Minor League Report (4/29): Wichita Offensive Explosion Highlights Disappointing Night in the Minors

[Matt Braun]

Plus a solid start from Randy Dobnak and a massive performance from Yunior Severino.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Yunior Severino)

TRANSACTIONS
LHP Brent Headrick optioned to AAA St. Paul 
RHP Bailey Ober recalled by Twins

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 1, Rochester 2
Box Score
Randy Dobnak: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Andrew Stevenson (2-for-4, R), Elliot Soto (2-for-4)

St. Paul lost on a walk-off on Saturday.

It was a night of restrained offense and missed opportunities, where pitchers of all kinds found the sweet waters of fortune; at least, most of them did. Saints starter Randy Dobnak worked four efficient frames, allowing a lone run off a homer while striking out one. Most notably for Dobnak, he avoided the dreaded walk, surrendering no free bases during his time on the mound.

St. Paul's offense could not support their arms, however, but their efforts were not entirely futile, weak. In every inning but one, they placed a runner on base, often finding multiple baserunners crawling around the infield: they just only brought one of them home. That run came when Ryan LaMarre smacked a double in the 8th inning, momentarily tying the game. 

But the effort was greeted with evil finality; Kevin Plawecki homered off of Jorge Alcala the following inning to end the game, handing the Saints a loss for their work.

The Rochester Red Wings are a Who’s Who of Some Guys, boasting a roster of players like Matt Adams, Nomar Mazara, Chad Pinder, and old friend Ildemaro Vargas. Their best prospect—Jake Alu, the 27th ranked prospect, according to MLB.com—went hitless in four at-bats. 

Alex Kirilloff did not play on Saturday.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 10, Springfield 16
Box Score
Carlos Luna: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
HR: Pat Winkel (1), Yunior Severino (6)
Multi-hit games: Brooks Lee (2-for-5, BB), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (2-for-6, 2 R), Jake Rucker (2-for-6, 2 R), Yunior Severino (4-for-6, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI), Seth Gray (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Will Holland (2-for-5, RBI)

The Wind Surge lost an offensive bonanza on Saturday. 

With bats refusing to cease, sparking action and inspiring defensive conditioning, the two teams combined for 36 hits—somehow finding the most success with singles, as neither squad exceeded three extra-base hits in the match. 

Only one Wichita pitcher escaped the carnage without damage to their ERA; Osiris German stood alone amongst starters and relievers alike leaving the mound with hanged head and sorrow moods; two earned runs proved to be the lowest total allowed by any non-German hurler. The Wind Surge pitching staff has now given up 46 runs over their past four games. 

Yunior Severino commanded the charge offensively, cracking his sixth homer of the season on his way toward four hits, four RBIs, and two runs scored. He easily earned the title of “Hitter of the Day.” But others impressed as well, as every starting batter earned a hit, and every hitter outside of Yoyner Fajardo reached base safely at least twice. 

Extra credit goes to Patrick Winkel, who smoked a 114 MPH screamer for his first homer of the season.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. stole his eighth base of the season; only one player in the Texas League has swiped more bags. 34 more steals ties his total from 2022.

The typically strong Cardinals system lacks an overwhelming supply of talent at AA, but Mike Antico holds the title of their 22nd best prospect: he collected two singles, stole two bases, and scored twice. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 0, West Michigan 4
Box Score
Pierson Ohl: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Jose Salas (2-for-4)

The Kernels lost quietly on Saturday.

Lacking the pitching acumen of the Saints and the offensive display of the Wind Surge, the Kernels just kind of slid into defeat, almost never threatening Western Michigan’s lead and losing by, not a major margin, but enough to accurately reflect the quality of each team on Saturday.

Pierson Ohl was fine, acceptable. He tossed four innings with two earned runs as some 2nd inning wildness killed his efficiency, stopping him from reaching the critical fifth frame.

While John Wilson handed in two shutout innings, Malik Barrington and Matt Mullenbach surrendered a run each, putting the game well out of reach late.

Outside of an 8th inning rally soiled by a double play, and a 9th inning spark knocked dead in its shoes, Cedar Rapids’ offense never threatened, offering four singles in support of their bats—two from Jose Salas. They did take six walks—a legitimate sign of good strike zone control—but the batted ball gods saw no need to bless their bats, and the Kernels fell silent when they could not take advantage of an error that loaded the bases in the 9th.

Izaac Pacheco is the 12th-ranked prospect in the Tigers system, and he proved his worth, singling in a run in the 1st inning. 

Jose Salas stole his sixth base of the season.

Mussel Matters
Lightning ended Fort Myers’ match before it could begin and the game will be made up at a later date.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Randy Dobnak
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Yunior Severino

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

#1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 2-5, BB
#8 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, SB
#14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 0-2, 2 BB
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4
#20 - Misael Urbina (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 3 K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Rochester (1:05 PM) - RHP Aaron Sanchez
Springfield @ Wichita (1:05 PM) - RHP Blayne Enlow
Western Michigan @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 PM) - LHP Jaylen Nowlin
Fort Myers @ Daytona (4:00 PM) - RHP C.J. Culpepper

View full article

[Unwinder]

Feels nice to see Dobnak have something other than a complete meltdown

[mikelink45]

I always look at the prospects list and always hope for a day where everyone gets a hit.  Close today.

[Omgbenji]

Love the minor league reports. Thanks much writers for both putting them together every day and seemingly hearing my comment about captioning the player photos with their names. It is much appreciated. 

[Aerodeliria]

18 hours ago, Omgbenji said:

Love the minor league reports. Thanks much writers for both putting them together every day and seemingly hearing my comment about captioning the player photos with their names. It is much appreciated. 

Dittos!