Twins Minor League Report (8/17): Prato Punishes, Banuelos Bangs

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Twins had a scheduled off day on Thursday while the rest of the organization was in full swing. St. Paul won a well-pitched game with Anthony Prato provided the offense. Wichita came up short, but David Banuelos still made his mark on the game. Check out how the rest of the action went.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson - St. Paul Saints

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 4, Indianapolis 1
Box Score
Blayne Enlow was used as an opener Thursday night for the Saints. He responded with two innings of hitless baseball. Enlow punched out three and didn’t allow a free pass.

Kyle Garlick kicked things off nicely for the Saints when his first inning double brought Brooks Lee home and opened up the scoring. Then, an inning later, Lee doubled for the second time at Triple-A, and his two-base hit scored both Gilberto Celestino and Austin Martin.

Anthony Prato blasted a solo shot in the fifth inning. His eighth of the season for St. Paul made it a 4-0 lead over Indianapolis.

Doing his best Shohei Ohtani impression, Andrew Bechtold stepped on in relief for the eighth inning. Indianapolis plated a run and the Saints turned to Kody Funderburk for the final out of the frame. He came back out for the ninth and slammed the door giving St. Paul the victory.

Prato posted a trio of hits and Garlick came up with two on his own. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 7, Springfield 6 (F/10)
Box Score
Aaron Rozek tossed the pill Thursday for the Wind Surge. It was a short outing after he allowed four runs on six hits across just 3 1/3. Rozek recorded a pair of strikeouts and also walked two.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead after having put up a three-spot in the second inning. Yoyner Fajardo got the Wind Surge on the board after his sacrifice fly allowed Willie Joe Garry Jr. to score. The sides traded runs in the fourth inning. David Banuelos singled home Alerick Soularie to pull Wichita back within a pair.

In the fifth inning, Springfield stretched the lead again, this time to 5-2. Banuelos answered again, a couple of innings later, when he launched his ninth home run to make it 5-3 in the seventh inning. L.J. Jones continued to torment the Wind Surge and helped to push another Cardinals run across in the eighth inning.

The Wind Surge made things interesting after Aaron Sabato doubled home both Alerick Soularie and Banuelos in the ninth inning. Will Holland took over as a pinch runner and made it to third base on a passed ball. Dalton Shuffield needed a hit to come through and tie the game and found just that on the fifth pitch of his at bat. His single scored Holland and gave Wichita new life.

Wichita shut down the Cardinals during the top of the tenth inning, and Tanner Schobel stepped in as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and just one out. On the second pitch of his at bat Schobel singled to center and walked it off for the Wind Surge.

 

Banuelos had himself a three-hit night while Shuffield grabbed a pair of his own.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 2
Box Score
Cedar Rapids started Andrew Morris Thursday, and he came through with another strong performance. Morris worked five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits. He also struck out seven and walked none. The outing dropped his ERA to 2.57 on the year.

The Timber Rattlers struck first, but Cedar Rapids answered quickly. In the bottom of the first inning, Jorel Ortega doubled home Emmanuel Rodriguez to tie the game at one. After they watched Wisconsin add a run during the fifth inning, the Kernels scored four of their own. Ben Ross singled in Misael Urbina before Rodriguez drove in Mikey Perez on a ground out. Kala’i Rosario then blasted his 17th home run and he met Ross at home plate.

Cedar Rapids looked for a bit of breathing room and found it during the eighth inning when Rodriguez stepped in with the bases loaded. His sacrifice fly scored Perez and made it a 6-2 game. Ortega got a shot with the bases loaded before the inning ended as well, but couldn’t capitalize.

A.J. Labas was called on to get the final three outs. Wisconsin went down quietly and the Kernels grabbed the victory. With seven hits on the night, they were spread out evenly as just Noah Cardenas and Fedko went hitless.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Palm Beach 6, Fort Myers 5 (F/10)
Box Score
With Wednesday night’s action suspended due to rain in the fifth inning, the sides picked up where they left off on Thursday. Fort Myers was down 5-4 needing to draw even. Maddux Houghton roped his ninth double which allowed Rafael Cruz to score.

Both Fort Myers and Palm Beach put up zeroes on the scoreboard the rest of the way, and extras were needed. After the Mighty Mussels didn’t score in the top of the 10th inning, the Cardinals walked it off.

Ricardo Olivar, Nate Baez, and Rubel Cespedes all recorded a pair of hits each.

Game 2
Palm Beach 6, Fort Myers 5 (F/7)
Box Score
In the regularly scheduled game for Thursday night, Jack Noble made the start. He went four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on a pair of hits and walks. Noble also struck out four on Thursday.

Fort Myers got on the board in the first inning after Cruz singled home Olivar. In the third inning, the Mighty Mussels added again on a Dillon Tatum double. Yohander Martinez raced home to make it a 2-0 lead before Luke Keaschall singled and allowed Tatum to cross the plate as well.

Palm Beach grabbed a pair of runs in the fourth inning to make it a one-run game. Looking for separation, Kyle Schmidt provided some breathing room with his fifth inning double. Danny De Andrade and Cruz both scored on the play.

After they allowed a four-run sixth inning, Fort Myers found themselves in need of a seventh inning run to force extras. Unable to put a rally, they dropped the shortened second game. Cruz posted a three-hit effort with Martinez providing two of his own as well.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Phillies White 8, DSL Twins 0
Box Score
Things could have gone better for the Twins on Thursday. Adrian Bohorquez lasted just 2 2/3 innings after he gave up six runs (one uneared). The Twins defense made a whopping seven errors and that represented two more tallies than the amount of hits they had in the game.

Javier Roman did record two of the Twins five hits, one of which was his sixth double of the season. Catching prospect Carlos Silva also picked up a base knock.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Andrew Morris (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, 7 K
Hitter of the Day – Anthony Prato (St. Paul) - 3-4, R, RBI, HR(8)

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 (St. Paul) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, BB
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI
#7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 1-4, R
#10 - Luke Keaschall (Fort Myers) -  1-4, RBI, 2 K
#13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, HR(17), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
#17 - Danne De Andrade (Fort Myers) - 0-2, R

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Indianapolis @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - TBD
Springfield @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Cory Lewis
Fort Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30PM CST) - RHP Miguelangel Boadas

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

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[Connor Gould]

What's Andrew Morris's prospect stock looking like right now? Last year's 4th rounder and had a 2.64 ERA in 64.2 innings across 2 A-ball levels this year with 9.0 K/9, 1.7 BB/0, and 0.4 HR/9 prior to the start in this article. More casual on prospects so I don't anything beyond that.

[Omgbenji]

Anyone know why Jenkins and Winokur play so infrequently? Or if the other highly drafted kids play about the same?

[TwinsDr2021]

1 hour ago, Omgbenji said:

Anyone know why Jenkins and Winokur play so infrequently? Or if the other highly drafted kids play about the same?

It would seem that all the high school kids that got drafted are playing in the rookie league and have played around 10 games.

[Trov]

2 hours ago, Omgbenji said:

Anyone know why Jenkins and Winokur play so infrequently? Or if the other highly drafted kids play about the same?

They have a ton of kids at that level they give time to play, so a lot of days off from games, but they are still working in the complex daily.  Really, I think most in organizations feel the work off the field will tell them more than the time on the field most of the time.  Some guys on defense will not get a ball hit to them all game, teaches you little about how they play on defense.  Hitting, they may nothing but fastballs by a pitcher early in counts and swing at them, teaches you nothing about how they handle breaking pitches. 

Just because they are not in games does not mean they are taking the day off at the complex.  Once they get to higher levels things get different. 

[2wins87]

2 hours ago, Omgbenji said:

Anyone know why Jenkins and Winokur play so infrequently? Or if the other highly drafted kids play about the same?

FCL only plays 5 times a week vs 6 for the higher levels. Florida can be rainy. They got a couple off days as they were first getting going but are playing in almost every game now.

No idea what happened with yesterday's scheduled game, no indication of a postponement, just no box score. 

[2wins87]

6 hours ago, Connor Gould said:

What's Andrew Morris's prospect stock looking like right now? Last year's 4th rounder and had a 2.64 ERA in 64.2 innings across 2 A-ball levels this year with 9.0 K/9, 1.7 BB/0, and 0.4 HR/9 prior to the start in this article. More casual on prospects so I don't anything beyond that.

Sits low-to-mid 90s with the fastball, averaging above 93 and touching 97.  Fastball might not have particularly good secondary characteristics though as he didn't get that many whiffs on it in low-A.  Decent slider and changeup, but I don't know that either would project as above average right now.  He and Zebby Matthews are pretty similar in terms of velocity and control/pounding the zone. 

The K rate isn't exactly a plus in my mind.  He's only at about 25% in both A levels, and at those levels I'd kind of like to see it closer to 30%, but it's not a red flag.  He's done a good job of limiting walks and not giving up too much hard contact so far.  My question is whether he gets hit harder when moving to the upper levels, but if he does maintain his strengths so far there is mid/back of the rotation potential.

[roger]

Must admit I know very little about Prato.  Did a bit of research this morning and see he was a Twins draft pick back in 2019 and is 25 years old.  See that he had several decent seasons at the plate before arriving at AAA earlier this year.  Since that promotion, the kid has been a different player.  

Lots of fans say the Twins are loaded in the outfield.  Are they?  The only true young outfielder showing he wants to stay with the big club is Wallner.  Taylor is on a one year contract.  Keps may or may not be extended.  Is Buxton even an outfielder any longer?  Gordon has been replaced by Castro, who plays as much infield as out on the grass.  Sure seems to me that there will be a spot for a good prospect come spring.  Is Prato someone we could see take it?

[Ted Schwerzler]

3 hours ago, Omgbenji said:

Anyone know why Jenkins and Winokur play so infrequently? Or if the other highly drafted kids play about the same?

They have played almost every day? Yesterday there wasn't a game.

[Ted Schwerzler]

21 minutes ago, roger said:

Must admit I know very little about Prato.  Did a bit of research this morning and see he was a Twins draft pick back in 2019 and is 25 years old.  See that he had several decent seasons at the plate before arriving at AAA earlier this year.  Since that promotion, the kid has been a different player.  

Lots of fans say the Twins are loaded in the outfield.  Are they?  The only true young outfielder showing he wants to stay with the big club is Wallner.  Taylor is on a one year contract.  Keps may or may not be extended.  Is Buxton even an outfielder any longer?  Gordon has been replaced by Castro, who plays as much infield as out on the grass.  Sure seems to me that there will be a spot for a good prospect come spring.  Is Prato someone we could see take it?

I'd guess he'll be in the mix for a Nick Gordon or Willi Castro type of role next year. That will likely be in competition with Austin Martin.

[Mike Sixel]

23 minutes ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

They have played almost every day? Yesterday there wasn't a game.

So why didn't they play then? :)

I mean, I'd promote them to give them more time in games....

[Possumlad]

Anyone know why Walker Jenkins has played exclusively DH in his 10 games so far?