Minor League Report (6/6): Salvaging the Sweep

[Nash Walker]

The Kernels, with a big sixth inning and a huge game from Spencer Steer, helped the organization avoid a clean sweep Sunday. 

TRANSACTIONS:

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SAINTS SENTINEL

Bats 6, Saints 1

Box Score

Robinson Leyer: 3 IP, H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: None

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the third when Tomás Telis drove in Keon Broxton. Unfortunately, Reds’ regulars Aristides Aquino and Joey Votto were both in Louisville’s lineup today on rehab assignments. Aquino homered to tie the game at one while Votto walked in the second run. 

The Bats scored three runs as Tom Hackimer walked six in the fourth. The Bats scored another, a solo homer against Derek Law in the fifth. The Saints went 3-for-29 with just one walk in a bullpen game for Louisville. 

St.Paul fell to 15-15, winning just two of their six games in the series. 

 

WIND SURGE WISDOM

Travelers 9, Wind Surge 0

Box Score

Chris Vallimont: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Ernie De La Trinidad (2-for-3, 2B), Aaron Whitefield (2-for-3)

Chris Vallimont struggled in his outing Sunday, surrendering four runs on four hits, including two home runs. Vallimont threw 35 strikes on 65 pitches and raised his ERA to 5.63 on the season. 

The Wind Surge offense had trouble stringing together hits against Travelers starter Tyler Herb. Ernie De La Trinidad had two hits with a double, while no one else had an extra-base hit. 

Wichita had an otherwise strong week, winning four of their six games and improving to 18-12. 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Kernels 11, Tin Caps 3

Box Score

Ben Gross: 4 ⅓ IP, 8 H, 3 R/ER, BB, 7 K

HR: Spencer Steer 2 (3, 4)

Multi-hit games: Steer (3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Wander Javier (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Jair Camargo (2-for-5, RBI, R), Michael Helman (2-for-4, 2B, BB), Alex Isola (2-for-5, 2B), Max Smith (2-for-4, 2 RBI)

The Kernels enjoyed a massive day at the plate. Spencer Steer was the catalyst, leading off the game with a homer and recording three hits on the afternoon. Steer saw his OPS rise over .800. 

Listed as a versatile infielder, Steer was drafted in the third round out of Oregon in 2019. 

The Kernels trailed 3-1 after five before breaking out for six runs in the sixth. Michael Helman roped a two-run double to center to take the lead. Max Smith followed that up with a single and Steer capped it off with a two-run homer, his second of the day. 

Cedar Rapids added on three more runs in the eighth on a Seth Gray sacrifice fly, a Wander Javier RBI single and a Trey Cabbage RBI groundout. The bats were certainly awake as the Kernels forced a split in the six-game series with Fort Wayne. 

 

MUSSEL MATTERS

Mets 2, Mussels 0

Box Score

Brent Headrick: 5 IP, 2 H, R/ER, 2 BB, 11 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: None

The Mussels surely would’ve come back to win if not for the rain ending this game in the sixth. Brent Headrick was fantastic and has now struck out 30 of the 95 batters he’s faced this season (31.6%). Headrick, 23, was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 draft out of Illinois State University. The lefty lowered his ERA to 3.74 on the season.

The Mussels went 1-for-15 with their lone single coming from Edouard Julien to lead off the fourth inning. Keoni Cavaco then grounded into a double play and the Mussels saw their lone threat end harmlessly.

Fort Myers went 5-1 this week against St.Lucie and improved to 16-14 in the series. 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Spencer Steer 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Brent Headrick

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – 1-for-4, BB

#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)

#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 1-for-3, RBI HBP

#4 - Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota) – 0-for-4, K

#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Did not pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-2

#8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-2, K

#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured list (elbow)

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Injured list (elbow)

#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – Did not play

#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, 3 K

#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Injured list (wrist)

#14 - Misael Urbina (Ft. Myers) – Did not play

#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch

#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)

#17 - Ben Rortvedt (St.Paul) – Did not play

#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A

#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-4

#20 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) - 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

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[jkcarew]

“The Bats scored three runs as Tom Hackimer walked six in the fourth.”

I figured that HAD to be a typo, right? So, I looked up the box score. How does this happen? I know the league is developmental, but come on! You’d figure simple professional accountability (not to mention basic curtesy) to Hackimer himself, the players in the field, and the paying customers, would prohibit the 5th, let alone the 6th, walk from happening. In what universe can that be rationalized, Toby?

[Seth Stohs]

22 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

“The Bats scored three runs as Tom Hackimer walked six in the fourth.”

I figured that HAD to be a typo, right? So, I looked up the box score. How does this happen? I know the league is developmental, but come on! You’d figure simple professional accountability (not to mention basic curtesy) to the players in the field and the paying customers would prohibit anything like that. In what universe can this be rationalized, Toby?

Guys need to find a way to find it... but once he was over 30 pitches for the inning, he was done. 

[jkcarew]

2 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Guys need to find a way to find it... but once he was over 30 pitches for the inning, he was done. 

How’d that work out? You aren’t suggesting Gardenhire would have left him in the game if he hadn’t hit the pitch limit, are you?

Hackimer threw 4 strait balls to walk the bases loaded (third walk of the inning). Threw 4 strait balls to walk in the first run. Walked in the second run on a 3-1 count. Highly questionable. Left him in to pitch to yet another batter, to whom he threw a wild pitch before walking. Inexcusable, IMO.

[mikelink45]

The frustration in the majors with injuries and poor performances is having a domino effect and the minors.  

[roger]

Interesting seeing the name of Ernie De La Trinidad appear in these write-ups of late.  Checked and learned he has one of the top averages on the team together with a mid-.800 OPS.  Remember that he was part of one of those trades made during that busy late July period a few years ago.  Other than what I have just written, I know nothing about him.  Is he a prospect that has a legitimate chance of making it to the Twins someday?  Or will it be a long shot for him to do so?  

[dbminn]

Wait... The Twins have a left-handed SP prospect? How did that happen?

[terrydactyls]

10 hours ago, jkcarew said:

How’d that work out? You aren’t suggesting Gardenhire would have left him in the game if he hadn’t hit the pitch limit, are you?

Hackimer threw 4 strait balls to walk the bases loaded (third walk of the inning). Threw 4 strait balls to walk in the first run. Walked in the second run on a 3-1 count. Highly questionable. Left him in to pitch to yet another batter, to whom he threw a wild pitch before walking. Inexcusable, IMO.

A "strait" is a narrow body of water between two or more segments of land.  Perhaps you meant "straight"???

[Taildragger8791]

I admit Jose Miranda was not on my radar before this year. His past numbers weren't jumping out but he seems to limit K's and showed a little pop. Is the breakout this year making sense or looking legit? What are the expectations for him? He looks like the only promising bat in the system after Kiriloff, Larnach, and Lewis (who I have Buxton-like concerns about with figuring out his swing...) so it would be huge if he panned out and could hold down the hot corner.

[Major League Ready]

42 minutes ago, Taildragger8791 said:

I admit Jose Miranda was not on my radar before this year. His past numbers weren't jumping out but he seems to limit K's and showed a little pop. Is the breakout this year making sense or looking legit? What are the expectations for him? He looks like the only promising bat in the system after Kiriloff, Larnach, and Lewis (who I have Buxton-like concerns about with figuring out his swing...) so it would be huge if he panned out and could hold down the hot corner.

Agree.  Lewis and Miranda panning out would be huge for this team even if Lewis ends up in CF.

[Tibs]

11 hours ago, jkcarew said:

How’d that work out? You aren’t suggesting Gardenhire would have left him in the game if he hadn’t hit the pitch limit, are you?

Hackimer threw 4 strait balls to walk the bases loaded (third walk of the inning). Threw 4 strait balls to walk in the first run. Walked in the second run on a 3-1 count. Highly questionable. Left him in to pitch to yet another batter, to whom he threw a wild pitch before walking. Inexcusable, IMO.

Not sure why we're up in arms about a minor league game where the result 100% does not matter, but just from looking at the box score it is clear this was a bullpen game for the Saints. The Twins have had a lot of moving pieces on the pitching staff, which in turn means the Saints have had a lot of moving pieces on their pitching staff. Maybe Toby Gardenhire didn't want to have a quick hook on a guy when he already knew he would be using a big chunk of his bullpen that day. Maybe the Saints didn't have many options at pitcher because of previous days and all the moving pieces.

 

[AceWrigley]

12 hours ago, jkcarew said:

“The Bats scored three runs as Tom Hackimer walked six in the fourth.”

I figured that HAD to be a typo, right? So, I looked up the box score. How does this happen? I know the league is developmental, but come on! You’d figure simple professional accountability (not to mention basic curtesy) to Hackimer himself, the players in the field, and the paying customers, would prohibit the 5th, let alone the 6th, walk from happening. In what universe can that be rationalized, Toby?

# The ball was coming out of his hand real good and his pitches had excellent movement. Advanced metrics showed that any day now he would actually throw a strike.

[Danchat]

6 hours ago, roger said:

Interesting seeing the name of Ernie De La Trinidad appear in these write-ups of late.  Checked and learned he has one of the top averages on the team together with a mid-.800 OPS.  Remember that he was part of one of those trades made during that busy late July period a few years ago.  Other than what I have just written, I know nothing about him.  Is he a prospect that has a legitimate chance of making it to the Twins someday?  Or will it be a long shot for him to do so?  

He was the final piece in the Escobar trade, he was seen as a lotto ticket, but you could bump him up to low-tier prospect. Still a fringe bench bat at best, probably. 

[Seth Stohs]

6 hours ago, roger said:

Interesting seeing the name of Ernie De La Trinidad appear in these write-ups of late.  Checked and learned he has one of the top averages on the team together with a mid-.800 OPS.  Remember that he was part of one of those trades made during that busy late July period a few years ago.  Other than what I have just written, I know nothing about him.  Is he a prospect that has a legitimate chance of making it to the Twins someday?  Or will it be a long shot for him to do so?  

I'm thinking he's behind Buxton, Kepler, Garlick, Larnach, Kirilloff, Celestino, Rooker, Contreras on the pecking order at this point. But he's definitely playing well through the first five weeks. 

[Seth Stohs]

3 hours ago, Taildragger8791 said:

I admit Jose Miranda was not on my radar before this year. His past numbers weren't jumping out but he seems to limit K's and showed a little pop. Is the breakout this year making sense or looking legit? What are the expectations for him? He looks like the only promising bat in the system after Kiriloff, Larnach, and Lewis (who I have Buxton-like concerns about with figuring out his swing...) so it would be huge if he panned out and could hold down the hot corner.

He's a top 20 Twins prospect, and probably will move up a bit this year with his tools breaking out so far, and several players 'graduating' from prospect status soon. They've always liked him. Most think he's a 3B/1B, but he can play 2B alright. He's strong. Power is his thing. 

[jmlease1]

6 hours ago, Taildragger8791 said:

I admit Jose Miranda was not on my radar before this year. His past numbers weren't jumping out but he seems to limit K's and showed a little pop. Is the breakout this year making sense or looking legit? What are the expectations for him? He looks like the only promising bat in the system after Kiriloff, Larnach, and Lewis (who I have Buxton-like concerns about with figuring out his swing...) so it would be huge if he panned out and could hold down the hot corner.

Gleeman has reported a couple of times that Miranda is the prospect name that always comes up when he asks for a guy in the minors that people should get to know. Twins staff has been high on him for a while. Real possibility that his tools have come together in a way that applies on the field. Still early, but he's setting himself up to rise (eventual 3B replacement for Donaldson?). If he's able to control the strike zone and do damage on balls in the zone while limiting Ks like this, he'll be a nice prospect. Curious about his D.

[jkcarew]

On 6/7/2021 at 11:01 AM, Tibs said:

Not sure why we're up in arms about a minor league game where the result 100% does not matter, but just from looking at the box score it is clear this was a bullpen game for the Saints. The Twins have had a lot of moving pieces on the pitching staff, which in turn means the Saints have had a lot of moving pieces on their pitching staff. Maybe Toby Gardenhire didn't want to have a quick hook on a guy when he already knew he would be using a big chunk of his bullpen that day. Maybe the Saints didn't have many options at pitcher because of previous days and all the moving pieces.

 

How about because Hackimer is a human being? A manager letting a player fail is one thing. Letting him fail spectacularly, is another.

And the next day the organization releases him.

Classy.