Twins Minor League Report (9/6): Playoff Hopes Dashed

[Tom Froemming]

It’s been a banner year for the Twins in terms of prospect development. While the org ranks among the best in the league in terms of talent, unfortunately, that hasn’t necessarily translated into victories in the minors. With Fort Myers being eliminated from playoff contention today, none of the team’s affiliates will qualify for the postseason in 2024.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 76-65
St. Paul Saints: 65-70
Wichita Wind Surge: 55-75
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 66-62
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 64-59
FCL Twins: 27-31 (season complete)
DSL Twins: 30-25 (season complete)

SAINTS SENTINEL 
Iowa 8, St. Paul 4
Box Score
Andrew Morris had a nice outing going, but pitch count limitations cut his night short. Saints broadcaster Sean Aronson reported Morris was to be on around a 65 pitch count. He made the most of it.

Morris struck out six batters over his 3 2/3 innings while holding the I-Cubs to one run on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. Tonight’s outing brings him up to 123 innings on the season, a healthy jump up from last year’s 84 1/3 frames. Morris now has a 3.04 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings since being promoted to St. Paul.

Emmanuel Rodriguez had the day off, so Payton Eeles made his first professional start in center field (and just his 11th overall in the outfield). Eeles had a nice game at the plate, because of course he did. He hit a two-run home run, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. The Saints also got home runs from Jair Camargo and Chris Williams, but all three were solo shots.

It was a tough night for the Saints bullpen, as Ryan Jensen gave up a grand slam and Diego Castillo surrendered a pair of runs. But Steven Okert, in his second outing since being sent to St. Paul, pitched a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Frisco 2, Wichita 1
Box Score
Marco Raya was on his game tonight. While he only tallied two strikeouts, the 22-year-old was efficient, needing only 62 pitches to cover five innings. He nearly turned in a scoreless performance, but ended up surrendering one run.

With two down in the fifth inning, Frisco got a hustle double followed by a bloop single. The runner scored on an aggressive send. Center fielder Jorel Ortega’s throw beat the runner home by about 10 feet, the problem was it also sailed about 10 feet over the catcher’s head.

Cory Lewis followed Raya and also held Frisco to one run. He gave up a pair of hits and walked one batter while striking out three in his three innings of work.

The Wind Surge lineup struggled, combining to collect more double plays hit into (four) than actual base hits (three). Ortega had the only extra-base knock, a triple, and scored the only Wichita run on a Kala’i Rosario single. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Wisconsin 3, Cedar Rapids 2
Box Score
The Kernels lineup couldn’t get much of anything going in this one until the eighth inning. Gabriel Gonzalez led things off with a single (his third hit of the night), which was followed by a Rubel Cespedes double. After that were three consecutive groundouts, which managed to plate those two runners, but wasn’t enough to fully fuel a comeback.

Darren Bowen closed his first year in the Twins org with an outing that pretty closely mirrored his season. There were positives, as he struck out five of the 16 batters he faced, but there was also something left to be desired. He needed 75 pitches to complete just three innings, giving up three runs on four hits, a pair of walks and a hit batter. Bowen finishes with a 6.07 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 72 2/3 innings this year.

Walker Jenkins was 0-for-2 but drew two more walks. He has a .373 OBP during his time with Cedar Rapids. Kaelen Culpepper had the day off. The Kernels wrap up their 2024 season on Sunday.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers is ending its season with a massive series against Lakeland, the Tigers affiliate that they’re also battling for a playoff spot in the Florida State League West standings. Their Thursday game was suspended due to weather, meaning a massive doubleheader would take place today.

The Mighty Mussels led 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning of the game that was to be continued. They only scored one more run in the 14 innings played today. Lakeland swept, eliminating Fort Myers from playoff contention. 

Game 1: Lakeland 7, Fort Myers 3
Box Score
The 2-0 Fort Myers lead evaporated quickly, as Lakeland tallied a run in the bottom of the second inning (where the suspended game picked back up again today) and then a pair of runs in the third to take the lead. There was no looking back from there for the Flying Tigers.

Those runs were scored off Jose Olivares, who got knocked around a bit in his three innings, but did strike out five of the 16 batters he faced. He was followed by a couple of new faces to the org, Logan Whitaker (2024 19th-round pick) and Tyler Stasiowski (2024 undrafted free agent). Whitaker gave up a solo homer, but that was the only hit in his two frames and he struck out three batters. Stasiowski gave up a pair of runs in his inning of work.

Byron Chourio was the only Mussels player with a multi-hit game. He was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Brandon Winokur had the only Fort Myers extra-base hit, a double.

Game 2: Lakeland 6, Fort Myers 0
Box Score
Things didn’t go any better in the night cap. Mussels starter Ross Dunn only recorded five outs and surrendered four runs. The Fort Myers lineup could muster just two hits, a Jose Rodriguez double and a Khadim Diaw single.

Christian Becerra, a 2024 12th-round pick, impressed in his second pro appearance. The right-hander out of Cal pitched two scoreless innings while striking out three batters. He did not issue a walk and threw 20 of his 28 pitches for strikes. 

Perhaps it’s fair that Lakeland should be the team to go onto postseason play. They have the best overall record in the Florida State League West by 13 games on the full season, but missed out on being the first half winner by a half game in the standings.

Like the Kernels, the Mussels will also be done for the year on Sunday.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY 
Pitcher of the Day: Marco Raya, Wichita
Hitter of the Day: Payton Eeles, St. Paul

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

#1 Walker Jenkins (Cedar Rapids) 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
#2 Brooks Lee (Minnesota) 0-for-1
#5 Zebby Matthews (Minnesota) 5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 89 pitches
#7 Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) 3-for-4, R, E
#10 Marco Raya (Wichita) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 62 pitches
#11 Andrew Morris (St. Paul) 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 66 pitches
#12 Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) 1-for-7, 2B, 3 K, E
#13 Cory Lewis (Wichita) 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 45 pitches
#15 Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) 1-for-4, RBI, K
#16 Kyle DeBarge (Fort Myers) 1-for-8, RBI, K, 2 E
#17 Tanner Schobel (Wichita) 0-for-3, K

TOMORROW’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs. Iowa, 6:37 pm CT: Aaron Rozek
Wichita at Frisco, 7:05 pm CT: Pierson Ohl
Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin, 6:35 pm CT: Connor Prielipp
Fort Myers at Lakeland, 5:00 pm CT: Adrian Bohorquez

 

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[mark sills]

Would have gave pitcher of the day to Andrew Morris. Six K only run allowed was an inherited runner after he had first two outs in 4th inning. 

[mikelink45]

Why the limit for Morris?  Is he going to take Zebby or Varland's slot?  

Winning in the minors is affected so much by the promotions and changes in the lineups and rotations.  But I am pleased with what we are developing.

Think of the Saints if there lineup was not playing in Minneapolis - Zebby, Varland, Festa, SWR, Morris - Henrique, Blewett - Lee, Lewis, Miranda, Larnach, Wallner, Julien, Helman, Keirsey and Martin.  

I think we will start calling the MLB team the Minneapolis Saints.  

[tony&rodney]

Seems like a strict pitch count might be a little severe. I was clicking back and forth from the Twins to Saints. watching Morris pitch. He was dominant. If it was necessary to take him out around 65 pitches, which I have done many times as a manager, there surely could have been a little wiggle room (up to 7 pitches). On the other hand, perhaps there is zero interest in seeing Morris finish the inning making that pitch limit absolute. I just felt bad that his line included a run scored when the Iowa Cubs had no chance in hell of actually scoring against Morris. 

[LambchoP]

It sure looks like Eeles deserves to be in our top 30 prospects list with the year he's had. If he continues to play like this we could see him with the Twins next year. I think they should decide whether he's an IF or an OF though. For outfielders we have ERod, Rosario, Keirsey, Mkusker?

IF we've got Severino, Eeles, Helman. Good crop of hitters doing well in the minors. If a few of these guys can out in the majors we should have some legitimate depth, which is huge on a team like ours with so much injury potential.

[jmlease1]

Going to be a lot of starting pitching depth at AAA next season, which is great. Not going to be much room for a retread veteran there, which seems fine. Wonder if Lewis might start the season in AA just because of the crowding (and the fact that he missed a fair amount of time this year). Assuming no FA signings, the MLB rotation could be: Lopez, Ober, Ryan, SWR, and Paddack with AAA having Festa, Matthews, Morris, Raya, and Lewis (I think Varland moves to the bullpen from the jump next season). That's quite a bit of starting pitching depth. (and we still have guys like Culpepper, Adams, Jones, and Nowlin coming along)

Good progress by the hitters this season in the minors, but the injuries were a bummer. Jenkins is the real deal, I keep having to remind myself that it's his first full pro season, because he's not acting like it. Thought GG and Doncon did fine in Cedar Rapids at age 20. Hopefully Keaschall comes back strong from the surgery; he was doing great before getting hurt. Emma will be the first OF called up next season, I think, and he has star power.

Always interesting how you can have a ton of talent in the minors and the teams don't win, but guys cycle through quickly at times.

 

[tony&rodney]

4 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

MLB rotation could be: Lopez, Ober, Ryan, SWR, and Paddack

You could be correct. If Paddack is in the rotation in April you will know the Twins are not serious about early season games. Paddack can be a fair option as a relief pitcher but his first promising experiences with the Padres were long ago. All of Festa, Matthews, and Morris have passed The Sheriff as options for the starting rotation. Injuries happen; it is what it is. The Twins gambled on Paddack and he is now the debt they own. It wasn't a bad gamble either if he can be a fair middle relief pitcher.

[Doctor Gast]

I was hoping that the new recruits from the draft would be enough to secure a playoff berth for Fort Meyers

[LambchoP]

48 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Going to be a lot of starting pitching depth at AAA next season, which is great. Not going to be much room for a retread veteran there, which seems fine. Wonder if Lewis might start the season in AA just because of the crowding (and the fact that he missed a fair amount of time this year). Assuming no FA signings, the MLB rotation could be: Lopez, Ober, Ryan, SWR, and Paddack with AAA having Festa, Matthews, Morris, Raya, and Lewis (I think Varland moves to the bullpen from the jump next season). That's quite a bit of starting pitching depth. (and we still have guys like Culpepper, Adams, Jones, and Nowlin coming along)

Good progress by the hitters this season in the minors, but the injuries were a bummer. Jenkins is the real deal, I keep having to remind myself that it's his first full pro season, because he's not acting like it. Thought GG and Doncon did fine in Cedar Rapids at age 20. Hopefully Keaschall comes back strong from the surgery; he was doing great before getting hurt. Emma will be the first OF called up next season, I think, and he has star power.

Always interesting how you can have a ton of talent in the minors and the teams don't win, but guys cycle through quickly at times.

 

I'm not sure we will have that much starting pitching depth. My guess is Paddack and Varland will be in the bullpen. That leaves a rotation of Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR and Festa. That leaves our depth in AAA as Zebby and Morris. Raya doesn't look like he's ready for a promotion after putting up an ERA over 5 this year. Lewis has missed so much time, I'm guessing he starts in AA along with Culpeper and some of our other young guys. Doesn't leave us with too many good options in AAA for when Injury inevitably hits our MLB rotation. I think we need at least one major league starter, not to mention the bullpen needs some serious work as well.

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, LambchoP said:

I think we need at least one major league starter, not to mention the bullpen needs some serious work as well.

Sounds good to me but these guys will be invites because .... no money for free agents. I believe $135 million next season is a realistic ceiling with $115M the floor.

[LambchoP]

4 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Sounds good to me but these guys will be invites because .... no money for free agents. I believe $135 million next season is a realistic ceiling with $115M the floor.

My guess is something similar to this year. A bunch of waiver wire and DFA pickups, minor league deals. Maybe we sign one or two major league arms to a one year deal of 1-2 million, but that'll probably be all. Everyone saw how this kind of plan worked out this year lol. We have a good top of the bullpen with Duran, Jax, Alcala, Sands and Stewart. Henriquez has looked pretty good so far. If we get Topa healthy and then throw in Paddack and Varland I think the only true need are a couple of solid lefties. Theilbar and Okert will be gone and Funderburk should be AAA depth.

[SaberNerd]

Now with a decent sample size at AAA with Statcast data, I'm not sure Morris' slider is quite as good as some outlets had it, but the changeup and curveball have looked like legitimate pitches rather than just show-me pitches.  He also hasn't had the R/L splits you would expect from a guy with a great slider; he's pretty equal against both sides.  It's annoying that they haven't given him a cutter, so it groups both his cutter and slider together so I can't see stats for just the slider.

[LyleCole]

End of the minor league season, and one of the sad parts about that is considering the futures of some of the players in the system.  At the lower end of the minors, they always have another step up to look forward to, but when you reach AAA level,  for many players there is no more upward mobility.

Looking at the Saints players by age:

24 years old  

Patric WInkel, Yunior Severino, Payton Ecles, Jair Camargo, Travis Adams, Christian MacLeod

25 years old

Alex Isola, Maddux Houghton

26 years old

Anthony Prato, Carson McCusker, Will Holland, Brent Headrick

27 year old

Chris WIlliams, DaShawn Keirsey, Michael Helmon, Josh Winder

To reach that level of baseball, you were almost always the best or amongst the best players on your team:  little league, Babe Ruth, high school, VFW, college, even professional baseball.  But that next step is a difficult one.  I expect a few of these names to move organizations for new opportunities, and a few might have more AAA level time to play out.  I simply wish them all the best.

[mikelink45]

4 hours ago, LyleCole said:

End of the minor league season, and one of the sad parts about that is considering the futures of some of the players in the system.  At the lower end of the minors, they always have another step up to look forward to, but when you reach AAA level,  for many players there is no more upward mobility.

Looking at the Saints players by age:

24 years old  

Patric WInkel, Yunior Severino, Payton Ecles, Jair Camargo, Travis Adams, Christian MacLeod

25 years old

Alex Isola, Maddux Houghton

26 years old

Anthony Prato, Carson McCusker, Will Holland, Brent Headrick

27 year old

Chris WIlliams, DaShawn Keirsey, Michael Helmon, Josh Winder

To reach that level of baseball, you were almost always the best or amongst the best players on your team:  little league, Babe Ruth, high school, VFW, college, even professional baseball.  But that next step is a difficult one.  I expect a few of these names to move organizations for new opportunities, and a few might have more AAA level time to play out.  I simply wish them all the best.

McCusker looks like a perfect DH.  I think there is a lot of trade potential in this crop.

But I hope Paddack is not in the rotation next year.  Keep building with the young arms.