Twins Minor League Report (6/25): Lee Homer Pushes Saints Over Cubs

[Steve Lein]

The St. Paul Saints continued their recent binge of home runs down in Iowa on Tuesday, with another blast from a top prospect putting them ahead for good. Wichita had a lead multiple times, but would need a comeback to end it that way. Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers had trouble stringing any hits together, and the FCL Twins weren’t able to finish even half of their doubleheader.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Brooks Lee)

TRANSACTIONS

• Before any action on Tuesday the Minnesota Twins recalled RHP Ronny Henriquez from the St. Paul Saints. The Saints also assigned LHP Aaron Rozek back to the Wichita Wind Surge.
• Down in the Florida State League, C Daniel Pena was activated from the 7-day injured list for the Mighty Mussels, and C Cole Elvis was sent back to the FCL Twins.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 6, Iowa 5
Box Score
These two teams combined for 11 runs in this one, with eight of them coming because of the longball, as the ball was flying down in Des Moines, IA.

The Saints got home runs from the bats of Will Holland (two-run shot) and Brooks Lee (solo) in the top of the sixth inning, with Lee’s putting them ahead 6-5.

They also got “just-misses” off the bats of Tony Kemp earlier in the game (two-run double), and Yunior Severino (double) later. Kemp’s hit off the top of the wall in right-center (Iowa’s stadium has tall walls basically everywhere), and Severino’s the top of the wall down the left field line, as he caught up to a 100 MPH fastball just enough to keep it in play.

Lee’s home run was his fourth in his last six games, and of note if you are worried why the Twins aren’t having him play second base…he was at third in this one. He also just makes plays and is why I don’t find moving him around to be all that necessary for him to play anywhere else on the dirt.

Making the start for the Saints was right-hander Adam Plutko, and he was the victim of the Cubs long-ball parade. He gave up a lot of loud contact, and three of the six hits he allowed left the yard. In his 4 2/3 innings, he gave up five earned runs, walked one, and struck out four. Jordan Balazovic came on to get out of the fifth inning, and got them through the seventh. He allowed one hit and struck out one in 2 1/3 innings. Nick Wittgren got the final two innings to pick up his first save with the Saints. 

Edouard Julien (2-for-4, BB, 2 K, SB), Severino (2-for-4, R, 2B, BB), and Kemp (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB) had multiple hits in the win. Over the last three weeks and 22 games, the Saints have hit 42 of their 97 home runs on the season. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
NW Arkansas 8, Wichita 6
Box Score
Pierson Ohl looked in control of this one early, retiring the first seven Naturals hitters of the game and keeping them scoreless through three. A solo home run finally got to him in the fourth, and the fifth got even worse even though he was able to finish it. In total, Ohl was charged with four earned runs on eight hits in five innings. He didn’t walk anybody, but he also didn’t strike anybody out.

While he was still on the mound, the Wind Surge had taken a couple of leads for him. In the bottom of the third Carson McCusker reached base on an error, and Luke Keaschall drove him in with a sac fly two batters later for the 1-0 lead. With the game tied in the bottom of the fourth, Aaron Sabato launched his eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot that made it 3-1.

After falling behind 4-3, Wichita put up another crooked number in the sixth. Jeferson Morales led off the inning with a double before Sabato was hit by a pitch. An error off the bat of Kyler Fedko tied the game at four, and then a Noah Cardenas double put them ahead by two.

Scott Engler was the first reliever summoned after Ohl’s exit, and he pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Back out for the seventh he allowed a two-run homer to again tie the game. In his two innings he gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out three. John Stankiewicz finished off the final two innings, allowing one run in each for the final of 8-6. He gave up four hits and struck out three.

Wichita got a couple of baserunners in the bottom of the ninth thanks to singles from McCusker and Ben Ross, but Luke Keaschall went down swinging and Jake Rucker popped out to end the game.

Morales was the only Wind Surge hitter with multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-3 with a double, walk, and pair of runs scored. Sabato and Cardenas each drove in two runners. Keaschall had an off night, picking up an RBI but also a golden sombrero in his four at-bats.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Beloit 7, Cedar Rapids 2
Box Score
The Kernels struck first and last against the Twins former affiliate, but in between it was all Snappers.

Payton Eeles started off the game by reaching on an error, moved to second on a ground out, and came around to score on a Rubel Cespedes single to take a 1-0 lead after one.

Starting pitcher Jordan Carr had trouble from the get go. Though his first inning was scoreless, he did have to work around a pair of walks. He wasn’t as lucky in the second, third, and fourth innings as Beloit built a 7-1 lead before his night was done. He allowed seven earned runs on nine hits and two walks in his 3 2/3 innings pitched, striking out one.

The bullpen did pick him up, even if the offense wasn’t able to, finishing the game with five plus scoreless innings. Kyle Bischoff walked one and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings. Rafael Marcano went the next three innings. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out one. Juan Mercedes finished off the game with a scoreless ninth, allowing two hits while striking out one.

Cedar Rapids scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the eighth after Eeles drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. He scored on a single from Ricardo Olivar.

The Kernels only extra-base hit of the game came off the bat of Nate Baez. Eeles drew two walks in addition to scoring both their runs.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Tampa 15, Fort Myers 4
Box Score
The Mighty Mussels took an early lead in this one, but just as quickly as they did so, it disappeared and turned into a rout.

Walker Jenkins led off the game for the home team with a single, but got caught stealing third base later in the inning. That was too bad, as a Matt Clayton double a few batters later could have been of the bases clearing variety instead of just a two-RBI one. An Angel Rosario double in the second inning scored another run for the early 3-1 Fort Myers lead.

But in the top of the third the Tarpons became the first team to really get Fort Myers starter Ricky Castro, who came into the game with a 0.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in his first 12 professional innings. Before the third was over Tampa had taken a 5-3 lead. Castro had a one-two-three fourth inning, but back out for the fifth he wasn’t able to record an out before being pulled. In total, Castro was charged with his first seven runs (six earned) as a pro by giving up five hits (including two homers) and two walks. He did strike out four.

Jack Noble got them out of the fifth but was charged with one earned run of his own. He gave up two hits, including the Tarpons third home run of the game, and struck out two. Ross Dunn was then the next victim, as the visiting team racked up six more runs while he was only able to record two outs. He allowed six hits, a walk, and struck out two. Samuel Perez went the next 2 1/3 innings, keeping the Tarpons off the board with no hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Ben Ethridge got the final inning, allowing one run on two hits.

The Fort Myers lineup got multiple hits from Byron Chourio (2-for-5, 2 R) and Isaac Pena (2-for-4, R, 2B, K). Jenkins finished 1-for-5.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Braves 1, FCL Twins 7 (5 innings)
Box Score
The FCL squad was meant to play a doubleheader on Tuesday, but rain cut the first game short and washed out the matinee.

The Twins scored one in the first as the rehabbing Gabriel Gonzalez launched a solo home run. They took command in the third thanks to an error, an RBI double from Yilber Herrera, wild pitch, and Harold Grant RBI single for a 5-1 lead. They added another pair of runs in the fourth thanks to sac flies from Cole Elvis and Gregory Duran.

Making the start for the Twins was Joel Garcia, and he went the first four innings. He allowed one earned run on three hits, while striking out three. Eider Machuca pitched their final inning, allowing two hits but no runs before the game was called.

Herrera (2-for-3, R, 2B RBI) and Grant (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) led the way with two hits apiece. Jayson Bass scored two runs and stole a base.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Samuel Perez, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (2 1/3 IP, BB, 4 K)
Hitter of the Day - Tony Kemp, St. Paul Saints (2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1 – Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 1-for-5
#2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 1-for-4, R, HR (5), RBI, BB
#5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (rehab w/FCL Twins) – 1-for-3, R, HR (1), RBI
#8 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – game in progress
#9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 0-for-4, RBI, 4 K
#13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 1-for-4, 2B, K, SB
#18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 2-for-4, R, 2B, BB
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, RBI, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Iowa (12:08 PM CDT) - RHP David Festa (3-2, 3.77 ERA) - we have a sneaky suspicion that someone else might be starting for the Saints on Wednesday.
NW Arkansas @ Wichita (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Andrew Morris (2-1, 1.71 ERA)
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Mike Paredes (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM CDT) - RHP Tanner Hall (0-0, 4.08 ERA)
DSL Twins @ DSL Padres Brown (10:00 AM CDT) - TBD

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

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[bighat]

Twins could have used that homer from Lee in Phoenix last night. Just sayin'. 

[Dman]

I didn't watch all of Lee's appearances in the batters box, but he looked really good last night. He wasn't expanding the zone and made the pitcher work.  His defensive play on that bunt was a thing of beauty. The barehanded toss just beat the runner. Absolute big league play.  The call from the announcer on his home run was one of the worst. The guy called it a pop fly then had to back track and say it was carrying a long way and then finally admit it was a home run.  Looking at Lee in the box you could tell he thought it was out the moment he hit it.

I don't know what it is but Keaschall looks like a head case at AA right now.  I don't know if he is working on longer counts or if the quality of pitching is so good he just isn't sure what is coming, but he was taking strikes right down the middle of the plate a lot.  The other team seemed to know he wasn't going to swing at strike one because they kept pounding it there on the first pitch.  In one appearance he struck out in three pitches all down the middle.  He does generally make contact but he didn't look that good last night to me.

St Paul with another win as the pen held down the stretch and the bats scored just enough runs with Lee's HR the game winner.  They are fun to watch right now.

[roger]

Thanks for the report, Steve.  And I suspect you are right and we will learn a lot about the Twins plans when/if Festa gets the start tonight.  Seeing Cleveland win nearly every game means the Twins are likely in the hunt for a wild card spot.  

Lee is a different player than Lewis.  But he just might also be a special talent.  Gotta wonder where he will be playing for the Twins later this year and beyond?  Second base makes the most sense and that could give the Twins one heck of an infield. 

[LambchoP]

Lee should be playing second base for the Twins. I also think now that Paddack is on the IL Festa should get a few spot starts. I don't trust Varland as a starter anymore and I think the should call him up to help in the bullpen. Until Duran figures some things out, Topa and Stewart get healthy, and we finally dump Theilbar, there's spots up for grabs... I think we need to grab a reliever or two at the deadline, preferably a lefty to replace Theilbar.

[Steve Lein]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

The call from the announcer on his home run was one of the worst. The guy called it a pop fly then had to back track and say it was carrying a long way and then finally admit it was a home run.  Looking at Lee in the box you could tell he thought it was out the moment he hit it.

I laughed at that, too! I was like, did you not see the bat toss?! He knew he got it. Though I will say the ball was flying a lot further than one might expect. Lot of deep fly outs and stuff off the wall from both teams.

[Steve Lein]

47 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Lee should be playing second base for the Twins. 

 

1 hour ago, roger said:

Lee is a different player than Lewis.  But he just might also be a special talent.  Gotta wonder where he will be playing for the Twins later this year and beyond?  Second base makes the most sense and that could give the Twins one heck of an infield. 

I said this last week, that if Lee started playing another position, that his callup may be imminent... He's played 2B and 3B in his past two games... And also, his RH OPS is now higher than his LH OPS... and it's over 1.000 combined. 🤔

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Lee,  Julien and Wallner all are tearing it up.   Those are good things,   I would love to see all 3 on the big league team.  If all 3 are up and doing well,  the offense should really be rolling.  You would be letting go of farmer and 2 other players,  but you have a lot of quality at bats especially with Lee and Julien.  If not some definite solid trade bait there as well.  

[Seth Stohs]

Good to hear Festa is coming up and will start on Thursday. 

No rush to move Brooks Lee up. He's doing well, but he missed a ton of time. No problem letting him continue to hit in the very hitter friendly CHS Field. Castro obviously deserves to play most of the time .Larnach has been crushing the ball even when he doesn't get hits.