Twins Minor League Report (4/24): Jay Thomason, Maddux Houghton Muscle Fort Myers to Extra-Inning Win

[Seth Stohs]

Sometimes it just takes one bad inning to cost a team a win. Sometimes, it just takes one at-bat. 

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photos of Maddux Houghton, Jay Thomason (shaking Seth Feldman's hand))

We've got transactions. We've got major milestones. We've got high-scoring games. We have a rain out that is giving us an tremendous, exciting pitching matchup on Friday. There were big home runs and big innings. Check out everything that happened in the Twins minor league system on Thursday. 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 9-16
St. Paul Saints: 9-11
Wichita Wind Surge: 10-8
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 11-6
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 10-8

TRANSACTIONS
The Twins played a Thursday afternoon game at Target Field. Before the game, they announced that Willi Castro was placed on the Injured List with his oblique injury. The Twins recalled Mickey Gasper who played well in his week with the Saints. They also announced that David Festa has been optioned to St. Paul and a corresponding move will be made before their Friday home game against the Angels. Unless something strange happens, that move will be activating Pablo Lopez so he can start on Friday for the Twins. 

We also learned on Thursday afternoon that Royce Lewis will begin his rehab assignment with the Saints starting on Friday. 

MILESTONES
Earlier this month, Saints broadcaster Sean Aronson called his 2,000th game for the Saints. 

On Friday night, Wichita Wind Surge broadcaster Tim Grubbs will be calling his 4,000th career minor-league game. His broadcast career began in 1995 with the Hickory Crawdads. From 1996-1998, he called games for the Winston-Salem Warthogs. He was with the Knoxville Smokies from 1999-2001. He joined the New Orleans Zephyrs in 2002 and called their games through the 2019 season. That’s when the franchise moved to Wichita and Grubb moved with it. 

Of course, the 2020 season was lost, and with minor-league realignment, he’s been calling Double-A games for the Wichita Wind Surge since 2021. In this team’s press notes, they pointed out that he called one MLB innings with the Astros in 2004. However, he will “officially make his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins later this season. He will broadcast six games for the Twins on the road at Cleveland and Detroit.” 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul, Indianapolis (Postponed)
Box Score
For the sixth time already this season, the Saints have had their scheduled game postponed. Because of that, finding time to make up this game will not be easy. These teams played a doubleheader on Wednesday. They are already scheduled for a doubleheader on Friday. The Saints also play a doubleheader on Tuesday in Columbus. Indianapolis doesn’t come back to St. Paul after Sunday. So, sometime the week of June 10th, they will play a doubleheader in Indianapolis. 

If you are looking for something to do on Friday night, a trip to CHS Field would be a fun event. Game 1 starts at 5:00 and pits a couple of top pitching prospects against each other. The Saints will start Marco Raya while Indianapolis will start Pirates top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 0, Springfield 4 
Box Score
Springfield’s starter, Tekoah Roby, was a consensus Top 100 prospect coming into the 2024 season. He was limited to just 10 starts last year and struggled when he moved up to Double-A. Coming into this game, he had a 1.50 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 12 innings. He had 14 strikeouts to go with three walks. On this night, he worked five scoreless innings with just two hits allowed. The Surge worked him for three walks and limited themselves to just two strikeouts against him. 

For the Surge, Trent Baker was on the mound to start against his former team for the second time already this season. Baker worked five innings, but he was charged with four runs (3 earned) on eight hits. Not a great line, but after giving up four runs over the first three innings, he was still able to work two more innings of productive ball for his team. 

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Ben Ross walked. Rubel Cespedes hit a high pop-up in the Bermuda Triangle of pop-ups. It dropped in between the center fielder, shortstop and second baseman. The speedy Ross was running the whole way. Cespedes was credited with a double thanks to the hustle of Ross. 

Jarret Whorff came on in relief and gave up only an unearned run over three innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and had four strikeouts. Cody Laweryson tossed a perfect ninth inning. 

Down 5-1 in the ninth, the Surge attempted a comeback. Kyler Fedko led off with a single, and Noah Cardenas walked. Aaron Sabato struck out. Tyler Dearden flew out to the warning track for the second out. After a pitching change, Tanner Schobel singled in a run to make it 5-2. Ricardo Olivar struck out, but he reached on a wild pitch to load the bases. Ben Ross grounded to short and was thrown out by a half-step. 

Rubel Cespedes led the offense. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and his RBI double. Kyler Fedko was 2-for-4. Noah Cardenas was 1-for-2 with two walks and a double. The team was 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. Tanner Schobel has reached base in 17 consecutive games. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 5, Wisconsin 13 
Box Score
The Kernels got off to a nice start in this game, taking an early lead. Gabriel Gonzalez led off the bottom of the second innings with a single to left. Khadim Diaw was hit by a pitch and Danny De Andrade walked to load the bases. Nate Baez followed with a two-run single. 

After a double play, Caden Kendle hit an infield single. Kaelen Culpepper singled to left to add another run. 

Chase Chaney began the season with the Wind Surge, but as the Wichita rotation has had a few starters return from IL stints, Chaney will now be making starts for the Kernels. He threw scoreless innings in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings. Unfortunately, in the third inning, catcher Matthew Wood launched a grand slam that put the Rattlers ahead 4-3 at the time. Chaney gave up four runs on five hits and a walk. He also had five strikeouts. 

Samuel Perez came in and tossed two scoreless innings to keep the game at 4-4. And then things got ugly. Gabriel Yanez gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in one inning. Juan Mendez came in for the ninth inning trying to keep the game at 6-4. He gave up six runs on four hits and a walk and a hit batter. Juan Mercedes came on with the bases loaded and one out. He allowed all three inherited runners to score. He gave up a hit and walked three batters before getting the third out. He was charged with just one run. Looking for a positive, Mercedes K/9 for this outing was 27.0. 

The Kernels didn’t give up and put another run on the board in the bottom of the ninth, but that was it. Danny De Andrade led the offense. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double. Billy Amick went 2-for-4 with a walk. Kalen Culpepper and Gabriel Gonzalez both went 2-for-5. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 3, Clearwater 
Box Score
Jason Doktorczyk got the nod from manager Seth Feldman in this game. He knew he’d have to be solid since he was facing Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, a top ten global prospect. Painter tossed three scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. Doktorczyk was certainly up to the challenge. The 2024 draft pick gave up only an unearned run on two hits and a walk in four innings. He had two strikeouts. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Byron Chourio led off with a single. With one out, Yasser Mercedes doubled to drive in Chourio and tie the game 1-1. 

Jay Thomason led off the top of the seventh inning with his fourth home run of the season. The 2024 draft pick from the Air Force launched another ball at 106.5 mph at a towering 40 degrees and landing 412 feet from home plate. He gave the Mussels a 2-1 lead.   

Jacob Kisting came on to start the fifth inning. He had four strikeouts over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and had two walks. Kade Bragg came on with a runner on base but immediately fielded a grounder, turned and threw to second base to start an inning-ending double play. However, he gave up a game-tying run in the eighth frame. Devin Kirby worked a scoreless ninth inning to send the game to extra-innings.

Yohander Martinez came in as the Manfred Man to start the top of the 10th. Angel Del Rosario reached on an error and advanced to second base on defensive indifference. With one out, Maddux Houghton stepped to the plate and launched a three-run homer to give the Mussels a 5-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the 10th, Kirby allowed the Manfred Man to score, but that was it. 

The Mussels had just seven hits. No one had more than one hit. Jose Salas was 1-for-2 and played center field in his second rehab game. He’s 2-for-5 with both hits being doubles. Houghton pinch hit for Salas. Mercedes’ double was his fourth of the season. Jose Rodriguez added his third double. 

The Mussels were just 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. They left just seven runners on base. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter of the Day  
Maddux Houghton (Fort Myers): 1-for-3, HR(1), R, 3 RBI (3-run homer in 10th inning)

Pitcher of the Day 
Jason Doktorczyk (Fort Myers): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K, 66 pitches, 42 strikes (63.6%)

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

#3 - Luke Keaschall (Minnesota) - 1-for-2, BB (DH)
#7 - Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, RBI
#13 - Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, BB, 2 K (CF)
#15 - Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) - 0-for-4, K
#17 - Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, BB, R, RBI
#18 - Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) - 0-for-4
#19 - Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, R
#20 - Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) - 0-for-5, 2 K       

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Angels @ Minnesota (6:40 PM CST) - RHP Pablo Lopez (1-1, 1.62 ERA)
Indianapolis @ St. Paul (DH at 5:00 PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya (0-0, 1.23) and Darren McCaughan (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Springfield @ Wichita (6:35 PM CST) - RHP Darren Bowen (2-0, 1.38 ERA)
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CST) - RHP Alejandro Hidalgo (0-0, 6.55 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:30 PM CST) - RHP Cole Peschl (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the roster, and discuss Thursday’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related!

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[Doctor Wu]

Thanks for another fun roundup, Seth, Man, Billy Amick keeps hitting! Now batting .377 with an eye-popping OBP of .506. Obviously, not sustainable for too long, but a very impressive start. The most surprising part of those stats is that he hasn't homered yet. I didn't think he would end up amounting to much when we drafted him, but thus far he's played  better than I expected. 

[LambchoP]

Sure wish we'd get some kind of update on Jenkins and Eeles. With the Twins basically being unwatchable, these minor league teams are the only teams worth following. Looking forward to watching the Saints tonight. Hopefully Royce can hit right from the start. 

[rdehring]

Thanks, Seth.

Seeing they both joined the Twins in the Arraez/Lopez trade a couple years ago, interesting seeing Salas and Chourio playing next to each other in the Fort Myers outfield.  Although one never knows, both remain a long way away from helping the Twins.  

   

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Sure wish we'd get some kind of update on Jenkins and Eeles. With the Twins basically being unwatchable, these minor league teams are the only teams worth following. Looking forward to watching the Saints tonight. Hopefully Royce can hit right from the start. 

Jenkins had a light sprained ankle he aggravated. Estimated return on Roto is 5/1, which seems pretty reasonable based on a 3 week recovery timetable.

Eeles is a secret agent. He doesn't exist and no information can be published about him. You'll need to look for his alternate identity, Clayton Kershaw. You have to piece the puzzle together. It's reported that "Clayton Kershaw" (nice fake name) also underwent knee surgery and he was making starts off the mound in AA for the Dodgers. It's all a cover story since Eeles isn't a pitcher and doesn't play for the Dodgers... or does he? In a secret operation designed to protect the Twins from AL Central team scouting and planning to defeat Payton Eeles, the Minnesota Twins have made a secret deal with the Dodgers to allow Eeles to operate under the fake name "Clayton Kershaw." Further confusing the scouts, Kershaw is listed as 6'4" while Eeles is barely 5'4" tall. It's a brilliant plan.

[Seth Stohs]

5 hours ago, rdehring said:

Thanks, Seth.

Seeing they both joined the Twins in the Arraez/Lopez trade a couple years ago, interesting seeing Salas and Chourio playing next to each other in the Fort Myers outfield.  Although one never knows, both remain a long way away from helping the Twins.  

Normally I would say that Salas is only likely to be in FM for a little while, but honestly, it might not be a bad thing for him to spend a few months in Fort Myers. Yeah, Ethan is in Double-A... His brother Andrew who just signed with the Marlins in January, is already playing in the Florida State League too. Might be good to let Salas play down there. 

[Doctor Gast]

Thanks, Seth. I asked before but I was wondering if you heard anything on Austin Martin's injury update?

[Blyleven2011]

Good report Seth  ...

Looking over the top 20 prospects on batting  , a thought occurred , on a given day having all the position players in top 20 that played that day had at least 1 hit on the same day between st Paul and fort Myers prospects  ....

Today of the mentioned prospects , 4 did not have hits ...