Seth Stohs

In the Minnesota Twins minor league system, there were some great games on Saturday. Three of the four games were one-run games. The other was a one-run game until the bottom of the eighth inning. There was a lot of offense with 15 players having multi-hit games. Continue below to read all that happened in the Twins minor leagues on Saturday.REMINDER: Jeremy Nygaard and Seth Stohs will join John Bonnes on the airwaves of KFAN on Monday night from 7-8 central time. The plan is to discuss the MLB Draft, possible Twins picks and then the actual Twins pick and what the player does for the organization. Be sure to listen to that show live. Twins Daily will be busy this next week as we will be busy throughout the three days of the draft. Jeremy Nygaard has posted his first mock draft as well as predictions for the Twins first ten picks. We have done profiles on about ten possible Twins picks. There is so much uncertainty at the top of the draft. For an interesting perspective of what it’s like around the MLB Draft for a college player, read about Matt Batts’ experience from last year. Before we get started, we want to give a big shout out to former Twins minor leaguer Matthew Tomshaw. The left-hander was selected by the Marlins in the minor league Rule 5 draft in December. He is pitching for Jacksonville in the Southern League. As he did with the Twins organization, he pitched in various roles, starting or long relief. He made the start for them on Saturday and went six no-hit innings. He walked just one. He was lifted and the no-hitter was lost in the seventh, but an impressive showing for Tomshaw! TRANSACTIONS Cedar Rapids put RHP Michael Cederoth on the disabled list. To take his spot, RHP Miles Nordgren was brought back from extended spring training. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 1, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 2 Box Score The Red Wings had chances, having the tying and/or winning runs up to bat in the last couple of innings, but they were not able to get one more big hit and fell to the Yankees top affiliate. Tyler Duffey falls to 0-3 with the Red Wings, but he was pretty solid. He gave up one run on seven hits and a walk in 5.1 innings. He struck out nine. Logan Darnell came on and got the next five outs. Mark Hamburger got two outs. Ryan O’Rourke struck out both batters he faced. Micahel Tonkin gave up a hit, but he got the final two outs for the Red Wings. The Red Wings had eight hits, but they were unable to score more than the one run. Doug Bernier and Eric Farris were both 2-4 in the game. Kennys Vargas went 1-3 with a walk. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 4, Jackson 1 Box Score The Lookouts held on to a 2-1 lead from the second inning through the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, Michael Gonzales hit a two-run homer to give the team a little extra cushion. It was his third straight game with a home run. Gonzales went 2-3 with a walk, his sixth double and his fifth home run. Byron Buxton played the role of instigator early in the game. He went 2-4 and stole three bases. He now has 19 steals on the year. Adam Brett Walker went 2-3 with his 13th double. Carlos Paulino (4) and Jorge Polanco (8) each doubled in the game. After two difficult starts, David Hurlbut had a terrific start. The lefty gave up one run on five hits in seven innings. He walked three and struck out four. Nick Burdi needed just 11 pitches to work a perfect eighth inning. Zack Jones came on and gave up a hit, but that was it on the way to his eighth save. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 4, Bradenton 3 (12 innings) Box Score The Miracle got offense up and down the lineup. In fact, they had 16 hits in this game. For the 53rd time this year, the Miracle needed to play some extra innings. OK, it was only their 15th extra innings game, and on this night they were able to pull out a walk-off win. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the first two batters struck out. Tanner Vavra walked and stole second base. He scored on a Zach Granite single to tie the game. It remained tied at three a piece until the bottom of the 12th. Alex Swim led off with his third hit. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Mitch Garver walked and was pinch-run for by Niko Goodrum. After a pitching change, Bryan Haar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chad Christensen came up and singled to left, scoring Swim from third and giving the Miracle the win. video of Chad Christensen walk-off single by Bob Sacamento. Aaron Slegers made the start. He went 6.2 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two. Matt Summers got the next four outs, two of them on strikeouts. Brandon Peterson came on and gave up just one hit over two scoreless innings. Corey Williams came on and threw the 11th and 12th innings. He gave up two hits, but no runs, and was the winning pitcher. Williams, you recall, made his return to the mound on Thursday night, 14 months after having Tommy John surgery last April. Ryan Walker and Alex Swim both went 3-6 in the game. Walker hit his first double of the year. Swim’s stolen base was his fifth. Tanner Vavra went 2-4 with a walk and his third stolen base. Engelb Vielma was 2-4 with a walk and his 13th stolen base. Bryan Haar went 2-5 and was hit by the pitch in the 12th. Chad Christensen had two hits. Mitch Garver hit his sixth double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, West Michigan 8 Box Score Cameron Booser has been tremendous for the Kernels all year, but on this night, he just didn’t have it. The game had gone back and forth, but the Kernels held a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Booser’s name was all over the Twins Minor League Leader Board for relievers. Going into the game, he had a 0.74 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, five saves and a strikeout rate of 13.3 per nine. Things looked good at the start. He struck out the first batter he faced. However, he then walked the next four batters to tie the game. He then uncorked a wild pitch and the Kernels suffered a tough loss to fall to 35-21 on the season. Zach Tillery started for Cedar Rapids. After two scoreless innings, he gave up three runs in the third inning. He struggled with his control. In those three innings, he gave up three runs on three hits and four walks. Miles Nordgren came on and gave up three runs over the next two innings. He gave up four hits and walked two. Randy LeBlanc struck out five over the next three innings. He gave up just one hit and walked one. Offensively, the Kernels got contributions from several players. Nick Gordon extended his hitting streak to six games. In that time, he has had ten hits in 24 at- bats (.417). He also walked once. Alex Real went 3-4 with a walk and drove in three runs. He is now hitting .438 in his first week with the Kernels. Max Murphy was also 3-4. Edgar Corcino went 2-6. Brett Doe went 1-3 with a walk and drove in three runs. Pat Kelly walked twice. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – David Hurlbut, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Michael Gonzales, Chattanooga Lookouts SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Scranton/Wilkes Barre @ Rochester (12:35 CST) – TBD Chattanooga @ Jackson (6:05 CST) – RHP Alex Wimmers Ft. Myers – No Game Scheduled (Stephen Gonsalves will make his FSL Debut on Monday) Cedar Rapids @ West Michigan (12:00 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Saturday games. Click here to view the article

Great work. I'm curious how Jeremy's final mock draft will look in comparison. I don't think Aiken is very likely from what I'm hearing. Not sure.

Oops! I believe that would be considered a typo.

I think it's because Tonkin throws 94-96, and Achter throws between 89-92. But Achter gets people out.

Jammed his index finger maybe 10 days ago and missed a game and a half. Re-aggravated it a couple of days ago.

I don't foresee either of them moving anywhere any time soon... Polanco could move up to the Twins based on Santana's performance, and even then I assume they'd go to Escobar every day at short first and Santana to AAA.

Another week has passed. For the three Minnesota Twins affiliates (Cedar Rapids, Ft. Myers and Chattanooga) that play in leagues with two halves, the first half is coming down to the wire. Playoff spots are up for grabs, and two of the affiliates are in the running. The seasons are over 50 games deep, almost 40% of the season complete. Here is the Minnesota Twins Minor League Leader Board through games played on Friday, June 5.STANDINGS But first, here is a quick look how the teams stack up in their leagues: Rochester is 30-23 and in first place in the International League North Division. They are 1.5 games ahead of Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Chattanooga is also 30-23. They have a percentage-points lead for first place over Tennessee (who is 31-24). Ft. Myers has been struggling of late. They are 25-30, 12 games back of a playoff spot. Their elimination number is just 4. Cedar Rapids is 35-20, best in the organization. However, they are three games back of Quad Cities in the Midwest League’s West Division. They are, however, seven games ahead of third place Burlington. Burlington’s elimination number (or the Kernels’ magic number to make the playoffs) is nine. HITTERS As you can see, some players have now passed 200 plate appearances for the season. The sample size is starting to get larger. Many of the same names are appearing on these lists. Feel free to comment below on what stands out to you. Plate Appearances: Zach Granite (238), Byron Buxton (236), Niko Goodrum (235), Jorge Polanco (219), Nick Gordon/Max Murphy (217) Batting Average: Trey Vavra (.346), James Beresford (.335), Alex Swim (.327), Jorge Polanco (.309), Zach Granite (.306), Max Kepler (.296) On-Base Percentage: Trey Vavra (.406), Zach Granite (.382), James Beresford (.376), Travis Harrison (.374), Alex Swim (.356), Miguel Sano (.355) Isolated Discipline: Mitch Garver (.139), Tanner English (.114), Niko Goodrum (.113), Miguel Sano (.102), Stuart Turner (.100), Travis Harrison (.093) Slugging Percentage: Adam Brett Walker (.555), Trey Vavra (.538), Miguel Sano (.506), Danny Ortiz (.503), Byron Buxton (.481), Max Kepler (.467) Isolated Power (IsoP): Adam Brett Walker (.304), Miguel Sano (.253), Danny Ortiz (.218), Byron Buxton (.217), Trey Vavra (.192), Max Kepler (.171 OPS: Trey Vavra (.944), Adam Brett Walker (.863), Miguel Sano (.861), Danny Ortiz (.836), Byron Buxton (.807), Max Kepler (.801), Hits: Alex Swim (65), Jorge Polanco (64), Zach Granite (63), Byron Buxton (56), Trey Vavra (54), James Beresford (53) 2B: Max Kepler (17), Travis Harrison (15), Danny Ortiz (14), Adam Brett Walker/Zach Larson/Bryan Haar/Reynaldo Rodriguez (12). 3B: Byron Buxton (11), Max Murphy/Tanner English (5), Aaron Hicks/TJ White (4), Levi Michael/Max Kepler/Pat Kelly (3) HR: Adam Brett Walker (14), Miguel Sano (10), Danny Ortiz (7), Trey Vavra/Josmil Pinto/Byron Buxton (6) Runs: Byron Buxton (40), Zach Granite (38), Adam Brett Walker (36), Nick Gordon (35), Max Murphy (34), Travis Harrison/Miguel Sano (33), RBI: Adam Brett Walker (42), Byron Buxton (35), Danny Ortiz (34), Miguel Sano/Zack Larson (33), Trey Vavra (28), Travis Harrison (27) SB: Tanner English (17), Byron Buxton (16), Zach Granite (14), Nick Gordon (13), Engelb Vielma (12), Niko Goodrum/Jorge Polanco (11). STARTING PITCHERS (>40 IP) Innings: Taylor Rogers (70.0), JO Berrios (69.1), Tyler Duffey (64.1), Pat Dean (61.0), Greg Peavey (59.1), Jason Wheeler (56.0) ERA: Stephen Gonsalves (1.15), Chih-Wei Hu (1.95), Mat Batts (2.19), Pat Dean (2.36), Felix Jorge (2.62),Tyler Duffey (2.80) WHIP: Stephen Gonsalves (0.80), Felix Jorge (0.98), Chih-Wei Hu (1.03), Mat Batts (1.07), Pat Dean (1.13), Tyler Duffey (1.14) K/9: Stephen Gonsalves (12.6), Alex Meyer (10.3), JO Berrios (10.0), Mat Batts (9.1), Tyler Duffey (8.8), Chih-Wei Hu (8.7) BB/9: Aaron Slegers (1.7), Pat Dean/Greg Peavey/Felix Jorge (1.8), Mat Batts/Tyler Duffey (2.0) Strikeouts: JO Berrios/Stephen Gonsalves (77), Tyler Duffey (63), Mat Batts (54), Taylor Rogers/Todd Van Steensel (50) Wins: Stephen Gonsalves (6-1), JO Berrios (6-3), Jared Wilson/Chih-Wei Hu (5-1), Pat Dean/Taylor Rogers (5-3) RELIEF PITCHERS (>17 IP, Games: AJ Achter (23), Alex Muren/Brandon Peterson/JT Chargois/Todd Van Steensel (19), Madison Boer/Zack Jones (18). Innings: Todd Van Steensel (33.1), Madison Boer (32.0), Alex Muren (31.2), Trevor Hildenberger/Mike Theofanopoulos (30.2), Randy LeBlanc (29.0) ERA: Trevor Hildenberger (0.59), Cameron Booser (0.74), Brandon Peterson (0.94), AJ Achter (1.90), Alex Muren (1.99), JT Chargois (2.04) WHIP: AJ Achter/Trevor Hildenberger (0.59), Brandon Peterson (0.98), Cameron Booser (0.99), Zack Jones (1.00), Tim Shibuya (1.05) K/9: Todd Van Steensel (13.5), Cameron Booser (13.3), Brandon Peterson (13.2), Lester Oliveros (12.0), Trevor Hildenberger (11.7), Cole Johnson (11.1) BB/9: Trevor Hildenberger (1.2), AJ Achter (1.9), Tim Shibuya (2.0), Lester Oliveros (2.7), Zack Jones (2.8) Saves: AJ Achter (9), Zack Jones (7), Michael Tonkin (6), Cameron Booser/Trevor Hildenberger/Todd Van Steensel (5), JT Chargois (4). There you have it. The Twins Minor League Leader Board through Friday, June 5. What are your thoughts? What surprised you? Click here to view the article

Clay and CK Irby were sent down to EST a few weeks ago. They just couldn't throw strikes.

I'd say he should move up after Brandon Peterson and then Todd Van Steensel.

Chattanooga got three hits from Byron Buxton and a big home run in a one-run win over Tennessee. One pitching prospect made his debut at a new level. Another top prospect had a rough outing for the first time this season. Nick Gordon had another multi-hit game. He has a six-game hitting streak and is hitting .400 (8-20) during that stretch. Check out all that happened in the Minnesota Twins farm system on Friday night. A reminder, check back here on Saturday morning for the updated Minor League Leader Board.RED WINGS REPORT Pawtucket @ Rochester Box Score They were able to play just two innings before the rains came, causing the game to be suspended. The Red Wings had a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Oswaldo Arcia. Lefty Pat Dean gave up two hits, but no runs, in two scoreless innings. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 6, Tennessee 5 Box Score It was a back and forth game, but fortunately, the Lookouts came out the winner in this game. They got things going right away in the first inning. Byron Buxton led off with a single and then scored immediately on a triple by Jorge Polanco. Max Kepler singled in Polanco and the Lookouts had a 2-0 lead. Going into the sixth inning, the score was tied at two. Mike Gonzales came to the plate with Travis Harrison on base. Gonzales launched his fourth home run of the season and second straight game with a homer. Brett Lee made his AA debut on this night. The left-hander gave up two runs through the first five innings. He went back out for the sixth inning and the first three batters reached base. Jake Reed came in with two runners on base and gave up a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Lee was charged with four runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out one. The game was tied heading into the eighth inning. Jorge Polanco led off with a walk which was followed by a single from Travis Harrison. With runners on first and third, Max Kepler flew out which allowed Polanco to score, but Harrison was doubled off. The Lookouts had a lead, but there were two outs. Next batter was Adam Brett Walker and he hit his second triple of the year. Michael Gonzales continued his big night. He singled in Walker to give the Lookouts a two-run lead. Reed got one out in the seventh inning, and JT Chargois got the final two outs. With a lead, Cole Johnson came in for the final two innings. He gave up one run on one hit. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out three for his first save of the season. Buxton went 3-5. Adam Brett Walker went 2-4 with the triple. Gonzales had two hits including his fourth home run. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 2, Bradenton 6 Box Score Chih-Wei Hu has been one of the top pitchers in the Twins system through the season’s first two months. At some point, even the best guys have an off day. For Hu, that came on Friday night against the Marauders. The right-hander gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings. He struck out three. It increased his season ERA with the Miracle from 1.10 to 2.01. He was replaced by Alex Muren who gave up just one hit over the next 2.1 innings. He struck out two. Todd Van Steensel pitched the final two innings. He walked one and struck out four. The Miracle offense managed just four hits in the game. Zach Granite had two of them. The speedy outfielder also stole his seventh base for the team. Mitch Garver walked twice. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, South Bend 9 Box Score Keaton Steele was terrific in his first couple of appearances with the Kernels, but he really struggled on this night. He gave up six runs on nine hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out one. Jose Velez came on and gave up two runs on one hit and three walks. He did strike out four batters. Trevor Hildenberger gave up a run for the first time in over 25 innings. Amazingly, he gave up as many runs in this game as he had in the entire season before it. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk in two innings. He struck out four. He saw his ERA rise from 0.31 to 0.59. Nick Gordon led the Kernels’ offense. He went 2-4 with a walk and his sixth double. Brett Doe went 2-3 with a walk. Edgar Corcino moved from the 9-hole in the lineup to the third spot and went 2-5. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Todd Van Steensel, Ft. Myers Miracle Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Michael Gonzales, Chattanooga Lookouts SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Scranton/Wilkes Barre @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – RHP Tyler Duffey Chattanooga @ Jackson (6:05 CST) – LHP David Hurlbut Bradenton @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers Cedar Rapids @ West Michigan (6:00 CST) – RHP Zach Tillery Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. Click here to view the article

I was going to do the same thing. Caught myself just in time! And that Swarzak game was awesome. Did we go to Murray's after that?

It doesn't mean a lot when it comes to what will happen on the field, but it absolutely is something that scouts know of, are aware of, and will make comps relative to. Pete Rose Jr wasn't a prospect, but he got opportunities because of his dad. Nick Gordon got drafted high and has been pushed quickly by the Twins because of his background. Doesn't guarantee anything. There are no guarantees, but it absolutely is noteworthy in scouting.

In spring, and with the roster decisions early, I really felt that Terry Ryan was more in control than he has been, and I think that remains the case. But I obviously don't know.

Plouffe, Dozier, Hunter.

I agree with most of this, with one exception: I think Vargas should be up, but I thought Hicks was in the minors no more than a week or two too long, so that's not a big deal. Pinto has done nothing this year to show that he's improved and may be a minimal improvement over Herrmann as the backup, but not much. And, yeah, Arcia should absolutely be in the minor leagues. He is a mess. Other than that - which I don't even disagree with vehemently - I agree with the other things.

That one is on me! I'm a bit behind the times! Ha!

All else being equal, there is an outfielder from the suburbs of Atlanta who makes all the sense in the world as the choice for the Twins when they make their first-round pick on Monday night. Could outfielder Daz Cameron be the Minnesota Twins choice in this year’s first round?The Twins certainly have a track record of selecting athletic high school players with a tool box filled with potential. Twenty two years ago, the Twins selected a very raw, talented outfielder from Little Rock, Arkansas, who yesterday knocked his 200th home run in a Twins uniform. Most scouts also will give a second (or third, or fourth, or…) look at a player with big league bloodlines. A year ago, the Twins used their first-round pick on Nick Gordon, the son of big league pitcher Tom Gordon, and the brother of Marlins 2B Dee Gordon. Also, Georgia has been a hotbed for baseball prospects for the last decade, and the Twins have several picks from the state. They used a second-round pick on Niko Goodrum in 2010. In 2012, the Twins selected Byron Buxton with the second overall pick in the draft out of his high school in Georgia. Who Is This Guy? Daz Cameron is well known in the national youth baseball circuit. He’s played on some national teams. He has put up stats and has all the tools. When you read about him, it is likely that one of the first things you’ll be told is that he is the son of former big league outfielder Mike Cameron. Fair or not, that likely puts a little more pressure on the 18-year-old. Daz Cameron graduated from Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He hit .392 as a freshman. As a sophomore, he hit .434 with seven home runs. His senior season just recently ended. He hit .455 with 10 doubles and eight home runs. He also stole 19 bases. Listed at 6-0 and 186 pounds, Cameron has a commitment to Florida State University. We do have to mention that Mike Cameron had a solid career. He spent parts of 17 seasons in the big leagues, spending time with the White Sox, Reds, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox and Marlins. He played in an All-Star game. It surprised me to learn that he won only three Gold Gloves because he was known for his great defense. Though he hit just .249, he had a career OPS of .782 and hit home runs. Right or wrong, blood lines matter. Teams are looking for the next Ken Griffey, Jr., who Mike Cameron was once traded for. Why the Twins Will Pick Him As we pointed out in the lead, Cameron fits in a lot of categories that the Twins historically have liked in top draft picks. The blood lines are important. Obviously part of that is simply genetics, but it is more than just that. It’s understanding the life style. It’s having been in big league clubhouses, watching big leaguers prepare for games and not being overwhelmed by something they haven’t necessarily seen before. It also means that he has connections with people who have been where he wants to be. He will have coaches, but he can also talk to his father about things he is going through. But bigger than the blood lines, the draft is all about the tools. Daz Cameron has all of the tools. His upside is that of a five-tool talent. When the Twins drafted Buxton in 2012, he was known as having five-tool potential, but his “hit” tool was reportedly the weakest. For Cameron, the belief is that the “hit” tool is his strongest. A Perfect Game report claims Cameron “can flat-out hit.” He is believed to be not as athletic as his father was as a prospect, but he is said to be much more polished. Cameron will have power. He has very good, though not elite, speed. He plays good defense and can play center field. He also was clocked as throwing 90 mph from the outfield. He is said to have a good approach at the plate. People also talk about his maturity and poise. That would also stand out to scouts and front office types. Why the Twins Will Not Pick Him Daz Cameron is represented by advisor Scott Boras. Reports have come out that the Boras/Cameron Camp are looking for big money, well over slot for the #6 spot in the draft. A team drafting Cameron will likely have to pay the extra cost to sign him. To do so, that team will need to be creative with the rest of their Top 10 picks to have the necessary money. The Twins draft pool (top 10 picks) is just shy of $7.4 million, so if Cameron wants $6 million, it will make it tough for the Twins to sign many more of their top ten picks without drafting several college seniors. The Twins don’t make their second draft choice until the 73rd overall pick, so they will not have much for extra funds. Also, it would not be good if the Twins made a pick and were unable to sign the player, even though they would wind up with the #7 pick in next year’s draft if that did happen. OF course, all this doesn’t include the fact that from a talent standpoint, it is very possible that he will have already been drafted by the time the Twins pick at six. In fact, he could very well be taken in the top three picks. Over the last two weeks, Twins Daily has profiled several players that the team could draft with the #6 pick in the 2015 draft. Most have been college pitchers, but we have profiled a couple of high school outfielders as well. When it comes to what the Twins typically look for in a draft pick, Daz Cameron fits the mold. Will he be there when the Twins pick, and if so, will the Twins risk being able to sign him? What do you think? Previous Twins Daily Draft Profiles: Swanson/Rodgers/Tate Walker Buehler Andrew Benintendi Kyle Funkhouser Carson Fulmer Tyler Jay Brady Aiken & Kolby Allard Kyle Tucker Jon Harris Alex Bregman Click here to view the article

My bad... I'll be quiet and let Jeremy respond. Sorry!

I'm guessing he will have little to do with the final decision. He will tell Deron Johnson to take the Best Player Available and he'll let them make the decisions. As he should.

These things tend to work themselves out, and when it becomes apparent what needs to be done, it may be a different thing that we think right now. I would have penciled Arcia into the outfield for a long time. Now, I can't do that. Many such examples. Depth is good.

For me, it's more about adjusting to the role, knowing how to warm up and get ready for an inning, or between innings. It may also be adjusting to going just fastball and slider (which could improve his control if he's not worried about a third pitch).