Twins Minor League Report (6/3): Charlee Soto Returns to the Mound

TRANSACTIONS
RHP Nolan Santos activated from 7-day IL (Cedar Rapids)
3B Murphy Stehly retired (AA Wichita)
RHP Charlee Soto sent to A Fort Myers on MiLB rehab
RHP Hunter Gregory signed to a minor league contract

Hunter Gregory?
Yes, the Twins dipped into independent reserves once more. This time, they looked to the mound: former Blue Jays farmhand Hunter Gregory inked a deal to join Minnesota’s farm system. Darren Wolfson of KSTP reported he’ll join the Wichita Wing Surge.

Gregory was a four-year player at Old Dominion between 2018-2021, starting the majority of his senior season to great results (a 2.95 ERA over 79 1/3 innings with more strikeouts than frames). Following that year, Toronto selected him in the 8th-round. He reached AAA in 2025, but was roughed up, and the franchise decided that a 26-year-old who walked more batters than he struck out wasn’t worth a roster spot. The York Revolution came calling, and he has been excellent for them: hitters who talk about destruction were counted (called) out, as he racked up 20 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings. We shall see what he can do in the Twins system.

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 10, Indianapolis 1
Box Score
Ryan Gallagher: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
HR: Hendry Mendez (4), Matt Wallner (2), Royce Lewis (10)
Multi-hit games: Kaelen Culpepper (2-for-4, 3 R, BB), Hendry Mendez (2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI), Royce Lewis (3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI), Matt Wallner (2-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB)

The St. Paul Royce Lewis’s stomped their opponent on Wednesday.

At some point, it actually becomes difficult to capture a performance like this in writing: purple prose and exasperation isn’t a happy combination. Lewis is a supernova. He’s played 11 games with the Saints since being demoted and has eight homers. His AAA OPS in 2026 is literally nearly triple his major league mark. And Wednesday’s blast was of the ilk that made him a once-foreseen superstar many moons ago—a grand slam. What he’s doing in St. Paul is unbelievable. 

He wasn’t the only Saint in a hitting mood on Wednesday, as everyone in the lineup accrued a base knock. More blasts came from Hendry Mendez, who smoked a gorgeous shot to center with a slight fade, and Matt Wallner, who thundered a signature mutant flyball that refused to return to earth. 

Ryan Gallagher authored five shutout frames on the mound, occasionally giving in to temptation with a walk or two—or four, but who’s counting—yet never budging from his goal to stop Indianapolis from scoring. In fact, only twice did a runner even reach second base. 

Indianapolis’ leadoff man Termarr Johnson likely caught your eye. The fourth overall pick in 2022, Johnson earned overtures for being unusually “hitterish” at such a young age; his time in the minors has been beset by more ordinary play and a jump in strikeouts (and walks). He’s no longer a top 100 guy, but he’s Pittsburgh’s fifth-ranked prospect, and he singled and walked in five plate appearances. 

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 7, San Antonio 6
Box Score
Cory Lewis: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
HR: Andrew Cossetti 2 (4, 5), 
Multi-hit games: Andrew Cossetti (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI)

The Wind Surge eked out a win on Wednesday.

It’s good to have a big dude who can hit the ball far. Just ask Earl Weaver. That’s what Andrew Cossetti is here for. He stepped up to the plate in his first at-bat with the bases loaded—an ultimate chance to give his team an early advantage—and walloped a mammoth 452 foot grand slam to spearhead a five-run frame before returning in the seventh to blast a two-run shot that catapulted the Wind Surge back into the lead.

That’s also, by the way, how a team can score seven runs despite going 1-5 with runners in scoring position. Sometimes, home plate is scoring position.

The Missions started Ethan Salas at DH on Wednesday. MLB.com’s 51st-ranked player walked twice in five plate appearances.

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 10
Box Score
Dasan Hill: 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
HR: Yasser Mercedes (3)
Multi-hit games: Eduardo Tait (2-for-4, 2B, BB, R), Khadim Diaw (2-for-4, R), Yasser Mercedes (3-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI)

The Kernels were out-slugged on Wednesday.

All remains unruly in Dasan Hill’s 2026 season. He struggled to find the strike zone consistently, walking three as just 42 of his 70 pitches went for strikes. He surrendered four hits. The young lefty has flashed tantalizing ability at times, yet an affliction remains that causes the strike zone to often appear like a mustard seed. Hopefully he can figure things out soon.

Yasser Mercedes continued to be a dual-threat menace, smacking a three-run homer while stealing his 12th base of the season. He was joined by Brandon Winokur and Jay Thomason, who also swiped a bag for the 12th time on the year. Strange happenings. 

It was a good, not awe-inspiring line, but Eduardo Tait reaching base thrice without a strikeout was an encouraging sight. He hit a poor .174/.245/.315 in May, so this game could be the positive augur the young catcher was undoubtedly looking for. 

The Timber Rattlers are an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and they are the home of their most recent first-round pick, Andrew Fischer. He manned third and reached base three times in five trips to the plate. 

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 5, Lakeland 11
Box Score
Charlee Soto: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: JP Smith II (7)
Multi-hit games: None

An explosive eighth sunk the Mighty Mussels on Wednesday.

Charlee Soto is back! More than a year after not pitching in a competitive game, Soto took the mound and… looked like someone who hadn’t pitched in a competitive game in more than a year. Which is fine. His stuff looked good, and he topped out at 99.9 (they don’t round in Florida). 

Jason Reitz entered once the Soto fanfare died down to deliver his finest outing since joining the Twins organization, whiffing three in a trio of extraordinarily efficient innings. He didn’t even reach a three-ball count.

JP Smith hit the lone homer for Fort Myers—yet it was one of the inside-the-park variety. And it was hit to the pull-side. How is that possible? Well, the left-fielder decided that running the wall flailing would be better than playing the ricochet. He was wrong. And as a result, a rotund man had to run the bases with a vigor likely foreign to him. But what a sight it was!

Tigers’ seventh-ranked prospect, Jordan Yost, played shortstop and reached base three times, once each via a hit, walk, and hit by pitch. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Ryan Gallagher
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Andrew Cossetti

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#2 – Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 2-4, 3 R, BB
#5 – Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, 2B, R, BB
#6 – Dasan Hill (Cedar Rapids) - 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
#7 – Marek Houston (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
#10 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-4, BB, 2 K
#11 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) - 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
#13 – Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 2-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
#14 – Quentin Young (Fort Myers) - 0-3, RBI, 2 K
#15 – Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
#16 – Ryan Gallagher (St. Paul) - 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
#19 – Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, R
#20 – Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 0-4, R, BB, K

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Indianapolis @ St. Paul (7:07 PM) - RHP John Klein
San Antonio @ Wichita (6:35 PM) - RHP Preston Johnson
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM) - RHP Michael Ross
Fort Myers @ Lakeland (5:30 PM) - RHP Justin Mitrovich
FCL Twins @ FCL Braves (11:00 AM) - TBD
DSL Twins @ DSL Colorado (9:00 AM) - TBD

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!