Twins Minor League Report (8/1): Khadim Diaw Returns, Marek Houston Debuts

[Tom Froemming]

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Toledo 3, St. Paul 2
Amarillo 3, Wichita 1
Lansing 10, Cedar Rapids 7
Fort Myers 4, Dunedin 0
DSL Rockies 11, DSL Twins 9

TRANSACTIONS
There were so many transactions Friday that it needed to be its own article. More than 40 players across the system were involved in a transaction, one way or another.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY 
Pitcher of the Day: Michael Carpenter, Fort Myers (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
Carpenter gave up a double to the second batter he faced tonight, but that was it. The second inning started out with new acquisition Enrique Jimenez (who came over from Detroit in the Chris Paddack trade) committing an error at first base. He made up for it immediately, though, as he started a 3-6-3 double play, combining with 2025 first-round pick Marek Houston on the twin killing. Houston played shortstop and hit leadoff, going 1-for-4 with a single, a run and an RBI. He also started an inning-ending double play in the fifth.

Carpenter put together 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth frames, ending his night on a high note with back-to-back strikeouts. The lefty was slider-heavy tonight, featuring that offering on 22 of his 52 pitches. He also threw 19 sinkers, eight changeups and three four-seamers, topping out at 94.1 mph.

The Twins nabbed Carpenter in the 11th round of last year’s draft but paid him the sixth-biggest bonus of the class to lure him away from transferring to East Carolina after an insanely successful junior college career.

Michael Ross followed Carpenter and was also excellent over the final five innings, finishing out the combined shutout. Ross, the Twins 18th-rounder from last year’s class, only yielded four hits and walked one batter while striking out four. He has a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 61 1/3 innings this season. He topped out at 94.5 mph tonight.

Hitter of the Day: Khadim Diaw, Fort Myers (1-for-2, HR, BB, R, 3 RBI)
The big blow in support of all that great Mussels pitching was a Khadim Diaw three-run homer in the first game of his rehab assignment. He played catcher for seven innings and, in addition to the home run, also drew a walk.

Diaw suffered a fractured thumb and missed all of June and July. Prior to going down with the injury, Diaw was looking like a breakout prospect of 2025, hitting .302/.455/.431 (.886 OPS) in 38 games with Cedar Rapids. After hitting one home run in his first 51 professional games, Diaw now has four homers in his last 12 games played.

That Diaw was right back behind the plate in his first rehab game was a pleasant surprise. I would have guessed they would have opted to ease him in by either slotting him in at DH or outfield. Hopefully he’ll be back with High-A Cedar Rapids before too long.

STARTING PITCHING LINES
John Stankiewicz (St. Paul): 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 38 pitches (47.4% strikes)
Connor Prielipp (Wichita): 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 65 pitches (60.0% strikes)
Matt Gabbert (Cedar Rapids): 2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 59 pitches (57.6% strikes)
Michael Carpenter (Fort Myers): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 52 pitches (67.3% strikes)
Santiago Castellanos (DSL): 2 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

HOME RUNS
Wichita: Kala’i Rosario (14)
Fort Myers: Khadim Diaw (1st with FTM, 4th overall)
DSL: Joyner Perez (2), Dencer Diaz (1)

MULTI-HIT GAMES
St. Paul: Aaron Sabato (2-for-4)
Wichita: Rubel Cespedes (2-for-4)
Cedar Rapids: Kyle DeBarge (2-for-4, BB)
DSL: Dencer Diaz (2-for-4, HR), Darwin Almanzar (2-for-4, 2B), Jose Barrios (2-for-4).

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Cory Lewis was the follower for St. Paul today. Though he only surrendered one run over 3 2/3 innings and struck out five batters, he also issued six walks. He’s up to 49 walks in 59 1/3 innings this year (7.4 BB/9).

Gabriel Gonzalez and Kyler Fedko each got a hit in their respective Triple-A debuts with the Saints tonight. 

Lefty reliever Gabriel Yanez, who has spent the majority of this season in High-A, delivered three innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts and no walks for the Saints. 

In addition to Marek Houston, 2025 draftees Ryan Sprock, Shai Robinson and JP Smith II also made their professional debuts with the Mighty Mussels. Sprock, taken in the eighth round, went 1-for-3 with a walk.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for more. 
1. Walker Jenkins (Wichita): 0-for-4
2. Luke Keaschall (rehabbing with St. Paul): 1-for-2, BB, HBP, 2 SB (11)
3. Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita): 0-for-4
5. Connor Prielipp (Wichita): 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
8. Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul): 1-for-4, K
10. Marek Houston (Fort Myers): 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K in professional debut
11. Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 K
14. Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-4, BB, 2 R
16. Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids): 1-for-2, 2 BB, HBP, 2 R, RBI
17. Khadim Diaw (rehabbing with Fort Myers): 1-for-2, HR, BB, R, 3 RBI
19. Eduardo Beltre (Fort Myers): 0-for-3, BB 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 51-58
St. Paul Saints: 46-58
Wichita Wind Surge: 52-48
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 58-41
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 44-54
FCL Twins: 39-20 (season over)
DSL Twins: 16-27

TOMORROW’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul at Toledo, 6:05 pm CT: Trent Baker
Wichita at Amarillo, 7:05 pm CT: Alejandro Hidalgo
Cedar Rapids at Lansing, 6:05 pm CT: Jose Olivares
Fort Myers vs. Dunedin, 5:05 pm CT: Dasan Hill
DSL Twins at DSL Giants Black, 9 am CT: TBD

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[Mike Sixel]

Diaw is back? Wow. I thought we were told he might miss the year. Huge. 

Hoping Houston isn't in Florida long. That's likely less talented opposition than he had in college. 

Also hoping Horn moves to RP and they move him fast. 

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Tom...are you kidding?

Posting this piece after The Great Restructure?

🤣

[bunsen82]

Diaw coming back is big. Dang that top 20 list is strong. Culpepper is having an adjustment to AAA that’s not unexpected. All in all a solid day for the prospects. Diaw, Debarge, Amick, Keashall, Houston Gonzalez Winokur (2rbis). My guess is it was just as much an emotional day for the minors as it was the big league team. 

[rdehring]

Liked everything about Carpenter when the Twins signed the eleventh round pick a year ago.  That he was from Madison College (formerly Madison Tech from my days in Mad Town) made it a bit more special.  Great start last night.  Expect we will see more over the coming weeks.  With Carpenter, Hill, Prielipp and a couple guys traded for on Thursday, maybe the Twins will have a leftie in their rotation before long.  Or two?

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was that DeBarge had two singles and NO stolen bases.  Great seeing Diaw have a big first game back.  With he and the kid they got from the Phillies maybe catcher is no longer the biggest hole in the organization.  Still no idea who will be Jeffers backup next year, but 2027 and beyond should be in good hands.

As for negatives, Prielipp didn't have his best start.  Also hope we won't see many more nights when Culpepper and Jenkins go a combined 0-8.

[HrbieFan]

Anyone have a clue as to why Sabato isnt being given a chance during the great big beautiful rebuild? 

[Tom Froemming]

1 hour ago, HrbieFan said:

Anyone have a clue as to why Sabato isnt being given a chance during the great big beautiful rebuild? 

Probably because he has a 31.6 K% and 6.8 BB% in his brief time in Triple-A with not enough production to offset that concern. 

It's fun that he's played his way back onto the radar, but he's right where he belongs at the moment.

[terrydactyls]

I sure hope that Houston's feeble throw to first in the video isn't indicative of his arm strength.  The play was much closer than necessary.

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

I sure hope that Houston's feeble throw to first in the video isn't indicative of his arm strength.  The play was much closer than necessary.

That was about as smooth as it gets. Nothing to worry about there. 

[Steve J]

That's what I was thinking.  Good range and athleticism, but if he has a major league shortstop arm, he didn't show it with that play.  I'm hoping he was playing it casual.  

[The_No_Lifer]

4 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

Anyone have a clue as to why Sabato isnt being given a chance during the great big beautiful rebuild? 

He's not a prospect, he's org depth.  Mashing at his 4th attempt in AA as a 26yr old doesn't really change things.

[chpettit19]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I sure hope that Houston's feeble throw to first in the video isn't indicative of his arm strength.  The play was much closer than necessary.

That throw is actually a great sign of his defensive chops. Shows his internal clock and awareness of the runner's speed. You can see him get up and gather quickly, ready to throw hard if needed, but read where the runner is at and throw only as hard as he needs to to still get the runner out by a step and a half. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

That throw is actually a great sign of his defensive chops. Shows his internal clock and awareness of the runner's speed. You can see him get up and gather quickly, ready to throw hard if needed, but read where the runner is at and throw only as hard as he needs to to still get the runner out by a step and a half. 

That was my read.  Like a video game where it automatically times the animation for the runner speed.  It was the most unintentionally arrogant 6-3 put out I can remember.  

[madtowntwin]

12 hours ago, rdehring said:

Liked everything about Carpenter when the Twins signed the eleventh round pick a year ago.  That he was from Madison College (formerly Madison Tech from my days in Mad Town) made it a bit more special.  Great start last night.  Expect we will see more over the coming weeks.  With Carpenter, Hill, Prielipp and a couple guys traded for on Thursday, maybe the Twins will have a leftie in their rotation before long.  Or two?

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was that DeBarge had two singles and NO stolen bases.  Great seeing Diaw have a big first game back.  With he and the kid they got from the Phillies maybe catcher is no longer the biggest hole in the organization.  Still no idea who will be Jeffers backup next year, but 2027 and beyond should be in good hands.

As for negatives, Prielipp didn't have his best start.  Also hope we won't see many more nights when Culpepper and Jenkins go a combined 0-8.

MATC to be exact...I believe he played under the last banner of that title - Now Madison College. He came from Menominee Falls if I'm not mistaken. I have been following the 21 y/o Leftie as well and hoping for good things!! 

[HrbieFan]

19 hours ago, Steve J said:

That's what I was thinking.  Good range and athleticism, but if he has a major league shortstop arm, he didn't show it with that play.  I'm hoping he was playing it casual.  

Mashing at his first AAA attempt should give a legit big league shot over a retreat like Fitzgerald 

[rdehring]

18 hours ago, madtowntwin said:

MATC to be exact...I believe he played under the last banner of that title - Now Madison College. He came from Menominee Falls if I'm not mistaken. I have been following the 21 y/o Leftie as well and hoping for good things!! 

That building was still Central High School when my wife and I were wandering around the UW campus.

[HrbieFan]

On 8/2/2025 at 12:46 PM, The_No_Lifer said:

He's not a prospect, he's org depth.  Mashing at his 4th attempt in AA as a 26yr old doesn't really change things.

Andrew Vaughn says hi!