Twins Minor League Report (6/23): Walker Jenkins Returns to Saints, Marek Houston Debuts With Wichita

[Steve Lein]

Image courtesy of Conor Lacefield, Midland RockHounds (photo of Marek Houston)

TRANSACTIONS

• The Minnesota Twins swapped arms in their bullpen, optioning RHP Cody Laweryson and selecting the contract of RHP Austin Voth from the St. Paul Saints.
• With the Wichita Wind Surge RHP Nick Mikolajchak was placed on the Development List.
• In the Midwest League the Cedar Rapids Kernels placed LHP Garrett Horn on the 7-day injured list with a left shoulder injury but also activated RHP Charlee Soto from the same list.
• In Fort Myers the Mighty Mussels sent RHP Billy Oldham on a rehab assignment with the FCL Twins, while RHP Matt Barr was assigned to their roster from the FCL.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 2, Louisville 3
Box Score
While the big story on the Twins organization side of this one was the return of Walker Jenkins to the Saints lineup, he and the rest of the team were in for a bit of a velocity challenge in this one as Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds continued a rehab assignment. While he registered 100 MPH on the radar gun, you might be surprised to find out that wasn’t really all that close to the fastest pitch Saints hitters saw in this one. 

As far as Jenkins was concerned, he was ready in the top of the first. He took a 99 MPH fastball from Greene and missed a home run by inches.

He had to settle for a triple and would end up stranded as Greene was just warming up. Greene retired the next nine in a row before Gabriel Gonzalez singled in the fourth. Green went four innings, allowing just two hits, walking one, and striking out three.

In opposition to the masquerading major leaguer, Ricky Castro did his best impersonation. He allowed just one unearned run in his three innings, allowing four hits, walking two, and striking out six Bats hitters.

With Greene out of the game the Saints finally struck in the top of the fifth. With two men on, Alan Roden delivered an RBI single to tie the game at one, and a sac fly from Gonzalez after a Jenkins walk put them up 2-1. If you were wondering, the new Bats pitcher Zach McCambley, peaked at 98.0 MPH with his fastball.

C.J. Culpeper came on for the Saints to start the fourth inning and would finish the fifth as well. He was charged with one earned run on three walks while striking out one in his two innings. The run came on a sac fly in the fifth that tied the game at two. Culpepper tossed the Saints' fastest pitch of the contest, topping out at 97.1 MPH.

Raul Brito (1 IP, 3 H, ER) and Grant Hartwig (2 IP) finished off the final three innings, keeping the lineup within one.

Unfortunately for them, they ran into even more velocity from the Bats, in the form of Zach Maxwell. He topped out at 101.9 MPH in the seventh inning, setting down Ben Ross, David Banuelos, and Alan Roden down in order. Aaron Sabato delivered a one-out double in the ninth to get the tying run in scoring position, but he would be left stranded to end the game.

Jenkins’ triple and Sabato’s double were two of their five hits in the game. Jenkins also drew a walk.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 6, Midland 4
Box Score
Newcomers to Double-A, Marek Houston and Jay Thomason each got the start in this series opener. Houston manned shortstop and batted second, while Thomason took on the DH duties, batting seventh.

It didn’t take Houston long to get the first hit out of the way. He singled on the third pitch of his first at-bat in the top of the first but was unable to advance any further.

The Wind Surge scored first in the top of the second thanks to a Caleb Roberts double to score Jaime Ferrer and Jorel Ortega for an early 2-0 lead. In the third Houston reached on an error, stole his first base with Wichita, and later his first run on a sac fly from Garrett Spain.

Thomason got his first hit out of the way with a gift single in the fourth, and he would later score on a ground out from Kyle DeBarge that made it 4-1. With Houston at-bat, a balk made it 5-1, before the Wind Surge got their final run of the game in the fifth on an RBI single from Ferrer to score Spain, who had doubled in front of him.

Preston Johnson made the start for the good guys and completed the first four innings. He gave up just one earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out four. Darren Bowen picked up the win by completing the next two innings. He allowed two earned runs on two hits (both solo homers) and a walk. He struck out three.

Hunter Gregory, Spencer Bengard, and Kyle Bischoff each pitched an inning to finish it out. Gregory allowed an unearned run on one hit, striking out one. Bengard and Bischoff both retired all three hitters they faced, with Bischoff striking out two to pick up the save.

Khadim Diaw (2-for-4, K), and Spain (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, K) each had multiple hits. Houston finished 1-for-5 in the scorebook in his Double-A debut but reached base multiple times thanks to an error. Jorel Ortega scored two runs, and Roberts drove in two.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 0, Wisconsin 5
Box Score
Now missing one of their best players of the first half in Marek Houston, the Kernels struggled to get anything going on the road against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Part of that may have been because they were facing one of the top strikeout pitchers in the Midwest League so far this season, in Braylon Owens. The Milwaukee Brewers 10th round pick of the 2025 draft carved up the Kernels over his five innings, allowing only two hits and one walk, while striking out eight.

The Cedar Rapids lineup managed just three hits in the game, with the biggest knock coming from Eduardo Tait, who delivered his 13th double of the season. He finished 2-for-4 to lead the way. Jacob McCombs collected their only other hit and stole a base. As a team they went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left only four men on base in the contest.

Lefty Dasan Hill got the start and was looking to correct some of the issues he’s been experiencing so far this season. If you call two innings of scoreless baseball a step in the right direction, he did so. Of his 32 pitches, 18 went for strikes (56%), allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out three. 

Xavier Kolhosser took all the venom of the Timber Rattlers. In his 1 2/3 innings, he was tagged for five runs (four earned) on five hits and a pair of walks. He struck out one. 

Cole Peschl (2 1/3 IP, 3 K) and Nick Trabacchi (2 IP, H, K) kept them in check over the final four-plus innings. Peschl retired all seven men he faced.

MUSSEL MATTERS
St. Lucie 6, Fort Myers 2
Box Score
The Mighty Mussels were outhit 10-5 by the Mets in this one but had plenty of opportunities as they also drew 10 free passes. That combination led to a 0-for-11 night with runners in scoring position however, leaving 11 men on base.

Right-hander Justin Mitrovich got the start at Hammond Stadium and was good at limiting damage thanks to five strikeouts. He made it through 4 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs (two earned) on six hits and a pair of walks.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the home team lineup was finally able to put a tally on the scoreboard. Jayson Bass led off with a walk, Quentin Young moved him to third with an infield single that included an error, and Bass was able to score on a double-play ball. In the bottom of the seventh they added their second run thanks to some erratic pitching. Merphy Hernandez was hit by a pitch with one out, stole his 18th base of the season, and later scored on a wild pitch to make it the final of 6-2.

The bullpen trio of Eduardo Salazar (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, ER), Eric Hammond (2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, K), and Brent Francisco (1 IP) finished off the rest of the game for the pitching staff.

Luis Fragoza led the way for the hitters with two hits in four plate appearances, including a double and a walk. His OPS with Fort Myers now sits at .943 in 26 games, including nine doubles, six homers, and 27 RBI. Catcher Ryan Sprock finished 1-for-2 with three walks, extending his hitting streak to 16 games.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Braves 7, FCL Twins 8 (9 innings)
Box Score
This one was only scheduled for seven innings, but thanks to a heroic late swing the teams got to put in a full nine.

Serving as an opener for the Twins, the rehabbing Billy Oldham delivered a one-two-three top of the first, including a strikeout. The Braves were in front 5-0 after the top of the sixth as they were able to figure out the bulk pitcher, Cristian Hernandez. He was charged with five earned runs on eight hits and three walks over his five innings. He struck out five. 

The Twins lineup finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth after Yilber Herrera delivered a one-out triple and scored on a single from Pablo Castillo. Castillo would later score thanks to an error that made it 5-2.

The Braves added an insurance run in the top of the seventh and they needed it, as in the bottom half three walks loaded the bases for the Twins, and Herrera tied it with one swing. His grand slam sent it to “extra” innings where they each scored the Manfred man in the eighth, but Brad Rudis shut down the Braves in the top of the ninth to give the lineup a chance.

They went the sac bunt route to move the winning run 90-feet away, which the Braves responded to by walking the bases loaded. While this may be a good idea on paper, it also means your pitcher has to throw strikes. In the Braves case, they couldn’t, after getting a flyout the Twins very literally “walked” this one off, as Yovanny Duran drew the bases loaded free pass to end the game.

Relievers Jack Walker (2 IP, H, 2 R (0 ER), 5 BB, 4 K) and Rudis (1 IP, BB, 2 K) pitched the final three innings for the Twins.

Victor Leal (3-for-4, R, BB) and Herrera each had three hits. Herrera filled up his batting line with a double, triple, grand slam, and a walk. He also scored two runs.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Colorado 13, DSL Twins 10
Box Score
As is common in the Dominican Summer League, a slow-pitch softball score broke out at the Twins academy.

The Colorado squad took an early three-run lead against Twins starter Yosangel Braffit, but he was able to finish 3 2/3 innings before being chased after another run in the fourth. In all, Braffit was charged with four earned runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out two.

The Twins had tied it at three in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI single from Jendy Martinez, an error, and a double steal. But after that, the visitors kept pulling away.

Out of the bullpen all four of Enmanuel Mena (2 1/3 IP, H, R, BB, 2 K), Manuel Meza (2/3 IP, H 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB), Failin Placencio (1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K), and Aldwin Morillo (2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB) gave up at least an unearned run.

The lineup finally stormed back with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the eighth that gave them a 10-9 lead heading into the final frame. Four singles, two walks, and two errors led to those runs. Colorado still had gas in the tank in the top of the ninth, scoring four to crush the valiant comeback attempt.

Despite their 10 runs the Twins had just seven hits while drawing eight walks on offense. Enmanuel Merlo led the way with two hits in five at-bats, but they did not have any extra-base hits.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Ricky Castro, St. Paul Saints (3 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K)
Hitter of the Day – Yilber Herrera, FCL Twins (3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B, GS HR, 4 RBI, BB, K)

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

#1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul): 1-for-3, 3B (1), BB, K
#4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-4, 2B
#5 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita): 1-for-5, R, K, SB (1)
#7 - LHP Kendry Rojas (Minnesota): 2 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 4 K
#9 - LHP Dasan Hill (Cedar Rapids): 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
#10 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul): 1-for-3, RBI, K
#12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 0-for-3, 2 K
#13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita): 2-for-4, K
#14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Fort Myers): 1-for-4, 2 K
#17 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (St. Paul): 2 IP, ER, 3 BB, K
#20 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (Wichita): 1-for-5, RBI, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Louisville (11:05 AM CDT) - LHP Aaron Rozek (1-0, 2.75 ERA)
Wichita @ Midland (6:30 PM CDT) - RHP Chris Vallimont (0-1, 2.70 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (12:10 PM CDT) - RHP Riley Quick (0-1, 4.55 ERA)
St. Lucie @ Fort Myers (11:05 AM CDT) - RHP Kolten Smith (2-4, 5.56 ERA)

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

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[Sampson5]

Look forward to the day the twins swap out fedko for Jenkins or roden all due respect to fedko but he looks overwhelmed in the majors 

[D.C Twins]

Jenkins needs to be wearing a shock device somewhere that triggers when he approaches the warning track in AAA. 

I'm only half kidding....