Twins Minor League Week in Review (8/28-9/3): Stars Shine in System

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Despite all the hand-wringing and Twitter (can I still call it that) meltdowns amongst fans, the Minnesota Twins baseball organization has had an exceptional 2023. While the Twins remain in the AL Central driver's seat, both the St. Paul Saints and Cedar Rapids Kernels appear poised for the postseason. After some slow starts, the prospect-list has started to show some more consistent promise as well.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Walker Jenkins)

While it's certainly not perfect - I'd love for Byron Buxton and Connor Prielipp to be healthy - I don't think there are many people that wouldn't willingly take where the organization is right now if presented this chance in the spring.

The Twins have an excellent chance to make the playoffs (and have a huge series this week), Royce Lewis looks the like savior we've yearned for since Joe Mauer stopped catching, the St. Paul Saints have been exciting to follow (and a welcome distraction when the Twins have tripped over themselves both figuratively and literally *coughJoeyGallocough*) and the Cedar Rapids Kernels boast one of the most impressive rotations and winningest records in all of baseball. Oh, and first-round pick Walker Jenkins is playing a game that currently looks way too easy for him. 

Read all about the Twins week in Nick’s Week in Review. 

WEEK IN REVIEW 
Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 32-25 (3-3 last week) in the second half; In first place in the IL West by two games; tied for sixth place in the International League.
• Overview: The Saints had another great chance to make up ground in the standings and couldn't. Their path to the playoffs just got cloudier.
• 🔥: Trevor Larnach. Finally. Seven hits in 19 at-bats (including two doubles and a home run). He drove in four and walked more times (3) than he struck out (2). With the emergence of Matt Wallner and the resurgence of Max Kepler, it's hard to say how Larnach fits in the Twins long-term plans. But it certainly behooves him to not be terrible and have a week like this. 
• 🔥: David Festa  made quite an impression in his first AAA start. He fanned seven over five innings, while only allowing one run (a home run). 
• 😍: Alex Kirilloff is rehabbing and proving that AAA is beneath him. In 17 at-bats, Kirilloff collected seven hits (including a double and a two home runs). He didn't walk and struck out three times, but all of that is good enough for a 1.236 OPS. Kirilloff is likely to rejoin the Twins later in the week. 
• 😏: Louie Varland is making his transition to the bullpen to help out the Twins and reportedly will be joining them in Cleveland. He pitched once for the Saints and threw a pitch over 100 mph. He's going to look nice as a Minnesota reliever for the next month, but expect him to return to the rotation next season. 
• 🥶: Jordan Balazovic (3.1 IP, 4 ER) and Andrew Bechtold (2 IP, 5 ER) both really struggled out of the Saints pen this week. 
• 🥶: Austin Martin  was lighting up Triple-A... and then this week happened. Only two hits in 23 at-bats, seven strikeouts with only two walks and one stolen base. There's a need in centerfield across the river, but performances like this aren't going to get you promoted. 
• What's Next: Now the Saints head to Louisville (28-29) to try to make up ground. They haven't been good on the road in the second half (10-14). One nice thing is the two hottest teams in the league (Buffalo and Lehigh Valley) play each other. One not-nice thing is that Durham heads to Charlotte, who is absolutely brutal. The Saints will probably have to win five or six just to keep pace.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 32-25 (3-3 last week) in the second half and has pushed their division lead to 3.0 games. 
• Overview: The four-series win streak has come to an end with a split against San Antonio, but the Wind Surge remain in the driver's seat in the Texas League North Division. 
• 🔥: Willie Joe Garry Jr might be getting his first mention of the year, but he deserves it. He collected eight hits in 19 at-bats including four doubles and two home runs. He also stole two bases. The ninth-round pick has really struggled as a pro (never hitting over .228 at any level and) but has really shined in his 22 Double-A games this year (.286/.346/.600). He's always had the ability to steal bases, but here he is over 1000 minor league plate appearances and finally showing signs of maybe figuring it out a little bit. 
• 🔥: Most of the staff deserves mention here. Marco Raya was fantastic in four shutout innings. Aaron Rozek allowed three hits over 5 2/3 shutout innings. Denny Bentley, Taylor Floyd, and Curtis Taylor combined to pitch 10 shutout innings out of the bullpen. Pierson Ohl continues to be great, this time allowing a single run (on a home run) in 5 2/3 innings.
•  🔥: Tanner Schobel had seven hits (two doubles, home run) this week. 
• 🥶: Alex Isola  has gotten a lot of love at the top of these breakdowns, but a 4-for-24 week with six strikeouts puts him at the bottom of this list. He has put together a really solid year and looks deserving of getting his shot at AAA to start next year.
• 🥶: Jaylen Nowlin  had a rough start, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. 
• What's Next: The Wind Surge head to Corpus Christi (29-28) where a split might give some hope to Springfield (29-28) who hosts Tulsa (22-35). 

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 40-20 (5-1 last week) in the second half, five games ahead of Peoria. The Kernels have clinched a postseason berth and own a 80-46 overall record on the season. 
• Overview: Even though both Wisconsin and Peoria have been two of the hottest teams in the Midwest League, they haven't been able to make much ground on the also-hot Kernels. 
• 🔥: Big weeks all over as eight of the 11 Kernels with double-digits at-bats posted weeks with OPSes over .900. Emmanuel Rodriguez led the way with seven hits (three doubles, two triples, home run). Jose Salas also had seven hits and though he showed little power, stole three bases. Keoni Cavaco and Jorel Ortega both had five hits
• 🔥: Christian MacLeod scattered three hits and a walk in his five shutout innings. He struck out three. C.J. Culpepper (4 2/3 innings) and Cory Lewis (5 innings) also left their starters allowing no runs. 
• 🥶: Alejandro Hidalgo  posted the Kernels worse start, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over three innings.
• What's Next: ... but if the Timber Rattlers (32-28) do want to make up ground, they will have a chance this week. Wisconsin, who is on an eight-game winning streak, will welcome the Kernels for six games.

Low-A: Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 31-28 (4-1 last week) in the second half, 7.5 games behind Lakeland.
• Overview: It's too bad Fort Myers got off to such a poor start in the second half, but they have been arguably the best team in the entire league over the last two-plus weeks. They are 8-2 in their last ten and have a +52 run differential (trailing only Lakeland) in the second half of the season.
• 😍: It's Walker Jenkins'  world right now and we're all just living in it. He had nine hits (three extra base hits) in 17 at-bats. He didn't strike out, walked once and stole a base. He's improved upon all of his numbers from his stint in rookie ball and when the Mighty Mussels season ends, there is no reason he shouldn't be promoted to Cedar Rapids for the playoff push. Even if he starts next year back at low-A, it seems like it should be a pretty easy decision to allow him to be challenged this year and putting him into a playoff atmosphere would be a challenge.
• 🔥: Jay Harry and Ricardo Olivar  are probably getting talked about more if Jenkins wasn't so impressive. Harry had seven hits including two doubles and a home run. Oliver had six hits including two doubles and a triple. Harry will just jump in line with the Schobels and Keaschalls of the organization as middle infielders who rake.
• 🔥: John Klein had another great start. The Minnesota native has had an exceptional six-game run in low-A and probably deserves a shot to start at a higher level. The problem, of course, is that Cedar Rapids has a loaded rotation.
• 😏: The 2023 draft class of pitchers is certainly on a pitch-limit, but this week all of Xander Hamilton, Ty Langenberg, Jeremy Lee and Nolan Santos pitched more than one inning and none gave up a run. I'm very intrigued to see how this group - as well as the 11 guys who haven't pitched yet - look in the spring after getting a little Velocity Camp action this fall.
• 🥶: The Kyle Schmidt hitless streak has no reached a new level. Two straight weeks with no hits. Last week was 0-13 with one strikeout. This week was 0-8 with two strikeouts. That either suggests extremely bad luck or inability to hit the ball very hard.
• What's Next: Fort Myers hosts Bradenton (37-22). Ironically, the Mighty Mussels have struggled at home in the second half and Bradenton has been excellent on the road. A split probably leaves Fort Myers with too little time to catch up, but five or six wins against Bradenton and there might be a race (though the probability still remains very, very low). 

PROSPECT SUMMARY 
This Prospect Summary shows our current Twins Top 20 Prospect Rankings and how they performed last week. The Prospect Tracker will be updated periodically throughout the season. Notice that these pages now include stats and splits, as well as past article links, video and more. Season-long stats will be in parenthesis. 

• 20. Brent Headrick, RHP, Minnesota: Recalled to the Twins bullpen. (1.31 WHIP, .238 BAA ), St. Paul: (1.36 WHIP, .263 BAA).
• 19. Cory Lewis, RHP, Cedar Rapids: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 7 H, 6 K (1.08 WHIP, .205 BAA).
• 18. Jose Rodriguez, OF, FCL Twins: (.262/.325/.412. .737 OPS)
• 17. Danny De Andrade, SS, Fort Myers: 4-16, 4 RBI, R, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 SB. (.244/.353/.398. .751 OPS), played three games (85 total games) at shortstop and committed no errors in 13 chances (13 errors in 308 total chances). Previously played one game at third base and had no errors in four chances. 
• 16. Jordan Balazovic, RHP, St. Paul: 0-0, 10.80 ERA, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB. 2K. (1.65 WHIP, .266 BAA); Minnesota: (1.56 WHIP, .274 BAA).
• 15. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, St. Paul: 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, HRA, HB, 3 BB, 6 K (1.55 WHIP, .257 BAA); Minnesota: (1.56 WHIP, .274 BAA).
• 14. Yunior Severino, 3B, St. Paul: 4-16, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K. (AA/AAA combined .280/.357/.546. .903 OPS).
• 13. Kala'i Rosario, OF, Cedar Rapids: 4-15, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K. (.255/.370/.468. .838 OPS).
• 12. Yasser Mercedes, OF, FCL Twins: (.196/.248/.381. .629 OPS)
• 11. Connor Prielipp, LHP, Cedar Rapids: Prielipp underwent season-ending elbow surgery. (1.75 WHIP, .294 BAA)
• 10. Luke Keaschall, 2B, Cedar Rapids: 2-5, 2B, R, 2 K, SB. (rookie/l-A/h-A combined .299/.439/.460. .899 OPS), played one game (20 total) at second base and committed no errors in one chance (one error in 61 total chances), played one game in centerfield (three games total) and had committed no errors in no chances (his first chances of the year). Previously played one game at third base and committed one error in two chances. 
• 9. Brandon Winokur, OF, FCL Twins: (.288/.338/.545. .883 OPS), played nine games at shortstop and committed two errors in 34 chances and played seven games at centerfield and committed no errors in 19 chances. 
• 8. Tanner Schobel, INF, Wichita: 7-22, 2 2B, HR. RBI, R, 2 BB, 7 K. (high-A/AA combined .267/.357/.440. .797 OPS), played two games (50 total) at second base and committed no errors in 9 chances (9 errors in 200 total chances), and played one game (57 total) at third base and committed no errors in five chances (four errors in 114total chances). Schobel also played his first three games at shortstop this week and committed no errors in eight chances.
• 7. Austin Martin, 2B/OF, St. Paul: 2-23, R, 2 BB, 7 K, SB. (rehab/AAA combined .261/.367/.402. .769 OPS), played two games (10 total) in centerfield and committed no errors in four chances (no errors in 24 total chances), played three games (33 total) at second base and committed no errors in 14 chances (four errors in 135 total chances), played one games (nine total) in left field and committed no errors in one chance (no errors in 21 total chances). 
• 6. David Festa, RHP, St. Paul: 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 4 H, ER, HRA, BB 7 K. (AAA/AA combined 1.34 WHIP, .247 BAA)
• 5. Charlee Soto, RHP: Did not pitch.
• 4. Marco Raya, RHP, Wichita: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 IP, 2 H, 2 K. (AA/Hi-A combined 1.14 WHIP, .207 BAA)
• 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Cedar Rapids: 7-18, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K. (.240/.395/.466. .861 OPS)
• 2. Walker Jenkins, OF, Fort Myers: 9-17, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, BB, SB. (FCL/low-A combined .372/.413/.581. .994 OPS)
• 1. Brooks Lee, SS, St. Paul: 6-21, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K. (AA/AAA combined .285/.355/.463. .818 OPS), played four games (99 total) at shortstop and committed one error in 25 chances (18 errors in 410 total chances) and played one game (five total) at third base and committed no errors in once (one error in 11 chances total chances). 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
HITTER - Walker Jenkins, Fort Myers (72.5% of the vote)

PITCHER - John Klein, Fort Myers (45.2% of the vote)

 

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[FlyingFinn]

Ben Ross gets the call, to Wichita, as Helman is done rehabbing and back with the Saints.

[mikelink45]

Sad to say, but Headrick and Balazovic are playing their way out of the top 20 as so many are advancing. 

[Beast]

I’m not advocating he go anywhere, but Wallner’s emergence may be slowing a bit.  Over the 13 games he’s played, he has 7 hits, 4 RBIs, and 15 Ks.

If he has a bad series against Cleveland and Larnach keeps hitting, you have to start thinking about it.

[Doctor Wu]

Well, if there was any doubt, Walker Jenkins looks like he is for real!

[Doctor Wu]

Kudos on an excellent review for the week, especially the extra updates on all of the prospects. Great stuff!

[jmlease1]

Tough week for my guy Austin Martin. I still think his bat plays, but this is why I was pumping the brakes on calling him up to pay CF immediately for the MLB club. He needs time and consistent ABs. I'm still looking at him being a real contributor next season, but there will be bumps on the road.

Nice to see Schobel settling in at AA after a tough start. Severino looks like he's going to finish the year strong and almost certainly gets added to the 40-man. Rodriguez clearly needed time to shake off the rust and get back into game shape after his injury, but he's having a fine season and will likely be in AA next year as a young stud.

And what else is there to say at this point about Jenkins? the lottery really brought the Twins a heck of a player. He's off to a great start, making it clear he's not a lemon. I expect he'll have some bumps and slumps next season, but who knows? He might be just that good.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Good reviews. Thanks. 

[Omgbenji]

Martin definitely had a disappointing week, but I would hesitate to make any grand assumptions about him based on it. People have good and bad weeks all the time. He tore it up all through July/August, has a bad week, and all of a sudden it's like, see???!! Told he he shoulnd't be called up! He'll likely be just fine.

[jmlease1]

4 hours ago, Omgbenji said:

Martin definitely had a disappointing week, but I would hesitate to make any grand assumptions about him based on it. People have good and bad weeks all the time. He tore it up all through July/August, has a bad week, and all of a sudden it's like, see???!! Told he he shoulnd't be called up! He'll likely be just fine.

I do think he'll be fine, but it's hardly a shock for him to have stretches like this. But people on this board were ready to add him to the 40-man and slot him in as the starting CF after about 20 good games in August. (BTW, he didn't tear anything up in July: OPS of .561, which is dreadful) He's only played 44 games in AAA, it's ok to let him finish the year there, get him on a good off-season program, and have him come into camp healthy and ready to compete for a spot in MLB in 2024. (which is what I've been saying all along)