Twins Minor League Report (9/18): Wichita Wins Finale, Saints Slug it Out

[Ted Schwerzler]

This afternoon the Saints used a pair of first blasts to grind out a victory while the Wind Surge found themselves on top after a strong strikeout performance by their starting pitcher.

 

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson - St. Paul Saints

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Infielder Elliot Soto placed on 7-day concussion IL by St. Paul
• Pitcher Ronny Henriquez recalled by Minnesota Twins
• Pitcher Dereck Rodriguez optioned to Triple-A St. Paul

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 3, Louisville 1
Box Score

Wrapping up their home series against the Louisville Bats, St. Paul turned to Ariel Jurado for Sunday’s matinee. He was great allowing just a single run (unearned) on two hits and a walk. Jurado punched out three in his six innings of work.

After the Bats took a first-inning lead, St. Paul responded when Chris Williams blasted his tenth Triple-A dinger in the bottom of the inning. Then in the third inning, recently-promoted Wander Javier crushed his first Triple-A home run to give St. Paul their first lead of the game.

Joining the first career Triple-A homer party, Dalton Shuffield blasted one to right-center field. He was Minnesota’s 10th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Brock Stewart turned in a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout, and Jake Jewell recorded his fifth save while recording six outs, allowing no baserunners, and striking out three. St. Paul goes on the road tomorrow before returning to play their final homestand next week.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 5, Midland 3
Box Score

Kody Funderburk was on the bump to close out the regular season for the Wind Surge. They’ll have a day off Monday before starting their postseason against the Tulsa Drillers on Tuesday. Funderburk worked around traffic, but gave up just two runs on four hits while striking out eight in four innings of work.

After getting behind in the third inning, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. put the Wind Surge on top when he blasted a two-run homer. Keirsey Jr.’s seventh of the season brought in Leobaldo Cabrera and Wichita found themselves in the run column.

Wichita allowed Midland to even things in the 4th inning, but immediately took back the lead in the fifth inning. Anthony Prato lifted a sacrifice fly to score Will Holland, and then Jair Camargo jacked a two-run blast to bring in Brooks Lee.

A late hit by Midland brought in another run, but Wichita held on to win their final game of the regular season

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Ariel Jurado (St. Paul) - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Hitter of the Day – Chris Williams (St. Paul) - 2-4, R, RBI, HR(10)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. 

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

#2 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 3-5, R, K
#9 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 2-3, K

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Indianapolis (5:35PM CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s games! It sure is exciting to have all four Twins full-season affiliates back and playing.

 

 

View full article

[puckstopper1]

None of the "rehabers" (Polanco, Larnach or Jeffers) played for the Saints.  I'm curious as to why.  Might it be that they are not yet healed enough?

[FlyingFinn]

34 minutes ago, puckstopper1 said:

None of the "rehabers" (Polanco, Larnach or Jeffers) played for the Saints.  I'm curious as to why.  Might it be that they are not yet healed enough?

My guess - the rush to get them back is no longer a rush.

[FlyingFinn]

I really like how Keirsey's bat has improved and continue to wonder if he is great defensively.

Lee continues to pound the ball, now in AA. 

[mikelink45]

9 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

I really like how Keirsey's bat has improved and continue to wonder if he is great defensively.

Lee continues to pound the ball, now in AA. 

Lee will be AAA next year and knocking on the door if this year has any meaning.  What a great start.

[Trov]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Lee will be AAA next year and knocking on the door if this year has any meaning.  What a great start.

Depending on how spring training shakes out, other signings/trades, we could see Lee break with the Twins, who knows.  Unless they feel he needs to work more on defense, it sure seems like they feel his bat will play at any level right now.  A lot will depend on if Correa stays, or we bring in a different SS, and how Lewis is.  Since Lee will not need a 40 man spot until he is ready I would not expect him to break with Twins, but they have shown they are not afraid to bring in the best player no matter the service time, with this FO.  Under Terry Ryan, I would say Lee is like 3 years from making the majors because that is when he needs to be added to 40 man roster and getting service time.  Then he would get called up like in June. 

[roger]

Considering the only teams still playing are AA and AAA, amazing that we are talking about two players from this year's draft having great games.

I remain so hopeful that Lee is that special player.  Sure seems to be with a 3 hit game in what, his second AA game?  And I don't know what to think about Shuffield?  Don't understand what he is doing at AAA and why he is hitting as well as he is?  If this is who he is, what the heck was he doing not getting drafted until the 10th round?

[DJL44]

On 9/19/2022 at 9:43 AM, roger said:

And I don't know what to think about Shuffield?  Don't understand what he is doing at AAA and why he is hitting as well as he is?  If this is who he is, what the heck was he doing not getting drafted until the 10th round?

Not only that, he was a 5th year senior sign who was drafted in round 10 mainly because he would have a small bonus and the money could be assigned to other draft picks. He's hit the snot out of the ball at the professional level.