Twins Minor League Report (7/11): DSL Twins Crush, Then Go Cold

[Steve Lein]

With the Major League All-Star Break in full swing, all full season affiliates have off until Friday, when they’ll resume their second-halves with a weekend three-game series. Until then, the Dominican Summer League is still in action, so you’ll at least get two games worth of recaps in this report. There was some unfortunate prospect news out of Cedar Rapids yesterday as well.

TRANSACTIONS

• The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced a pair of roster moves yesterday. RHP Gianluca Dalatri was transferred from the 7-day to 60-day injured list, and...
  
  LHP Connor Prielipp was transferred from the 7-day to Full Season injured list, effectively ending his 2023 campaign and first comeback attempt after Tommy John surgery while at Alabama. Prielipp started one game for the Cedar Rapids Kernels on April 8th, pitching four innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks, while striking out three. He was then shut down until a rehab appearance on June 9th with the FCL Twins. He threw 2 2/3 innings there, giving up two earned on three hits and two walks, along with three strikeouts before being shut down again. A disappointing result for the 22-year-old pitcher in his first full season. The Full Season Injured List is used for players who have had surgery or are about to have surgery. Prielipp will have surgery in the next week or two.

DOMINICAN DAILY (Monday)
DSL Phillies Red 4, DSL Twins 5 (7 innings)
Box Score
Twins starter Jose Vasquez gave up single runs in each of the first two innings, putting his team down 2-0 early, but the offense picked him up in the bottom of the second.

That is when Ricardo Pena hit his first home run of the season, and the first of this game for the team, making it 2-1 before Moises Lopez and Ewing Matos scored on a single from Jesus Peraza later in the frame to put them out front.

Vasquez finished three innings on the mound, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk, striking out one before giving way to Yency De Jesus for the final four innings. De Jesus allowed two runs (one earned) of his own on three hits and a walk, while striking out five Phillies. He picked up the win.

The Twins lineup added solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings to secure the victory. In the fourth it was Lopez’s second home run of the season to give them a 4-2 lead, and in the sixth Javier Roman’s first put them ahead for good 5-4.

Pena (2-for-2, R, HR, RBI) and Peraza (2-for-2, 2 RBI) each collected multiple hits to lead the way.

DOMINICAN DAILY (Tuesday)
DSL Twins 1, DSL Cardinals 8
Box Score
The game this morning was much tougher sledding for the Twins, as they were held to one run on seven hits against the Cardinals, finishing 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Their lone run came in the seventh inning, when they loaded the bases with nobody out thanks to a Javier Roman walk, a double from Ewing Matos, and Jesus Peraza being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately, it was a double-play ball that scored the run, so no RBI was awarded and the next batter struck out to end any further threat.

Dameury Pena had a solid game however, finishing 3-for-4 to raise his average over .400 on the season in 22 games. Matos’s double was the Twins only extra-base-hit in the game.

On the pitching side, Eduardo Soriano made the start and pitched the first two innings. He was ambushed for five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk, striking out three. He gave up a grand slam in the second inning that put the Cardinals out front for good 5-1.

The bullpen trio of Oscar Paredes (2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, BB, 4 K), Jose Betancourt (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K), and Gerardo Abrego (2 IP, H, 2 K) finished off the game for the Twins.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Yency De Jesus, DSL Twins (4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
Hitter of the Day - Jesus Peraza, DSL Twins (2 games: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#8 - David Festa (Wichita) - Festa pitched the fifth inning of the Future's Game during All-Star activities in Seattle. He allowed one hit and struck out uber-prospect Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers for a scoreless inning.

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Monday and Tuesday’s DSL games!

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[roger]

Does anyone know what surgery Prielipp is having?  Is it related to his TJ surgery?  Or something else?

[RpR]

Here are the Saints at this point.

[gman]

When did Conor Prielipp have TJ surgery. Was it early last year or 2021? Does anyone know. Might just be a slow healer or someone screwed up his rehab trying to get him back for last years draft..

[Seth Stohs]

2 hours ago, roger said:

Does anyone know what surgery Prielipp is having?  Is it related to his TJ surgery?  Or something else?

It's looking like another Tommy John, from what I've heard. 

[roger]

52 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

It's looking like another Tommy John, from what I've heard. 

Are you aware, Seth, of others who have needed TJ surgery about the end of the normal recovery time?  Is it possible the original surgery wasn’t done properly?

[Seth Stohs]

4 hours ago, roger said:

Are you aware, Seth, of others who have needed TJ surgery about the end of the normal recovery time?  Is it possible the original surgery wasn’t done properly?

I'm sure everything was done right... There are several others who have had to have a second shortly after returning. It's unfortunate, of course. And now they can do the newer version of UCL surgery (modified TJ). 

I know Josh Mitchell is coming back from his second TJ surgery in the past couple of years. 

[Fatbat]

8 hours ago, gman said:

When did Conor Prielipp have TJ surgery. Was it early last year or 2021? Does anyone know. Might just be a slow healer or someone screwed up his rehab trying to get him back for last years draft..

His TJ was done in spring of 2021 after 3 starts.  He missed all of 2022 and was rehabbing in May /june 2022 predraft. What a bummer! 

[mikelink45]

14 hours ago, RpR said:

Here are the Saints at this point.

I try to imagine the Twins with those batting averages.

[Doctor Wu]

12 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

It's looking like another Tommy John, from what I've heard. 

Thanks, let us know if you get that confirmed. I was going to ask what type of surgery, and that's what I feared. I was really hoping that Prielipp could pitch a lot this year, but obviously we now have to wait another year or longer. Bigtime bummer. 

[gman]

It sounds like it could be

2025 before he starts pitching. Overly optimistically late next year.

[wabene]

Ouch. Doesn't mean he can't have a great career, maybe he should talk to Lewis about getting through back to back surgeries. Man it is amazing how many pitchers get this surgery, I just learned that Pablo Lopez has a rebuilt elbow. These guys are obviously pushing past the natural limits. 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I try to imagine the Twins with those batting averages.

If it makes you feel better the Twins do match them in K% 🤷‍♂️ 😔

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I try to imagine the Twins with those batting averages.

Could be the pitching they face..... But I do think some of those players have a chance at the next level