Twins Minor League Report (6/21): Alan Roden and Orlando Arcia, the New Bash Brothers?

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Byron Chourio)

TRANSACTIONS
LHP Kendry Rojas returned to Twins

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 12, Omaha 15 (12 Innings)
Box Score
Trent Baker: 1 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: Alan Roden 2 (6, 7), Matt Wallner (11), Orlando Arcia 2 (9, 10)
Multi-hit games: Alan Roden (4-for-6, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI), Orlando Arcia (2-for-6, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI), Aaron Sabato (2-for-6, R), Ben Ross (2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB)

The Saints lost a high-scoring affair on Sunday.

You don’t see many games where a team with a nine-run inning loses. Then again, there was nothing ordinary about what occurred in this game. St. Paul racked up 12 runs across 15 hits, had two players crack two homers, and lost in the 12th after sending Tanner Schobel to the mound as a human white flag. Pitching in a game that was tied. These things happen in the minors.

Alan Roden led off the game with a homer, which served as the team’s lone run until their vigorous fourth inning assault on Aaron Sanchez. And what a frame it was. Matt Wallner and Orlando Arcia bombed back-to-back, and Ben Ross drove in two with a single. A short two-out sequence threatened to cut the rally short, yet the Saints continued to clobber, as Gabriel Gonzalez plated two more with a double before Arcia concluded things with a three-run homer, his second long ball of the inning.

That proved to be the zenith of the game. The Saints’ pitching simply couldn’t hold up. Five of the team’s “pitchers”—we’re air-quoting the word because it includes Tanner Schobel’s gift of an outing—allowed at least two runs, as St. Paul’s lead slowly whittled away until it became Omaha’s lead.

Roden cracked a second homer in the eighth off former Saint Dan Altavilla. He’s slashing .333/.463/.632 at AAA this year.

Storm Chaser Abraham Toro hit for the cycle in the game.

No member of the Royals’ Top 20 prospects (per Royals Keep) list played in the game. 

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 2, Springfield 5
Box Score
Cory Lewis: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
HR: Jaime Ferrer (2)
Multi-hit games: Khadim Diaw (2-for-5, RBI), Jaime Ferrer (2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, RBI)

The Wind Surge failed to find much offense on Sunday.

Jaime Ferrer collected the only two extra-base hits for the team, a double in the fifth, and a homer in the ninth. 

That’s quite the opposite-field shot; even Ferrer was probably surprised that left the field. 

Has Cory Lewis figured something out? The righty owns a 2.25 ERA in the month of June, though that comes with a 1.40 WHIP, fueled in part by 12 walks in 20 innings. The sustainability of a stretch like this is perhaps dubious, but the deflated ERA after being pulverized to start the season is probably a nice respite.

Jose Olivares collected two scoreless innings in his second appearance out of the Wichita bullpen this season. 2026 has been a struggle for him. The walk bugaboo that has followed him throughout his career morphed into a full-blown walk monster; he’s offered 28 free passes over 33 2/3 innings with the Wind Surge this year. No walks were offered on Sunday, though.

The Cardinals played MLB’s 22nd-ranked prospect, catcher Rainel Rodriguez. He singled once in five at-bats.

Kernels Nuggets
Rain follows where Walker Jenkins goes. Why Mother Nature has beef with the top Twins prospect is unclear. The Kernels will make up this game on July 18th.

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 13, Tampa 3
Box Score
Hendry Chivilli: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
HR: Jayson Bass (8), Luis Fragoza (6), Byron Chourio (3)
Multi-hit games: Ryan Sprock (2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Quentin Young (2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB), Luis Fragoza (2-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB), Byron Chourio (4-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI)

Inspired by the parent club, the Mighty Mussels rode a fifth-inning crooked number to a blowout win.

And what a frame it was. Fort Myers entered with two already on the board. A Byron Chourio single and a Merphy Hernandez hit by pitch started the onslaught. Innocuous enough. Ryan Sprock cracked a long double to center to score both men. The Mighty Mussels then loaded the bases and pushed across their fifth run when Quintin Young took four pitches outside the zone for the easiest RBI of his life. 

At this point, the DNA of this rally was of an ordinary ilk. Simply a few runs. Nothing unusual in the context—especially in the minors where momentum and avalanches are commonplace. But then, Luis Fragoza stepped to the plate, took a mighty hack, and walloped a hanging slider for a grand slam.

Oh, and Chourio tacked on a solo shot.

Oh, and they concluded the inning with a final run scored off a double steal/throwing error combo.

Hendry Chivilli enjoyed his best outing as a Mighty Mussel, tossing four shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts, a mammoth improvement over his woeful appearances on May 23rd and June 16th. Chivilli might be the most unique story in the Twins system this year: Minnesota handed him over $2 million as a part of their international haul in 2023, and after a pair of dreadful seasons at the plate, moved him to the mound where he has pitched shockingly well. He carries a 3.77 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 28 2/3 innings this year.

The Tarpons are a part of the vaunted Yankees farm system. A talented bunch, they did not reveal so in this game, as no member of their Top 30 prospect list appeared in the game.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Hendry Chivilli
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Alan Roden

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#10 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB
#13 – Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 2-5, RBI
#14 – Quentin Young (Fort Myers) - 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
#19 – Billy Amick (Wichita) - 0-3, BB, K
#20 – Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 0-4, 3 K

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
FCL Rays @ FCL Twins (11:00 AM) - TBD
DSL Miami @ DSL Twins (10:00 AM) - TBD

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[greglw333]

time now to call up Roden

[Dman]

Fragoza is one big boy for a 19 year old.  Although only 6'1" he looks thicker than Young who is 6'6".  They both have some power.  Only about 100 trips to the plate at A ball for Fragoza but he is slugging over .500 and has a .916 OPS.  He's currently not walking much so an aggressive approach which can catch up to guys.  Still a lot to dream on here given the success he is having at 19.  Hopefully he gets a chance at High A if keeps this up through June.

Sprock looks ready for a callup.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of movement next week for players in the FCL, A, A+, and AA.  Second half of the season will be starting soon.

 

[cheeseheadgophfan]

Wasn't Dasan Hill supposed to start today?  If so, why was he skipped?

This, on top of Soto's turn being skipped is concerning.....?