Twins Minor League Report (8/20): Cory Lewis Dominates, DSL Season Comes to an End

[Steve Lein]

The Minnesota Twins 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year continued his recent run of dominance in double-A. Down in the Dominican Republic the Twins season came to an end with a victory, and the Twins first round pick in July made his debut with Cedar Rapids.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Cory Lewis)

TRANSACTIONS

• In the only transaction of the day, RHP Anthony Narvaez was assigned to Fort Myers from the FCL Twins, and made the start for the Mighty Mussels.

SAINTS SENTINEL
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, St. Paul 4
Box Score
The Saints sent lefty Aaron Rozek to the mound to open their series with the RailRiders, and he gutted it out through four innings. They jumped on him for four runs in the top of the first inning, courtesy of a grand slam from Carlos Narvaez, who made his MLB debut with the Yankees in July.

The RailRiders tacked on single runs in the second and third innings to take a 6-0 lead, but Rozek was able to finish his day with a scoreless fourth. In all, he was charged with six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. He struck out three.

Nick Wittgren went the next two innings, and he wasn’t able to get out unscathed either. He allowed one in the fifth and two in the sixth, allowing five hits in total and striking out two.

Down 9-to-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Saints finally got something going. Yunior Severino led off the inning with a double and Jair Camargo followed with an infield single. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. then cashed them all in with his 13th home run of the season.

They scored their fourth and final run in the eighth, when Payton Eeles led off with a triple, and Michael Helman followed with an RBI single.

Relievers Jeff Brigham (1 IP, H, BB, K), Diego Castillo (1 IP, BB), and Ryan Jensen (1 IP, K) finished it out for the Saints with three scoreless innings.

Camargo (2-for-4, R, 2B) and Keirsey Jr. (3-for-3, R, HR, 3 RBI) led the way with multiple hits. As a team the saints were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left only three men on base.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 0, Midland 3
Box Score
It was a pretty quick and hot game in Midland, TX on Tuesday, as this one clocked in at just over two hours in 100 degree weather. 

Both teams combined for a total of nine hits, with the RockHounds doubling up the Wind Surge 6-to-3.

Wichita got a fantastic start from quasi-knuckleballer Cory Lewis (fun fact: he throws his knuckleball in the mid-80’s, which I think is just insane), who held Midland to just one run on five hits in his six innings. Of particular note to me, is he didn’t walk anybody, as that’s been a bit of an issue this year after his season got started a bit late. Of his 79 pitches, 55 went for strikes (69.6%), including 15 swinging while racking up seven strikeouts.

His lone run allowed came in the fourth inning, after a single and double got it started. A sac fly scored the run, but his defense also caught the other runner at third for a double-play. He then retired the final six hitters he faced in the game, including punctuating his outing with his seventh strikeout. 

This was his third straight game with at least seven punch outs, and he’s allowed just two earned runs in his last four turns and 21 1/3 innings pitched. In that time he’s given up just 16 hits, walked eight, and struck out 28. His ERA is 0.83, and WHIP 1.11 in that same timeframe, so it’s safe to say he’s back. 

Unfortunately his offense couldn’t get anything going, and his record fell to 1-3 in double-A despite his sub 3.00 ERA.

The Wind Surge offense threatened in each of the first two innings, but their final 16 batters of the game were retired by RockHounds pitching. The offense finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and left just six men on base.

Ben Ross had the only extra-base hit, a double in the second. Jake Rucker and Jeferson Morales collected the other two singles.

Reliever Miguel Rodriguez was charged with the other two runs, as he wasn’t able to get out of the seventh after walking four batters and collecting only one out. Kyle Bischoff finished out the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and walking one.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 1, Dayton 4
Box Score
Perhaps the biggest story for Cedar Rapids in this one, was 2024 1st round pick Kaelen Culpepper joining 2023 first round pick Walker Jenkins atop the Kernels batting order.

Hate to disappoint, but they combined to go 0-for-8 on the game, but Culpepper did draw two walks while Jenkins drove in their lone run of the game.

It started out as a pitchers duel, with Ricky Castro matching the Dragons hurler for the first four innings. After giving up a single to start the game, Castro retired the next 12 hitters, getting to the fifth with the scoreboard still showing zeroes for both teams.

But the fifth was another story. Four consecutive singles to start the inning sent it downhill, with the last of those including a throwing error on Culpepper that allowed three runs to score. An error on a steal attempt then made it 4-0 before Castro was able to escape. In all, he finished five innings and was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits, while striking out five.

The Kernels finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, when Poncho Ruiz and Misael Urbina hit back-to-back singles to start the frame. Culpepper drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Jenkins, but his grounder to first to score Ruiz was all they were able to get. 

Jordan Carr came on from the bullpen and pitched the final three innings for Cedar Rapids. He gave up just one hit and struck out two.

Jose Salas doubled in the ninth to try and get a rally started for the visitors, but Culpepper and Jenkins both were retired to end the game.

The lineup actually outhit the Dragons 9-to-6, but weren’t able to string them together or get them when they counted, as they also finished 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base. That was compared to Dayton who was 2-for-5 and left only two men on. Sometimes that’s just how it goes.

Gabriel Gonzalez (2-for-4, 2 2B), Nate Baez (2-for-4), and Rubel Cespedes (2-for-4) each had two hits.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 7, Tampa 6
Box Score
Right-hander Anthony Narvaez got the call and the start for the Mighty Mussels on Tuesday, and went the first two innings. It was a bit rough, as he was charged with four earned runs on four hits, including two home runs, and three walks. He also struck out three. All that damage came in the second inning, after he worked around a walk with a pair of strikeouts in the first.

The Fort Myers lineup did actually score first in this one though, as Kyle DeBarge led off the game with a walk and Brandon Winokur followed with a single. They then executed a double-steal putting them both in scoring position. Billy Amick then reached base on a fielder’s choice to load the bases with nobody out, before Khadim Diaw drove in DeBarge with a single. Unfortunately, that was all they’d be able to get in the first.

In the top of the third Diaw again delivered an RBI single to score Winokur who had led off the inning with a walk and that ended the Tarpons’ starting pitcher’s day early as well.

The score would remain 4-to-2 until the sixth inning, as Fort Myers got three scoreless innings from Samuel Perez. The only batter to reach base against him was on a hit-by-pitch, and he struck out three.

The Mighty Mussels closed it to 4-3 in the top of the sixth, when Derek Bender sent his first double of the year into center field to score Jaime Ferrer. But the pitching gave that run right back in the bottom half.

Jack Noble came on for Perez, and got hit with a two-out home run to push the Tarpons lead back to two. Noble came back out and delivered a scoreless, and immaculate, seventh inning, needing nine pitches to strike out three. He finished with one run allowed on three hits, and four strikeouts in his two innings.

In the top of the eighth the lineup finally broke through for a crooked number, and it was a big one. Diaw led off with another single, and one out later Jay Thomason drew a walk. After a flyout Bender sent his second double of the game to right field to score them both and tie it at five. Caden Kendle followed by trading spots with him to take the lead, before DeBarge drove him in with a single for the 7-5 lead.

Wilker Reyes came on from the bullpen for the bottom half and worked around a walk and a single to keep the lead at two. Back out for the ninth Reyes got a strikeout to start the inning, but the ball got away from catcher Daniel Pena and put a runner on base. After a balk and two outs that runner was able to score to make it 7-6, but Reyes was the beneficiary of an automatic strike three call on a batter pitch timer violation to end the game. Over two innings to pick up his second save with Fort Myers, Reyes allowed one run on one hit and one walk, and struck out three.

The Mighty Mussels collected eighth hits and seven walks as a team, finishing 6-for-18 with runners in scoring position to come out victorious. Diaw (3-for-4, R, RBI, BB) and Bender (2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K) each had multiple hits. DeBarge finished 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, walk, and two stolen bases, giving him 10 in 12 games and he has yet to be caught. Winokur also stole two bases, giving him 20 on the season.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Angels 4, DSL Twins 7
Box Score
In their final DSL game of the season, the Twins took on a playoff team in the Angels, looking to reach the 30-win plateau on the season.

They fell behind early, as the Angels took advantage of some walks from starter Santiago Rojas in the first two innings, taking a 2-0 lead. Rojas was charged with two earned runs on three hits and four walks in his two frames. He struck out one.

In the bottom of the second got both of those runs back, however. Victor Leal reached on a one-out error to get it started. Two batters later, Carlos Silva also reached on an error to put runners on first and second. An Alver Medina walk loaded the bases for Merphy Hernandez, who delivered a two-out, two-run single to knot it up.

Eudy Garcia took the mound to start the third inning, and gave those runs right back to the Angels. A leadoff triple led to a pair of runs scoring to make it 4-2, but Garcia got some help again in the bottom half.

Daiber De Los Santos led off with a single, and came around to score on a Yandro Hernandez triple, his second of the season. Ramiro Dominguez then brought him in with a sac fly to again tie the game.

Garcia then went one-two-three in the top of the fourth before the home team took the lead for good in the bottom half. Garcia surrendered two earned runs, four hits, and struck out one in his two innings.

The Twins scored their final three runs in the fourth, with Luis Fragoza starting the inning with a single. Alver Medina added a single of his own and ended up on second base. Merphy Hernandez then brought them both in with a triple, his sixth of the season. De Los Santos followed with an RBI single to make it 7-4, and the Twins pitching staff locked it down from there.

Anderson Ramos went the next four innings, allowing three hits and striking out six. Sebastian Pulido picked up his first save with a one-two-three ninth.

De Los Santos had a perfect day, as he seemingly was on a quest to end the year with an above .300 batting average. He went 5-for-5 with a run scored, drew a walk, stole a base, and drove in one. The Hernandez’s each finished with two hits, with Merphy going 2-for-4 with a run scored, triple, and four RBI; and Yandro finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored, triple, and an RBI of his own.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Cory Lewis, Wichita Wind Surge (6 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
Hitter of the Day - Daiber De Los Santos, DSL Twins (5-for-5, R, BB, RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our recently-updated Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Tuesday.

#1 – Walker Jenkins (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-5, RBI, 2 K
#7 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, 2 2B
#9 – Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
#12 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, R, BB, K, 2 SB (20)
#13 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K
#16 – Kyle DeBarge (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB, K, 2 SB (10)
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-for-3, BB, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (7:07 PM CDT) - RHP Louie Varland (4-8, 4.91 ERA)
Wichita @ Midland (6:30 PM CDT) - RHP C.J. Culpepper (0-0, 10.13 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (6:05 PM CDT) - RHP Tanner Hall (0-1, 5.79 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Tampa, Game 1 (3:00 PM CDT) - RHP Charlee Soto (1-4, 4.74 ERA)
Tampa @ Fort Myers, Game 2 - LHP Cesar Lares (3-3, 4.37 ERA)

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

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[Doctor Wu]

If Lewis keeps throwing his knuckleball for strikes that might be VERY helpful if the Twins need an extra arm in the next week or two. Okay, maybe it's too soon to think about calling him up, with all these injuries and ineffective outings by pitchers already on the team, a look-see might not hurt. 

[Dman]

Nice to see Lewis with the walk rate down. It's the kind of performance that makes me think he is ready for AAA. Since he started the year late I wonder if they will bump him up to AAA yet this year? At any rate that is the Lewis I remember from last year.

Nice to see De Los Santos finish the season strong with a 5 for 5 day.  He was the Twins top international pick this year He has 5 tool potential with the hit tool being the weakest link so nice to see him finish with an .800 OPS.  He has good power and good speed and plays short so it would be awesome if he turns out.  Still a long way to go.

One minor league season done and two more with less than two weeks to go.  The stats to be analyzed will be in the books for 2024 soon.

[Blyleven2011]

Everytime I read these minor league reports it seems our 2024 draftees  are getting clutch hits ...

Keep it up , cause we need clutch hitters , keashall had been raking until his surgery  ....

Nice outing for Lewis  ....

[LambchoP]

Another good outing for Cory Lewis. Looks like he could start next year in AAA and with continued performance earn a mid to late season call up. Why on earth are the Twins so down on Keirsey? I really would like to know. Dudes done everything possible in AAA to earn a call up, yet we continue to run guys like Margot out there. Keirsey at least plays all three OF positions so he's our best bet for a true Buxton CF backup. I get that he's not on the 40 man,but you can't tell me there's nobody that has earned a DFA on the current roster. One word, Okert! Dump him, he's done. Give his spot to Winder, or if they're really desperate for another lefty, add Aaron Rozek the take Okert's bullpen spot.

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Nice to see Lewis with the walk rate down. It's the kind of performance that makes me think he is ready for AAA. Since he started the year late I wonder if they will bump him up to AAA yet this year? At any rate that is the Lewis I remember from last year.

Feels like they're going to let him finish the year in AA, and I think that's fine. The late start and injury set him back a bit, but if he finishes the season strong at AA he'll be nicely positioned to have a spring training invite and start 2025 in AAA. I mean, how much difference will it really make if he gets 2-3 starts in AAA at the end of the season?

Sure do like the idea of next year's AAA rotation having Matthews, Morris, Lewis, and possibly Raya along with one from Festa/SWR/Varland. And it makes dealing Paddack and/or moving Varland to the bullpen more viable from the jump. (unless he falls apart in September, I'd be pretty happy starting next season with a rotation of Lopez, Ober, Ryan, Festa, and SWR in MLB with a bunch of legit prospects as call-ups if/when injuries and/or ineffectiveness strike.)

[bean5302]

45 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

...Why on earth are the Twins so down on Keirsey?...

First of all, it's not the "Twins" as he doesn't even make top 30 prospect lists for the organization (MLB/Fangraphs/Prospects1500). Gleeman listed Keirsey at #29 to begin the season, and he was rule 5 eligible last year, but no team picked him.

Apart from fans on this site, Keirsey isn't turning heads, I don't think. History of weak bat. Mediocre defense in CF. Age/experience for level. Lack of draft pedigree. Weak scouting reports and prospect profile/rank.

Keirsey hasn't been good at the plate since returning from injury on June 22nd, either (nearly 200 bad PA). Anthony Prato was far more impressive last year, but he's turned back into a pumpkin.

[bean5302]

Nice start for Lewis, really setting himself up for an August MiLB pitcher of the month after the first few months were pretty lack-luster due to injury and performance. I think he'd make a good candidate for some extra work in the AFL this year to get some more innings.

[Steve Lein]

3 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Nice start for Lewis, really setting himself up for an August MiLB pitcher of the month after the first few months were pretty lack-luster due to injury and performance. I think he'd make a good candidate for some extra work in the AFL this year to get some more innings.

As your resident AFL "correspondent," Lewis is at the top of my list to go to the AFL this season. He would likely be one of the highest profile pitchers there if he does. Only 2 top 100 pitchers went there last season (Ricky Tiedemann & Jackson Jobe), and they were both making up some innings.

[Steve Lein]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

 Why on earth are the Twins so down on Keirsey? I really would like to know. Dudes done everything possible in AAA to earn a call up, yet we continue to run guys like Margot out there. Keirsey at least plays all three OF positions so he's our best bet for a true Buxton CF backup. I get that he's not on the 40 man,but you can't tell me there's nobody that has earned a DFA on the current roster.

I don't think the Twins are "down" on him. They just already have a bunch of guys that can play outfield defense. He is left-handed, and not close to other left-handed hitters they employ, IMO, so there is no platoon advantage to be gained. He's also 27 years old. I also find this split for him very interesting in this conversation: 

The average OPS in the International League for 2024 is ~.765.

[roger]

Although Beltre went 0 for 4 yesterday, he sure had one fantastic season (1.071 OPS).  Lets hope he is the real deal and works his way up the ladder WITHOUT an injury or two interrupting every season.