Minor League Report (7/25): FCL Twins Clinch League’s Best Record, Headed to Postseason

[Matthew Taylor]

TRANSACTIONS
2B Mickey Gasper activated from injured list (St. Paul)
C Ricardo Peña transferred to 60-day injured list (Fort Myers)

SAINTS SENTINEL

Game 1
Worcester Red Sox 4, St. Paul Saints 0
Darren McCaughan: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

In the first game of the 7-inning doubleheader, it was a lackluster offensive performance for the Saints, who only mustered two hits—one each from Austin Martin and Jonah Bride. The rest of the lineup was held completely in check. Carson McCusker had a particularly tough game, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. On the mound, Darren McCaughan gave up four earned runs in four innings, including a first-inning homer to Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell. His ERA rose to 5.40 on the season.

 

Game 2
Worcester Red Sox 5, St. Paul Saints 2
Pierson Ohl: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Saints got a gem from Pierson Ohl in game two, as he threw four innings of one-hit, zero-earned run baseball while striking out five. The lone run he allowed came on an unearned sequence after a Payton Eeles error. Ohl lowered his season ERA to 2.82. Unfortunately for St. Paul, Erasmo Ramirez gave up six hits and four runs in two innings of relief, including a bases-clearing double from Red Sox prospect Nathan Hickey. Offensively, the Saints looked promising early with three hits and two runs in the first, highlighted by Jonah Bride's 2-run single with the bases loaded. But they collected just one more hit the rest of the game. McCusker finished the doubleheader 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.

WIND SURGE WISDOM

Wichita Wind Surge 6, Frisco RoughRiders 5
C.J. Culpepper: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2B, RBI)

CJ Culpepper got the start and worked three innings, allowing just one earned run. The Wind Surge mounted two different comebacks, first rallying for three runs in the 7th on a Jose Salas hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a Jorel Ortega RBI single. After surrendering the lead in the 8th, Wichita responded again with a three-run bottom half featuring key doubles from Kala’i Rosario and Ben Ross. Cole Percival gave up one in the 9th, but the Surge held on to improve their second-half record.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

 

Fort Wayne TinCaps 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 1
Cole Peschl: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Caden Kendle (2-for-4)

Cole Peschl was slotted to be the starter for the Kernels today but left after just one inning with some sort of injury. Even given the tough assignment for the rest of the game, the Kernels got strong pitching, allowing just two runs and five hits on the day. Jacob Kisting was particularly impressive, tossing three hitless innings, striking out four and lowering his ERA to 1.17. Unfortunately, the Kernels offense was unable to pull through, crossing just one run when Kyle Debarge scored on a wild pitch. Center fielder Caden Kendle delivered the lone multi-hit game of the day for Cedar Rapids.

 

MUSSEL MATTERS

 

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (10 innings)
Adrian Bohorquez: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: Yasser Mercedes (6), Dameury Pena (6), Blaze O'Saben (1)
Multi-hit games: Yasser Mercedes (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Blaze O'Saben (3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

While the other Minor League clubs had slow days at the plate, the bats were hot in Lakeland, Florida for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, who launched three home runs. Yasser Mercedes got it started in the first inning with his sixth of the season. Dameury Pena followed with a solo shot of his own in the fifth, and Blaze O'Saben added his first home run of the season in the eighth.

On the mound, Adrian Bohorquez gave the Mussels four innings of one-run (unearned) ball before handing things off to the bullpen. After Tyler Stasiowski blew the save in the ninth, Blaze O'Saben stepped up again in the top of the 10th, driving in Bryan Acuña with the go-ahead run. Ivran Romero closed the door in the bottom half to secure the win. The Mussels are now 7-1 in extra inning games this season.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES (Double Header)

Game 1

 

FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 1
Melvin Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The FCL Twins grabbed a win against the FCL Orioles thanks to strong pitching from Melvin Rodriguez, Xander Hamilton, and Brent Francisco, who allowed just four hits and one run combined. Offensively, Ricardo Paez reached base three times via walk and scored three of the Twins' four runs on the day.

Game 2

FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 3
Xavier Kolhosser 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
HR: Yandro Hernandez (2)
Multi-hit games: Yandro Hernandez (2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI)

The FCL Twins were able to sweep the double header today in walk-off fashion when Merphy Hernandez scored Carlos Silva on an RBI single in the 8th inning. The standout performance came from Yandro Hernandez who contributed an inside-the-park home run in the 1st inning.

Following the double header sweep the FCL Twins finished the regular season at 39-20, the best record in the Complex League this season. The FCL Twins will play the Tigers on Saturday in the four-team playoff.

 

DOMINICAN DAILIES

DSL Rangers 7, DSL Twins 5
Jesus Gomez: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Yovanny Duran (2-for-4, BB, RBI), Haritzon Castillo (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Joyner Perez (2-for-4, 2 RBI)

Despite a strong day at the plate with nine hits, the DSL Twins fell to the Rangers 7-5. Jesus Gomez struck out six and allowed just two earned runs over four innings before the game unraveled in the fifth. Eli Urena struggled with control, issuing a walk, hitting a batter, and throwing three wild pitches. Yovanny Duran, Haritzon Castillo, and Joyner Perez each turned in multi-hit games and continue to be bright spots in the DSL lineup.

PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Batter: Blaze O'Saben (Ft. Myers): 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Pitcher: Pierson Ohl (St. Paul): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

FRIDAY PITCHING PROBABLES

Worcester @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CT) - RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Frisco @ Wichita (7:05 PM CT) - RHP John Klein (6-5, 3.52 ERA)
Fort Wayne @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CT) - RHP Isaiah Lowe (3-8, 5.77 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Lakeland (6:05 PM CT) - RHP Jason Doktorczyk (3-4, 4.81 ERA)
DSL Twins @ DSL Marlins (10:00 AM CT) - TBD

PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Walker Jenkins (Wichita) - 0-for-3, 2 K
#2 - Luke Keashall (St. Paul) - 1-for-6, BB
#3 - Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita) - 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
#8 - Gabriel Gonzalez (Wichita) - 1-for-3, BB, 2 K 
#11 - Brandon Winkour (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, 2 K
#14 - Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, R, K
#15 - C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
#16 - Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K
#19 - Eduardo Beltra (FCL Twins) - 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K

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[sampleSizeOfOne]

Holy smokes! I didn't realize the Saints play the Red Sox!

 And now i take a moment to look, they only play home games...

And here iwas gearing up to find out when i could drive out to Worcester

to watch the Saints.

 

Sigh. Twins were in Boston over a week i couldn't make time, and now this.

 

Anyway, i don't mean to complain... Thanks for putting these summaries out. And sorry i don't follow things so closely these days.

[FlyingFinn]

DeBarge stole his 50th base of the season. Wow!

[rdehring]

Congrats to the FCL Twins.  This is the first time they have won their division, isn't it?

Is there a reason none of the scores are linked to their box scores?  Thanks for the report, Matt.

[Mahoning]

Twins Video

 

 

 

TRANSACTIONS
UT Mickey Gasper activated from injured list (St. Paul)
C Ricardo Peña transferred to 60-day injured list (Fort Myers)
RHP Carlos Gutierrez was released by the Twins (FCL Twins) 

SAINTS SENTINEL
Game 1
Worcester Red Sox 4, St. Paul Saints 0
SP: Darren McCaughan: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

In the first seven-inning game of the doubleheader, it was a lackluster offensive performance for the Saints, who only mustered two hits—one each from Austin Martin and Jonah Bride. The rest of the lineup was held completely in check. Carson McCusker had a particularly tough game, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

On the mound, Darren McCaughan gave up four earned runs in four innings, including a first-inning homer to Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell. His ERA rose to 5.40 on the season.

You're the Twins President of Baseball Ops. Are you buying or selling at the deadline?

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Game 2
Worcester Red Sox 5, St. Paul Saints 2
SP: Pierson Ohl: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
 

That line there tells you the Twins' approach to minor league pitching. The lad is pitching a one-hitter and comes out after four innings. The Twins DON"T WANT their pitchers to have stamina. They train them to go short. I guarantee these guys threw more innings in high school. Nobody gets stronger by resting.

 

 

The Saints got a gem from Pierson Ohl in Game 2. He threw four innings of one-hit, zero-earned run baseball while striking out five. 

[jmlease1]

Bohorquez with a nice outing; the formula on him is pretty simple right now: when he's finding the zone, he's doing well and putting up strong outings. When he's not, he wobbles. If he's keeping his BB/9 under 3 he's doing fine and when it pops over that with these 3 walk stints he doesn't get far. He's had a pretty good stretch lately; only 7 BBs in his last 6 outings and his WHIP for the past month is sitting at a neat 0.500. He clearly has the stuff to handle guys at low A if he puts it in the zone. He's on track to get moved up to Cedar Rapids next season at the latest, if he can keep throwing strikes.

Interesting lower-tier prospect.

[LambchoP]

With all our AAA SP having tough seasons, it's nice to see Ohl finding success in St Paul. 

[Seth Stohs]

22 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Bohorquez with a nice outing; the formula on him is pretty simple right now: when he's finding the zone, he's doing well and putting up strong outings. When he's not, he wobbles. If he's keeping his BB/9 under 3 he's doing fine and when it pops over that with these 3 walk stints he doesn't get far. He's had a pretty good stretch lately; only 7 BBs in his last 6 outings and his WHIP for the past month is sitting at a neat 0.500. He clearly has the stuff to handle guys at low A if he puts it in the zone. He's on track to get moved up to Cedar Rapids next season at the latest, if he can keep throwing strikes.

Interesting lower-tier prospect.

Lower tier for now, but definitely very intriguing. Needs more strikes, but I'm guessing he's getting more velocity and movement on his pitches, so it could take some time to harness it (and some never do)... But from a pure "stuff" standpoint, 

And frankly, listening to @Jamie Cameronand @Jeremy Nygaardspeak on the most recent Destination: The Show podcast. Bohorquez is borderline Top 20 for them. I update my personal Twins prospect rankings (Top 200ish) every month. Bohorquez is now #21 for me. 

[jmlease1]

11 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Lower tier for now, but definitely very intriguing. Needs more strikes, but I'm guessing he's getting more velocity and movement on his pitches, so it could take some time to harness it (and some never do)... But from a pure "stuff" standpoint, 

And frankly, listening to @Jamie Cameronand @Jeremy Nygaardspeak on the most recent Destination: The Show podcast. Bohorquez is borderline Top 20 for them. I update my personal Twins prospect rankings (Top 200ish) every month. Bohorquez is now #21 for me. 

He's got the stuff, for sure, but he has to be able to throw strikes and the jury is still out on that one. Somewhere in the low 20's is probably the right range for him: very good upside, big red flag. Could make it as a reliever if he doesn't end up throwing enough strikes consistently to keep starting. I like him and he's trending in the right direction, but there are also a lot of guys with great stuff who can't throw strikes in A-ball, so we'll see where he goes.

[jkcarew]

And Fort Myers accomplished this with almost zero hitting, even by FCL standards. Hope this is just a bump in the road for the hitters and a sign of good things to come for the pitchers.