Minor League Report (7/23): Sanó Proves Health, Going 3-3 with a Homer

[Matt Braun]

Everyone's favorite player, Miguel Sanó, ended his rehab assignment with a bang and a blunder. Read all about that and more in this edition of the minor league report. 

TRANSACTIONS
With Caleb Thielbar going in the IL, the Twins recalled RHP Yennier Cano. 
Minnesota Twins sign RHP Michael Feliz to a minor-league deal, assign him to St. Paul
The Saints placed RHP Josh Winder on the 7-Day IL (right shoulder impingement syndrome)
LHP Brent Headrick promoted to Wichita
RHP Tyler Palm transferred to Cedar Rapids
INF Daniel Ozoria transferred from Wichita to Fort Myers
OF Emmanuel Rodriguez transferred from 7-day IL to 60-day IL
RHP Logan Campbell transferred from 7-day IL to 60-day IL
C Jair Camargo reinstated from 7-day IL 
INF Ernie Yake reinstated from 7-day IL
C Roy Morales transferred from Wichita to St. Paul

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 6, Indianapolis 7 
Box Score
Jordan Balazovic: 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: Spencer Steer (12), Miguel Sano (3), Curtis Terry (9)
Multi-hit games: Spencer Steer (2-for-5, HR, R, RBI), Jake Cave (2-for-5, R), Miguel Sanó (3-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI), Curtis Terry (2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)

The Saints lost on a walk-off Saturday.

Jordan Balazovic could not exorcise his first-half demons; the righty allowed four runs while netting just eight outs. Triple-A has been a nightmare for the top prospect, as advanced batters have knocked Balazovic around to the tune of a 10.41 ERA.

The top of St. Paul’s lineup had the good vibes going; all three batters recorded multiple hits, and half of the team’s runs came from this triumvirate. Spencer Steer kicked off the scoring quickly with a lead-off homer. Then Miguel Sanó blasted his own bomb in the 4th inning. Curtis Terry capped the firework show with his home run in the sixth frame.

The bullpen held their own until the final frame; Dereck Rodríguez shouldered most of the burden, allowing one run over 3 1/3 innings. The arms only wobbled when it mattered the most, as Indianapolis hopped all over Wladimir Pinto in the 9th inning, plating a game-winning run with some help from a Sanó error.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 4, Tulsa 10
Box Score
Louie Varland: 4 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: Jair Camargo (3), Chris Williams (17)
Multi-hit games: Jair Camargo (2-for-4, HR, R, RBI), Anthony Prato (2-for-4, 2B, R)

The Wind Surge lost handily on Saturday.

Louie Varland could not win against Tulsa’s bats. He allowed eight hits and a relatively-low total of three runs over four innings. It appears the Dodgers’ typically elite minor league talent shone through once again.

Wichita’s offense put up a fight, as both Jair Camargo and Chris Williams homered in the effort. Williams’ blast was expected—the catcher now has seven homers in his last seven games—while Camargo’s home run ballooned his Double-A OPS to 1.000. Leobaldo Cabrera, Edouard Julien, and Anthony Prato doubled on Saturday.

Brent Headrick met his Double-A debut with a trip and a faceplant; the Drillers dropped 10 hits, and seven earned runs on the fresh lefty before he could net his eighth out. In his first inning, the fifth, he gave up homers to the first two batters he faced. He gave up some soft contact on a couple of singles after that, but with two outs, he served up a three-run homer. Hopefully, this outing is just the result of unruly nerves.

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 8, Peoria 11
Box Score
Cade Povich: 4 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
HR: Yunior Severino (6), Jeferson Morales (5), Aaron Sabato (11)
Multi-hit games: Seth Gray (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI), Yunior Severino (3-for-4, HR, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB)

Cade Povich pitched one of his worst games as a young professional; it was a textbook clunker. The lefty allowed runs at a 2-1 pace compared to his innings. Hopefully, Povich can throw the memory of this start away and start fresh the next time he climbs the mound.

Cedar Rapids’ bats were efficient, mirroring eight runs with eight hits; nearly the entire lineup contributed to the impressive showing, as six batters claimed hits on Saturday. Yunior Severino, sitting in the heart of the lineup, stole the show, knocking a homer and speeding for a triple in a three RBI effort. Wander Javier also tripled.

The Chiefs pounced on multiple Cedar Rapids pitchers; Bradley Hanner and Derek Molina felt their wrath, allowing three runs each long after Povich exited the game. Molina suffered through three homers. He had given up just two homers in 24 previous outings (33 1/3 innings).

Sabato blasted a two-run homer in the final frame to pull the game within four while ensuring that the team scored in all but two innings.

Mussel Matters
The Mighty Mussels started play on Saturday, but early rain pushed the game to tomorrow as part of a double-header; Keoni Cavaco hit a two-run homer in the first inning.

Complex Chronicles
FCL Twins 0, FCL Red Sox 3
Box Score
Juan Nunez: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The FCL Twins were silenced on Saturday.

Juan Nunez was a bright point; he did not allow a run over four innings while striking out six. Danny Moreno and Isaiah Rivera also had scoreless outings.

FCL Twins hitters were flummoxed, with just three hits and four walks to their name; no knock went for extra bases.

Dominican Dailies
DSL Twins 6, DSL Brewers 2
Box Score
Cesar Lares: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
HR: Yasser Mercedes (3)
Multi-hit games: Yasser Mercedes (2-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI), Isaac Pena (2-for-3, R, BB)

The DSL Twins won easily on Saturday.

Breakout arm Cesar Lares pitched wonderfully again; the lefty struck out seven batters on his way to nabbing 12 outs. Just one score blemishes his performance.

Yasser Mercedes continued his impressive first impression, launching a game-breaking grand slam in the 4th inning; Mercedes already collected a single in the previous frame.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Cesar Lares
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Miguel Sanó

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#6 - Spencer Steer (St. Paul) - 2-for-5, HR, R, RBI, K
#7 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - 2 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
#8 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - Suspended game
#10 - Cade Povich (Cedar Rapids) - 4 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
#11 - Louie Varland (Wichita) - 4 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
#12 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-3, BB
#15 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, K
#16 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Wichita) - 0-4, 2 K
#19 - Steve Hajjar (Ft. Myers) - Suspended game

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Louisville (12:35 PM) - RHP Cole Sands
Wichita @ Tulsa (1:05 PM) - RHP Daniel Gossett
Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 PM) - RHP David Festa
Clearwater @ Fort Myers (DH @ 11:00 AM) - RHP Travis Adams

 

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[milkytoast]

I'm confused. Did Wichita win or lose?

[AlwaysinModeration]

1 hour ago, milkytoast said:

I'm confused. Did Wichita win or lose?

Yes.

[jmlease1]

Balazovic has really disappointed this season. Wonder what's going on there: is this residual injury, struggles to get back into form because of the injuries, inability to command a 3rd pitch, or a young pitcher getting his butt kicked at a higher level? He showed so much talent in the lower levels that it's hard to accept that he's gone to crap this way...but sometimes guys bust when they get to AAA. Really hoping he finds a way to get it together in the second half, but he's been bad all year.

Steer is continuing to do a nice job in AAA. The power plays, he's showing good patience, and he's got to have raised his stock with more than just Twins fans. Wallner is struggling a little bit in AAA, but it's early yet and I'm encouraged that he's not just racking up a bazillion Ks as he adjusts to the new level.

[Matt Braun]

4 hours ago, milkytoast said:

I'm confused. Did Wichita win or lose?

All Star break rust isn't just for players, apparently 

[mikelink45]

Balazovic disappointed, but Varland and Povich added to the woes of our pitching with Thielbar and Winder on IL the top prospects need to prove themselves.  This is upsetting.  The transaction list is a hospital list at this time - hard to see so many IL players.  

Today is decision day for Sano I believe - what happens next?

[roger]

Tough day for several of the top pitchers, Balazovic, Varland and Povich.  Biggest concern has to be Balazovic.  Jmlease above discusses significant concerns about the former top prospect.

What I find exciting this year is the play of the DSL Twins.  After a brutal 2021 season when they were very young, this team is now 10 games over .500.  Best of all, I counted six batters hitting over .300 in a league that historically has few .300 hitters.

[DJL44]

Ugh, Winder with shoulder problems again. 

Sano looks like he could contribute. Get him up and playing on Tuesday.

[HrbieFan]

Where will Yasser drop in on the prospect list at the end of the season? One of the best all around DSL years I have seen in awhile 

[puckstopper1]

19 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Ugh, Winder with shoulder problems again. 

Sano looks like he could contribute. Get him up and playing on Tuesday.

You do know that Sano struck out 4 times on Friday night, right?

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, puckstopper1 said:

You do know that Sano struck out 4 times on Friday night, right?

He batted .348/.423/.826 in AAA - which is better than any other player this season including Garlick and Kirilloff. He needs to come up, if only to showcase him to other teams.

[Rosterman]

Balazovic. DO you drop him down to Wichita and hope he continues his struggles, so you could remove him from the 40-man.

But then the question also arises, does he become a minor league free agent after this season. He first pitched in 2016 in short-season ball. 

Would a team grab him and keep him on their 40-man going into next season while pplaying minor league ball.

This was the season Balazovic needed to show he should get a chance to pitch in the majors. Can the Twins afford to keep him on the 40-man for another season?

[h2oface]

That pictuire has him looking a great shape.

[h2oface]

5 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Balazovic. DO you drop him down to Wichita and hope he continues his struggles, so you could remove him from the 40-man.

But then the question also arises, does he become a minor league free agent after this season. He first pitched in 2016 in short-season ball. 

Would a team grab him and keep him on their 40-man going into next season while pplaying minor league ball.

This was the season Balazovic needed to show he should get a chance to pitch in the majors. Can the Twins afford to keep him on the 40-man for another season?

He really looks horrible. Not a good sign for the 'pipeline'.

[TwinsDr2021]

22 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Ugh, Winder with shoulder problems again. 

 

I am twice his age and 10% as athletic as Winder, but shoulder impingement doesn't sound good for him. I have been dealing with a shoulder impingement for going on 9 months and it is no fun. Good Luck to him.