Twins Minor League Report (8/9): Houghton Powers Mussels

[Seth Stohs]

From the Dominican to Fort Myers to Iowa. From Cedar Rapids to Wichita. Then up to Minnesota where the Saints are just 10 miles from fulfilling their dreams at Target Field. At Twins Daily, we love promoting these great athletes who are reaching for the stars from the time they sign through their individual journeys in pro ball. 

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Maddux Houghton)

 

In my opinion, the players in the Dominican Summer League don't get talked about enough. Understandably so. The league is comprised of players who are 16-22 years old (most of the "prospects" are 17-18), and they are six promotions from the big leagues. It is a long-term game, but the players still deserve to be discussed when they do well. That's what we want these reports to be. So along with their normal "Game Recap," I have also posted the hitting statistical leaders so you can see which players are performing there. 

Here are the records of the Twins and their six affiliates through games on Wednesday. 
Minnesota Twins: 60-55
St. Paul Saints: 63-46 
Wichita Wind Surge: 45-58
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 63-41
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 50-54
FCL Twins: 19-25
DSL Twins: 10-32 

Let’s get to the report. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions. 

TRANSACTIONS
After getting a couple of games with the FCL Twins, Jose Salas returned to Cedar Rapids. 
Former Saints and Twins pitcher Aaron Sanchez, who was released about a month ago, signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks. 
In more former Twins prospect news, it has been a wild couple of months for Chris Vallimont. The Twins DFAd him in the offseason, and he was claimed by the Orioles. On July 1st, his contract was purchased by the Orioles. Dream come True! He made his MLB debut and the next day he was optioned to Triple-A. The following day, he was DFAd by the O's. The Guardians acquired him and he went to Triple-A. Days ago, Vallimont was DFAd to make room for Ramon Laureano on the Cleveland 40-man roster. On Wednesday, he was outrighted to Columbus.  

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 6, Louisville 3
Box Score
Solid pitching and a big inning helped the Saints to a matinee win on Wednesday. Randy Dobnak got the call for St. Paul. He needed 86 pitches to get through four innings, but he gave up no runs and just two hits. He walked three and struck out four batters. 

 

Andrew Bechtold came in and pitched a scoreless fifth inning despite a hit and two walks. Austin Brice was charged with two runs on three hits in the sixth inning. But Jovani Moran pitched a scoreless, walkless seventh frame. Oliver Ortega earned his third Saints save with two innings of one-run ball. 

The Saints got solid contributions in this game from their newbies. Brooks Lee went 2-for-4 and had two RBI. DaShawn Keirsey went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. He had an RBI, and he stole a base. Yunior Severino added a triple, high off of the wall in the team’s four-run fourth inning.

 

He scored on a line-drive single by Keirsey for the first run of that inning. Jair Camargo took the next pitch and drilled a two-run homer to center field, his 17th long ball of the season.

 

Later in the inning, Lee drove in Andrew Stevenson with a single as he had done in the first inning to get the Saints on the scoreboard. The Saints added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Austin Martin’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Keirsey. 

Stevenson went 1-for-2 with two walks, his seventh triple, and his 35th and 36th stolen bases. 

Congratulations to Andrew Bechtold on his first Win as a professional. 

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Again, a reminder that you should head to CHS Field on Friday for that game. You may have seen him on MLB Network and on MLB.com’s draft coverage. He certainly knows prospects. Jonathan Mayo will be at the ballpark that night signing copies of his new book, Smart, Wrong, and Lucky; The Origin Stories of Baseball’s Unexpected Stars. I got my copy on Amazon a few weeks ago, and I will tell you it is fantastic. 

In addition, Jonathan is a terrific person who clearly loves what he is doing and has a strong passion for writing about, talking about, and really promoting prospects and the minor leagues and the scouts who found them. Get to meet him at CHS Field on Friday (August 11th). 

And on Thursday night (TONIGHT!!), watch as Blayne Enlow takes on the rehabbing Hunter Greene in a matchup of Team USA teammates. In addition, Austin Martin and Royce Lewis were teammates with Greene when they were 14-15 years old. Royce Lewis (JSerra HS) and Hunter Greene (Notre Dame HS) were high school opponents and friends, and then Team USA teammates. Then in 2017, Lewis and Greene went 1-2 in the draft. 

Lots of reasons to head to CHS Field this week! Tickets Available! Click here.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, NW Arkansas 1 (5 innings)
Box Score
Since losing their top three hitters last week, the Wind Surge offense has struggled. But on this night, they scored just enough to win in this rain-shortened, five-inning game. 

 

In the second inning, the recently-promoted Dalton Shuffield hit a two-run homer. That was it for the Wichita offense. They had just four hits. Jake Rucker’s 15th double was the only other extra base hit. Tanner Schobel went 1-for-1 with a walk. 

Isaac Mattson started and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He gave up no hits, walked two and struck out one batter. Regi Grace came in for the final 2 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on two hits and two walks. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 0, Quad Cities 4 
Box Score
Kyle Jones started and gave up three runs on five hits. In four innings, he walked four and struck out four batters. Jarret Whorff came on for his first High-A appearance. He gave up an unearned run on two hits over two innings. He struck out two batters and walked none. Mike Paredes tossed two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out four batters. 

Unfortunately, it was a rare day when the Kernels offense didn’t have a big game. In fact, they had just three hits and were shut out. Misael Urbina hit his third triple of the year. Ben Ross was the only Kernel hitter to get on base more than once. He had two walks.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 10, Bradenton 5
Box Score
The Mighty Mussels scored a touchdown (with the extra point) in the first inning and held on the rest of the way. The inning started with a walk and two singles to load the bases. Rubel Cespedes drove in two runners with his 24th double. Jay Harry grounded out, but the third run scored. After a pitching change, Gregory Duran welcomed him with a single that drove in a fourth run. Then with two runners on, Maddux Houghton’s three-run homer made it 7-0. 

Jose Mercedes started and gave up three runs on five hits in just two innings. He walked two, hit two, and struck out four batters. Danny Moreno came in and gave up two runs on one hit in 1 2/3 innings. However, he walked four and struck out two batters. Juan Mendez got the next four outs and struck out two. Jackson Hicks then walked two and struck out three batters over two scoreless, hitless innings. Ricardo Velez and Zach Veen each tossed a scoreless inning.

Maddux Houghton went 2-for-4 with a walk and his third homer and five RBI. Along with the first-inning three-run homer, he had a two-run single in the eighth frame. Oh, and he had an outfield assist too. Danny De Andrade went 2-for-5. Kamron Willman was 2-for-4 with a walk. 2023 draft picks Luke Keaschall and Jay Harry both went 1-for-3 with two walks. Alec Sayre had four walks in the game.

COMPLEX THOUGHTS from BOCA CHICA
DSL Twins 10, DSL Reds 3 (7 innings) 
Box Score
For about the 37th straight day, the DSL Twins’ game was shortened due to rain. OK, I think it’s just three straight days, but that’s plenty. This one was deemed a final when it ended in the 7th inning. 

The Reds took the early lead with three runs in the second inning, but the Twins clawed their way back. They scored in five of the six innings they came to bat including a big, five-run fifth inning that created comfortable separation. 

The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Hendry Chivilli walked, stole second, and then scored on a Yilber Herrera double. They added nine more unanswered runs. The same duo combined to give the Twins their second run as well. In the third inning, Chivilli walked, stole second and went to third on an error. He scored on a Herrera sacrifice fly. Their second run in that third inning came when Junior Del Valle was caught in a run-down between first and second base. He remained un-tagged long enough for Dameury Pena to score. Ewing Matos scored the fourth-inning run on a triple by Juan Hernandez. 

The five-run fifth inning started with a walk and two singles. Del Valle drove in Herrera with a sacrifice fly. Then Ewing Matos doubled to plate Jayson Bass and Denyerbe Gervis. After a pitching change, Javier Roman doubled in another run. Juan Hernandez drove in the fifth run on a sacrifice fly. There was a lightning delay before the bottom of the sixth inning. When they returned, Herrera and Bass walked. Gervis singled to drive in the Twins 10th and final run. The game was called after the top of the seventh inning. 

Jose Vasquez started and gave up three runs in the first but followed it with two scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out two batters. Eider Machuca tossed two scoreless innings despite two walks and two hits. Luis Rincon worked 2/3 of an inning and gave up a hit and a walk. Jose Betancourt came on and got the final out of the sixth inning. Alejandro Crisostomo worked a perfect seventh inning. 

Gervis went 2-for-2. Matos went 2-for-4. Herrera was 1-for-1 with two walks. 

Here are the stats leaders of the DSL Twins:
AVG: Dameury Pena (.414), Jayson Bass (.322), Junior Del Valle (.278)
OBP: Dameury Pena (.476), Jayson Bass (.413), Jesus Peraza, Yilber Herrera (.389)
SLG: Dameury Pena (.541), Moises Lopez (.435), Yilber Herrera (.412)
OPS: Dameury Pena (1.017), Moises Lopez (.809), Yilber Herrera (.801)
2B: Yilber Herrera (11), Dameury Pena (8), Ewing Matos (6)..
3B: Ariel Castro, Moises Lopez, Dameury Pena (3)
HR: Ariel Castro, Moises Lopez (3), Javier Roman (2). 
BB: Ariel Castro (24), Yilber Herrera (23), Moises Lopez (19)
R: Ariel Castro (26), Jayson Bass, Yilber Herrera, Dameury Pena (22).
RBI: Moises Lopez (26), Ariel Castro, Yilber Herrera (19)
SB: Jayson Bass (12), Dameury Pena (11), Yilber Herrera, Moises Lopez (8)
G: Jayson Bass (37), Ariel Castro, Moises Lopez (36), Yilber Herrera (35)
PA: Ariel Castro (158), Jayson Bass (143), Moises Lopez (139), Yilber Herrera (126).

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter of the Day – Maddux Houghton (Ft. Myers) - 2-for-3, BB, HR(3), R, 5 RBI 
Pitcher of the Day – Michael Paredes (Cedar Rapids) - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.  

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the new Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Wednesday.

#1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 2-for-4, 2 RBI.
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
#5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 0-for-3, HBP, R, K
#8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, RBI, SF, SB(8)
#10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-for-1, BB.
#12 - Luke Keaschall (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-3, 2 BB, R, K
#15 - Jordan Balazovic (Minnesota) - 2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, K, WP, 39 pitches, 25 strikeouts (64.1%)
#17 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, 3B(1), R
#18 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4.

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE AND PITCHING PROBABLES
Louisville @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CST) - RHP Blayne Enlow (2-5, 9.99 ERA) vs Hunter Greene.
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05 PM CST) - RHP Travis Adams (2-7, 5.88 ERA)  
Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30 PM CST) - LHP Christian MacLeod (3-0,3.69 ERA)
Bradenton @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CST) - RHP Ben Ethridge (2-5, 2.18 ERA) 
FCL Twins @ FCL Pirates (11:00 AM CST) - TBD 
DSL Twins @ DSL Giants Black (10:00 AM CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games or any other Twins minor league topics!

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[FlyingFinn]

Shuffield with another HR as he is trying to lock up player of the week honors, and it was a game winner.

[Doctor Wu]

Congratulations to Andrew Bechtold on his first Win as a professional.

That was nice to see! Will the team try him as a two-way player going  forward, or will they actual convert him to a pitcher?

[Doctor Wu]

Nice to see Severino hustle and turn that hit into a triple!

[Seth Stohs]

36 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

Congratulations to Andrew Bechtold on his first Win as a professional.

That was nice to see! Will the team try him as a two-way player going  forward, or will they actual convert him to a pitcher?

I think he will keep doing both. Might as well. He can hit a bit. Has some power. Has the best arm for a position player in the system (along with Wallner, of course). It's definitely worth trying. But he did the catching thing to add versatility and the pitching thing was always possible. He's a free agent at the end of the year. So, I'm sure they'd like ot keep him around and see where it can go. 

 

[terrydactyls]

Dameury Pena won't be 18 for another couple weeks.  But he is leading the DSL Twins in almost every hitting statistic except HR (the slacker).  Might be someone to keep an eye on.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I'm making my first Saints game of the year tonight. Can't wait!

[jmlease1]

jordan balazovic had 25 strikeouts?!? That's amazing! (pretty funny typo, LOL)

Good to see Lee and Severino starting to adjust to AAA. It's hard to worry about Lee's bat (he's so fundamentally sound) but it's always good to see a quick adjustment. Severino's going to make for some interesting decisions for the twins.

[roger]

Was excited seeing Bechtold get his first win.  Then I saw that he put three men on base and wasn't as excited, but what a fantastic story.

Interesting year for the Dobber.  Seems he has been pitching very well for awhile.  Has it been the past several months?  Doubt we have heard the last from him.

And Twins fans should certainly be excited about the trio just promoted to the Saints.  And they all are settling in nicely.  Add Martin to that trio and the future looks bright.