Twins Minor League Week in Review (5/20-5/26): Promotion Week for Big Prospects

TRANSACTIONS:

• RHP Diego Castillo contract selected by Minnesota.
• LHP Kody Funderburk optioned to St. Paul.
• RHP Josh Winder activated from 60-Day IL and optioned to St. Paul.
• RHP Joe Gunkel released by the Twins. 
• INF Luke Keaschall is being promoted from Cedar Rapids to Wichita
• OF Kyle Hess promoted from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids
• INF Brooks Lee rehab transferred to Fort Myers

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Pirates 2, FCL Twins 1
Box Score

Eider Machuca drew the start for the Twins, and while he worked three innings of one-run ball, he worked around four hits and four walks. Brooks Lee was notably absent from the lineup, and that was due to his rehab being transferred across the complex.

Walker Jenkins went 0-for-1 with a pair of walks before being lifted. The Pirates plated a run during the 2nd inning before Ricardo Pena homered to even things at one. The Pirates scored in the fifth inning, and that run was the distance.

WEEK IN REVIEW
Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 22-27 (3-3 last week) Ninth place in the IL West
• Overview: Royce Lewis was the highlight of St. Paul’s week, and he’ll remain with the team for at least a couple more games.
• DaShawn Keirsey Jr. posted 1.121 OPS in six games last week while hitting two homers and driving in 11.
• Austin Martin posted a ridiculous 1/9 K/BB this week while remaining an on-base master.
• David Festa punched out eight over five innings of work during his lone start while allowing a single hit.
• Josh Winder worked four scoreless innings in relief while striking out five.
• What’s Next: Staying out in New York, the Saints will square off against former Twins Triple-A affiliate Rochester.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 18-26 (2-4 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North
• Overview: Despite San Antonio being below .500, Wichita couldn’t do enough to carry a winning week.
• Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to rake and hit two homers with a 1.364 OPS in five games. It’s time for a promotion.
• Kalai Rosario recorded 12 total bases, just behind Rodriguez’s 16 for the week.
• Jaylen Nowlin struck out seven across six scoreless innings while working around three hits and two walks.
• Zebby Matthews recorded eight strikeouts to lead the team and it came during a single outing in a six inning start.
• What’s Next: Returning home against Springfield, the Wind Surge square off against the Cardinals affiliate currently sitting second in the Texas League North.

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 28-16 (4-2 last week) First place in the Midwest League West.
• Overview: Another winning week, albeit not a sweep, had the Kernels overtaking the top spot in the Midwest League West standings.
• Luke Keaschall was incredible again which would be expected when earning a promotion. He went 10-for-25 with 17 total bases and a pair of homers.
• Jose Salas stole two bases while picking up a pair of doubles and also grabbing a home run.
• C.J. Culpepper punched out eight hitters while working six perfect innings. The Kernels flirted with a perfect game during his outing.
• Darren Bowen and Miguelangel Boadas both recorded six strikeouts this week to check in second on the team.
• What’s Next: Welcoming Lake County to Cedar Rapids, the Kernels have a tough test as they face the second best team in the Midwest League East.

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 19-26 (3-3 last week) Fifth place in Florida State League West
• Overview: Splitting a series with Daytona, the Mighty Mussels found themselves in the same position they entered this week at.
• Kyle Hess earned a promotion to High-A Cedar Rapids by posting a 1.370 thanks to five doubles and a dinger.
• Payton Eeles may not be far behind Hess as he owned a 1.009 OPS with four doubles this week.
• Xander Hamilton struck out ten across three outings that spanned a total of six innings. The only walk he allowed was intentional.
• Ty Langenberg struck out nine during his start while Spencer Bengard struck out eight.
• What’s Next: Bradenton comes to town and the Marauders are a game ahead for Fort Myers in the Florida State League West standings.

Complex League: FCL Twins

• Overall: 11-5 First place in Florida Complex League South
• Yasser Mercedes put up a ridiculous 1.196 OPS with a pair of three baggers this week for the FCL Twins.
• Brooks Lee played a team-high five games and is now set to move his rehab up a level, given multiple reports.
• Wilker Reyes struck out five while Adrian Bohorquez struck out six this week.
• Corey Lewis made his first appearance of the season after being behind this spring.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1– Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 5-15, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K, 2 SB
#2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 9-20, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 8-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K
#4 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
#5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List
#6 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
#7 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
#8 – Austin Martin (St. Paul) – 7-21, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 9 BB, K
#9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) - 10-25, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K, SB
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 5-24, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 K, SB
#11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
#12 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 8-26, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, 8 K
#13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 4-18, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
#14 – Zebby Matthews (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 8 K
#15 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 2.0 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 3 K
#16 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (Ankle)
#17 – Connor Prielipp (IL) – UCL Surgery
#18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 7-21, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K
#19 – C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) – 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 7-23, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K

Hitter of the Week - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) - 8-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K

Pitcher of the Week - C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

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!