Twins Minor League Report (7/28): Keuchel's Last Stand, Saints Send 'Em Flying

TRANSACTIONS

• C Nate Baez activated from 60-day IL by Fort Myers
• C Dillon Tatum placed on development list by Fort Myers

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 8, Toledo 2
Box Score

Friday saw Dallas Keuchel take the ball in what we can assume will be his final start with the St. Paul Saints as his August 1 opt-out date looms. He was opposed by former Twins prospect, Sawyer Gipson-Long, who Minnesota sent to the Tigers last year in the Michael Fulmer trade. Trevor Larnach was also back in the Saints lineup after being optioned to make room for Byron Buxton. He batted third and started in right field.

In the third inning, with Tigers top prospect Colt Keith up, Keuchel spiked a pitch that got away from catcher Jair Camargo just enough to allow the runner to cross home. Keith then reached on a single, but Keuchel got Tyler Nevin to end the inning.

After Camargo singled in the fourth inning, Austin Martin stepped in and yanked a pitch down the left field line. It stayed inside of the pole and was deposited into the Toledo bullpen putting St. Paul up 2-1.

Tigers prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy did get Keuchel for a homer to center in the fifth inning, but the damage was limited to one. Mark Contreras stepped in and took the first pitch of the sixth inning out to right center field, putting the Saints back on top. 

Martin then beat out a check-swing single for his third hit of the night before Chris Williams drew a walk. Ernie Yake stepped in and blasted a three-run shot to right field, and St. Paul was up 6-2.

With the big lead, Keuchel’s night was done. He ends his sixth start for the Saints owning a 1.13 ERA and toting a 28/12 K/BB. Rehabbing Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar took over to work the seventh inning.

For good measure, St. Paul added again in the eighth inning, and it was Yake launching his second homer of the night. This one was a solo shot to make it a 7-2 game. Gilberto Celestino took a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to drive home Andrew Stevenson and make it an 8-2 lead. Oliver Ortega slammed the door during his second inning of work, striking out five of the six batters he saw, and the fireworks could be joyous.

Both Martin and Yake had three-hit nights for the Saints.

Talking after the game tonight, Keuchel felt good about his outing saying, "My in-zone pitches were better than they have been, and I felt good about how I have been trending. I've pushed myself this week in the bullpen with how hot it was."

After a longer middle inning allowing some traffic, Keuchel buckled down. "As my body has felt better, I've been trying to move quicker. It just so happened I was moving too quick for my own good and a lot of borderline, non-competitive pitches got me in situations I don't want to be in. I knew if I could go back and fill up the middle of the zone I was going to be fine."

Knowing that this is his last start for the Saints, Keuchel said, "I know my opt-out is on Tuesday. Derek (Falvey) and the organization have been very transparent with me. A lot of teams that need help still are figuring out moves in the big leagues. This is a place that I want to be, and I'd still like to be up with Minnesota. I have provided what I needed to do, and shown myself what I am still capable of doing."

Keuchel is able to be traded by the Twins as he does not have 10-5 rights, and doesn't have a no-trade clause with a minor-league deal. He isn't focused on being on the farm either. "I still think I have velocity in the tank I haven't shown. I don't really need to show a flash of 91 mph at this point. I'd rather pitch, show myself I can do it, and let that play out. My numbers kind of speak for themselves. One way or another, I don't think there's any possibility of me coming back and playing for a minor league team."

With the Saints out on the road next week, Keuchel will throw a bullpen in St. Paul on Sunday and is going to go about like he's pitching on Wednesday. He doesn't anticipate traveling with the team, and awaits whether a ticket to St. Louis needs to be booked. "There's still deals that are going to be made. I'm going to enjoy some golf and keep working on my craft."

Working in what he anticipates being his final rehab assignment, Thielbar said he expects to rejoin the Twins in St. Louis. "It felt great tonight, velocity and stuff were there. Command was good. I was happy compared to the other night."

Having been through this process once before this year, Thielbar noted his mechanics were a bit different last time he came back. "I focused on staying on my back leg a little bit too much, and I ended up starting to stride a bit open. I think that put a bit more pressure on that area than it was used to. I don't think it will be an issue again."

Unfortunately, oblique issues just pop up, and Thielbar noted there has been a ton of them in the league this year, including teammate Royce Lewis . "I don't know why that has happened, unfortunate that it happened twice to me, but I think I got the root problem figured out. I'm hopeful with how slow we've taken it this time."

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Frisco 10, Wichita 7
Box Score

Wichita turned to Marco Raya on Friday night, and he couldn’t make it through the third inning. Raya gave up eight runs on six hits and a walk in just 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two batters.

Wichita got on the board first. Tanner Schobel crushed his first Double-A home run. His two-run shot in the second inning scored Patrick Winkel and put the Wind Surge on top. Aaron Sabato followed with his own two-run shot, scoring Alex Isola, and doubling the lead.

Raya ran into some trouble during the third inning. After giving up two runs and having the bases loaded, Raya walked in a run before another four crossed for Frisco. Carlos Luna allowed an inherited runner to score before giving up one of his own. What was once a 4-0 lead became a 9-4 deficit, and the Wind Surge had work to do.

After giving up another run during the top of the eighth inning, Wichita finally was able to answer with one of their own. Yunior Severino stayed hot and blasted his 22nd of the season.

Schobel led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, and Yoyner Fajardo singled. Jake Rucker singled them both home to draw closer. It wasn't quite enough as they fell three short. Sabato had a pair of hits on the evening.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 3 (Susp/9)
Box Score
Kyle Jones took the pill for Cedar Rapids Friday and worked five innings of two run baseball (one earned), while scattering five hits. He did walk three but struck out four.

Trailing 1-0 through three innings, Andrew Cossetti put the Kernels on the board with a single, scoring both Noah Miller and Jorel Ortega in the fourth inning. Wisconsin responded with a tying run in the bottom half, things were again even.

A sixth inning wild pitch gave Emmanuel Rodriguez the opportunity to race home and regain the lead, but it was short-lived when Cossetti sailed a throw into centerfield on a steal attempt. Wisconsin again had knotted things, this time at three, in the seventh inning.

Neither team having added, and entering the bottom of the ninth inning, lightning decided to make an appearance and delayed the game. With weather not moving out of the area, this one would be called for the evening.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 6, Palm Beach 5
Box Score
It was Juan Mercedes making the start Friday night for the Mighty Mussels. He has struggled on the bump for Fort Myers this season, and Palm Beach got to him early again. Working just three innings on the evening, Mercedes allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks. He struck out two.

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, the Mighty Mussels answered and even things in the bottom half. Carson McCusker grounded out to drive in Hernan Perez and both teams were off and running.

Palm Beach added in the second, third, and sixth innings to make it 5-1. Fort Myers got back on the board during their own half of the sixth inning when Maddux Houghton drove in Rubel Cespedes with a sacrifice fly.

Fort Myers added again in the eighth inning, Gregory Duran scored McCusker on a ground out before Houghton singled in Alec Sayre to make it a one-run ballgame. Perez then struck out swinging, but the ball got away allowing Houghton to score and tie the game.

Sayre singled in the ninth inning, and with two outs, Duran ripped his 10th double allowing him to come around and score. Fort Myers finished the comeback with a walkoff. Sayre recorded a pair of hits on the night.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Red Sox 4, FCL Twins 1 (Susp/4)
Box Score
For the second straight day a trio of new draftees got into FCL action. Luke Keaschall and Jay Harry played second and third respectively, while Brandon Winokur got his first start in the field, playing shortstop.

Carlos Gutierrez gave up four runs on six hits and a pair of walks before rain suspended action. The Twins pitcher struck out five and allowed a homer during his outing. The lone Twins run Friday came on an Anderson Nova ground out that scored Jose Rodriguez.

DOMINICAN DAILY
DSL Colorado 10, DSL Twins 4
Box Score
The Twins did get on the board first on Friday, and while they matched Colorado with a run apiece in the second and third innings, they added one in each of the third and fourth to take a lead. Unfortunately that two-run advantage was wiped away and the Twins didn’t find another chance to score the rest of the day.

Hendry Chivilli, their second top prospect from the international free agency class, clubbed his first professional home run. Junior Del Valle, Javier Roman, and Dameury Pena all had a pair of hits on the day.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Dallas Keuchel (St. Paul) - 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Hitter of the Day – Ernie Yake (St. Paul) - 3-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR(2)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed:

#1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 1-5
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, R, 2B, BB, 2 K
#4 - Marco Raya (Wichita) - 2.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
#5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 0-5, 2 K
#8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR(1)
#10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR(1), 2 BB
#12 - Luke Keaschall (FCL Twins) - 0-2, K
#13 - Brandon Winokur (FCL Twins) - 0-2, 2 K
#17 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 1-4, R, RBI, HR(22), K
#20 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL Twins) - 1-2, R

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Toledo @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak
Frisco @ Wichita (6:05PM CST) - RHP Travis Adams
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:40PM CST) - RHP Christian MacLeod
Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (5:00PM CST) - RHP Ben Ethridge

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games!