Lucas Seehafer PT

No single prospect in the Minnesota Twins farm system has seen their value grow more over the last three months than Jose Miranda. A highly regarded prep prospect out of Puerto Rico, the Twins selected Miranda with the 73rd overall pick in the 2016 draft based on his projected ability to hit for power and average while providing solid defense at third base. However, Miranda largely failed to live up to his reputation before the 2021 season as neither his power numbers nor batting average ever reached the levels many thought they would. However, 2021 has been a much different story. As of this writing, Miranda is slashing .337/.398/.653 in 24 games with Triple-A St. Paul - he's reached base safely in all 24 games - and that's after hitting .345/.408/.588 in 47 games at Double-A Wichita. His 167 wRC+ is 10th among all MiLB players who have accumulated at least 150 plate appearances. Bump up the required plate appearances to 230, a number that should be easily obtainable for minor leaguers who play nearly every night and have remained healthy - Miranda has 331, for example - and he jumps up to fourth. In essence, while the sample size is still relatively small, Miranda has displayed enough consistency at both the Double- and Triple-A levels to suggest that some level of his success is here to stay. His numbers will regress before the season winds down, but it's fair to say that FanGraphs needs to update his 35-grade hit tool and 30-grade game power. Miranda's 2021 season is likely the ceiling for what he can be at the major league level: 20-30 home run power with a high OBP and solid, versatile infield defense. That type of player is a multi-time All-Star, MVP candidate, and a cornerstone in the lineup for a contending team. However, the odds that he reaches his current production level while on an MLB roster remain slim. In all likelihood, Miranda won't reach his 100% outcome. A more likely scenario involves him developing into something more akin to former Twin Michael Cuddyer. Cuddy finished his career with 197 home runs and a .277 batting average across 15 major league seasons. It should be considered a wild success if Miranda develops into the next Michael Cuddyer. A significant reason why Miranda has been so successful this season and may continue to be in the future is his ability to control his bat head through the strike zone. Miranda generates loft on pitches, even those down in the zone. He accomplishes this by keeping the barrel of his bat relatively parallel to the ground, which increases the surface area of the bat that may come in contact with the ball, which, in turn, increases the likelihood that a ball will be barreled rather than squibbed or popped up. Suppose he can maintain his form while facing major league-level pitching and implement minor refinements to increase his power even more. In that case, Miranda should have no problem hitting 25 or more home runs per season and for a good average. Additionally, Miranda is solid in the field, particularly at third base. While he has seen time at first, second, and third base at both Double- and Triple-A, his future, or at least his near future, is most likely at the hot corner. He possesses enough arm strength to be at least average at third and could easily fill in for Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff at his other positions as needed. Miranda's emergence this season has allowed the Twins to think long and hard about trading current third baseman Josh Donaldson, and if (or more likely, when) they decide to pull the trigger, he may find himself on the next city bus to Target Field. If not this season, then next. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Faucher is a Double-A reliever with good K numbers but a high ERA and BB totals. Unlikely to reach the majors in my estimation, but if there's a team to unlock anything in him it's the Rays.

Brent Rooker's ninth inning double saved the Minnesota Twins from being no-hit in what could be José Berríos' final start for the team. José Berríos: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Miguel Sano -.150, Ryan Jeffers -.126, Gilberto Celestino -.117 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) It was Patrick Sandoval’s world on Saturday night and the Twins were just living in it. Sandoval, who entered the game with a 3.86 ERA and 4.36 FIP in 63 innings, was spectacular all evening, striking out 13 and taking a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning before the recently promoted Brent Rooker lobbed a double just inside the line in right field. Josh Donaldson followed with a double of his own two batters later to pull the Twins within 2-1 before Miguel Sanó struck out to end the game. (The Twins were limited to a paltry 29.4% hard hit percentage and struck out 14 times as a team.) Sandoval’s performance outshone that of Twins’ pitcher José Berríos, who possibly made his final start in a Twins uniform. Though his numbers won't pop off the page, Berríos was largely in control from the jump. The Twins' ace allowed two unearned runs in the top of the first inning before settling into a groove. At one point, Berríos retired 15 straight Angels before being pulled after throwing 101 pitches. He finished the night with four strikeouts in seven innings. Berríos’ name will continue to appear in copious rumors until the trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. CT this coming Friday. Though the team is asking for a monster haul in return for their two-time All-Star, Berríos will likely be the only young starting pitcher on the market who still has one year of control remaining on his contract. Because of this, rival teams will likely turn up their aggressiveness and improve their offers as the deadline approaches, which may well leave the Twins staring at an offer they can’t refuse. If they do choose to move on, Berríos will be remembered as perhaps the Twins’ best starting pitcher since Johan Santana, who was dealt to the New York Mets in the early spring of 2008. He has lived up to all expectations and then some since being selected out of Puerto Rico with the No. 32 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, all we can do now is sit on our hands and wait to see what unfolds in the coming days. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOT Colomé 0 26 22 0 11 0 59 Alcala 23 24 0 0 0 10 57 Duffey 16 0 38 0 0 0 54 Thielbar 0 17 16 0 0 16 49 Coulombe 0 5 0 32 0 0 37 Rogers 19 0 0 0 18 0 37 Robles 19 7 0 0 0 0 26 Minaya 0 0 0 0 20 0 20 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

All the more reason to bring him up sooner rather than later. The thing going in Ryan's favor that may suggest his growing pains may not be as severe as the other two is his great command. That allows him to sit on the corners and place the fastball where it will be most successful. Also, if he can add 1-3 mph, it'll play even better. He'll definitely need to further develop his other offerings, but it isn't often that a pitcher dominates in the minors like he has and then struggles mightily once they reach the bigs.

Definitely good points, but flawed as they may be due to sample size they're the best tools that we currently have. I will say, the film largely backs up the numbers for these three. Relievers are always going to be more subject to variance than starters, so it's possible they all flame out if/when they make the majors, but frankly I'd be a little surprised.

The Minnesota Twins kicked off their 2021 trade deadline by shipping fan-favorite and teammate extraordinaire Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Triple-A hurlers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. Most publications will herald Joe Ryan as the primary chip returning to the Twins - MLB Pipeline lists him as the team's No. 6 prospect - though he wasn't always a high-level prospect. Ryan was the Rays' seventh-round selection out of Cal State, Stanislaus in 2018, though we could not confirm if Cal State, Stanislaus is an actual university. Ryan boasted a 1.65 ERA in 98 ⅓ innings while posting a ridiculous 127/13 K:BB ratio, which was more than enough to get him on MLB teams' radar. Ryan never posted a FIP higher than 3.24 while in the Rays' system, and his strikeout and walk rates remained near the top in the organization replete with pitching talent. At first glance, Ryan's stuff doesn't appear to be all that electric. His fastball touches the mid-90s but most often sits 91-93 with a good ride. His changeup isn't particularly exciting, and his curveball, while good, is not going to draw out batters' swords over and over again, at least not right now. And yet, he has never posted a K/9 rate lower than 11.84 nor a WHIP higher than 1.13 in his minor league career. What makes Ryan such an exciting prospect is his command, which is instantly the most prolific in the Twins' system. Ryan can place the ball, particularly his fastball, which primarily resides at the top of the zone, with pinpoint accuracy, allowing him to nibble at the corners without issuing free passes. His pitch mix - which also includes a pretty mediocre cutter at the moment when viewed in isolation - plays exceptionally well off of each other, with all his offerings featuring the same arm slot. Essentially, the complete package that is Joe Ryan is greater than the sum of his parts. He doesn't have a glaring weakness like many of the pitching prospects in the Twins' system. Instead, the only question is whether or not his stuff will play at the MLB level, and there isn't a ton of evidence at the moment to suggest it won't. However, while simply securing a pitcher of Ryan's caliber would have been enough to consider the trade of Cruz as a win for the Twins, he wasn't the only pitching prospect the team brought back. Drew Strotman similarly hailed from humble beginnings before rising towards the top of the Rays' farm system. He was the team's fourth-round pick in 2017 out of St. Mary's College, where he owned a career 5.26 ERA in 59 appearances, with only 14 coming as starts. However, unlike with Ryan, it becomes apparent why the Rays' coveted him when looking at film. Strotman's stuff is truly electric. His fastball sits 91-94 mph, and, like Ryan, he likes to keep it up in the zone. His changeup plays well off the fastball and features significant tailing action. He also owns a good curveball and a slider or cutter, depending on which publication you read. Strotman owns a legit four-pitch mix; however, for what he boasts in offerings, he lacks significantly in command and strikeout numbers. If Strotman can figure out how to throw more strikes, he'll find himself in the Twins' starting rotation for years to come. If he can't, he'll likely find a home in the bullpen where he may experience an uptick in fastball velocity and likely rely more heavily on his curveball. All in all, the Twins picked up two athletes in exchange for Nelson Cruz that are similar in prospect pedigree to that of, say, Matt Canterino and Chris Vallimont. That's a haul for a 41-year-old designated hitter who may or may not re-sign following the 2021 season. Regardless of how the trade ultimately plays out, the Twins would have been crazy not to accept the Rays' offer. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

I definitely think that Varland can unlock his fastball more. When it's lower in the zone, it really moves, but it's almost never near the zone. When it's up, it's straighter. Right now, he seems to be blowing it past lesser competition. If he can improve his command of it down, he'll functionally have a third pitch (i.e. a sinker). Imo, he'll need that variation to succeed in Double-A and above, but he's outperformed expectations up to now, so maybe he'll simply continue. This is where I wish we had better access to RPM and other Statcast data at the minor league level.

Yet another week of minor league baseball is in the books and it was yet another week in which I spent time breaking down video of some of the more intriguing arms in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system. Below are some takeaways on the performance and film of three pitchers that caught my eye in particular. Louie Varland (High-A Cedar Rapids) Twins Daily Ranking: Honorable Mention MLB Pipeline Ranking: N/a FanGraphs Ranking: N/a Weekly Stats: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Varland made his well-earned High-A debut earlier this week after putting up some stellar numbers in Low-A. His 14.45 K/9 rate and 4.75 K:BB ratio in 47 ⅓ innings for the Mighty Mussels were not only among the best on the team, but the Twins’ system in general, which is not something that many expected for the team’s 15th-round pick in 2019. Varland owns a compact windup with repeatable mechanics and a three-quarter arm slot. Although he has primarily been utilized as a starter both in college - at NCAA Division II Concordia University, St. Paul - as well as in the minors, his pitch mix primarily consists of a fastball and curveball, which is typically better suited out of the bullpen. The fastball, which sits in the mid-90s, plays best up in the zone where it stays flat with a little bit of tailing action. However, as he moves it lower in the zone, the amount of sink increases and, along with it, a diminished command. The curveball has potential to be a plus second pitch if he can refine his command. While he unleashes it frequently to miss bats, his feel for the pitch is fairly average, highlighted by often leaving it hanging middle-middle, which is something he can get away with in A-ball but will get slapped around at higher levels. However, when he locates it low, it’s a very difficult ball to square up, especially when piggybacking off a fastball up in the zone. Varland’s lack of a third pitch, whether that be another off-speed offering or improved command of his fastball down, will likely limit him to a relief role should he make it to the majors. Regardless, his performance to date should get his name placed on the major Twins prospect ranking lists come the end of the season. Chris Vallimont (Double-A Wichita) Twins Daily Ranking: No. 20 MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 18 FanGraphs Ranking: No. 18 Weekly Stats: 3 1/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 K Chris Vallimont looks every bit the part of a major league pitcher. Standing at 6-foot-5-inches tall with an athletic frame and a left arm full of tattoos, Vallimont was acquired along with former Twin Sergio Romo from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league slugger Lewin Diaz. He shot up the Twins prospect rankings due in large part to his projectability and solid fastball/curve repertoire; he’ll also mix in the occasional changeup and slider, though his command, which isn’t necessarily anything to write home about to begin with, of the latter two pitches is pretty poor. However, since joining the system, he has been a bit of an enigma. Vallimont has always boasted huge strikeout numbers and that has continued this season. He currently is cutting down batters at an impressive 14.57 K/9 clip, which translates to 68 strikeouts in 42 innings at the Double-A level. However, the sheen of these numbers are muted a bit due to his propensity to dish out free passes (5.36 BB/9) and hard contact (9.1% HR:FB ratio). Making things even more murky is the fact that Vallimont’s standard and advanced statistics largely paint two distinct pictures. His 4.71 ERA is ugly, but his 3.24 FIP is much prettier, for example. He also is getting BABIP’d to death (.402), which is unsustainable. Basically, the beauty of Vallimont’s future is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, though as of now, he’s more likely to end up as a reliever than a starter in the long-term. Jordan Gore (Double-A Wichita) Twins Daily Ranking: N/a MLB Pipeline Ranking: N/a FanGraphs Ranking: N/a Weekly Stats: 3 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K The success of Jordan Gore is simply a good story. Taken in the 19th round of the 2017 draft as an infielder, Gore converted to relief pitching full-time this season after serving as a two-way player for the previous two. In 46 career innings across rookie ball, A-ball, and Double-A, Gore has struck out 62, walked 24, and allowed only two home runs. Much like the two other pitchers discussed above, Gore is a right-hander who primarily relies on his fastball and curveball. The fastball won’t necessarily blow anyone away, but the curve plays well off of it. If he continues to perform as he has to this point, he may find himself in the Twins’ bullpen at some point next summer. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

I think you make a great point and that's why trading Berrios now has always been unlikely. But all it takes is one team to put out a godfather offer and maybe the Jays are that team?

The Toronto Blue Jays entered the All-Star Break with a 45-42 record, 4.5 games back of the final American League Wild Card spot. The Jays reached the playoffs last season but otherwise haven't made the postseason since their back-to-back ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. Toronto is one of the teams most likely to make a move, and they could find an excellent trade partner in the Minnesota Twins. What's Their Situation? The Toronto Blue Jays entered the 2020 offseason with a clear goal in mind: return to the American League playoffs in 2021 and make some noise. The first step in attempting to accomplish this task was bringing in veteran offensive talent to complement young studs Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, so they went out and spent big on shortstop Marcus Semien (1-year, $18 million) and outfielder George Springer (6-years, $150 million). The next step was to shore up the starting rotation, so they brought back Robbie Ray on a 1-year, $8 million deal and consummated a trade with the New York Mets for Steven Matz. The final step was to bet that their aforementioned young core would take the next step in their development and become legitimate All-Star talent. To this point, the Jays' plan has gone exceptionally well. While Springer has only appeared in 20 games due to oblique and quadriceps injuries, and Matz has mainly been mediocre (4.72 ERA), Toronto finds themselves in third place in the AL East and within striking distance of an AL Wild Card spot with 75 games remaining on their schedule. For this reason, in addition to the fact that they are hoping to (conveniently) return to the Bold North by July 30, there is perhaps no team more compelled to make a significant trade or two in the coming weeks than Toronto. What Do They Need? The Jays' offense was among the most fearsome in baseball during the first half of the season as they ranked second overall in home runs (130), OPS (.776), and OPS+ (110). Guerrero has officially completed his metamorphosis into one of the game's most feared sluggers, leading the team with 28 bombs and an absurd 1.089 OPS. Semien's production isn't far behind with his 22 homers and 4.3 WAR, and neither is Bichette's 16 dingers and 3.0 WAR. In all, the three form the foundation of a lineup that will leave any opposing pitchers shaking in their cleats should they qualify for the playoffs. While it may not be their greatest need, Toronto would likely benefit greatly from adding a fourth outfielder or a super-utility player that can slot into one of the corner outfield spots on occasion. Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. all have nice pop and are deserving to be full-time starters, but they sometimes struggle with reaching base consistently. Jonathan Davis, the Jays' primary fourth outfielder as of this writing, and his -0.3 WAR leaves a lot to be desired. Additionally, adding someone who can spell Cavan Biggio and his mediocre production at third base (.699 OPS) would be all the more valuable for Toronto. One could also argue that Toronto could benefit from buying a pure DH-type bat, but doing so would be more of a luxury than addressing a glaring need. If they believe Guerrero can be a passable first baseman and there will be enough at-bats for everybody once Springer returns to the lineup, pursuing DH options becomes much more palatable. Otherwise, Toronto would likely be better off seeking to remedy more pressing needs. Speaking of which: What the Jays truly need is pitching, particularly in the bullpen. General manager Ross Atkins told reporters in mid-June that the team would focus on adding bullpen arms as the season progressed and, so far, he has kept to his word. Toronto has already swapped first baseman Rowdy Tellez and second baseman Joe Panik for Trevor Richards and Adam Cimber to shore up the pen. (The Jays also added outfielder Corey Dickerson, though he has yet to appear in a game due to injury and a return date remains murky at best.) Still, Toronto would benefit from adding another arm, particularly one that could slot in alongside standout closer Jordan Romano in save situations and close scores late in games. Additionally, it may behoove the Jays to add one more starting pitcher. Hyun Jin Ryu and Robbie Ray have performed like legitimate number one and two options to date, but some degree of regression is inevitable. Adding a true ace or a competent number four starter would put them in a position to improve their pitching unit significantly. As a team, Toronto ranks 12th in ERA (3.99), 11th in ERA+ (112), and 16th in FIP (4.28). Which Twins Are the Best Fit? It wouldn't surprise me if reports started popping up that the Jays are among the most aggressive teams trying to pry Taylor Rogers away from the Twins. The fit makes too much sense. Toronto needs a lockdown bullpen arm, and Rogers will likely be the best reliever on the market. Add that he is left-handed while Romano is right-handed, and the fit becomes even more apparent. Similarly, Toronto is one of the more obvious landing spots for José Berríos should the Twins choose to move him. They need a pitcher with ace-level potential who lines up with the timeline of their young core. They also have a great farm system when looking strictly at their top 10 prospects, making them an ideal trade partner for the Twins. Finally, Luis Arraez's emergence as a super-utility man this season makes him a fantastic fit for Toronto. His ability to get on base would have Guerrero and company salivating, while his defensive versatility would allow for off-days for most of the Jays' primary offensive contributors. He may not be great anywhere, but Arraez is serviceable almost everywhere, and that has value. Michael Pineda, Hansel Robles, and Caleb Thielbar are also potential targets for Toronto should they seek to make a big splash elsewhere or not at all. Who Could the Twins Get Back? The Jays boast six prospects inside MLB Pipeline's top 100, headlined by No. 9 RHP Nate Pearson and No. 16 UTIL Austin Martin. Both players, including No. 90 RHP Alek Manoah, who has performed well for Toronto since being called up, are likely off-limits, even in a trade involving Berríos. Perhaps the most exciting prospect they could pry away from Toronto is No. 68 RHP Simeon Woods Richardson. Woods Richardson, who is currently pitching in Double-A at 20-years-old, stands 6-foot-3-inches tall and possesses four pitches - a fastball, slider, curve, and changeup - that are considered plus offerings. He has reasonable control and fits the physical profile that the Twins like in their pitching prospects (i.e. tall and athletic). In a best-case scenario, Woods Richardson develops into a José Berríos-Esque pitcher, making losing him more palatable for the Twins. An intriguing name that may be included in a deal for any of the three players listed above is utility man Otto Lopez. He's young, versatile on defense, has good bat-to-ball skills, and some power potential. Thus far, his power has primarily presented itself as a propensity to hit doubles, but a tweak here or there could turn that double power into home run power. Other prospects the Twins could potentially ask for are SS Jordan Groshans, ARHP Adam Kloffenstein, and CRHP CJ Van Eyk. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

#EyesClosedGang

Unconventional selection for the Falvine regime, but I like the gamble here. He may just be the Twins top pitching prospect.

I think Petty will slot somewhere 5-10. There's a legit argument for him to be considered the Twins top pitching prospect based solely.on raw stuff, age, and the ever nebulous "projectability." Untill we see them in game action to prove otherwise, I'd assume that Miller lines up closely with Cavaco.

Home runs by Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco and an explosive eighth inning pushed the Minnesota Twins past the Detroit Tigers Saturday afternoon. Box Score Ober: 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Home Runs: Alex Kirilloff (8), Jorge Polanco (11) Top 3 WPA: Jorge Polanco .454, Luis Arraez .128, Alexander Colomé .124 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) It appeared as though a win simply wasn’t in the cards for the Twins for the majority of the game on Saturday afternoon. Starting pitcher Bailey Ober started off the game strong, striking out the side in the first inning, but flamed out brightly during the Tigers’ second time through the order. Niko Goodrum and Zack Short crushed balls over the fence and Harold Castro brought in another to give Detroit a 4-0 lead after four innings. But, remarkably, things started to go the Twins’ way in the second half of the game. Derek Law and Danny Coloumbe came on in relief for Ober and pitched 3 ⅔ innings of scoreless ball. Alex Kirilloff blasted a home run over the right centerfield fence to cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth. Jorge Polanco added three more in the seventh with his 11th home run of the season. Alexander Colomé pitched a scoreless top of the eighth inning after allowing a leadoff double and four Twins’ runners touched home in the bottom of the frame. After the dust had settled, the Twins had turned a 4-0 deficit with an 8.2% win expectancy into a 9-4 win, clinching a series victory over the Tigers. While their opponent was not exactly the same caliber of, say, a Chicago or Boston, the Twins’ win on Saturday should provide the masses with a breath of fresh air. The bullpen performed well, the offense came through in the clutch, one of the franchise’s premier prospects hit a mammoth bomb. At the end of the day, a quality win is a quality win, regardless of opponent. A Note on Ober Although Ober struggled against an iffy Tigers lineup, he continued to display signs of promise for the future. By now it has been well established that his fastball is significantly improved from the last time he played live ball in 2019 and it is that improvement that helped propel him into the majors this season. However, the key for him moving forward is all about process. At 92-94 mph, Ober isn’t going to overpower batters on a consistent basis. That is where his strong command and control comes into play. If he is able to place a 94 mph heater wherever he wishes, he becomes a much more dangerous opponent. However, over his last two starts, his command has been mediocre at best. He walked three during his win over the White Sox and two against the Tigers on Saturday. But, I wonder if the Twins are working with him on improving his pitch placement. Ober consistently works his fastball up in the zone with up-and-away being the second most frequent location it was deployed against Detroit; this is where his fastball is most effective. He couples his fastball with a sharp curveball down in the zone. In the minors, pitchers of Ober’s caliber can get away with somewhat shoddy pitch command/location. That won’t fly against a major league batting order. Making adjustments on the fly to where he is looking to throw the ball would help explain at least some of the control issues Ober has displayed as of late. His strikeout numbers are there, but once his command improves and he starts missing more barrels, he’ll be right in-line to contend for a rotation spot moving forward. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOT Law 0 0 50 0 0 27 77 Thielbar 29 0 20 0 20 0 69 Duffey 17 0 0 15 0 21 53 Rogers 31 0 0 6 0 0 37 Robles 12 0 0 0 24 0 36 Colomé 0 14 0 0 0 17 31 Coulombe 0 12 0 0 0 13 25 Alcala 0 0 0 0 23 0 23 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

I'm interested to see what the F.O. does. Their track record clearly indicates that they love college boppers and toolsy, hit-tool oriented prep shortstops in the first round. They usually spring on college arms in the 3-5th rounds. Pitching will always be a need, but the farm system could really use an influx of hitting talent, imo. Personally, I'd go either college bat or college pitcher first.

No, he's definitely a starter at the MLB level. His ceiling is probably something like a decent No. 2/great No. 3. His changeup is good from what I saw, he just doesn't throw it much. Could be something Wes Johnson tweaks once he makes it to the majors. Functionally, his curveball works as a third pitch because he employs it in different scenarios than the slider and it is just different enough in velo, movement, etc. to keep batters on their toes.

Your point about the science and lack of support for the innings/pitch limit is a good one, but the difficult thing about baseball (and really anything medically-related, tangential or otherwise) is that it takes a long time to implement new practices. That and while we're starting to understand that innings and pitch limits don't have as great of an impact on injury occurrence as we once thought, we're not particularly close to finding a better answer either, placing everyone in a tough spot. As far as Balazovic specifically, I think they're just being overly cautious due to 1. the back injury he suffered and 2. the rash of arm injuries among pitchers in their farm system. It would be a brutal blow to lose Duran, Balazovic, Canterino and Enlow to injury all in one summer (though only Enlow has undergone surgery at this point). I think we'll see Balazovic on the Twins next summer towards the end of the season.

Half of the Twins' minor league teams won and the other half lost and none of the games were particularly close. TRANSACTIONS None SAINTS SENTINEL Iowa 15, St. Paul 2 Box Score Whew baby this one got ugly and fast! In his last start approximately one week ago, Saints pitcher Chandler Shepherd tossed five innings of two-hit shutout baseball against a stout Omaha Storm Chasers offense. Unfortunately, Friday night’s start did not go so smoothly. The I-Cubs touched Shepherd for five runs in the first inning and nine overall en route to clobbering the Saints. Offensively, Willians Astudillo went 2-for-4, while Damek Tomscha and Roberto Peña added doubles. But other than that, not much went St. Paul’s way tonight. It may be best to just pretend as if this game never happened... WIND SURGE WISDOM NW Arkansas 10, Wichita 2 Box Score ...And it’s probably safe to do so with this one as well. The Wind Storm only mustered five hits all evening - two coming off the bat of outfielder Ernie De La Trinidad who was later replaced by Trey Cabbage; no word as to why - and did not score beyond the second inning. Leobaldo Cabrera drove in both runs with a double. Starting pitcher Jason Garcia was removed due to injury after 3 ⅓ innings, in which he walked four, struck out three, and allowed five runs, though only three were earned. Adam Lau tossed 3 ⅔ innings of scoreless ball in relief. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 9, Peoria 8 Box Score Hey, this game went well!...At least it did until the ninth inning. The Kernels took an 8-3 lead into the final frame when the Chiefs scored five runs off Zach Featherstone, who had largely been untouchable to this point all season. However, Cedar Rapids quickly scored in the bottom of the inning after Seth Gray walked, Wander Javier was plunked, and DaShawn Keirsey doubled to deep center to end the game. Starting pitcher Kody Funderburk was on fire to start the game, throwing six innings, striking out six, walking one, and allowing two runs, neither earned. (This one went really late due to an extended rain delay, well, delaying the start of the game as well as the ninth inning chicanery.) You won’t find Funderburk’s name on any list of the Twins' top or even notable prospects, but his numbers - 3.18 ERA, 59 Ks in 45 ⅓ innings, 3.19 FIP - are pretty difficult to ignore at this point. His stuff won’t blow you away - I’d argue his slider is his best pitch - and would likely be best served as a reliever if/when he makes it to the major leagues, but thus far this season he has been more productive than many of the pitchers in the Twins system, which is pretty much all anyone can ask of him. Shortstop Wander Javier connected for his eighth home run of the season - and his second in as many days - en route to going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. His batting average remains precariously near the Mendoza Line - it’s .217 as of this writing - but his OPS has finally soared north of .700 - if .702 can be considered "soaring - which is rather encouraging. (For reference, the average OPS in MLB is around .715.) Outfielder Max Smith also had himself a night, going 2-for-2 with a home run, double, two walks and two RBI. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 13, St. Lucie 5 Box Score This one wasn’t even as close as the scoreboard may suggest, which suggests that it was particularly close. Ft. Myers put the Mighty in Mussels tonight, scoring 13 runs on 10 hits, led primarily by Yunior Severino, who went 2-for-5 with a double, home run, and five RBI; he has been on a tear as of late, elevating his batting average to .249 and OPS to .771. While Severino has yet to live up to the significant level of hype he garnered when he signed with the Twins back in late 2017, his play lately has been more than encouraging. It’s easy to forget, but he’s only 21-years-old and had one season lost due to COVID and another marred by a controversy that was not of his doing. If anything, his level of play at the moment should be viewed as impressive and encouraging for the future. Speaking of impressive and encouraging, starting pitcher Louie Varland continued his run of dominance Friday night by striking out 10 batters across five innings while only walking one; his ERA stands at 2.09 after allowing two earned runs to score. At this point, Varland has done enough at the Low-A level to warrant a promotion and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him awarded one after the All-Star break. He has 76 strikeouts with a 4.8 K:BB ratio in 47 ⅓ innings! COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Red Sox 6, FCL Twins 1 Box Score Aaand back to the losing. 2017 second-round pick Landon Leach got the start tonight for the baby Twins and tossed three scoreless innings, but he walked two and was unable to pick up even a single strikeout. Luis Baez came off the bench, smacked a double, and later scored on a one of Alexander Pena’s two singles to score the team’s lone run. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – RHP Louie Varland (Ft. Myers): 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K Hitter of the Day – 2B Yunior Severino (Ft. Myers): 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBI Honorable Mention of the Day - LHP Kody Funderburk (Cedar Rapids): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K PROSPECT SUMMARY Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL) #2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain) #3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Did not pitch #4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain) #5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 1-for-4, 2 K #6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, BB #7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – Did not play #8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 0-for-2, RBI, 3 BB #10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (hamate bone surgery) #11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery) #12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – Did not pitch #13 – Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch #14 – Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 1-for-4 #15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 1-for-3, RBI, BB #16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 0-for-4, K #17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI #18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury) #19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow) #20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – Did not pitch SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Iowa (7:08 PM CST) – (Beau Burrows: 1-1, 5.75 ERA) NW Arkansas @ Wichita (6:05PM CST) – (Jordan Balazovic: 1-1, 4.44 ERA) Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – (Jon Olsen: 0-3, 3.65 ERA) Fort Myers @ St. Lucie (5:10PM CST) – (Bobby Milacki: 0-0, 4.41 ERA) FCL Twins vs. FCL Red Sox (9:00AM CST) - (TBD) MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article