Seth Stohs

On Day 3 of the 2018 MLB Draft, Brian Rapp was the 26th round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins. Earlier this year, the 22-year-old was the ACC Pitcher of the Year at Boston College. Rapp signed quickly signed in Ft. Myers. He was assigned to Elizabethton. Recently, Twins Daily caught up with the 2018 draft pick. So keep reading and get to know him. Like other college pitchers, the Twins tend to be quite cautious with their innings and usage in their first season. He has pitched in 35 1/3 innings over nine games, including six starts. He has 34 strikeouts to go with just eight walks.We would like to thank RHP Brian Rapp for taking time to answer our questions. Please feel free to ask questions and congratulate him in the Comments below. Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in New Jersey, who was your favorite team to follow? Who were some of your favorite players? Brian Rapp (BR): I actually grew up a huge Mets fan. My first favorite player I can remember was Robin Ventura because he wore the number four and that was always my number growing up. In terms of pitchers, one name that sticks out was definitely Al Leiter, who I actually have had the privilege of getting to know and talk pitching with a bunch as he is a family friend. A little later on I really loved watching Johan Santana pitch even before he was a Met. Believe it or not, the Minnesota Twins were always my go-to team in MVP Baseball ’05 because of Santana and the likes of young Joe Mauer and Morneau. It’s a pretty cool thing now being in the Twins organization myself! SS: You led your high school team in New Jersey to a lot of wins and a championship. What were some of the better memories of your high school baseball career? Did you play other sports or were you involved in other activities? BR: During my years at Delbarton, I had a ton of unbelievable experiences. I really was so privileged to go there. Playing for the baseball program and Coach Bruce Shatel was something I had always wanted to do from the time I was able to read the sports section in the newspaper. I would say my favorite memory was winning the prestigious Morris County Tournament in 2012. Still to this day, it is up there as one of my favorite all time teams and clubhouses. We were just a tough, tight-knit group of guys, old and young that came together as brothers and were able to cap that off with a championship. Delbarton preaches brotherhood, as it is ingrained in us and you really saw it come to life, it was pretty cool. I also played basketball and soccer early on as well. SS: What was the decision like for you to attend the IMG Academy your senior year, and what was that experience like for you? BR: It was honestly one of the hardest decisions I had to make especially at that age. Delbarton was a dream for me and playing for that program was such a privilege. But when the opportunity presented itself, I really had to take time to think and consider IMG. I was a big soccer player growing up and actually had the opportunity to train with the ODP (Olympic Development Program), which coincidentally was held at IMG so I knew what it was all about. Luckily my best friend still to this day, Luke Bonfield, who was just in the National Championship with Arkansas and drafted by the Mets, decided to go as well and room together which helped lead me to my decision. Looking back, I ultimately think it was the best decision for my baseball career. Not only was I surrounded by top tier talent and facilities, but the experience taught me how hard I have to work in the game of baseball. I would go to class in the mornings and then be on the field from 1:30- 4:30/5, then go lift, and on non-lift days go to yoga or agility class. It was run basically like a college program, which helped my transition to college the following year. SS: What was the recruitment process like for you, and what was it about Boston College that made it the right choice for you? BR: My recruitment process started and ended pretty quickly. It was always a dream of mine to play baseball in the ACC, and I had talked to schools starting my freshman year and by the time my sophomore year came and I took my visit to BC, I really fell in love with the place and decided to commit. I really believed in the vision Coach Gambino had and that was something I wanted to be a part of. I also wanted to go to a school with high academic prestige, as I knew how important a strong degree is especially after your playing career is over. On top of all that I also grew up outside of NYC so I loved the idea of being in a big city and I ultimately could not be happier with the decision I made. My time at BC was unbelievable and will always be a major highlight in my life. SS: What were a couple of your highlights from your college years? BR: The biggest highlight for me was our 2016 postseason run. We made the ACC tournament and then the Ole Miss Regional, which we hadn’t done in years. We then went on to win that Oxford Regional and play in Game Three of our Super Regional against our conference opponent Miami. It still stings coming up one game short of the ultimate goal of going to Omaha but the brotherhood of that team will always stick out to me and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Not only were we talented but we were as tight as can be and you could see that in our play. We had 11 pro guys on that squad all in which we still talk and I personally have leaned on a bunch during my transition to pro ball. *** Fun Fact, Fellow Twin and Ft. Myers Miracle Joe Cronin was my senior captain and leader of that great team. SS: Did you have the chance to speak with many scouts before the draft? What was your interaction with the Twins scout? BR: I was fortunate enough to be able to go through the process my junior year in which I met with many scouts throughout the year. It ultimately was a true blessing to be able to play this past spring focused on my play and really enjoying the game. I had met personally with John Wilson and then spoke to him again prior to the draft this June. John had actually watched me play in high school so it’s pretty cool to come back and ultimately get signed by him. He has been an unbelievable help during this transition and is an absolute wealth of knowledge that I know I can always lean on. I will forever be appreciative of him for believing in my abilities. SS: The Twins took you in the 26th round. Was that about where you were expecting to be selected? How did you find out that you had been drafted? How busy was your phone at that moment? BR: A scout in a meeting once told me you can’t have expectations going into the draft or no matter what, it will disappoint. I went into it this June with the mentality that there are tons of talented guys but I am right there with them. Whenever I hear my name called, no matter where, I would work harder than anyone else and take advantage of this honor and opportunity I was given. I received the call from John right as my name was to be announced. It was a pretty surreal moment. I was with my Mom and Dad and it definitely was a very emotional moment. From that point on until the next day or so my phone was blowing up from friends, family, and former teammates throughout the years. It was a very cool moment one that I’m super appreciative for all the support. SS: What has the adjustment been like for you so far, from the college game to the professional game, both on and off the field? BR: On the field the biggest adjustment is being at the park everyday and throwing everyday. In college we always had at least one off day per week and for me as a weekend guy I pitched once a week. It honestly isn’t a major adjustment but at first being on a new 5 day/6 day rotation and not having that extra day was something my arm and body needed to adjust to. Overall, my experience has been great. The one thing we do have is more time to solely focus on our craft and nutrition, which was pretty hard to do being in school. SS: What has the Elizabethton experience been like for you at the ballpark or away from it? BR: E-Town overall has be a great experience. Like I often tell people, I’m so appreciative to play this great game and at this level. This game has already taken me places like Elizabethton and all throughout the Appalachians in which this city boy from NJ/Boston would most likely never think to do o. The fans are awesome and filled with really great people. Off the field you can definitely see the difference compared to the Northeast and being in a city. The pace is definitely very slow compared to up to north but it is a change of pace that I definitely have learned to really appreciate. SS: Which pitches do you throw? What do you consider your out pitch? BR: I throw a four-seam, sinker, curveball, slider and changeup. In terms of an out pitch for me it really depends on my feel that day whether it’s my slider or curveball. SS: At this very early stage in your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths? BR: I’d like think that my biggest strength is my desire to learn and absorb as much knowledge as I can. You can learn so much about this game through watching others and talking with others. It really doesn’t matter who it’s with. Talking about the game, being receptive to ideas, and mixing and matching ideas and information into your own game is what it’s all about. There is so much information out there. Being an attentive student of the game is a strength that I look to hopefully continue to utilize. SS: What are the areas of your game that you would like to spend time working to improve in the offseason? BR: Like I said previously, there is so much out there to learn, especially in the pitching world. I think continuing to work on that side of the game along with getting stronger and eating right will be a great focus of mine! SS: What do you have planned for the offseason? What was your major in school? BR: My plan this offseason is to live and train in Boston and work with Dr. Mike Reinold and Champion PTP (former Head Red Sox Trainer) and possibly with Eric Cressey in Hudson, MA. I’m lucky to be able to live up in Boston with those two strong resources around, as they are two of the best in the business. My older brother is also an Army Ranger and is stationed on Oahu, HI, so my girlfriend Bella and I are going to head out there for two weeks around Thanksgiving time which we’re really excited about. I graduated from BC with a double major in Applied Psychology and Communication with a focus in Management and Leadership. This offseason I will also look to continue and finish studying to take my Series 7 Exam as well. SS: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? BR: First and foremost, my parents are the reason I am where I’m at today. Both of them taught me how to be a good person and how hard you have to work to be successful. The countless hours in the car driving me to practices and games and flying all over the place with me is just the tip of the iceberg. They have sacrificed so much for me to chase my dream and I will forever be grateful. I really am thankful to all the great coaches I had throughout my amateur career as well, as I was blessed with so many great ones. My high school coach Bruce Shatel was one that really stands out. He was the definition of a true mentor. He introduced me to the important mental side of the game especially from a pitching perspective. He always believed in me and allowed me to be myself, which really helped me flourish into the player I was to become. Not many coaches with his resume and accomplishments allow for that and that is what makes him so special and successful. And lastly, Mike Gambino. He instilled in all of us who play for him the importance of a hard work ethic, integrity, and having a vision. Character, Toughness, and Class are the three staples of our program at BC that I will always conduct myself in accordance. SS: Favorite Baseball movie? I hate this question because as a baseball guy there are way too many good ones. But if I had to choose, I guess you have to go with the classic Field of Dreams with Costner! “If you build it, he will come!” And most likely, Rapp will spend time in Cedar Rapids in 2019, approximately one hour from the Field of Dreams movie site. (Note - the first few times I went to Cedar Rapids, I made the trek up to Again, a huge Thank You to Elizabethton pitcher Brian Rapp for taking time to answer our questions. We wish him well the remainder of the season. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Click here to view the article

I think he''s at that point where ,while I'm' sure he still wants to play MLB, there are going to be teams in Korea offering him $1.5-2 million/year for a couple of years. Hes' at the stage where he'll more seriously want to consider those offers.

We have learned a lot about the Opener concept that the Tampa Bay Rays are implementing in the big leagues this season. It is a concept that the Twins have used in the upper levels of their minor league system, and I fully expect that we will see it with the Twins often in 2019. However, as it relates to the Twins big league club, I think they should consider the idea of piggybacking their starting pitchers over the season's final three weeks.Last week one day, I was trying to think of the best way for the Twins to use the starting pitchers on their 40-man roster. (I mean, who doesn't sit around thinking about such things?) First, I think that as long as they are healthy, the Twins should continue with business as normal for Jose Berrios and Kyle Gibson. They have been reliable the majority of their 2018 seasons and should both reach 200 innings pitched this year. But that leaves three more rotation spots to fill. Jake Odorizzi will continue to pitch and the fact that they haven't traded him tells me that the front office must see him as a part of their 2019 plans. Right now, the other two rotation spots have been given to (or earned by) Kohl Stewart and Stephen Gonsalves, their first and fourth round picks, respectively, in the 2013 draft. But as September approaches and rosters can expand, there are other starting pitchers that I'm sure the Twins front office and coaching staff would like to get their eyes on. Guys that they would like to see work some big league innings as they will potentially play a bigger role in 2019. Fernando Romero made ten starts for the Twins earlier in the season, and he is likely to finish the season with the big league club. Zack Littell made one start and one relief appearance earlier in the season and is another candidate to get some innings. The forgotten name through much of the season is Michael Pineda. Coming off of midseason 2017 Tommy John surgery, the Twins signed the former All-Star to a two-year, $10 million deal. He is being paid $2 million this year to rehab and will make $8 million next year. After making two rehab starts in Ft. Myers, Pineda tossed four innings for the Red Wings last night. Rehab has been going well with reports of him sitting in the mid-90s. The reported plan is for him to make two more rehab starts for Rochester before joining the Twins. Because the Twins are out of contention, they can afford to give opportunities to several players. For guys like Stewart, Gonsalves, Littell and Romero, there is value in any inning pitched in the big leagues. Experience can teach a lot. All four have had Triple A success and are now ready to test themselves further in the big leagues. Even if they struggle, they will have move data points to explore, and more video to watch during the offseason. I would hope that they would also learn from Garvin Alston and Jeff Pickler as well as Mitch Garver and Bobby Wilson. They should go into the season with a good plan for how to make adjustments and things to work on improving. For Pineda, getting back is just the start, but keeping him progressing and staying healthy through the season is what matters. Get him some innings and get him to the offseason ready to prepare to be a top of the rotation starter in 2019. Getting opportunities, plural, will be important for each of them. They don't have to be six or seven inning appearances. In addition to simply getting opportunities, there is the theory (and the statistics to back it up) that the third time through the lineup can be difficult on a starting pitcher. So, by limiting these guys to three and possibly four innings, you're keeping them from that third time through the lineup. "Piggybacking" just means that someone will start and work three or four innings and then another starter will come in and hope to go another three or four innings. It is different than the Opener concept where a relief pitcher starts the game and works one, or maybe two, innings and turns it over to a starter who tries to provide six or seven innings before turning it over to the rest of the bullpen. On his newest The Scoops podcast, Darren Wolfson again interviewed Twins GM Thad Levine. Asked if any pitchers were on an innings limit, he mentioned only Fernando Romero. "Just because he is getting into the range that he has not achieved before. I think he more than most of these guys in a bona fide candidate for a little more of a limited role, whether than comes in the bullpen or that comes as a piggyback starter. We are going to be attentive to his innings." Levine also said, "We've had a lot of creative discussion with Garvin Alston and with Paul Molitor around the concept of "Do we rotate some of these guys through?". Do we go to a six man rotation? Do we piggyback some of these guys?" It really doesn't matter the order of the match ups that the Twins choose. They could piggyback hard throwers like Romero and Pineda. Or, they could team a hard thrower like Pineda and then send Gonsalves out in relief. What I would like to see is the groupings stick together in such a way that the piggybacker who starts one game would come out of the bullpen the next time. Starters can have routines, so it could be good to expand upon that but at the same time not being completely in a new situation. I believe when I posted that tweet last week, Thorpe had just made (or was about to make) his first AAA start. I think it it fairly unlikely that Lewis Thorpe debuts in 2019. Maybe that spot is taken by Odorizzi. The other reason I would like to see the two piggybacking starters limited to seven combined innings is because the Twins also will have several relievers that they need to evaluate over the season's final month. Trevor Hildenberger and Taylor Rogers have been very good most of the season. You kind of know what you have there. But Matt Magill was signed to a minor league contract this past offseason and didn't even get a big league invite. I'm sure they'd like to keep putting him in more high leverage situations. Oliver Drake is on his fifth team, but so far so good since joining the Twins. They'll want to evaluate his pitch repertoire to make sure that split-fingered fastball and his strikeout rate are legit. But the Twins also have decisions to make on 40-man roster guys like Alan Busenitz, Tyler Duffey, and John Curtiss. Hard-throwing Nick Anderson and Jake Reed are guys that they may want to add to the 40-man roster in the offseason and if so there could be value in giving them an opportunity in September. Also, if not added to the 40-man roster, Luke Bard and DJ Baxendale can become minor league free agents. With all those pitchers potentially on the roster, the goal could be for the starter to get through four innings. The piggybacker would know that he will start the fifth inning with the goal of getting through the seventh inning. First, that allows bullpen guys to work the eighth and ninth innings. And if the starter is unable to get through the fourth inning, bullpen guys can bridge that gap, allowing the piggybacker to prepare as he needs to be ready fore fifth. The Rochester season ends on Labor Day. There will be 25 games remaining or (math minor here) five times through the rotation. If they were to use the piggybacking concept for three rotation spots, those starters (six of them) could still get 15 to 18 more innings. Not huge numbers, but a good number for each of them to end the season. To me, piggybacking would be the easiest way to provide opportunities and experience while also being able to control innings for more pitchers. The bullpen will be full, but that's OK. What to you think? Would you be in favor of maintaining a five-man rotation, moving to a six-man rotation, or piggybacking in the rotation after the Triple-A season ends? Share your opinions below. Click here to view the article

I think he could be a 40-man roster add... but he's borderline.

Yes... Yes it should...

Vargas by month: April: .190/.329/.302 (.631) May: .257/.303/.440 (.743) June: .167/.255/.238 (.493) You may say, well,, his May wasn't too awful, but in May, Logan Morrison hit .244/.369/.453 (.822).

Yeah, I don't recall ever seeing an MLB hitter swing and miss by as much as he does so often... but when he does hit it... wow!!

It’s fair to say that The Debut of Stephen Gonsalves didn’t go as well as he would have liked. Debuts rarely do. But for the rest of his life, he can be called a big leaguer. And that’s what every player in the minor leagues dreams of. Monday in the minor leagues, both Rochester and Ft. Myers got a rare day off. But there was some terrific pitching and powerful hitting for Chattanooga. They also added a former big leaguer to their roster. Cedar Rapids scored a dozen and got a great relief appearance. Elizabethton played neighboring Johnson City in a doubleheader. And the GCL Twins got to face first-round pick Matthew Libertore for the third time.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions. TRANSACTIONS Chattanooga put RHP Omar Bencomo (foot) and infielder Chris Paul finger) on the disabled list. Catcher Brian Olson was activated. Also, the Twins signed RHP Austin Adams from the Sugar Land Skeeters and placed him on the Lookouts roster. Adams is 31-years-old and pitched in 53 games for Cleveland between 2014 and 2016.RED WINGS REPORTRochester Box Score The Red Wings enjoyed a rare night off to watch the Stephen Gonsalves MLB debut. OK, it was a scheduled off-day, but still… Brian Rapp started and gave up two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Pedro Garcia came on and did well. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings. In the extra innings, both the eighth and the ninth, he was able to leave the bases loaded and keep the game tied. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out four. Casanova led the way. He went 2-3 with a sacrifice fly to give him two of the three RBIs. The other run scored on a pinch-hit single by Chris Williams. Roberto Molina also had two hits. Gilberto Celestino went 1-for-3 with two walks. GCL TWINS TALK GCL Twins 0, GCL Rays 6 Box Score The Twins again had the opportunity to try to hit against Rays pitching prospect and 2018 first-round pick Matthew Libertore. It is the third time in the last few weeks that the Twins have faced the lefty. On this day, Libertore gave up three hits over five shutout innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk. In the three starts combined, he has thrown 14 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s given up six hits, walked none and struck out 19. Shane Carrier led the offense with a 2-for-4 game. Erick Rivera added his fourth double. Andriu Marin started. He gave up two runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one, hit one and struck out five. Dylan Stowell gave up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks in his 1 1/3 innings. He struck out three. Erik Cha recorded the next four outs. He struck out one and didn’t allow a base runner. Niklas Rimmel gave up two runs on four hits over the final two innings. He struck out two. STARS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Gabriel Maciel, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 3B(2), 3 R). Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Johan Quezada, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. #1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled #2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled #3 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled #4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled #5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Minnesota) - 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K #6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, BB, 2B(5), 3 R, RBI, K #7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - Did not play #8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - Did not play #9 -Wander Javier - out of for the season #10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled #11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch #12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled #13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled #14 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled #15 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled #16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) - 2-4, 2 RBI, R, K | 1-5, R, 2 K #17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - Out for the season (wrist) #18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) - 3-5, 3 R #19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) - 0-5, 2 K, SB(6) #20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) - 0-3, BB, R, K #21 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled *Since Wander Javier is out, I’d add #21 to the list. SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05 CST, completion of a suspended game + regularly scheduled game) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-1, 4.26 ERA), RHP Michael Pineda (rehab) Chattanooga @ Montgomery (6:35 CST) - TBD Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (4-7, 4.73 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:00 CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak (8-5, 3.35 ERA) Greeneville @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - Luis Rijo (4-1, 2.06 ERA) GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (9:00 am CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have. Click here to view the article

I can''t imagine anyone (coaches or front office types) that wouldn't like 'lot of sink.'

Hit his first homer today in the 1st inning...

Correct... Now, no one is going to put Stewart and his stuff into the same category as Berrios... but I would say it could be similar to Gibson, and thankfully they've remained patient with him too. Of course, the hope is that they can compete in 2019 (or certainly 2020) and there are lots of possible options, so he'll spend more time in AAA too.

Clearly they haven't been great picks. I also think that it's fair to say that patience can be good. I think giving a guy more than 2 starts is fair. I guess that's not right. But we also have to remember that the business side of the game does matter to the front office, and it should.

this monring, Twins announced: Ervin Santana to the DL. Robbie Grossman activated from the DL. Johnny Field optioned. Alan Busenitz recalled. Also, Stephen Gonsalves will start for the Twins on Monday.

Maybe, but it's clear he's got some good stuff, and he's still just 23. He's got velocity. He's got movement. He's got 4 pitches. He should get more opportunities. If starting doesn't work, maybe he cuts down to 2 pitches (or 3) and moves to the bullpen. He's already well ahead of Appel.

You mean like every other organization? I don't think they're doing anything different than other organizations do. And remember this is Jeremy Zoll's first year as the minor league director, so it's difficult to know what his process is or will be. And, we're in year 2 of Falvine, but the first year of them being sellers at this point in August. Gonsalves is already on the 40-man roster, and arguably doesn't have as much "stuff" as Stewart. Wade isn't on the 40-man roster, has only been off the DL for 10 days or so. And he's left-handed and Field is right-handed and Grossman is a switch-hitter. Wade also is a prospect, so he should play every day.

I'm not 100% sure on Alcala starting on Sunday. He was listed for today, but they went with the bullpen game, probably in part because of the Poppen performance.

It was a very busy Saturday. The Vikings played. The Twins honored Jack Morris pre-game and played the Tigers. All six Twins stateside affiliates played, including two games for Chattanooga and the GCL Twins. Jhoan Duran and Austin Schulfer put together strong starts. Chase De Jong and Sean Poppen were also very good. Byron Buxton hit well. Luis Arraez and Brian Navarreto hit well for Chattanooga. So much happening. Check in on everything that happened in the Twins minor league system.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Saturday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions. TRANSACTIONS On Friday night, the Kernels announced that right-hander Calvin Faucher had been placed on the DL with elbow tendinitis. On Saturday afternoon, they announced that right-hander Johan Quezada has been promoted from Elizabethton to the Kernels.Following the Twins game, Paul Molitor announced that Johnny Field would be sent back to Rochester. He will be optioned with, most likely, Robbie Grossman returning from the Disabled List.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 3, Toledo 2 Box Score The Red Wings got some strong pitching and enough offense to get the win in this game. In the first inning, Byron Buxton doubled and scored on a double by Robbie Grossman. Buxton went 2-for-5 in with his sixth and seventh doubles. Grossman went 2-for-4 and is expected to return to Minneapolis on Sunday. Kennys Vargas went 2-for-4 including his 18th home run. Jake Reed was the “opener” for the Red Wings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in the first inning. He struck out one. Chase De Jong came on and gave up one run on five hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out four. DJ Baxendale worked a scoreless ninth inning to secure De Jong’s first win in the Twins organization and his first save of the season for the Red Wings. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Game 1: Chattanooga 0, Mississippi 1 Box Score Sean Poppen gave the Lookouts exactly what they needed in the first game on Saturday, a complete game. The right-hander from Harvard gave up just one run over six innings. The lone run came on the 16th home run of the season for Mississippi’s cleanup hitter Travis Demeritte. Unfortunately, he only needed to go six innings because the Lookouts were shut out. The team had just five hits. Luis Arraez and Brian Navarreto each had two singles. Game 2: Chattanooga 7, Mississippi 10 Box Score The Lookouts went with an all-lefty bullpen game in Game 2. Andrew Vasquez started and gave up nothing over the first two innings. He struck out three. Sam Clay came on and got just two outs. He gave up four runs on four hits and a walk. Devin Smeltzer came on and got the next four outs, three on strikeouts. However, he was also charged with an unearned run on three hits. Tyler Jay got the final two innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks. Jaylin Davis led the offense. He went 1-for-3, but he hit his fifth home run, a three-run shot and added a fourth RBI. Brent Rooker was 2-for-5 with his 31st double. Luis Arraez went 3-for-4. It was his third straight multi-hit game. Brian Navarreto was 2-for-3 with a walk. Luke Raley went 1-for-1 with two walks and was also hit by a pitch. Zander Wiel had a single and two walks. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 0, Clearwater 4 Box Score The Miracle bats just were not able to figure out Clearwater’s Mauricio Llovera. Well, except for Taylor Grzelakowski. “Gelly” had three of the team’s four hits. Royce Lewis had a single for the other. Charlie Barnes started and gave up four runs on six hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two. Colton Davis got the next five outs, three of them on strikeouts. He walked two. Alex Robinson threw two scoreless innings. Adam Bray threw two zeroes on the board as well. Alex Kirilloff went 0-for-3 with a walk. It was his second straight game without a hit. He hadn’t gone back-to-back games without a hit since July 7th and 8th. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 1, Wisconsin 2 Box Score This was quite the pitcher’s duel. Jhoan Duran threw seven innings and gave up just one run on five hits. He struck out a career-high nine batters while not issuing a walk. Unfortunately, the TimberRattlers’ starter, Dylan File, also threw seven innings of one-run ball. Starter Randy Dobnak, whose most recent appearance lasted just one inning before the rains came, worked a scoreless eighth inning. However, an error to lead off the ninth was followed by two strikeouts. Unfortunately, they were followed by two singles which ended the game. Strikeouts were a big part of this game. Kernels pitchers combined to strike out 11. Meanwhile, Kernels batters struck out 13 times. Michael Helman led the way by going 3-for-4 including his first triple with the Kernels. E-TWINS E-TALK Elizabethton 3, Bluefield 4 Box Score Big runs in the ninth, but unfortunately Bluefield ended their ninth with one more run and the win. Austin Schulfer started for the Twins and worked five shutout innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out four. Jacob Blank came on and gave up two runs on four hits over his two innings. He also struck out four. But then came the rain and there was a delay. When the game returned, Zach Neff worked a scoreless eighth inning. Yunior Severino went 2-for-4 with his eighth double. Alex Robles hit his ninth double. But the score was tied 2-2 going into the ninth. Chris Williams, who had a sacrifice fly earlier in the game, blasted his 15th home run to give the E-Twins a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth. However, Neff returned for the ninth inning. He gave up a solo homer to lead off the inning to re-tie the game, this time at three. He gave up a single, and then on a sacrifice bunt, Neff had an error. He was able to coax a double play, but a two-out single ended the game. GCL TWINS TALK Game 1 - GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 4 Box Score This game started on Friday and went four innings before the rains came and the game was suspended. Donny Breek had started and went the first 3 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. Denny Bentley came on and got the next two outs, one on a strikeout. When play resumed on Saturday morning, Landon Leach took the mound. He worked two scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one, hit one and struck out two batters. Petru Balan pitched the final inning. He gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs. Rehabbing Shane Carrier went 2-for-3 with both of the Twins RBIs. Tyler Webb added a double. Austin Hale had a walk and his second double. Game 2 - GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 4 Box Score Kai-Wei Teng gave up three runs in the first inning, but the right-hander from Taiwan went four innings and gave up four total runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four batters. Osiris German struck out the side in the fifth inning, and Junior Navas worked a scoreless inning as well. Victor Tademo led the offense with a 3-for-3 game. Agustin Marte went 2-for-4. Alberoni Nunez hit his first triple. Tyler Webb added his third double. STARS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Luis Arraez, Chattanooga Lookouts (5-7). Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Jhoan Duran, Cedar Rapids Kernels (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. #1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 1-4 #2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB #3 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch #4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-5, RBI, 3K, SB(10) #5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did not pitch #6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, RBI, 2 K #7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 0-3, K | 2-5, 2B(31), 2 R, K #8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 3K #9 -Wander Javier - out of for the season #10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did not pitch #11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch #12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-4, K #13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, 2 K #14 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did not pitch #15 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - 0-4 #16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) - 2-4, 2B(8), R, K #17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - Out for the season (wrist) #18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2K #19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3 #20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) - 2-3 | 3-4 #21 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB *Since Wander Javier is out, I’d add #21 to the list. SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Toledo (5:05 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (9-3, 2.96 ERA) Chattanooga @ Montgomery (5:05 CST) - RHP Jorge Alcala (2-5, 3.99 ERA) Clearwater @ Ft. Myers (1:00 CST) - RHP Griffin Jax (3-1, 3.16 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:05 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina (6-4, 2.55 ERA) Johnson City @ Elizabethton (DH @ 5:00 CST) - TBD, TBD GCL Twins - No Games Scheduled on Sundays Please feel free to ask any questions about Saturday’s games, or ask any questions you may have. Click here to view the article

That's fair, and he's flown up my rankings even in his "textbook development." But he came up and dominated right away, and then the numbers didn't match that for a few starts. That's not at all unusual, especially for a 20-year-old. He's doing just fine.

Like I wrote a week or two ago, Lewis is well ahead of both Correa and Lindor in their timeline. He's ahead of where Mauer was at this time. They haven't been and won't be slow with Lewis... Or Kirilloff. Lewis is young for his draft class, so he could be a 19 year old in the big leagues. But again, they're going to do what they feel is best for them. I've tweeted a few times that I wanted Lewis to be promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers 6 weeks earlier... However, it was during those six weeks that Lewis added the doubles and home runs, and now he's carried that up to Ft. Myers with him. So, there certainly is a plan. Had Lewis been promoted to the Miracle when I thought he should be, maybe he's not taken the huge step forward that he has.

I don't know what the AGO is, but I have no doubt both will start 2019 in AA. The Twins have never been slow in promoting top bats.