Twins Minor League Report (6/3): Walker Jenkins Begins His Rehab Assignment, DSL Season Kicks Off

[Steve Lein]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Walker Jenkins)

TRANSACTIONS
There was quite a bit of action in the Minnesota Twins farm system when it comes to transactions over the weekend.

• The St. Paul Saints released RHP Tyler Beede and 1B Mike Ford, as they made room for the activation of IF Payton Eeles. They also placed 1B Yunior Severino and OF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list with and oblique injury and a right hip injury, respectivly. They activated RHP Jacob Bosiokovic from the temporary inactive list, and received RHP Jarret Whorff from the Wichita Wind Surge.
• The Cedar Rapids Kernels released RHP Jack Noble in order to make room for the promotion of RHP Hunter Hoopes from the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
• To take Hoopes’ place in the Fort Myers bullpen, RHP Ruddy Gomez was promoted from the FCL Twins.
• Finally, in news that should get our prospect enthusiasts excited, the Wichita Wind Surge sent OF Walker Jenkins to the FCL Twins to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8, St. Paul 5
Box Score
Simeon Woods Richardson was on the bump at CHS Field for the Saints, looking to build upon his two strong starts since being optioned back to triple-A in which he had allowed just three earned runs in 12 total innings.

He did so by retiring the first six hitters of the game before the anomaly that was the third inning happened. Back-to-back home runs put the RailRiders up 2-0 before an out was recorded, then a single, a third home run, and two other near home runs put a five-spot on the scoreboard for the visiting team. This prompted the Saints broadcasters to prognosticate if he was tipping pitches, but Woods Richardson was back out for the fourth and finished his outing with two more scoreless frames. He was charged with those five earned runs on six hits and two walks, and punched out six in the game.

The Saints struck back in the bottom of the third, getting a pair of home runs themselves from Patrick Winkel and Jose Miranda, his second in as many games, to close that lead to two.

In the bottom of the fourth the Saints chased the rehabbing JT Brubaker after a leadoff walk to Carson McCusker and a single from DaShawn Keirsey Jr put the tying run on base. Armando Alvarez then greeted their bullpen with a two-run double to knot it up.

It stayed that way until the top of the seventh as the RailRiders took advantage of an error to go up by two. Alex Speas came on after Woods Richardson’s exit, and was the victim of that sequence. He finished 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks, while striking out two. Anthony Misiewicz (1 2/3 IP, H, R (0 ER)) and Jacob Bosiokovic (IP, K) finished off the game for the home team.

Payton Eeles picked up his first hit with a solid grounder up the middle in the bottom of the seventh in his return to triple-A, but the Saints weren’t able to mount any comeback in the final three innings. He batted leadoff and played shortstop in this one after spending some of his time in the outfield while on rehab.

Miranda finished this one 2-for-4 and was the only Saints batter with multiple hits. He has been showing some life in his last three games, going 6-for-13 with a double, two homers, and four RBI.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, NW Arkansas 1
Box Score
It was a good old fashioned pitchers duel in the Texas League on Tuesday, as neither team got on the scoreboard until the eighth inning.

Making the start for the Wind Surge was lefty Aaron Rozek, and he delivered six scoreless innings, scattering six hits and striking out four. He needed just 71 pitches, with 51 of them going for strikes (72%) as he challenged the Naturals lineup all game. They weren’t ever able to take advantage of their hits, grounding into three double-plays to kill several innings and finishing just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Jaylen Nowlin worked a scoreless seventh frame, working around a pair of two-out singles. Michael Martinez came on for the eighth and after a leadoff single, a stolen base and error led to the first run of the game, and a 1-0 Naturals lead. A fly-out-throw-out double play ended any further threat in the inning, and the Wind Surge finally broke through in the top of the ninth.

Ricardo Olivar and Noah Cardenas started the inning with back-to-back singles, before a double play off the bat of Rubel Cespedes put a damper on their threat. But Aaron Sabato came through and sent a liner into right field for an RBI single to tie the game at one, before a Tyler Dearden single put speedster Sabato in scoring position. I make this joke because the go-ahead run of the game is credited in the summary to Sabato stealing third base, and scoring on a throwing error from the pitcher.

Cody Laweryson came on in the bottom of the ninth to close it out, and got some heads up defensive play from his defense to do so. With two outs and the tying run on second base, Laweryson broke the bat of the hitter, but it rolled slowly to third and Cespedes. He fielded the ball cleanly, but recognizing he had no play, faked the throw to first, inducing that tying runner to stray too far around third. Shortstop Tanner Schobel understood the assignment and was racing to the third base bag for a return throw, and they caught him retreating back to end the game.

Laweryson picked up his sixth save of the season, while Martinez was credited with his first win.

Cardenas was the only Wind Surge hitter with multiple knocks, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. As a team Wichita was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base while being outhit 11-to-7 in the game.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (Postponed, rain)
The series opener between the Kernels and Timber Rattlers was postponed on Tuesday as the rain that hit the Twin Cities early in the day moved on to Appleton, Wisconsin in the evening. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 12:10 PM.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Palm Beach 3, Fort Myers 4
Box Score
Dylan Questad took the mound for the Mighty Mussels in this one, and got ambushed in the first inning. After striking out the first hitter of the game, he gave up a walk and a two-run homer for an early Cardinals lead.

His lineup had his back however, as Dameury Pena and Jay Thomason clubbed solo bombs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game up.

Questad then finished the next two innings in scoreless, though inefficient, fashion before walking the leadoff man in the fourth to finish his day. In three innings he allowed those two earned runs on two hits and five walks, while striking out two.

The home team’s lineup added two runs in their half of the third inning thanks to another solo shot from Maddux Houghton that was followed by a triple from Thomason. He scored their final run of the game on a sac fly from Luke Napleton to make it 4-2 at the time.

From there the Mighty Mussels bullpen trio of Tyler Stasiowski (IP, K), Christian Becerra (W, 3 IP, 2 H, BB, K), and Ruddy Gomez (S, 2 IP, H, ER, K) clipped the wings of the Cardinals for the final six innings to seal the win.

The top of the lineup consisting of Pena (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, K), Houghton (2-for-4, R, HR, RBI, K) and Thomason (3-for-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, RBI, SB) keyed the victory, as the rest of the lineup finished a combined 0-for-16 with four walks and eight strikeouts.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
Monday: FCL Twins @ FCL Rays (Postponed, rain)
The Twins and Rays were rained out on Monday, with the game scheduled to be made up the next day. But that one didn’t go as planned, either…

Tuesday: Game 1 - FCL Rays 6, FCL Twins 7
Box Score
Besides the rain hanging around in Florida, the big story in the scheduled morning-tilt was the beginning of a rehab assignment for organization uber-prospect, Walker Jenkins. He slotted first in the Twins lineup, playing center field.

He reached on an error in the first, and was promptly caught stealing second base…At least that means he’s likely got his legs under him already coming off his sprained ankle. In his next two plate appearances he led off the frames by drawing a walk. In the fifth he was able to come around and score the first run of a five run outburst before being replaced in the field to start the sixth.

The Twins were outhit 9-to-5 on the game, but took advantage of seven walks to come out on top. Irvin Nunez delivered a two-run double in that five run fifth inning that gave the Twins a 6-5 lead. A sac fly from Yandro Hernandez gave them their final insurance run that inning to make the difference in the final score.

Right-hander Yoel Roque started the game and went the first two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked two, and struck out one. Leonardo Rondon allowed four earned runs on two hits and five walks in his two innings, striking out three. Andrew Huffman (W, 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), BB, 2 K), Sebastian Pulido (H, 1 2/3 IP, 2 H), and Anderson Ramos (S, 2 IP, BB, 4 K) finished off the win for the Twins.

Game 2 - FCL Twins @ FCL Rays (Postponed, rain)
While the Twins and Rays got in their game in the morning, the afternoon matchup wasn’t able to get started. It will be made up on June 19th.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
Monday: DSL Twins 9, DSL Rangers Red 23
Box Score
The DSL Twins kicked off their 2025 season with a division B versus division C type softball matchup on Monday, allowing 25 hits and 23 runs to the Rangers.

They led 4-3 after five innings, but the Rangers scored six, four, seven, and three runs in their final four at-bats to make this one a laugher.

Carlos Taveras (2-for-5, R, RBI, K) and Jhomnardo Reyes (2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, K) had multiple hits in their professional debuts. The Twins went just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, compared to 13-for-20 for the Rangers.

All five Twins pitchers allowed at least three runs, with starter Omar Montano coming out the least scathed with three runs (one earned) allowed in his three innings. He gave up three hits, walked three, and struck out two.

Tuesday: DSL Phillies White 19, DSL Twins 16 (8 innings)
Box Score
Another beer-league softball game broke out in the DSL on Tuesday, with the teams combining for 35 runs on 36 hits in an “extra” eight inning slugfest.

Tied at 14 after seven, the Phillies tacked on five in the top of the eighth, while the Twins were only able to manage two, coming out on the losing end. Each team racked up 18 hits, with Twins players Teilon Serrano (3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB), Haritzon Castillo (4-for-6, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI), Carlos Taveras (4-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI), and Dencer Diaz (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB) picking up multiple hits. Jhomnardo Reyes drew three walks, scored a run, and drove in two with a triple.

Pitching again didn’t have much success, obviously, with five of six hurlers on the day giving up multiple runs. Agustin Campusano allowed two unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings on two hits and four walks, while striking out four. Rey Pacheco delivered the lone scoreless inning, surrendering one hit and walking one.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Rozek, Wichita Wind Surge (6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 4 K)
Hitter of the Day – Jay Thomason, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (3-for-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, RBI, SB)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they performed on Tuesday.

#1 – Walker Jenkins (Rehab w/FCL Twins): 0-for-1, R, 2 BB
#14 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Wichita): 0-for-3, BB, K
#16 – Eduardo Beltre (FCL Twins): 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita): 0-for-4, BB
#19 – Carson McCusker (St. Paul): 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita): 1-for-4, R, 2 K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CDT) - RHP David Festa (2-1, 2.83 ERA)
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP John Klein (3-4, 3.03 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin, Game 1 (12:10 PM CDT) - RHP Cole Peschl (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin, Game 2 - TBD
Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM CDT) - RHP Eli Jones (1-5, 4.33 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

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[Jeff K]

I hope the Twins pull up Festa before today's scheduled start.  

[Old Twins Cap]

Walker who?

[Cory Engelhardt]

28 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I hope the Twins pull up Festa before today's scheduled start.  

Would they need to? Pablo's next start would be Tuesday, and there is an off day Monday. Festa COULD go his regular turn today and still be on 6 days rest for Tuesday. SWR went yesterday, so he'd even be on a week's long rest.

[rdehring]

What a fantastic day for the Twins.  Walker Jenkins was back on the field, hoooorah!

Noticed that Thomason is having a very nice beginning to his season.  Could he be another Air Force Academy find for the organization?

Don't have a clue what to think of the first couple games for the DSL squad?

 

[twinstalker]

Prognosticate -- IDNTTWMWYTIM

wonder? ponder?

[Guest]

(Insert player name) back on the IL. Seems like he just got off it. (Insert snarky comment about player being able to A: fill a hospital wing by himself,  B: suggest he do more stretching, practice, or change diet, C: remind others that Twins can’t have anything nice.)

[Steve Lein]

13 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

Prognosticate -- IDNTTWMWYTIM

wonder? ponder?

It was something they were quite clearly, predicting. They went so far as to comment that it appeared similar to how the organization had figured out Andrew Morris was doing something to tip his pitches a few weeks ago.

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Would they need to? Pablo's next start would be Tuesday, and there is an off day Monday. Festa COULD go his regular turn today and still be on 6 days rest for Tuesday. SWR went yesterday, so he'd even be on a week's long rest.

Wouldn’t it be on Sunday? If they pitch Festa today then I think we know it will be Woods Richardson on Sunday. They might also consider pitching Festa on Friday and giving an extra day rest to Paddack and Ryan. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

Wouldn’t it be on Sunday? If they pitch Festa today then I think we know it will be Woods Richardson on Sunday. They might also consider pitching Festa on Friday and giving an extra day rest to Paddack and Ryan. 

You are right. I counted wrong. Both of your scenarios make sense

[ryan189]

2 hours ago, Steve Lein said:

It was something they were quite clearly, predicting. They went so far as to comment that it appeared similar to how the organization had figured out Andrew Morris was doing something to tip his pitches a few weeks ago.

funny when it's a high prospect or something there is excuse they get hit around if it's anyone else there just not good funny how that works

[jmlease1]

So happy to have Walker Jenkins back. Hope his ankle is ok for sure and he gets to play the rest of the season. The talent is immense, but I might literally cry if another top Twins prospect gets derailed by random-ass injury.

[jkcarew]

Beltre and Daiber De Los Santos on the struggle bus down on the complex. De Los Santos has the captain’s seat.