Twins Minor League Report (8/31): Call-Ups Coming

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Twins were off on Thursday while the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels got back into action after Hurricane Idalia. Take a look at the action of the farm, and check in as to where Minnesota's call-ups may come from.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

TRANSACTIONS

• RHP Hunter McMahon promoted to St. Paul from Wichita
• LHP Jovani Moran placed on 7-day IL for St. Paul (Left forearm strain)

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 8, Columbus 7 (F/10)
Box Score
Louie Varland was scheduled to start on Thursday night but instead was used as a bulk reliever out of the bullpen to transition him toward the Twins postseason plans. Francis Peguero gave up four runs (one earned) before turning the ball over to Varland in the third inning. Louie worked four innings of one-run baseball out of the bullpen, and he gave up just three hits and a walk while striking out four.

Columbus grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but St. Paul wasn’t deterred and battled back. Chris Williams blasted his 20th homer to put the Saints on the board in the third inning and make it a 4-1 game. After giving one back in the fourth inning, St. Paul buckled down.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. drove home Trevor Larnach and made it a 5-2 game before Larnach launched his ninth double in the sixth inning to bring home Alex Kirilloff and make it a 5-3 game. Jair Camargo followed with a ground out that plated Larnach, and Hernan Perez cleared the bases with his ninth home run of the year. With Anthony Prato and Keirsey Jr. coming in on the big fly, St. Paul had a 7-5 lead.

Columbus clawed back in the seventh inning and tied things up at seven. Both sides drew even through regulation, and the pair needed extras. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Perez stepped in with the bases loaded, and his single drove Brooks Lee home to win the game. Alex Kirilloff and Keirsey Jr. recorded three hits, while Perez and Larnach had two of their own.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
San Antonio 8, Wichita 6
Box Score
Cedar Rapids gave the ball to Carlos Luna on Thursday night, and he turned in 5 1/3 innings of five-run baseball. Six hits did him in, and four home runs did in the Wind Surge starter. Despite walking no one and striking out six, getting around the long ball was challenging.

Getting down 1-0 in the first inning, Tanner Schobel tied things with his second home run in the bottom half. By the bottom of the sixth inning, Wichita faced a 5-2 deficit, and Patrick Winkel’s single to score Michael Helman only made it a three-run game.

Alerick Soularie launched his ninth home run of the season during the seventh inning to bring Wichita within two, but the Missions added three in the eighth inning to stretch their lead. Wichita responded with Winkel driving in Willie Joe Garry Jr. during the bottom half, but they were still doubled up. It wasn’t until Aaron Sabato sent a two-run blast, scoring Alex Isola, that the Wind Surge were again within two.

While Wichita grabbed ten hits on the night, only Winkel could record two alone. The Wind Surge came up a pair short.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 12, Lake County 1
Box Score
The Kernels turned to C.J. Culpepper for the night, and he held Lake County scoreless for 4 2/3 innings. Culpepper gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out five. He dropped his ERA to 3.58 on the year.

The sides stayed scoreless until the fifth inning, and Cedar Rapids took charge. With the bases loaded, Kala’i Rosario walked in Jeferson Morales to score the game's first run. A passed ball then allowed Noah Miller to score, and a balk scored Ben Ross. Another balk brought Rosario home, and the Kernels led 4-0 without doing much in offensive production. Jose Salas singled home Jorel Ortega before the inning ended, and the good guys had a 5-0 lead.

Lake County answered with a run in the sixth inning, but that only brought them within four. Rosario blasted his 19th home run of the season in the bottom half, and the three-run shot also scored Miller and Ross to make it an 8-1 game. During the seventh inning, Kyler Fedko singled home Luke Keaschall, and Miller brought home Jose Salas on a ground out. Ross then made it 11-1 with a sacrifice fly to score Fedko, and this one was plenty in hand.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Andrew Cossetti launched his ninth home run of the year to make it an 11-run lead, and the Kernels never felt much competition. Grabbing eight hits on the evening, Keaschall and Salas recorded a pair apiece.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 7, Clearwater 4
Box Score
Back in action after Hurricane Idalia presented adverse weather conditions, Jack Noble took the mound for Fort Myers. He worked six innings of three-run baseball on Friday night. Noble allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out four.

The Mighty Mussels jumped out to an early lead when Ricardo Olivar doubled for the 25th time to bring home Walker Jenkins. Rubel Cespedes then lofted a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it a 2-0 game as Olivar scored on the play.

Clearwater got both runs back in the bottom of the first inning, but the Mighty Mussels flexed again in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Danny De Andrade took a walk to bring home Maddux Houghton the easy way. In the sixth inning, Alec Sayre launched his fourth home run of the season to make it a 4-2 game, and Fort Myers was primed for a big frame.

Olivar followed with a single to score Jay Harry before Jenkins came home on a throwing error. Up 6-2, De Andrade then singled home Olivar on a base hit back to the pitcher, and it was a wide 7-2 margin.

Clearwater grabbed a run back in the sixth inning with a solo home run in the ninth inning, but the 7-4 deficit was as close as things got.

The Mighty Mussels put up nine hits on the night, with three coming from Olivar and two from Jenkins and De Andrade.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 4.2, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB 5 K
Hitter of the Day – Ricardo Olivar (Fort Myers) - 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B(25), 3B(2), BB, K

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) - 0-5, K
#2 - Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) - 2-4, 2B(2), BB
#8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-4, R, RBI, K
#10 - Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, R, 2B, 2 K
#13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, HR(19), 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K
#14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - BB
#17 - Danny De Andrade (Fort Myers) - 2-4, 2 RBI, BB

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Columbus @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
San Antonio @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya
Lake County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Alejandro Hidalgo
Fort Myers @ Clearwater (3:00PM CST) - RHP Miguelangel Boadas

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

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[terrydactyls]

2023 Keaschall starts in Wichita and Jenkins in Cedar Rapids.  Jenkins ges a May promotion to Wichita and boh move to St. Paul in August.

[terrydactyls]

I thought there was going to be some information about call ups?

[Blyleven2011]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I thought there was going to be some information about call ups?

Check out the twins video right below the picture of Culpepper  ...

[Trov]

8 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

2023 Keaschall starts in Wichita and Jenkins in Cedar Rapids.  Jenkins ges a May promotion to Wichita and boh move to St. Paul in August.

If Jenkins can force that move I will be very happy.  Not many HS kids will be moved up that high that fast, only the mega stars.  This FO does not hesitate to move guys up when they show they are ready, but that is big moves for a 19 year old.  He would be on same path as guys like Trout, Soto, Acuna Jr. Harper and a few others.  If that is path he is on, we will be very happy.

[Dman]

Keirsey hasn't missed a beat at AAA since his promotion.  I am inclined to believe the bat is for real.  I know a .900 OPS at that level doesn't mean too much these days as it takes 1.000 OPS or higher to stand out but a center field bat he looks real good IMO.

When Culpepper is on he is one tough pitcher.  Still needs more consistency start to start but he sure looks like he could be something special.

Olivar, Jenkins and De Andrade continue to drive the offense for the Muscles.  All seem to have hot bats coming down the stretch. All three look like they will get promotions if not for the playoffs then next year for sure.

[DJL44]

Good news that they want to use Varland in the bullpen in September.

[twinsfan02]

10 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

2023 Keaschall starts in Wichita and Jenkins in Cedar Rapids.  Jenkins ges a May promotion to Wichita and boh move to St. Paul in August.

Jenkins is 18 years old. That is not happening.

[jmlease1]

10 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

2023 Keaschall starts in Wichita and Jenkins in Cedar Rapids.  Jenkins ges a May promotion to Wichita and boh move to St. Paul in August.

That would basically have Jenkins on a Ken Griffey Jr track. Which would be awesome, but holy cow.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm hoping Varland is more of a one inning guy. They better not need bulk relief in the playoffs. 

[terrydactyls]

2 hours ago, twinsfan02 said:

Jenkins is 18 years old. That is not happening.

It"s just an opinion.  And anything is possible.  Now I must visit the wizard of Oz about my bad back.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm hoping Varland is more of a one inning guy. They better not need bulk relief in the playoffs. 

Two innings of Varland or one of Varland and one of Jax? I might take two innings of Varland.

[FlyingFinn]

Andrew Stevenson is being called up. Wow, why not Martin? Bad news for Larnach as well.

[DJL44]

9 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Andrew Stevenson is being called up. Wow, why not Martin? Bad news for Larnach as well.

Stevenson will mostly sit on the bench. Do you want Martin to mostly sit on the bench?

[FlyingFinn]

3 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Stevenson will mostly sit on the bench. Do you want Martin to mostly sit on the bench?

I wanted Martin on this 40 man spot. If Castro is injured and can't play in the playoffs, Martin is our best guy to replace his speed off the bench. Doesn't necessarily even be with the Twins right now if he was only going to sit on the bench.

But Stevenson has some speed as well. He deserves a shot but like you said, he may not get to play much. Or does this say that Taylor is more injured than we know................

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Stevenson will mostly sit on the bench. Do you want Martin to mostly sit on the bench?

He could be in AAA and still be on the 40 man roster.....ready in case Castro or MAT can't play (or Buxton). 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

I wanted Martin on this 40 man spot. If Castro is injured and can't play in the playoffs, Martin is our best guy to replace his speed off the bench. Doesn't necessarily even be with the Twins right now if he was only going to sit on the bench.

Quote

The one exception is for replacing players on the injured list. Since the 2014 season, an injured player eligible for postseason play may be replaced by any player within his club's organization, including players assigned to the club's minor league affiliates who are not on the major league 40-man roster.

Quote

8. A minor league player who replaces an injured player on the Post-Season Eligibility List must have his contract selected and be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be placed on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is full, a player must be removed (traded, released, or sent outright to the minors) from the club's MLB Reserve List to make room for the replacement player

They don't have to put Martin on the 40 man roster by 8/31 to use him in the playoffs. All they have to do is cut someone else from the 40 man when they add him.

[SteveLV]

Substantial omission from game report at AAA:  Lee made an error in the first inning that should have been the 3rd out.  Next batter hit 3 run homer, for 3 unearned runs.  Ooofdah.