Twins Minor League Report (4/23): Rehab Talents Providing Fireworks on the Farm

TRANSACTIONS

• RHP Simeon Woods Richardson optioned to St. Paul
• RHP Bailey Ober recalled by Minnesota

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 8, Scranton/WB 5
Box Score

With Bailey Ober heading across town and rejoining the Twins today, Randy Dobnak made the start in his place. He was efficient and impressive, working four scoreless innings. Dobnak allowed just a single hit and gave up only one free pass. He struck out three. Dobnak has been used in a hybrid role this year, so he was lifted after 51 pitches.

Josh Winder, rehabbing for the Twins, piggybacked Dobnak and worked three innings of relief on his own. He allowed a run on two hits. The run came off just a solo home run, and Winder generated three strikeouts.

The Wind Surge closed out their series against the Drillers with Carlos Luna on the mound. He gave Wichita 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on a pair of solo shots. Luna did punch out a trio of Tulsa batters while walking just one.

It didn’t take long for Wichita to grab a lead today with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. clubbing his second home run of the year in the top of the 1st inning. Brooks Lee was on, and the two-run shot had the Wind Surge off and running. Before the frame closed, Pat Winkel stepped in and recorded his second double of the year, this one driving in Armani Smith.

Unfortunately for Wichita, that is where the adding ended. Jonny DeLuca and Jorbit Vivas both homered in the 3rd inning to cut the Wind Surge lead, and then Vivas went yard again in the 6th inning to even the score. An RBI single for Jose Ramos followed a few batters later and Andy Pages crossed the plate for a go ahead run.

The Wind Surge got just four hits on the afternoon, and two of them came from Keirsey Jr.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 11, Beloit 1
Box Score

Pierson Ohl took the ball this afternoon for the Kernels and was very sharp. He scattered four hits across five innings giving up only a single run on a solo homer. He picked up five strikeouts and avoided allowing any free passes.

Complementing Ohl’s strong performance on the mound was the Cedar Rapids offense. They came out with a first inning run when Ben Ross singled in Noah Miller, and from there they just kept adding on.

The 2nd inning saw the Kernels plating four runs. Miller singled to drive in both Jeferson Morales and Ernie Yake, before Tanner Schobel lifted a line drive to center field, scoring Miller and Noah Cardenas. Cardenas got in on the run production with a double of his own during the 3rd inning. He tried to stretch it for a triple but was gunned down. That didn’t prevent both Morales and Miller from scoring on the play.

Beloit finally got on the board with a 4th inning solo shot, but it was immediately answered by Cedar Rapids in the 5th inning. Cardenas put the ball in play and with the Sky Carp booting it around, Yake raced home. A 6th inning wild pitch gave Schobel a chance to cross the plate, and Miller drove Keoni Cavaco in on a sacrifice fly.

The offensive outburst checked in to the tune of 10 runs on 10 hits. Miller stirred the drink strong at the top of the Kernels lineup. Going 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored, and three walks, he’s up to an .805 OPS this year. Cardenas joined him in the multi-hit affair as well, picking up three and scoring on a 9th inning balk.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Jupiter 10, Fort Myers 9 (F/11)
Box Score

The Mighty Mussels got a start from Tomas Cleto today, and while he only went three innings, his single run was nice to see in a game that saw 19 runs on 28 hits.

Both Jupiter and Fort Myers kicked off scoring in the 1st inning with a run apiece. The Mighty Mussels got their first tally from a Jorel Ortega single to score the rehabbing Michael Helman. From there, it was a back and forth offensive onslaught. Needing to answer four Jupiter runs, Ricardo Olivar’s solo shot in the 6th inning brought Fort Myers within three.

Trading runs in the 7th inning, Helman tripled to drive in Alec Sayre and make it a 6-3 game. Needing a last ditch effort in the 9th inning, Fort Myers was up to the challenge. A throwing error allowed Sayre to score and the bases were loaded for Olivar. He was plunked by a pitch to get an RBI the hard way. Carlos Aguiar then evened the score at six when he drove in Helman.

Jupiter’s 10th inning run scored on a fielder’s choice in the top half before Luis Baez score for the Mighty Mussels on a wild pitch. Onto the 11th inning, and trailing by three after Jupiter singled and tripled in runs, Fort Myers again had to erase a three-run deficit.

Helman continued to make his presence felt and a double allowed Yohander Martinez to score. Aguiar picked up another RBI on a single as he drove in Helman, but Ortega wound up being stranded at second base and the rally ended two bases short.

Playing down a handful of levels it’s not surprising to see him rake, but Helman went 4-for-5 on the day with a trio of runs scored and a pair of RBI. He’s got a 1.226 OPS during his rehab assignment and should be back with the Saints in short order. Outfielder Dylan Neuse was the only other Mighty Mussels hitter to record multiple hits on the day.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Pierson Ohl (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER 0 BB, 5 K
Hitter of the Day – Michael Helman (Fort Myers) - 4-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB

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) - 1-4, 2B, 1 R, BB
#11 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-4, K
#14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 4-5, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Rochester (5:05PM CST) - TBD
Springfield @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP David Festa
West Michigan @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - TBD
Fort Myers @ Daytona (5:35PM CST) - TBD

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