Twins Minor League Report (5/31): Wallner Wallops the Baseball

Minor nit-pick—I don't think either Miranda or Wallner managed to reach double-digit hits on the day (although what a sight to behold if one did!)

Thanks for the write-up!

40 minutes ago, LiamC said:

Minor nit-pick—I don't think either Miranda or Wallner managed to reach double-digit hits on the day (although what a sight to behold if one did!)

Thanks for the write-up!

Miranda could use that luck right now!

Wallner = Nothing left to prove in the minors.

Wallner goes on these hot streaks. The Twins should have rode this hot streak until he didn't hit for a couple games.

It's time to move on from Kepler, and put Wallner out in RF. We have to get these young guys playing in the majors. 

Did Aaron Sanchez actually pitch well this time? 

1 hour ago, CRF said:

It's time to move on from Kepler, and put Wallner out in RF. We have to get these young guys playing in the majors. 

If they released him and someone picked him up would that team take on his contract.  Is their a team that would possibly do that?  If so that would be a win-win, Kepler may do better on another team and stop the almost automatic out for the Twins?  Did they maybe learn a team friendly deal isn't always the best?  I really believe his is done and Wallner has earned his spot.  Right???

6 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

If they released him and someone picked him up would that team take on his contract.  Is their a team that would possibly do that?  If so that would be a win-win, Kepler may do better on another team and stop the almost automatic out for the Twins?  Did they maybe learn a team friendly deal isn't always the best?  I really believe his is done and Wallner has earned his spot.  Right???

Hard to say. He's still got value as a player, but if he's not hitting and not an option in CF, then you basically need a team who thinks "we can fix him" and who knows if that team is out there at his price on contract. Feels like they're trying to get to the trade deadline and maybe move him then.

Wallner is overqualified for AAA, but his defense is shaky and until the Twins decide to move on from Kepler, he's going to have to fight his way up.

Good to see Miranda making good contact again. Hope he finds some power in his bat as well and gets back his plate discipline.

2 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Wallner is overqualified for AAA, but his defense is shaky and until the Twins decide to move on from Kepler, he's going to have to fight his way up.

They have coaches in the big leagues to work with him on defense right?  He is not going to get the experience need to improve his defense in AAA?

All credit for Matt Wallner continuing to focus at the plate. He has looked really tuned in and willing to smash the ball to all fields in this streak. It seemed that Wallner was prone to looking for pitches to pull late last season and early this year for the Twins. The Twins will need to evaluate their options and think hard about what Wallner's bat could mean for their season. There may be some hesitancy to move on from Joey Gallo or Max Kepler ( a long time favorite of mine), but Falvey and his study group have a real hot hitter in AAA. Who is likely to help the team win games? 

1 hour ago, MABB1959 said:

If they released him and someone picked him up would that team take on his contract.  Is their a team that would possibly do that? 

Cleveland would take Kepler in a heartbeat.

1 hour ago, MABB1959 said:

If they released him and someone picked him up would that team take on his contract.  Is their a team that would possibly do that?  If so that would be a win-win, Kepler may do better on another team and stop the almost automatic out for the Twins?  Did they maybe learn a team friendly deal isn't always the best?  I really believe his is done and Wallner has earned his spot.  Right???

No.  The new team pays the prorated portion of league minimum.  

3 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Did Aaron Sanchez actually pitch well this time?

Two games in a row. If we have double-header due to a rainout, we may see him. He also has an opt out in his contract so him pitching well lately could make him take that chance that some MLB team wants him now.

3 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

If they released him and someone picked him up would that team take on his contract.  Is their a team that would possibly do that?  If so that would be a win-win, Kepler may do better on another team and stop the almost automatic out for the Twins?  Did they maybe learn a team friendly deal isn't always the best?  I really believe his is done and Wallner has earned his spot.  Right???

Even with his typical 95 wRC+ Kepler is easily a starting caliber player putting up at least 2 WAR each of the last 6 full seasons thanks to his defense.  Not sure where the fit is but yes another team would have no second thoughts about picking up the contract, which is why he would be traded rather than dropped.

I don't think the FO is as ready to move on as most fans, but when they are I don't think they are wrong that he has some sort of trade value.  The trade value is probably not as high as they believe it should be but it's still there.

2 hours ago, 2wins87 said:

Even with his typical 95 wRC+ Kepler is easily a starting caliber player putting up at least 2 WAR each of the last 6 full seasons thanks to his defense.  Not sure where the fit is but yes another team would have no second thoughts about picking up the contract, which is why he would be traded rather than dropped.

I don't think the FO is as ready to move on as most fans, but when they are I don't think they are wrong that he has some sort of trade value.  The trade value is probably not as high as they believe it should be but it's still there.

Keep Kepler in RF, Buxton to CF, and Wallner to DH. Everybody happy. If Buxton gets hurt in CF-----that's just the way things go. At least Twins would be using all of Buxton's strengths.