Twins Daily Minor League Report (9/1): Emmanuel Rodriguez Wants to Make His MLB Debut Too!

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Mike Watters - IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

TRANSACTIONS  
Tuesday, September 1:
With big-league rosters expanding to 28 players, the Twins called up RHP Garrett Acton and utilityman Ben Ross. To make room for Ross on the 40-man roster OF Kyler Fedko was DFAd. 

Joe Ryan went with the Saints to make a rehab start on Tuesday night. Matt Canterino was sent with the Cedar Rapids Kernels to South Bend to rehab. Catcher Poncho Ruiz was on a rehab assignment with the Mussels.      

Monday, August 31:
Several moves were announced on Monday as well. 

RHP Woo-Suk Go cleared waivers and chose to become a free agent. 

RHP Luis Quinones came off the 60-Day Injured List

Infielder Jake Rucker was promoted from Wichita to St. Paul. Infielder Danny De Andrade was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Wichita. Infielder Yilber Herrera was added to the Kernels roster from the FCL Twins.                                                                                                                                      

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 11, Omaha 2
Box Score
The Tuesday Saints game was filled with stories, but ultimately, the Saints remained in playoff contention in the International League.

Joe Ryan was on the mound to start for the Saints, his first rehab appearance. The plan was for him to pitch three innings, and that’s what he did. He gave up just one base runner, it just happened to be a solo home run by one of the Royals top prospects (per Royals Keep), Carson Roccaforte. But Ryan had four strikeouts and no walks. He threw 42 pitches and 29 of them were strikes. Ryan’s starting opponent for Omaha was fellow All-Star Tony Gonsolin.  

The other big story in this game was Emmanuel Rodriguez. I think it’s fair to say that he would like to be called up to the big leagues too. He led off this game with an infield single. In the second inning, he hit a double to the opposite field gap. In the fourth inning, he had a strikeout. In the top of the sixth inning, Rodriguez hit an RBI triple. In the top of the seventh inning, Rodriguez hit a home run to center to complete the cycle!   

Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with his sixth Saints double, his first triple, and his 11th home run. He scored three runs and drove in two runs. 

Ironically, or coincidentally (one of those two), the previous Saints cycle came exactly four years ago. It was completed by Matt Wallner. 

In the top of the first, Aaron Sabato hit his 23rd home run of the season, a three-run blast to give his team the early lead.   

Adam Morissette hit his 13th home run with the Saints in the third inning. 

Tristan Gray was the only other Saints hitter with more than one hit. He was 2-for-4 with a walk. Danny Banuelos hit his fourth double. Matt Wallner and Hendry Mendez each walked twice. Mendez had a single too. 

Ryan Gallagher came in to pitch the middle inning. In four innings, he gave up one run on six hits and two walks. He had six strikeouts. Matt Bowman struck out two batters over two perfect innings to close the door. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, Tulsa 3
Box Score
The Wind Surge had a couple of solo home runs in the game, but the Drillers put a crooked number on the board, and that was the difference in this game. 

Wichita got on the board in the top of the first when Brandon Winokur knocked his 21st overall home run of the season. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Jaime Ferrer hit a solo home run, his 15th overall this season, to give the Surge a 2-1 lead.   

Adrian Bohorquez made the start for Wichita and went the first four innings. He gave up one run on one hit (a solo homer). He also walked three and had four strikeouts. 

Ty Langenberg worked the final four innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out three batters to take the loss. 

Khadim Diaw had two of the team’s four hits including his ninth Double-A double. Andrew Cossetti also hit a double. Winokur’s homer was his 11th with the Wind Surge while Ferrer hit his sixth with Wichita. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 4, South Bend 8
Box Score
The Kernels offense scored runs in four different innings. South Bend only scored in three innings. The difference was that the Kernels scored one run in those four innings. The Cubs had three runs twice and also had a two-run inning. 

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Eduardo Tait hit his 22nd home run to give his team a 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the third inning, Yasser Mercedes led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. Tait came through again with an RBI single to right and made it 2-0.

Lefty Michael Carpenter started for the Kernels. He began with two scoreless innings. He actually got the first two batters of the third inning. However, he gave up three singles and a double and quickly the Cubs held a 3-2 lead, and Michael Ross was called in from the bullpen.

In the top of the fourth inning, Ramiro Dominguez hit his third home run with the Kernels to tie the game at 3-3.   

Ross went 3 1/3 innings and was charged with the three runs in the fifth inning. He gave up three hits, walked none and had four strikeouts. 

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Yasser Mercedes drilled his 12th Kernels home run. 

Cody Peschl came in and gave up two runs on three hits in two innings. Both runs came on solo home runs. He struck out three batters. 

Tait went 2-for-5 with his 22nd home run. Maybe more noteworthy, he stole his first base of the season! Yasser Mercedes went 2-for-4 with a walk, his 22nd double, his 12th home run, and he stole his 37th and 38th bases. Andy Lugo hit his fifth home run. 

The Kernels scored their four runs on 10 hits and four walks. The team was just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. 

Check out our sister site North Side Baseball, a Cubs site similar to Twins Daily. South Bend is their High-A affiliate. The top prospect in the Cubs organization is 1B/OF Josiah Hartshorn. In this game, he was 2-for-3 with a walk and his 18th home run with the Cubs. The 19-year-old was the Cubs sixth round pick in 2025.    

MIGHTY MATTERS
Fort Myers 3, Clearwater 7
Box Score
In his first pro start, Jui-Chieh Lin didn’t record an out. He was charged with five runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter. On Tuesday, he made his second start. In the first inning, he struck out the first batter he faced. The next hitter reached on an error and then Lin walked two batters to load the bases with one out. However, he got an infield pop out and then a line out to right field. A scoreless first inning. His second inning started with a walk, and then he hit the next batter.   

Callan Fang came on and allowed the two inherited runners to score and three more runs scored. Fang got one more out in the third inning. 

Eric Hammond gave up two runs on two hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. He had six strikeouts. Aidan Russell made his first professional appearance and had two walks and two strikeouts over two scoreless, hitless innings. 

The Mighty Mussels got on the board with two runs in the top of the third inning. With one out, Merphy Hernandez lined a single off of the pitcher. He then stole second base, and then he stole third base too. Isaiah Lane came up and hit a long drive that hit high off the wall in left-center field, it got by the center fielder, and Lane raced all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park homer. It was his second pro home run.     

In the top of the sixth, Quentin Young scored on a Bryce Fowler single to make it 7-3. 

The Mussels had six hits and four walks. No one had a multi-hit game. Lane was 1-for-3 with a walk to go with his home run.  Young went 1-for-2 with two walks. Hernandez stole his 47th and 48th bases. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter(s) of the Day 
Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul): 4-for-5, 2B(6), 3B(1), HR(11), 3 R, 2 RBI, K

Pitcher(s) of the Day
Ryan Gallagher (St. Paul): 4 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 64 pitches, 43 strikes. 

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

#1 - OF Walker Jenkins (Minnesota) - 0-for-4, BB, 2 R (batted ninth, played CF)
#2 - C Vahn Lackey (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, BB, K (batted second, played catcher)  
#3 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (Minnesota) - 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI (batted eighth, played SS)
#4 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita) - 0-for-4, K (batted first, played SS)
#6 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 4-for-5, 2B(6), 3B(1), HR(11), 3 R, 2 RBI, K (batted first, played CF) 
#7 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, 2 BB, RBI, K (batted fifth, played DH)  
#8 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, HR(22), R, 2 RBI, SB(1), (batted third, played DH)
#9 - 1B/OF Gabriel Gonzalez (Minnesota) - 0-for-1, R, K (PR, LF)
#11 - C Carson Tinney (Fort Myers) - 1-for-3, HBP, 2 K (batted second, played catcher)
#12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 1-for-4, HR(11), R, RBI, 2 K (batted third, played SS)
#13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 2-for-4, 2B(9) (batted second, played catcher)  
#15 - RHP Ryan Gallagher (St. Paul) - 4 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 63 pitches, 44 strikes
#18 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-2, 2 BB, R, K (batted sixth, DHd) 
#19 - OF Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, BB, 2B(22), HR(12), 2 R, RBI, K, 2 SB(38) (batted first, played CF) 

UPCOMING PROBABLES
Wednesday, September 2
St. Paul @ Omaha (12:05 pm CT) - RHP Ricky Castro (3-3, 5.36 ERA)
Wichita @ Tulsa (12:05 pm CT) - RHP Chris Vallimont (2-4, 4.68 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05 pm CT) - LHP Cesar Lares (1-6, 11.45 ERA)
Ft. Myers @ Clearwater (5:30 pm CT) - RHP Cristian Hernandez (0-0, 3.86 ERA) 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 67-72
St. Paul Saints: 75-57
Wichita Wind Surge: 51-74 (Final Game 9/13)
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 47-78 (Final Game 9/6)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 67-56 (Final Game 9/6)
FCL Twins: 33-26 (Season Complete)
DSL Twins: 19-35 (Season Complete)

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]

Love to make room for Emma, need to make room for Ryan. Hope by next week he's back up with the Twins. 

[Andy MacPhail]

Emma is long overdue.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

Matt Canterino was sent with the Cedar Rapids Kernels to South Bend to rehab. 

An actual Canterino sighting! Hope he is finally fully healthy and ready to throw some pitches. 

[dxpavelka]

meanwhile Alan Roden & Alex Jackson combined for 34 plate appearances in August

[PuckettPond]

Our minor league lack of quality pitching is showing. Will the 2025 injured & 2026 draftees help next season? Winter trades coming?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

"Ironically  or coincidently, one of those two"   That is hilarious Seth. Thanks for the laugh. I love it. I can just see you typing this article by the light of a small table lamp. You are the only one awake in your house, and ironically or coincidentally, one of those two, the only light still on in your neighborhood. You are yawning and sleepy. And you are tired, you just don't give a damn which word to use because the Twins' youngsters, the ones you helped nurture with your interviews and your friendship and your fandom and your numerous articles about them as minor leaguers and whom we all are cheering for, these youngsters...... your youngsters...... were making huge advances and it's September and  the Twins are playing meaningful baseball...we can see and smell the wild card in the distance, and ....coincidently.... the Twins just won 15 to 2. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

ERod showing his displeasure with not being called up, responding in the best way possible 

Houston has really cooled off

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, dxpavelka said:

meanwhile Alan Roden & Alex Jackson combined for 34 plate appearances in August

Roden had a pretty good August.

[jmlease1]

Tait is having an interesting season. He's been inconsistent at the plate, but you can see the talent. But here's how young he is: this season he's only had 25 PA's against pitchers younger than him. Lackey is likely to fly past him in the minors; there's no question that he's the more polished player and ready for more advanced work. But there's a lot to like about Tait.

Rodriguez just needs to stay healthy. I don't know that he's going to get a chance in MLB this season (or much of a meaningful one, anyways) which is a bummer; if they had succeeded in moving Larnach there would be greater opportunity. Hopefully he can get some reps in at winter ball or something and come into spring training ready to battle for a roster spot. The idea of our 4 primary OF being Buxton, Jenkins, Keaschall, and Rodriguez in some combination is pretty tasty.

I'm still baffled as to why Winokur keeps playing so much SS, but maybe Houston hitting the wall is part of that. Regardless, I'm pretty pleased with how Winokur is going this season. Nice to see him rip another homer, and his ceiling still seems pretty dang high to me.

Congrats to Danny De Andrade on finally getting up to AA; it seemed like he was getting passed over by everyone and might as well buy a house in Cedar Rapids...

[Jeff K]

12 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Tait is having an interesting season. He's been inconsistent at the plate, but you can see the talent. But here's how young he is: this season he's only had 25 PA's against pitchers younger than him. Lackey is likely to fly past him in the minors; there's no question that he's the more polished player and ready for more advanced work. But there's a lot to like about Tait.

Rodriguez just needs to stay healthy. I don't know that he's going to get a chance in MLB this season (or much of a meaningful one, anyways) which is a bummer; if they had succeeded in moving Larnach there would be greater opportunity. Hopefully he can get some reps in at winter ball or something and come into spring training ready to battle for a roster spot. The idea of our 4 primary OF being Buxton, Jenkins, Keaschall, and Rodriguez in some combination is pretty tasty.

I'm still baffled as to why Winokur keeps playing so much SS, but maybe Houston hitting the wall is part of that. Regardless, I'm pretty pleased with how Winokur is going this season. Nice to see him rip another homer, and his ceiling still seems pretty dang high to me.

Congrats to Danny De Andrade on finally getting up to AA; it seemed like he was getting passed over by everyone and might as well buy a house in Cedar Rapids...

I am intrigued by Winokur as well.  I think Winokur starts next season in St. Paul.  Incidentally, the article showed both Winokur and Houston playing SS yesterday, so he might not of played there.  I'm starting to wonder if Tait might be the Twins first baseman of the future; perhaps in 2028; more likely 2029.

[rdehring]

Seems to make sense for the Twins to get EmRod up for a good look prior to the season's end.  With Buxton possibly returning and the team battling for that last playoff spot, I don't see it happening.  There is also Martin.  Saw him in the Twins dugout the other night.  Expect his season may be over.  Likely spring training will be their time to determine what his future is with the Twins.

Add me to those who are excited about seeing Canterino on the mound.  How many games do the Kernels have on their schedule?  Would they move him up to Wichita or even the Saints to get a few more innings?

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Add me to those who are excited about seeing Canterino on the mound.  How many games do the Kernels have on their schedule?  Would they move him up to Wichita or even the Saints to get a few more innings?

Let’s see if he can get A-ball hitters out

[jmlease1]

9 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Add me to those who are excited about seeing Canterino on the mound.  How many games do the Kernels have on their schedule?  Would they move him up to Wichita or even the Saints to get a few more innings?

Me too. I have no expectations for him at this point, but I'm rooting for the dude. He's been through so much and worked so hard to keep trying to fulfill that dream. So talented and his career has been wrecked by injury. I'll never forgive those idiots at Rice.

If he pitches a few games at some level this season that would be great. 

[alexlegge]

Wow, a natural cycle for Rodriguez too! That's a much rarer albatross! Good for him. Hopefully JZ takes it as a hint, especially in tandem with the one game per month when Derek Shelton actually made use of the third-string catcher....

[D.C Twins]

Houston tired and wearing down?

[LambchoP]

E Rod is out of options, he'll need to make the team next year. Larnach will likely be gone, so why not give larnachs starts to Rodriguez and let him get some big league experience. Especially because he's been swinging a hot bat!

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Tait is having an interesting season. He's been inconsistent at the plate, but you can see the talent. But here's how young he is: this season he's only had 25 PA's against pitchers younger than him. Lackey is likely to fly past him in the minors; there's no question that he's the more polished player and ready for more advanced work. But there's a lot to like about Tait.

Rodriguez just needs to stay healthy. I don't know that he's going to get a chance in MLB this season (or much of a meaningful one, anyways) which is a bummer; if they had succeeded in moving Larnach there would be greater opportunity. Hopefully he can get some reps in at winter ball or something and come into spring training ready to battle for a roster spot. The idea of our 4 primary OF being Buxton, Jenkins, Keaschall, and Rodriguez in some combination is pretty tasty.

I'm still baffled as to why Winokur keeps playing so much SS, but maybe Houston hitting the wall is part of that. Regardless, I'm pretty pleased with how Winokur is going this season. Nice to see him rip another homer, and his ceiling still seems pretty dang high to me.

Congrats to Danny De Andrade on finally getting up to AA; it seemed like he was getting passed over by everyone and might as well buy a house in Cedar Rapids...

Great post!

IMO, good chance Lackey jumps to AA to begin 2027. He's that talented and polished. Tinney moves up to CR to at least begin the year, but probably plays half the year at AA. Tait only turned 20yo a week ago. Absolutely no shame to him if he cones back to CR to begin 2027. The strong arm is there, and the power is there. Next season he needs to refine the bat/contact and the rest of the defense behind the plate. Yes, he could up at 1B, but we're a couple years away from making that decision.

Really, really frustrated about Rodriguez. He should be up and playing and would be already had he not gotten hurt again. IMO, he should have opened the season with the Twins. (Old news at this point). But in theory, the Twins are giving chase to the playoffs, so I can see not wanting to rock the boat. On the other hand, Larnach hasn't been very good lately. And we have a wasted roster spot with Jackson still around. But I don't want Rodriguez up and not playing daily.

So again, really frustrated!

He may get some Winter Ball, but I think he's ready now. And I can live with a few growing pains. Also very excited about the 2027 OF. Still wonder if the 5th spot will be a DH, or a conventional OF.

Very pleased with Winokur's progress this season. Has he made enough progress...and during the offseason...to begin next year in St Paul? He's either the Twins future 3B, or CF, or one hell of an athletic 1B if everyone else stays healthy and develops as hoped.

 

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Let’s see if he can get A-ball hitters out

Let's see if he can get off the mound safely

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Houston tired and wearing down?

I wondered that too.

[mickster]

3 hours ago, LambchoP said:

E Rod is out of options, he'll need to make the team next year. Larnach will likely be gone, so why not give larnachs starts to Rodriguez and let him get some big league experience. Especially because he's been swinging a hot bat!

I don't think they want to expose him to MLB pitching in a stretch run and hurt his trade value this offseason as I think they will part with him.

[Danchat]

Dang, a cycle from ERod. I guess he will be ready for the majors next year, too bad they refuse to give him a chance to do anything in the majors. People say there is no such thing as a logjam, but I dunno, sure seems like when a top 100 prospect of yours is raking in the minors and is near the point of being out of options and you don't have room to call him up, that's a logjam.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

5 hours ago, LambchoP said:

E Rod is out of options, he'll need to make the team next year. Larnach will likely be gone, so why not give larnachs starts to Rodriguez and let him get some big league experience. Especially because he's been swinging a hot bat!

Not now while there is still a chance to make the playoffs. Erod will get his chance or be traded soon enough. 

[SE23]

7 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Not now while there is still a chance to make the playoffs. Erod will get his chance or be traded soon enough. 

Keep an eye on Khadim Diaw. His offensive performance at WCH has been solid.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 hours ago, Danchat said:

Dang, a cycle from ERod. I guess he will be ready for the majors next year, too bad they refuse to give him a chance to do anything in the majors. People say there is no such thing as a logjam, but I dunno, sure seems like when a top 100 prospect of yours is raking in the minors and is near the point of being out of options and you don't have room to call him up, that's a logjam.

Dan, I agree there is a logjam at the major league level in the Twins OF. But where could they play Erod right now? Maybe Ross could go down,  Jackson is a valuable trade chip or next years second string catcher.  But he is Hitting .300.  and is a veteran and insurance against injury and can actually run the bases. It's a good discussion point, but Erod will get his chance next year, or be traded for value in the off season.  Then there is the potential problem, once again, of Buck's health.  I prefer to hang on to Erod until we know about Buck's recovery.  Gonzales is on the Twins now instead of Erod because the Twins needed a right handed hitter in the OF and to pinch hit, more than a left handed hitter. It's as simple as that.  

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 minutes ago, SE23 said:

Keep an eye on Khadim Diaw. His offensive performance at WCH has been solid.

Agree 100 per cent. Diaw is the real deal.

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Agree 100 per cent. Diaw is the real deal.

Where will he play?

[SE23]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Where will he play?

Picture the Twins 2029 roster with 3 young catchers -- Lackey, Tait and Diaw. All three of them can play other positions. Lackey has played some 3B in college, Tait can play 1B or OF and Diaw can play all 3 OF positions. Talk about your positional flexibility!