Twins Minor League Week in Review (3/31-4/7): Starters Shine

[Cody Christie]

All four Twins’ full season affiliates got underway over the last week. Which players had standout performances down on the farm?

Image courtesy of St. Paul Saints

TRANSACTIONS

• Twins selected RHP Scott Blewett from St. Paul
• SS Brooks Lee on rehab assignment with Fort Myers
• Twins sent RHP Randy Dobnak outright to St. Paul
• Many other players were placed on the 7-day injured list to begin the season (Click here for the full transaction report. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE CONTENT

• Battle of the Arms: Has Zebby Matthews Overtaken David Festa?
• Brandon Winokur: The Twins’ Five-Tool Prospect Set to Shine in 2025
• Twins Minor League Report (4/1): Zebby Matthews Wrecks the Clippers, Saints Dominate Again
• 2025 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Roster Preview: Pro Debuts and the Next Breakout Pitchers
• 2025 Wichita Wind Surge Roster Preview: Walker Jenkins and Impact Pitching
• 2025 Twins Prospect Previews: Rounds 3-10
• Minor League Report (4/2): Columbus UNO Reverses Saints with a Shutout
• Minor League Report (4/4): Charlee Soto, Spencer Bengard Impress on Opening Night
• Twins Minor League Report (4/5): Connor Prielipp Pitches, Dasan Hill Dazzles in Pro Debut
• Twins Minor League Report (4/6): Randy Dobnak Shines and the Wind Surge Get Their First Win
• 3 Triple-A Veterans Whose Contracts Minnesota Twins Could Purchase in a Pinch

WEEK IN REVIEW

 

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 2-4
• Last Week: 1-4
• Zebby Matthews’ first start sent waves through the fanbase. He had multiple pitches hit 99 mph in five shutout frames. 
• Andrew Morris and David Festa matched Matthews’ five shutout innings in their first starts of the season. Both pitchers had four strikeouts. 
• Travis Adams has been put into a piggy-back role because of the Saints depth at starting pitching.  In two appearances (5 2/3 innings), he has allowed one earned run on six hits with a 4.5 BB% and a 22.7 K%. 
• On the relief side, Kody Funderburk has two scoreless appearances (3 2/3 innings) with five strikeouts. 
• Ryan Fitzgerald leads the team with a 1.099 OPS thanks to two doubles and seven walks.
• Jair Camargo’s three doubles are the most extra-base hits on the team.
• Luke Keaschall hasn’t lost a beat in his return from Tommy John surgery. He has hit .350/.458/.400 (.858) with a 12.5 K% and 12.5 BB%. 
• Austin Martin has gotten on base 50% of the time but is still waiting for his first extra-base hit.  
• What’s Next: The Saints return home to play a six-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers. The weather looks to be amazing by the end of the week, so it would be a great time to head to St. Paul to see the team’s top prospects.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 1-2
• Last Week: 1-2
• Tanner Schobel has been the bright spot in the Double-A lineup. He has started the year 4-for-10 (.400 BA) with two doubles and two walks. 
• Kala’i Rosario and Ben Ross lead the team with one home run.
• Ricardo Olivar is second on the team in hits having gone 3-for-9 (.333 BA) in his first two games. 
• Trent Baker has the best totals on the pitching staff. He’s pitched three no-hit innings with three strikeouts and three walks.
• Connor Prielipp struck out three batters in two innings during his season debut.
• What’s Next: After opening on the road, the team’s home opener is Tuesday, April 8th versus the Midland Rockhounds. The six-game series runs Sunday. 

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 2-1
• Last Week: 2-1
• Charlee Soto pitched well in his High-A debut. Across four shutout innings, he allowed two hits and struck out five. 
• Spencer Bengard shined with four no-hit innings including six strikeouts. On Monday, he was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. 
• Alejandro Hidalgo is tied for the team lead with six strikeouts. 
• Gabriel Gonzalez has been one of the organization’s best hitters to start the year. He went 6-for-13 (.426 BA) with a home run, three doubles, and a walk. On Monday, he was named the Midwest League Player of the Week.
• Billy Amick has showcased his speed with three doubles, a triple and four runs scored. 
• What’s Next: Cedar Rapids begins their home schedule on Tuesday versus the Beloit (Don’t Call Us Snappers) Sky Carp with a six-game series.

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 1-2
• Last Week: 1-2
• Dasan Hill, the 19 year-old lefty, allowed one run (a home run) in four innings while striking out seven. 
• Jason Doktorczyk struck out six in three innings.
• Michael Ross tossed five innings and allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. 
• Daniel Pena, Jose Rodriguez, and Dameury Pena have a home run each. Other Fort Myers hitters have yet to have an extra-base hit.
• Byron Chourio started the year 3-for-8 (.375 BA) with seven walks and a run scored. 
• Poncho Ruiz leads the team with three runs scored even though he has only nine plate appearances in two games. 
• What’s Next: Like many of the other affiliates, Fort Myers started their season on the road. The team opens their home schedule on Tuesday, April 8th with a six-game series versus the Tampa Tarpons.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects. And, be sure to note the new, updated Top 20 rankings. Roster assignments below are subject to change as some players have yet to be assigned or are in Extended Spring Training. 

1. Walker Jenkins (Wichita): 1-8, 2 K, 0 BB
2. Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul): 4-17, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 6 BB, 9 K
3. Luke Keaschall (St. Paul): 7-20, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 SB
4. Charlee Soto (Ft. Myers): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
5. Andrew Morris (St. Paul): 5 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
6. Marco Raya (St. Paul): 2 1/3 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
7. Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids): 2-6, 1 3B, 2 BB, 3 K
8. Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 1-12, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
9. Cory Lewis (St. Paul): 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
10. Connor Prielipp (Wichita): 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
11. Dasan Hill (Fort Myers): 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K
12. C.J. Culpepper (Wichita): On IL
13. Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids): 4-14, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 SB
14. Eduardo Beltre (DSL Twins): In Extended Spring Training
15. Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers): 0-11, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
16. Rayne Doncon (Cedar Rapids): 1-7, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
17. Billy Amick (Fort Myers): 5-13, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K
18. Kala’i Rosario (Wichita): 1-9, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
19. Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids): 6-13, 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
20. Ricardo Olivar (Wichita): 3-9, 2 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Hitter of the Week: Gabriel Gonzalez, Cedar Rapids
6-for-13 (.462 BA), 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K, 1 BB

Pitcher of the Week: Dasan Hill, Fort Myers
4.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K

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[Blyleven2011]

Pitching looks good , but hitting hasn't got going as of yet , some have good starts but it takes a team effort to win  ...

Thanks for the review ...

[FlyingFinn]

Lots of good starts for almost all of our high rated pitchers, including piggy back starters. Bullpens were terrible. 

[DocBauer]

Jones, Culpepper, McLeod, and Ohl all the IL to start the season for AA. But all are on the 7 day. I'm going to assume this is more about roster manipulation or a little side work and nothing serious? 

Tremendous first starts for most of the top arms, but a bad 2nd start for Festa. Not sure you could ask more from Soto and Hill in their debuts. Good pro debut for Michael Ross, the 18th pick in last year's draft. Really good control pitcher who missed the 2023 season. I have to wonder if that held down his draft status? If he's increased velocity, he could be someone to watch. I still think Doktorczyk is a professional rookie from the '24 draft class to keep an eye on. Built a lot like Matthews, and reminds me of Ober in his throwing motion.

It's nice to see the hit start to some young bats, but we're only talking a few games, so have to take that in to account. Still, Amick looks good and I can see him and Culpepper each destroying A+ and moving to Wichita fairly quickly. That would also ease the INF logjam at CR.

Even with Lee back relatively soon, and Lewis hopefully around May 1st-ish, if Keaschall keeps doing what he did last season, with a good ST, and a hot start, he may not be long for AAA.

[Dman]

Really nice to see Schobel off to a good start.  I still think he has a sneaky good hit tool, but will have to wait and see this year.

Gonzales has been making good hard contact to start the year and that is key to get his slugging up to help his OPS.  Hopefully the balls continue to find holes, but with a .500 BABIP some of his numbers are going to come down. More extra base hits and he will be on his way to the next level.

I liked how Bengard looked in the game I watched him. His stuff has really nice movement and he might have found the out pitch that he lacked last year.  He has the stuff to move up fairly fast if he can maintain good control of the zone.  I guess zero hits beats 11K's but I thought Rodriguez from Milwaukee's high A club deserved pitcher of the week.  Our guys couldn't do much of anything against him.  Gonzales with a laser down the line for a double and then a bloop single scored him eventually.  A little unlucky there. The movement on his pitches was a thing of beauty.  Still Bengard with no hits and 6 K's is very impressive stuff.  Hope he keeps the K's coming and gets a call to AA fairly soon.

[twinstalker]

Thank you, love these.

[Otaknam]

The Twins MiL week in review is a favorite of mine. All TD readers, I’m sure, really enjoy reading it. Thanks for putting it together.

[LambchoP]

With the disasterous start to the Twins season, I think pretty soon here Zebby should take Paddack rotation spot and move Paddack to the pen as a long man. If Keaschal keeps hitting they should call him up to play second base everyday. Julien or Gasper can go down to AAA. With Keaschal at 2nd, Lee can take over 3rd base until Lewis comes back. This would help our terrible defense too.

[DocBauer]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:34 AM, LambchoP said:

With the disasterous start to the Twins season, I think pretty soon here Zebby should take Paddack rotation spot and move Paddack to the pen as a long man. If Keaschal keeps hitting they should call him up to play second base everyday. Julien or Gasper can go down to AAA. With Keaschal at 2nd, Lee can take over 3rd base until Lewis comes back. This would help our terrible defense too.

I generally agree here except for the use of Paddack. He's going to get a few more starts to see if he gets in a groove. Hus last start was still good for 4 innings and far better than his first, disastrous start. But Matthews could be up for Lopez if he has anything other than a mild tweak that took him out of the game Tuesday.

And I think it's fair to give Paddack a little more time. But if he does move to the pen...hard swallow of his pride but maybe a necessary change for his career...I don't think he'd be a long man. He'd probably be a power arm 1 inning guy who could go 2 the way Varland can. The 8th spot will often be a rotating spot to eat some innings and then be replaced. 

[FlyingFinn]

On 4/7/2025 at 8:04 PM, DocBauer said:

if Keaschall keeps doing what he did last season, with a good ST, and a hot start, he may not be long for AAA.

He needs to be able to play in the field for 9 innings though on consecutive days. So far, he has mostly played DH or planned games where he plays 5 innings in the field. He won't be up until they are confident he's 100%.