Minor League Report (4/21): Saints Narrowly Avoid Being No-Hit in Stagnant Day on the Farm

[Matt Braun]

Who knew Eric Lauer could be so dominant? 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Andrew Cossetti)

TRANSACTIONS
No moves were made on Sunday.

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 0, Indianapolis 5
Box Score
Randy Dobnak: 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Saints were almost no-hit on Sunday.

A glance at Eric Lauer’s immaculate pitching line tells you everything you need to know about this game; St. Paul had no chance. The former big leaguer pounded the Saints with enough junk to max out a landfill, twisting hitters with curves and shocking them with sliders. He earned 14 swings-and-misses. He tossed just 68 pitches. 

The rest of the Indianapolis pitching effort—combined between four relievers—continued his dominance, with a lone single from Alex Isola off former Saint Connor Sedzeck serving as St. Paul’s only hit of the day.

That crushing pitching performance rendered Randy Dobnak’s otherwise fine line far uglier in comparison. His sinking stuff netted six grounders and four strikeouts. He never had a chance.

Matt Wallner struck out twice in an 0-4 showing. Isola was the only Saint in the starting lineup to not strike out.

Kyle Nicolas, Pittsburgh’s 21st-best prospect, struck out the side in a perfect inning on Sunday.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 6, Tulsa 2
Box Score
Jaylen Nowlin: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
HR: Andrew Cossetti (2)
Multi-hit games: None

Wichita won a breezy game on Sunday.

It hasn’t been easy for the Wind Surge so far this year; wins have been few and far between, with an especially atrocious bullpen causing the team to keel over in late-game situations. Not today, though. Jaylen Nowlin was adequate, and John Stankiewicz and Jared Solomon held the Drillers at bay to cap one of the best team pitching performances so far this year. Maybe that’s sad. You have to start somewhere.

Wichita’s hitting prowess was sparse, but they made it count when they could. Emmanuel Rodriguez obliterated an RBI double into the gap; he eventually scored when Jeferson Morales was plunked.

The very next inning, Andrew Cossetti lashed a three-run homer to the right-center gap, capping the scoring with an oppressive showing of power.

The Wind Surge took six walks on Sunday. Kala’i Rosario and Jorel Ortega both netted two free passes.

The typically talented Drillers lineup lacked their usual prospect oomph on Sunday as Austin Gauthier—their 25th-ranked player—was the best youngster to play. He walked once in five trips to the plate.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 0, Wisconsin 2
Box Score
Darren Bowen: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Kernels were shut out on Sunday.

The bats just couldn’t get going; Cedar Rapids sprayed three singles to go with two walks, but that was it. Even Rubel Cespedes was held at bay.

Darren Bowen—a forgotten part of the Jorge Polanco trade—made his second start of the year, punching out five over five frames. He allowed two runs, a far better outing than his previous endeavor. Jacob Wosinski cleaned up with a trio of scoreless innings.

The only good news is that the Kernels are handing out replicas of their 2023 Midwest League Championship rings on Tuesday. Be prepared to scratch and claw.

Most of Milwaukee’s talent is in the upper minors, but centerfielder Luis Lara is an exception. Their 8th-ranked prospect struck out once in three at-bats.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 3, Jupiter 6
Box Score
Paulshawn Pasqualotto: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
HR: Jose Rodriguez (1)
Multi-hit games: Gregory Duran (2-for-3, R, BB), Wilfri Castro (2-for-3, BB)

The Mighty Mussels lost a sloppy game on Sunday.

Paulshawn Pasqualotto pitched yet again on a day this author covers the minors. It went the worst of his three professional starts: seven hits revealed he was nickel and dimed, and a pair of unearned runs dragged down his outing. Isaac Pena—the owner of two errors—perhaps deserves a piece of the loss as well.

Good news emerged from the bats, though, as Jose Rodriguez smoked a homer deep into left field, and Omari Daniel collected his first hit above rookie ball.

Rodriguez, it should be noted, is still just 18 and will not turn 19 until June. Much was made about his power outing in the DSL two years ago; perhaps he’s still gestating and developing as a ball player. 

Jupiter’s first baseman, Brock Vradenburg, singled and struck out twice. According to MLB Pipeline, he is Miami’s 16th-ranked prospect.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Darren Bowen, Cedar Rapids Kernels
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Andrew Cossetti, Wichita Wind Surge 

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

#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) - 1-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, 3 K
#7 - Austin Martin (Minnesota) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
#11 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 0-4, R, BB, K
#12 - Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 2 K
#13 - Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) - 1-2, 2 BB
#16 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 0-2, BB, K
#19 - Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Rochester @ St. Paul (6:37 PM) - RHP David Festa
Wichita @ San Antonio (7:05 PM) - TBD
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM) - TBD
Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM) - TBD

View full article

[Jocko87]

I'm on the road the entire month of April. I'm going to fool around and miss most of E-Rods time in Wichita, aren't I?

[jkcarew]

Saints dead last in the International League in just about every batting category including BA, OBP, and SLG.

Things you don’t hear every day: we need Kepler.

[mikelink45]

I am not sure how to judge the organization.  I know we have a collective set of losing seasons at all levels.  

But my biggest head scratcher is why isn't Cossetti one of our top 20 prospects.  I have been following him and his progress and I think he will pass Camargo.  

[jkcarew]

Anyone else notice that Brandon Winokur played SS on Saturday?

What’s up with that? He had an error…but even if this is just a long-shot experiment…it says something about the skills and athleticism the org sees in this kid. A 6’-6” shortstop. Impressive.

[Matt Braun]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I am not sure how to judge the organization.  I know we have a collective set of losing seasons at all levels.  

But my biggest head scratcher is why isn't Cossetti one of our top 20 prospects.  I have been following him and his progress and I think he will pass Camargo.  

I love Cossetti, and I don't get it either; he's raked since day one. He's a little old (24), so that may be why people are skeptical. 

[Matt Braun]

1 hour ago, jkcarew said:

Anyone else notice that Brandon Winokur played SS on Saturday?

What’s up with that? He had an error…but even if this is just a long-shot experiment…it says something about the skills and athleticism the org sees in this kid. A 6’-6” shortstop. Impressive.

Winokur has almost strictly played SS and CF since being drafted. Why not? Let him prove if he can handle the position or not. 

[Dman]

It's been a rough start to the year even for the farm and I have had some prospect envy this year. So I went and checked the league stats for OPS and we have a player in the top 5 in each league except St Paul who doesn't have a player in the top 50 (at least one that qualifies).

Doncon has a top 5 OPS for the FSL.  He was one of 4 players with a 1.000 OPS but he dropped to the 900 range with an 0 for day today.

Cespedes is top 3 in OPS for the Midwest league.  He is hitting for power this year and controlling the zone better and it shows.

Rodriguez is number one in OPS for the Texas League.  He has cooled down since his hot start, but is one the best bats if not the the best bat in that league right now.

As stated earlier St. Paul is so barren of hitting that the closest guy to the top 50 is Kiersey at 58 with an 835 OPS. The pen has been bad but so have the bats.  

At any rate we have great players and this list doesn't even include the two top rated prospects in Jenkins and Lee who have been injured.  So there are hitters that are doing well and hopefully more bats heat up soon..

[Doctor Gast]

9 hours ago, Dman said:

It's been a rough start to the year even for the farm and I have had some prospect envy this year. So I went and checked the league stats for OPS and we have a player in the top 5 in each league except St Paul who doesn't have a player in the top 50 (at least one that qualifies).

Doncon has a top 5 OPS for the FSL.  He was one of 4 players with a 1.000 OPS but he dropped to the 900 range with an 0 for day today.

Cespedes is top 3 in OPS for the Midwest league.  He is hitting for power this year and controlling the zone better and it shows.

Rodriguez is number one in OPS for the Texas League.  He has cooled down since his hot start, but is one the best bats if not the the best bat in that league right now.

As stated earlier St. Paul is so barren of hitting that the closest guy to the top 50 is Kiersey at 58 with an 835 OPS. The pen has been bad but so have the bats.  

At any rate we have great players and this list doesn't even include the two top rated prospects in Jenkins and Lee who have been injured.  So there are hitters that are doing well and hopefully more bats heat up soon..

Ditto. I'm very concerned of the team hitting throughout the organization except for some spot hitters. Maybe this is telling us something.

[terrydactyls]

51 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Ditto. I'm very concerned of the team hitting throughout the organization except for some spot hitters. Maybe this is telling us something.

I sure does tell us something.  It clearly says that April has been a bad month.  Nothing more - nothing less.  No conspiracies to uncover here.

[TwinsDr2021]

12 hours ago, Dman said:

At any rate we have great players and this list doesn't even include the two top rated prospects in Jenkins and Lee who have been injured. 

I missed Jenkins was hurt and read he strained his hammy in game 1 and was put in the 7 day IL on April 9th, it is now the 22nd and he is still out, anybody have an update. And how can everything that is good with the Twins can't stay healthy?

And Lee has a herniated disc and out for two plus months?

"According to Gleeman, Lee is "about three weeks into a two-month rehab plan" and the Twins are optimistic that he'll play again this season. "