Twins Minor League Report (6/15): Yasser Yacks, MacLeod Makes a Move

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins haven’t seen Yasser Mercedes get off to a hot start this year for the FCL team, but he blasted his first dinger of the season. Christian MacLeod shoved for Cedar Rapids, and plenty of action was worth tuning into.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• OF Trevor Larnach optioned from Minnesota to St. Paul
• RHP Ronny Henriquez placed on 7-day IL for St. Paul with an oblique strain
• OF Ryan LaMarre placed on development list by St. Paul
• RHP Alex Scherff promoted from Wichita to St. Paul
• LHP Denny Bentley placed on development list by Wichita
• RHP Alex Phillips added by Wichita from FCL Twins
• RHP Taylor Floyd added by Wichita from Milwaukee Brewers organization

SAINTS SENTINEL 
Louisville 6, St. Paul 3
Box Score
As they have been doing for some time now, the St. Paul Saints had Jordan Balazovic working in a piggy back role behind Cody Laweryson. The latter turned in three innings of two-run ball on a pair of solo homers. He struck out two and walked one. Balazovic then came in and worked just a single inning while allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. He gave up a dinger while striking out just one.

Kyle Garlick got the Saints on the board first with a sacrifice fly that scored Andrew Stevenson, but that was St. Paul’s only lead of the night. A rehabbing Joey Votto blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, and from there it was the Jason Vosler show for Louisville.

Stevenson did hit a solo shot in the seventh inning to make it a 5-2 score, and Chris Williams continued to destroy baseballs with his 13th dinger in the eighth inning and sixth in his past three games. Down 5-3 though, that was as close as the Saints would get.

Stevenson and Anthony Prato were the lone Saints to record a pair of hits. Former Twins prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Midland 8, Wichita 7
Box Score
It was Pierson Ohl’s turn for the Wind Surge, and he went six inning while allowing just two runs on four hits. Both runs scored on solo shots, and his six strikeouts came without walking a single batter. (Editor's Question: Did he walk any married players?)

Wichita got on the board first when Aaron Sabato doubled in Brooks Lee during the first inning. That was quickly wiped away in the bottom half as Midland evened things up, but then there was a lull until the fifth inning.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. ripped his second triple of the season, scoring Will Holland to take the lead, and Lee singled in Keirsey Jr. to make it a 5-3 game. Pat Winkel then blasted his sixth double of the season to score Lee, and Sabato doubled for the second time on the evening to drive home Winkel. A four run inning was achieved and the score was 5-1 after the fifth.

Adding in the sixth inning, Lee grabbed his 22nd double of the year to plate Keirsey Jr., and Wichita now led 6-1. Midland grabbed a run back in the bottom half before Holland drove in Sabato during the top of the seventh inning. Things went haywire for the Wind Surge in the eighth inning when they allowed three Midland runs to score and the lead was now wiped out.

Not able to add in the top half of the ninth inning, Wichita needed to blank Midland in the bottom half. Instead the RockHounds grabbed a run on a throwing error by Lee and that was enough for the walk-off win.

Both Keirsey Jr. and Lee had three hits. Winkel and Sabato each added a pair of their own.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 6, South Bend 5 (F/12)
Box Score

The Kernels went with Christian MacLeod tonight and he worked four innings allowing just a single run. Giving up five hits, MacLeod kept the bases clear by issuing no walks and striking out six on the evening.

Both sides failed to reach the scoreboard until the fourth inning. After South Bend put up a run, Kala’i Rosario continued his strong season by blasting home run number eleven. The two-run tank brought home Emmanuel Rodriguez as well and put Cedar Rapids on top.

After allowing South Bend to take the lead in the fifth inning, Tanner Schobel put the Kernels back even in the bottom half. His seventh double of the season scored Jose Salas and made it a 3-3 game.

Working through nine innings neither side could find an advantage, and it wasn’t until the 10th inning that runs again came across. First South Bend scored their fourth run of the game and then Andrew Cossetti used a sacrifice fly to drive in Noah Miller to tie it again. Needing the 11th inning, it was South Bend driving in a run during the top half to take the 5-4 lead, but the Kernels answered when Kyler Fedko scored on a throwing error.

Onto the 12th inning, Cedar Rapids held South Bend in the top half and then walked it off in the bottom half. Ernie Yake singled home Miller and that was enough to grab the victory. Racking up only five hits, no Kernels batters had multi-hit games. Despite striking out 11 times as a team, they did draw eight walks.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 7, Bradenton 4
Box Score
Andrew Morris made the start tonight for Fort Myers and he went six innings allowing only three runs on four hits and two walks. The Texas Tech product struck out six batters on the evening.

The Mighty Mussels jumped out to an early lead when Rubel Cespedes blasted a solo shot for his sixth homer of the year. After giving up the lead in the second and seeing Bradenton add in the fourth inning, Fort Myers clawed back.

Gregory Duran hit his first home run of the season to make it a 3-2 score in the fifth inning, and then Ricardo Olivar lifted a two-run shot, scoring Danny De Andrade to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. After the Marauders evened things in the seventh inning, Rafael Cruz crushed his third home run of the year, and his three-run shot scored both Olivar and Cespedes to make it a 7-4 game. That’s where things ended, and Fort Myers grabbed the victory.

With just six hits in the contest, no Mussels batters recorded more than a single hit in the contest. Zach Veen grabbed the win in relief.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 6, FCL Braves 2
Box Score
Jack Noble got the start today for the FCL team and was sharp across five innings. He scattered six hits allowing just two runs and struck out seven while walking none.

Daniel Pena started the scoring for the Twins with a two-run blast that scored Bryan Acuna in the bottom of the second inning. Isaac Pena then followed a Jose Rodriguez third inning double with one of his own to make it a 3-0 game. He later came around to score on a throwing error.

Star prospect Yasser Mercedes clubbed his first home run of the year, a two-run blast scoring Giovanny Rivero, making it 6-0 through four innings. He also had a double. 

The Braves got two back in the fifth inning, but that’s where the shutdown happened. Andres Centeno wiped one out with a double scoring Mercedes, after a double of his own, in the bottom of the sixth and that 7-2 score held.

Mercedes and Rodriguez both had a pair of hits on the day with Acuna joining them.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Phillies Red 15, DSL Twins 10
Box Score
Things haven’t started great for the DSL Twins and that didn’t change today. With a 1-6 record coming into the game, they gave up an 11 spot to the DSL Phillies in the third inning. Cristian Hernandez was charged with nine runs across just 2 2/3 innings of work.

Ariel Castro, the top international free agent signing for Minnesota, hit his first professional home run in this game. Fellow top signing, catcher Carlos Silva, was lifted for a pinch runner after being hit by a pitch.

Jayson Bass and Moises Lopez both recorded hits for the Twins club in the sixth inning to put up a four spot. Down 15-7 at that point though, it was too little, too late. The Twins tried to extend their rally in the eighth inning with a wild pitch scoring Denyerbe Gervis and Javier Roman doubling in two, but 10 runs wasn’t going to get it done today.

Both Moises Lopez and and Ricardo Pena grabbed three hits on the day while Gervis had a pair of his own.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Christian MacLeod (Cedar Rapids) - 4.0 IP, 5 H 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Hitter of the Day – Yasser Mercedes (FCL) - 2-5, 2 R 2 RBI, 2B(2), HR(1), 2 K

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:

#1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, K
#2 - Royce Lewis (Minnesota) - 1-4, R, 2 K
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
#9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 0-3, BB, K
#10 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL) - 2-5, 2 R 2 RBI, 2B(2), HR(1), 2 K
#12 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, R, BB, K
#13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2 R, BB
#14 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, K
#18 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL) - 2-5, R, 2B(3)
#19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 1-5, 4 K

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Louisville (6:15PM CST) - RHP Kenta Maeda
Wichita @ Midland (7:00PM CST) - RHP David Festa
South Bend @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30PM CST) - RHP Jose Olivares

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games!

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[jkcarew]

Love it with all leagues in full swing!

Although, the Jordan Balazovic comeback train has jumped the tracks. Results for 6 of the last 7 outings now have been anywhere from not good to really bad.

 

[Rosterman]

Stevenson and Contreras have become stolen abse machines in St. Paul. Too bad Helman isn't full force. Throw in Julien when he returns there, and...well, how many bases will the Saints steal this year?!

[FlyingFinn]

Rosario is amazing this year. Clubbed a two run homer early. Then, the other teams pitchers got scared of him, walking him three times. When they start doing that, maybe it's time to move up one level. 

[AJray15]

Anyone know what happened to Austin Martin. I feel like he hasn’t played in a week or so. Hurt again?

[weitz41]

Aaron Sabato isn't blowing it up but looks to be improving. His BA and OBP are higher than Gallo's. Congrats to the guys who earned a promotion and welcome to the organization Taylor Floyd (PNL from the Tyler McGill trade)

[nclahammer]

8 hours ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

Both runs scored on solo shots, and his six strikeouts came without walking a single batter. (Editor's Question: Did he walk any married players?)

I saw what you did there.  Outstanding (or were you sitting when you wrote it?)

[Riverbrian]

Chris Williams 26 years old. 

.290/.394/.621

No comment

Just saying that these are really good numbers. 

[Dman]

8 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Rosario is amazing this year. Clubbed a two run homer early. Then, the other teams pitchers got scared of him, walking him three times. When they start doing that, maybe it's time to move up one level. 

Yeah I was more impressed with Rosario taking 3 walks than him hitting the home run.  It means he isn't pressing (being too aggressive) and that he has a good eye at the plate (not guess swinging).  IMO It shows maturity and that he is ready for the next level. Guessing the Twins will wait until the half season to move him so that he can maintain his All Star status at High A.

FWIW for those that qualify Rosario is 4th in OPS for the MIdwest League.  The first two players are 24 years old and have been promoted to AA ( they still have enough at bats to qualify though).  The other player ahead of him is only .09 points ahead and is 22 years old. Oh and Rosario also leads the league in HR's ahead of guys like Gavin Cross and Jace Young who are older and were top 10 draft picks last year. Also he is only 20 years old.  He is at the top of his league after almost three months of numbers, he really has nothing left to prove there.  They have to just be letting him qualify for All Star honors as there is no logical reason he cannot move up with the dominance he has shown so far.

[AlwaysinModeration]

31 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Chris Williams 26 years old. 

.290/.394/.621

No comment

Just saying that these are really good numbers. 

Excellent use of the no comment comment.

[mikelink45]

Balazovic 4.79 ERA seems to have plateaued.  His shining star and my hope he would prosper are now dampened if not extinguished by last year and this one.

Sabato is batting 207 in the minors, that is not praiseworthy.  He too looks like a career minor leaguer.

Can someone explain to be the Development List?

[Dman]

Lee had a nice night going 3 for 5 but he single handedly handed the team the loss with 2 errors in the 9th inning.  I don't know how tough those plays were to make but it is pretty hard to overcome 2 errors and not let a run score so he has some work to do defensively IMO.

Ohl pitched well through 6 but couldn't get through 7 and got charged some extra runs.  He throws strikes and can be pretty efficient once batters realize they have to swing but he is still allowing too many hits and too many runs.  He is going to need to keep them guessing better to be successful. I still really like his aggressive approach and his stuff even if the fastball isn't all that fast.

Also happy to see McCleod with a good outing.  I was a big believer in the lefty and I hope he is back on track as we need good arms to round out the system.

Chris Williams continues to impress.  He has the hottest bat on the team right now.  Hard to believe the offense got held down but hopefully they get things going tomorrow.

Would be nice to see more hits from the various affiliates but somedays things click somedays they don't.

[2wins87]

4 hours ago, AJray15 said:

Anyone know what happened to Austin Martin. I feel like he hasn’t played in a week or so. Hurt again?

Check out yesterday's thread

[2wins87]

Good to see Mercedes in the FCL and Castro in the DSL both hitting homers.

There have been a few slow starts for the most promising prospects on those Twins affiliates, so hopefully they can put the first week or so behind them and start beating up on the competition.

[DJL44]

I can't wait to see the second guessing here when Balazovic is finally good 3 years and 5 organizations from now.

[2wins87]

34 minutes ago, Dman said:

Lee had a nice night going 3 for 5 but he single handedly handed the team the loss with 2 errors in the 9th inning.  I don't know how tough those plays were to make but it is pretty hard to overcome 2 errors and not let a run score so he has some work to do defensively IMO.

Probably give half credit to Sabato.  Obviously the errors have to go to Lee when both were in the dirt, but they were also both in the vicinity an neither were scooped.

[Dman]

3 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

Probably give half credit to Sabato.  Obviously the errors have to go to Lee when both were in the dirt, but they were also both in the vicinity an neither were scooped.

Good to know. Thanks!

[chpettit19]

Who needs CES when you have Chris Williams?! (mostly sarcasm as I know this is a very small sample, but just wanted to have a little fun while we face CES)

[roger]

I see that MacLeod was a 5th round pick in 2021.  See he pitched only an inning that year and not at all in 2022.  Assume he had surgery and was out for the year, plus.  Is that correct?

Was he a good prospect who slipped in the draft because of injury concerns?  Is he another pitcher we should be high on that the Twins were lucky to get in the 5th round?  Is he similar to the Prielipp pick last year?  Love that he throws with his left arm, Twins seem to have too few lefties in the organization.

[Dman]

38 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Who needs CES when you have Chris Williams?! (mostly sarcasm as I know this is a very small sample, but just wanted to have a little fun while we face CES)

After it was mentioned in an article I have to say I have been giving that notion more thought.  Williams has to keep this up and stay consistent but if he is going to be a 1.000 OPS hitter that is pretty elite company as there are only 8 players in the international league that are at that level and CES is one of them.  

Williams has been streaky before so I don't "trust" the current numbers but if he is at this level in August he might be an elite bat.  Will have to wait and see but would be nice to have a power hitting 1st baseman on the team.  It seems like it has been a while since we had someone like that.

[mikelink45]

Whether it is Williams, Wallner or any other prospect, I would love to see them brought up when they are hot.  Easy enough to send down when the cool, but the Twins have too many Mendoza batters and some more hits would be great. 

[roger]

2 hours ago, Dman said:

After it was mentioned in an article I have to say I have been giving that notion more thought.  Williams has to keep this up and stay consistent but if he is going to be a 1.000 OPS hitter that is pretty elite company as there are only 8 players in the international league that are at that level and CES is one of them.  

Williams has been streaky before so I don't "trust" the current numbers but if he is at this level in August he might be an elite bat.  Will have to wait and see but would be nice to have a power hitting 1st baseman on the team.  It seems like it has been a while since we had someone like that.

Your comment 'power hitting first baseman' sure brought me some memories.  Remember back when the Braves had Joe Adcock and the Reds had Ted Kluzewski.  If memory serves, Kluzewski's forearms were bigger than most people's legs.  And recall listening to the Braves on the radio the day Adcock hit his four home runs together with a double they said hit a couple feet from the top of the outfield wall or he would have had 5 in one day.

Thanks for the memories.

[DJL44]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Whether it is Williams, Wallner or any other prospect, I would love to see them brought up when they are hot.  Easy enough to send down when the cool, but the Twins have too many Mendoza batters and some more hits would be great. 

That's called the "hot hand fallacy".

[mikelink45]

40 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

That's called the "hot hand fallacy".

Call it what you want - hot bats are good bats.

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, mikelink45 said:

Call it what you want - hot bats are good bats.

If I get a run of tails flipping pennies I'll make sure I switch coins.

[Doctor Wu]

23 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Can someone explain to be the Development List?

I've wondered about this too. What exactly is this mysterious Development List?

[FlyingFinn]

With approval of the MLB Commissioner, a player on a minor league Domestic Reserve List can be placed on the Development List if the player is at the parent organization's Minor League Spring Training Complex or at a club-approved training facility for the purpose(s) of development and/or conditioning.
NOTE: As part of his development and/or conditioning, a player on the Development List can remain with his minor league club and take batting practice, fielding practice, throw bullpen side sessions, and/or serve as a bullpen catcher, batting practice pitcher, or base coach.   

Source - The Cub Reporter

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

With approval of the MLB Commissioner, a player on a minor league Domestic Reserve List can be placed on the Development List if the player is at the parent organization's Minor League Spring Training Complex or at a club-approved training facility for the purpose(s) of development and/or conditioning.
NOTE: As part of his development and/or conditioning, a player on the Development List can remain with his minor league club and take batting practice, fielding practice, throw bullpen side sessions, and/or serve as a bullpen catcher, batting practice pitcher, or base coach.   

Source - The Cub Reporter

Great. Now what's a Domestic Reserve List?

/ never mind - looked it up, 180 players per franchise to cover their entire minor league system.  There's also a 70-player International Reserve List. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33291388/mlb-seeks-ability-reduce-size-domestic-reserve-list-latest-labor-offer-players-union-sources-say