Minor League Report 8/26 Kernels Continue to Hit

[Matt Braun]

Plus, come see how the Mighty Mussels scored nine off just four hits.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Image is of Willie Joe Garry Jr.)

TRANSACTIONS

RHP Jordan Balazovic optioned to AAA St. Paul

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 3, Omaha 7
Box Score
Randy Dobnak: 6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: Hernán Pérez (8)
Multi-hit games: Andrew Stevenson (2-for-4, R, BB), Austin Martin (2-for-4, R), Brooks Lee (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB)

The Saints dug themselves into an early hole and never recovered.

Fortune can change quickly. St. Paul whiffed on scoring with the bases loaded in the first, after excellent patience placed runners on every base—and their missed opportunity immediately bit them, as Randy Dobnak coughed up three runs.

They did finally strike, though, when Brooks Lee cleared two runners off the bases with a double in the 5th. The 22-year-old has struggled since earning a promotion, but Saturday may have been his finest day since joining the Saints; he reached base four times.

That was about the height of the game. Dobnak surrendered more runs in the 6th, and the two relievers following him—Alex Scherff and Jordan Balazovic—allowed a run each to put the game too far out of reach.

St. Paul made full usage of the bases on Saturday, swiping four bases against the Storm Chasers; Austin Martin stole a pair, with DaShawn Kiersey Jr. and Andrew Stevenson adding steals of their own to the total.

Technically old friend Evan Sisk allowed a run over two innings of relief.

2nd baseman Nick Loftin is Kansas City’s 5th-best prospect; he homered and collected three RBIs on Saturday.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 2, Arkansas 0
Box Score
Pierson Ohl: 5 ⅔ IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
HR: Willie Joe Garry Jr. (2)
Multi-hit games: None

The Wind Surge won a pitching battle on Saturday.

It may have been Pierson Ohl's best start of his professional career; the righty whiffed eight batters, allowing no runs as he came just one out away from earning the elusive quality start. He'll settle for a win. Ohl's AA ERA is now down to 3.06, as—following some early bruises after his promotion—Ohl owns a 1.99 ERA since June 29th. 

Wichita did just enough to support his effort offensively. Their bats were about as deadened as Arkansas, leading to four hits, two of them for extra bases. Fortunately, one of those hits was this massive tater crushed by Willie Joe Garry Jr.

That's certainly not the swing of a batter looking to get cheated!

Seth Gray owned the other extra base hit—a 9th inning double.

Aaron Rozek and Miguel Rodriguez delivered the game to its end with masterful relief pitching. Rozek obliterated the Travelers with five punchouts, while Rodriguez closed the door with a scoreless 9th.

Seattle's typically strong farm system is especially young these days, leaving Jonatan Clase, their 8th-ranked prospect, as the Travelers premier player. He went hitless. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 14, South Bend 5
Box Score
Zebby Matthews: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
HR: Andrew Cossetti (8), Ben Ross (18)
Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (3-for-6, 3 R, 3 RBI), Ben Ross (3-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, BB), Misael Urbina (2-for-5, RBI, BB), Jeferson Morales (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

The Kernels blasted their opponents on Sunday. 

The bloodbath started early. Cedar Rapids had 12 runs after just three innings. They had 11 hits, too. Singles, walks, homers, the team had it all—Noah Miller had hit for the third time before the 2nd ended, and he nearly hit for the fourth time in the 3rd. Andrew Cossetti had the big smash, with a three-run homer that gave him eight on the year with the Kernels, but, really, it was a group effort to put so many runs up as quickly as they did. The team took 24 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Zebby Matthews was acceptable. The righty handed a trio of runs back in a disastrous first inning, but he recovered quickly, allowing a smattering of baserunners, but no further damage. John Stankiewicz followed him with a pair of scoreless frames. Gabriel Yanez oversaw a few unaffecting runs before ending the game.

Cossetti is slashing .296/.435/.552 in 2023.

MLB’s 76th overall prospect, Kevin Alcantara, singled and struck out in five at-bats.

Mussel Matters
Ft. Myers 9, Daytona 4
Box Score
Jose Olivares: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Luke Keaschall (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)

The Mighty Mussels exploded late, erasing a 3-0 deficit to handily win Saturday’s game. 

You aren’t going to see nine runs score on only four hits too often. Fort Myers could find no BABIP fortune—the baseball gods saw to that—but they could walk, and they did so often on Saturday, taking a free base 11 times. Every batter in the lineup walked at least once. Ricardo Olivar was also hit twice. 

But you still need someone to knock in those runs, though, and Luke Keaschall and Danny De Andrade were the ones who met the challenge. Their doubles, plus a single from Maddux Houghton, proved to be the only run-scoring knocks the team could find; every other run scored on a groundout, a sacrifice fly, or an error. 

The sudden offensive explosion was a relief, as the pitchers, while not poor, did not dominate the game. Starter Jose Olivares struggled with command. So did 2023 draftee Ty Langenberg. But Matt Gabbert and Samuel Perez had their stuff, steadying the staff while leading the team to a victory with critical scoreless frames.

Keaschall is slashing .294/.427/.485 in 19 games with the Mighty Mussels. He already has eight doubles.

Cincinnati’s 19th ranked prospect—Victor Acosta—doubled and walked while hitting out of the leadoff spot. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Pierson Ohl
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Ben Ross

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-6, R, BB, 4 K
#5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 0-3, 2 K
#8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 2-4, R, K, 2 SB
#12 - Luke Keaschall (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K
#15 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
#16 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 3-6, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 K
#17 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 0-5, 2 K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Omaha (2:05 PM) - LHP Michael Boyle
Wichita @ Arkansas (1:35 PM) - RHP Travis Adams
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (1:05 PM) - RHP Kyle Jones
Daytona @ Fort Myers (11:00 AM) - RHP Juan Mercedes

 

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[OptimisticTwinsFan]

Man Austin Martin is on fire! 

I know many were saying it's not going to happen, but I honestly think you have to figure out how to get him up for a bit. I don't have any data behind this but context and feel for how a player gets brought up the MLB matters and if they can have some success early I think it can change the trajectory of their career. Otherwise you can get into a Larnach situation. Get him up while he's locked in and get him some confidence as a prospect.

[Doctor Wu]

one of those hits was this massive tater crushed by Willie Joe Garry Jr.

Happy to see Willie Joe playing well at the next level. And kudos for using the word "tater". Love it!

 

[Doctor Wu]

I had almost forgotten Evan Sisk being one of the main players we traded to KC for Michael Taylor over the off-season. Surprised that KC hasn't called him up during the season, or did they? 

[Major League Ready]

Ohl has been on a roll.  1.99 ERA and a .88 whip in his last 10 starts.

[mikelink45]

Randy got a nice write up in this issue, but his arm is a long way from being ready for the majors again.  I do wish MLB would have kept the 40 man end of the year rosters so he could come up each year and build towards a pension.  It would also mean that some of our pitchers could get the additional rest they need for the off season, although the minor league pitchers are not looking like they are ready other than Varland.  

Our draft choices are really looking good - please don't over coach them.  

The player I like is Cossetti - I wonder why he isn't on our prospect list?  

[terrydactyls]

Martin, Lee, and Stevenson:  11 ABs, 6 hits, 3 BBs, 3 SBs, 3 Ks.

Gallo, Solano, and Luplow:  7 ABs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 SB, 4 Ks.

Anyone else think that there might be room on the Twins for some new blood?

[Matt Braun]

3 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I had almost forgotten Evan Sisk being one of the main players we traded to KC for Michael Taylor over the off-season. Surprised that KC hasn't called him up during the season, or did they? 

Looks like Sisk has been at AAA all year. That'll happen when you walk 37 guys in just under 50 innings. 

[roger]

I see that Wichita is only 6 games under .500.  Considering how terrible they were the first half, it is unbelievable that they just might end the season at .500.

They must be planning on Jenkins playing every other game, or something like that?  That Keaschall kid sure is having a nice start to his pro career.

[D.C Twins]

Looks like Dobnak needed a large glass of Honey Nut Berrios after that start. 

I look forward to Martin as our starting CF next year!

Lee is starting to figure out AAA already.... kid is a quick learn!

[D.C Twins]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Ohl has been on a roll.  1.99 ERA and a .88 whip in his last 10 starts.

Is this kid a legit prospect?  Anybody have a little scouting report on him to share?  

[FlyingFinn]

41 minutes ago, roger said:

I see that Wichita is only 6 games under .500.  Considering how terrible they were the first half, it is unbelievable that they just might end the season at .500.

For the season, they are 9th out of 10 teams in the league in ERA. In the last 30 days, they are 2nd in the league (which oddly corresponds with Lee, Severino and Keirsey moving up to the Saints). In the last 15 days, they are #1 with a 2.89 ERA. Give credit to the pitching coach for great improvement of Ohl, Adams, Festa and Nowlin from earlier in the year. Ohl and Festa probably go to AAA next spring but Wichita will have a great staff with Adams, Nowlin and Raya IMO.

[gman]

I hope Lee's struggles always entail hitting in 14 out of 15 games.

Patrick Winkel Catcher 23, Wichita- looking pretty good - 270/375/800 - i think he should be at STP next year - Plays catcher full time.

 

 

[Matt Braun]

1 hour ago, D.C Twins said:

Is this kid a legit prospect?  Anybody have a little scouting report on him to share?  

Doesn’t have the stuff of other Twins prospects, but no one may have better command. He paints the corners with the best of them.

[FlyingFinn]

23 minutes ago, gman said:

Patrick Winkel Catcher 23, Wichita- looking pretty good - 270/375/800 - i think he should be at STP next year - Plays catcher full time.

Agreed and he will join Camargo with the Saints. Cardenas and Cossetti are coming to Wichita. Olivar and Baez to Cedar Rapids. This is a nice group of which at least one should make it all the way to MLB and be good.

[Matt Braun]

25 minutes ago, gman said:

I hope Lee's struggles always entail hitting in 14 out of 15 games.

Patrick Winkel Catcher 23, Wichita- looking pretty good - 270/375/800 - i think he should be at STP next year - Plays catcher full time.

 

 

14 out of 15 doesn’t mean much if it only comes with six extra-base hits, especially in an offensive-friendly environment. At least that’s how I see it. 

[gman]

8 minutes ago, Matt Braun said:

14 out of 15 doesn’t mean much if it only comes with six extra-base hits, especially in an offensive-friendly environment. At least that’s how I see it. 

Last 15 games   290/377/478 last 15 games. 22 at triple A. I'll take it. His first 4 games were slow, but the rest I think he is doing very well.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Matt Braun said:

Doesn’t have the stuff of other Twins prospects, but no one may have better command. He paints the corners with the best of them.

The scouting report in OOTP agrees regarding his fastball but seems to think more highly of his off-speed stuff.  It concurs regarding control.

[twinstalker]

Keaschall needs to be moved up to see how he fares against competition a top few rounds college player should be playing against.  

[Trov]

8 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Martin, Lee, and Stevenson:  11 ABs, 6 hits, 3 BBs, 3 SBs, 3 Ks.

Gallo, Solano, and Luplow:  7 ABs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 SB, 4 Ks.

Anyone else think that there might be room on the Twins for some new blood?

There is more to building roster than just that, but who did Martin, Lee, and Stevenson face in their 14 plate appearances, I am guessing it was not a future lock for hall of fame like ones at the MLB level. 

However, I do agree we should look for moving Gallo out and Martin in, but not based on just last night. 

[Trov]

7 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Is this kid a legit prospect?  Anybody have a little scouting report on him to share?  

He is not on any lists that I know of, but in part that may be because this is his second year of full season and he was a 14th round pick out of college.  My guess he will climb up a little this year, but will be a bit of an unknown prospect and most likely a future pen guy if he makes majors, but could surprise some. 

[Trov]

Consetti has been hitting great this year, but he is old for his league.  Unless he can tear it up next year at AA and stay behind the plate, I doubt he will get much push by the team.  It is nice to see catchers hitting, but there is a reason he was a 4 year college player.  It could be he was just a very late bloomer as he did not have any power until his last 2 years of college, but he also failed in both summer league seasons he played.