to crunch time.

 

Didn't know what your 'fielding' comment meant following Kirilloff's name in the summary, Tom.  Checked and saw it was his 6th error of the year.  Also saw he was playing first base.  Made me think about his future.  Doubt he will be ready to be the Twins fourth outfielder, alternate first baseman and back up DH next March.  Or could he?  Also did a check to confirm that Lewis turned 20 years old a couple months ago.  With that in mind, he is doing awfully well at AA. 

 

Wouldn't we all love to see more pitching lines like Duran's last night.  It really is worth making that click and going to the box score to look at.  But he wasn't alone as both Dobnak and Enlow had very nice starts.  Sure seems there is a lot of real good starting pitching in the organization.  Sure would be nice if some of it found its way to the Twins....and soon.

 

 

[ashbury]

Didn't know what your 'fielding' comment meant following Kirilloff's name in the summary, Tom. 

It's what shows in the box score. Presumably it means he muffed a ball hit at him, as opposed to an error on a throw.

[Obsvr]

Another day, another 0-fer for Cavaco.  A number 1 pick should at least be able to make contact in the GCL league.  

 

I like what Falvine has done overall but this one is definitely not looking good.

[Danchat]

We could really use Duran in the rotation... here's hoping he can break through to the majors in late 2020.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Another day, another 0-fer for Cavaco.  A number 1 pick should at least be able to make contact in the GCL league.  

 

I like what Falvine has done overall but this one is definitely not looking good.

waaay too early for this sort of concern. Lots of guys have struggled with their first taste of pro ball.

 

I searched Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler. First two players I picked. Turns out Cruz struggled and struck out a lot. Then, Kepler didn’t hit his 2nd home run until his third season of rookie ball.

 

I think the only concern for a kid this young is to get him adjusted to a new lifestyle.

[Mike Sixel]

Falvey and Levine's master plan is to generate enough internal talent, especially pitching, so the Twins will always be relevant in the American League Central.

 

I think they are about a year, to two years away from having that system in place.

So, when Sano is about a free agent, Cruz is gone, and who knows what is up with Buxton?

[howieramone2]

 

Another day, another 0-fer for Cavaco.  A number 1 pick should at least be able to make contact in the GCL league.  

 

I like what Falvine has done overall but this one is definitely not looking good.

Take a look at how Mike Trout did just after he got drafted.

[howieramone2]

 

 

So, when Sano is about a free agent, Cruz is gone, and who knows what is up with Buxton?

Correct.

[old nurse]

 

Take a look at how Mike Trout did just after he got drafted.

He hit .360 and was promoted. It is almost time for their seasons to end

[Seth Stohs]

Per Mariana Guzman early this morning, Edwar Colina is heading up to Rochester... 

 

[bighat]

 

Falvey and Levine's master plan is to generate enough internal talent, especially pitching, so the Twins will always be relevant in the American League Central.

 

I think they are about a year, to two years away from having that system in place.

 

We have been hearing that for the past 10 years. Twins don't call up young prospects. Meanwhile, guys like Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna are 20 years old (barely) and have already been in the league almost 2 years and are two of the best offensive players in the NL.

 

Twins and us fans consider people like Buxton (almost 26) to be our "young developing talent". It's pretty sad and shows some major philosophy differences between the Twins and other clubs. I don't like it, frankly.

[benji21]

Well, regarding Acuna et al, I have to believe they are/were much more elite prospects. I think that Lewis would be completely overwhelmed by major league pitching. What would be the point in having 19 or 20 year old Lewis up here? To flail at advanced pitching and put up lines like Wander Javier? Some dudes are super special, like acuna. Lewis just isn’t on that level and they’ve been decently aggressive with him imo. I do think they could bring up younger pitching faster though.

[h2oface]

Duran pitched 8 innings, struck out 11, and only threw 68 pitches? Is that box score correct? If so.... I wonder why he was pulled with only 68 pitches and didn't complete the game?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I am sorry i don't get round to reading these summaries as often as i'd like these days. Sure do appreciate 'em though.

 

Been curious about Jake Hirabayashi.

 

First i heard of him was when he came in for Nick Gordon when he was injured, in AAA. Next i saw his name in one of the Rookie leagues? And now he's at Cedar Rapids?

 

I have been too lazy to follow up on him.

[dbminn]

 

Per Mariana Guzman early this morning, Edwar Colina is heading up to Rochester... 

 

Good for him! He's been pitching well. He'd already been moved to shorter stints at Pensacola, so I suspected it might happen.

[ashbury]

guys like Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna are 20 years old (barely) and have already been in the league almost 2 years

Guy like Soto and Acuña put up numbers that positively demanded they be called up.

 

Acuña destroyed the Arizona Fall League and was brought up to the majors the next spring, while Soto kept OPSing .900 every time they promoted him mid-season and finally the team "gave up" trying to keep him challenged and double-jumped him to the majors. Rare is the player who performs like them before age 20.

 

If we had anyone performing like them, there would be something to discuss.