Image courtesy of Steve Buhr (graphics by Finn Pearson)
Twins Video
Before we share our choices for the Twins Minor League Top Five Starters for July, there are some terrific starting performers that just missed the cut.
HONORABLE MENTION
- Charlie Barnes - Ft. Myers Miracle - 5 GS, 27.1 IP, 1.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 26 H, 9 BB, 10 K
- Prelander Berroa - GCL Twins - 4 GS, 18.2 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 14 H, 8 BB, 12 K
- Donny Breek - GCL Twins - 4 G, 3 GS, 15.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9 H, 7 BB, 17 K
- Andrew Cabezas - Elizabethton Twins - 18.2 IP, 1.93 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 13 H, 5 BB, 17 K
- Edwar Colina - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 5 G, 4 GS, 26.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 20 H, 12 BB, 30 K
- Randy Dobnak - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 28.1 IP, 1.91 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 26 H, 4 BB, 22 K
- Blayne Enlow - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 24.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 19 H, 7 BB, 12 K
- Tyler Palm - Elizabethton Twins - 4 GS, 19.0 IP, 1.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 23 H, 3 BB, 17 K
- Sean Poppen - Chattanooga Lookouts - 6 G, 3 GS, 32.1 IP, 1.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 24 H, 7 BB, 29 K
THE TOP FIVE STARTING PITCHERS
#5 - RHP
Tyler Wells
- Ft. Myers Miracle - 4 GS, 1-1, 3.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 15 H, 3 BB, 28 K
The Twins drafted the 6-8 right-hander in the 15th round of the 2016 draft out of Cal State-San Bernadino. Wells was our choice for Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher in June, and he was very good again in July. Opponents hit just .183/.230/.329 (.559) off of him during the month. He struck out more than a batter per inning, and he showed very good control. Wells has worked very hard and lost about 50 pounds since being drafted, including about 30 pounds since last season. The results have shown for him, and as July was coming to an end, he received a promotion to Chattanooga.
#4 - RHP
Randy Dobnak
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 2-1, 1.91 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 26 H, 4 BB, 22 K
Dobnak was signed just over a year ago out of the independent USPBL. Ever since, he has been a stable, consistent arm, mostly for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. In his July starts, the Alderson-Broaddus College graduate continued that trend. All four of his starts were quality starts. He averaged over seven innings per start and went at least 6 2/3 innings in each start. In fact, he has completed at least six innings in his last eight starts. The 23-year-old has a full pitch mix. While he doesn’t usually top 92 with his fastball, he has four good pitches.
#3 - LHP
Lewis Thorpe
- Chattanooga Lookouts - 5 GS, 2-0, 2.05 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 25 K
For the 22-year-old Australian,Thorpe has really made adjustments and improved over the course of the season at AA Chattanooga. The best way to illustrate that improvement might be by showing his OPS against numbers by month. In April, opponents posts a 1.020 OPS off him. In May, .839. June? .612. And in July, opponents hit just .171/.188/.232 (.420) off of the southpaw. Thorpe represented the Twins and Australia on the World team at the Futures Game. And the reasons for his improvement in July are clear. He didn’t give up many hits. He walked very few, and he struck out more than a batter per inning. Thorpe was added to the Twins 40-man roster last November. With the way he’s pitching, he could be debut with the Twins sometime in 2019.
#2-
LHP Stephen Gonsalves
- Rochester Red Wings - 5 G, 2-0, 0.88 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 17 H, 9 BB, 24 K
While Gonsalves could make a case to be the July pitcher of the month, it is more important to see just how well he has pitched of late. While the award might be nice, the reward Gonsalves likely wants most would be his first big-league promotion. That should be coming soon. It’s no secret that Gonsalves has had some highs and lows already this season. However, in his past eight starts, Gonsalves has gone 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA. In 46 1/3 innings, he has given up 23 hits, walked 22 and struck out 37 batters. He has given up zero home runs. The walks have been an issue throughout the season for Gonsalves, but in his past two starts, he has a total of one walk in 13 innings. Gonsalves looks the part of a major-league starting pitcher. He’s long and lean, and he’s got a smooth delivery. He’s got a plus-curveball and a solid, very slow curveball. He’s added a cutter/slider which all helps him miss bats with his low-90s fastball. There is no reason for Gonsalves not to make his debut within the next month.
And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is:
Cedar Rapids Kernels - RHP Bailey Ober - 4 GS, 3-0, 0.73 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 36 K
Ober was the Twins 12th-round draft pick in 2017 out of the College of Charleston where he was national freshman of the year, but then he needed Tommy John surgery. He missed more time with other injuries. When healthy, the 6-8 right-hander has a lot of potential. He hyper-extended his knee in spring training and stuck in extended spring for about six weeks.
He joined the Cedar Rapids Kernels in late April. In his Kernels debut, he gave up six earned runs and got just two outs. He gave up four runs in four innings during his second start. In his third start, he gave up four runs in five innings. However since that time, Ober has been one of the better, more consistent starters in the Twins farm system.
In July, he was dominant in his first three starts. In his first July start, he went seven innings and struck out 12 batters. In his next start, he struck out ten batters in 6 2/3 innings. In his third start of the month, he struck out 12 batters in eight innings. That’s right. He struck out 34 batters in 21 2/3 innings over just three starts. And he walked just two during that time.
Unfortunately in his final start of the month, July 27, Ober went just three innings before leaving the game. He was placed on the disabled list the next day with an elbow strain. He recently had and MRI to see what was going on. Results of the MRI have not yet been made public. Obviously we wish him the best.
Congratulations to our Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month of July, Cedar Rapids Kernels right-hander Bailey Ober.
Feel free to discuss and ask questions.
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!
View Twins Top Prospects
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now