Twins Minor League Report (5/19): Longball Happy in Wichita

[Ted Schwerzler]

Playing the early game today on the Twins farm, the Wichita Wind Surge started things off in a nice way by homering three times and picking up a victory. The most notable development on the farm today may be the appearance of a rehabbing rookie in St. Paul.

To find out how all of your favorite Twins prospects and teams performed on Wednesday, keep reading!

TRANSACTIONS

• OF Alex Kirilloff joins St. Paul on MLB rehab assignment
• RHP Luke Farrell contract purchased by Twins
• RHP Tom Hackimer promoted to Triple-A St. Paul from Double-A Wichita

SAINTS SENTINEL
Indianapolis 2, St. Paul 2
Box Score
 

Chandler Shepherd was tonight’s starter for the Saints and gave up just a single run on four hits across four innings. He struck out six and walked just two in what was a very solid effort.

The story in this one however was the much-anticipated return to action for Twins rookie Alex Kirilloff. Starting at designated hitter and batting second to open his rehab assignment, Kirilloff made his mark in the 6th inning when he launched a two-run shot to knot things up for St. Paul.

Tied in the 8th inning, Mother Nature decided she’d seen enough of the star prospect and hung this one with a tarp on the field. Kirilloff was set to bat second in the inning. Right now the plan is for him to play the outfield tomorrow.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 6, Tulsa 1
Box Score
 

Starter Josh Winder came out firing bullets and looked great in this one. He punched out four while walking just one. Unfortunately, mother nature caused a disruption, and the sit down ended his outing after just four innings.

Wichita opened the scoring early in this one, plating two runs in the top half of the first both coming on a single from Jermaine Palacios. Gilberto Celestino, who seemingly has been close to necessary by the big-league club of late, cracked his first homer of the year in the third inning. Jose Miranda continued his torrid start and launched his fifth dinger of the year in the fifth inning, this one of a two-run variety.

After giving a run back to the Drillers in the bottom of the sixth, the Wind Surge quickly erased the gain on a solo blast from Mark Contreras. Brandon Koch made his Double-A debut walking two and striking out two in a single hitless inning. Yennier Cano continues to look like he’s overmatching the competition as well. Today the Wind Surge reliever turned in two scoreless innings of relief work, allowing no hits and striking out five.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Beloit 4, Cedar Rapids 3
Box Score

Tyler Beck took the ball for Cedar Rapids tonight and twirled five innings of one run baseball. He fanned four and allowed just a single free pass and hit apiece. He earned a no-decision, but now owns a 1.42 ERA on the year.

Cedar Rapids opened the scoring on a Michael Helman homer in the third. The two-run shot put them on the board before Matt Wallner ripped his third doubled and drove in Leobaldo Cabrera. Unfortunately, the Kernels were shucked from there on out and found themselves unable to add on.

Hanging on to a 3-2 lead entering the 9th, a tough outing for Tyler Palm earned the blown save and loss for Cedar Rapids.

The Kernels have gotten a nice boost from Matt Canterino this year, and he may wind up being called upon by the Twins sooner rather than later. Lucas recently wrote him up here.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Tampa 15, Fort Myers 1
Box Score

If you can throw this one away, you should. There were no unwritten rules shenanigans in tonight’s tilt, but the artists formerly known as the Miracle mustered just one run. Anthony Prato kicked off the scoring on a fielder’s choice that scored Kyle Schmidt.

Three of the four Mighty Mussels arms to throw in this one gave up runs, although only 11 of the 15 found themselves as earned. In a game that included two errors for Fort Myers, this was just a page turner all around.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Yennier Cano – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Hitter of the Day – Alex Kirilloff – 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(1), K

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(1), K (Rehab assignment)
#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)
#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 0-for-2, BB, 2 K
#4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, K
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch
#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back)
#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, 2 K
#8 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 0-for-2, BB, K
#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch
#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 1-for-4, R, RBI, HR(1), BB, K
#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-1, 2 BB
#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, RBI, 2B
#14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch
#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) – IL

#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – 0-for-2, K
#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A
#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, K
#20 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – Did not pitch

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Indianapolis @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – RHP Andrew Albers (1-1, 7.07 ERA)
Wichita @ Tulsa (7:05PM CST) – RHP Bryan Sammons (0-1, 4.82 ERA)
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Kody Funderburk (0-0, 1.13 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Tampa (5:30PM CST) – RHP Steven Cruz (0-2, 3.86 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games!

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[Aerodeliria]

Thanks for this Ted. These minor league reports are always a welcome respite (these days).

[mikelink45]

Is Canterino ready?  Does he have to go to AAA first?

[HrbieFan]

Any way to have the top 20 prospect names be hot linked to their complete stats pages? 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

Is Canterino ready?  Does he have to go to AAA first?

Ready for the big leagues?? Let's get him to AA first. But yes,  can only be called up from AAA. 

[dbminn]

Here is a link to the MLB Twins Top 30 stats:

MLB - https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats?teamId=142

You can get all the previous night's box scores for the Twins at this page too.

Hope this works...

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, Seth Stohs said:

Ready for the big leagues?? Let's get him to AA first. But yes,  can only be called up from AAA. 

Is that something new?  Why can't a player be called up from any level if they are ready?

[Danchat]

Cano should be moving up to AAA soon, and Canterino to AA. Good to see Kirilloff swinging the bat well, hopefully that wrist of his can hold for the rest of the season.

[Dman]

Winder with a sub 1 ERA and equally good WHIP looks like a guy who could maybe help the big league club.  He is only 20 innings in but other than some control blips here and there has been the most rock solid pitcher in the system so far.

Miranda has looked like the player have hoping for the last couple of years.  The power is there now and if his eye at the plate remains good I think the Twins might have a good one in Miranda.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

29 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Is that something new?  Why can't a player be called up from any level if they are ready?

 

Just this year, and I don't know if it is something that is subject to change as teams and the league loosen up restrictions. 

[MMMordabito]

Any word on Colina's rehab status?  Will he be able to pitch this year?  He and Cano seem like August/September options for the pen for those of us resigned to the fact that there won't be meaningful games in September and a fire sale should happen in late July.

[Ted Schwerzler]

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Is Canterino ready?  Does he have to go to AAA first?

Ready is subjective, but if they wanted him out of the pen he could get guys out. I'd like to see him stop at either Double or Triple-A with an eye on starting.

[Ted Schwerzler]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

Is that something new?  Why can't a player be called up from any level if they are ready?

Due to covid protocols.

[twinstalker]

35 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

 

Just this year, and I don't know if it is something that is subject to change as teams and the league loosen up restrictions. 

He tilts his head, his eyes remaining fixed on the quote.  Something isn't right, he thought.