Twins Minor League Week in Review (8/5-8/11): 2024 Draft Picks Debut, and Wichita Stands Out

TRANSACTIONS:

• RHP Zebby Matthews promoted to Minnesota from St. Paul
• RHP Matt Bowman released by Minnesota
• RHP Randy Dobnak optioned to St. Paul

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Twins 10, DSL Rangers Blue 9 (F/10)
Box Score

Jose Vasquez started and gave up a pair of runs over four innings of work. He struck out four. Unfortunately Fabian Herrera ceded three more and put the Twins in a sizable hole. The Twins responded with a run when Guillermo Sosa scored on a fifth inning wild pitch and they were within three at 5-2.

The Rangers added another run in the seventh inning, but the Twins added a pair of their own to make it a 6-4 game. After the Rangers added one in the eighth inning, the Twins responded with a four spot and took their first lead. They gave it back in the top of the ninth inning before tying it in the bottom half. Hernandez lifted a tenth inning sacrifice fly to score Sosa and walk it off.

The Twins had 11 hits and drew seven walks. Daiber De Los Santos and Nestor Urbina each had three hits. Hernandez picked up two. Sebastian Pulido got the win, his third.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints

• Overall: 56-57 (2-4 last week) Fifth place in the IL West
• Overview: The Saints and Twins both played Cleveland teams this past week. Minnesota split while St. Paul dropped the series against the Clippers.
• Edouard Julien is heating up again and hit a pair of home runs while posting a 1.114 OPS.
• Anthony Prato played in just four games but went 6-for-13 with a double, triple, and a home run.
• DaShawn Keirsey Jr.’s .905 OPS was aided by a home run while he batted .273 and played in all six games.
• Zebby Matthews recorded his best Triple-A start allowing only a single run across five innings. His next turn will be his big league debut.
• Nick Wittgren led the team in strikeouts as he punched out six across five innings allowing only a single earned run.
• Aaron Rozek returned from Double-A Wichita and made another strong spot start as he allowed just two runs in six innings.
• What’s Next: St. Paul travels to Indianapolis for a series against the IL West’s 2nd to last place team.

Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge

• Overall: 47-61 (4-2 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North
• Overview: Facing the bottom team in the South, Wichita took a series against Corpus Christi.
• Tanner Schobel had a great week with four dingers and a team-leading 6 RBI while batting .304 with a 1.186 OPS across six games.
• Andrew Cossetti played in only two games, but he went deep twice and plated three.
• Luke Keaschall’s season came to an end as he undergoes a previously scheduled Tommy John surgery. He should be ready for next spring.
• Cory Lewis delivered a lights out start going six innings with nine strikeouts and no earned runs.
• Andrew Morris also struck out nine in a seven inning start where he didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits.
• Christian MacLeod struck out eight in his start. He worked five innings of one run ball before earning a promotion to Triple-A.
• What’s Next: The Wind Surge host Arkansas for a six game series.

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

• Overall: 58-48 (3-3 last week) Second place in the Midwest League West
• Overview: Splitting a series with Peoria, the Kernels stayed put in the standings.
• Nick Lucky was promoted to High-A and responded with a home run and .917 OPS over six games last week.
• Nate Baez batted .353 with a pair of doubles in five games.
• Kevin Maitan’s four RBI were a team high.
• Ty Langenberg turned in a great six inning performance allowing no runs on four hits while striking out seven.
• Mike Paredes made a pair of relief outings and struck out five across 4 1/3 innings.
• Connor Prielipp walked three in his start, but didn’t give up a hit across 2 2/3 while striking out five.
• What’s Next: The Kernels host a South Bend team that brings up the rear in the West.

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

• Overall: 56-47 (5-1 last week) Second place in Florida State League West
• Overview: Fort Myers nearly swept Jupiter despite the opposition being the second team in the East.
• Brandon Winokur blasted a pair of dingers to lead the team, and compiled an .846 OPS.
• Kaelen Culpepper made his professional debut and went 5-for-13 with two doubles and a home run.
• Billy Amick made his professional debut and batted .364 in five games with a double.
• Kyle DeBarge had a team-high five RBI while also swiping five stolen bases.
• Derek Bender, Khadim Diaw, Jaime Ferrer, Caden Kendle, and Jay Thomason all made their professional debuts as well.
• Tanner Hall punched out seven during a seven inning scoreless start.
• Jack Noble and Devin Kirby both worked a pair of games in relief and struck out seven each.
• Xander Hamilton picked up saves in each of his appearances striking out four across three scoreless innings.
• What’s Next: The Mighty Mussels are on the road in Tampa against the worst team in the West.

Dominican Summer League: DSL Twins

• Overall: 25-23 Fourth place in Dominican Summer League South
• Eduardo Beltre hit another home run and posted a 1.096 OPS across four games.
• Merphy Hernandez drove in five runs across four games played.

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1– Walker Jenkins (Cedar Rapids) – 5-22, 2 R, 3 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 3 K
#2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) – 2-7, 2B, RBI, K
#4 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 2-13, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
#5 – Zebby Matthews (St. Paul) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
#6 - David Festa (Minnesota) -  8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 12 K
#7 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 4-18, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K
#8 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
#9 - Kaelen Culpepper (Fort Myers) - 5-13, 3 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K, SB
#10 - Marco Raya (Wichita) - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 K
#11 - Andrew Morris (Wichita) - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
#12 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 5-22, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, SB
#13 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
#14 - Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) - 2-12, 2 R, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K, SB
#16 - Kyle DeBarge (Fort Myers) - 6-22, 4 R, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, 5 SB
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 7-23, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 SB
#19 - C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
#20 – Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) – 2.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Hitter of the Week - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 7-23, 6 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 SB

Pitcher of the Week - Andrew Morris (Wichita) - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 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!