Minor League Report (9/2): Wasting Away Again in Minor League-Aville

TRANSACTIONS
RHP Austin Schulfer activated from 7-day IL (St. Paul)
RHP Alex Scherff transferred from AA Wichita to AAA St. Paul 
RHP Francis Peguero transferred from AAA St. Paul to AA Wichita

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 1, Columbus 4
Box Score
Randy Dobnak: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
HR: Alex Kirilloff (4)
Multi-hit games: DaShawn Keirsey Jr . (2-for-4)

The Saints’ meek offense doomed them on Saturday.

The bats couldn’t do much; in total, they collected just six hits, taking four walks while going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The only score came when Alex Kirilloff blasted a very Kirilloffian homer out to left field.

It’s a shame, because Randy Dobnak pitched excellently, allowing a pair of solo homers across six stellar innings. Perhaps most important to the sinker-baller: he only walked one batter. He threw 62 of 92 pitches for strikes, earning five strikeouts for his troubles.

Trevor Larnach reached base three times, singling and walking twice. 

Kyle Manzardo was the return for Cleveland when they dealt Aaron Civale to the Rays; he, the 60th best prospect in MLB, doubled twice and walked. Brayan Rocchio is ranked 49th and he singled while striking out twice. 

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 3, San Antonio 5
Box Score
Pierson Ohl: 5 ⅔ IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Yoyner Fajardo (2-for-5, 2B), Michael Helman (2-for-5), Tanner Schobel (2-for-4), Alex Isola (2-for-4, 2B, R), Willie Joe Garry Jr. (2-for-4, RBI)

The Wind Surge came up short against the Missions on Saturday.

Pierson Ohl, fresh off being named our Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month, was on his game again. He was one out short of a quality start, but still made a massive impact, allowing just one lone run in his outing. He struck out just one. Perhaps he wanted his defense to get in on the fun as well. 

His bats had his back; Willie Joe Garry Jr. knocked in a run in the 2nd and Jake Rucker blasted a triple in the 6th to plate a second run. A wild pitch soon plated Rucker.

But, fortune soon changed for Wichita, as Regi Grace and Jordan Carr threw the ball all-around the backstop, leading to four runs off a hit by pitch, three walks, and a back-breaking double.

The Wind Surge attempted a comeback—Yoyner Fajardo led the effort with a pair of knocks—but could not mount anything worthwhile, eventually falling to San Antonio with a double play.

The 9th prospect in MLB, Jackson Merrill, hit the critical double, but went hitless in his other at-bats. Number 5 prospect—17-year-old (that’s right) catcher Ethan Salas—started but left the game in the 3rd.

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 3, Lake County 8
Box Score
Kyle Jones: 5 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
HR: Emmanuel Rodriguez (16)
Multi-hit games: Keoni Cavaco (2-for-5)

The Kernels melted late, dropping a rare game on Saturday.

Although Khalil Watson isn’t the prospect he once was when the Marlins drafted him, he still flexed his power chops in the 1st, blasting a two-run shot to give the Captains a lead. He ranks as Cleveland’s 16th prospect.

In response, Emmanuel Rodriguez lasered a solo shot off technically old friend Steve Hajjar. Rodriguez has actually hit lefties better than righties in 2023 (.894 OPS vs a .847 OPS). Wait, wasn’t Hajjar dealt to the Reds? Yes, but he was announced as the PTBNL in the deal that sent OF Will Benson to Cincinnati. 

Starter Kyle Jones recovered well, striking out seven before exiting in the 6th; he allowed just one more run.

Staring at the maw of the late-innings, the Kernels folded. Malik Barrington coughed up two runs and Jackson Hicks one-upped him, totaling five runs in the final two frames to place the game firmly out of reach.

A late 9th inning rally loaded the bases and led to two runs, but Cedar Rapids could do no more, and Rodriguez’s final whiff ended the game for good.

Kernels hitters walked 12 times on Saturday.

Mussel Matters
Ft. Myers 6, Clearwater 1
Box Score
Jose Olivares: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
HR: Nate Baez (1)
Multi-hit games: Jay Harry (2-for-5, 2B, R), Ricardo Olivar (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI), Rubel Cespedes (2-for-4, R, RBI, BB), Alec Sayre (2-for-5)

The Mighty Mussels smoked the Threshers on Saturday.

Jose Olivares followed up his decent five inning start last week with… five more innings, improving his numbers almost across the board. He allowed a run in the 1st, but quickly settled down, allowing a few runners to reach base before escaping unmarked every time. He gave way to Ty Langenberg and Xander Hamilton—two 2023 draftees who combined for four scoreless frames.

Fort Myers’ bats were potent as well. They plated two in the 3rd with a Ricardo Olivar double and a Rubel Cespedes single. They waited a little to score again—perhaps looking to build drama—before exploding with three in the 7th.

All three runs scored on Nate Baez’s first homer of the season. He added a sacrifice fly in the 9th for good measure.

Another 2023 draftee, Jay Harry, collected a pair of hits to push his Fort Myers slashline to .351/.440/.481. Walker Jenkins did not play after starting both games of Friday’s doubleheader—an act of mercy for Clearwater’s pitchers.

Philadelphia’s first-round pick in 2023—shortstop Aidan Miller—singled and struck out in four at-bats.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jose Olivares
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Nate Baez

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 0-4
#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, HR, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
#5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
#8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 0-4, 2 K
#10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 2-4, K
#19 - Brent Headrick (Minnesota) - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, W (3-0)

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Columbus @ St. Paul (5:07 PM) - RHP Patrick Murphy
San Antonio @ Wichita (1:05 PM) - RHP Travis Adams
Lake County @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 PM) - LHP Christian MacLeod
Fort Myers @ Clearwater (11:00 AM) - RHP Ben Ethridge

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!