Minor League Report 5/6: Blayne Enlow Dominates and Emmanuel Rodriguez Returns

[Matt Braun]

Unfortunately the good news just about ends there.

Image courtesy of Tim Grubbs

TRANSACTIONS
INF Alex De Gotti activated from Development List
RHP Josh Winder optioned from Twins to AAA St. Paul
RHP Jorge Alcala recalled by Twins
INF Andrew Bechtold placed on temporary inactive list
OF Emmanuel Rodriguez activated from 7-day IL
OF Kyler Fedko placed on Development List

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 10, Nashville 7
Box Score
Simeon Woods Richardson: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
HR: Chris Williams (2), Andrew Bechtold (3), Kyle Garlick (5), Jair Camargo (2)
Multi-hit games: Edouard Julien (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB), Kyle Farmer (3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI), Mark Contreras (2-for-5, R) Jair Camargo (2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI)

The Saints completed their regularly scheduled program on Saturday.

Called early due to Mother Nature’s intervention, the Saints and Sounds re-took the field in the bottom of the third, hoping to squeeze in the rest of Friday’s match, and the seven innings constituting Saturday’s battle. That did not happen; the second game experienced the same issues as Friday’s, but they were able to finish what they started in the opening game. 

The slop evidently fueled St. Paul’s bats—messy and grueling it was, indeed—as they found life in the middle innings, following up a 5th inning three spot with four in the following frame. It was the kind of dynamic offense that would make any baseball fan happy: the Saints racked up walks, steals and extra-base hits in a glorious display capped by Kyle Garlick’s two-run shot in the 6th. They came back to add a cherry-on-top score in the 7th, just for fun. 

St. Paul’s pitching could also be described as sloppy, though, as each pitcher—each arm desperately hurled into the game to ensure a relatively healthy stable of pitchers—offered two walks in their outing. From Jose Bravo’s admirable three-inning escapade to Patrick Murphy’s game-ending appearance, command was not available. But they found a way to limit damage, and that was enough to allow the Saints to draw victory from the match.

Kyle Farmer picked up three hits in the game, including a pair of doubles.

Very recent old friend Trevor Megill pitched a scoreless inning for the Sounds.

The Saints swiped four bases; Mark Contreras now has seven steals on the season.

Sounds pitcher Robert Gasser was the best prospect represented by their squad; he allowed four runs over 3 ⅓ innings while striking out eight.

In an unusual event, Andrew Bechtold hit a homer in a game he could not play in, as he was placed on the Development List today while his homer came yesterday.

As mentioned earlier, game two was canceled and will be made up in an (alleged) doubleheader on Sunday.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 1, NW Arkansas 5
Box Score
Blayne Enlow: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
HR: DaShawn Kiersey Jr. (4)
Multi-hit games: Alex Isola (2-for-4)

The Wind Surge couldn’t capitalize on an excellent pitching performance on Saturday. 

Blayne Enlow was masterful, brilliant. When hitters expected the fastball, he delivered them a squirrelly breaker, always finding a way to miss the barrel in his second 6 frame start of the season. He’s apparently jumped on the hype train and added a sweeper to his arsenal, potentially giving him another out-pitch weapon to use against batters. It sure seemed effective tonight. 

Wichita’s offense was less exciting. Naturals’ lefty Anthony Veneziano ceased any effort to score against him, scattering a smattering of singles across his six impressive innings. Only once did the Wing Surge reach second base against him.

But they finally broke free against his teammate. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. sized up his new enemy and found him hittable—the following solo homer was inevitable. Yet, the surge ended as soon as it began, and Wichita scored no more runs while the Naturals ran away with the victory.

Luca Tresh—NW Arkansas’ catcher—was their best prospect on Saturday. Ranked 16th in the Royals’ system by MLB.com, Tresh walked and scored in four plate appearances. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 1, South Bend 6
Box Score
Jaylen Nowlin: 4 ⅓ IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: Ben Ross (3)
Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2B)

The Kernels offered little fight on Saturday. Almost entirely stymied by the Cubs’ pitching, Cedar Rapids turned in a dreadful hitting performance, earning just six hits and one walk over the 9-inning affair; Ben Ross’ last minute homer saved them from being shut out. 

Outside a disaster outing by Miguel Rodriguez, the Kernels’ pitchers performed fairly well. Jaylen Nowlin put forth a solid start, allowing a lone earned run over 4 ⅓ innings with five strikeouts and two walks—a free pass total much lower than usual. He also hit three batters, evening out his low walk total. 

Matt Mullenbach and Charlie Neuweiler did their jobs as well, combining for three frames of work and a single earned run.

But Miguel Rodriguez’s outing… did not go well. He allowed five straight singles before eliciting a fly out and leaving the game via stage right. Better things will be on the horizon.

Emmanuel Rodriguez made his return from the IL on Saturday; he walked and struck out twice.

Cedar Rapids’ defense turned three double plays; they also allowed six stolen bases. 

No player from MLB.com’s top 30 prospect list for the Cubs played in Saturday’s game.

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 2, Dunedin 3 (5 innings)
Box Score
C.J. Culpepper: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
HR: Alec Sayre (2)
Multi-hit games: Carlos Aguiar (2-for-2)

The Mighty Mussels lost a quick game on Saturday. Called following the 5th for rain, the match wasn’t much of an offensive display for Fort Myers, as—outside of Carlo Agiuar’s two hits and Alec Sayre’s homer—the Mighty Mussels earned one knock and three free bases from a walk and two hit by pitches.

C.J. Culpepper was mostly effective, but a flurry of singles in the 3rd flipped Fort Myers’ lead and stuck him with a tough loss he couldn’t recover from. He does technically earn the complete game for his work, re-emphasizing Monty Python’s message to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. 

Fort Myers found the time to steal two bases on Saturday.

Dunedin’s shortstop, Adrian Pinto, was their best prospect in the game according to MLB.com; he singled and scored in three at-bats. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Blayne Enlow
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Kyle Farmer

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 0-4, K
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, BB, 2 K
#5 - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, K
#6 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
#14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, K
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 3B, K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Nashville @ St. Paul (12:07 PM) - RHP Aaron Sanchez
Nashville @ St. Paul (30 minutes following game one) - TBD
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (2:05 PM) - RHP David Festa
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (1:05 PM) - RHP Kyle Jones
Dunedin @ Fort Myers (11:00 AM) - RHP Tomas Cleto

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[FlyingFinn]

Great game by Enlow. I would think he moves up to AAA at mid-season. Then, the Twins get to decide whether to again add him to the 40 man roster at the end of the year.

Nowlin would have fit in the movie Bull Durham. He's got nasty stuff but sometimes has no clue where the ball is going. Loved the comment, 'He had a season low two walks today....................oh, but he plunked three batters.' Yikes, who wants to set your feet in the batters box against him.

[mikelink45]

I keep looking at Julien and his 913 OPS and wonder if there isn't someway to get that bat going in Minneapolis. 

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I keep looking at Julien and his 913 OPS and wonder if there isn't someway to get that bat going in Minneapolis. 

Buxton in CF would do it. Julien is not playing LF or 3B in St. Paul and I don't think he has played 1B. LF and 3B were tried in previous years and I believe the Twins decided his play there is unacceptable for the majors.

[jmlease1]

Enlow's outing was very impressive. It's great to see him healthy and pitching well. I think it's going to turn out well that he passed through this off-season and stuck in the organization, and I think there's an excellent chance that he's back on the 40-man next year. He's always had talent, now it looks like he's finally healthy again. Hope to see this continue and for him to finish the year at AAA.

I'm very curious to see how Alex Isola ends up this season. He doesn't seem to be catching very much and while his hit tool isn't bad, I'm not sure it's enough to make it as a 1B/DH.

[roger]

One win in four games, but it still was a beautiful day for baseball.

First, looks like Farmer has his swing back and is ready to rejoin the Twins on Tuesday.  

Second, what a wonderful start from Enlow.  Nine K's in six innings, wow!  Agree with those above regarding his chances of being back on the 40-man should he continue pitching like this throughout the summer.

And finally, welcome back ERod.  Expect it will take a few games or a week to get back in the swing, but can't wait to see him hitting the ball by mid-month.

[Seth Stohs]

Happy for Enlow, the six innings, the quality start, and the nine Ks are very much impressive. Fun to see he's fully healthy and performing! 

[Doctor Wu]

You wrote:

"In an unusual event, Andrew Bechtold hit a homer in a game he could not play in, as he was placed on the Development List today while his homer came yesterday."

I read that 3 times and I'm still confused. What happened, and in what order?

Also, the beginning of the article said that Bechtold was placed on the temporary inactive list. Is that the same as the Development List? And what does that mean for his playing status?