Twins Minor League Report (7/24): Gonsalves, Kirilloff, Rooker Continue Hot Stretches

To find out just how great each of those prospects were on Tuesday, keep reading and be sure to discuss in the comments!

TRANSACTIONS

There were some moves in the system before the games:

• Chattanooga (AA): Pitcher Casey Crosby was activated from the disabled list and sent to the Gulf Coast League on a rehab assignment. He made the “start” for the GCL squad in that game.
  
• Fort Myers (A+): Lewin Diaz was placed on the disabled list with a right thumb fracture. To take his place Ben Rodriguez was promoted from Cedar Rapids.
  
• Cedar Rapids (A): To take Rodriguez’s place, 2018 2^nd-round draft pick Ryan Jeffers was promoted from Elizabethton.
  
• GCL Twins (RK): In addition to Crosby, outfielder Christian Cavaness was also sent on a rehab assignment to the GCL.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Indianapolis 0

Box Score

Top prospect Stephen Gonsalves took the mound for the Red Wings looking to improve even further on his six-start stretch where he had lowered his ERA from 5.89 all the way down to 3.34. He delivered his best of that bunch on Tuesday, tossing seven scoreless innings. He allowed just five hits, struck out four, and most importantly in that time frame, issued zero walks. He gave up a leadoff triple in the fifth, but his defense caught that runner at home on the next batter. Gonsalves then finished by retiring the final eight hitters he faced. Of his 98 pitches, 68 went for strikes (69%) and he improved to 7-3 on the year in Triple-A.

D.J. Baxendale earned his fifth hold with a scoreless eighth inning when he worked around two hits. In his first appearance since being optioned (again), Alan Busenitz picked up his fifth save with a one-two-three ninth, striking out the final two hitters to punctuate the win.

On offense the Red Wings got multi-hit efforts from leadoff man Gregorio Petit (2-for-4, R, 2B, K) and LaMonte Wade (2-for-4, R, 2 K). Willians Astudillo and Jeremy Hazelbaker added doubles to the effort. Miguel Sano finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, a strikeout and two walks.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Pensacola 10, Chattanooga 8 (10 innings)

Box Score

While the Triple A game was all about a top prospect pitcher, this one focused on a top prospect hitter who has been heating up as the season has gone on. Of course, I’m talking about Brent-He’s So Hot Right Now-Rooker.

In the first inning, Rooker got the Lookouts on the board with a two-run home run, his nineteenth of the season and his teammates added two more runs for the early 4-0 lead. He would follow a Zander Wiel single to lead off the second with one of his own, but both ended up stranded.

That’s when the Blue Wahoos pounced on starting pitcher Omar Bencomo. They tallied eight runs across the third and fourth innings to take the lead. Bencomo finished five frames, but his ten hits allowed came in quick succession to give up those runs (seven earned). He walked none and struck out five.

Chattanooga was able to tie the game in seventh inning, and again it was due in part to Rooker. After two runs had already crossed he came up with the bases loaded and delivered a two-run double, his 27^th of the season which tied him with fellow top prospect (and trade rumor target) Corey Ray for the Southern League lead (Ray also leads him by one in homers, Rooker now leads league in RBI though!). Rooker added another single in the ninth, but again would be stranded. Rooker finished his game 4-for-5 with a walk to go along with his extra-base hits and four RBI. His average is now up to .272 on the season and .366/.490/.805 over his last ten games, which includes FIVE home runs, FIFTEEN runs batted in, and a 10:12 base-on-balls to strikeouts ratio. I’d probably promote him soon.

Unfortunately for the Lookouts, that effort wasn’t enough when this one got to extra innings. After Bencomo’s exit, Cody Stashak went the next two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out three. Tyler Jay worked out of a jam of his own making in the eighth, then got two outs in the ninth before handing it over to Williams Ramirez. Jay allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings. Ramirez got the final out in the ninth and two K’s to start the tenth inning, but a home run to the next batter proved to be the end. The Lookouts got the tying run on base with no outs in their half, but couldn’t push any one across (Rooker didn’t get a chance, unfortunately).

Chattanooga got a hit from every batter in the starting lineup, and had four other hitters with two or more hits on the day. They included Zander Wiel (2-for-4, R, 2 BB, K), Chris Paul (2-for-6, R, 2B, 2 K), Jaylin Davis (3-for-6, R, 2 2B, RBI, K), and Ryan Walker (2-for-5, RBI, BB, 2 K). Jordan Gore also delivered two RBI.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 4, Jupiter 1

Box Score

For his second consecutive outing, lefty Charlie Barnes delivered an impressive performance. He left the game with two outs and runners on second and third in the seventh, but neither runner would score so he allowed just one run in his 6 2/3 innings. That came on six hits and one walk allowed, while striking out two. His ERA on the season now rests at a solid 2.82 for the Miracle.

He also evened his record at 5-5 as his offense backed him up with a couple of blasts to put crooked numbers on the board. In the second inning, it was a two-run shot from Travis Blankenhorn, his ninth of the season. In the eighth, it was Alex-He’s Been Hot All Year-Kirilloff with a two-run bomb to the opposite field, his third with Fort Myers and his sixteenth overall on the year. He also finished this game 3-for-3 with two runs scored and drew a walk and is now hitting .370 in the Florida State League.

https://twitter.com/kirilloff19/status/1022109421546156033

Hector Lujan was the first man called in from the bullpen, and finished the seventh and eighth innings before running into some trouble in the ninth. With two runners on and the game-tying run at the plate, Ryan Mason came on to shut it down with one out. He got the next two hitters, including a strikeout, to do so. Lujan finished with no runs allowed on one hit, two walks, and four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Mason picked up his fifth save on the year.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Scheduled Day Off

The Kernels had the day off on Tuesday as they finished a 5-1 road trip and head home for a five-game homestand versus the Clinton LumberKings and Quad Cities River Bandits. The series with the Bandits is of the two-game home-and-home variety, which they will repeat in August.

The Kernels currently lead the Midwest League Western Division with a 22-9 record in the second half.

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 10, Burlington 3

Box Score

A late scoring burst from the Twins turned this one into another blowout, as they racked up ten runs on fifteen hits as a team. With the score tied at three going into the seventh, they put two runs on the board to take the lead and added on five more in the eighth.

First-round draft pick Trevor Larnach led the lineup with a 4-for-5 night at the plate. It included his first professional extra-base hit, a double. He tallied three runs scored, four RBI, and stole his first base. He has at least one hit in every game he’s played so far and his average is a SSS .450.

Elizabethton also got multiple hits from Yeltsin Encarnacion (2-for-5, 3 R, 2B, BB, K), Chris Williams (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K), Alex Robles (2-for-5, RBI, K), and Lean Marrero (2-for-5, 2 R).

Austin Schulfer got the start and went the game’s first three innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Brian Rapp then came on and went the next 2 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk, along with racking up four strikeouts. Kody Funderburk then finished it with 3 1/3 scoreless. He walked in an inherited runner that charged him with a blown save, but also picked up his first professional win as he surrendered two hits, walked one and struck out four.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Rays 8, GCL Twins 3

Box Score

After being activated from the disabled list in AA, Casey Crosby made a rehab appearance to start this game. He got two outs with the help of a pickoff move to first base but walked two batters before his day was done. Frandy Torres then came on and gaveup a grand slam before recording the third out and the Twins were never able to recover. Torres added a scoreless second inning and finished with three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two.

Tyler Benninghoff toed the rubber next and delivered three scoreless frames. He struck out four and allowed two hits and a walk. Edit (box score updated on 7/25): Tyler Benninghoff finished three scoreless innings, but then ran into trouble to start the sixth inning. He would get one out due to a caught stealing, but an RBI single and RBI double ended his day. In total he pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out four. The Rays extended their lead against Petru Balan in the sixth inning, and in total he allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in two innings. He struck out one. Petru Balan then came on with Benninghoff responsible for two runners who would both score before getting out of the inning. He would add a scoreless seventh and in total allowed two hits, one walk, and struck out one in 1 2/3. Steven Cruz finished the game with two scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out four.

On offense the Twins managed just five hits and drew zero walks but were able to scratch three runs across thanks to going 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position and 2018 28^th round draft pick Austin Hale’s first professional home run. Kidany Salva added a double and Victor Tademo and pinch hitter Samuel Vasquez collected the other RBIs. Vasquez pinch hit for Christian Cavaness, who was making his first in-game appearance in almost a year.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Stephen Gonsalves, Rochester Red Wings (W, 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K)

Twins Daily Hitter(s) of the Day – Brent Rooker, Chattanooga Lookouts (4-for-5, R, 2B (27), HR (19), 4 RBI, BB)

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-3, BB, 3 K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) – 3-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, BB

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) – Did not pitch.

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 0-for-4, K, SB (5)

#5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – W (7-3), 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K (3.04 ERA in Triple-A)

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Elizabethton) – 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B (1), 4 RBI, SB (1), K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 4-for-5, R, 2B (27), HR (19), 4 RBI, BB

#8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – CR did not play.

#9 -Wander Javier – Out of for the season.

#10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) – Did not pitch.

#11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – CR did not play.

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 2-for-4, R, 2 K, 2 SB (5)

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) – 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K

#14 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) – Did not pitch.

#15 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) – Did not play.

#16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) – 0-for-5, K

#17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) – On disabled list with fractured thumb.

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) – CR did not play.

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) – CR did not play.

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) – 1-for-5, BB

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Indianapolis (6:05PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (0-2, 4.70 ERA)

Pensacola @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – TBD

Fort Myers @ Jupiter (5:30PM CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (7-4, 2.97 ERA)

Clinton @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Edwar Colina (3-3, 3.11 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Burlington (10:00AM CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00AM CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’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!