Twins Minor League Report (7/18): Dobnak Delivers, But All The Hits Don't

[Steve Lein]

While there was only one affiliate that won their game on Tuesday, there were still big performances throughout the system. One pitcher looked like his old self, everybody hit in double-A, a top-prospect went yard for the Kernels, and a rookie league team scored 10+ runs but still almost fell by the mercy rule.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Randy Dobnak)

 

TRANSACTIONS

• In triple-A, the St. Paul Saints placed SS Elliot Soto on the 7-day injured list with a right-thumb strain. In his place, SS Ernie Yake was promoted from the Wichita Wind Surge.
• With Yake moving upward in Wichita, the Wind Surge were assigned 2023 Cedar Rapids standout SS Tanner Schobel.
• The Kernels were involved in multiple moves on Tuesday, including transferring SS Jose Salas to the development list, receiving SS Mikey Perez from Fort Myers, and IF Keoni Cavaco from the FCL Twins.
• The Mighty Mussels sent OF Alec Sayre on a rehab assignment with the FCL Twins. He batted leadoff with them on Tuesday as the designated hitter.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 0, Omaha 1
Box Score
The Saints' Randy Dobnak delivered his best start of the 2023 season, finishing six one-hit innings against the Kansas City Royals' top affiliate. He walked two, struck out five, and recorded six groundouts compared to just two flyouts. If you recall his meteoric rise up the system in 2019, this is precisely the type of game he pitched, game-in and game-out. My fun stat from back in those days before he made his MLB debut was this:

And he continued that trend all the way to the MLB playoffs that season. So forgive me if I’m a little giddy about this start from him after what he’s gone through the past few seasons. 

Unfortunately in this one, his competition was just as good. Storm Chasers' starter Anthony Veneziano went five shutout innings of his own, allowing just two hits and two walks to Saints hitters, while striking out seven.

The St. Paul lineup got a single from Kyle Garlick and a walk from Trevor Larnach in the top of the first, and a one-out double from Austin Martin in the second, but only one other walk the rest of the game. Omaha’s pitchers retired the last 17 Saints hitter’s of the game.

Dobnak was relieved by Michael Boyle to start the seventh, and he kept the game scoreless with a one-two-three inning. In the eighth the Saints went to righty Josh Winder and he got them to the ninth with the game still 0-0.

In the bottom of the ninth, Winder gave up a leadoff double and it looked like the game was over on the next batter, but center fielder Mark Contreras fielded the single and gunned the runner out at home to preserve the tie, at least for a few more batters. He intentionally walked the next hitter to put a double-play in order, then picked up a strikeout for out number two, before another single into center didn’t have the same result as the first one, and the Storm Chasers' walked them off 1-0.

Winder took the loss to move his record to 5-2 on the season with the Saints, and he was charged with one earned run on four hits and a walk in his 1 2/3 innings pitched, striking out two.

Jorge Polanco was 0-for-4 and struck out three times as the DH, batting second in the second game of his rehab assignment. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 7, Amarillo 10
Box Score
While the Wind Surge outhit the Sod Poodles 17-9 in the game, it was the long ball that the home team had the advantage that won out, out slugging them four to two.

The ball was flying around and out of the Amarillo ballpark all night, getting no resistance from the dry 105 degree air.

Wichita scored first in the top of the first, after Brooks Lee jumped on the first pitch of the game to line a single into center field. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. followed with a single of his own, before Alex Isola brought in Lee with a double down the third base line for a 1-0 lead later in the frame.

The second inning started with some loud contact from Aaron Sabato, but his blast to center field hit off the wall for a double before he ran himself into an out at third base in the next at-bat.

Carlos Luna made the start for the Wind Surge and that dry air reared its head from the second inning onward. He gave up a two-run homer in the second, a three-run bomb in the third, and a solo shot in the fourth before his outing came to an end. In all, Luna gave up eight earned runs on seven hits and a walk in his four innings, striking out five.

Wichita’s offense did its best to keep pace early, as they added three runs in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Will Holland led off with a triple and was driven in by a single from Lee, before Keirsey Jr. clubbed his 12th homer of the season.

After falling behind 7-4 after three, they closed the Amarillo lead to one in the fourth on Holland's fourth home run of the season, but from there, they couldn't capitalize on their opportunities.

After starting with such promise, they finished just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base for the game.

Every hitter in the lineup collected at least one hit and six collecting multiple, with Holland leading the way from the nine-spot by going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI, finishing a double shy of the cycle. Keirsey also had three hits in five at-bats, scoring two runs and driving in two. Yunior Severino had two doubles and a walk in five plate appearances, driving in one.

The bullpen duo of Isaac Mattson (2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, K) and Francis Peguero (2 IP, K) finished the game for the Wind Surge.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Peoria 4, Cedar Rapids 1
Box Score
The Kernels got a quality effort from left-hander Jaylen Nowlin in this one, but his offense could not back him up.

He finished six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and zero walks while striking out seven. The only knock on Nowlin's outing was the bat of the Chief's number nine hitter, Darlin Moquete, who clubbed two solo home runs against him.

In the sixth inning, Cedar Rapids cut the two-run lead in half thanks to Emmanuel Rodriguez's 11th home run, but that was all the lineup could muster.

Noah Miller added his ninth double of the season to the effort, but as a team, the Kernels collected just three other hits, went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base for the game.

After Nowlin was done, Malik Barrington (2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K) and Matthew Swain (1 IP) finished the game for the pitching staff.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 2, Bradenton 5
Box Score

Right-hander Jack Noble made the start for the Mighty Mussels, and he was solid for his five innings. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and three walks while punching out four Marauders hitters. The lone run he gave up came on a solo home run on his first pitch of the game, so he recovered well after that.

His lineup tied the game at one in the top of the fourth inning when the first three hitters singled, with Carlos Aguiar driving in Carson McCusker from second base.

The first reliever summoned for Fort Myers was Wilker Reyes to start the sixth inning, and he proceeded to give up a two-run homer and the lead back to Bradenton 3-1. He gave up another run in the seventh but finished two innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three. 

In the eighth inning, the Mighty Mussels could put another run on the board after Ricardo Olivar clubbed a one-out double and was driven in by a triple from Danny De Andrade to make the score 4-2.

Zach Veen pitched the eighth inning to finish the game for Fort Myers and allowed an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Rebel Cespedes had two hits on the game to pace the offense. Gregory Duran reached base twice with a single and a walk in four plate appearances.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Rays 2, FCL Twins 4
Box Score
The Twins got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning when an RBI triple from Yasser Mercedes followed an Isaac Pena single. Jose Rodriguez then drove in Mercedes with a sac fly to make it 2-0.

Daniel Pena put them ahead 4-0 in the sixth, following a Rodriguez walk and Harold Grant double with a two-RBI single.

That was all the Twins needed, as their pitching staff was sharp throughout this one. Zarion Sharpe went the first 1 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and walking one. Kyle Bischoff went the next 1 1/3, walking one and striking out two before Eduardo Soriano did the heavy lifting. He finished the next 4 2/3 innings, allowing the Rays two runs (none earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three. Yon Landaeta picked up his second save with 1 1/3 scoreless frames to close it out. He walked three and struck out four.

The Penas -- Isaac and Daniel -- each had two hits in the game to lead the way.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Twins 11, DSL Giants Orange 20
Box Score
Unlike their top-of-the-system brothers on Tuesday, the bottom of the system couldn't stop runs from causing the plate all game, as the teams combined for 31 runs on 24 hits and 16 walks, going 11-for-23 with runners in scoring position between them. That said, the Giants Orange squad got the better of the Twins, slugging four home runs compared to their two.

The Twins lineup was led by Moises Lopez, who finished 4-for-5 with a double, home run, three runs scored, and four RBI. Ariel Castro (2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Ricardo Pena (2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB), and Carlos Silva (2-for-5, 3 RBI) had multiple hits in the game.

The Twins' pitching staff got knocked around all game, with only two innings with no runs scored by the Giants and just two of their six pitchers not being charged with one, though both those pitchers (Gerardo Abrego and Jose Betancourt) each pitched less than an inning. Starter Yency De Jesus did go 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five. His bugaboo was the long ball, as he surrendered three of the Giants' four home runs. Jose Vasquez had the most trouble, allowing seven earned runs on six hits and two walks while recording just one out.

The DSL Twins will throw this one in the garbage and return on Thursday with fresh minds after a day off.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Randy Dobnak, St. Paul Saints (6 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K)
Hitter(s) of the Day - Will Holland, Wichita Wind Surge (3-for-3, 2 R, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Moises Lopez, DSL Twins (4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-3, HR (11), RBI, BB, K
#4 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - game in progress.
#9 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - game in progress.
#10 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL) - 1-for-4, R, 3B, RBI, K
#11 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, 2B
#13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4
#18 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL) - 0-for-2, R, RBI, BB, K
#19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Omaha (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP Louie Varland (3-0, 5.17 ERA)
Wichita @ Amarillo (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP Chad Donato (1-5, 9.38 ERA)
Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Cory Lewis (3-0, 1.52 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (11:00 AM CDT) - RHP Miguelangel Boadas (0-2, 6.91 ERA)

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

 

 

View full article

[RpR]

Kyle Garlick has returned his BA to a very respectable level.

I wonder if the bring Polanco back up if his BA is below the Mendoza line?

[Jocko87]

Yake to AAA over Lee to make room for Schobel. Interesting. 🤔

[FlyingFinn]

5 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Yake to AAA over Lee to make room for Schobel. Interesting. 🤔

Yake is definitely like Shuffield last year. They need a guy who mostly comes off the bench, a warm body. I believe Yake was on the Saints roster last year when a player was needed for the short-term.

[LewFordLives]

If Dobnak can get back to his old self it would really help the Twins down the stretch. Getting Stewart and Thielbar back would be icing on the cake.

[Steve Lein]

8 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Yake to AAA over Lee to make room for Schobel. Interesting. 🤔

Likely not a long-term thing, so they are just filling the bench in an interim fashion.

[roger]

Seems like Dobber has been pitching well for awhile.  Is it 4 earned runs in his last 22 innings?  Expect most of us have forgotten that prior to his string of injuries, he was a very effective pitcher for the Twins that first summer he was called up.  How long ago was that?

Can he help the Twins staff down the road this year?  Will he?  If he is called up, would it be as a starter or for the pen?  And who gets the call first, Dobber or Kuechel?  Also seems to be another candidate to fill out their starting rotation next year when Gray and Maeda are likely gone.

Always excited to see a blast from ERod.  Have my fingers crossed that this kid is the real deal.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Steve Lein said:

Likely not a long-term thing, so they are just filling the bench in an interim fashion.

Agreed. That said, I'd promote Lee and Severino. But no one seems to be getting promoted this year hardly. 

[jishfish]

23 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Agreed. That said, I'd promote Lee and Severino. But no one seems to be getting promoted this year hardly. 

I wonder if Lee won't get promoted once Polanco goes back to the big club. There's definitely logjam at the top of the Twins farm system. I wonder if they won't try to clear that up with a couple 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deals at the deadline by throwing in a Keirsey Jr or someone similar, who just doesn't have a path towards promotion in the system.

[jmlease1]

Congrats to Schobel; he's been raking in Cedar Rapids and deserves the opportunity. I feel like AA is where we'll see just how well his bat will hold up and it should be fun to track him down the stretch.

What does it mean that Salas got moved to the developmental list?

 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

 

What does it mean that Salas got moved to the developmental list?

 

Not sure what it means but when I saw him live when they were in Beloit I just don't think he see's the ball well and he rarely squares anything up.  I know he is young and might just need more time but he looks eerily similar to Wander Javier at the plate IMO.  I honestly don't think the hit tool is going to come around but that is just my untrained eye with some bias built in as guys that don't have that skill when younger generally have to be late bloomers or not make it all. He is dead last in OPS at the High A level.  That does not show top 30 talent to me even if he is young for the level if the talent is there he shouldn't be dead last.  Urbina isn't far behind him.  Another guy that might flame out and Miller isn't too far off from that himself although he has been hitting the ball hard and better lately.  

Its a tough league and those guys are young.  I get that there is time. Next year maybe they have a better handle on approach or how to handle what's coming.  I might be a little too pessimistic this early but maybe the Twins see some of the same things.  He needs to get back to the basics and sort some things out.  Glad they are giving some time away.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

If the wheels fall off Maeda again, might Dobnak be the next call-up? I hope so, he deserves it. (Love Louie too though)

[Steve Lein]

3 hours ago, roger said:

Seems like Dobber has been pitching well for awhile.  Is it 4 earned runs in his last 22 innings?  Expect most of us have forgotten that prior to his string of injuries, he was a very effective pitcher for the Twins that first summer he was called up.  How long ago was that?

Can he help the Twins staff down the road this year?  Will he?  If he is called up, would it be as a starter or for the pen?  And who gets the call first, Dobber or Kuechel?  Also seems to be another candidate to fill out their starting rotation next year when Gray and Maeda are likely gone.

Always excited to see a blast from ERod.  Have my fingers crossed that this kid is the real deal.

It's now 4 ER in his last 28 innings after this outing for Dobnak.

He's not on the 40-man so have to believe he's still a bit down the pecking order, but a spot start for him or Keuchel isn't out of the question if that need comes up.

E-Rod is evening out a bit as the season has progressed. K's are down, walks are elite. Had a good June from a batting average perspective, not the same in July but his OBP is still over .400 for the month. All good signs!

[Steve Lein]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

What does it mean that Salas got moved to the developmental list?

There can be many reasons, and I very likely could be wrong, but it has been used to give guys a break who are struggling. Get them to their headquarter facility and put in some work away from the pressure.

Keoni Cavaco just returned from such a stint. 

[TwinkieFan4life]

9 hours ago, jishfish said:

I wonder if Lee won't get promoted once Polanco goes back to the big club. There's definitely logjam at the top of the Twins farm system. I wonder if they won't try to clear that up with a couple 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deals at the deadline by throwing in a Keirsey Jr or someone similar, who just doesn't have a path towards promotion in the system.

Keirsey plays elite center field, can run, and the bat is coming around.  Do we have a center field prospect in St. Paul I don't know about?  We have an aging vet who is marginal at the MLB level.  If Keirsey could break through he could be an important player for 3-4 years.

[jishfish]

14 hours ago, TwinkieFan4life said:

Keirsey plays elite center field, can run, and the bat is coming around.  Do we have a center field prospect in St. Paul I don't know about?  We have an aging vet who is marginal at the MLB level.  If Keirsey could break through he could be an important player for 3-4 years.

I mean there's Andrew Stevensen who's basically doing the same thing at AAA (steals bases, little pop, good defense), albeit a year or two older. Or Gilberto Celestino if you're looking for someone who's actually still a prospect. Or Austin Martin/Royce Lewis if you think either of their best positions is CF.

Keirsey is 26 and never played above AA. He's having a really nice year, and I'm not saying he couldn't be a fine 4th OF in a year or two, but that's a player I'm happy to throw in if it's going to get a solid 7th inning reliever or something.