Twins Minor League Week in Review (8/5-8/11): 2024 Draft Picks Debut, and Wichita Stands Out

[Ted Schwerzler]

The player of the week awards were swept by a pair of Wichita Wind Surge talents while the Minnesota Twins rolled out a bunch of their 2024 Major League Baseball Draft selections.

 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

TRANSACTIONS:

• RHP Zebby Matthews promoted to Minnesota from St. Paul
• RHP Matt Bowman released by Minnesota
• RHP Randy Dobnak optioned to St. Paul

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Twins 10, DSL Rangers Blue 9 (F/10)
Box Score

Jose Vasquez started and gave up a pair of runs over four innings of work. He struck out four. Unfortunately Fabian Herrera ceded three more and put the Twins in a sizable hole. The Twins responded with a run when Guillermo Sosa scored on a fifth inning wild pitch and they were within three at 5-2.

The Rangers added another run in the seventh inning, but the Twins added a pair of their own to make it a 6-4 game. After the Rangers added one in the eighth inning, the Twins responded with a four spot and took their first lead. They gave it back in the top of the ninth inning before tying it in the bottom half. Hernandez lifted a tenth inning sacrifice fly to score Sosa and walk it off.

The Twins had 11 hits and drew seven walks. Daiber De Los Santos and Nestor Urbina each had three hits. Hernandez picked up two. Sebastian Pulido got the win, his third.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 56-57 (2-4 last week) Fifth place in the IL West
• Overview: The Saints and Twins both played Cleveland teams this past week. Minnesota split while St. Paul dropped the series against the Clippers.
• Edouard Julien is heating up again and hit a pair of home runs while posting a 1.114 OPS.
• Anthony Prato played in just four games but went 6-for-13 with a double, triple, and a home run.
• DaShawn Keirsey Jr.’s .905 OPS was aided by a home run while he batted .273 and played in all six games.
• Zebby Matthews recorded his best Triple-A start allowing only a single run across five innings. His next turn will be his big league debut.
• Nick Wittgren led the team in strikeouts as he punched out six across five innings allowing only a single earned run.
• Aaron Rozek returned from Double-A Wichita and made another strong spot start as he allowed just two runs in six innings.
• What’s Next: St. Paul travels to Indianapolis for a series against the IL West’s 2nd to last place team.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 47-61 (4-2 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North
• Overview: Facing the bottom team in the South, Wichita took a series against Corpus Christi.
• Tanner Schobel had a great week with four dingers and a team-leading 6 RBI while batting .304 with a 1.186 OPS across six games.
• Andrew Cossetti played in only two games, but he went deep twice and plated three.
• Luke Keaschall’s season came to an end as he undergoes a previously scheduled Tommy John surgery. He should be ready for next spring.
• Cory Lewis delivered a lights out start going six innings with nine strikeouts and no earned runs.
• Andrew Morris also struck out nine in a seven inning start where he didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits.
• Christian MacLeod struck out eight in his start. He worked five innings of one run ball before earning a promotion to Triple-A.
• What’s Next: The Wind Surge host Arkansas for a six game series.

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 58-48 (3-3 last week) Second place in the Midwest League West
• Overview: Splitting a series with Peoria, the Kernels stayed put in the standings.
• Nick Lucky was promoted to High-A and responded with a home run and .917 OPS over six games last week.
• Nate Baez batted .353 with a pair of doubles in five games.
• Kevin Maitan’s four RBI were a team high.
• Ty Langenberg turned in a great six inning performance allowing no runs on four hits while striking out seven.
• Mike Paredes made a pair of relief outings and struck out five across 4 1/3 innings.
• Connor Prielipp walked three in his start, but didn’t give up a hit across 2 2/3 while striking out five.
• What’s Next: The Kernels host a South Bend team that brings up the rear in the West.

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 56-47 (5-1 last week) Second place in Florida State League West
• Overview: Fort Myers nearly swept Jupiter despite the opposition being the second team in the East.
• Brandon Winokur blasted a pair of dingers to lead the team, and compiled an .846 OPS.
• Kaelen Culpepper made his professional debut and went 5-for-13 with two doubles and a home run.
• Billy Amick made his professional debut and batted .364 in five games with a double.
• Kyle DeBarge had a team-high five RBI while also swiping five stolen bases.
• Derek Bender, Khadim Diaw, Jaime Ferrer, Caden Kendle, and Jay Thomason all made their professional debuts as well.
• Tanner Hall punched out seven during a seven inning scoreless start.
• Jack Noble and Devin Kirby both worked a pair of games in relief and struck out seven each.
• Xander Hamilton picked up saves in each of his appearances striking out four across three scoreless innings.
• What’s Next: The Mighty Mussels are on the road in Tampa against the worst team in the West.

Dominican Summer League: DSL Twins

• Overall: 25-23 Fourth place in Dominican Summer League South
• Eduardo Beltre hit another home run and posted a 1.096 OPS across four games.
• Merphy Hernandez drove in five runs across four games played.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1– Walker Jenkins (Cedar Rapids) – 5-22, 2 R, 3 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 3 K
#2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) – 2-7, 2B, RBI, K
#4 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 2-13, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
#5 – Zebby Matthews (St. Paul) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
#6 - David Festa (Minnesota) -  8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 12 K
#7 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 4-18, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K
#8 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
#9 - Kaelen Culpepper (Fort Myers) - 5-13, 3 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K, SB
#10 - Marco Raya (Wichita) - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 K
#11 - Andrew Morris (Wichita) - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
#12 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 5-22, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, SB
#13 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
#14 - Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) - 2-12, 2 R, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K, SB
#16 - Kyle DeBarge (Fort Myers) - 6-22, 4 R, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, 5 SB
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 7-23, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 SB
#19 - C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
#20 – Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) – 2.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Hitter of the Week - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 7-23, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 SB

Pitcher of the Week - Andrew Morris (Wichita) - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

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[mark sills]

Andrew Morris FIP best in all of baseball 2024 is pretty incredible. Needs to be moved up, looks like there is a need for more pitchers in triple a with Zebby moving up.

[Dman]

While I get there is no hurry since he is only 22 I think they should move Morris up.  Just get him to a higher level and see what he's got.  Not sure what they picked for an innings limit this year so it would be nice to see him there sooner if they are going to do it.

Very happy to see Amick getting contact at this level since in zone swing and miss was why he fell down draft boards. If he conquers that it would be like getting a guy that might have gone as high as 25 at pick 60.  We'll know more when he gets to AA, but still nice to see the high average.  It's a high BABIP so not going to last but his K rate is good to start so that bodes well.  Really hoping he improves the swing and miss because his power was easily top 20 in this years class.  The question was can he contact the ball enough to make it all the way.

I'm really liking what Beltre is doing in the DSL.  Even though the numbers there can't be trusted for much I like that he is taking walks and hitting for power.  Those are two skills that should help him be a fast mover.

[FlyingFinn]

Did I miss Severino getting hurt? See that he only played 3 games last week and none after Aug 8 (only 4 for 25 with no extra base hits for this month so far)?

Will Jair Camargo still be the #3 catcher next year for the Twins? Went 2 for 20 last week to bring his season average to .190.

Olivar and Deardon got off to hot starts in their promotions to Wichita but last week wasn't so good, combining to go 2 for 26. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

Did I miss Severino getting hurt? See that he only played 3 games last week and none after Aug 8 (only 4 for 25 with no extra base hits for this month so far)?

Will Jair Camargo still be the #3 catcher next year for the Twins? Went 2 for 20 last week to bring his season average to .190.

Olivar and Deardon got off to hot starts in their promotions to Wichita but last week wasn't so good, combining to go 2 for 26. 

I was watching on MiLB and Severino came up limping after an at bat.  Haven't seen him since. Not sure how bad the injury is, but enough that he wasn't 100%.

I had high hopes for Deardon and Olivar at AA.  It's a tough level for hitters. Seems to stop them in their tracks as you have to be able conquer very good to elite offspeed and breaking pitches to be successful.  We've seen life from Ross and and now Schobel after essentially a  year or more at that level.  I assume it will take time, though Deardon has been at this level before and ended up in the independent league.  I still think he has the swing will have to hope it is a mini slump for him.

[twinstalker]

DrewMo!

[ToriiRules!!]

9 hours ago, mark sills said:

Andrew Morris FIP best in all of baseball 2024 is pretty incredible. Needs to be moved up, looks like there is a need for more pitchers in triple a with Zebby moving up.

Yes he needs to be moved up… he’s been solid all year couldn’t agree more 

[ToriiRules!!]

9 hours ago, mark sills said:

Andrew Morris FIP best in all of baseball 2024 is pretty incredible. Needs to be moved up, looks like there is a need for more pitchers in triple a with Zebby moving up.

What if Zebby balls out.. SWR looks like he’s going to stay… Festa has looked good.. and Morris handles a rotation spot next year … Ober is a stud so is Ryan and Pablo isn’t going anywhere is this finally the pitching pipeline??

[Doctor Wu]

Once again, I need to ask: which player is that in the lead photo? The photo caption gives credit to the Wichita Wind Surge ... but who is the pitcher?

[terrydactyls]

2 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Once again, I need to ask: which player is that in the lead photo? The photo caption gives credit to the Wichita Wind Surge ... but who is the pitcher?

I've made the same plea for a couple years.  I've never even gotten a response from TD.  Have you?

[Omgbenji]

3 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Once again, I need to ask: which player is that in the lead photo? The photo caption gives credit to the Wichita Wind Surge ... but who is the pitcher?

Good luck. I've also been asking for literally years. I'll see it every once in a blue moon, but they just flat out won't. I mean, they actively caption the photo's, why is it such a big ask to just put the player name in there with the photo credit? TD, what is the big issue here? Multiple users have continuously asked for this.

[LambchoP]

Looks like the Twins finally have a solid pitching pipeline. Festa, SWR, Zebby, Morris at the high levels. Then lower down we have Raya, Lewis, Culpeper. Just need to figure out how to keep these guys healthy and not rush their development and we could be in a good spot pitching wise. Still going to need to pick up at least some free agents, as this year proves. Depth is key and we are now paying the price for not having that depth. Lineup should be good for years to come if we can ever get and keep everyone healthy and in the lineup together. I'm a bit worried about catcher though. Next year will be Vasquez's last, and Camargo does not look like the solution. I believe we only have Jeffers another two years? Might need to try and sign a solid catcher, someone who can handle a young, inexperienced pitching staff like we will probably have.

[TwinsAce]

39 minutes ago, Omgbenji said:

Good luck. I've also been asking for literally years. I'll see it every once in a blue moon, but they just flat out won't. I mean, they actively caption the photo's, why is it such a big ask to just put the player name in there with the photo credit? TD, what is the big issue here? Multiple users have continuously asked for this.

Yeah, pictures of minor league players (or even major league sometimes) without name captions makes it rough to really learn who the players are without clicking into profiles, etc.  Seems pretty easy and straight forward...?

[jmlease1]

Lot of good news in this report. 

Culpepper and DeBarge has good starts to their careers in Ft. Myers; early days but nice to see them look comfortable and produce at Ft. Myers out the gate. (passing the Lemon Test as Gleeman like to say)

Schobel has had a tough season so it's good to see him have a good run. He's hit a bit of a wall in AA, and it really is a level where guys can flame out against top competition. But he jumped up fast, so maybe with a little time and development he can get back on track. 

Really happy to see Raya and Lewis go 6 and have excellent starts.

Bummer about Keaschall needing TJ. I know it's not as bad for position players and the recovery time is quite a bit less, but he's really been putting together a great season and had risen in the prospect rankings. Hope it's not a trend.