Monday's Minor League Round-up

The Twins don’t appear to be playing real inspired (or inspiring) baseball, so let’s get right into the farm.

A few transactions to sort through:

The Red Wings released 1B Aaron Bates and recently-signed INF Joe Thurston.

It was announced that OF Wilkin Ramirez (who has been tearing up AA) and RP Lester Oliveros have been promoted from New Britain to Rochester.

2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka - you may have heard of him - is expected to be activated before tomorrow’s game. The addition of Nishi, as well as Matt Maloney, pushes 1B/DH Matt Rizzotti from Rochester to New Britain.

There is no word on any other corresponding moves to fill the other hole in New Britain (and it would be purely speculation to point out that neither Miracle OF Oswaldo Arcia nor INF Levi Michael were in the lineup tonight).

Let’s take a spin around the farm:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

ROCHESTER 4, SYRACUSE 6

For the second straight Monday, the Red Wings faced a pitcher that has experienced major league success. This time around they got to see former Yankee hurler Chien Ming-Wang. The current National is rehabbing his left hamstring. He did pretty well scattering eleven hits and four runs over eight innings and change.

Danny Valencia started off his return to AAA hitless in ten at-bats before doubling down the left-field line to lead off the 7^th inning. He later scored after a Sean Burroughs single and a Ray Chang sacrifice fly. Valencia finished the day 1 for 4, upping his average to .086.

All other Red Wing starters got hits too. Ben Revere, who had been hitting .440 over his last six games, went 1 for 5 and is currently hitting .306. Revere, however, hasn’t taken a walk in his last six games.

Pedro Florimon stole two more bases and now has ten (in eleven chances) total this year. Burroughs collected three hits today and is up to .333 through eight AAA games. JR Towles is batting better now that he is getting regular at-bats. Towles gathered two hits today. Since Drew Butera’s promotion, Towles is batting .308 and has improved his season line from .111 to .208.

Cole DeVries took his fourth loss of the year. He went 6 1/3 innings allowing nine hits and six runs (four earned). He also struck out two. Brendan Wise came in with a runner on in the 7^th. He allowed his inherited runner to score, three hits and struck out one.

Not-quite-former-Wing Steve Pearce was named International League Player of the Week with a 400/464/920 slash. He currently leads the league in batting (.361) and doubles (12). He’s also third in OBP (.444) and fourth in runs (26). Another “wish we could have signed you when we drafted you” case that doesn’t turn out great for the Twins (or the Red Wings).

NEW BRITAIN IDLE

Scheduled day off

FT. MYERS 1, CHARLOTTE 13

The Miracle got drilled tonight. They were only able to scratch out five hits, scoring one run. Daniel Ortiz and Jairo Perez both tripled. Daniel Santana, Anderson Hidalgo and Michael Gonzales all singled.

Madison Boer continued to struggle in the Florida State League. He didn’t make it out of the fifth inning tonight, allowing 10 hits, seven runs (all earned), walking two and striking out three. He currently has an ERA of 14.25 and a WHIP of 2.75. Hopefully the 2011 2^nd round pick out of Eden Prairie can figure it out soon.

Jose Gonzalez, not only didn’t fare any better, but actually did much worse, giving up six earned runs on four hits (two home runs), while only getting four outs. His ERA ballooned from sub-4 to 6.43. Matt Hauser got the last out of the sixth.

Kyle Waldrop made his second rehab appearance tonight. He struck out one and gave up one hit in one inning. It should be noted that his other two outs came by fly out and ground out. Waldrop relies on a heavy sinker to get a lot of ground ball outs. Expect him to be optioned to Rochester as soon as he is healthy.

Manager Jake Mauer proved that there is some fire in the family, getting tossed in the 6^th after P Jose Gonzalez was warned for hitting a Charlotte batter.

OF Lance Ray overcame a rough April and was named Florida State League Player of the Week (May 7-13). Hitting .421 (with an OPS of 1.331) over the last six games, Ray has improved his batting average from .209 to .248. He remains an under-rated prospect in the system. Though he didn’t get any hits tonight, he did drive in the lone run.

BELOIT 5, CLINTON 2

Steven Gruver has mixed some solid starts with some short starts. This was definitely more of a solid start. Gruver scattered six hits over 6 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs, a walk and striking out four.

Bart Carter and Clint Dempster got the last eight outs without allowing any runs. Carter gave up one hit, striking out two in 1 2/3 innings. Dempster picked up the save, striking out one in an inning.

Wang Wei-Lin had two doubles, a run and an RBI to lead the Snapper offense. Adam Bryant and Jhon Goncalves each added two hits.

Überprospect Miguel Sano was 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Eddie Rosario hit his 3^rd home run of the season (and second in five games).

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Players of the Day for Monday, May 14, 2012

Hitter of the Day – Sean Burroughs

Pitcher of the Day – Steven Gruver

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A Look Ahead – Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Louisville – LHP Luke French (0-0, 6.55)

New Britain vs New Hampshire - Game 1 - RHP Steve Hirschfeld (2-3, 3.10)

New Britain vs New Hampshire - Game 2 – LHP Logan Darnell (3-2, 5.40)

Ft. Myers vs Charlotte – RHP Miguel Munoz (1-1, 2.77)

Beloit vs Clinton – RHP Tim Shibuya (1-1, 2.83)

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