Minor League Report (9/10): Wichita Wins on a Walk-Off

[Matt Braun]

That's about where the good news ends, unfortunately. Though a couple of big Saints prospects had big nights. And, The Mighty Mussels played two games. 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

 

TRANSACTIONS
INF Seth Gray was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Wichita.
INF Daniel Ozoria was sent to Cedar Rapids from Ft. Myers.
C Andrew Cossetti was sent to Cedar Rapids from the Florida Complex.
1B Aaron Sabato placed on IL. He was hit by a 98 mph fastball in the hand and has a broken bone.

Saints Sentinel 
St. Paul 9, Toledo 10 (10 Innings)
Box Score
Dereck Rodriguez: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
HR: Matt Wallner (6)
Multi-hit games: Matt Wallner (2-for-5, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB), Cole Sturgeon (2-for-5, R, BB), Chris Williams (3-for-5, 2 2B, R, RBI), John Andreoli (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI)

St. Paul lost an extra-inning heartbreaker on Saturday.

It was a true barn-burner during all phases; there were just three innings where neither team plated a run and six instances where a team scored multiple times in a single frame. Pitchers found no quarter.

Chris Williams and Matt Wallner, the typical culprits, led the offensive charge for St. Paul, dropping four extra-base hits and an equal total of RBIs. The Saints nabbed eight extra-base hits in total on Saturday. 

Mario Sanchez was the lone Saints pitcher to walk away without a run attached to his name; the righty acquired four outs and left before chaos could brew.

The Mud Hens were led by Daz Cameron, the son of Mike Cameron. While no longer a prospect, Cameron is a highly-talented 25-year-old whom the Tigers acquired in the Justin Verlander trade. According to MLB.com, the highest-rated prospect playing for Toledo is Andre Lipcius, a third-baseman who walked twice on Saturday.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 3, NW Arkansas 2
Box Score
Daniel Gossett: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Yunior Severino (2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB), Leobaldo Cabrera (2-for-4, R)

The Wind Surge won on a walk-off on Saturday.

Daniel Gossett established the tone early, allowing a sole earned run over five quality innings with five strikeouts. Gossett has bounced around the system, always needed somewhere else, and has pitched remarkably well, no matter the context.

Wichita’s offense remained in neutral for the majority of the game, only breaking free in the 9th inning thanks to a bevy of walks and a Yunior Severino two-run, walk-off single. The team ended with seven walks on top of eight hits.

Blayne Enlow collected three strikeouts over two scoreless innings.

Tyler Gentry led the Naturals; the 9th-ranked prospect struck out three times in Saturday’s game.

Kernels Nuggets 

The rain ended this game before it could start. Because the game is unnecessary for playoff standings, the Kernels will play just one game on Sunday.

Mussel Matters
Game 1: Fort Myers 2, St. Lucie 5 (7 Innings)
Box Score
Jordan Carr: 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Mighty Mussels experienced an offensive malaise on Saturday.

Game 1 was sub-optimal; the team netted just three hits—all singles—with six walks and plenty of strikeouts to go around. Kala’i Rosario was probably the batter of the game, as he walked twice and scored a run. No Mighty Mussel batter knocked in a run with a hit.

Jordan Carr’s start was tough; the lefty allowed five runs over three innings as the Mets BABIP’d him to death. 

Zebby Matthews stood out on the mound, striking out four over two clean frames to help bring the game to its silent conclusion. 

Kevin Parada—the 3rd ranked prospect in the Mets system and the 11th overall pick in the July draft— leads St. Lucie; the catcher singled and walked on Saturday. 

Game 2: Fort Myers 1, St. Lucie 3
Box Score
Tomas Cleto: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Tanner Schobel (2-for-3, RBI)

The Mighty Mussels continued their crisis of confidence in Game 2 on Saturday.

Tanner Schobel ensured that someone could claim a multi-hit game; he singled twice. Fort Myers hitters walked more than they struck out (six to four) but failed to bring those free baserunners home beyond one run scored in the 5th inning.

Tomas Cleto pitched well, punching out a trio of hitters with a single earned run over his four innings of work.

Luis Baez swiped his 20th bag of the season.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tomas Cleto, Ft. Myers
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Matt Wallner, St. Paul 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#4 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 0-3, 2 BB, K
#7 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - 0-2, 2 BB
#9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 2-for-5, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 K
#14 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 1-4, R, BB
#15 - Blayne Enlow (Wichita) - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
#17 - Cole Sands (Minnesota) - 3 ⅓ IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Ft. Myers) - 2-6, RBI, BB, K
#20 - Kala’i Rosario (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, R, 3 BB, K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Toledo (1:05 PM) - RHP Bailey Ober (rehab) 
NW Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 PM) - RHP Cody Laweryson
South Bend @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 PM) - TBD
St. Lucie @ Fort Myers (12:00 PM) - TBD

 

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[FlyingFinn]

Wallner continues his hot streak. If the Twins drop out of the race, bring him up and get his cold start out of the way before next year.

Sabato - the injury is bad enough but he was probably going to the Arizona Fall League to work on things. Doubly bad for him.

Soularie - anyone know why he is suspended?

[tony&rodney]

Gotta give Wallner some shots at DH in Minneapolis. Nothing to lose.

[mikelink45]

Like others in this post. I wonder why Wallner isn't brought in to replace Kepler or fill the DH.

[RJA]

Three thoughts.  Like others, I think it would have been nice to see Wallner at Target Field for some games.  He always takes a few weeks to adjust when he moves up a level, so maybe it is best that they don't bring him up this fall and let him finish strong at St. Paul.  If they brought him up, and he did his usual thing of struggling at a new level, he would go into the offseason having to think about his struggles at the MLB level and not his success at Wichita and St. Paul.  Second, this season looks like it is on life support, but I am looking forward to next year when Wallner, Larnach, Kirilloff, Lewis and hopefully Julien, will get fresh/new chances to prove themselves.  I still believe in a core of Buxton, Arraez, Miranda, Polanco and this group, though somebody may be moved in a trade.    I think young players coming up. like Miranda did this year, is one of the coolest things about baseball. Despite his comments about Minnesota, Correa will hit the market, but if you added him to that core it would be interesting. Finally, Enlow had a good outing so let's hope he realizes his potential once his injury is behind him and works his way up the ladder.  

[DocBauer]

With all due respect to St Paul, who I'm sure wants to finish the year as strong as possible, I'd have  Wallner and Varland both up to finish 2022, gain valuable experience, and use it as a stepping stone for 2023.

Varlqnd should be able to get in at least a pair of starts. Wallner may start cold, but what's he going to do? Be worse than the injured and non-existant Kepler? Kepler's had like 2 good days in over 2 months.

I would have had Helman up a month ago instead of Cave when down to our 8th OF and were facing a slew of LHSP. At least he's RH, can play all over, and is young enough to have a future. IDK, maybe you still give him a shot. What good are Hamilton and Hamilton doing for you at this point?

[Seth Stohs]

11 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Soularie - anyone know why he is suspended?

I mean... I know, but it's more of an internal thing. It's not a PED suspension or anything like that. 

[operation mindcrime]

Tough break for Sabato!!! 

[bean5302]

@Seth Stohs It's because he kept leaving the toilet seat up after being told many, many times it needs to be DOWN on enchilada night, right?