Twins Minor League Report (8/6): Walker Jenkins Homers Twice in Saints Win

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Walker Jenkins)

TRANSACTIONS   
The Twins released RHP Grant Hartwig from the Saints roster. 

The Twins also released DSL RHP Juan Germosen. It’s always a little surprising when a 17-year-old gets released, so it’s worth looking at. In seven games and just 5 1/3 innings, he had a 23.63 ERA (14 ER) on seven hits. He had a BB:K ratio of 16:3, which isn’t too good. The 4.31 WHIP isn’t encouraging. He made five appearances in June. He pitched just once in mid-July and recorded just one out. On Tuesday, he made his first appearance in three weeks. He faced four batters. He walked three and hit another. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 5, Louisville 4  
Box Score
The Saints won the first inning by a score of 4-2. They added on in the fourth frame and then held on at the end.

C.J. Culpepper made a spot start for the Saints. He went three innings. He gave up two runs, both in the top of the first, on three hits and a walk. He had two strikeouts. 

Fairmont, Minnesota, native Brandon Williamson made a rehab start against the Saints. The Reds lefty gave up four runs on two walks and two hits, and he only recorded two outs.  

With one out in the bottom of the first, Walker Jenkins took a 1-0 cutter and hit it over the wall in left field to give his team a 1-0 lead.   

With two outs, Williamson walked Matt Wallner and Hendry Mendez. Ben Ross singled to drive in Wallner and push Mendez to third base. Mendez scored the go-ahead run on a balk. After a mid-AB pitching change, Kala’i Rosario singled to drive in Ross and make it 4-2. 

That’s where the score remained until the bottom of the fourth inning. Walker Jenkins came up and crushed a 1-0 changeup and hit it 108.2 mph at a 30-degree launch angle. It traveled well beyond the wall in right field and left CHS Field, landing 400 feet from home plate.   

The Saints had a 5-2 lead through four innings and needed the bullpen to hang on. Matt Bowman came in and tossed three scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit, hit one batter, and issued one walk. He also had zero strikeouts. Taylor Rashi pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Garret Acton gave up one run on two hits in the eighth but left with the Saints leading 5-3 and three more outs to go. Eric Orze got the ninth inning. He gave up one run on two hits but earned his third Saints save. 

The Saints scored their five runs on nine hits and 10 walks. Jenkins went 2-for-5 with his fifth and sixth homers. Rosario went 2-for-4 with his first Triple-A triple. Wallner went 1-for-2 with three walks. Mendez and Noah Cardenas each walked twice. Aaron Sabato had a walk and his 26th double. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 5, NW Arkansas 1 
Box Score
When teams think about piggybacking starters, this is the vision. It rarely plays out this well. Ty Langenberg started for the Wind Surge and was very good, very efficient. He tossed five scoreless innings and gave up just two hits. He had just two strikeouts, but he didn’t hurt himself with any walks. Sixty-eight percent of his 63 pitches were strikes.   

Cory Lewis came in and threw three scoreless innings before giving up a run in the bottom of the ninth frame. He gave up just two hits and one walk. He had five strikeouts.

The Wichita bats came through with five runs on 10 hits, but they also came through in clutch situations and used their legs to force the action a bit. The Surge stole eight bases in the game without being caught.  

The Wind Surge took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Jorel Ortega singled to drive in Caden Kendle. 

That is how the score stayed until the Surge pushed four runs across in the top of the seventh inning. Kyle DeBarge singled to lead off the inning. He stole second and then stole third base. On that play, he scored on an errant throw by the catcher. 

With one out, Graham Brown singled, stole second. He went to third on a Marek Houston single who proceeded to steal second. Khadim drove in Brown with a single. Houston scored on a single by Brandon Winokur. Diaw scored on a single by Andrew Cossetti. Winokur was thrown out at third, but the team had a much more comfortable 5-0 lead. 

Brown batted ninth, but he went 2-for-3 with a walk. He hit his first Double-A double, the team’s lone extra base hit. Brown also stole two bases. Winokur was also 2-for-5 with his seventh stolen base. Diaw went 1-for-3 with two walks and his 10th Surge steal. DeBarge now has 25 stolen bases, and Houston stole his 20th base. 

KERNELS CHRONICLES
Cedar Rapids 1, South Bend 4 (Completion of Suspended Game)
Box Score
The two teams began this game on Wednesday, but rains came and caused it to be suspended in the bottom of the third inning. The score was tied 1-1 at the time. Lefty Michael Carpenter made his first Kernels start. He gave up one run on one hit in the two, pre-rain innings on Wednesday. He had three strikeouts. The Kernels had a run. In the top of the second, newcomer JP Smith started where he left Fort Myers, absolutely mashing. He drilled his first Midwest League home run.   

When the game resumed on Thursday afternoon, Adrian Bohorquez took over on the mound. It’s been a rough season for the young right-hander, but his last couple of outings have been encouraging. And on Thursday, it was his best outing of the season. He struck out six batters over five shutout innings. He gave up two hits and walked two batters. 

Yehizon Sanchez came in for the bottom of the eighth inning. He gave up three runs on five hits in the inning to take the loss. 

The Kernels had just three hits in the game. Smith was 1-for-3 with a walk and a homer. Andy Lugo and Byron Chourio each had a single and a walk. Chourio was also hit by a pitch. 

Cedar Rapids 4, Peoria 2 (Regularly scheduled game)
Box Score
The regularly scheduled game also started out very quietly offensively, but this time, the Kernels were the team that put together a crooked number late in the game to take the win. 

With no score through three innings, JP Smith led off the top of the fourth with another long home run to give the Kernels the game’s first lead, 1-0.   

Reed Moring made the start for the Kernels. He was charged with two runs on two hits and a walk over six innings. He had six strikeouts to earn his first win. As impressive, he needed just 70 pitches to complete his six innings. He threw 70% strikes. 

With one out in the top of the sixth, Jayson Bass and Jose Salas were hit by pitches. Quinn McDaniel singled to drive in Bass. Then the pitcher attempted to pick off Salas, but he threw the ball away which allowed him to score the third run. With two outs, Miguel Briceno drove in McDaniel to make it 4-1.   

Cole Peschl struck out three batters in a scoreless, one-hit inning to record his second save. 

Briceno led the offense. He went 2-for-2 with a walk. 

MIGHTY MATTERS
Fort Myers, Bradenton (postponed)
Box Score
The rains came to Bradenton and made the field unplayable. The teams will attempt to play two games on Friday. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
DSL Twins 8, DSL Nationals 6
Box Score
The Twins had three crooked-number innings in the first five innings and then held on at the end for the win.

Yosmal Garcia started and gave up just one run on two hits over the first four innings. He had three strikeouts and no walks. Enmanuel Mena came on and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk over the next 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three. Arthur De La Cruz got the final four outs. He gave up three runs (2 earned) on one hit and three walks. He had two strikeouts.

Jendy Martinez went 3-for-3 with a walk and scored twice. He also stole his 16th and 17th bases. Jhon Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with his eighth double and three RBI. He stole his eighth and ninth bases. Anibal Beltre went 2-for-3. Enmanuel Merlo was 2-for-3 with a walk and his second triple. Jeferson Abreu hit his fifth double.

---

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter(s) of the Day  
Walker Jenkins (St. Paul): 2-for-5, 2-HR(6), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 

Pitcher(s) of the Day 
Ty Langenberg (Wichita): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 63 pitches, 43 pitches (68.3%)
Adrian Bohorquez (Cedar Rapids): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 68 pitches, 43 strikes (63.2%)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. Help us update the Top 20 prospects list now that the trade deadline is passed.

#1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - 2-for-5, 2 HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K (batted second, played CF)
#3 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 1-for-5 (batted first, played SS) 
#4 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - Rehab in Cedar Rapids: 0-for-3, BB, K (batted second, DH)
#5 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita) - 1-for-5, R, 2 K, SB(20) (batted first, played SS)
#7 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - Game 2: 0-for-3, K (batted second, catcher)
#10 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 0-for-3, 2 BB, R, K (Batted fifth, played DH)
#11 - 1B/OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-for-2, K (batted third, played 1B)
#14 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 1-for-3, 2 BB, R, RBI, SB(10) (batted second, Catcher)
#15 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K, SB(6) (batted third, played 3B) 

UPCOMING PROBABLES
Friday, August 7
Louisville @ St. Paul (7:07 pm CT) - RHP Ricky Castro (2-1, 3.82 ERA) 
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05 pm CT) - RHP Riley Quick (0-1, 9.64 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05 pm CT) - RHP Merit Jones (first MWL start)  
Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (DH @ 4:00 pm CT) - TBD, TBD 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 57-59
St. Paul Saints: 64-46
Wichita Wind Surge: 40-63
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 39-64
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 55-47
FCL Twins: 33-26
DSL Twins: 13-31 

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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[Patzky]

Under the caption on the Jenkins HR, it offers you the chance to 'Show more...'

 

What else is there to show, honestly...

[FlyingFinn]

Jenkins looks ready. With only a week or so to manipulate his service time, we will find out if the Twins are actually doing that. 

[DJL44]

Great night for Jenkins. Turning his raw power into game power is really the last step in his development.

[jmlease1]

Sure would like to to see Jenkins in MLB I mean, let's goooo!

Nice to see Bohorquez have a good day. The stuff is great, but he's another one of those guys that has to find the zone most consistently. But this is 2 good outings in a row and 4 out of the last 5, so many he's starting to get into a rhythm and finding something that works for him. He still needs to figure out how to neutralize LH hitters better, but he's absolute death to righties. Still real potential here.

Winokur seems to be handling AA ok so far; he's not destroying the pitching or anything (yet) but he's holding his own quite well and I like seeing him at 3B. The bundle of tools is still very intriguing and he's the sort of prospect that could make a big leap at any time if things click.

[TJSweens]

It was good to see Jenkins first HR came off a lefty. That is the last remaining question on Jenkins. He has been able to get on base at a decent rate against them, but his slugging against them has been bad.

[Dman]

55 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Great night for Jenkins. Turning his raw power into game power is really the last step in his development.

Yep my thoughts exactly.  If he wants to get to the majors what he did last night is the way to get there. The approach is solid, add in some power and that could get him called up sooner rather than later.

[strumdatjag]

Jenkins can be added when rosters expand in a few weeks.   

[Nashvilletwin]

Nobody wants to hear this, but patience is needed.

The most important thing this club can do for its future is to make sure it does all it can to maximize the likelihood of Jenkins, Lackey, ERod, Culpepper and Houston are in the starting lineup come opening day in ‘28 and are positioned to be as immediately successful as possible starting that day.

If that means not risking Jenkins, et al not being able to play organized professional ball for some or most of ‘27, so be it.

[mikelink45]

Please go back to listing pitch and hitting stats under the score.

The only question I have is - why do we still have Martin, Gray, Roden, Caratini in the lineup when we have Wallner, Mendez, and Walker in AAA?

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

Please go back to listing pitch and hitting stats under the score.

The only question I have is - why do we still have Martin, Gray, Roden, Caratini in the lineup when we have Wallner, Mendez, and Walker in AAA?

Mendez and Wallner are primarily DH. Using either in MLB is not healthy for pitchers or a positive step towards winning baseball games. If the Twins can clear the log jam of DH types this offseason there may be a path for Mendez. 

Walker Jenkins will be called if he puts together another good week.

Edited Friday at 02:41 PM by tony&rodney
correction

[tony&rodney]

10 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Nobody wants to hear this, but patience is needed.

The most important thing this club can do for its future is to make sure it does all it can to maximize the likelihood of Jenkins, Lackey, ERod, Culpepper and Houston are in the starting lineup come opening day in ‘28 and are positioned to be as immediately successful as possible starting that day.

If that means not risking Jenkins, et al not being able to play organized professional ball for some or most of ‘27, so be it.

Can you or anyone else please explain why you believe that baseball will be cancelled for 2027. I don't understand that thought process. This is not a criticism, per se, but I'm not seeing it.

I'm not a Vegas guy but if I had to bet on either the Twins winning the 2026 World Series or MLB being cancelled in 2027, my money is on the Twins.

[Danchat]

I finally got to go to a Saints game, and I just so happened to be filming when Jenkins popped off with HR #2:

I also have a video of Culpepper whiffing on a low pitch, he chased 2 or 3 pitches below the zone. Not a great day at the plate for him. 

Not mentioned in the article was Gabriel Gonzalez got injured in a collision at 1B, tagging the runner out was the only play but he plowed into him and he took the brunt of the damage.

Not very impressed by the pitching, Culpepper had a bad first inning and Acton / Orze looked very questionable.  

[DJL44]

18 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Please go back to listing pitch and hitting stats under the score.

The only question I have is - why do we still have Martin, Gray, Roden, Caratini in the lineup when we have Wallner, Mendez, and Walker in AAA?

Wallner and Mendez play bad defense. The Twins really don’t need their defense to get worse.

Roden is 3 for 8 with a double, 3 walks and no strikeouts over the last 5 games. That’s exactly what they want from him.

[terrydactyls]

28 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

 

Walker Jenkins will be recalled if he puts together another good week.

How does a player get "recalled" if he's never been "called"?  Just wondering.

[Patzky]

On a related note, check the transactions page later today. ☺️

[tony&rodney]

25 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

How does a player get "recalled" if he's never been "called"?  Just wondering.

Clever fellow.

[jimbo92107]

Can the Twins use a young, power-hitting CF with a good glove? Can they use a better defensive shortstop?

Jenkins and Culpepper are entertaining the wrong town. Bring 'em a few miles west, make the pro club stronger up the middle. 

[Jeff K]

3 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Sure would like to to see Jenkins in MLB I mean, let's goooo!

Nice to see Bohorquez have a good day. The stuff is great, but he's another one of those guys that has to find the zone most consistently. But this is 2 good outings in a row and 4 out of the last 5, so many he's starting to get into a rhythm and finding something that works for him. He still needs to figure out how to neutralize LH hitters better, but he's absolute death to righties. Still real potential here.

Winokur seems to be handling AA ok so far; he's not destroying the pitching or anything (yet) but he's holding his own quite well and I like seeing him at 3B. The bundle of tools is still very intriguing and he's the sort of prospect that could make a big leap at any time if things click.

The Twins just called up Kaelen Culpepper.   Hopefully Walker is next!

[Cris E]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

I finally got to go to a Saints game, and I just so happened to be filming when Jenkins popped off with HR #2:

Not mentioned in the article was Gabriel Gonzalez got injured in a collision at 1B, tagging the runner out was the only play but he plowed into him and he took the brunt of the damage.

Not very impressed by the pitching, Culpepper had a bad first inning and Acton / Orze looked very questionable.  

I was there too (first 2026 game!) and Gonzalez looked like he got his foot stepped on during the collision, needing help off the field.  Also, he is somehow listed as 165 pounds, and there is no possible way that is right. The Bats' player he hit was a taller, lankier guy and he went down too, but Gonzalez was obviously heavier than him. 

[nicksaviking]

I think Culpepper is going to be a good reliever, but it looked like he hit a wall about a month ago. Seems kind of odd and maybe irresponsible to have him start and go three innings. Probably needs to be a one inning guy through the rest of the season.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, Cris E said:

I was there too (first 2026 game!) and Gonzalez looked like he got his foot stepped on during the collision, needing help off the field.  Also, he is somehow listed as 165 pounds, and there is no possible way that is right. The Bats' player he hit was a taller, lankier guy and he went down too, but Gonzalez was obviously heavier than him. 

Yeah, that weight was probably from years ago. He's pretty chunky now.

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I think Culpepper is going to be a good reliever, but it looked like he hit a wall about a month ago. Seems kind of odd and maybe irresponsible to have him start and go three innings. Probably needs to be a one inning guy through the rest of the season.

Funnily enough, his first inning was by far his worst, but I do agree. Seems like they've run out of starters at AAA so they're having the likes of Culepper and Mike Bowman go 3 innings at a time. More of a way to get the pitching staff through the game rather than ideal development of the players.

[Cris E]

It looks like when Zebby got pulled mid-day they were kind of piecing it together. 

[Linus]

7 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

How does a player get "recalled" if he's never been "called"?  Just wondering.

Reminds me of the old George Carlin bit about “pre-boarding” an airplane. Does that mean you get on before you get on?