Twins Minor League Report (6/12): Cory Lewis Makes Double-A Debut, 3 Homers Power Surge Win

[Seth Stohs]

Rain continued to be the winner in Southwest Florida, not allowing the Mighty Mussels to play for a second straight day. The Saints got a strong start from a former adversary. The Wind Surge hit three home runs, and last year's Minor League Pitcher of the Year made his Double-A debut after missing the first two months of the season with shoulder issues. Cedar Rapids' offense showed up in Michigan yet again. Ad, you're going to want to catch up on all of the day's transactions. 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

Prospect and Player Development are not Linear!
Prospect and Player Development are not Linear!
Prospect and Player Development are not Linear! 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 36-32 
St. Paul Saints: 29-35
Wichita Wind Surge: 24-35
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 34-24
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 28-29
FCL Twins: 14-12
DSL Twins: 3-3

TRANSACTIONS
As we knew, Louie Varland was going to be optioned to St. Paul after his terrific spot start on Tuesday night at Target Field. The other side of that transaction is what might cause some surprise. The Twins re-purchased Jay Jackson’s contract from the Saints and called him up. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Diego Castillo was DFAd. 

Wichita had several transactions as well. First, LHP Jaylen Nowlin was activated from the Development List. RHP Travis Adams was moved to the Development list. And, outfielder Kala’i Rosario was placed on the 7-Day IL. 

In addition, Dalton Shuffield was transferred from Cedar Rapids to Wichita. 

Down in Fort Myers, RHP Jose Olivares was activated from the Development List. Unfortunately, LHP Kade Bragg, a 2023 draft pick, was moved from the 7-Day IL to the 60-Day IL. 

Later in the evening, we learned that Alex Kirilloff was optioned to St. Paul after Wednesday’s afternoon game.  And even later, we learned that Austin Martin will be the player promoted to the Twins ahead of the series against Oakland. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 7, Louisville 2
Box Score
Leading 3-1 through six innings, the Saints busted it open with a four-run seventh inning to take a 7-1 lead that they were able to hang onto. 

The Saints grabbed an early run in the second inning. Tony Kemp tripled with one out and scored on a Diego A. Castillo single. In the third frame, Matt Wallner drove in two runs with his ninth Saints double.  

 

Adam Plutko made another start for the Saints. The 32-year-old with 140 big-league appearances (including 128 starts) pitched well. In 5 2/3 innings, he gave up one run on five hits. He had five strikeouts without issuing a walk. He started with five scoreless innings. In the sixth inning, he had two strikeouts that surrounded a single. That’s why Ryan Jensen came into the game and things quickly got a bit scary. 

Jensen gave up a single and then hit a batter to load the bases. He then walked in a run to make it 3-1. However, that was it as he got a groundout to end the threat. 

The Saints responded very well. Patrick Winkel led off the top of the seventh with a double. After a strikeout, Austin Martin walked. Another strikeout was followed by a walk by Michael Helman to load the bases. Wallner and Yunior Severino followed with back-to-back RBI walks. After a pitching change, Tony Kemp hit a two-run single to give the team a 7-1 lead. 

Jeff Brigham gave up a solo home run and three hits, but struck out three batters in the eighth inning. Josh Winder came on for the ninth and got out of the inning unscathed. 

Kemp led the way with a 3-for-5 day. He had a triple and two RBI. Castillo was 2-for-4. Wallner was 1-for-4 with a walk, double and three RBI. Winkel was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. Helman was 1-for-3 with two walks. 

In case you were wondering, Edouard Julien went 1-for-3 with two walks and a triple off fellow 2019 Twins draft pick Casey Legumina. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 10, Midland 5
Box Score
Reigning minor-league starting pitcher of the year Cory Lewis made his first Double-A start after a handful of rehab appearances. The right-hander worked four innings. He gave up two runs (1 earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out five batters. 

Lefty Aaron Rozek came on in the fifth inning and pitched much better than his final line would tell us. After three scoreless innings, he gave up a run in the eighth. He then was charged with two more in the bottom of the ninth. In total, he went 4 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four batters. Cody Laweryson came on and got the final out.  

Kyler Fedko got the scoring started in the second inning when he launched a line drive over the center field wall. 

In the third inning, Ben Ross hit a long homer over the wall in left field, his first long ball of the year. 

The power “Surge” continued in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jorel Ortega’s third homer of the season drove in Noah Cardenas and gave Wichita a 4-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the team added on when Fedko scored on a Tanner Schobel sacrifice fly. In the seventh inning, Luke Keaschall singled to drive in Ross with the sixth run. With two outs in the inning, Carson McCusker drilled a hard grounder to third base. It was misplayed into two runs and the Surge had an 8-2 lead. 

The Surge scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ortega scored on a Keaschall ground out. Later Fedko was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 

Ben Ross led the offense. He went 3-for-4 with his seventh double and fourth home run. Keaschall was 2-for-4 with a walk. Jake Rucker went 2-for-5. Ortega went 2-for-4 with his third homer. Jeferson Morales went 1-for-3 with two walks. Fedko had a walk and was hit by a pitch to go with his second homer. He also stole a base. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 7, Lansing 3
Box Score
The Kernels scored two in the first innings and then single runs in three of the next five innings. Lansing made things close late in the game, but the Kernels responded with two runs in the ninth to give them some breathing room. 

Things couldn’t have started any better for the Kernels. On the game’s very first pitch, Jay Harry launched his fifth home run of the season. Later in the inning, the Kernels had bases loaded and Agustin Ruiz grounded into a force out that scored Rubel Cespedes with the second run. 

In the top of the third, Ruiz drove in Cespedes again, this time with a sacrifice fly. Ruiz, who signed with the Twins as a minor-league free agent this past offseason, was just getting started. The “hits” portion of his game was yet to come. In the top of the fifth inning, he tripled to center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nate Baez. 

Ruiz had a single in the sixth inning. Finally in the top of the ninth inning, his 13th double of the season drove in Kevin Maitan and Rayne Doncon for the Kernels final runs of the game. Ruiz finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBI. He was a home run shy of the cycle. 

Doncon was 2-for-4 with a walk. Kyle Hess had two doubles in four at-bats. Cespedes went 2-for-5. 

Christian MacLeod made the start for the Kernels. The lefty gave up two runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had three walks, hit a batter and recorded six strikeouts. AJ Labas came on and got the next four batters out. Mike Paredes gave up one run over the next two innings. Ricardo Velez got the game’s final three outs. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers, Lakeland (DH PPD)
Box Score
On Monday, these teams were postponed by weather in Fort Myers. Things didn’t improve enough on Wednesday to play either game of a double header. The updated plan is to make up the two games. They hope to play one doubleheader on Thursday and another doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins
Box Score
No scheduled FCL games on Wednesdays. 

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Twins
Box Score
No scheduled DSL games on Wednesdays. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Adam Plutko (St. Paul) - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 79 pitches, 56 strikes (70.9%) 
Hitter of the Day – Agustin Ruiz (Cedar Rapids) - 3-for-4, 2B(13), 3B(1), SF, R, 4 RBI 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Thursday. 

#8 – Austin Martin (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R
#9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 2-for-4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB(2) (DHd)
#13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-for-3, RBI, SF, 2 K. (played 3B)
#15 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. 60 pitches, 38 strikes (63.3%)
#18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, 2 BB, RBI
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, BB

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs Louisville (5:35 PM CST) – RHP Scott Blewett (3-2, 2.64 ERA)
Midland @ Wichita (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Pierson Ohl (3-4, 4.99 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Lansing (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Jacob Wosinski (0-1, 3.77 ERA)
Lakeland @ Fort Myers (DH @ 3:35 PM CST) – LHP Cesar Lares (2-2, 3.02 ERA), RHP Spencer Bengard (2-0, 1.19 ERA)
FCL Twins @ FCL Pirates (DH @ 9:00 AM CST) - TBD
DSL Yankees @ DSL Twins (10:00 AM CST) - TBD 

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

View full article

[bean5302]

Wallner had a wide range of outcomes on that "double" since it landed in the glove of the CF'er but popped out as he hit the wall. It could have been an out. It could have been a stand up triple instead of being called out at 3rd (looked safe to me) as Wallner slow trotted out of the box thinking it was a home run. Not sure Martin has what it takes to succeed at the MLB level, but he's certainly shown huge improvement at the plate in AAA since his demotion. 

Martin's AAA triple slash before today looks like a video game. .305/.470/.407 OPS .877, 22.9% BB, 8.4% K (yes that's the correct ratio) wRC+ 142.

After a SSS slow start in A+, Doncon is already rebounding. Nice to see the bat heating up as he's not Noah Miller in the field.

[mikelink45]

A fascinating report - I looked at the DFA for Diego Castillo who had 0.1 WAR in his brief time up and a 2.57 era and we drop him for Jackson who in his Twins time had a -0.8 WAR and a 6.94 era with a lifetime era of 4.23.  I am still trying to figure this out.  Was Jackson that outstanding in the minors?

Time for Rayne Doncon to move up again.  I am fascinated by him and he seems to have so much potential.

I feel bad for Kiriloff.  But having both Kiriloff and Julien sent down my question is - what at the batting coaches in Mpls doing?  The next question is - can Martin establish himself this time?

[Doctor Gast]

Since Santana is a fixture at 1B, forcing Kiriloff at OF. Kiriloff is due for a breather from the OF at AAA. Once his shoulder is rested, he'll be back but maybe not since Santana is at 1B. Happy that the OB spark plug (Martin) is back up, should have a lot of time at 2B. 2nd time is the charm. I'm not looking at how many HRs that Wallner & Julien are hitting in AAA, I'm looking at the SOs & the hits outside half of the plate. 

[Doctor Wu]

18 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

A fascinating report - I looked at the DFA for Diego Castillo who had 0.1 WAR in his brief time up and a 2.57 era and we drop him for Jackson who in his Twins time had a -0.8 WAR and a 6.94 era with a lifetime era of 4.23.  I am still trying to figure this out.  Was Jackson that outstanding in the minors?

I'm puzzled by that move too. Castillo had been relatively effective in his short time with the team. Why the rush to bring Jackson back? But I think the Kiriloff move may have been necessary. He is striking out too much and not getting the hits like he was having back in April. Hopefully, he gets back on track very very quickly.  And yes, it will be interesting to see how Martin handles this new promotion. 

[Doctor Wu]

Another great, fact-filled report. Thanks, Seth. Hopefully, Cory Lewis is now completely healthy and can show us that he's still got the stuff that he showed last season. 

[Dman]

It sure seems like the lefty Rozak could be a good option out the pen.  He has been a bit abused in long relief this year, but the guy must have a super strong arm or something because he is always ready for his turn.  I think he started in AAA this year but was pretty bad there. However, his ERA and FIP look pretty darn good in AA.  The K rate is down in AA this year but his ERA is 1.90.  I don't know much about his stuff and whether it would play well at the MLB level, but he is dominating at the AA level so probably time to find out if he can handle AAA again or if this is his peak.

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'm puzzled by that move too. Castillo had been relatively effective in his short time with the team. Why the rush to bring Jackson back?

They swapped bad relievers in order to get Varland a start. It's that simple.

[LambchoP]

This Keaschal guy is insane with the best? He might be pushing for the starting second base job next year, or at least in St Paul. I like watching Martin play, hopefully he can keep getting on base at a crazy rate like he's been doing in AAA. Twins could use an on base spark plug that can steal bases, kind of a second Castro.

[terrydactyls]

I read the minor league review every day.  One thing I've noticed is that many big innings are fueled by multiple walks/HBP.  A six-run inning may consist of four walks, two HBPs, a ground out, and two hits.  

[Mike Sixel]

If Lewis is healthy.... Huge. 

[roger]

Thanks, Seth.  Count me among those looking for Martin to stick this time around.  Love how he plays the game.

Was in Pittsburgh this past weekend.  On Saturday we sat next to a young man who was the shortstop on AK's high school team.  Interesting conversation.

Have a question regarding Jenkins.  After missing two months, the kid needs to play.  Do you think the Twins would consider moving him up to Cedar Rapids so he can play every day?  Could be smart move considering how many games get cancelled in South Florida this time of year.

Also, Seth.  If you click on the Wichita box score it takes you to Cedar Rapids.

[JD-TWINS]

Is St. Paul team out of town? I still don’t see the roster spot filled on the 26 man - strange, right?