Twins Minor League Report (9/22): Runs and Rehab in St. Paul

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Twins continued to use the final few Triple-A games as a rehab spot, and the Saints launched their 14th grand slam of the season. Although there was only one game on the farm Friday, there was plenty of action.

 

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson - St. Paul Saints

TRANSACTIONS

• OF Jordan Luplow recalled from St. Paul

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 10, Toledo 6
Box Score
Lefty Blayne Enlow took the mound Friday night for the Saints last weeknight game of the year. Byron Buxton and Joey Gallo got the night off while Nick Gordon batted second and played second base.

Enlow’s final start of the season was just a short three inning outing. He allowed three runs on two hits while striking out four. The lefty out a bow on his season, showing good command with no walks.

St. Paul answered the three-run shot in the second inning with a big crooked number. Anthony Prato homered for the ninth time this season, and the two-run blast brought home Hernan Perez. Austin Martin then plated DaShawn Keirsey Jr. on a sacrifice fly. Michael Helman then stepped in with the bases loaded and launched the Saints 14th grand slam of the season. Chris Williams, Tony Wolters, and Nick Gordon all came home making it a 7-3 contest.

In the bottom of the third inning, Prato hit his second dinger of the night, and the solo-shot made it an 8-0 game. Not to have his power outdone, Yunior Severino homered in the fourth inning. His 11th big fly at Triple-A pushed the score to 10-3.

Brock Stewart worked a scoreless inning of relief striking out two, while Jorge Alcala pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four. Austin Schulfer took over for the next two and was perfect with a pair of strikeouts. Still up 10-3, it was Michael Boyle on to finish out the ninth inning. He allowed a pair of runners and then a big fly to bring them home. Still up 10-6, the lead was enough to hold up.

Helman and Prato both had a pair of hits. Gordon was 0-for-3 on the night with a run scored. The 14th grand slam for St. Paul tied the modern era record by a professional team in a season dating back to 2005.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – St. Paul Middle Relief - 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K
Hitter of the Day – Anthony Prato (St. Paul) - 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR(10), 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:

#14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(11), K

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Toledo @ St. Paul (6:37PM CST) - RHP Patrick Murphy

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’ game!

 

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[Rosterman]

The Twins have some major 40-man add decisions. Enlow, Williams, Heilman will all be minor league free agents. Any keepers there?

What to do with Bechtold and Prato?

I was surprised to learn that Luplow wasn't totally removed from the 40-man (although that may be happening shortly). Why not advance Celestino to play the final weeks in a few games, see if he an be a 4th oufielder next year...when he is out of options.

[FlyingFinn]

13 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

The Twins have some major 40-man add decisions. Enlow, Williams, Heilman will all be minor league free agents. Any keepers there?

Attempt to sign all of them to minor league deals.

 

14 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

What to do with Bechtold and Prato?

Prato is basically in the same category as Helman, making it no big deal if we lose Helman. I would like to see Bechtold as a full-time pitcher and go to Wichita to start 2024.

 

16 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Why not advance Celestino to play the final weeks in a few games, see if he an be a 4th oufielder next year.

I don't think Celestino will be on the 40 man when next season starts.

[Danchat]

I was at the Saints game tonight, and was pleased by the offense's display of power. I hope to see Martin and Severino in the lineup at some point next year. Brock Stewart was throwing gas, but was having trouble throwing strikes, which isn't a shock. Alcala also looked electric but I doubt he makes it back to the roster this year.

There was also a situation mid-game where between innings there was an injury to one of the guys in the sumo-wrestler outfits and he was unconscious for a few minutes, but ultimately left the stadium on a cart. I hope he's alright.

[Eris]

I thought Blayne Enlow throws RH. 

[D.C Twins]

Enlow this season... uff-da!

[Old Twins Hat]

He's definitely not as good throwing lefty.

[terrydactyls]

You only listed Severino as a prospect worth watching.  Aren't Martin and Lee prospects worth watching?

[jorgenswest]

Celestino and Martin are the same age with basically the same performance in AAA. One is considered a certainty to add to the 40 while the other a candidate to be removed.

[DocBauer]

Had Helman not been cursed with 3 different injuries this year. I am thoroughly convinced he'd have seen time with the Twins and weight be saying "Luplow who"?. Guy plays all 7 positions and can run and has some power as well. Might not have to protect him due to age and how much time he missed, but he could be an outstanding, late bloomer of super utility option. Would really like to keep him.

Kiersey would be nice to keep as well, especially with CF questions. It's not fair to Celestino, who is still pretty young, has been promoted and pushed too early, and then missed half the year, but indont know that there's room to keep him. You can't keep everyone, and I think he's the odd man out in the OF discussion.

I'd also like to keep Prato. But you only get to protect 40 and there might not be room to keep everyone from AAA that I'd like to.

Yes, Enlow is definitely RH. Good start to his season and seemed to fall apart at St Paul. Did he just run put of gas, even a year post surgery? Was he fighting some mild new injury? I doubt he's protected, but hoping he sticks around and gets one more year to see if he can get over the hump.

 

[FlyingFinn]

5 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Celestino and Martin are the same age with basically the same performance in AAA.

I disagree. One major difference - stolen bases. From 2021-2023, Martin has 68 and Celestino has 13. Remember, Celestino had major issues with throwing to the right base, hitting the cutoff and running the bases with the Twins. No clue how he did this year in St. Paul.

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

I disagree. One major difference - stolen bases. From 2021-2023, Martin has 68 and Celestino has 13. Remember, Celestino had major issues with throwing to the right base, hitting the cutoff and running the bases with the Twins. No clue how he did this year in St. Paul.

Not disagreeing at all. I do think Celestino still has a lot of ability and some real potential. And he hasn't been handled fairly when he was pushed so early due to being one of the last men standing on the 40 man, to being kept on the roster last year when he had a solid ST and then fell apart. Mix in missing half of this year, he's been behind the 8 ball in development the past couple seasons. 

But I do believe Martin has passed him. And while a couple years older, I wonder if the LH, late blooming Keirsey hasn't also done so. And again, you can't keep everyone. And I don't think Celestino will be drafted in the rule 5.

 

[Doctor Wu]

Man,  having healthy and effective arms in Brock Stewart and Alcala sure would be nice additions to the bullpen come playoff time. 

[nclahammer]

15 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Celestino and Martin are the same age with basically the same performance in AAA. One is considered a certainty to add to the 40 while the other a candidate to be removed.

Martin offers more flexibility by playing multiple positions (IN & OF) while Celestino is an outfielder only.   Both battled injuries this year, played about the same number of games,  with Martin putting up better overall  numbers.  Austin Martin is also considered to have a much higher ceiling.    

[FlyingFinn]

7 hours ago, DocBauer said:

And I don't think Celestino will be drafted in the rule 5.

I don't think Celestino is eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. If he does get DFA'd, everyone gets their free chance at him.

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

And I don't think Celestino will be drafted in the rule 5.

You wouldn't have to worry about that. He would never make it through waivers. 

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

I don't think Celestino is eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. If he does get DFA'd, everyone gets their free chance at him.

That is correct. There are some similarities in path to Willi Castro. Both hit the majors before they were ready at 22. The Tigers held on to Castro through age 25. I don’t know if the Twins will have the patience for that age 25 season much less 26.

The reality is that there performances are very similar in walk rate, strike out rate and OBp. Martin’s slightly high wRC+ probably comes from the extra 1.4 runs created due to stolen bases. Celestino has the better outfield arm and Martin can play second base.

Is that 1.4 extra stolen base runs the difference between a player looked at with so much hope and another looked at as a DFA candidate?

As for Kiersey he is two years older with a below average wRC+ in AAA.