Twins Minor League Report (6/13): Saints Blast Off, Keaschall Keeps Rolling

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 37-32 
St. Paul Saints: 30-35
Wichita Wind Surge: 24-36
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 34-25
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 28-29
FCL Twins: 14-12
DSL Twins: 4-3

TRANSACTIONS

• Recently released RHP Austin Schulfer has signed a minor-league deal with the Detroit Tigers
• OF Alex Kirilloff optioned to Triple-A St. Paul
• Util Austin Martin recalled by Minnesota Twins
• RHP Austin Brice transferred from Double-A Wichita to St. Paul

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 18, Louisville 4
Box Score

Scott Blewett started what was a bullpen game for Toby Gardenhire’s squad, and he did wonderfully. Working three innings of scoreless baseball, the traditional reliever allowed just two hits while walking none and striking out four. Jordan Balazovic struck out five in three innings of one-run baseball as he came on in relief.

The scoring started early for St. Paul with Brooks Lee blasting his first home run of the season as the second hitter of the game in the bottom half.  He also flashed the leather tonight. The recently returned Jair Camargo singled home Matt Wallner and Michael Helman to make it 3-0 before a Tony Kemp single plated Yunior Severino. Diego A. Castillo then drove in Camargo with a base hit of his own and Lee grabbed his second hit of the inning to drive in Kemp and make it a 6-0 game after one.

In the second inning, Severino launched his 11th home run of the season to give the Saints a 7-0 lead, and Helman matched him with his 11th dinger in the fifth inning to make it 8-0. Not to be outdone, Severino went yard again, and his fifth inning home run was the 12th of the year and put St. Paul up 9-0.

Wanting to get in on the home run barrage, and maybe with some frustration being passed over for a call up, Wallner went yard for the 12th time this season to make it 10-0 in the sixth inning. Camargo followed his lead, with Helman on, and it was a 12-0 tally.

After a Bats run in the seventh inning, Wallner went yahtzee again in the seventh inning, and the big fly brought Lee home in the process. Helman found his second big fly to make it 15-1, and the Saints had a victory well secured. A second Rece Hinds home run gave Louisville a pair back, but Helman doubled home Edouard Julien in the ninth inning before Severino plated Helman and Wallner with a single. Up 18-3, this one was over.

Former Saints infielder Hernan Perez drove in a ninth inning run for Louisville, but there was never going to be a realistic comeback attempt. The Saints recorded 22 hits, and Severino, Wallner, and Helman each had a pair of home runs. Wallner and Helman each recorded four hits on the night, while Lee, Severino, and Kemp each had three.

The 22 hits set a franchise record, while the eight home runs tied one.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Midland 8, Wichita 5
Box Score

Pierson Ohl drew the start on Thursday for the Wind Surge, and he went four innings while allowing three runs on six hits. Ohl walked one and didn’t record a strikeout.

Luke Keaschall has been handling his own since earning a promotion to Double-A, but needing his first home run, he grabbed it on the first pitch of the night. Launching a solo shot in the first inning, Wichita was on the board.

Midland grabbed a run in the third inning to tie things at one, but the Wind Surge answered with a crooked number. Jorel Ortega scored on a wild pitch before Jake Rucker singled home Keaschall, and Jeferson Morales brought Rucker in on a single of his own. Up 4-1, things were looking good for Wichita.

By the seventh inning, Midland had knotted things at four and it took another Rucker single scoring Ben Ross to give the good guys a lead. The 5-4 tally wouldn’t hold with Midland plating a pair in the eighth inning, and Wichita was looking at a three run deficit headed into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Unable to claw back, Keaschall and Rucker combined for seven of the nine team hits to power the lineup. Morales and Ross each added one as well.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Lansing 8, Cedar Rapids 0
Box Score

Jacob Wosinski took the ball in a bullpen game for the Kernels, and he worked a pair of scoreless innings. Working around two hits and a walk, he didn’t strike out anyone. Jarret Whorff was tagged for four runs during 2 2/3 innings of work, and that was enough to do Cedar Rapids in.

Three Lugnuts pitchers combined to not only shut out the Kernels, but also pitch a no-hitter. Ricardo Olivar, Rayne Doncon, and Keoni Cavaco each drew a walk but they were the only baserunners of the game.

Striking out 11 times on the evening, and with both Rafael Marcano and Sheldon Reed giving up runs in relief, Cedar Rapids will seek a better result on Friday.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Set for a doubleheader after previous postponements, the Mighty Mussels continue to be rocked by weather. Changing the schedule around, Fort Myers will play a doubleheader on both Friday and Sunday. The sixth game of the series is being canceled and will not be made up.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Pirates 8, FCL Twins 2
Box Score

2023 draft pick Dylan Questad started for the Twins andset had a tough outing. Allowing four runs before completing the first two innings of the game, he was up against it early. Going back out for the third inning, Quested couldn’t record an out and finished his day allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks. He struck out three.

Eduardo Soriano took over and allowed a run to make it a 7-0 game, but he gave up just two hits and a walk while striking out three over two innings of work. Devin Kirby pitched three innings and scattered five hits, allowing two runs (one earned), while striking out three.

Getting on the board for the first time, Jayson Bass reached on a throwing error that scored Yasser Mercedes and gave the Twins a run. A Ricardo Pena ground out brought home Ariel Castro and they had a pair of runs to work with.

The Twins couldn’t mount a comeback in the seventh inning and that’s how this one ended. Being outhit 13-3, they just never gave themselves a chance. 

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Twins 7, DSL Yankees 2
Box Score

Melvin Rodriguez drew the start on Thursday for the Twins and he was great over four innings of work. Allowing one run on three hits and a walk, he also struck out five during the outing.

A first inning error on a Merphy Hernandez batted ball allowed both Daiber De Los Santos and Ramiro Dominguez to score. The Twins gave a run back in the second inning, but they went to work again in the fifth inning.

Nestor Urbina doubled for the first time this season and scored Davirik Fuenmayor in the process. A dropped third strike allowed De Los Santos to reach base with Nestor Urbina coming home on the passed ball. Yandro Hernandez grabbed his first triple to bring De Los Santos home, and a wild pitch scored both him and Luis Fragoza. 

Although the Yankees got a run back in the sixth inning, the 7-2 score would hold up. No Twins recorded multiple hits, but they made plenty of the three errors and capitalized on their situation to come out on top.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Scott Blewett (St. Paul) - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Hitter of the Day – Michael Helman (St. Paul) 4-5, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2B(12), 2 HR(12), BB, K

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Thursday. 
#2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 3-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR(1), K
#8 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 2-4, RBI
#9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 4-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B(4), HR(1), K
#11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) –
#13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-1, BB
#18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 3-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR(12), BB, 2 K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, BB, K

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Louisville (6:15 PM CST) – RHP David Festa (1-2, 3.56 ERA)
Wichita vs Midland (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Marco Raya (0-1, 4.99 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Lansing (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Jeremy Lee (0-2, 9.39 ERA)
Fort Myers vs Lakeland (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Charlee Soto (7.31 ERA)

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

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!