Twins Minor League Report (4/9): Kernels Drop Home Opener

[Steve Lein]

Just one affiliate was able to pick up a victory on Tuesday night, but hitters you should recognize in St. Paul, Wichita, and Fort Myers had big hits in their games. The Kernels played at home for the first time this year, with Twins Daily’s Seth Stohs in attendance.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Jair Camargo)

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins sent LHP Caleb Thielbar and RHP Josh Staumont on rehab assignments with the St. Paul Saints.
• In other organizational moves yesterday that included LHP Brent Headrick being placed on the 7-day IL with a forearm strain and the recalling of IF Jose Miranda to the Twins, OF Walker Jenkins was also placed on the 7-day IL with a hamstring strain down in Fort Myers. I don’t know if that’s better or worse than something caused by running into the wall, but I digress (sigh).

SAINTS SENTINEL
Iowa 9, St. Paul 7
Box Score
Right-hander Caleb Boushley made his second start of the season for the Saints on Tuesday, and unfortunately, the Cubs were ready for him. Consecutive doubles opened the game to start the scoring, and they added another run for a 2-0 lead after a half-inning. Back out for the second, the visiting team continued their onslaught with three home runs and four more tallies on the scoreboard for a 6-0 lead. Boushley settled down a bit with two scoreless frames after that, and his offense picked him up a bit in the fourth.

Michael Helman led off the bottom of the fourth with his first home run of the season to put the Saints on the board.

Patrick Winkel followed with a walk before Jair Camargo cashed both of them in with a home run of his own, his second of the season. This one left his bat at 103.5 MPH and travelled 405 feet. Not to be outdone, Yunior Severino decided to then go back-to-back, launching his first bomb of the season and the Saints were back in it at 6-4.

Boushley came back out for the fifth inning and allowed a leadoff double and an RBI single, but did record two outs before reaching his pitch count. Michael Boyle was the first reliever summoned, and he promptly gave up a two-run homer for a 9-4 Iowa lead. Boushley’s final line included eight earned runs on 10 hits, while striking out seven.

The rehabbing Caleb Thielbar pitched a scoreless sixth inning, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out one. Josh Staumont walked one in a scoreless seventh and topped out at 98.0 MPH, before Ronny Henriquez finished off the game for St. Paul with two scoreless innings, including two strikeouts.

Not to go quietly into the night, the Saints did get a rally going in the ninth. Yoyner Fajardo led off with a single and moved to second on a single from Helman two batters later. My “Tuesday-Hero,” Chris Williams was then summoned to pinch hit, but went down swinging. Camargo plated a pair with a single of his own to make it 9-7 and bring the tying run to the plate, but last year’s minor league home run champ, Severino, grounded out to end the game.

Camargo (2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K) and Helman (2-for-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, K) led the way for the offense with multiple hits.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, Springfield 6
Box Score
Always love when the Wind Surge visit Springfield, as I long for the days in my past when my job brought me there quite regularly. The hotel I would stay at was just two blocks away from Hammons Field, and if I wasn’t already at the ballpark, could get limited views of the action out my room’s window (yes, I made sure to switch rooms if mine wasn’t facing that way, or enough floors up, hah!). Got to watch Sandy Alcantara pitch there once, before he really was the next “big thing” or thought of as a future Cy Young contender. I remember the Cardinals losing that game.

Thanks for letting me reminisce, but onto this one.

Left-hander Jaylen Nowlin got the nod for the Wind Surge and as per usual, was a bit effectively wild. He completed five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks, while striking out three. Of his 80 pitches, just 45 went for strikes.

Wichita took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning after Jake Rucker reached base on an error and Emmanuel Rodriguez launched his first home run of the season to dead center with a flick of his wrists. Seriously, this swing is incredible to me that he got this much behind it.

Unfortunately for the Wind Surge, they had to deal with the rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals fan favorite, Lars Nootbaar in this one. In the bottom of the sixth, his two-run single (that also got away from right-fielder Carson McCusker due to its velocity) gave the home team more insurance runs than they would need, going ahead 5-2. Nootbaar finished just 1-for-4, but scored two runs in addition to that hit to break the game open.

Reliever Sheldon Reed was on the receiving end of that Nootbaar hit, as well as one other run, allowing three total (two earned) on four hits and one walk in his two innings. He struck out three. Taylor Floyd finished the game for Wichita with a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out one.

Rodriguez led the way out of the leadoff spot with two hits in four at-bats. Kala’i Rosario added a double to the effort. As a team the Wind Surge had only five hits, and just one at-bat with runners in scoring position on the game.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Dayton 7, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score
Darren Bowen got the starting nod for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in their 2024 home opener, and he and the home crowd were greeted with a leadoff home run after a long at-bat to start the game. Such a buzzkill. 

In the bottom half of the first however, his lineup got it back for him. Ricardo Olivar drew a two-out walk and was able to score from first on a Danny De Andrade double to tie the game at one. 

Bowen delivered a scoreless second inning before running into bigger trouble in the third. Top 100 prospect Cam Collier of the Reds organization singled into right field to score one, and a throwing error allowed him to reach second base before a triple drove in two more for a 4-1 Dragons lead. Bowen would finish 2 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out two. 

Brian Dinkelman, the reigning Minor League Manager of the Year, said of his starter, "He's got some good stuff. He gave up that leadoff home run after a long at-bat, but then he settled in nicely. He ran into a little trouble in the third with the walk and hit by pitch, a couple hits after that. First start, probably get some nerves out of the way, probably a little nervous, new organization too. I think his stuff looks like it'll play. He'll get some guys out. We'll get him back out there next week and go back at it."

The Kernels closed the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth when a Misael Urbina single was followed by the first home run of the season from Rubel Cespedes to make it 4-3, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Relievers Jack Noble (1 2/3 IP, BB, K), Juan Mercedes (1 2/3 IP, H, ER, BB, K), Gabriel Yanez (1 1/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K), Jacob Wosinski (1 IP, H, R, K), and Juan Mendez (1 IP, H, K) all pitched at least one inning to finish out the game. 

The manager said, "Early in the season, you're just trying to get guys into games. All those guys who threw tonight, it was their first outing of the season. Try to get them into a game, get their feet underneath them, not let them sit there too long. Get them all in the game. Keep them fresh. Now they can think about it and get ready for their next outing.  

In the bottom of the ninth Jay Harry hit a solo home run to make the final of 7-4. "Fastball up and in. Right into his barrel and he drilled it out of here. Good swing by Jay. He grinds at the plate, that's for sure, and makes it tough on pitchers. That's good to see." 

Cespedes led the way with three hits in four at-bats, including a double, a homer, two RBI, and a run scored. "He put together some good at-bats together and the ball comes off of his bat pretty good."

Urbina reached base twice in for plate appearances. The Kernels will look to pick up their first win of the season tomorrow with 2023 standout Zebby Matthews on the hill.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 5, Clearwater 4
Box Score
No Walker Jenkins. No problem for the Mighty Mussels as they improved to 3-1 on the season with a series opening victory in Clearwater.

Starter Cesar Lares went the first 4 2/3 innings, being charged with three earned runs on four hits, a pair of walks, and five strikeouts.

Down 1-0 in the top of the third, Rafael Cruz got the inning started with his first double of the year. Angel Del Rosario moved him to third with a single before stealing his first base of the season. Cruz scored on a Byron Chourio ground out, before Rayne Doncon put the Mussels out front 2-1 with a sac fly.

Over the next two innings the Threshers got those runs back plus one against Lares and reliever Nolan Santos (1 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) to take a 4-2 lead, but the bullpen shut them down from there. Danny Moreno picked up the win with two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. Kade Bragg picked up his first career save with a one-two-three ninth, including a strikeout.

Those pitchers were able to show up in the box score like that thanks to a two-run triple from Brandon Winokur in the sixth inning and the go-ahead sac fly from Doncon, his second of the game, in the eighth.

Del Rosario scored two runs and stole two bases from the nine-spot in the lineup, while leadoff man Chourio scored a run, drove in one, and drew two walks. Taking a queue from their MLB parent club, the Mighty Mussels struck out 16 times in the game, but at least put the bat on the ball when it mattered to pull out the victory.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Ronny Henriquez, St. Paul Saints (2 IP, 2 K, retired all six hitters)
Hitter of the Day – Jair Camargo, St. Paul Saints (2-for-4, 2 R, HR (2), 4 RBI, BB, 2 K)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 2-for-4, R, HR (1), 2 RBI, K
#4 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, 3 errors 
#7 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 2-for-3, 2 2B
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 K
#11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-for-4
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-4, 3 K
#13 – Kala’I Rosario (Wichita) – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 K
#15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, K
#16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-for-4, R, HR (1), RBI, BB, K
#19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-3, R, BB, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Iowa @ St. Paul (6:37 PM CST) – RHP Randy Dobnak (1-0, 2.35 ERA)
Wichita @ Springfield (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Jarret Whorff (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Dayton @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:30 PM CST) – RHP Ty Langenberg (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! In addition, if you have questions about the Kernels roster, Seth has been to a whole one game, so he'd be happy to answer with some initial thoughts. 

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[Seth Stohs]

Did Zac Gallen pitch the next day?

Did Randy Arozarena play in the outfield? 

Inquiring minds want to know... I want to know. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

8 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Did Zac Gallen pitch the next day?

Did Randy Arozarena play in the outfield? 

Inquiring minds want to know... I want to know. 

2nd'd

[Guest]

Maybe, just maybe, MLB shouldn't schedule regular season games unless the gametime temperature exceeds 50 degrees.  Just a thought after glancing at the names on ILs around the league.  Headrick now with a "forearm strain"?  Ortho surgeons around MLB must salivate at the prospect of so many arms trying for high spin rates in early season cold weather, money games.

[Dman]

Very. very nice writeup!! Thanks! They have all been close games but the Muscles have found ways to win. Doncon and Chourio have led the way, but most of the rest of the team hasn't done much at the plate. Feels like the bats are slow to come around in all the affiliates this year.  

If Rodriguez can keep the K rate down I wonder if he gets called up this year.  He has the eye, he has the power, his body is filled out.  He could be an option if he can keep things rolling IMO.  If he has a strong April, May would be nice to see them move him up.

Need a few more games but Henriquez has been keeping the ball in the park and striking guys out.  I haven't had a chance to watch him, but if he keeps this up he looks like a 40 man add at some point.

April is always a tough month to judge performance because the weather seems to play into things and just being cold all the time is tough as well.  

 

[FlyingFinn]

Gabriel Gonzalez continues to smack the ball. Yea! But three errors in one game for an OF. I hope he isn't that bad out there.

[Mike Sixel]

Nice write up!

[danielp19653]

39 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Gabriel Gonzalez continues to smack the ball. Yea! But three errors in one game for an OF. I hope he isn't that bad out there.

I could be wrong but I thought most of the write ups on him post trade was that he was stretched as a COF, so while 3 errors probably isn't how bad he actually he is, he seems destined for DH duties or at the very least never finishing a game in the field

[jmlease1]

46 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Gabriel Gonzalez continues to smack the ball. Yea! But three errors in one game for an OF. I hope he isn't that bad out there.

Hopefully just a bad day, but 3 errors in one game does pop out. Of course, that's how it happens sometimes for a young player: botch a play and it gets in your head, then you tank another one because you're thinking too much, and then inevitably the ball finds you again and you go to the zoo. Hopefully he can laugh it off and get back to business.

[Steve Lein]

11 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Did Zac Gallen pitch the next day?

Did Randy Arozarena play in the outfield? 

Inquiring minds want to know... I want to know. 

I wanna say it was in April, and I don't remember Gallen or Arozarena in any game I went to.

Jack Flaherty was one of the other pitchers I remember at some point, though!

Edit: this would have been in 2017, but I also went there for extended periods in the years prior, too. If they were in town I'd try to go to 1 or 2 games a trip if it worked out. I see now one of my favorite places to stop after the game, Ebbets Field Sports Bar, is closed ☹️ Was a pretty cool place, which was a house transformed into a bar smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood a few blocks from the stadium and my hotel (University Plaza, for anyone curious). That last year I had been there they had upgraded to add a sweet patio in the "backyard." 

Springfield Brewing and Mothers Brewing are still around, though! 😊

Edited April 10, 2024 by Steve Lein

[Steve Lein]

3 hours ago, danielp19653 said:

I could be wrong but I thought most of the write ups on him post trade was that he was stretched as a COF, so while 3 errors probably isn't how bad he actually he is, he seems destined for DH duties or at the very least never finishing a game in the field

General consensus I have gotten as well, though he apparently has a really good arm. I was watching the Wichita game last night, so I didn't see any of these plays, but wonder if he airmailed it on the throws trying to do a bit too much.

[Seth Stohs]

4 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Gabriel Gonzalez continues to smack the ball. Yea! But three errors in one game for an OF. I hope he isn't that bad out there.

From Dinkelman: "A couple were tough. The first one, on the throw in, it got away from the cutoff man and past the pitcher. That's a tough one. He kept the ball down. Dropped the fly ball, not sure what happened there. The last one kind of skipped by third. Decent throw to third and it skipped by Salas and the guy advanced a base. Tough night for him out there." He continued, "We'll keep putting him out there, let him learn from it. You learn from your experiences in the game, and hopefully he'll learn from tonight." 

My perspective... The two on throws were tough. I agree with Dinkelman on those. If you watch them, the throws were solid, but just not handled by the person they were thrown to. Those go to the thrower, even though the throw isn't bad. The dropped fly ball. My assumption is that he lost it right toward the end in the sun. I saw a photo later that shows he was there, looking right up at it, but had already closed the glove (but the ball was about a foot above it). He does have a really strong arm. Not saying he's a great outfielder, but I don't personally think there is a lot to worry about with this. 

[Seth Stohs]

23 minutes ago, Steve Lein said:

General consensus I have gotten as well, though he apparently has a really good arm. I was watching the Wichita game last night, so I didn't see any of these plays, but wonder if he airmailed it on the throws trying to do a bit too much.

Nope, didn't airmail either of them. You could argue on the third one that he just should have thrown it in to second base, but I thought he had a reasonable chance at getting the guy at third. The throw was down (cut-off man level), and it just got by the third baseman. I haven't seen a replay to see if maybe the runner deflected it.  

[Steve Lein]

5 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Nope, didn't airmail either of them. You could argue on the third one that he just should have thrown it in to second base, but I thought he had a reasonable chance at getting the guy at third. The throw was down (cut-off man level), and it just got by the third baseman. I haven't seen a replay to see if maybe the runner deflected it.  

Just one of those games, then!