Twins Minor League Report (8/8): A Sweep and a Walkoff in Boca Chica, Justin Mitrovich Dominates in South Bend.

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Kason Huckabay, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Chris Vallimont)

TRANSACTIONS   
There were no announced transactions in the Twins organization on Saturday. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 9, Louisville 4
Box Score
The Saints jumped out to an early lead thanks to two big innings. They led 9-1 after three innings. Their offense did nothing more, but it was more than enough to hang on for another Saints win. 

The Saints took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Hendry Mendez and Kala’i Rosario started the inning with walks. Then Cody Morissette drove an inside-the-park home run to make it 3-0 Saints. 

After two outs, Walker Jenkins came to the plate and hit a triple. Ben Ross immediately followed by launching his 11th home run with the Saints. 

With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Mendez doubled and Rosario walked. Morissette flew out this time for the inning’s second out. However, Tanner Schobel drove a single to center to drive in Mendez with the sixth run. David Banuelos followed with his fifth home run of the season to make it a 9-1 game.

Trent Baker went 3 2/3 innings and gave up only an unearned run. He gave up one hit, walked one and had seven strikeouts. Alejandro Hidalgo came on and gave up one run on one (solo homer) over 1 1/3 innings. He struck out three batters. Ruddy Gomez gave up two runs on three hits in two innings. He had four strikeouts. Woo-Suk Go struck out two batters over two perfect innings. 

The Saints scored their nine runs on eight hits and seven walks. Ben Ross went 2-for-5 with his third triple and 11th homer. Walker Jenkins also had two hits in five at-bats, including his third triple. Mendez was 1-for-3 with a walk and his 10th double. David Banuelos was 1-for-3 with a walk and fifth homer. Morissette’s home run was his ninth homer with the team (first inside-the-parker, I believe.). 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 5, NW Arkansas 2
Box Score
The Surge jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. From that point, the game was 2-2, but that means that Wichita won. 

With one out in the top of the first, Khadim Diaw got things started with a double. Brandon Winokur was hit by a pitch. Garrett Spain singled to left field to drive in Diaw with the first run. Winokur scored the second run on a ground out by Caden Kendle. 

Wichita added a third run in the top of the second. With one out, Jaime Ferrer singled and scored on a Jorel Ortega double. 

Chris Vallimont started and tossed four shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walked one and had four strikeouts. Darren Bowen pitched the fifth inning. He gave up one run on one hit and one walk. Spencer Bengard gave up one run on three hits in the sixth inning. Jaylen Nowlin pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Mitch Mueller tossed two scoreless innings to record his second Surge save. 

The Surge maintained the multi-run lead throughout thanks to adding on later in the game. In the sixth inning, Garrett Spain hit a solo homer, and in the eighth inning, Caden Kendle homered. 

Khadim Diaw went 2-for-3 with a walk and his sixth and seventh Surge doubles. Spain was 2-for-4 with his 17th home run. Ortega’s double was his first this season. Caden Kendle’s homer was his third since joining the Surge. Marek Houston went 0-for-2 but walked three times and stole his 21st base. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 7, Peoria 0
Box Score
Justin Mitrovich put together arguably his best start of the season. The 2025 draft pick tossed six shutout innings. He gave up two runs on one hit while striking out four batters. 

Lefty Cleiber Maldonado struck out two in a perfect seventh inning. Brian Zeldin tossed two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, one walk, and struck out two batters. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez had his best game during his rehab stint. He went 3-for-5 with a double. Jose Salas added his third double. 

Quinn McDaniel had a huge game. He went 3-for-4 with his fourth and fifth doubles and his third home run. 

Byron Chourio went 2-for-4 with his second Kernels homer and four RBI. 

MIGHTY MATTERS
Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 1
Box Score
The Mussels scored four runs in the third inning and two more in the fifth frame and that proved more than enough to grab the Saturday night win. 

With one out in the top of the third, Bryce Fowler was hit by a pitch. Next, Carson Tinney and Ramiro Dominguez walked. With two outs, Yovanny Duran doubled to left to drive in two runs Quentin Young followed with another two-run double and the Mussels led 4-0. 

In the fifth, Tinney led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Dominguez walked. Aidan Teel followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0. Quentin Young drove in the sixth run with a sacrifice fly. 

Fort Myers scored their six runs on seven hits and eight walks. Aidan Teel went 2-for-5 with his third and fourth doubles. Ramiro Dominguez was 1-for-2 with three walks. Carson Tinney went 1-for-3 with two walks. Duran’s double was his first with the Mussels. Young’s double was his 10th of the season, and he drove in half of the team’s runs. Charlie Scholvin was hit by a pitch twice. 

Ramiro Villanueva started and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings despite giving up two hits and walking three batters. He had one strikeout. Eric Hammond came in and gave up one run on three hits and a walk over the next 3 1/3 innings. He struck out four batters. Nick McAuliffe struck out four and walked one over two scoreless, hitless innings. Michael Hilker gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
Game 1: DSL Twins 7, DSL Rockies 6 (9 innings)
Box Score
These DSL games are normally seven innings, and obviously doubleheader games are both seven innings, so note that this game had a couple of extra innings. The Rockies scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-4 lead. 

Jendy Martinez started the inning at second base as the “Manfred Man.” With one out, Abel Sosa ripped a double to left to put runners on second and third. After an infield pop out, Jeferson Abreu crushed a three-run homer over the wall in left field to give his team a 7-6 walkoff win. 

The Twins scored their seven runs on 14 hits and just two walks. All nine batters had at least one hit in the game. Martinez went 2-for-5 with his second triple and three RBI. Sosa went 2-for-5 with his fifth and sixth doubles. Enmanuel Merlo was 2-for-4 with a walk and his fourth double. Luis Suarez was 2-for-4 with his fourth double. And the game’s hero, Jeferson Abreu was 2-for-5 with his third home run and three big RBI. 

Yosangle Braffit started and gave up only an unearned run on three hits and a walk over four innings. He had four strikeouts. Miguel Martinez gave up three runs on four hits and a walk in the fifth inning. Failin Placencio recorded two outs in the sixth, one on a strikeout, but he walked three and was replaced by Jeremy Jimenez. He tossed 2 1/3 innings, facing the minimum seven batters. Jesus Moreno came in for the ninth and gave up two runs (1 earned) on two hits. He had three strikeouts. 

Game 2: DSL Twins 8, DSL Rockies 5
Box Score
The second game was also played at the Twins/Phillies complex in Boca Chica, but the Rockies were the home team in it as it was a makeup game. Regardless, the Twins found a way to sweep the team. In this game, the Twins offense was scoreless the first two innings and then scored in each of the next five innings to take an 8-5 win. 

The Twins scored their eight runs on nine hits and five walks. Also, two batters were hit and the Rockies committed three errors. Jendy Martinez led the offense from the top of the order. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, was hit by a pitch, and hit his 11th double. Luis Suarez had the other multi-hit game. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, his fifth double, and his first triple. In the sixth inning, Misael Rodriguez connected for his first professional home run. Enmanuel Merlo went 1-for-3 with a walk and his fifth double. Luis Duarte also hit his third double. 

Angel Martinez went the first three innings. He gave up no runs on one hit and one walk and one hit batter. He added three strikeouts. Sebastian Echavarria gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the fourth inning. Wisarly Reinosa gave up a hit in a scoreless inning. Aldwin Morillo gave up three runs (2 earned) on one hit and three walks in his inning. Herkyn Taveras recorded his third save. He walked one but struck out the three other batters he faced. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter(s) of the Day  
Jendy Martinez (DSL Twins): 4-for-8, BB, 2B(11), 3B (2), R, 3 RBI, SB(18)
Quinn McDaniel (Cedar Rapids): 3-for-4, 2-2B(5), HR(3), 3 R, 1 RBI, K

Pitcher(s) of the Day 
Justin Mitrovich (Cedar Rapids): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 77 pitches, 51 strikes (66.2%)
Chris Vallimont (Wichita): 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 65 pitches, 46 pitches (70.8%) 

 

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, 3B(3), R, 2 K, SB(11) (batted first, played CF)
#3 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (Minnesota) - 0-for-1, BB, HBP, R, K (batted seventh, played SS) 
#4 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - Rehab in Cedar Rapids: 3-for-5, K (batted second, DH)
#5 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita) - 0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 K, SB(21), 2 CS(4), (batted first, played SS)
#10 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, BB, 2B(10), K (Batted fifth, played LF) .
#13 - C Carson Tinney (Fort Myers) - 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, K (batted second, Catcher)
#14 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 2-for-3, BB, 2B(7),  (batted second, DH)
#15 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 0-for-3, R, K (batted third, played CF) 
#17 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-4, 2B(10), 3 RBI, K (batted sixth, played SS),

UPCOMING PROBABLES
Sunday, August 9
Louisville @ St. Paul (2:07 pm CT) - LHP Aaron Rozek (2-1, 3.22 ERA) 
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (2:05 pm CT) - RHP Preston Johnson (0-3, 4.76 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05 pm CT) - LHP Cesar Lares (0-4, 12.95 ERA) 
Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (11:00 am CT) - TBD
FCL Twins - Season Complete. 
DSL Twins (9:00 am CT) - No Game 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 58-60
St. Paul Saints: 66-46
Wichita Wind Surge: 41-64
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 41-64
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 57-48
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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[mikelink45]

Walker up - Rodriguez up!  Please. Caratini, Martin, Roden - any of them down.

Five of the top six in the draft are now playing in the majors - guess which one has not had a mlb experience?  Hint WJ.  

[jmlease1]

Diaw is having a wonderful season. Really liking what we're seeing from his hit tool. I think there's a little more pop to unlock as he matures, but with his athleticism if he could stick at catcher or play CF? He's lining himself to be in AAA at the start of 2027.

Gotta feel good about his trajectory right now.

[tony&rodney]

Recently, when I tune in to watch Wichita, I aim to catch how Houston and Winokur are doing. Both have hit a little bump but Khadim Diaw has really looked good. 

[HrbieFan]

22 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Diaw is having a wonderful season. Really liking what we're seeing from his hit tool. I think there's a little more pop to unlock as he matures, but with his athleticism if he could stick at catcher or play CF? He's lining himself to be in AAA at the start of 2027.

Gotta feel good about his trajectory right now.

Anyone know what his defense is like? He has hit at every level and I don't need power, if he has the leather 

[HrbieFan]

Are there any rankings available for our DSL players? 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Good day across the minors, good pitching and good hitting.  
 

Schlovin HBP counter - 5 (21 plate appearances, 3 hits 2 BB). 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

33 minutes ago, HrbieFan said:

Anyone know what his defense is like? He has hit at every level and I don't need power, if he has the leather 

He’s a very good athlete. He was expected to have an above average arm, but so far this year he has only thrown out 11% of base stealers.  I’m not sure on his framing. I think he will be the depth catcher option in AAA next year behind Caratini and Jackson. 

[terrydactyls]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Walker up - Rodriguez up!  Please. Caratini, Martin, Roden - any of them down.

Five of the top six in the draft are now playing in the majors - guess which one has not had a mlb experience?  Hint WJ.  

The 15th of August is only six days away.  He will be called up next weekend.

[terrydactyls]

According to the write up, Justin Mitrovich had a weird game.  He pitched six shutout innings.  But he also gave up two runs.  But the Kernals still managed to shut out Peoria.

[wesnewy]

with Buck not even resuming baseball activities yet it's probs a good idea to get one of these young guys up for a shot. I think it will probs be Erod once his rehab assignment is over 

[rdehring]

Thanks for the report, Seth.  Have a question.  Assuming the Twins don't call up any of their top prospects prior to the end of the month, who do you think would be that extra position player they add on September 1? 

Expect the leading candidates to most of us would be one of Wallner, EmRod or Jenkins.  Another player could be whomever is sent out when Buxton returns, assuming that is before September 1.  If not, maybe Buxton is that added player.  As much as many of us, including me, would love seeing a month of Jenkins, I don't see that as happening.  Hopefully, I am wrong.

In a related question, I believe they can only add one pitcher, correct?  But could they add two position players and no pitchers?