Twins Minor League Week in Review (7/8-7/14): A Big Prospect Returns and a Familiar Face Rises

TRANSACTIONS:

• RHP Nolan Santos transferred from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids.
• RHP Juan Mercedes has been transferred from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers.
• OF Maddux Houghton transferred from St. Paul to Fort Myers.
• INF Nick Lucky transferred from St. Paul to Fort Myers.
• RHP Sheldon Reed was released.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 2, FCL Braves 2
Box Score

Anthony Narvaez started for the Twins and worked four innings. He allowed a pair of runs on two hits while walking one and striking out two.

The tilt was scoreless until the fourth inning. Bryan Acuna doubled home Yasser Mercedes before stealing third and scoring himself on an errant throw. The Braves evened things up in the bottom half however. Through seven innings neither team could break the tie and that's where it was left. Hendry Chivilli went 3-for-3 and Acuna's double was the only extra base hit for the Twins.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Mets Orange 9, DSL Twins 4
Box Score

Santiago Rojas took the ball for the twins and worked four innings. He gave up a pair of (unearned) runs on two hits. Rojas walked one and struck out two. Anderson Ramos coughed up two more in an inning of relief.

Down 1-0 after one, Luis Fragoza doubled, then scored on an errant throw to tie the game. The Mets added another three runs by the fifth inning and the Twins deficit grew. Fragoza frove in Merphy Hernandez and then scored with Ricardo Paez on a throwing error to tie things at four in the sixth inning. The Mets responded with a five-spot though, and the 9-4 lead held.

Fragoza and Irvin Nunez both doubled to record the only extra-base hits for the Twins. 

WEEK IN REVIEW
Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 44-48 (0-6 last week) Fourth place in the IL West
• Overview: The Saints took a trip to Louisville that they’d like to forget after dropping all of the games.
• Edouard Julien continues to keep the good times rolling as he batted .316 with a double and pair of home runs.
• Anthony Prato hit .286 in five games and recorded both a double and a home run.
• Aaron Rozek was recalled and made a three inning start. He was perfect and struck out five.
• Louie Varland struck out six across 5 2/3 scoreless.
• Jeff Brigham’s seven strikeouts across two appearances led the team.
• Zack Weiss made his St. Paul debut, and while the six runs across four innings were rough, he struck out six.
• What’s Next: The Saints come out of the break with a three-game set at Toledo.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 36-51 (1-5 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North
• Overview: Winning just a single game on the road against Springfield, it was a tough week
• Luke Keaschall made the most of three games (going 8-for-13) before heading to the Futures Game. He went 0-for-1 in Texas.
• Carson McCusker continued to hit for the Wind Surge, and his 14 total bases led the squad. He had a pair of dingers.
• Tanner Schobel ripped a pair of home runs and drew a team-high four walks last week.
• Kyle Jones struck out three in a four inning start allowing just a single run.
• Zebby Matthews walked a pair in his three inning start, but did strike out four.
• What’s Next: The RoughRiders come to Wichita for a three-game series following the All-Star Break over the weekend.

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 50-35 (2-4 last week) Second place in the Midwest League West
• Overview: It was a losing week against Beloit, but the Kernels held their place in the overall standings.
• Agustin Ruiz went 4-for-11 and recorded doubles for three of those hits.
• Kevin Maitan picked up three doubles and tallied a team-high 13 total bases while batting .280 across six games.
• Kyle Bischoff worked four innings of perfect relief and struck out four during them.
• Jarret Whorff made two appearances, tallying five total innings, and striking out seven batters.
• Christian MacLeod gave up a pair of runs over 5 2/3 innings, but he struck out 11 in the process.
• What’s Next: A date with Beloit on the road looms. 

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 43-41 (1-4 last week) Fourth place in Florida State League West
• Overview: Weather continues to be a theme for the Mighty Mussels and cost them a game against Daytona this week.
• Walker Jenkins was in the lineup for three games and went 4-for-12 with a pair of doubles.
• Yohander Martinez and Byron Chourio both batted .308 (4-for-13) across four games.
• Brandon Winokur returned from the injured list and went 3-for-11 with a walk.
• Charlee Soto turned in the best start of his career with five scoreless innings and six strikeouts.
• Xander Hamilton made two appearances, picked up a save, and struck out six across three scoreless innings.
• What’s Next: It’s to Clearwater that Fort Myers goes for their short three game series out of the break.

Complex League: FCL Twins

• Overall: 25-26 (4-1 last week) Fourth place in Florida Complex League South
• Javier Roman batted .438 in five games while recording a triple and four RBI.
• Amilcar Vasquez drove in a team high six runs. Yilber Herrera closely followed him with five.
• Connor Prielipp returned in a rehab start and struck out six over two scoreless innings.
• Miguel Cordero had five strikeouts across 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Dominican Summer League: DSL Twins

• Overall: 15-13 Fourth place in Dominican Summer League South
• Eduardo Beltre continued to stay hot. He doubled and homered while batting .385 across four games.
• Daiber De Los Santos’ five RBI led the team.
• Victor Leal put a ball over the fence last week.
• Santiago Rojas struck out seven across a four inning scoreless start.
• Christian Hernandez was second on the squad with six strikeouts last week.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1– Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 4-12, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
#2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) – 3-25, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
#4 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
#5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 4-25, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 K
#6 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 4 K
#7 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K
#9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 8-13, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 3-11, R, RBI, BB, 4 K
#11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
#13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 6-23, 7 R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
#14 – Zebby Matthews (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
#15 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 3.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, BB, 4 K
#16 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – IL
#17 – Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) - Rehab With FCL - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
#18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 4-21, 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 5-20, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K

Hitter of the Week - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 6-19, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K

Pitcher of the Week - Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 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!