Twins Minor League Report (7/11): Danny DeAndrade Dazzles, Juan Holmann Homers. and Walker Jenkins Heads to Philly

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey (photo of Preston Johnson)

TRANSACTIONS   
The Twins claimed RHP Jack Anderson from the Boston Red Sox and assigned him to the Saints. To make room, Anthony Banda was placed on the 60-Day Injured List.

Garrett Acton began his rehab with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. 

RHP Ricky Castro was activated from the Saints Injured List.

OF Walker Jenkins was placed on the Temporary Inactive List. Worry not! He’ll be in Philadelphia, playing in the Futures Game on Sunday afternoon. He will be the starting center fielder and bat cleanup for the American League squad. 

Catcher Irvin Nunez was promoted from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids. 

The Kernels transferred RHP Sam Rochard to the 60-Day Injured List. He’s got right labrum impingement syndrome. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 2, Iowa 8  
Box Score
On Tuesday, John Klein tossed five innings against the I-Cubs to earn a win. On Saturday, he was charged with five runs on six hits. In 2 2/3 innings, he walked four and had five strikeouts. Grant Hartwig came on with two runners on and two outs in the third inning. He allowed one of the inherited runners to score. He also gave up a run in the fourth inning. Cole Sands gave up a hit in an otherwise uneventful inning. Ricky Castro returned from the IL to work two scoreless innings. Taylor Rashi got the final inning. He gave up two runs on two walks and a hit (a homer). 

The Saints faced a rather veteran/experienced Cubs pitching staff on Sunday. Jameson Taillon gave up just one hit and one walk over 4 2/3 innings. 35-year-old Ty Blach got the next seven outs. The final three outs were thrown by #OldFriend Liam Hendriks. 

The vaunted Saints offense managed two runs on just four hits and three walks. They had no extra base hits. Aaron Sabato was the lone Saints player with both a single and a walk.   

The daily Brett Bateman Update shares with us that the Mounds View legend went 2-for-4 with a walk. He hit a two-run triple in the second inning when the game was still close. At the end of the day, he was hitting .309/.437/.422 (.859) with 15 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 18 stolen bases in 67 games.  And he also played tremendous defense.  

For more on Bateman and other prospects in the (former Twins outfield prospect) Jason Kanzler-led Cubs farm system, check out our sister site North Side Baseball.  Many of the Iowa Cubs are in their Top 20 Cubs Prospect rankings, including #11 prospect James Triantos who went 1-for-2 with two walks. He’s also hitting .309. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 3, Northwest Arkansas 4
Box Score
Through five innings, this game was scoreless. Preston Johnson walked two batters over four scoreless, hitless innings. He struck out five. Spencer Bengard pitched a scoreless fifth inning before giving up an unearned run. Jaylen Nowlin gave up two runs (1 earned) on one hit and a hit batter in the seventh inning. He had two strikeouts. Paulshawn Pasqualotto gave up one run on three hits and a walk over the final two innings. 

The Naturals scored one run in the top of the sixth and two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Down 3-0, the Surge mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Brandon Winokur singled. He scored on Garrett Spain’s 17th double. He moved to third base on a bunt single by Kyle DeBarge. Spain scored on a single by Caden Kendle to make it 3-2. 

Northwest Arkansas added one run in the top of the eighth inning. Marek Houston led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. He went to third base on a Khadim Diaw single. Andrew Cossetti walked to load the bases. Billy Amick flew out to left field, deep enough for Houston to score and make it a one-run game. Diaw advanced to third base on the play. Unfortunately, a strikeout and a ground out ended the threat. 

The Surge went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and fell 4-3, their fourth straight loss. They have nine wins in the past 46 games. 

Wichita scored their three runs on eight hits and four walks. Unfortunately, they were just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Garrett Spain had the lone extra base hit, his 17th double. Khadim Diaw and Jay Thomason were both 2-for-4. Marek Houston and Caden Kendle were both 1-for-3 with a walk. Andrew Cossetti went 0-for-2 with two walks. 

Seven players on the NW Arkansas roster are in the Royals Keep Top 20 prospect rankings. Five of them are pitchers. #14 prospect Felix Arronde started for the Naturals and gave up one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.  

KERNELS CHRONICLE 
Cedar Rapids 11, South Bend 7
Box Score
There was no score in this game through three innings. Over the next two innings, the Kernels scored five runs to make it 5-0. The Cubs scored three runs in the top of the sixth and again in the top of the seventh inning. In the Kernels half of the seventh, they put six on the scoreboard to take an 11-6 lead, plenty for their bullpen to hold on.

Adrian Bohorquez started and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and had five strikeouts. Michael Ross came in with two on and two out in the third inning. He was then charged with three runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh. He got two outs in that seventh inning. Brian Zeldin got out of that inning, but he was credited with one run on two hits and a walk. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Eduardo Tait led off with a single. Enrique Jimenez drove him in with a double. He advanced to third on a throwing error. With one out, Danny De Andrade singled in Jimenez to make it 2-0. 

Rayne Doncon started the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk. With one out, Dameury Pena singled to right, but Doncon was thrown out at third base for the inning’s second out. Yasser Mercedes drove in Pena with his ninth double.   

After a pitching change, Tait’s 17th double drove in Mercedes. Jimenez walked, and then Henry Kusiak doubled in Tait to make it 5-0. 

After falling behind 6-5, the Kernels came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yasser Mercedes started the inning by reaching on an error. Tait walked. Both runners advanced on a balk, and Jimenez walked to load the bases. With one out, De Andrade’s 10th double drove in two runs to put the Kernels back in the lead at 7-6. 

Jose Salas followed by hitting a homer for the second night in a row. On Friday night, it was a grand slam. On Saturday, it was “just” a three-run homer. 

Later in the inning, Yasser Mercedes drove in Graham Brown with a single to make it 11-6 and close out the scoring. Cole Peschl struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning. 

After hitting a double and two triples on Friday, Danny De Andrade hit a single, his 10th double, and his fifth triple on Saturday night. Jose Salas hit his second home run in as many days and went 2-for-5. Mercedes went 2-for-5 with his ninth Kernels double and two RBI. Tait went 2-for-4 with a walk and his 17th double. Jimenez went 1-for-2 with three walks and a double. Kusiak added his fifth double. 

Five South Bend Cubs players are on the Northside Baseball Top 20 Cubs Prospect rankings.19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn, the #4 prospect, will be participating in the Futures Game on Sunday. #7 prospect Kane Kepley went 1-for-4 with a walk, and his 41st stolen base. #14 prospect 

MIGHTY MATTERS
Game 1: Ft. Myers 0, Bradenton 2 (8 innings)
Box Score
These teams had not played the last two days because of rain. So, maybe it’s understandable that through the seven scheduled innings of the first game, the bats were almost completely silent. 

Reed Moring started and gave up two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out five batters. Garrett Acton’s first rehab appearance went well. He had a strikeout in a perfect inning. Callan Fang came on and gave up two hits, walked two batters and hit another over two scoreless innings. He had three strikeouts. Mike McKenna had a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Michael Hilker came in for the eighth inning. He allowed the Manfred Man to score and another run on two hits. 

Unfortunately, the Mussels were unable to get anything going. They had just three hits and a walk over the game’s eight innings. Luis Fragoza had two of the three singles. Byron Chourio had the other. Quentin Young walked. 

Game 2: Ft. Myers 3, Bradenton 2
Box Score
13 innings. After not scoring for eight innings in the first game, the Mussels started Game 2 with five scoreless innings. Fortunately, Justin Mitrovich was up to the challenge. The right-hander gave up just one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked two and had seven strikeouts.   

Julian Merryweather continued his rehab assignment. He got the final out of the fifth inning. In the sixth, he gave up two runs (1 earned) on three hits. He struck out three batters. 

Bradenton scored two runs in the top of the sixth. The Mussels responded in the bottom of the sixth inning by ending their offensive drought. Miguel Briceno led off with a walk. He went to third base on Ramiro Dominguez’s 14th double. Jayson Bass grounded to short. Briceno scored but Dominguez was out trying to advance to third. With two outs, Luis Fragoza hit his 11th double which drove in Bass with the tying run. 

Brent Francisco came in for the top of the seventh. He got a strikeout and two ground outs. 

The bottom of the seventh inning began with a Ricardo Paez walk. After a strikeout, Ricardo Pena was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, Briceno walked to load the bases. Dominguez came to the plate and lined a single to right to drive in Paez with the game-winning run.   

The Mussels again only had three hits. However, they walked five times in Game 2. Ramiro Dominguez went 2-for-4 with his 14th double. Luis Fragoza hit his 11th double. Briceno walked twice. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 7, FCL Red Sox 3
Box Score   
The Twins scored two runs in the first inning. The Red Sox scored three in the second inning. The Twins responded with three in the third and two more in the fourth to take a lead and hung on for the win.

Yovanny Duran led off the bottom of the first inning with a single. Jake Rucker walked. Duran went to third on a fly out. Rucker stole second, and both runners scored on a throwing error. 

Michael Carpenter was back on the mound for another rehab start. He was much improved compared to his previous appearance. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning. 

Melvin Rodriguez came on as the bulk pitcher again. He gave up three runs in the second inning but then settled in. In four innings, he gave up three runs on three hits (2 homers), a walk, and three hit batters. He also had eight strikeouts. 

Duran led off the third inning with a walk and stole second. Rucker walked. The two were successful on a double steal. After two strikeouts, Miguel Caraballo walked to lead the bases. Duran scored on a passed ball to tie the game at three. Darwin Almanzar walked to reload the bases. After a pitching change, Joyner Perez singled to drive in two runs and make it 5-3. 

Duran led off the fourth inning with a double. Rucker walked. Carlos Taveras reached on an error to load the bases. Jhomnardo Reyes grounded out, but Duran scored. Caraballo then lifted a fly ball to right field, deep enough for Rucker to score the team’s seventh run. 

Brad Rudis walked one and struck out one batter over two scoreless, hitless innings. 

The Twins scored their seven runs on just four hits, but they had 11 walks. Rehabbing Jake Rucker went 0-for-1 with three walks, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Jhomnardo Reyes, Darwin Almanzar, and Victor Leal each walked twice. Duran went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. 

DSL Twins 9, DSL Nationals 3
Box Score  
The Twins scored nine runs on eight hits and were largely helped by 12 walks.

Juan Collado started for the Twins. He gave up three, first-inning runs but then tossed two scoreless innings. Overall, he gave up three runs on five hits (2 homers) and had one strikeout. Alam Soriano came in and finished the game. He gave up just one hit and no walks over four scoreless innings. He had five strikeouts to earn the Win. 

All nine Twins hitters reached base at least once. The first four hitters (Daiyer Barboza, Jendy Martinez, Jhon Gonzalez, Enmanuel Merlo) walked twice. Fifth hitter Abel Sosa went 2-for-3 with a walk and his second double. Juan Holmann batted sixth. He went 3-for-5 with his seventh double, third home run, two runs, and five RBI. He stole his 13th bag of the season. Luis Duarte walked once. Jeferson Abreu went 2-for-3 with a walk and his first double. Fabian Ulloa went 1-for-3 with a walk, and he stole his fourth base. .  

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter(s) of the Day  
Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids): 3-for-5, 2B(10), 3B(5), R, 3 RBI, K
Juan Holmann (DSL Twins): 3-for-4, 2B(7), HR(3), 2 R, 5 RBI, K, SB(13) 

Pitcher(s) of the Day 
Preston Johnson (Wichita): 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 65 pitches, 41 strikes (63.1%)
Alam Soriano (DSL Twins): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 

 

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

#4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, BB, 2B(17), 3 R, RBI, 2 K
#5 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita) - 0-for-3, BB, R, 2 K (batted first, played SS)
#9 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 0-for-3, BB, K (batted fourth, played DH)
#10 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-4, RBI, K (batted sixth, played LF)
#12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 1-for-4, R, K, OF Assist (batted fifth, played CF)
#13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 2-for-4 (batted second, played catcher)
#14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - Game 1: 0-for-2, BB (batted sixth, played SS) 
#18 - OF Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, 2B(9), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB(24), 2 K (batted first, played RF)
#19 - 1B/3B Billy Amick (Wichita) - 0-for-3, SF RBI (batted fourth, played 3B) 
#20 - 2B/SS Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 1-for-4 (batted seventh, played 2B) 

UPCOMING PROBABLES
Sunday, July 11
St. Paul @ Iowa (1:08 pm CT) - LHP Aaron Rozek (2-1, 3.42 ERA)
NW Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 pm CT) - RHP Chris Vallimont (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
South Bend @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 pm CT) - LHP Dasan Hill (1-6, 6.14 ERA)  
Bradenton @ Ft. Myers (11:05 am CT) - RHP Merit Jones (3-1, 4.33 ERA)  

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 47-49
St. Paul Saints: 49-41
Wichita Wind Surge: 28-56
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 35-48
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 46-37
FCL Twins: 28-23
DSL Twins: 8-20 

Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! 

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[twinstalker]

Juan Holmann.  I always find it...interesting...when Central Americans have German surnames.  I have an acquaintance with such, but I never ask.  I have another friend, not Latin, who told me his great-grandfather of the same name was a very famous/notorious person, someone I knew well from 20th century European history.  I asked a lot of questions, but he didn't even know what I knew.  He just knew he was a big deal.

[FlyingFinn]

Nice to see some good pitching from some of our guys in the minors.

[HrbieFan]

Anyone familiar with what Preston Johnson brings to the mound? I know the Twins signed him out of indy league after Baltimore gave up on him. He looks like a workhorse on the mound at 6'4" and 250#s. Looks like the Twins are trying to stretch him out

[weitz41]

Holmann is looking like a good signing last winter.  Luis Fradoza and Justin Mitrovish seem like they have A ball figured out. Time to see the corn fields of Cedar Rapids soon?

[GopherMike]

St Paul is going to need to clear up two pitcher roster spots with Anderson and Orze being sent down. 

Just as well....there is a bulk of guys that are too old/not performing anyway. 

[AceWrigley]

1 hour ago, GopherMike said:

Just as well....there is a bulk of guys that are too old/not performing anyway. 

Hey now, I resemble that comment.

[AceWrigley]

Wow did Jose Salas put a jolt into that homerun.

[rdehring]

BREAKING NEWS!  No Twins minor league team gave up more than 8 runs yesterday, with most allowing only a couple.

De Andrade with back-to-back big games.  Maybe there is hope?

Nice starts by Moring and Mitrovich.  Also good seeing Carpenter with a clean inning after having a rough spring.