Twins Minor League Report (5/21): Morris Makes Double-A Debut

[Steve Lein]

There were several close games in the Twins farm system on Tuesday, including an extra-innings win, as quality pitching led the way. One top prospect continued his rehab assignment in the FCL, while the other one got the day off. A top-performing pitcher so far in 2024 also made his debut at a new level.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

TRANSACTIONS

• The St. Paul Saints were assigned RHP Adam Plutko from the FCL Twins roster.
• RHP Andrew Morris was officially promoted to the Wichita Wind Surge and made his double-A debut. RHP Scott  Engler was also transferred to the development list.
• In the Midwest League, OF Willie Joe Garry Jr. was officially released, and RHP Jose Olivares was sent back to Fort Myers.
• Down in Florida, C Cole Elvis was assigned to the Mighty Mussels from the FCL Twins.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 3, Buffalo 1
Box Score
The Saints got on the board quickly in Buffalo, after Austin Martin led off the game by reaching base on an error. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. followed with a single to move him to third before a Matt Wallner sac fly put them up 1-0.

Louie Varland made the start for St. Paul and delivered a quality effort. He picked up his second win with the Saints by finishing six innings. He allowed just one run (on a homer) on four hits, walked three, and struck out three. Of his 86 pitches, 51 went for strikes (59%), including nine swings and misses.

The lineup added two runs in the fifth inning to give Varland a small cushion. Will Holland led off the inning with a solo home run, and two batters later Martin did the same.

That was all they’d need as Varland and the bullpen held the Bisons to just five hits (though the Saints only had four). Josh Winder delivered two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. Jorge Alcala finished it off for his second save of the season in triple-A, giving up one hit and walking one, but inducing a game-ending double play, which was the fourth one turned by the Saints on the night.

Martin led the way with a 1-for-4 effort, including a walk and two runs scored in addition to the homer. Holland’s homer was his only hit as well, but also drew a walk. Alex Isola and Keirsey Jr. picked up the other two hits.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
San Antonio 3, Wichita 2
Box Score
There were plenty of hits in this one, but the teams combined to go just 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position on the game and left 20 total men on base between them.

Andrew Morris made his first start for the Wind Surge after being promoted and almost didn’t make it out of his first inning. He got the first two hitters, but then three consecutive singles scored the first run of the game, and a hit-batter made it look like the floodgates might open. But he closed them with a grounder and then went on to finish 5 1/3 innings. He allowed just two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three in his Double-A debut.

Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Wind Surge were finally able to push a run across after Emmanuel Rodriguez delivered a two-out double. Tanner Schobel followed with a single into right, and Rodriguez was able to beat the throw home.

Mike Paredes relieved Morris in the middle of the sixth inning and would finish the seventh. His only hit allowed was a solo homer in the seventh to make it 3-1. He struck out one in his 1 2/3 innings pitched. Miguel Rodriguez finished the final two innings, plunking one batter but allowing no hits and inducing a double-play ball to close the ninth and give his team a chance.

Chiefs pitcher Jayvien Sandridge certainly gave them one. He struck out the first hitter of the inning but then walked the next three to load the bases, including 11 straight balls before Kala’i Rosario stepped into the batter’s box. Almost inexplicably, Sandridge then delivered three straight strikes on curveballs, for which Rosario watched every one go by, and I can’t say I blame him. After a passed ball made the score 3-2, Jake Rucker then drew another walk before the Missions’ manager had someone else warmed up. With a new pitcher in the game, Carson McCusker sent a grounder to third to end the game.

The Wind Surge got multiple hits from Andrew Cossetti (2-for-3, 2 BB) and Aaron Sabato (3-for-4, SB), but as a team couldn’t get the big hit when they needed one, as they finished 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base. Rodriguez finished 1-for-4 with a walk and scored both of their runs.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 8, Peoria 6 (10 innings)
Box Score
The Kernels struck early on the road against the Peoria Chiefs on Tuesday, taking a 4-0 lead after the top of the second inning. In the second a walk and hit-by-pitch put multiple runners on base, and Misael Urbina drove in the first run of the game with a single. Dalton Shuffield followed with a two-run double before Keoni Cavaco drove him in with a single of his own.

Miguelangel Boadas took the bump for the Kernels and kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard through the first four innings, including five strikeouts. Back out for the fifth, he picked up his sixth strikeout before a single and two-run home run put an end to his outing. In all, he pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, a pair of walks, and striking out six. Juan Mercedes came on in relief and got out of the fifth without any further damage, striking out both hitters he faced.

In the top of the sixth with a runner on, Shuffield got those runs back with his first home run of the season to make it 6-2.

Mercedes was back out for the bottom half, but before it was over the game would be tied at six. An error to the leadoff man snowballed into an RBI double, single, and three-run homer before he could escape.

A.J. Labas pitched the next two innings, holding the Chiefs hitless and scoreless, while striking out four. Ricardo Velez came on for the ninth and took the Kernels into the extra innings.

In the top of the tenth with a ghost runner, Ricardo Olivar delivered a one-out single to score their first run, before moving to third on a single from Rubel Cespedes. A groundout from Kevin Maitan allowed Olivar to score for the 8-6 lead.

After working a one-two-three ninth frame, Velez was back out for the tenth and did the same, setting down the Chiefs in order, including a strikeout, to seal the victory. 

Shuffield paced the offense with three hits in four at-bats, including a double and a homer, scoring two runs, and driving in four. Agustin Ruiz reached base twice and scored two runs, while Luke Keaschall contributed a double in five at-bats. As a team, the Kernels were 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left only four men on base for the game.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 7, Daytona 4
Box Score
The Mighty Mussels jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning after Poncho Ruiz led off the frame with his seventh double of the season. Maddux Houghton brought him in with a single, and he came around to score himself on a double from Kyle Hess. A few batters later Payton Eeles drove in two with a double of his own and Fort Myers had a big lead for starter Spencer Bengard.

He showed his appreciation by delivering a stellar outing. He finished six innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits, no walks, and punching out eight. He also needed just 65 pitches to do so, with 48 of them going for strikes (74%), including an excellent 14 swings and misses.

In the fifth inning, the Mighty Mussels used a pair of singles, a hit batter, and a wild pitch to increase their lead to 5-1 and they added single insurance runs in the seventh and eighth frames as well. In the seventh, a leadoff double from Byron Chourio was cashed in by Ruiz with an RBI single. In the eighth, it was a pair of doubles from Hess and Matt Clayton.

Jack Noble came on in relief of Bengard in the seventh and finished the final three innings to pick up a save. He was charged with three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four.

Chourio (2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, K), Ruiz (2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB), and Hess (3-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI) had multiple hits in the win. Brandon Winokur finished 1-for-5.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 4, FCL Braves 13
Box Score
Brooks Lee made his second rehab appearance with the FCL Twins Tuesday morning, though not in the lineup was Walker Jenkins after he too returned to action yesterday.

Lee led off the game with a double and came around to score the first run of the game on a Dameury Pena single.

Adrian Bohorquez made the start and completed four innings. For the first three, he was very good, keeping the Braves off the scoreboard with some timely defensive plays and four strikeouts. In the fourth, a single and a walk put ducks on the pond, and a three-run homer put the Braves in front 3-1. Bohorquez finished with those three earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six.

The Twins scored single runs in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but by that point, the game had gotten away from them. In the seventh, a Pena single scored Yasser Mercedes after he led off the frame with a triple. Omari Daniel self-manufactured a run in the seventh by singling, stealing second, advancing to third on a flyout, and scampering home on a wild pitch. In the eighth Mercedes again led off with a triple, and a sac fly from Pena brought him home.

Those runs didn’t mean anything as the bullpen trio of Mitch Stone (1 IP, H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K), Ezequiel Ventura (2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, BB, K), and Alejandro Crisostomo (1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) all had trouble keeping the Braves off the scoreboard.

Lee finished 1-for-4 with the double and a run scored. Mercedes, fresh off being named the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Week, was 3-for-4 with a pair of triples and scored two runs. Pena drove in three and finished 2-for-3.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Spencer Bengard, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (W, 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 8 K)
Hitter of the Day - Dalton Shuffield, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#2 – Brooks Lee (Rehab w/FCL Twins) – 1-for-4, R, 2B, K
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 1-for-4, 2 R, 2B
#7 – Austin Martin (St. Paul) – 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI, BB
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-for-5, K
#11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-5, 2B
#13 – Kala’I Rosario (Wichita) – 1-for-5, 2 K
#16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, BB, K
#19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-5, R, RBI

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Buffalo (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Randy Dobnak (3-3, 4.54 ERA)
San Antonio @ Wichita (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP Zebby Matthews (1-0, 0.77 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (6:35 PM CDT) - RHP John Klein (3-0, 3.03 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Daytona (5:35 PM CDT) - TBD

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

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[FlyingFinn]

The Shuffield shuffle - Dalton Shuffield started in St. Paul, went to Wichita, to the Development List, back to St. Paul, returns to Wichita, again on the Development List, a third trip to St. Paul and finally to Cedar Rapids. He is "that" guy this year. Great game last night with the Kernels, really helping them win.

[Doctor Gast]

It was a great effort from Varland, Alcala, Keirsey & Martin in AAA. Hope that all 4 will be brought up soon & that Wallner is getting proper help there. I was surprised that Willie Jo Garry Jr. was released, I thought he had some promise.

[FanFromPhilly]

54 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I was surprised that Willie Jo Garry Jr. was released, I thought he had some promise.

I thought the same thing so I looked up his stats.  He'll be 24 in a week and after doing ok in  AA last year he is in A+ and is hitting .132.  I guess I'm not SO surprised.

[Dman]

Nice game by Morris for his AA debut.  He gave up a few too many hits and of course no walks, but everything else looked pretty much the same.  Nice to have him in AA to see just how good he is.

He hasn't pitched a ton of innings, but Bengard has pitched really well at A ball.  If Culpepper ever moves up to AA I wonder if it will be Bengard or Dunn that moves up to High A.

Varland sure swings back and forth.  He had a really nice line except for the Home Run.  He is going to need to better suppress those to make it back in a starting role.

As mentioned Schuffield saved the Kernals from losing with his big bat. Happy to see him have a dominant game.

Don't look now, but Sobato the player I generally bash is hitting .300 and had a three for four night last night.  It is a small sample size as he started the season late, but it is just nice to see him doing well and have something nice to say.

Cossetti's OPS continues to climb, but you can tell he has had issues adjusting to the stuff at AA as his K rate has ballooned this year.  Still it is nice to see him hanging in there against better pitching.

Was a fun night to keep track of things at the MiLB level.

 

[2wins87]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

The Shuffield shuffle - Dalton Shuffield started in St. Paul, went to Wichita, to the Development List, back to St. Paul, returns to Wichita, again on the Development List, a third trip to St. Paul and finally to Cedar Rapids. He is "that" guy this year. Great game last night with the Kernels, really helping them win.

Honestly he was that guy every year since being drafted.  Played in 4 levels last year and in Rk, A, and AAA all in the year he was drafted.

He must have a good attitude.  I do wonder how he was chosen as the guy who was going to play wherever they needed him rather than following a development path.  Not that there couldn't be a path to the majors that way, certainly he knows how to make adjustments by now, but it must be a tough way to try to develop.

[Doctor Gast]

13 minutes ago, FanFromPhilly said:

I thought the same thing so I looked up his stats.  He'll be 24 in a week and after doing ok in  AA last year he is in A+ and is hitting .132.  I guess I'm not SO surprised.

With all the OF talent we have, it easy to see how he got squeezed out & the demotion didn't sit well with him I guess. 

[LambchoP]

I still say Alcala and Keirsey Jr should be in the majors. If Varland struggles continue as a starter, we should use him in the bullpen like we did late last year, at least we'd be getting some value out of him and his stuff played way up in shorter stints.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

The Shuffield shuffle - Dalton Shuffield started in St. Paul, went to Wichita, to the Development List, back to St. Paul, returns to Wichita, again on the Development List, a third trip to St. Paul and finally to Cedar Rapids. He is "that" guy this year. Great game last night with the Kernels, really helping them win.

Usually "that" guy is a future MiLB manager.

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, FanFromPhilly said:

I thought the same thing so I looked up his stats.  He'll be 24 in a week and after doing ok in  AA last year he is in A+ and is hitting .132.  I guess I'm not SO surprised.

I like Willie. He's a great dude, works really hard and has a ton of athleticism and potential. 

But, when we consider his AA time last year, we need to put that into context. He spent the last month or so with the Wind Surge. Wichita needed some bodies to fill their roster. Cedar Rapids heading into the playoffs and they didn't want to take any of the regulars from that lineup. Garry wouldn't have played for the Kernels in the playoffs, so he moves up to AA to fill the spot. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, 2wins87 said:

Honestly he was that guy every year since being drafted.  Played in 4 levels last year and in Rk, A, and AAA all in the year he was drafted.

He must have a good attitude.  I do wonder how he was chosen as the guy who was going to play wherever they needed him rather than following a development path.  Not that there couldn't be a path to the majors that way, certainly he knows how to make adjustments by now, but it must be a tough way to try to develop.

He definitely has been that guy since signing. Remember after he was drafted,  spent time at the end of the year with the Saints and did well. He was a 5-year college guy, drafted in the 10th round as a senior sign. He's mature and obviously knows a lot about the game and isn't going to be overwhelmed. Ernie Yake has been that guy too. He got released this spring. 

Might be tougher yet with catchers. They just need so many, especially in spring training and in the Extended Spring/FCL. Catcher is such a tough position physically, they like to have three at each level, but there are always a couple of guys that float all over. Kyle Schmidt has been that guy. He retired at the end of last season and really quickly ended up coaching in the Red Sox organization. Frank Nigro was that guy too, playing anywhere over the past 2-3 years, from St. Paul to the FCL and everywhere in between. Certainly not a glamorous position in the organization. Those guys have to be very respected. And they have to know their role and long-term chances, but they're also getting some great opportunities to get paid . 

[jmlease1]

Thrilled to see Brooks Lee (and Walker Jenkins) back to active duty.

Looking forward to seeing how Morris does in AA; guessing he might have had some nerves to start the game, lol. he still did ok.

I'm intrigued by Yasser Mercedes. he's off to a heck of a start in rookie ball this year, but maybe I just get overly excited about players who hit triples. (They're so fun!) 

[Linus]

For me the most promising thing is Winder pitching two scoreless.  What a bonus if he could get back in the bullpen mix (assuming he pitches well). 

[roger]

Add me to the list of those who are ecstatic that Lee and Jenkins are both back playing.  And on the same day, hooorah!

Is there time for Lee to play enough and work his way up to the Twins by late this season?  I continue to believe that he is this organization's long-term answer at second base. 

[FlyingFinn]

28 minutes ago, roger said:

Is there time for Lee to play enough and work his way up to the Twins by late this season?  I continue to believe that he is this organization's long-term answer at second base. 

At this point, I think the Twins will really take their time with Lee. Multiple reasons - don't want the injury to be chronic or reoccur, he needs to get into shape, he needs to succeed at AAA, and the Twins may not want him to play too many games with them this year and lose his rookie status (getting another #1 draft pick if Lee is rookie of the year in 2025 is gold to most teams). Lee will be so close to the rookie cut off by the time he is ready to play for the Twins, it may now be worth manipulating that time (though that will never be mentioned as the reason).

[Dman]

58 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I'm intrigued by Yasser Mercedes. he's off to a heck of a start in rookie ball this year, but maybe I just get overly excited about players who hit triples. (They're so fun!) 

I've been keeping my eye on Mercedes and I too am thrilled with his hot start.  Still if gameday can be believed he has been pretty aggressive at the plate.  He swings at a lot of first pitches and has done well with that approach so far.  Hard to argue with his .422 BA and 1.191 OPS, but his .486 BABIP means there will be some regression.  It would be nice to see what he can do being more patient at the plate, but hey if they are throwing strikes and you are hitting them that's good too.  It is just that when you move up levels having good plate discipline is usually a difference maker.

While Dameury Pena's OPS is below Mercedes I still like him better as a hitter with only 1 K in 46 PA's and 6 walks already I feel like he controls the zone better.  Haven't had an opportunity to see him in person but his stats have me excited about his bat.

[DJL44]

It would be a lot of fun if Mercedes and Jenkins moved up the ladder together. Jenkins is actually younger than Mercedes. Hope to see them both playing in the Mussels outfield soon.

[Mike Sixel]

50 minutes ago, roger said:

Add me to the list of those who are ecstatic that Lee and Jenkins are both back playing.  And on the same day, hooorah!

Is there time for Lee to play enough and work his way up to the Twins by late this season?  I continue to believe that he is this organization's long-term answer at second base. 

More than enough time, but it will take multiple injuries, imo. 

[Steve Lein]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

I still say Alcala and Keirsey Jr should be in the majors. If Varland struggles continue as a starter, we should use him in the bullpen like we did late last year, at least we'd be getting some value out of him and his stuff played way up in shorter stints.

I was on the "just keep him in the bullpen" bandwagon since his excellent showing there last year. Will admit though, that the SP depth being blown up early in Spring Training was a good enough reason to have him be a starter again.

A few guys need to make steps forward before the bullpen is the option for him again. Woods Richardson is doing what he needs to for that, Festa is coming around, but that still may not be enough guys for it to make sense, yet.

[Steve Lein]

41 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

It would be a lot of fun if Mercedes and Jenkins moved up the ladder together. Jenkins is actually younger than Mercedes. Hope to see them both playing in the Mussels outfield soon.

Friendly reminder that Jenkins started the year with the Mighty Mussels, he'll be back there in short order! May already be time to promote Mercedes, as he played in the FCL last year (did miss a couple of weeks with minor injury). But the FCL also started a full month sooner than normal this year.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Steve Lein said:

Friendly reminder that Jenkins started the year with the Mighty Mussels, he'll be back there in short order! May already be time to promote Mercedes, as he played in the FCL last year (did miss a couple of weeks with minor injury). But the FCL also started a full month sooner than normal this year.

I still think Jenkins could be in AA this year, but it will be tighter now.... Mercedes won't be

[Linus]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

At this point, I think the Twins will really take their time with Lee. Multiple reasons - don't want the injury to be chronic or reoccur, he needs to get into shape, he needs to succeed at AAA, and the Twins may not want him to play too many games with them this year and lose his rookie status (getting another #1 draft pick if Lee is rookie of the year in 2025 is gold to most teams). Lee will be so close to the rookie cut off by the time he is ready to play for the Twins, it may now be worth manipulating that time (though that will never be mentioned as the reason).

I think you are right about Lee. If he is going to play second he is going to need plenty of reps there. 

[MMMordabito]

Luke Keaschall - 169 wRC+ (inflated a bit by BABIP, maybe) and 14.5% K-Rate

Doesn't seem that he has a whole heckuva lot left to prove at A+.  

I do wonder why he keeps DHing (only 14 starts in the field vs. 25 at DH).  Is he nursing something in his throwing arm or something?  He certainly isn't injured in his lower half the way he was running on Sunday.  I'd think the org would want a player like him getting as many game reps as possible on defense.

[2wins87]

55 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I do wonder why he keeps DHing (only 14 starts in the field vs. 25 at DH).  Is he nursing something in his throwing arm or something? 

Yes

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-luke-keaschall-limited-to-dh/

[Ghost of Kirby Puckett]

8 hours ago, roger said:

Add me to the list of those who are ecstatic that Lee and Jenkins are both back playing.  And on the same day, hooorah!

Is there time for Lee to play enough and work his way up to the Twins by late this season?  I continue to believe that he is this organization's long-term answer at second base. 

You'll be glad to hear kiley Mcdaniel updated his top 50 and he still has Jenkins at #9, Erod with the big jump to #10 and Brooks Lee coming in at#27. Jenkins and Erod were both 60fv and Brooks was 55. That's quite the high end talent, with two who should be knocking on the door very soon. He basically feels that Jenkins is the best bat in the minors, and just needs to play.