Seth Stohs

The Twins season continues to topple downhill, but there is a lot of positive going on in the Twins minor league system. A former Twins player has quite the impressive streak going in Rochester. A couple of impressive streaks continued down in Cedar Rapids for a couple of guys who could be in Ft. Myers soon. Another pitcher made his debut for the Kernels. As normal this year, there were a few transactions. Image courtesy of Kelly McGlohon, 27 Outs The Twins season continues to topple downhill, but there is a lot of positive going on in the Twins minor league system. A former Twins player has quite the impressive streak going in Rochester. A couple of impressive streaks continued down in Cedar Rapids for a couple of guys who could be in Ft. Myers soon. Another pitcher made his debut for the Kernels. As normal this year, there were a few transactions. Continue to read everything that happened in the big leagues on Wednesday. . TRANSACTIONS There were also a couple of transactions of note since the last minor league report: The Twins lost again, and after the game, Eddie Rosario was optioned to AAA Rochester. Taking Rosario’s spot on the Twins roster will be outfielder Robbie Grossman. The former top prospect of the Astros was released by Cleveland (at his request) just a couple of days ago. On Monday, he signed with the Twins and played for Rochester. On Tuesday, the still-just 26-year-old learned he was joining the Twins. In case you missed it: Cedar Rapids placed C/IF/OF Rafael Valera on the disabled list. RHP Williams Ramirez, our choice for Short-Season Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015, was brought up from extended spring. Jeff Johnson, from The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, also reported that RHP Fernando Romero is in Cedar Rapids though he has not yet been activated. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 7, Charlotte 6 (10 innings) Box Score Max Kepler and Kennys Vargas singled to start the 10th inning. Two batters later, Tommy Field grounded out to short and Kepler scored what proved to be the winning run. Kennys Vargas went 2-5. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the second straight game. It was also the fourth straight game in which he has homered. According to Red Wings play-by-play man Josh Whetzel, he became the first Red Wing to accomplish that since Sam Horn in 1990. It was his sixth home run of the season which ties him with Daniel Palka for the Twins minor league lead. Kepler went 3-5 in the game and is now hitting .256 with the Red Wings. Wilfredo Tovar went 2-4 with a walk. Stephen Wickens went 2-4. James Beresford hit his eighth double and walked once. Buck Britton hit his second home run. David Martinez made another start. He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out eight. Alex Wimmers gave up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Ryan O’Rourke threw 1.1 innings without allowing a run. Marcus Walden came in to get the final two outs and record his third save. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 4, Biloxi 5 Box Score As most minor league teams do, the Lookouts played a morning game. It is often called “Education Day” and the stands are full of elementary age kids. Dalton Hicks woke up ready to hit. The powerful first baseman went 4-5 and drove in two runs for the Lookouts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough in this game. Ryan Eades made the start and put together another quality start. The right-hander gave up three runs over the game’s first six innings. He gave up six hits, walked none and struck out six. Jake Reed came in to a 3-3 game in the top of the seventh. He gave up two runs in that inning but worked a scoreless eighth frame. Trevor Hildenberger worked a scoreless ninth. Hicks certainly led the Lookouts offense with his 4-5 day. Joe Maloney hit his ninth and tenth doubles in four at-bats. He also walked once. Shannon Wilkerson added two hits from the leadoff spot. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 3, Dunedin 5 Box Score Brian Navarreto came into this game with five hits in 49 at-bats (.102) on the season. He led the Miracle offense with a three-hit game on Wednesday. Max Murphy went 2-4 including a solo home run. It is his fourth Miracle home run in just his 17th game in the Florida State League since his promotion. Nick Gordon and Trey Vavra each added a single. That was it for the offense. It was Keaton Steele’s turn on the mound on Wednesday. The right-hander from Missouri went the first six innings. He gave up four runs on ten hits. He walked one and struck out two. Yorman Landa came in and gave up one run over the final two innings. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out one. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 8, Beloit 0 Box Score Randy LeBlanc was at it again on Wednesday night. The lanky right-hander completed six shutout innings and has now accumulated 28 consecutive scoreless innings. He wasn’t even at his best. He gave up four hits, walked three and only struck out one. His ERA drops to 0.78. CK Irby came on in relief. He walked one and gave up a hit, but he struck out three in a scoreless inning. Williams Ramirez came on for his Midwest League debut. He threw two perfect innings and struck out three. Daniel Kihle led the offense with a three-hit game and a walk. Jorge Fernandez hit his seventh an eighth doubles. Zander Wiel was 2-4 with a run batted in. Alex Perez was terrific in the leadoff spot. He went 1-2 with three walks. Luis Arraez drove in two with a double, his sixth. LaMonte Wade had a two-run single. The hit extended his on-base streak to 19 games. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Randy LeBlanc, Cedar Rapids Kernels Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Dalton Hicks, Chattanooga Lookouts THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Durham (6:05 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler Chattanooga @ Jackson (7:05 CST) - RHP DJ Baxendale Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30 CST) – RHP Felix Jorge Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – LHP Sam Clay Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games. View full article

They're the definition of replacement level players (if given enough at bats)... Grossman is still just 26 and I liked him as a prospect 3-4 years ago... And, more important, I want Rosario to turn things around and that probably needs to happen now at AAA. This is all big picture thinking since 2016 is over already. (I mean, pretty much... I have to maintain my optimistic personality, right?)

April, May and maybe half of June, at most.

Here is this:

Yeah, I can see Wade moving up too... but Murphy had been in CR for over 2 years and needed to be pushed. Edgar Corcino is playing well right now in the outfield. Chad Christensen is solid, and due to injury, he deserves at least a little bit of time. Austin Diemer has some qualities that need to be watched. Also, Tanner English has been out several weeks now with a concussion and when he comes back, they'll certainly want him playing every day in CF. None of those guys is really in need of being pushed to AA. So, let Wade spend 2 1/2 months in Cedar Rapids and see if that BB/K rate continues. At the mid-point, they can make tough decisions on some of those FM guys. Will they push one or two to AA and see how that goes for them? Would they release a guy or two?

I'm not in the "constantly being challenged and making adjustments" bandwagon. I mean, I am in the sense that no matter where a player is, baseball is challenging. I think sometimes it's good to see your adjustments pay off over an extended period of time in one level before moving up. Not just a one-month thing, but at least 6-8 weeks. It's like Rosario or Buxton moving back to AAA... 1.) they can take a deep breath. Some level of pressure comes down. 2.) They are playing at a little lower level and can work on some things at the level, rather than the higher level. 3.) they can experience some success (hopefully). Hopefully those mechanical or mental of physical issues that need to be addressed can be. Challenging is great. It is helpful and when it comes to the AAA to MLB move, I'm fine with it. In fact, I think it can be very positive. At the lower levels, there's just no rush... Let them experience some success, develop confidence, develop leadership skills, learn how to cope with things on an off the field, work with people for a bit of time.

As I've said a million times, I think Gonsalves should move up, so it's a bad example... maybe they want him to work on not walking so many. Maybe he's working on a fourth pitch and they want to give him another one of two starts. I don't know.

My point was that he isn't going to be added this year. I mean, two years ago, Berrios was still in Ft. Myers for a couple more weeks, and he ended the season in Rochester. It could happen. I just generally don't think 2-3 weeks of promotion timeline in May or June has much bearing on 2017. I also would say, let's see how he does in AA before we worry about whether or not he could be in the big leagues by mid-2017. And, if he's ready mid-2017 and there is a need (there may be, or they may have a rotation of May, Meyer, Berrios, Duffey and Gibson all pitching pretty well). Too many variables to worry about. They've shown (last year with Buxton) that they aren't going to solely look at 40 man roster things, etc.

Per Mike Berardino, Eddie Rosario has been demoted to AAA Rochester. https://twitter.com/MikeBerardino/status/733068994031276032 The assumption should be that new-Twin Robbie Grossman is likely on his way to the Twins. Signed just a day ago, he played for the Red Wings on Tuesday night. Rosario was benched late in the game today for taking an extra base in the ninth, so it was pretty clear that the writing was on the wall.

I don't think so... Big picture, what's the rush to get Gonsalves to AA? He's not pitching in MLB this year, is he? He doesn't have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2017 season. Next year, he'll pitch at Chattanooga and possibly Rochester in 2017. Puts him in a good situation going in to being added.

Just defending myself... I think the Twins have promoted more players this year than I've seen in years. I would also say that there's nothing wrong with being kind to the affiliates. For instance, the year Sano and Rosario were in Ft. Myers, they maybe could have been sent up to AA a week or two earlier than they were, but the Miracle was close to clinching a playoff spot, so they kept them until the day after the team clinched a spot. I have no problem with that, especially with hitters. I'd have Gonsalves up now (having watched zero of his innings so far this year, only listened and reviewed box scores and chatted a bit with him and others), but if he's not up within the next two weeks, might as well make it three weeks. We're talking 3-4 starts. I'm sure there are a couple of other examples... For me, the only one that should absolutely be up a level (in addition to Gonsalves) is LeBlanc. I can't explain the reasons. I can guess, and base some stuff on history.

I would assume so. It's not like shoulder issue recovery is on a certain time table. Have to play it by ear.

That liner from Britton off the pitcher's elbow was scary. That was crushed and bounced all the way to second base. The second baseman started out toward it but couldn't get to it. Immediately he turned to the mound and had his hand on his head. Britton hustled to second base, but as soon as time was called, you could see he was visibly distraught too. Very scary. That radar gun must have been 2-3 mph slow, huh?

We reported 4-5 days ago that he's got shoulder fatigue and hopes to pitch again this week. Or, are you referring to something else?

Just a day off.

Also, Cedar Rapids put Rafael Valera on the DL and RHP Williams Ramirez (our choice for Twins Minor League Short Season Pitcher of the Year in 2015) was promoted from EST.

That was a lot of fun Sarah! Very fun! I try to get there early and Stew is always there first!! He is also such a baseball encyclopedia. Fun to talk with, or just listen to!

Yes, they're adding a 'rover' like in slow-pitch softball. HA!

Make it July 1st. I don't care about the specific date. I just want to know that when they come up, they will come up, play every day and stay up unless they are just completely over their head to the point of damage.

That's probably part of my point. Instead of continuing to call up Polanco and having him play one out of every five games, just leave him down so that he can play every single day at AAA. Call up Beresford and let him play a couple times a week instead. Polanco has never spent more than a few weeks straight at AAA. Same with Buxton.

August 1st isn't a hard date... Players can get traded before July 31. I'd also suggest that the Twins look at more than just the stat line, make sure his mechanics are sound, his strike zone judgment is sound, and all of that. I just don't want him to come up next week just because he's had a nice 2-3 weeks.

I can't imagine anyone read these first two paragraphs in the article and thought that I counted on the Twins really having a good chance to compete in 2016: And yes, I would definitely not suggest that they wait until July 31 to make trades. That's obviously just the deadline.

I don't know what the plan is... but I'm certain it's not taking away at bats from Buxton and Kepler. Walker is probably more of a DH. Related to my previous article today, I would have no problem with them getting Grossman up to the big leagues and sending down Rosario. They can mix and match and let guys play around, but when healthy, Buxton will play CF and Kepler will play one of the four OF spots or 1B.

Do people really think that Robbie Grossman is going to "take at bats away from Byron Buxton and Max Kepler?"