Twins Minor League Report (5/14): Ryan Fitzgerald Cannot be Stopped

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Ryan Fitzgerald)

TRANSACTIONS
RHP Jack Noble activated from 7-day IL (Cedar Rapids)
OF Byron Chourio placed on 7-day IL with left oblique strain (Fort Myers)
LHP Kody Funderburk recalled from AAA St. Paul (27th man)

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 5, Iowa 10
Box Score
Cory Lewis: 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Ryan Fitzgerald (4-for-5, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB), Will Holland (2-for-3, R), Patrick Winkel (2-for-5, R)

The Saints stranded a small army to lose on Wednesday. 

Really, it appeared neither team was interested in playing a clean game of baseball. Both squads walked more than they struck out; there were nine combined steals, with just one baserunner caught, and each squad netted an outfield assist. Perhaps the credit should go to the ones igniting the fury—the hitters who walked, the runners who stole, the outfielders who threw—but the end result was the same: someone often looked foolish on Wednesday. 

Cory Lewis continued his 2025 struggles. The hurler who looked so polished in 2023 and 2024 bears little resemblance to the one pitching these days, and his start on Wednesday only made matters worse, with nine allowed baserunners, five earned runs, and just three strikeouts. His ERA is over 9.00. His WHIP is over 2.00. He threw as many balls as strikes on Wednesday. Hopefully, he re-finds his groove soon.

On the surface, the Saints’ offense was potent: they took 10 walks and knocked 12 hits. Seven of their starting nine players reached base multiple times, and one of the ones who didn’t—Carson McCusker—still accrued two RBIs. 

But, the team couldn’t make the most of their opportunities, and left a franchise-tying record 15 men on base. This isn’t the juiced way to count runners left on base, either; even the typically conservative counting method couldn’t disguise the clutch impotence. 

Ryan Fitzgerald reached base five times to push his season slash line to .336/.431/.541. 

18th-ranked MLB prospect Matt Shaw played third for the Cubs, singling twice and walking in five plate appearances.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 11, Arkansas 9
Box Score
Connor Prielipp: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
HR: Ricardo Olivar (5), Jorel Ortega (3)
Multi-hit games: Ricardo Olivar (3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI), Rubel Cespedes (2-for-5), Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, R), Jorel Ortega (2-for-3, HR, R, 4 RBI)

An offensive outburst favored the Wind Surge on Wednesday. 

Ricardo Olivar delivered the team’s first major knock, following up a Tanner Schobel RBI single in the third with a three-run homer just over the left field wall to give Wichita the lead.

The lead was only two, not four, because Connor Prielipp labored to start the game. He allowed four straight batters to reach before coaxing three consecutive outs. A clean second proved he was back on track, but an elevated pitch count of 49 was too high for manager Brian Dinkelman, who yanked his lefty to give him the rare all deuces pitching line.

Pierson Ohl, Jarret Whorff, John Stankiewicz, and Cody Laweryson combined to deliver the game’s remaining seven frames, with the four hurlers turning in inconsistent results. Ohl surrendered two over two innings, Whorff was knocked for one across a pair of innings, Stankiewicz was blasted for four in just 1 1/3 innings, and Laweryson saw the best of it, giving up two walks and two hits but nonetheless succeeding in earning five outs without an earned run. A bad day to be a bullpen man. 

Fortunately, Wichita’s bats never stopped attacking Travelers pitching. That four-run third portended dual empty frames, but the scoring roared into overdrive starting with a two-run knock by Jorel Ortega in the sixth. 

More shenanigans in the seventh allowed for a Tyler Dearden double to score two, before Ortega struck again, this time for a two-run blast. Kyler Fedko capped the action with a final run-scoring single in the eighth. 

Former Twins farmhand Yoyner Fajardo pinch-ran for Arkansas and scored a run.

The Travelers are an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Despite usually owning a talented farm system, the franchise is thin on excellent Double-A players; their best offering on Wednesday was their 24th-ranked prospect, outfielder Jared Sundstrom. He cracked three hits in five trips to the plate. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 6, Peoria 7 (11 Innings)
Box Score
Tanner Hall: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
HR: Gabriel Gonzalez (4), Danny De Andrade (3)
Multi-hit games: Gabriel Gonzalez (3-for-5, HR, 2 R, RBI), Khadim Diaw (2-for-4, R), Misael Urbina (2-for-5, 2B, RBI)

The Kernels fell in extra innings on Wednesday.

The typical introductions for the game—a scoreless first; the almost gentlemanly formality that introduces our competitors—did not arrive for Tanner Hall. Not even close. He only escaped the frame once four Chiefs had crossed home plate, with the scores coming via an elaborate series of dinks and dunks that would make the piranhas of old proud. Someone even stole home (on a double steal, but still!)

Hall found his footing and worked four more innings without allowing any extra runs—an impressive outcome given how disastrous his outing started.

Cedar Rapids fought back against the fracas. Gabriel Gonzalez launched his fourth homer of the season in the fourth to get his team on the board.

An RBI double by Misael Urbina the next frame, and a two-run shot by Danny De Andrade the inning after that pushed the Kernels’ run total to four.

That didn’t tie the game, though, because the Chiefs had plated one more run in the sixth, but a clutch Nate Baez single in the eighth knotted the match at five.

So it stood until the two teams entered Manfred Ball time. They passed on scoring in the 10th before Peoria struck for two in the 11th, giving them a lead they would not relinquish. Kevin Maitan ushered in a run off a sacrifice fly in vain; the game ended two batters later with an Urbina strikeout.

The Chiefs are an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. None of their top 30 prospects played in Wednesday’s game. 

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 4, Jupiter 3 (10 Innings)
Box Score
Michael Ross: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Mighty Mussels won in extras on Wednesday.

2024 draftee Michael Ross earned the nod, going three solid innings with one earned run and a pair of strikeouts for his troubles. His career ERA after 13 frames stands at 2.77.

He enjoyed early run support, with a pair of first-inning runs coming from RBI singles by Yasser Mercedes and Miguel Briceno.

A third Mighty Mussels run scored in the fifth via a Jay Thomason sacrifice fly. 

Jupiter plated two to tie the game off Madison native Jacob Kisting when a 14-pitch at bat resulted in a double dumped into left field, taking out Thomason when another Mighty Mussel collided with him. Maddux Houghton replaced the injured left fielder. 

The game settled into a cold war equality, with neither team scoring in the seventh, eighth, or ninth to send the game into extra innings. Fort Myers plated their free run off a wild pitch, and Hunter Hoopes held the Hammerheads at bay in the bottom of the frame to clinch the win for the Mighty Mussels.

Second baseman Andrew Salas, brother of Jose, is the Marlins’ sixth-ranked prospect. He singled twice and earned a pair of walks in five plate appearances. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Michael Ross
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Ryan Fitzgerald

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 1-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
#5 – Connor Prielipp (Wichita) - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
#6 – Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5 2B, K
#9 – Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, R, BB, K
#12 – Cory Lewis (St. Paul) - 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
#14 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-5, R, RBI, K
#18 – Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) - 1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 K
#19 – Carson McCusker (St. Paul) - 0-3, 2 RBI, BB, K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Iowa (12:08 PM) - RHP Marco Raya
St. Paul @ Iowa Game Two - RHP Darren McCaughan
Arkansas @ Wichita (6:35 PM) - LHP Aaron Rozek
Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM) - RHP Jose Olivares
Fort Myers @ Jupiter (5:30 PM) - LHP Michael Carpenter 
FCL Twins @ FCL Rays (11:00 AM) - TBD

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[FlyingFinn]

Anyone know why Emma Rodriguez is batting 7th for the Saints? I've seen a healthy top prospect bat lower than 4th in a lineup, no matter how their season is going.

[Dantheman]

 

Anyone know why Emma Rodriguez is batting 7th for the Saints? I've seen a healthy top prospect bat lower than 4th in a lineup, no matter how their season is going.

Probably just to take some pressure off him being at the top of the order, he was struggling being at the top why not just try him out later in the order not gonna hurt what he’s doing anymore. 

[Dantheman]

Is it possible that Lewis and raya weren’t ready for the triple A level. We saw both of them have walk issues at double A and it’s only gotten worse with better hitters. Maybe when Dobnak comes back you can send both back to double A to build some confidence and work on some stuff. You’d be down a starter so maybe you could put Adams back to starter, possible call up rozek, ohl, MacLeod to fill in the spot. I know it’s early but there really hasn’t been much positives from any of there outings and is only hurting there development, better to do it now rather then later when to much damage has been done. 

[Doctor Wu]

I know the team is being careful with him but that was a shorter than usual outing for Prielipp. Seems like he was laboring over those 2 innings, but what was his pitch count at that point?

[bean5302]

 

I know the team is being careful with him but that was a shorter than usual outing for Prielipp. Seems like he was laboring over those 2 innings, but what was his pitch count at that point?

Prielipp was at 49 pitches. Since the Twins are limiting him to about 50-60 pitches a game, he wasn't going to head back out.

Whew, Prielipp got a little hosed based on gameday. Here are the batters he faced in inning 1.
6 missed strike calls.
2 very borderline balls called.
 

[rdehring]

 

I know the team is being careful with him but that was a shorter than usual outing for Prielipp. Seems like he was laboring over those 2 innings, but what was his pitch count at that point?

He was at 49 pitches, Doc.  I think, don't know, his limit is 50.

Yes, he had a rough start with two runs in and runners on second and third to start the game with no outs.  But I must disagree with Matt's comment that he "coaxed three outs."  He struck out the next two hitters before getting the third out on a ground ball.  He then had a clean 1-2-3 second inning.

I believe Prielipp is the most important prospect the Twins have in the minors, or one of two with the other being Jenkins.  It has been way too long since the Twins have had a top starting left-handed pitcher, since Santana and Liriano.  Hill may be as important, however, is much further away from pitching at Target Field.  Prielipp could arrive next spring.  Or this September if things go well.

[Edit. Thanks Bean for the excellent above comment.  After getting hosed, he pounded the strike zone to get those critical 2 K's.]

[jmlease1]

GG continues to have a fine start in Cedar Rapids. He's looking quite good at the plate. While I like seeing some pop from De Andrade, I'm a little concerned with where his batting average is sitting. He's chasing Winokur for the K lead right now and while he's still getting on base, I have concerns about his contact rates.

Congrats to Kala'i Rosario for getting over the Mendoza line? Boy, he had a rough start to the year. He's had a nice stretch, but has a long way to go to show he's deserving of being considered a real prospect these days. The K-rate is abysmal (50 K's already?!?) so he's going to need to stay on a tear for a while.

Cory Lewis has really disappointed so far in AAA. Sure, he's pitching in a bandbox in Saint Paul, but he's really struggled. He's still just barely past 200 IP in his pro career, so hopefully this is just a developmental bump from a guy who simply isn't that experienced and dealt with some injuries. But he looks like a re-set is needed. Maybe dropping down to AA would be worth a look?

[LambchoP]

Our young pitching has been concerning to say the least. Raya, Lewis and Morris have all really struggled. Prelipp hasn't found consistency yet. Hill looked great but he's hurt now. I'm glad we didn't trade away from our "pitching surplus". Fitzgerald has looked great at the plate. He also can play 2nd, SS and 3rd? Why not send him up to replace Bride? Lewis looks like he needs some time in AAA to get going. I think Keirsey is an automatic out at this point. Giving Mccusker at bats at DH and occasionally RF could be a boost to the lineup. Having guys like Keirsey, Bride and Clemens all in the same lineup is a recipe for losses. Still can't believe we pulled off a win with all these guys in the same lineup....

[bean5302]

 

...[Edit. Thanks Bean for the excellent above comment.  After getting hosed, he pounded the strike zone to get those critical 2 K's.]

Yeah, it's frustrating. Those "balls" should have been called strikes, but if the umpire is enforcing a tight strike zone, the pitcher is at a huge disadvantage.

[bean5302]

 

Our young pitching has been concerning to say the least. Raya, Lewis and Morris have all really struggled. Prelipp hasn't found consistency yet. Hill looked great but he's hurt now. I'm glad we didn't trade away from our "pitching surplus". Fitzgerald has looked great at the plate. He also can play 2nd, SS and 3rd? Why not send him up to replace Bride? Lewis looks like he needs some time in AAA to get going. I think Keirsey is an automatic out at this point. Giving Mccusker at bats at DH and occasionally RF could be a boost to the lineup. Having guys like Keirsey, Bride and Clemens all in the same lineup is a recipe for losses. Still can't believe we pulled off a win with all these guys in the same lineup....

Personally, I have never had high expectations for Raya, Morris or Lewis. Raya's been coddled since year 2 with the club, and he's often struggled to impress with results as a starter. Morris doesn't have the stuff to miss bats, and Lewis has the knuckleball, but he's best in the bullpen, I'd think.

Prielipp isn't struggling IMHO, he wasn't getting calls yesterday and his expected numbers look good. Considering his health is bar far the greatest concern, the fact he's going out and throwing 50+ pitches every start is awesome. Dasan Hill had a tight upper back so he was pulled on 5/3. As of right now, it's pretty much a non-issue. He's not on the IL, and I wouldn't expect him to miss any more starts. It was reported on 5/8 that Hill was probable for making his start on 5/10, but the Twins skipped it as a precaution, I guess. I'd expect to see him start this weekend.

I think you're a little overly pessimistic is what I'm saying, haha.

[ryan189]

 

Prielipp was at 49 pitches. Since the Twins are limiting him to about 50-60 pitches a game, he wasn't going to head back out.

Whew, Prielipp got a little hosed based on gameday. Here are the batters he faced in inning 1.
6 missed strike calls.
2 very borderline balls called.
 

someone is a Prielipp lover it's baseball break down every pitchers questionable calls

[bean5302]

 

someone is a Prielipp lover it's baseball break down every pitchers questionable calls

I love Prielipp's stuff. His ceiling is far higher than most guys in the Twins' system.

The MLB umpire accuracy rate is 95%. In the first inning, that ump was 80% accurate. Trying to pass that off as normal is not reasonable. Prielipp's talent is well established. Whether or not he'll be able to stay healthy or keep fooling hitters as he progresses are different matters.

[Guest]

Looks like we're going to find out whether Fitzgerald's game plays in the majors....

[FlyingFinn]

9 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

While I like seeing some pop from De Andrade, I'm a little concerned with where his batting average is sitting. He's chasing Winokur for the K lead right now and while he's still getting on base, I have concerns about his contact rates.

My biggest concern is that he has played 1 game at SS this year. With his batting history, he would have to be a gold glove SS to make it the majors. If he's not even playing there, he will never see the majors as his bat isn't going to lead the way.