Twins Minor League Report (5/17): Florida Twins Affiliates Score Big, Storms in St. Paul

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Omaha Storm Chasers brought bad weather to St. Paul and suspended action early against the Saints. Both the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and FCL Twins but up strong run totals in wins. 

TRANSACTIONS 

• OF Byron Buxton traveled with Minnesota to Cleveland, expected is to be activated Saturday. 
• INF Danny De Andrade placed on the IL by Cedar Rapids with a left ankle sprain.
• RHP Tanner Hall reinstated from IL by Fort Myers 
• RHP Jose Olivares assigned to Fort Myers on rehab assignment 

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 2, Omaha 2 
Box Score 
Pitching prospect David Festa was on the bump for St. Paul on Friday night but it was an abbreviated outing with storms coming through just four innings into his outing. Allowing a pair of runs on four hits, he walked two and struck out four. 

Omaha got ahead on a 2nd inning wild pitch, but the Saints took their first lead when veteran Tony Kemp hit a two-run shot to bring in Alex Isola. The Storm Chasers evened things in the 4th inning, but then sent their nickname to suspend the game. With storms in the area, the game was over. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM 
Tulsa 8, Wichita 6 
Box Score 
Marco Raya was on the bump and he experienced a tough outing. Allowing five runs on four hits, command wasn’t there as he walked four while striking out three. The Twins pitching prospect also gave up a pair of homers. 

Carson McCusker kicked off the scoring during the 1st inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Emmanuel Rodriguez. Tanner Schobel doubled for the seventh time this season and scored Andrew Cossetti to make it 2-0. Cossetti ripped his fifth home run of the season in the 2nd inning, and his two-run shot brought home Rodriguez to make it a 4-0 lead.

Giving three back in the bottom of the 2nd inning, Alerick Soularie drove home Schobel with a 3rd inning sacrifice fly. The Drillers responded with two in the bottom half though, and the game was tied at five. Noah Cardenas doubled home Cossetti in the 4th inning to put the Wind Surge back on top but Tulsa’s three-run 7th inning put them ahead 8-6. 

Wichita couldn’t climb back in after getting two on to start the 9th, and Schobel grounded into a triple play to end it. Cossetti finished 3-for-5 with a double and a home run in a very impressive showing. Cardenas and Schobel both contributed a pair of hits on their own. Aaron Rozek worked four innings of relief work striking out four, and the three runs he allowed were all unearned. 

KERNELS NUGGETS 
Cedar Rapids 6, Quad Cities 4 
Box Score
Following a great start on Thursday from John Klein, the Kernels got another solid outing this time from C.J. Culpepper. His five innings of work consisted of just two runs on seven hits. He didn’t give up any walks and struck out four. 

After getting down in the 1st inning, Cedar Rapids tied things when a fielding error on a Luke Keaschall ball to left field scored Misael Urbina. THey then got back down by a run in the 3rd inning before recently signed infield Kevin Maitan announced his presence with a two-run homer scoring Agustin Ruiz and making it a 3-2 game. 

Cedar Rapids continued to stretch their lead and made it a 6-2 contest in the 6th inning thanks to a Jay Harry double that scored Keaschall and Ricardo Olivar. That was followed by a Ruiz single bringing home Harry as well. While Quad Cities responded with a pair, it wasn’t enough to close the gap. 

Rubel Cespedes picked up a trio of hits on the night, and Keaschall had two as well. Cespedes and Urbina both stole a pair of bases, and Urbina reached twice by the way of free passes. 

MUSSEL MATTERS 
Fort Myers 8, Lakeland 6 
Box Score
Tanner Hall was activated from the injured list and started the game, but worked just two outs throwing 18 pitches before his night was over. Rehabbing Jose Olivares turned in three innings of work allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. 

Down 6-0 through the first five innings, the Mighty Mussels then began to flex and worked towards a comeback. Rayne Doncon ripped his 12th double, scoring Matthew Clayton for their first run of the game. A bases loaded balk scored Payton Eeles before Brandon Winokur stole second base and allowed Doncon to come home. Over the course of the 6th inning, Fort Myers had cut away half of the deficit. 

Byron Chourio singled in Clayton during the 7th inning, and a four-run 8th inning put the Mighty Mussels in front. Kyle Hess singled home Winokur before Maddux Hougton drove in Angel Del Rosario with a single of his own. Clayton continued to litter the box score with his presence, and a single plated Hess before Eeles scored Houghton on a sacrifice fly. 

Jeremy Lee worked three really good innings of relief for Fort Myers and gave up no hits while walking one and striking out four. Fort Myers spread nine hits around with Hess and Doncon grabbing a pair each. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES 
FCL Twins 10, FCL Red Sox 6 
Box Score
The Twins squad put up double-digits on 11 hits this afternoon against the Red Sox. Yasser Mercedes and Ariel Castro were both in the middle of the offensive explosion with both players grabbing a trio of hits. Castro drove in five runs and Ricardo Pena had a pair of hits on his own as well. 

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY 
Pitcher of the Day – Jeremy Lee (Fort Myers) - 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Hitter of the Day – Ariel Castro (FCL Twins) - 3-3, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B, HR(1) 

PROSPECT SUMMARY 
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K 
#5 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K 
#6 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K 
#7 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – Pinch ran - SB(4), R 
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-4, R, BB, 2 K 
#11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 2-3, R, 2B(7) RBI, SB(6), BB, K 
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 2-5, R 
#14 – C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
#17 – Matt Canterino (IL) – Shoulder injury 
#18 – Connor Prielipp (IL) – UCL Surgery 
#19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, R, 2 BB 
#20 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS 
St. Paul vs Omaha (2:077 PM CST) – LHP Caleb Baragar (0-0, -.--ERA)
Wichita @ Tulsa (7:00 PM CST) – TBD 
Cedar Rapids vs Quad Cities (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Christian MacLeod (0-0, 4.50 ERA) 
Fort Myers @ Lakeland (5:00 PM CST) – TBD 

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

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[roger]

I keep checking box scores every day hoping to see one of the top prospects back playing.  Imagine my disappointment when seeing Lee’s name at Ft. Myers and learning it isn’t Brooks.  Bah Humbug!

[bean5302]

On the bright side, Raya was allowed to go to 60 pitches! 3.0 innings.

[DocBauer]

42 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

On the bright side, Raya was allowed to go to 60 pitches! 3.0 innings.

They've been ramping him up the past few starts, just not as many pitches as some of the older guys. 60 is a lot better than 40, but I can't wait until 70-80 becomes normal. But he sure didn't have a good day,.

[bean5302]

Just now, DocBauer said:

They've been ramping him up the past few starts, just not as many pitches as some of the older guys. 60 is a lot better than 40, but I can't wait until 70-80 becomes normal. But he sure didn't have a good day,.

I don't see much evidence they're ramping him up in a normal context. 47 (3.0), 51 (3.0), 45 (3.0), 44 (2.1), 55 (3.1), 57 (4.0), 60 (3.0). I mean... he's pitched a handful more pitches in the last 3 starts, I guess. That said, Raya doesn't look good anyway.

4.98 ERA, 5.14 FIP at AA. Even if we ignore his last blowup, his numbers are pretty pedestrian, especially given how few innings/pitches he's asked to give.

[DocBauer]

33 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

I don't see much evidence they're ramping him up in a normal context. 47 (3.0), 51 (3.0), 45 (3.0), 44 (2.1), 55 (3.1), 57 (4.0), 60 (3.0). I mean... he's pitched a handful more pitches in the last 3 starts, I guess. That said, Raya doesn't look good anyway.

4.98 ERA, 5.14 FIP at AA. Even if we ignore his last blowup, his numbers are pretty pedestrian, especially given how few innings/pitches he's asked to give.

Fair. But while a small increase, 55. 57, and 60 is still an improvement. Only speculation on my part, of course, but if he hadn't struggled so badly in this last appearance, I'm wondering if he might have gone up to 70 pitches. If so, that could/should have put him on pace for 5 innings.

I'm as frustrated as anyone that he's promoted so aggressively, but not yet turned loose. Going to hope the Twins know what they're doing. But Festa had mentioned how he was being released to go 70 plus a couple turns ago, and we're seeing that now. I think the reigns have been loosened on Raya a bit now as well, but the kid has to pitch well enough to warrant receiving those extra pitch opportunities.

[Dman]

For as much movement as Raya gets on his pitches guys sure are squaring him up. Some really hard contact he has been giving up at least when I have watched him.  Not sure I would want to see him go much longer than three innings given what I am seeing.  Still at 20 pitches per inning probably best to pull him when they did. Hopefully he can adjust to this level but I like other arms better than him right now.

[D.C Twins]

Free Cespedes!

[Doctor Gast]

I had Festa well ahead of Raya in ranking. After today, Festa has widened that gap.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Even if we ignore his last blowup, his numbers are pretty pedestrian,

Oof. You have high expectations at AA for someone who doesn't turn 22 until August.  Yes, pedestrian if it were some 26-year old still trying to make it past AA.

[bean5302]

47 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Oof. You have high expectations at AA for someone who doesn't turn 22 until August.  Yes, pedestrian if it were some 26-year old still trying to make it past AA.

No. He'd be non-prospect MiLB roster filler guy if we was 26. Scratch that, he'd have been non-tendered and released. Good prospects are always younger than competition. Legitimate pitching prospects should be expected to be in the majors in 3-4 years if drafted out of college. High school drafted pitchers in 4-5 years. Elite prospects a year ahead of that. Age is largely irrelevant. If stuff plays, it plays.

Raya was a 4th round pick who signed out of high school in 2020, and it's 4 years later in 2024 now. A good high school pitching prospect would be expected to be near MLB ready and Raya is no where close. Woods Richardson was basically written off as a prospect last year at one year older (and more impressive) in the minors. Raya's basically been limited to 3.0 inning starts for the past 2 years and 31 starts, averaging just 2.93 innings per start since August 2022. Not to mention he performed very poorly last year in AA. His K rate is up this year, and that's great, but it's come along with hard contact, home runs, and walks.

It's not like it's all over for him as there is some improvement this year as the K's have shown up, and it just could be Raya wasn't ready for AA competition levels last year, and the Twins were forcing him into it. Still, at 3.0 innings per start, it's pretty unimpressive, and Raya's last 4 starts have all been poor. What's Raya look like at 5.0 or 6.0 innings like pretty much every other starter prospect is throwing? When Raya has to get through the order 2x and into the 3x? Can he even do it? Will his shoulder hold out?

[gil4]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

I had Festa well ahead of Raya in ranking. After today, Festa has widened that gap.

Agree, except Raya did most of the widening - in the wrong direction.  

[LambchoP]

I think the lack of control for Fests and Raya is quite concerning. I get that it's pretty common in the minors for younger guys, but for a guy like Festa pitching in AAA, supposedly on the cusp of the majors, you sure would like to have those issues a bit more ironed out.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

I think the lack of control for Fests and Raya is quite concerning. I get that it's pretty common in the minors for younger guys, but for a guy like Festa pitching in AAA, supposedly on the cusp of the majors, you sure would like to have those issues a bit more ironed out.

Festa started with trying to increase velocity and spin so his stuff might be viable at the MLB level because he wasn't a highly regarded prospect for the draft. As a college sophomore, he went in round 13 in 2021.

I guess he must be working on command and control now that his stuff appears good enough it might play.