Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month - June 2024

[Ted Schwerzler]

Of course it’s the starting rotation that gets most of the praise for any team, but it’s the bullpen that locks down and wins games. The Minnesota Twins churning out more relief prospects would be beneficial for the big league bullpen, and there were some strong showings in June.

 

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Matt Canterino may be the biggest name among bullpen prospects for the Minnesota Twins, but he has been unable to stay healthy and hasn’t got his career going. Seeing arms like Jhoan Duran, Jorge Alcala, and Griffin Jax develop through the system is something that Rocco Baldelli would certainly welcome more of.

Not all relievers are former starters, and some are just destined to work dominant outings in short bursts. June had a few standout performances, so let’s get into them.

4. Ronny Henriquez (St. Paul) - 7 G, 2.25 ERA, 12.0 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
Acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Mitch Garver trade, Henriquez has been up and down with the Twins plenty during his young career. He is on the 40-man roster once again, after being jettisoned this offseason, and his work at Triple-A St. Paul this season has continued to keep him as an option. After struggling in 2023, and not making it to the big leagues, Henriquez appears to have turned a corner. His walk rates have come down significantly, and while he is giving up too many longballs, his strikeout rate is impressive.

3. Scott Engler (Wichita) - 7 G, 1.59 ERA, 11.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 13 K
At 27 years old, Engler certainly doesn’t have prospect luster anymore, but playing for his hometown Wichita team has been a great story. Spending the entirety of his professional career with the Texas Rangers organization after being drafted in the 16th round back in 2016, he is looking to earn a shot at Triple-A. Engler’s walk rates have been gaudy all season, but he has never allowed less hits or home runs. June was a standout month in that not only did the opposition fail to do anything against him, but he also was stingy with his free passes and everyone benefited from the uptick in performance.

2. Gabriel Yanez (Cedar Rapids) - 7 G, 0.84 ERA, 10.2 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
In his second season with the Twins organization, Yanez is now operating as the closer for High-A Cedar Rapids. He was a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities during June, and he allowed just a single earned run. At 24 years old, he could probably use a new challenge being moved up to Double-A Wichita, but this has unquestionably been the best and most productive season of Yanez’s professional career. Yanez hasn’t been a big strikeout guy this season, but he has yet to allow a home run in 36 innings.

Reliever of the Month - Samuel Perez (Fort Myers) - 6 G, 1.29 ERA, 14.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 14 K
Signed out of the Frontier League during the 2021 season, Perez has spent the vast majority of his time in the Twins system with Low-A Fort Myers. He put up a solid 3.30 ERA in 62 2/3 innings last year and has a better 2.84 ERA thus far in 2024. Striking out double-digit batters per nine for the first time in his career, Perez is pushing the envelope when it comes to figuring out his stuff and utilizing it in the best way. Hit hit and home run rates have been solid in 2024 as well, and a return to Cedar Rapids could be on deck.

Perez would be a late-blooming prospect in that he’s already 24 years old, but relievers often take time to come around. Continuing this development following a strong June could make his 2024 season one to remember, and if his career takes off from here, then this will be a month to look back on.

What do you think of the Twins Minor League Reliever of the Month selection? How would your list have looked?

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[FlyingFinn]

Nitpicking but I would have gone with Yanez. Less walks and earned runs. Agree that he needs a promotion. It's not like the Wichita bullpen doesn't need all the help they can get.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

So unfortunately, outside of MAYBE Henriquez, there really isn't anybody there that will help the big club this season.  Hopefully the young guys continue to develop, but for now, bullpen help will need to come from outside or from Varland/Paddack conversion.

[Alex Wilde]

Yanez and Perez need to be moved up a level. I would have much rather seen Henriquez up instead of Winder yesterday…may have actually won the game then lol

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, Alex Wilde said:

I would have much rather seen Henriquez up instead of Winder yesterday

Couldn't do it. Henriquez has to be down in St. Paul for 15 days from the last demotion. He has about another week left.

[jkcarew]

That month by Henriquez was the 4th best in the system??

That’s either wildly untrue, or horrifically sad.

I’m too lazy to do the research to determine which.

 

[SaberNerd]

8 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

That month by Henriquez was the 4th best in the system??

That’s either wildly untrue, or horrifically sad.

I’m too lazy to do the research to determine which.

 

The current FO doesn't draft pure relief prospects, and all of the relievers that have been developed started at least through AA (Jax, Alcala, Sands, Varland, Duran, Funderburk).  The guys in the bullpen are the ones not good enough to start.

[LambchoP]

I really wish Canterino could get his health issues figured out. He has looked absolutely dominant at every level he's pitched at. Dude just can't stay on the field though. I believe we have him for two more years after this year, so there's still time, but it's running out...

[twinstalker]

Oof.  Those are four pretty average performances to be listed as the best.