Twins Minor League Report (4/23): Ricardo Olivar Can't be Contained

[Matt Braun]

If I had a nickel for every Alabama native who made a start on Wednesday, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Ricardo Olivar)

TRANSACTIONS

There were no moves made on Wednesday.

Saints Sentinel
Game One: St. Paul 5, Indianapolis 1 (Seven Innings)
Box Score
Andrew Morris: 4 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
HR: Mickey Gasper (2), Mike Ford (3)
Multi-hit games: None

The Saints won a breezy opening game of their doubleheader.

Andrew Morris remains peripheral agnostic. He does not care. Walks. Strikeouts. The man only cares about one thing: outs, and he’ll claim them regardless of what nerdy FIP or FIP-adjacent stat you throw at him. Wednesday was maybe his magnum opus: three walks, five hits, two strikeouts, and—critically—zero earned runs. Majestic.

Mickey Gasper continued his AAA tear with a 1st-inning two-run blast, the first of three runs scored by the Saints to start the game. Carson McCusker drove in the concluding run with a double.

(And it was ripped, because it was Carson McCusker and that’s the only way he lives life.)

Brady Fiegl and Richard Lovelady combined to work the final three frames, holding Indianapolis scoreless with just two harmless baserunners.

Mike Ford capped the scoring with an absolute skyscraper into right field, a 45-degree behemoth that may have spooked a bird, or a low-flying aircraft.

MLB.com’s 76th overall prospect, Thomas Harrington, started for Indianapolis. He allowed five runs across four innings.

Game Two: St. Paul 2, Indianapolis 4
Box Score
Cory Lewis: 3 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The knuckleball looked unfavorably upon Cory Lewis. Back to starting, if just for a short time, the righty ran into early trouble, allowing a pair of homers in the games' opening frames to fall into a 3-0 deficit. Unfortunately, the home run issue is a sticking point from his last appearance; Lewis has now allowed six long balls across his two most recent outings. 

St. Paul’s bats offered tepid support of their starter, with Anthony Prato singling home a run in the 2nd. Then, in the 3rd, Indianapolis pulled their starter in favor of reliever Drake Fellows—otherwise known as OVO—and Carson McCusker singled to call in a second run.

That proved insufficient, as the Saints offense never woke up, and Indianapolis scored one more run before eventually claiming the win. 

Pittsburgh’s 5th-ranked prospect, Nick Yorke, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 7, Springfield 6 (10 Innings)
Box Score
Christian MacLeod: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Tanner Schobel (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R), Ricardo Olivar (4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI), Ben Ross (2-for-4, R, RBI, BB), Kala’i Rosario (2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI)

The Wind Surge won in an extra-inning walk-off on Wednesday.

Lefty Christian MacLeod made a triumphant return to Wichita. The Hunstville native cruised in three frames, shutting out the Cardinals with five punchouts. He threw 44 pitches. He has not given up a run in seven innings to start the season. 

Evidently, Springfield experienced a renewed vigor the second they saw MacLeod exit the game, because Wichita’s next two pitchers had a far less fun afternoon. Angel Macuare was walloped for three runs in a single inning; John Klein suffered the same (two earned) across 3 ⅔ innings. 

The good news is that Wichita’s offense was primed and ready to score some runs. Kala’i Rosario summoned home a pair with a 4th inning double, marking the beginning of a three-inning drought. Then, staring at a 6-2 deficit, they erupted for two in the 8th, two more in the 9th to tie the game, and a final, Manfred-Man-scoring knock off Kyler Fedko’s bat to deliver the win.

Ricardo Olivar stood at the heart of the offensive supernova, exploding for four hits—two doubles—and three RBIs. He even threw a guy out at home. Sometimes, everything just goes right. 

Wind Surge pitchers struck out 14 batters in the game. 

Springfield is an affiliate of St. Louis, typically a talented system. Their top prospect—2024 first rounder, J.J. Wetherholt—is on the team, but did not play on Wednesday. Instead, Chase Davis, ranked 9th, in the system, served as their finest youngster. He singled and struck out thrice in five trips to the plate. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 2
Box Score
Ty Langenberg: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Nate Baez (2-for-3)

Ty Langenberg pitched a fine ball game. The righty out of Iowa was nearly flawless; a 2nd inning single immediately erased by a double play proved the only jab the Timber Rattlers were able to land on him. Every out except one came via a strikeout or groundout. With just 40 pitches, Langenberg put forth an early submission for most efficient start of the year amongst Twins minor leaguers.

Kernels’ bats started dormant, but woke up in the 5th. Khadim Diaw plated the opening run of the game by stealing 2nd before dashing home on a wild pitch/catcher throwing error combo. Two more runs scampered home off a Danny De Andrade double the following frame. 

Steals helped fuel the scores, and they were a consistent theme all night for the Kernels: they ended up swiping four bases, including Kyle DeBarge’s ninth of the season.

The Timber Rattlers scored a final 9th inning off a groundout. Strangely, both runs scored by Wisconsin were via a groundball, giving them the unique distinction of going 0-for with runners in scoring position despite scoring two runs. 

2nd baseman Jadher Areinamo ranks as the Brewers’ 23rd-best prospect. He doubled in four at-bats.

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 3, Clearwater 4
Box Score
Eli Jones: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Mighty Mussels came up short on Wednesday.

Hitting was at a premium for Fort Myers. Their starting nine could only muster three hits—none of which went for extra bases. Augured by five walks, though, and a pair of stolen bases Angel Del Rosario, they were able to plate a trio of runs, perhaps more than they “deserved” given the meager inputs. RBI credits go to Jose Rodriguez for walking with the bases loaded, and the aforementioned Del Rosario, who singled in two in the 7th. 

2024 draftee, Eli Jones, did not have his best stuff. A pair of scoreless frames to begin the game portended an extended, laborious 3rd for the Birmingham-born Jones, in which he walked two, allowed a pair of singles, and ushered home a run with a wild pitch. A 5th inning solo shot capped his allowed damage. The University of South Carolina product topped out at 94.2.

Fort Myers was able to put the tying run in scoring position in the 9th, but Byron Chourio did not play the hero; he grounded out to end the game.

The Threshers are the A-ball affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Their 4th-ranked prospect, Eduardo Tait, DH’d, singling once in four at-bats.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Ty Langenberg
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Ricardo Olivar

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#2 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 0-2, R, BB, K
#3 – Luke Keaschall (Twins) - 1-3, 2B, R, BB
#5 – Andrew Morris (St. Paul) - 4 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
#8 – Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2 K
#9 – Cory Lewis (St. Paul) - 3 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
#13 – Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 2B, R
#15 – Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) - 1-4, R, K
#17 – Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, R, 2 K
#18 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) - 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
#19 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, BB
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) - 4-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Indianapolis @ St. Paul (6:37 PM) - RHP Marco Raya
Springfield @ Wichita (6:35 PM) - RHP Trent Baker
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM) - RHP Chase Chaney
Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:30 PM) - RHP Jason Doktorczyk

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[FlyingFinn]

 A couple more good starts, this time by Morris and Langenberg.

And Gasper, he just has to make you laugh. Two HR's already with the Saints and it didn't look he could get the ball near the fence with the Twins.

[ryan189]

good start  by morris took him 82 pitches to get through 4 innings 56 percent strikes more walks then ks more hits then innings pitched that is not a recipe for success but because he is a high ranked prospect gets a pass

[Doctor Wu]

Schobel has dropped in the prospect rankings, but so far this season he is looking more like the player the Twins hoped he would be when they drafted him. He'll turn 24 this season, so he's not a youngster, but there may be some hope for him yet. 

[Karbo]

McCusker is really making a case for himself to get a chance in the majors for somebody. Will that be the Twins?

[Old Twins Cap]

McCusker is this year's Eales.  Er, make that two Eales stacked on top of each other.

[Jasper]

22 minutes ago, Old Twins Cap said:

McCusker is this year's Eales.  Er, make that two Eales stacked on top of each other.

Has anyone heard how eels is doing? wonder if he is done for the season.

[Althebum82]

Mike Ford was an easy cut from spring training.  He looks pretty comfortable at AAA, though. 

A little disappointed to see all of the empty seats behind home plate in Saint Paul.  Yes, it is still April in Minnesota and eventually summer arrives and school ends.  It's just a little sad to see on the video coverage.

[LambchoP]

Does Olivar catch anymore? Sure looks like the guy can hit but it'd be great if he could stick at catcher since we are really thin there. I think it's time Mccusker gets called up. Even if it's temporary until Wallner gets activated. The big man sure looks like he's done everything he can in AAA. Maybe he surprises us like Keaschal did. We can use all the offensive help we can get. Dump Cartaya off the 40 man and reward it to Mccusker.

[Dman]

 I kind or wrote Olivar off after he had a rough start at AA last year.  Also I don't see him making it as a MLB catcher.  Still he is a slow runner without much defensive value with a very good bat.  AA isn't easy and this is really his first extended crack at it being healthy and not too dinged up like late last year and he is doing really well.  Hope he keeps it up.  If he can be an elite bat there is still 1st base or DH. Hoping he stays hot.

[terrydactyls]

"Augured" by five walks and two stolen bases?  Augured means to foretell a negative event.  Did you mean "augmented" by any chance?

 

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Does Olivar catch anymore? Sure looks like the guy can hit but it'd be great if he could stick at catcher since we are really thin there. I think it's time Mccusker gets called up. Even if it's temporary until Wallner gets activated. The big man sure looks like he's done everything he can in AAA. Maybe he surprises us like Keaschal did. We can use all the offensive help we can get. Dump Cartaya off the 40 man and reward it to Mccusker.

Olivar doesn't look like he can stick at catcher. but it's good to see him hitting in AA this year. If he makes it, it's going to be with his bat.

Who knows with McCusker. He's super popular with the instant gratification crowd, but he's a poor OF who should probably be a DH, and the jump from AAA to MLB is a really big one. Yes, he's doing great in AAA, but the calls to bring him up seem more like "eff it, let's see what someone else can do" than any real plan for him or an expectation that he can actually hit at this level. If he comes up and hits .220 with a pile of Ks, people will be screaming for him to be cut (and then get mad if someone else picks him up for not giving him enough time to figure it out).

twins fans are mad because the MLB squad is playing like crap, our ownership sucks, and the weather is still cold. can't blame them, but lurching around chasing the new shiny object every day won't help much.

[mark sills]

15 hours ago, ryan189 said:

good start  by morris took him 82 pitches to get through 4 innings 56 percent strikes more walks then ks more hits then innings pitched that is not a recipe for success but because he is a high ranked prospect gets a pass

one hit to the outfield the other four were weak grounders to the right place. three walks more than he's had in a game for a long time. Weak contact is sometimes better than a strike out.

[ryan189]

3 minutes ago, mark sills said:

one hit to the outfield the other four were weak grounders to the right place. three walks more than he's had in a game for a long time. Weak contact is sometimes better than a strike out.

I agree but to call it a good game it was not that's my point  he pitched fine but you don't want that game every week 

[ryan189]

6 minutes ago, mark sills said:

one hit to the outfield the other four were weak grounders to the right place. three walks more than he's had in a game for a long time. Weak contact is sometimes better than a strike out.

and if this was paddocks line people would say how bad he was morris battled and kept guys from scoring some days that's what you need to do

[bean5302]

Morris certainly has a little cult following around here. Average exit velocity against Morris is 92.0mph, and you typically see a +1/2mph jump between AAA and MLB. Anything above 90.0mph at the MLB level gets iffy. He doesn't strike guys out and he issues a fair number of free passes. Ground ball rate is good, but hardly great. It's a small sample size, but I guarantee you, a 2.00 WHIP will eventually put a whole lotta runs on the board against you. Hopefully, Morris can get his stuff to generate some weaker contact or a few more misses as he works into a rhythm.

Given the black hole at the plate status of Cartaya and Camargo, it'd be nice for the Twins to give more time behind the dish to another player. I don't care who that player is, really. Winkel, Gasper, Morales, even shifting up Olivar. The Twins are in absolutely desperate need of at least a backup caliber catcher at the MLB level. 

Nice to see McCusker continuing to hit. Gotta get keep proving it a while longer, IMHO. 

3 errors in the field for the Saints staying true to Minnesota's quality defensive reputation!

[mark sills]

8 minutes ago, ryan189 said:

and if this was paddocks line people would say how bad he was morris battled and kept guys from scoring some days that's what you need to do

Paddock hasn't had a game without an earned run this year. Fail to see the comparison.

[ryan189]

1 hour ago, mark sills said:

Paddock hasn't had a game without an earned run this year. Fail to see the comparison.

dosen't matter the pitcher just mean the stat line of the game