Seth Stohs

The MLB Draft resumes today at 12:00 (central time) with each organization making their 3rd round through 10th round draft picks. The Minnesota Twins will have the fifth pick in each round. Throughout the day, Twins Daily's draft guru, Jeremy Nygaard, will be here posting the Minnesota Twins draft picks and providing some analysis on the player and the selection. He'll also be in the forums answering other questions you may have. These picks are all important and there is a strategy to them. The Twins have about $7.5 million to spend on their first 10 draft picks and about $3.85 million is allotted to their top pick, Nick Gordon. What will they do? See below. 3rd Round (79; $703,900) - RHP Michael Cederoth, San Diego State An interesting pick at #79, Cederoth started the season with mid-first round buzz. Hailing from the same school as Stephen Strasburg, there were some unfair comparisons, but the velocity is there (98-100 mph). The Twins seem poised to give Cederoth an opportunity to start. His slider is his strikeout pitch in the mid-80s. He also features an average changeup, which he didn't throw much this year, and a slower curveball. Cederoth is a big, lanky dude (6'6, 215) and has a violent delivery and a penchant for missing the strike zone - the difference between being a 3rd rounder and a 1st rounder. While the rumor had been that Cederoth was looking for a seven-figure deal, I've been assured that that is not accurate and my assumption is that he'll sign for slot. Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 45; MLB.com, 59; Perfect Game, 63; Scout, 75. 4th Round (110; $476,100) - LHP Sam Clay, Georgia Tech Clay is a draft-eligible sophomore who projects as a reliever. Clay isn't as hard of a thrower as the previous two players who were selected, reaching the low-90's. He also has a slider, who some believe can be a plus pitch. Clay has a lot of raw ability, but will need to harness it and cut down on walks. Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 144; Perfect Game, 226; MLB.com, unranked; Scout, unranked. 5th Round (140; $356,400) - RHP Jake Reed, Oregon Another reliever... well, Reed was a starter for two seasons, but was much better after being converted to a closing role. Reed features a three-pitch mix: low-90s fastball, a slurvy slider and a circle-change. Some consider him another guy that could move quick, though probably not as a closer. Pre-draft rankings: MLB.com, 123; Baseball America, 144; Perfect Game, 226; Scout, unranked. 6th Round (170; $266,900) - RHP John Curtiss, Texas Unlike any of the previous picks, Curtiss projects to be a starter - even though he closed for the Longhorns in 2014 - with an upside of a #2. Despite being a redshirt sophomore - he missed 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery - Curtiss is already graduated and appears to be signable. Curtiss has a mid-90s fastball and three ordinary secondary pitches. There's still some projection based on the missed time. If his slider and change-up can develop, there's hope that Curtiss can stick in the rotation. Pre-draft rankings: MLB.com, 88; Perfect Game, 158; Baseball America, 159; Scout, 246. 7th Round (200; $199,900) - RHP Andrew Cutura, SE Louisiana U Cutura is a junior. The short (6' 0) right-hander isn't on a lot of radars, but came as a recommendation of area scout Greg Runser, who has had his hand in drafting a lot of pitchers recently. Cutura was a three-year starter for SE Lousiana. Cutura is a bulldog. He has a 88-92 mph sinker, a hybrid breaking ball that sits in the mid-80s, and a changeup around 80 mph. He commands all three pitches well and knows how to put guys away. Pre-draft rankings: MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, unranked; Baseball America, unranked; Scout, unranked. 8th Round (230; $161,300) - RHP Keaton Steele, Missouri Steele missed the 2011 season due to shoulder injuries. He's been a two-way player, but will pitch as a professional. Steele has another year of eligibility due to the injury, but has graduated and is signable as a redshirt-junior. Steele closed for Missouri this year and features a low-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. It remains to be seen if he's viewed as a starter or reliever. He was moved to Missouri's rotation late in the year and had a couple complete games. Pre-draft rankings: Scout, 146; MLB.com, 177; Baseball America, 275; Perfect Game, 428. 9th Round (260; $150,600) - OF Max Murphy, Bradley According to Chris Cotillo, Murphy and the Twins have agreed to a $130k deal. This is what I said about Murphy when I had him pegged for the 260th overall pick in my 10-round Twins mock: The organizational dearth of outfielders may have the Twins going to the college ranks to draft outfielders even earlier. Murphy is a guy who makes a ton of sense for the Twins, partially because he played his high school ball in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Murphy's best tool is he power. He's compact (only 5' 11"), runs well and has a clue in the outfield. While his arm could play in right (his current position), some think he could move to center. The question about Murphy is his hit-tool. Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 275; Perfect Game, 327; Scout, unranked; MLB.com, unranked. 10th Round (290; $140,700) - RHP Randy LeBlanc, Tulane LeBlanc missed his freshman year with an elbow injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery. Highly touted out of high school, LeBlanc has spent four years at Tulane and still has one year of eligibility left. He's back healthy ago and hitting 95 with ease. His breaking ball and change-up are below-average pitches, but, even at 22, still has some projection left. His got a good pitcher's body too (6' 4, 200). The Twins hope that with advanced instruction, he can turn his curveball and change-up into above-average offerings. Pre-draft rankings: MLB.com, 188; Baseball America, 236; Perfect Game, 327; Scout, unranked.

“We got our man!” Those were the words of Minnesota Twins scouting director Deron Johnson talking about the team’s first round pick, Nick Gordon. “Just to be picked by Minnesota, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.” That is how Nick Gordon described his emotions upon being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. Photo by Rinaldi Photos It seems like a match made in heaven. The Twins are a team always looking for athleticism, and Gordon provides that. There is a lot to like about the young shortstop from Orlando, Florida. “(We liked) his ability to play shortstop. We think he’s offensive. He’s got a really good swing. I think he’s going to have power down the road. He’s going to stay at shortstop, in my mind. He’s got great work ethic. Great kid. Big league bloodlines with his brother and his dad. We expect big things from him.” His brother, Dee, is the second baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is in his fourth season with the Dodgers and just now becoming the player many thought he would become. He is hitting .279/.327/.372 with 15 extra base hits. He already has 35 stolen bases and the season is just one-third over. Is Nick as fast as Dee? According to Johnson, “There’s not too many people in baseball with his brother’s speed, but he can run. He doesn’t show you a great time on the clock just because he’s got a pretty big swing, and he’s got power. But he’s a plus-runner.” Their father, Tom “Flash” Gordon debuted with the Kansas City Royals as a 20-year-old in 1988. He played for the Royals until 1995. He spent time with the Red Sox, the Cubs, the Astros, the White Sox, the Yankees, the Phillies and the Diamondbacks before retiring after the 2009 season. He had a solid major league career, though he really became a star once he moved into the bullpen. Nick Gordon has spent his life around the game of baseball thanks to his father. “It’s been all my life. Ever since I was born, my dad had me in a clubhouse. Always had a bat and ball, always trying to get on a baseball field.” He understands and appreciates what he has in his father and his brother. “Without my dad and my brother, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Everything I know and everything that they’ve taught me. I’ve used it in my game. It’s made me a totally better player and a better person, and I thank God for them every day.” Deron Johnson talked a little bit about how the bloodlines matter in scouting. “In the scouting world, we always say big league bloodlines are going to help at some point. You really don’t know, but the kid is made up right.” He added what might be the biggest advantage when a player does have family with that big league acumen. “(Confidence is) what really helps him out with the big league bloodlines because there’s a lot of peaks and valleys in baseball. He’s a pretty even-keeled kid.” But let’s not confuse things. Nick Gordon was not the fifth overall pick solely because his dad and brother are major league baseball players. Gordon has earned his lofty draft position. The Twins first saw him when he was a sophomore in high school when they were at his high school to see a couple other players they were scouting. Scouts talk about the five tools; hitting, hitting for power, fielding, arm and speed. The Twins believe he already has four of those tools. They believe he will hit. They believe he can stick at shortstop because he is a very solid, sure fielder. He also has the 90+ mph arm which will help him make those long throws from deep in the hole. Though he isn’t as fast as his brother, he also has great speed. Where even the Twins draft room was divided is whether or not he will develop the power tool. Johnson said he believes he will develop some power as he continues to grow and mature and learn the game. “I think he’s going to have power. We all think he’s going to hit for high average. If he hits for power, he can be a JJ Hardy type, or a Stephen Drew type.” For what it’s worth, Gordon also believes he will be able to hit the ball out of the park. “I think I can be a line drive, gap-to-gap hitter, but I also think I can hit 20 to 25 bombs a year. I can be that leadoff guy. I can be the next Carl Crawford leading off, or the next Derek Jeter leading off. I pattern my game after those guys at the plate. I know I can be a 1 or 2 or 3 hitter in the game someday.” Although it isn’t always listed with the other five tools, many people now put “plate discipline” in the category of the tools. It is an area that both Gordon and Johnson say he continued to improve in his senior year in high school. It’s a skill that is very important as he progresses up the organizational ladder. Plate discipline also speaks to poise and maturity which is important when you consider giving such a young man a large signing bonus. The slot amount for the number five pick this year is about $3.85 million. There is no question that Gordon will be able to handle the money and continue to work as hard as he has to get to this point. Beyond the bloodlines, Gordon has some of the intangibles that can take him to that next level. “I’m so competitive now. I love winning, and I love being a leader.” When asked who some of the players were who he looked up to and admired, we get a glimpse of what makes him so special as a person and as a prospect. “Derek Jeter and my brother. I get compared to my brother a lot, but I want to be the player Derek Jeter was one day. He’s a leader. He’s accountable. He’s always in the right place. He’s a professional on and off the field. My brother can really play the game. He plays the game hard, and he doesn’t take it for granted. Even through the struggles, he’s learned to work his way through them and make adjustments. I want to be able to do that when I get older, and I know I’ll be able to do that.” Last summer, Gordon came to the Twin Cities for the Perfect Game Nationals. He enjoyed it, but he understands the weather in Minnesota will not be the same as it was in Orlando. “One thing I really knew is it was really cold in Minnesota. I’ve got to make that adjustment. But if I’m cold, then everyone else is cold. I’m going to enjoy playing in the cold, and in the climate. Being away from home, I’m ready to see it.” When asked, Deron Johnson said that he didn’t know where Gordon would start his journey as a professional baseball saying that once he signs, it will be up to Brad Steil and the player development team. That said, we can make some assumptions based on history. On signing, he will begin his professional career, most likely with the Gulf Coast League Twins. If he performs and looks comfortable, there is a good chance he will end the year with a stint in Elizabethton. Following the season, he will likely be invited to Florida Instructional League. That is the path that the Twins went with Byron Buxton, their first round draft pick in 2012. That is the path that they went with both Kohl Stewart, last year’s top choice. In each of those cases, the players began their first full season in Cedar Rapids. It’s a long journey from high school draft pick to the big leagues and for Nick Gordon his journey with the Minnesota Twins is about to take off. It should be a lot of fun for us to watch at Twins Daily over the coming years.

With their 2nd round pick, 46th overall, the Twins selected someone they had drafted before. They drafted RHP Nick Burdi, a relief pitcher from Louisville that they selected in the 24th round in the 2011 draft out of high school. They couldn't convince him to sign then, but he should certainly sign this time around. Burdi throws serious heat, occasionally touching 100 mph on a radar gun. He immediately takes over the spot as the top-rated reliever in the Twins organization. Prior to the 2011 draft, many projected Burdi to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick, though he had committed to Louisville. Because teams knew he was unlikely to sign, he fell. He was happy that the Twins drafted him, but he wanted to honor his commitment to the Cardinals. He has been one of the most dominant relievers in the college ranks since his freshman year. He is blessed with an arm that reaches 100 mph regularly, and even touched 103 at one point. There is a fair question of what is too early to select a relief pitcher, but Burdi may be an exception. He was projected to be a mid-to-late first round pick this year and fell to the Twins. He immediately becomes the #1 relief pitching prospect in the organization, far ahead of Zach Jones or Michael Tonkin. He is the type who could move very quickly. In fact, he could probably (in theory) pitch for the Twins right now. The Twins will likely, and wisely, be more patient, protecting such a valuable arm. At 6-4 and 215, pounds, he was ranked the #31 prospect by MLB.com and #36 by Baseball America, so getting him at #46 would appear to be a great deal. In 33.1 innings for Louisville (so far) this season, he had 58 strikeouts and just ten walks. Opponents hit just .125 against him.

Good morning, Twins fans!! Today is the day we have been thinking about since the end of the 2013 season when the Minnesota Twins finished with the fifth-worst record in baseball. That means the Twins have the fifth pick in each round of the MLB Draft. On Thursday evening, we will know who the Twins selected with the #5 overall pick, but we'll also find out who they took with their second round pick (#46) later in the evening. One of the "positives" of playing so poorly is a high draft choice the next season. Twins fans, we're used to that as the Twins have had a high draft choice the past two years too. Of course, two years ago, it meant they were able to draft outfielder Byron Buxton from a rural Georgia high school with the second overall pick in 2012. Last year, the Twins went the prep route again and selected athletic, hard-throwing righty Kohl Stewart with the fourth overall pick. (SD Buhr talked to Stewart about his thoughts on his first full season in professional baseball last week) Who will the Twins select this evening with the fifth overall pick this year? Well, unfortunately, we are going to have to remain patient until early this evening. The Major League Draft starts at 6:00 central time with the first overall pick. The Houston Astros have earned that selection each of the last three seasons and they've taken shortstop Carlos Correa and "sure-thing" right-hander Mark Appel. After the Astros pick, the Miami Marlins well draft. After that, the Windy City will get some air time as the White Sox have the third pick and the Cubs have the fourth pick. There are a lot of scenarios that could play out with those top four picks. As much as we think that the Twins might go in one direction (most mock drafts have the Twins taking Florida high schooler Nick Gordon), we won't know until about 6:30 central time tonight. Over the last few weeks, at Twins Daily, we have done profiles of the several players that the Twins could take: Trea Turner - SS - North Carolina State Aaron Nola - RHP - Louisiana State U. Tyler Beede - RHP - Vanderbilt Kyle Freeland - LHP - Evansville U Brady Aiken - LHP - High School in California Tyler Kolek - RHP - High School in Texas Nick Gordon - SS - High School in Florida Carlos Rodon - LHP - North Carolina State Alex Jackson - C/OF - High School in California Of course, depending upon how things go, the Twins could surprise and go in a different direction. Hartford left-hander Sean Newcomb, a 6-5 230 pounder with a mid-90s fastball, a slider and changeup in the low-to-mid 80s and a curveball in the mid-to-high 70s, has certainly picked up some steam as the draft approaches. Twins Daily is fortunate to have Jeremy Nygaard as a key part of this community. His efforts with the Rosters & Payrolls page is remarkable. However, his knowledge and passion for the draft are unrivaled in this market. He has kept us updated for a couple of months on developments in the MLB Draft. In the last few weeks, he has provided us with mock drafts. Mock Draft 1.0 - 5/18/14 Mock Draft 2.0 - 5/28/14 Mock Draft 3.0 - 6/5/14 He even posted his predictions (or at least some options) for what the Twins will do with their first ten picks over the next couple days. The MLB Draft is such an important time for MLB teams. They are able to make 40 (or more) picks to add talent to the organization. In any given year, if two or three of the picks become useful big leaguers, the draft was a huge success. When a team has such high picks, it is more important to be right. That's the position that the Twins find themselves in for the third straight season. We encourage you to keep close to Twins Daily for more updates. However, be sure to stop by at 6:00 when we will have a special MLB Draft Twins Hangouts show. Jeremy Nygaard and Seth Stohs will be joined by John Bonnes to talk about the draft and the picks leading up to the Twins pick (which should occur just after 6:30). We'll be on until around 7 with our reaction to whoever it is the Twins select. Then at 9:00, John, Jeremy and I will take their discussion to the air waves. Tune in to KFAN (fm 100.3 in the Twin Cities, or here online) for a Minnesota Twins draft show. We will discuss the Twins first round pick, but we'll also tell you more about the Twins 2nd round pick. That pick should be made around 9:35, so Jeremy can tell us more about that player as well. It's going to be a full, fun, busy day here at Twins Daily. Use this thread to discuss rumors throughout the day. Even more fun, post below your thoughts on who will be taken with each of the top 5 or 10 picks. And then on Friday, we will have a new article for the Twins Day 2 picks, which will cover rounds 3-10. On Saturday, we will post and discuss selections from rounds 11-40 in a Day 3 article. Jeremy Nygaard will provide some thoughts on each pick. A quick reminder: Thanks to the Twins win over the Brewers Wednesday, it means that on Thursday you can get 50% off a Large of Extra Large pizza when you use the “TWINSWIN” promotion code at PapaJohns.com.

It was a busy day throughout the Twins organization. The Twins returned home to play the second half of their two-at-home, two-on-the-road series with the Brewers. Oswaldo Arcia had a three run homer and an RBI single that gave the Twins their final lead, the one they were able to hold on to. The Rochester Red Wings played two games and each of the other affiliates played as well. The Ft. Myers Miracle put Max Kepler on the disabled list. After four Miracle players (Adam Walker, Brett Lee, JO Berrios, David Hurlbut) were named to the Florida State League All-Star game on Tuesday, the Midwest League named its All-Stars on Wednesday. Three members of the Kernels were named to the team: Bryan Haar, Yorman Landa and Kohl Stewart. Thursday is Day 1 of the Draft, and Twins Daily is certainly your place to discuss. Come back at 6:00 (central time) tonight for a special Twins Hangouts Draft special with Jeremy Nygaard, Seth Stohs and guest John Bonnes. Then at 9:00 central time, we will have a special draft show live on KFAN, so be sure to check that out. Without further ado, here is what happened in the Twins farm system on Wednesday night: RED WINGS REPORT Game 1 – Rochester 7, Charlotte 5 Box Score It was, by far, the worst start of the season for lefty Kris Johnson, but the Red Wings bats bailed him out and helped him improve to 6-2. Johnson gave up five runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four. Michael Tonkin struck one out over two perfect innings for the save. The Red Wings used power to score five runs in the second inning. Dan Rohlfing hit his first home run of the year, a three-run blast. Two batters later, Doug Bernier hit a two run homer, his third of the year. Rohlfing and Bernier each had one more hit. Eric Farris went 2-4 with a walk and his ninth double. Chris Colabello went 1-2 with two walks. Game 2 – Rochester 9, Charlotte 5 Box Score Scott Diamond started the second game. He was given a 5-0 lead, but he gave up solo homers in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. However, the Red Wings added four more runs in the 5th and held on. Diamond improved to 3-6 on the season. He went five innings and gave up just the three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three. Deolis Guerra pitched the sixth inning and gave up one run on two hits and a walk. Aaron Thompson gave up one run on one hit and a walk in the seventh frame. Danny Ortiz went 0-4 on Tuesday in his first game with the Red Wings. His second AAA game was in Game 2. He went 2-3 with his first home run and four runs driven in. Brad Nelson went 3-4. James Beresford was 2-3 with a walk and his tenth double. Deibinson Romero went 1-1 and was walked three times. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 6, Akron 9 Box Score It’s safe to say that there wasn’t a pitcher’s duel in New Britain on Wednesday night. Tyler Duffey made the start for the Rock Cats. He gave up six runs on ten hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out five. Mark Hamburger came on and gave up three runs (1 earned) on four hits in two innings. He struck out two. Ryan O’Rourke, Jim Fuller and Lester Oliveros each pitched a scoreless innings. O’Rourke struck out two. Fuller struck out three and Oliveros struck out one. Reynaldo Rodriguez continued his torrid streak. He went 3-4 with his 17th and 18th doubles. Nate Hanson also had three hits in the game. Mike Kvasnicka went 2-4. Brandon Waring added a two-run double, his 12th two-bagger of the year. Tony Thomas added his 12th double of the year as well. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 3, Lakeland 10 Box Score DJ Baxendale was returned to Ft. Myers to get some innings under his belt. He began the season with New Britain, but an arm injury cost him more than a month. He returned but was pitching out of the Rock Cats bullpen. The team decided to send him back to the Miracle to stretch him out. Last year, he began the season with the Miracle and in nine starts went 7-0 with a 1.10 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. On this night, he was terrific through three innings, but then things turned for him. In total, he gave up six runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four. Alex Wimmers, also now a bullpen arm, gave up four runs (2 earned) on six hits and a walk in three innings. He did strike out six. Madison Boer gave up a hit and a walk in one scoreless inning. Eddie Rosario led the offense, going 3-4. Following his 1-11 start, he is now hitting .308 in his short stint with the Miracle. Niko Goodrum went 2-4. Adam Walker, Travis Harrison and Stuart Turner each collected a double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 6 Box Score There were some fireworks in the middle innings, and unfortunately the Kernels lost on a walk-off home in the bottom of the 9th. Aaron Slegers started and gave up four runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one, hit two and struck out five. Brandon Bixler pitched a scoreless eighth inning. In the ninth, he gave up a single and the walk-off home run. Engelb Vielma went 2-4 with a walk and his seventh double. Chad Christensen went 2-4 with his ninth double. Mitch Garver went 2-3 with two walks. In the 6th inning, Slegers hit a batter before giving up a home run to Clint Coulter. At that time, things got interesting. The next batter was almost hit by a pitch and took exception. The benches cleared. Catcher Michael Quesada was ejected. So was Twins roving minor league hitting instructor Bill Springman. Two members of the TimberRattlers were ejected as well. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jim Fuller, New Britain Rock Cats Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Reynaldo Rodriguez, New Britain Rock Cats THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Charlotte (6:05 CST) – Trevor May (Listen) Akron @ New Britain (5:35 CST) – Sean Gilmartin (Listen) Lakeland @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) – Tim Shibuya (Listen) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05 CST) – Fernando Romero (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games. A quick reminder:Thanks to the Twins win over the Brewers Wednesday, it means that on Thursday you can get 50% off a Large of Extra Large pizza when you use the “TWINSWIN” promotion code at PapaJohns.com.

In the last two days, we’ve discussed the top pitchers, starters and relievers, in the Minnesota Twins farm system. Today, we’ll write up some of the top hitters. While there were tons of great pitching performances in the month of May, it was a bit more difficult to find top hitting performances. That said, we have five below and a couple of honorable mentions that are deserving of recognition. A quick reminder. Twins Daily is covering all angles of the Major League draft, which starts on Thursday night with the first two picks. On Thursday at 6:00 PM, join Jeremy Nygaard and Seth Stohs, with guest John Bonnes, for a special Twins Hangout. The Twins should pick around 6:30 PM, so we’ll be discussing what the previous picks could mean for the Twins. Be sure to check out TwinsDaily.com for more details on Thursday night. Also, on Thursday at 9:00 PM, the show will continue on KFAN where we will discuss the draft’s first round as well as the Twins second pick which should be made during that hour. So without further ado, here are my selections for the Top 5 Twins Minor League hitters in May: Number 5 – Rochester – Oswaldo Arcia - (21-70) .300/.342/.614 (.956) with seven doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI. Should Arcia be on this list? Maybe not. Some of these stats were compiled as part of his major league rehabilitation stint. About half of them were after he was taken off the DL and optioned to Rochester. While he was rehabbing, he was unable to stay on the field for more than two days in a row. Seemingly the day he was optioned, he started crushing the baseball. That isn’t a surprise. Arcia is a big leaguer who was just getting rid of some rust with the Red Wings. Number 4 – New Britain – Reynaldo Rodriguez – (36-107) .336/.368/.579 (.947) with eight doubles, six home runs and 16 RBI. After hitting 21 home runs last year for New Britain, Rodriguez re-signed with the Twins in the offseason. The 28 year old Colombian returned to the Rock Cats this year, moving into the outfield. He hit just .231 in 2013 but this year he is hitting .306/.353/.527 (.880). He has 15 doubles and eight homers,and as you can see, most of those extra base hits came in May. Originally signed in 2003 by the Yankees, Rodriguez spent a couple years in the independent leagues before signing with the Red Sox. Number 3 – Cedar Rapids – Jason Kanzler - (29-81) .358/.411/.605 (1.016) with three doubles, one triple, five home runs and 19 RBI. Kanzler began the 2014 season at Extended Spring Training. A week later, he was promoted to the Kernels to play centerfield. He was the Twins 20th round pick last year out of the University of Buffalo where he had won a couple NCAA Gold Glove Awards. He hit just .220 last year in the GCL with 15 extra base hits. He was also 13 for 14 in stolen base attempts. He has been very good this year with the Kernels. Overall, he is hitting .309/.358/.481 with five doubles, four triples and five home runs. He also has ten steals in 12 attempts. Number 2 – New Britain – Kennys Vargas - (38-106) .358/.430/.566 (.996) with seven doubles, five home runs and 24 RBI. Little Papi (who is actually bigger than Big Papi) had a very impressive month. Importanlyt, he was pretty consistent throughout the month with a couple of six game hot streaks. Early in the month, he had a six-game streak where he went 12-28. Later in the month, he had a six game stretch in which he went 12-21. He continues to show he can hit for average and power from both sides of the plate. The 24-year-old from Puerto Rico has put himself squarely into future Twins plans. He has greatly improved his plate discipline and approach. The May Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is... New Britain Rock Cats OF Danny Ortiz (40-103) .388/.402/.660 (1.062) with 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 23 RBI. Ortiz was the Twins fourth-round pick in 2008 out of high school in Puerto Rico. The 24-year-old had a tough first month, likely disappointed to be back in the Eastern League. He hit .227 and managed just four extra base hits. He took off in May, though. He has certainly been a streaky hitter, having had some really terrific months over the years. Although his MLB future would appear to be a fourth or fifth outfielder, he is the kind of guy who is still young and could play for a long time. He can play all three positions well. He is a fundamentally sound defender. His biggest flaw is that he completely lacks the will to do much walking. In May, he had 14 multi-hit games, including four three-hit games for the Rock Cats. Although he was consistent throughout the month, he finished very strong. In his final five games, he went 10-19 with three doubles and a triple. In a mid-month three-game series against Richmond, he had eight hits including three doubles and a home run. Listed at just 5-11 and 175 pounds (which seems pretty accurate), Ortiz can pack a big punch. Overall, he is hitting .324/.340/.500 (.840) with 16 doubles, two triples and four home runs. He and Vargas, along with Eddie Rosario, teamed together this spring to help their Puerto Rican team into the Caribbean Series. In time, all three could contribute to the Twins as well. There were several solid performances in May that weren’t included in the Top 5. Here are some Honorable Mentions who just missed out on the Top 5. Deibinson Romero (29-102) .284/.378/.490 (.868) with 10 doubles, a triple, three homers and 15 RBI. Adam Walker (27-103) .262/.296/.524 (.821) with six doubles, seven homers and 20 RBI. Feel free to comment and discuss.

After looking at the May Relief Pitchers of the Month, we turn our attention to the starters in the Twins farm system. There were some really strong performances. In fact, one starter who went 5-0 did not make the top five list. Another with a strikeout per inning and a 2.43 ERA didn’t make the top five. Some of the Twins top pitching prospects had impressive months and a couple of lesser known minor leaguers continued to put up numbers. With that, let's jump to the starting pitchers. Here are the Top 5 Starting Pitchers for the month of May: Number 5 – Rochester – Kris Johnson - 5 GS, 3-0, 1.13 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 32.0 IP, 24 H, 14 BB, 30 K The 29 year old came to the Twins from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason in exchange for Duke Welker, who was the Player to be Named Later in the Justin Morneau deal last July. The 2013 International League Pitcher of the Year has been even better so far this season. Overall, he’s 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA after posting a 2.39 ERA last year. Johnson’s month began with a spot start with the Twins where he struck out five (and walked six) in just 4.1 innings. The lefty sits 89 to 91 and touches 93 at times. He’s got a good mix of pitches. Number 4 – Ft. Myers – David Hurlbut - 5 GS, 2-1, 2.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 36.0 IP, 31 H, 2 BB, 20 K The Twins drafted Hurlbut in the 35th round in 2009 and again in the 28th round in 2011 out of Cal State-Fullerton. He has pitched in pretty much every role in the Twins farm system in just a couple of years. He has pitched in long relief, short relief and also been a closer. However, each year, his team ends up making him a starter and each year he pitches well in the role. 2014 is no exception. The 24-year-old works fast with three good pitches and incredible control. He doesn’t have the strikeout stuff of others, but he limits base runners by not handing out free passes. Long-term, maybe he will be a reliever, but for his minor league teams, he has been a leader in the rotation. Number 3 – Ft. Myers – Trevor May - 5 GS, 3-2, 1.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 29.2 IP, 23 H, 13 BB, 30 K In May’s first start in May, he walked one and struck out 11 over six innings. In his second start, he gave up four earned runs on eight hits and three walks in just 4.1 innings. Since then, he has not given up a run. In his last four starts, he has worked 26 scoreless innings. The streak has pushed his overall numbers this season to 5-3 with a 2.62 ERA. His walk rate continues to drop (although it is still 3.6 per nine) which is encouraging. May has certainly put himself in a position to be called up when the Twins have a need. Of course, so have Kris Johnson and Yohan Pino. Number 2 – Ft. Myers – JO Berrios - 5 GS, 3-1, 1.84 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 29.1 IP, 23 H, 12 BB, 36 K May was a big month for the young Berrios. First, he became a first-time father. Also, as of last week he is no longer a teenager. And yet, he is in the Florida State League putting up some impressive numbers. The 2012 supplemental first round pick from Puerto Rico has not let the fact that he’s over three years younger than the league average player in the league get in his way. In May, he put things together. Berrios has had quite the start to his professional career. He dominated at two levels of rookie league that first summer. In 2013, he was on the Puerto Rican team in the World Baseball Classic. He found himself making a few Top 100 prospect lists. This season, he has been terrific. Berrios throws hard, sitting 92 to 94, but he has touched 96 mph on several occasions. He has a very good curveball and a slider. He also has an ever-improving changeup. Also note that his June 1 start gives him a pretty good start toward June pitcher of the month consideration. And the TwinsMinor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is: Number 1- Ft. Myers – Matt Tomshaw - 4 GS, 4-0, 0.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 27.0 IP, 19 H, 5 BB, 11 K Earlier in the month, I wrote about two Unsung Southpaws, #3 David Hurlbut and this month’s Starting Pitcher of the Month, 25-year-old Matt Tomshaw. Both would not fit on your top 40 or top 50 Twins prospect lists, but both have been tremendous. Look at what Hurlbut, Berrios, May and Johnson did this month. And for that matter, look at what the three pitchers that I listed as Honorable Mention below accomplished. Now take another look at what Tomshaw did in May. In mid-April, Tomshaw had made three relief appearances and he was sent back to Extended Spring Training. Why? To work on The Thing! It is a pitch he had not been able to use the last two seasons. Now, it is a pitch that they want him to throw a lot in a game. When asked to describe The Thing, Tomshaw describes it as, “…like a knuckle split. Moves left to right and drops. Occasionally straight down or an abrupt right turn.” The other thing is that after sitting in the mid-to-upper 80s earlier in his career, Tomshaw now sits 89 to 91 mph with his fastball. He also throws a curveball and a changeup. Upon returning to the Miracle, he made one April start and gave up one run in four innings. In his five innings, he has worked at least six innings in each start. He gave up zero earned runs in three of the four and just two runs in 7.2 innings on May 20. In his final May start, he gave up three hits over eight shutout innings. There were a lot of very good starting pitching performances in May. It was difficult to rank the five above, and here are a few more starters who were strongly considered: Honorable Mention: Sean Gilmartin – New Britain – 5 GS, 3-1, 2.43 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 37.0 IP, 33 H, 12 BB, 37 K Taylor Rogers – New Britain – 6 GS, 5-0, 2.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 37 H, 11 BB, 31 K Kohl Stewart – Cedar Rapids – 5 GS, 0-1, 2.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 21 H, 11 BB, 19 K We’ll be back tomorrow to discuss Hitter of the Month. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. Twins beat the Yankees on Sunday, so you win today. Get 50% of a Large or XL pizza at PapaJohns.com when using the promo code 'TWINSWIN'.

May was a great month for right-hander JO Berrios. Mid-month, he became a first-time father. Late last week, he lost his status as a teenager. However, keep reading to see how his June started! Kohl Stewart was also on the mound in Cedar Rapids and pitched well. Also, check out how a home town player played hero on Sunday afternoon. The Twins won their second straight series in New York against the Yankees with an improbable win in Yankees Stadium. Phil Hughes was tremendous again, working all eight innings against his former teammates. Josh Willingham provided the power, tying the game with a homer to lead off the ninth. Then the Twins added five more runs and won 7-2. TRANSACTIONS The Twins had several transactions on Sunday. Stephen Wickens came off the disabled list and will begin back with the Ft. Myers Miracle. DJ Baxendale has been sent back to Ft. Myers where he will look to return to the form he displayed a year ago for the Miracle. He has been working out of the Rock Cats bullpen the last week as he recovers from his DL stint. He will be starting with the Miracle. Brett Lee is going on the disabled list. Jonathan Murphy was sent back to Cedar Rapids from Ft. Myers. JD Williams was put on the Kernels’ 7-Day disabled list with right patellar tendinitis. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 2, Gwinnett 1 Box Score While Trevor May and Kris Johnson pitched great in May, Yohan Pino just kept doing what he’s done all year: whatever is asked of him. On this day, Pinto went 7.1 innings and gave up just one run on three hits. He walked none and struck out four. 57 of his 87 pitches were strikes. He was replaced by lefty Aaron Thompson in the 8th and he got the next two batters out. Ryan Pressly came in for the ninth. He gave up two hits but no runs to close the door. The Red Wings offense did very little. They had just six hits in the game. The two fifth-inning runs were both scored on grounders. One went to third base where there was an error. The other was just a ground ball to shortstop. James Beresford went 2-3 with a walk and his eighth double. He also stole his fourth base. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 6, Binghamton 1 Box Score The Rock Cats put up a five-spot in the fifth inning and held on the rest of the way for a win. The big hit again came off of the bat of Mike Kvasnicka who hit a bases-clearing double. The former Gopher was 2-4 with his eighth double. He also played centerfield and threw out a runner at home. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-4 with a triple. Tony Thomas was 2-5. He stole his seventh base. Danny Ortiz had two more hits. Pat Dean had a start that he really needed. The lefty gave up only an unearned run in 5.2 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out four. Dan Turpen retired the next four batters. Jim Fuller struck out two in a perfect inning. Adrian Salcedo gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning. MIRACLE MATTERS Game 1 – Ft. Myers 3, Clearwater 0 Box Score JO Berrios had a terrific May. He pitched well, had his first child and he left his teenage status behind. However, he started out June with one of the best starts you’ll see from a minor league pitcher anywhere. The hard-throwing right-hander was at his best. He went all seven innings of Game 1 and gave up no runs. He yielded just one hit. He walked none. And after striking out the side in the seventh inning he had 13 strikeouts in the game. He is now 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA. Travis Harrison led the offense. He went 2-3 with his 16th double. Michael Gonzales was also 2-3. Aderlin Mejia hit his sixth double. For the record, Eddie Rosario was 0-3 with two strikeouts. He has batted third and played centerfield in all three games that he has played for the Miracle. Game 2 – Ft. Myers 8, Tampa 4 Box Score Matt Tomshaw was making his first June start after an incredible May. He began this game with four scoreless innings while yielding one hit. In the fifth, two runs scored, but they were unearned due to a fielding error. He went out for the sixth inning and was charged with two earned run. In total, the left-hander went 5.1 innings and gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked none and struck out six. Tyler Jones came in and got the last two outs in the sixth (although he allowed both inherited runners to score). He worked a scoreless seventh inning to earn his fifth save of the year. The offense was led by the top four in the lineup. They combined to go 7-13 with a walk, six runs and four RBI. Aderlin Mejia went 2-3 with his seventh double. Stephen Wickens was 2-4. Eddie Rosario went 2-3 with a walk. (Yes, Eddie Rosario played in centerfield and batted third again) Those first three each scored two runs. Adam Walker drove in two runs and now has 41 RBI on the season. The big hit in the four-run second was a bases-clearing double from Dalton Hicks. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, Burlington 3 Box Score Chad Christensen was the Twins 25th round pick last year out of Nebraska. However, he was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, so he has been able to enjoy his first full season in professional baseball at home. On Sunday afternoon, he was able to play hero in front of the home crowd. With the game tied at three in the bottom of the eighth inning, Christensen hit a long home run, his fourth of the year, which gave the Kernels a lead they held on to. Mitch Garver’s seventh home run of the season tied the game at three in the fourth inning. He was 3-4. Bryan Haar went 2-3. Kohl Stewart made the start. He gave up three runs, but just one was earned. He gave up five hits, walked none and struck out four. Jared Wilson came in and gave up only a walk over two hitless innings. He struck out two. With the lead, Todd Van Steensel worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fourth save. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – JO Berrios, Ft. Myers Miracle Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Mike Kvasnicka, New Britain Rock Cats MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Gwinnett @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – Alex Meyer (Listen) New Britain – No Game Scheduled (Listen) Tampa @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) – DJ Baxendale (Listen) Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 CST) – Derrick Penilla (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Sunday games. A quick reminder: Thanks to the Twins afternoon win over the Yankees in New York on Sunday afternoon, it means that on Monday you can get 50% off a Large of Extra Large pizza when you use the “TWINSWIN” promotion code at PapaJohns.com.

It is hard to believe the baseball season is nearly two months old. I guess it is only June 1, but it’s time to look back at some of the best performers in the Minnesota Twins farm system. We will start today by looking at the top relief pitchers. There were a lot of terrific bullpen performances this month. Coming up with a top five was difficult. That is why there are several honorable mentions. However, it was pretty easy to pick this month’s Relief Pitcher of the Month. He’s a guy who has experienced a lot of success ever since he signed with the Twins organization. Number 5 – New Britain – Lester Oliveros - 1.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 8 H, 9 BB, 17 K Oliveros was on this list last month, and his elbow certainly appears to be back at 100%. According to a recent Baseball America story, part of the reason he was sent to AA was because he showed up to camp overweight. However, now the weight is off and he’s back to throwing mid-90s heat. Overall on the season, he has a 0.78 ERA and seven saves for the Rock Cats. As you recall, Oliveros came to the organization from the Tigers in the Delmon Young trade. He got to the Twins but he ended up having Tommy John surgery in September of 2012. He should be moving up to Rochester in the very near future. He will have to throw more strikes in order to get another opportunity with the Minnesota Twins. Number 4 – Cedar Rapids/Ft. Myers – Brandon Peterson – 0.90 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 12 K The Minnesota native was on this list last month when dominating in Cedar Rapids. He made two more May appearances with the Kernels before being promoted to the Miracle. He continued to dominate out of the bullpen. Petersen throws hard, vaulting fastballs into the mid-90s. He combines that pitch with a low-80s slider that makes him very difficult on right-handed hitters. He was the 13th round pick just last year out of Wichita State. He had pitched at Des Moines Area Community College before that. Number 3 – Cedar Rapids – Todd Van Steensel – 1.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 18.0 IP, 13 H, 6 BB, 22 K Van Steensel was signed by the Twins early this year after a strong season in the Australian Baseball League. It will be his second stint with the Twins as he spent the 2011 season with Elizabethton where he went 5-2. In his time away, he has moved to the bullpen, he has altered his mechanics and has become a dominant reliever. He now employs a high leg kick in his delivery, and he airs it out. He still has a good three pitches. He began the season in Extended Spring Training, but he was called up to Cedar Rapids at the end of April. He now has some really good stuff and a chance to move up fairly quickly. Number 2 – Ft. Myers – Tim Shibuya – 1.10 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 19 K Shibuya’s first month in the Florida State League didn’t go so well. He posted a 7.98 ERA. He gave up 22 hits in 14.1 innings. The turn of the calendar from April to May did wonders for Shibuya. He was the 23rd round pick in 2011 out of UC-San Diego. He was the Appy League Pitcher of the Year when he went 8-2 in Elizabethton. In the second half of 2012, he developed arm problems and had shoulder surgery in the offseason. It cost him much of the 2013 season as well, though he ended the season going 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 10 outings. Shibuya doesn’t throw real hard, topping out around 90. However, he has been working on a cutter. He’s got a curveball and a changeup as well. He has always had impeccable control. And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is: Rochester – AJ Achter – 1.72 ERA, 0.45 WHIP, 15.2 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 15 K He was my choice for minor league relief pitcher of the year in 2012, his first year as a reliever, and he was almost as good last year as he smoothly adjusted to the upper levels of the farm system. Yes, he began this season back in AA, but he quickly (3 games) moved up to Rochester when there was an opening. He has been tremendous with the Red Wings. Overall, he has a 1.41 ERA and a 0.63 ERA this year. Achter was the Twins 46th round draft pick in 2010 out of Michigan State. Achter generally sits in the low-90s but has the ability to hit 95 from time to time. He also has a good changeup along with a curveball and slider. While Michael Tonkin has the prospect status, it is Achter who continues to get the job done in whatever role he is put in. Most often, he is asked to go two or even three innings, but he also has four saves for the Red Wings. Following the 2013 season, Achter pitched in the Arizona Fall League. However, he was not added to the 40 man roster. The way he is pitching, he should be added to the 40 man roster during this season and get an opportunity with the big league club. Quickly, here are some Honorable Mentions, a few guys worthy of recognition: Yohan Pino – Rochester – 2.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 18.2 IP, 16 H, 4 BB, 16 K Ryan Pressly – Rochester – 2.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 17 H, 1 BB, 16 K Aaron Thompson – Rochester – 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 11 K Tyler Jones – Ft. Myers – 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 5 H, 7 BB, 10 K Yorman Landa – Cedar Rapids – 1.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 15.0 IP, 8 H, 8 BB, 16 K Relief pitchers deserve to get more recognition. Seemingly only when things go poorly do fans notice them. That’s one of the reasons that we recognize the relief pitchers here. Each of these pitchers did their job, and they all did it well. In the next couple of days, we’ll also be recognizing the top starting pitchers and hitters for the month of May.

Ricky Nolasco was not at his best, but he still was able to limit the Yankees offense to just one run over six innings. The bullpen finished with three scoreless innings, and the Twins had a 6-1 win over their nemesis from the Bronx. Oswaldo Arcia showed off his power with another home run and he also showed off his very strong arm. He had two outfield assists in the game. Josh Willingham and Trevor Plouffe also homered. A couple of lefties in the upper levels were very impressive, tossing scoreless innings at will. And one of the top power prospects in the Twins organization displayed his home run prowess. Meanwhile, one of the fastest players had the best game of his career. The Red Wings had lots of multi-hit performers. Find out everything that happened in the Twins farm system as well as an update on some of the injured minor leaguers. Kris Johnson photo by Betsy Bissen INJURY UPDATES On Thursday, Twins Daily reported that left-handed pitching prospect Randy Rosario had Tommy John surgery. Also, outfielder Jake Proctor had shoulder surgery. Here are some more injury-related notes from the Twins minor league affiliates. There are several players who have started playing games in Extended Spring Training. That includes outfielders Lance Ray and Nate Robert as well as infielder Stephen Wickens. Pitchers Hein Robb and Chad Rodgers are pitching in Extended Spring Training games. Zach Granite is down in Ft. Myers, and he is now able to do full workouts. Zach Larson had pulled him hamstring and has now started jogging. Logan Wade is rehabbing his shoulder. Jeremias Pineda is still experiencing some soreness in his hand. Yorman Landa has a shoulder impingement. It will be a while before we see Levi Michael as he has a broken bone in his foot. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 7, Gwinnett 0 Box Score Kris Johnson was the International League ERA leader in 2013 when he helped lead Indianapolis to a championship. This year, he has probably been even better. On Friday night, he worked seven scoreless innings to drop his season ERA to 1.83. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five. In his last seven starts, he has given up just four earned runs in 42.1 innings for a 0.85 ERA in this streak. Ryan Pressly came on and gave up nothing over two perfect innings. He struck out two. The Red Wings got their offensive support from multiple sources with multiple hits. Eric Farris went 3-4 with a walk and his sixth and seventh doubles. Wilkin Ramirez was 3-4 with his eighth and ninth doubles. Brad Nelson was 3-5 with his fifth double. Eric Fryer and Doug Bernier were both 2-4. Fryer hit his seventh double, and Bernier hit his ninth. Chris Colabello went 0-4 and is now 1-14 (.071) in the four games since his demotion. Chris Herrmann was out with a sore wrist. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 4, Binghamton 0 Box Score Sean Gilmartin is another left-hander who is pitching well of late. The lefty improved to 5-3 with six shutout innings on this night. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out nine. DJ Baxendale, who is working back from his shoulder issues in the bullpen, got the next five outs, two on strikeouts. Lefty Ryan O’Rourke was brought in to face one batter and he got a strikeout. Matt Summers, who has been moved to the bullpen, finished the game with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth. The Rock Cats did not get a lot of offense. They managed just six hits in the game but one was huge. All four of their runs came in just one inning. With the bases loaded in the fourth, Nate Hanson drove in Danny Ortiz with a sacrifice fly. Three batters later, the bases were full again. Mike Kvasnicka came to bat and drilled his sixth double of the year. It drove in all three runners. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-3 with a walk and his 15th double. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 7, Clearwater 4 Box Score Down 4-1 through seven innings, the Miracle bats took over. Adam Walker led off the 8th frame with his 11th home run of the year. Two walks and an error on a sacrifice bunt and Michael Gonzales came through with a big bases-clearing double. Two batters later, Gonzales scored the fifth run of the inning on a Jorge Polanco sacrifice fly. In the 9th inning, Adam Walker led off again and this time crushed his 12th home run of the season. Walker led the way. He went 3-5 with the two home runs and his seventh double. Brett Lee made the start and gave up three runs (2 earned) on six hits over just three innings. He walked none and struck out one. Alex Wimmers came out of the bullpen and gave up one run on three hits in three innings. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out four. Mason Melotakis walked one and struck out one in one scoreless inning. Tim Shibuya recorded his first save of the season (second of his career) with two perfect innings. He struck out three. In case you were wondering, Eddie Rosario went 1-5 in the game. For the second straight night, he batted third and played in center field. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 10, Wisconsin 5 Box Score Ethan Mildren was the recipient of a lot of run support to help him to his first Midwest League win. He gave up four runs in the third inning, but then held the Timber Rattlers scoreless through the sixth inning. He was charged with another run in the 7th inning. So his line reads that he gave up five earned run on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four. Brandon Bixler came on and struck out two in two scoreless innings. Hudson Boyd pitched a scoreless ninth. Engelb Vielma led the offense with his biggest day as a pro. The second baseman went 4-4 with his sixth double and four RBI. Ryan Walker went 2-5 with his first two doubles of the season. Joel Licon went 2-4 with his fourth double. Michael Quesada hit his second home run of the season, a three-run blast in the fourth. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Kris Johnson, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Adam Walker, Ft. Myers Miracle SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Gwinnett @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – Trevor May (Listen) Binghamton @ Virgil Vasquez (5:35 CST) – Virgil Vasquez (Listen) Tampa @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) – JO Berrios (Listen) Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (5:05 CST) – Josue Montanez (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. A quick reminder: Thanks to the Twins win over the Yankees in New York on Friday, it means that on Saturday you can get 50% off a Large of Extra Large pizza when you use the “TWINSWIN” promotion code at PapaJohns.com.

Kyle Gibson gave up a few hits but was able to get through six shutout innings against the Rangers. Unfortunately, the Twins were unable to do much with their bats and the Twins lost by a score of 1-0. Quality pitching was a consistent theme throughout the Twins minor league system on Wednesday night as all four of the affiliate’s starters also put together quality starts. Danny Ortiz remains the hottest hitter in the Twins farm system, and there were some close games. So, continue reading to find out what’s going on down on the farm. Photo by Linwood Ferguson, Ft. Myers Miracle INJURY UPDATES Twins Daily learned that a couple of minor leaguers had successful surgery on Wednesday. Cedar Rapids left-handed pitcher Randy Rosario had elbow surgery. Outfielder Jake Proctor, who was at Extended Spring Training, had shoulder surgery. TRANSACTIONS It was learned that Mark Hamburger’s suspension is over and he will be reporting to New Britain. Dallas Gallant came off the reserve list and was sent to Extended Spring Training. Eddie Rosario is due to come off of the DL and will play some games for the Miracle as early as today. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 4, Syracuse 3 Box Score Alex Meyer’s first two starts of May were a struggle. However, he gave up just one run in 10.1 innings over his two previous starts. On Wednesday, it was more of the same for Meyer. He was perfect through three innings and ended up with a quality start. The right-hander went six innings and gave up two runs (1 earned) on three hits and three walks. He struck out eight. Ryan Pressly came on and was charged with one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out one. Aaron Thompson came on and gave up a hit and a walk but survived the ninth inning for his second save of the year. Deibinson Romero led the offense by going 3-4 with his 13th double. Pedro Florimon was also 3-4 (and is now hitting .227). Eric Fryer went 2-4 with his sixth double and first triple. ROCK CATS REVIEW Game 1 – New Britain 9, Portland 8 Box Score With one out in the bottom of the second inning on Tuesday night, this game was suspended with the score already 5-5. The teams finished the game last night. Pat Dean was charged with six earned runs on six hits and a walk. Dan Turpen came on and gave up one run over the next 2.2 innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. Cole Johnson threw the next three innings. He gave up one run on three hits, a walk and he struck out four. Lester Oliveros recorded the win on his 26th birthday. He worked the final two innings and gave up only one hit. He struck out four. Danny Ortiz has been on fire! In this game, he was 3-5 with his second triple and two RBI. Nate Hanson went 2-4 with a walk and his 12th double. Tony Thomas was 2-4 with his 10th double. Reynaldo Rodriguez was 2-5 including his eighth home run. Kennys Vargas was 2-5. Game 2 – New Britain 4, Portland 2 Box Score Through six innings, Taylor Rogers had not allowed a run and given up just three hits and two walks. His team had a 4-0 lead. He began the 7th inning, looking for a seven-inning complete game. However, he gave up a double, single, single and double and left the game with a 4-2 lead and a runners on second and third. Matt Summers came in and got a pop-up in the infield followed by a strikeout. Ryan O’Rourke came on and got a big strikeout to end the game. It was his first save of the season. Rogers is now 5-3 with a 4.69 ERA. It was his seventh straight quality start. His final line was two earned runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five. Corey Wimberly was the instigator at the top of the lineup. He went 3-4 with his 11th and 12th stolen bases. Danny Ortiz continued his stretch of dominance. He went 2-3 with his 14th double and all four RBI. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 4, Clearwater 5 (11 innings) Box Score The Miracle got a second straight great start, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead and the Miracle fell in extra frames. After Matt Tomshaw threw eight shutout innings the night before, unsung southpaw David Hurlbut gave up only an unearned run over his eight innings in this game. He gave up just four hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out a season-high 10 batters. Brian Gilbert took over in the 9th. Unfortunately, he recorded just two outs and gave up a big, three-run homer to tie the game. Steven Gruver came on to get the final out of the inning. He also pitched a scoreless tenth frame. However, he gave up a run in the 11th and took the loss. Jorge Polanco went 2-4 with a first-inning triple, his second three-bagger of the year. Aderlin Mejia went 2-5. Adam Walker connected for his tenth home run of the season. It was a solo blast off rehabbing big leaguer Shawn Camp. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Wisconsin 2 Box Score Aaron Slegers had given up 21 runs over his previous three starts. On this night, he turned that around with a very strong outing. He gave up one run on three hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out four. Alex Muren then gave up three hits over two shutout innings. He walked none and struck out four. Todd Van Steensel gave up a solo homer in the 9th but that was the only hit as the Kernels picked up the win. Jason Kanzler continues to hit very well. He went 2-4 with his fifth double and fourth triple. He drove in two runs as well. Bryan Haar went 2-4 with his ninth double. Michael Quesada was 2-3 with his sixth double and two RBI. Ryan Walker was 2-4 and drove in a run. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – David Hurlbut, Ft. Myers Miracle Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Danny Ortiz, New Britain Rock Cats THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Syracuse @ Rochester (10:05 am CST) – Logan Darnell (Listen) New Britain @ Portland (10:00 CST) – Tyler Duffey (vs Henry Owens) (Listen) Ft. Myers @ Clearwater (6:00 CST) – Jason Wheeler (Listen) Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – Ryan Eades (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games.

At 12:10 today, the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers will play the fourth and final game of their series. Samuel Deduno will take the mound for the Twins which means that Josmil Pinto’s catching tutorial will continue. More important, Josmil Pinto’s bat will be in the Twins starting lineup. Inexplicably that has been the case only one time since May 17th. Pinto is easily one of the top hitters on a Twins roster that right now is finding it very difficult to score runs. It seems like it would be an easy decision to get him into the lineup most days of the week (certainly five out of seven games), but for some reason, Pinto has not been playing. Photo by Betsy Bissen Here are the Twins OPS leaders through Tuesday’s game: Eduardo Escobar – .893 Josmil Pinto – .806 Brian Dozier – .802 Kurt Suzuki - .769 Trevor Plouffe - .740 There are several reasons why this bothers me that I will touch on, but I’ll also share a very easy way to remedy the situation. Twins Offensive Struggles The Twins bats have really been struggling the last week or so. In their last seven games, they have scored just 12 total runs. They have scored two runs or less in six of those seven games. The team needs as many good hitters in the lineup as they can find. Josmil Pinto is hitting .241/.351/.455 (.806) with seven home runs. He has shown an ability to take quality at bats while showing power, uses the whole field and drives in runs. Prospects Should Play It’s a commonly held belief. Prospects need to play. They need game situations to learn how to react and respond to various events throughout a game. Sitting on the bench for more than a game or two makes no sense to their development. Right now, the Twins have two players that were generally considered Top 10 or Top 15 prospects in the Twins organization coming into the season on their roster. They are currently spending a lot of time getting slivers while riding the pine on the big league bench. Danny Santana could be the shortstop of the future, yet he finds himself either sitting or playing centerfield. Pinto, as we already mentioned, has made one start in the last dozen days. How is this positive for the players, or for the team? No DH in the NL Last week, the Twins played five games in San Diego and San Francisco, and Pinto played in just one of those games. Personally, I think he should have played one game in each series, but this is at least understandable since there is no DH in the National League parks. Suzuki Factor When Kurt Suzuki signed with the Twins in the offseason, the assumption was that he would split time at catcher with Pinto, mentoring him along the way. However, Suzuki has been one of the better hitters in the Twins lineup all season. Though he has slumped of late, he is hitting nearly .300 and getting on base 36% of the time. Suzuki certainly deserves to play and should be in the lineup four or five days a week. That said, if they’re committed to Pinto at all as a catcher of the future, he needs to get more reps. He needs to catch twice a week. Two or Three Catchers Ron Gardenhire has said several times that he has no problem having both Suzuki and Pinto in the lineup. However, simply put, it has not been happening. That’s the reality. A Simple Answer #1 – Name Kurt Suzuki the starting catcher. This has already done and we have seen it in action. #2 – Name Josmil Pinto the primary designated hitter. This means he is no longer the backup catcher… in games that Suzuki starts at catcher. #3 – Call up Chris Herrmann to be the backup catcher. I know. He’s been up twice already this year, and he has completely struggled with the bat. However, he can play three outfield positions (and could play first base, too) and be the backup catcher. #4 – Pinto can still catch Samuel Deduno. On those days, Suzuki can be the backup catcher, and Herrmann can be the fifth outfielder. I know. We don’t want three catchers on the roster, but more important, I would like to see Josmil Pinto in the Twins starting lineup at least five times a week. When the offense is struggling, get as many quality bats in the lineup as possible.

In the past week, we have focused our Draft Preview attention to some of the top college players in next week’s MLB Draft. Starting today, we’re also going to look at a few high school players that could be selected by the Minnesota Twins with the fifth overall pick. We’ll start by learning a little about a left-handed pitcher who could be taken with the first overall pick in the draft, Brady Aiken. Of course, as we have seen in previous years, the top of the draft doesn’t always go as expected, so let’s get to know Aiken today. Brady Aiken Photo by Rinaldi Photos Who is this guy? Brady Aiken is a 6-4, 205 pound left-hander from San Diego, California. A year ago, he teamed with 2013 Minnesota Twins fourth-round pick Stephen Gonsalves atop a very formidable rotation at Cathedral Catholic High School. Gonsalves had a lot of great things to say about Aiken when he was a guest on the Twins Hangouts two weeks ago. “I knew the talent was there. I told him he was going to be a first-rounder. Definitely did not see him humping up five miles per hour over the winter since I’ve seen him. But that kid works hard. Hardest working kid I’ve ever seen. He’s only 17 years old, bigger than me. He’s been like a little brother to me. I hang out with him every day during the offseason.” Aiken has already committed to pitching for the Bruins of UCLA, but a multi-million dollar signing bonus would give him the incentive to sign. Gonsalves continued, “I tell him to get ready for the draft. He was always telling me, ‘Nah, I’m going to UCLA, man!’ (in a) totally joking manner. He’s going to be the top guy, top five definitely.” Why the Twins will pick him Most likely the Twins would love to be able to pick Aiken. First, he has put up some impressive numbers in his high school career. As a sophomore, he went 6-1 with a 1.32 ERA. He struck out 89 and walked just 18 in 47.2 innings. As a junior, he was 5-3 with a 0.92 ERA. He struck out 80 and walked 25 in 53.1 innings. This year, he was 6-0 with a 0.86 ERA in 48.2 innings. He walked just 11 and struck out 86. Aiken has very good control and command of three pitches that have the potential to be above average big league pitches. His fastball sits between 92 and 94 mph and occasionally has hit 97. He gets a lot of movement with the pitch. He also has a very good curveball and a very good changeup. Why the Twins will not pick him The only reason not to take Brady Aiken with the fifth overall pick is because he will likely have been taken with one of the top three picks, and maybe even the first overall pick. Simply, the Twins won’t be able to pick Aiken because he won’t be available by the time the fifth pick comes around. I wish I had another reason. I don’t, other than the inherent risk in projecting where every single player will be drafted. A quick reminder that tomorrow, Jeremy Nygaard will be posting his MLB Mock Draft First Round Version 2.0. You’ll definitely want to see how it has changed from last week.

As we spend so much time looking forward to the 2014 draft, which is now just over a week away, it’s also important to take a look back. Today, I want to take a look at what the Twins did just one year ago, in the 2013 MLB Draft. For the second straight year, the Twins had a top four pick. In 2012, the Twins went with a prep outfielder from rural Georgia with the #2 pick. In 2013, the Twins went the high school route again, selecting a right-handed pitcher from Texas. Today, we’ll take a look at what the Texas fire baller and the rest of the forty Minnesota Twins 2013 draft picks have been up to this season. Tanner Vavra photo by Rinaldi Photos Round 1 – Kohl Stewart – Right-Handed Pitcher – High School The Twins used the fourth overall pick on Stewart knowing he had a full-ride football scholarship to be the potential heir-apparent to Johnny Manziel. However, the sides came together quickly on a signing bonus and Stewart reported. In total, he worked 20 innings of rookie league ball in 2013, allowing just 13 hits, walking four and striking out 24. The 19-year-old started the 2014 season with Cedar Rapids and despite being more than two years younger than the average Midwest League hitter, he has posted a 2.93 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 43 innings. His innings are wisely being monitored but to this point he has been very successful. Some worry that he is striking out just over six batters per nine innings, but he is not even using his most dominant pitch, a slider that Baseball America called the best in the organization. Round 2 – Ryan Eades – Right-Handed Pitcher – College With the 43rd pick the Twins selected Eades out of Louisiana State. A polished college pitcher at a perennial powerhouse, he was ranked higher than 43 in most experts’ draft rankings. To say he has been disappointing to this point might be an understatement. After posting a 4.60 ERA and 12 walks and 13 strikeouts in 15.2 relief innings last year in Elizabethton, he has struggled in Cedar Rapids this year. To this point, he is 3-6 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. In 42.2 innings, he has given up 55 hits and walked 20 batters. He does have 40 strikeouts. Round 3 – Stuart Turner – Catcher – College Turner won the Johnny Bench Award as the top college catcher and he was the first college catcher drafted. He went to Elizabethton but ended the season with a 2-4 performance in one game at AA New Britain. He impressed the Twins brass and received an invitation to big league spring training this year. He is catching about half the time in Ft. Myers this year and doing well behind the plate. His bat is not yet doing much. In 31 games, he is hitting .188/.248/.277 (.525) with six extra base hits. Round 4 – Stephen Gonsalves – Left-Handed Pitcher – High School The southpaw fell in the draft as many believed he did not want to sign and the Twins were able to take him in the fourth round. They went over-slot to sign him and he impressed in his debut. He started with the GCL Twins and in 14.1 innings gave up just one earned run. He moved up to Elizabethton and gave up two runs in 14 innings. In all, he threw 28.1 innings. He walked 11 and struck out 39. He is currently at Extended Spring Training awaiting the Elizabethton season… or a call to pitch in Cedar Rapids. Round 5 – Aaron Slegers – Right-Handed Pitcher – College The 6-10 tall righty was the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year last year. He posted a 0.47 ERA in Elizabethton last year, with two walks and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings. He is in Cedar Rapids this year where he is currently 4-2 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Through his first six start, his ERA was just 2.52. In fact, until his most recent start, his ERA was still just 3.80. However, he has given up 20 earned runs in 14.2 innings over his past three starts. Could just be that “dead-arm phase” that many pitchers go through. Round 6 – Brian Navarreto – Catcher – High School The Twins selected the large catcher out of Arlington Country Dade High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He played in 42 games last summer with the GCL Twins and hit .226/.318/.365 with 10 doubles and three homers. He was incredibly impressive offensively and showed a power bat and arm when I saw him this spring. He will likely go to Elizabethton when their season starts. Round 7 – Brian Gilbert – Right-Handed Pitcher – College The Twins selected Gilbert out of Seton Hall where he was an established closer. He made just five appearances in Elizabethton before moving up to Cedar Rapids last year where he pitched in 13 more games. He began this season with Ft. Myers where he has pitched in 13 games and has four saves. He was on the DL for a week with an illness. He has a 1.77 ERA, but in 20.1 innings, he has 13 walks and 12 strikeouts. Round 8 – Dustin DeMuth – Third Base – College – Did Not Sign The Twins were certain that the third baseman would sign, but in the end, he turned down a $150,000 signing bonus to return to Indiana. He was the top player on the Hoosiers Big 10 Championship team this year. He hit .381/.455/.541 (.956) with 14 doubles and five home runs. Round 9 – Mitch Garver – Catcher – College Garver was the runner up to Turner for the 2013 Johnny Bench Award after his senior season at New Mexico. Although he has slowed in May, he has been one of the better hitters in the organization to this point this season for the Kernels. He is hitting .286/.370/.476 (.846) with 12 doubles, a triple, six homers and 29 RBI. Round 10 – CK Irby – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Irby was drafted out of Samford. He pitched in ten games for Elizabethton though he was limited by soreness. He is still in Extended Spring Training awaiting an opportunity with Cedar Rapids. Round 11 – Nelson Molina – Shortstop – High School Drafted out of Puerto Rico, he struggled in the GCL in his debut season. He hit .110/.178/.119 (.297) in 120 plate appearance. However, at 6-3 and 175 pounds, he has room to grow and is a very good up the middle glove with a very strong arm. He will likely go back to the GCL. Round 12 – Ethan Mildren – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Mildren signed and posted a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 innings at Elizabethton. He began this year at Extended Spring Training but when the Twins dealt Miguel Sulburan for Eduardo Nunez, the Kernels needed a starter. Mildren is 0-3 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 39.1 innings. He has seven walks and 28 strikeouts. Round 13 – Brandon Peterson – Right-Handed Pitcher – College After pitching at Des Moines Area Community College, the Burnsville native went to Wichita State University for a year. After signing he posted a 2.96 ERA with five saves for E-Town. He began this season with Cedar Rapids and pitched in nine games before being promoted to Ft. Myers where he has pitched in five games. Combined, he has posted a 0.92 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP in 19.2 innings. He has 27 strikeouts to just five walks. Round 14 – Zack Granite – Outfielder – College Like Gilbert, Granite was drafted out of Seton Hall. He was Elizabethton’s lone member on the post-season Appalachian League All Star team. He began this season with the Kernels. His speed and on-base skills make him an ideal centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Unfortunately, he played in just four games before suffering an injury and is yet to return. Round 15 – Derrick Penilla – Left-Handed Pitcher – College Penilla signed out of Mount San Antonio College (California) and pitched in 14 games for the GCL Twins. Early this season, Penilla was summoned to Cedar Rapids from EST and has pitched in five games for the Kernels (one start). In 13.1 innings, he has a 5.40 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP and six walks to 18 strikeouts. Round 16 – Brandon Bixler – Left-Handed Pitcher – College After signing with the Twins out of Florida Gulf Coast, Bixler pitched in six games for Elizabethton before being promoted to Cedar Rapids. That’s where he began his 2014 season. In 14 games and 27.1 innings, he has a 1.32 WHIP. He has walked too many (18) and struck out just over a batter per inning (28). Round 17 – Tanner Mendonca – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Mendonca signed out of Cal State – Sacramento last year and reported to Elizabethton where his control problems continued. He posted an 8.49 ERA. In 23.1 innings, he gave up 24 hits and walked an incredible 37 batters. He also struck out 23. He is a hard-thrower who they hope can harness it better. He is still in Extended Spring Training. Round 18 – Ryan Walker – Shortstop – College Walker signed out of the University of Texas, in Arlington. The wiry shortstop has good hands and a strong arm. Unfortunately late in spring training, he broke a finger and missed about the first six weeks. He has returned and has played ten games for the Kernels. Round 19 – Jared Wilson – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Wilson signed with the Twins last summer out of UC-Santa Barbara. The Twins had drafted him in the 35th round a year earlier, but he returned to school. He pitched in ten games for the GCL Twins a year ago, and was promoted from EST to Cedar Rapids two weeks ago. He has pitched seven innings in four contests so far. He has allowed no earned runs on two hits, three walks and has ten punch outs. Round 20 – Jason Kanzler – Outfielder – College Kanzler began the season at Extended Spring, but when Granite was hurt, he was called up. In 34 games (136 AB), he has hit .301/.338/.485 (.823) with four doubles, three triples and five home runs. He is also 7-8 in stolen base attempts. He’s best known for his defense, having won a couple gold gloves in college. Round 21 – Tyler Stirewalt – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Stirewalt was drafted out of Fresno State where he went to play football. He decided to give baseball a try and the Twins took a chance on the hard-thrower. He posted a 0.57 ERA in 15.2 GCL innings last year with 20 strikeouts. He impressed at the Instructional League, clocking a few fastballs at 95 mph. He’s still learning to pitch and the Twins have kept him in Extended Spring Training. Round 22 – Alex Swim – Catcher – College Swim was a nominee for the Johnny Bench Award for his catching prowess at Elon University. He had been drafted after his junior season by the Cardinals but chose to go back for his senior campaign. He played for the GCL Twins last year. This year, he’s in Extended Spring Training waiting for an opportunity. He did spend a game or two with the Ft. Myers Miracle in case they needed a catcher but was quickly returned. Round 23 – Zach Hayden – Right-Handed Pitcher – College Hayden went to the University of South Carolina in Aiken. He pitched in ten games for the GCL Twins last year without giving up a run. In nine innings, he gave up seven hits, walked five, hit two and struck out six. He came to spring training this year out of shape, so the Twins held him back from baseball activities until he was ready to go. He is in Extended Spring Training. Round 24 – Brandon Easton – Left-Handed Pitcher – Junior College He played a lot of first base at Lakeland Community College but the Twins liked him as a left-handed, hard-throwing pitcher. He gave up 25 hits, walked 13 and struck out 11 in 19.1 innings with the GCL Twins last year. He hasn’t pitched much, so he is at Extended Spring Training. Round 25 – Chad Christensen – Outfielder – College The Cedar Rapids native went to the University of Nebraska and this year he gets to play for his hometown Kernels. He played most every position for the Cornhuskers. This year, he has played first base and all three outfield positions for the Kernels. He is hitting .290/.342/.408 (.751) with seven doubles, two triples and three homers. He also is 13-16 in stolen base attempts. Round 26 – Ryan Halstead – Right-Handed Pitcher – College – Did Not Sign Like DeMuth, Halstead returned to Indiana where he was the best closer in school history. Unfortunately for him, after just four games, his season came to an end with a torn ACL. Round 27 – Taylor Blatch – Right-Handed Pitcher – High School – Did Not Sign Just 5-11 and 165 pounds, Blatch throws in the low 90s. He enrolled at Florida State where he pitched in 14 games, making two starts. It’s fair to say that the statistics didn’t look great. In 17.1 innings, he gave up 13 hits, walked 19 and struck out 11. Round 28 – Chris Erwin – Left-Handed Pitcher – High School – Did Not Sign The left-hander went to Kennesaw State where he not only pitched, but he had the opportunity to hit as well. On the mound, he pitched in 15 games and made eight starts. His team is in the NCAA tournament, and to this point he is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA. In 42.2 innings, he has given up 44 hits, walked 24 and struck out 33. With the bat, he went 7-21. He hit .333/.391/.476 (.867). Round 29 – Logan Shore – Right-Handed Pitcher – High School – Did Not Sign Shore was Mr. Baseball and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Minnesota in 2013 at Coon Rapids High School. As a senior, he went 9-0 with a 0.27 ERA. He was a first or second round talent, but he made it clear he wanted to go to the University of Florida. This year with the Gators, he pitched in 15 games and made 14 starts. He went 7-3 with a 1.99 ERA. In 90.2 innings, he gave up 76 hits, walked 18 and struck out 62. Round 30 – Tanner Vavra – Second Base – College Blind in one eye, Vavra continues to beat the odds. He was a great hitter in his years at Valparaiso. He spent last season at Elizabethton where he hit .246/.358/.284. When he went on the disabled list on May 2, he was hitting .338/.384/.441. Since his return on May 10, he is 4-38 and three of those hits came in one game. Round 31 – AJ Bogucki – Right-Handed Pitcher – High School – Did Not Sign Bogucki was a high-ceiling prep from Pennsylvania. The hard thrower went to the University of North Carolina. He pitched in 12 games and made three starts. He went 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA. In 22.2 innings, he gave up 16 hits, walked 13 and struck out 27 batters. Opponents have hit just .193 against him. Round 32 – Carlos Avila – Shortstop – College Avila was drafted out of Cal State – Dominguez Hills. He hit .206 last year with Elizabethton. He began this season at Extended Spring Training. Earlier this month, he was promoted to Cedar Rapids. He went 3-9 with two walks in three games. However, last week when Engelb Vielma came back from the DL, Avila was released by the organization. Round 33 – Steven Sensley – Outfielder – High School – Did Not Sign Round 34 – Ivory Thomas – Outfielder – College Thomas was also drafted out of Dominguez Hills. He began this season in EST, but was promoted to Cedar Rapids in the first month. In 26 games, he has hit .183/.462/.250 (.712) with a double and a home run. He also stole two bases. Round 35 – Nick Lemoncelli – Left-Handed Pitcher – Junior College – Did Not Sign In 2014, he went to Lewis-Clark State College. He pitched in 11 games and made six starts. He was 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA. In 29.1 innings, he gave up 27 hits, walked 19 and struck out 39. Round 36 – Joseph Greenfield – Right-Handed Pitcher – College – Did Not Sign Greenfield went back to Eastern Illinois. He pitched in 23 games and made nine starts. He went 6-6 with a 5.40 ERA. In 73.1 innings, he gave up 99 hits, walked 36 and struck out 49. Round 37 – Julien Service – Outfielder – Junior College – Did Not Sign Round 38 – Javier Salas – Right-Handed Pitcher – College – Did Not Sign Salas went back for his senior season. He pitched in 13 games, with six starts. He went 4-3 with a 3.04 ERA. In 47.1 innings, he gave up 44 hits, walked 12 and struck out 38. In early March, he made a start against Villanova and threw a perfect game. Round 39 – Seth Wagner – Left-Handed Pitcher – High School The 6-7, 19-year-old signed late and pitched in six games for the GCL Twins last year. He is at Extended Spring Training awaiting the short-seasons. Round 40 – Kelly Starnes – Outfielder – High School – Junior College He went to Cal State – East Bay where he hit .352 with 12 doubles and four home runs. Obviously these players' professional statistics to this point fall into the category of "Small Sample Size," but it is interesting nevertheless to see how their careers have started.

The Minnesota Twins are currently two games above .500. I just felt like that would be a good, and fun, way to start today’s report. In his last five starts, Phil Hughes has worked a combined 33.1 innings. He has given up just four earned runs on 30 hits. He’s walked none and struck out 27 batters. I’d say he’s been everything Twins fans could have hoped for. His season ERA is now 3.15. Not bad considering he gave up four earned runs in each of his first three starts of the season. Can you imagine a Minnesota Twins starting pitcher winning the AL Pitcher of the Month award? It’s been a long time! With that, let’s get to the minor league discussion of the day. TRANSACTIONS On Wednesday morning, Engelb Vielma and Jason Kanzler were activated from the disabled list. However, it came at the expense of Carlos Avila and BK Santy who were both given their unconditional releases. Let’s look at the goings on in the Twins system: RED WINGS REPORT No Game Scheduled. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 5, Richmond 7 Box Score Things started out badly for the Rock Cats in this game before it even started. Kennys Vargas was scratched from the lineup when he hurt his wrist during batting practice. No word on the severity of the injury. However, Twins fans have seen enough wrist issues already in 2014 (Buxton, Arcia, Willingham). Pat Dean made the start for the Rock Cats. The lefty went 4.1 innings. He was charged with five runs (4 earned) on nine hits and a walk. Jim Fuller came on and gave up two hits over 1.2 scoreless innings. DJ Baxendale returned after a month on the disabled list. He worked one scoreless inning despite giving up two hits and a walk. Matt Summers came on and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in his inning. Ryan O’Rourke pitched a scoreless frame. Danny Ortiz led the offense. He went 3-4 with his first triple and his fourth home run. Corey Wimberly was 2-5 with his second triple. He also stole his eighth and ninth bases of the year. Nate Hanson was 2-5. Mike Kvasnicka hit his third homer. Matt Koch, Brandon Waring and AJ Pettersen each had a double. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 2, Dunedin 4 Box Score David Hurlbut has arguably been the Miracle’s top starting pitcher this season, but he had a tough one. That said, through the game’s first five innings, he gave up just one run. Unfortunately, he was charged with three runs in the sixth. His total line? He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out three. Tim Shibuya struck out two in a scoreless inning. Brandon Peterson worked a scoreless inning as well. There wasn’t much offense for the Miracle. Travis Harrison went 2-4 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Aderlin Mejia was 2-4 with his fifth double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, Beloit 9 Box Score Felix Jorge is a well-regarded pitching prospect, but he has really struggled to this point in the season. On this night, the righty gave up seven runs, all earned, on seven hits and five walks over just 2.2 innings. His ERA is now up to 9.99 on the season. Jake Mauer, Ivan Arteaga, Eric Rasmussen and Brad Steil all have to be scratching their heads trying to come up with a plan for what to do with the talented Dominican. Brandon Bixler came in and was charged with two runs on five hits and a walk over the next 1.1 innings. Derrick Penilla came on and struck out five in three scoreless innings. Hudson Boyd walked two, hit one and struck out one over two scoreless frames. The Kernels offense was scoreless and had just one hit going into the sixth inning, when they got a couple base runners on. Mitch Garver singled in a run, and then Jason Kanzler – in his first game back from concussion – hit a three-run homer. Kanzler was 2-4 and the homer was his third. Chad Christensen was also 2-4. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Derrick Penilla, Cedar Rapids Kernels Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Danny Ortiz, New Britain Rock Cats THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes Barre (5:35 CT) – Alex Meyer (Listen) Richmond @ New Britain (5:35 CT) – Virgil Vasquez (Listen) Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30 CT) – Alex Wimmers (Listen) Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:35 CT) – Aaron Slegers (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games. With another Twins win over San Diego on Wednesday night, you can get half-price large or extra-large pizzas at PapaJohn’s.com with the promo code “TWINSWIN.”

If the draft occurred on January 5th, instead of June 5th, there is a good chance Trea Turner would have been selected before the Minnesota Twins made their first round selection, fifth overall. Now just two weeks from the draft’s first round, there is no doubt that Turner will be available to the Twins with their pick. Could the Twins use that pick to take the college shortstop? Who is This Guy? Trea Turner grew up in Florida and following his high school career, he was drafted in the 20th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead of signing an above-slot offer, Turner enrolled at North Carolina State. He arrived as a skinny, 6-1, 170 pounder, and as he (likely) leaves, he will have added about ten pounds to his lanky build. As a freshman, he hit .336/.432/.459 (.891) while playing third base. That season, he stole 57 bases in 61 attempts. As a sophomore, he made the move over to shortstop. He hit .368/.455/.553 (1.008). Despite an ankle injury, he still was successful in 30 of 36 steal attempts. He came into this season looking to build on those numbers. Going into tournament play, he was hitting .318/.414/.507 (921). These were steps back and yet still very good numbers. He also had stolen 24 of 27 bases. Why the Twins will pick him As you may assume from his stolen base totals (111-124), he has tremendous speed and is a very good, sound base runner. He has elite speed and was once clocked at 3.42 seconds from home to first base… from the right-handed batter’s box. Despite the lanky frame, Turner is not just a slap hitter. In fact, he generally takes a very healthy cut. Over his three years, his extra base hit total went from 18 to 24 to 22. That includes 20 home runs. Certainly his drafting team should not expect 20 homer seasons from Turner, but he will hit a few and drive the ball from gap to gap. Turner has also done a tremendous job at controlling the strike zone. In all three years, he has walked more than struck out. In the three years, he walked 115 times while striking out 94 times. This certainly is a strong indicator and could potentially allow him to move quickly. On defense, there are mixed opinions on whether he can stick at shortstop. That said, his fielding percentage has continued to improve each year. As a third baseman his freshman year, he posted a .921 fielding percentage. In his first year at shortstop, it improved to 940, and this year, it is .961. Though the Twins have some depth at shortstop in the system right now (Danny Santana, Jorge Polanco, Niko Goodrum), the Twins enjoy drafting athletes who can hopefully play in the middle of the field. Turner can. He also has played three seasons of high-caliber college competition as well as competed for Team USA in summers. He could certainly move up quickly. Why the Twins won’t pick him The Twins typically do not take college bats in the first round. They did take North Carolina infielder Levi Michael with the 30th overall pick in 2011. Before him, the last time the Twins used a first round pick on a college hitter was Travis Lee in 1996 (Matt LeCroy was a supplemental 1st round pick in 1997). Other college bats they have drafted in the first round included Todd Walker (1994), David McCarty and Scott Stahoviak (1991), Chuck Knoblauch (1989) The Twins have generally gone with athletic high school bats with big ceilings. There are a couple of them who may also be available to the Twins with the number five pick. There is some concern about his decline in performance in 2014, although the numbers are still very good. Stop back tomorrow when we will get to know another potential 2014 Twins draft pick. The Twins beat the Padres last night so on Wednesday you can get a half price large or extra-large pizza from PapaJohns.com with the promo code TWINSWIN.

Though the Minnesota Twins fell back to .500 with a 6-2 loss on Sunday to Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners, it wasn’t all bad news in the Twins organization. In fact, all four Twins full-season affiliates won their games. Three lefties led the highest level teams to victory while the Cedar Rapid Kernels had to come back to end their big losing streak. TRANSACTIONS Following the Twins game, OF/C Chris Herrmann was promoted back up to the Twins while reliever Michael Tonkin was sent back to Rochester. The move gives manager Ron Gardenhire an extra bat on the bench this coming week while playing in National League ballparks. In the ten days that Herrmann was in Rochester, he hit .400 (14-35) with three doubles, a triple and a home run. Tonkin, meanwhile, had a 5.84 ERA in 12.1 innings with the Twins. Let’s look at the goings on in the Twins system: RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 2, Toledo 1 Box Score Last week, when the Twins decided to option Oswaldo Arcia, it was likely because he had not yet been able to play more than two games in a row without a set back with his wrist injury. Since then, he has now played in seven straight games. In the last four, he has six hits. On Sunday, he went 2-4 with a double and his third home run. In other words, he finally appears to be healed and ready to return to the big league club. James Beresford went 2-4. Josh Willingham was in the lineup, batting fifth and serving as the Red Wings DH. He went 0-2 with two strikeouts. He was also hit by a pitch. Kris Johnson continues to pitch well in the International League. Last year’s IL ERA leader went six innings and gave up only an unearned run. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out seven. Ryan Pressly recorded his first professional save. He gave up three hits over three scoreless innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four. It was the sixth straight win for the Red Wings. It was also their ninth straight win at home at Frontier Field. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 5, Harrisburg 3 Box Score Taylor Rogers has been pitching very well the last month. On Sunday, he posted his fifth straight quality start. For the first time, he completed seven innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out four. He recorded a win for the fourth straight start. You may recall, in April, he went 0-3 with a 9.33 ERA. In May, he is now 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA. Cole Johnson gave up one hit and two walks, but also struck out three in two scoreless innings. It was his third save and he reduced his ERA to 1.23. Kennys Vargas went 2-4 with his tenth double, eighth home run and three RBI. Tony Thomas was 2-4 with his second triple. Mike Kvasnicka was 2-4 with his fifth double. Reynaldo Rodriguez went hitless, snapping his 13 game hitting streak. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 10, Daytona 1 Box Score Brett Lee made his first start for the Miracle since April 30, and the Miracle got a big blast in a blowout win. Lee worked the first five innings and gave up only an unearned run. He allowed four hits, walked none and struck out six. Tyler Jones came on and threw 2.1 scoreless frames. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out four. Steve Gruver recorded the final five outs, two on strikouts. Jorge Polanco had a first-inning error that allowed the unearned run to score. It was hit 14th error of the year. However, he also went 3-5 with his ninth double of the season to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. Travis Harrison went 1-3 with a walk. Niko Goodrum was 2-4 with a walk. Adam Walker was also 2-4 with five RBI. He came to the plate in the 7th inning with the bases loaded and uncoiled for a grand slam. It was his seventh homer of the season and his second grand slam in the past four games. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, Burlington 6 Box Score The Kernels fell behind early. Down 4-0 after three innings, and 5-2 after five innings, the Kernels scored three in the top of the 6th inning to tie the score at five. In the 7th inning, Jake Mauer was ejected from the game, so he didn’t get to see the ninth inning when his team scored two runs and held on for the one-run win. The win snapped their eight game losing streak. Ethan Mildren started and gave up five runs in the first five innings. The Bees scored in four of the five innings. He gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out five. Derrick Penilla came on and gave up just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out four. Todd Van Steensel came in for the ninth. He gave up a solo home run, but he struck out two to record the first save of his professional career. The Kernels got six hits from their top two hitters. JD Williams was 3-5 with his fourth and fifth doubles. Tanner Vavra was also 3-5 and doubled for the eighth time this season. Bo Altobelli went 2-5. All nine Kernels’ hitters had at least one hit. Bryan Haar (6), Mitch Garver (11), Michael Quesada (5) and Joel Licon (3) each added a double. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Kris Johnson, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, New Britain Rock Cats MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Toledo @ Rochester (6:05 CT) – Trevor May (Listen) Richmond @ New Britain (5:35 CT) – Tyler Duffey (Listen) Daytona @ Ft. Myers (9:35 am CT) – JO Berrios (Listen) Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CT) – Josue Montanez (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Sunday games.

Kyle Gibson returned to the mound and after struggling in recent starts, he recorded his first win in a month as the Twins topped the Mariners 5-4. Brian Dozier homered for the tenth time this season and Josmil Pinto hit his sixth home run. Glen Perkins made it interesting in the ninth, but recorded the save. In the minor leagues, Mike Pelfrey and Josh Willingham returned to the field in rehab appearances with the Red Wings. There is an unsung player putting up tremendous numbers in New Britain over an 11 game hitting streak while a hitting streak reaches 13 games in Ft. Myers. The Cedar Rapids Kernels are streaking in the wrong direction. Let’s look at the goings on in the Twins system: RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Columbus 2 Box Score Rochester’s game was the first opportunity for Mike Pelfrey and Josh Willingham to play for a while. Pelfrey made a rehab start for the Red Wings and threw 81 pitches in five innings. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk. He struck out three. Edgar Ibarra struck out three in two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and walked one. AJ Achter gave up one run on one hit over two innings to record his third Red Wings save. He struck out three and walked none. Josh Willingham batted fifth and was the DH. He went 0-4 with a strikeout in his first game in over a month. Chris Herrmann’s torrid streak continued. He went 2-4 and his now hitting .467 (14-30) since his demotion. Oswaldo Arcia went 2-4 and hit his second home run. Deibinson Romero was 2-4 with his eighth double. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 4, Harrisburg 3 Box Score With how well Kennys Vargas has been hitting the last few weeks, Reynaldo Rodriguez is quietly putting up great numbers too. Coming into this game, he was hitting .476/.500/.738 (1.238) with two doubles and three home runs in his past ten games. On this night, he extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an eighth-inning, two-run home (his seventh) that gave the Rock Cats the lead, a lead they held on to. Corey Wimberly went 2-5. Nate Hanson and Brandon Waring each hit a double. Matt Koch and AJ Pettersen both went 1-3 with a walk. Pat Dean gave up some hits, but at the end of the night, he had another quality start. He gave up three runs on 11 hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked none. Dan Turpen gave up a hit and walked three over 1.1 innings. Lester Oliveros came on, walked three and got the final five outs to record his sixth save. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 1, Daytona 2 Box Score Alex Wimmers was due. He had given up 23 runs in his last three starts. Although eight of the runs in his last start were unearned, he has been getting hit. On this night, the former #1 pick was back in good form. He gave up just one run on two hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out eight. Sometimes we forget that this is his first season after Tommy John surgery and a second arm surgery. There will be some ups and downs, but he needed a good start. Steven Gruver went the next two innings. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk. He struck out three. Brian Gilbert pitched a scoreless ninth inning, walked one and struck out one. Jorge Polanco extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He went 2-4 with his eighth double. He drove in the Miracle run as well. Travis Harrison was also 2-4. The two combined for four of the team’s six hits in the game. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 8 Box Score Aaron Slegers struggled and lost for the first time this season (4-1). He gave up six runs (5 earned) on nine hits and a walk. He struck out seven. Alex Muren pitched the final two innings. He gave up two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. The Kernels’ bats managed just five hits in the game. Mitch Garver went 2-4 with his third stolen base. Michael Quesada hit his first home run of the year. JD Williams doubled, and Bryan Haar hit his second triple of the year. The loss was the seventh straight for the Kernels. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Ft. Myers Miracle Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Oswaldo Arcia, Rochester Red Wings SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Toledo @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – Logan Darnell (Listen) New Britain @ Harrisburg (DH @ 5:00 CST) – Matt Summers, Virgil Vasquez (Listen) Daytona @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) – Jason Wheeler (Listen) Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) – Ryan Eades (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. A quick reminder: Thanks to the Twins win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday, it means that on Saturday you can get 50% off a Large of Extra Large pizza when you use the “TWINSWIN” promotion code at PapaJohns.com.

They’re not top prospects. They weren’t drafted in the early rounds, and they didn’t get hefty bonuses. They have jobs in the offseason, and they still find time to continue to work on their baseball craft. David Hurlbut and Matt Tomshaw are two left-handed pitchers for the Ft. Myers Miracle. You likely haven’t read much about them unless, of course, you get a copy of the annual Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Or, if you read the daily minor league reports religiously, you know their names because they continue to pitch really well. So, let’s take a day and give them their due. David Hurlbut was the Minnesota Twins 35th round pick in 2009 out of Diablo Valley College. He decided not to sign and instead chose to attend perennial powerhouse Cal State Fullerton. In 2011, the Twins selected him with their 28th round pick. Matt Tomshaw was drafted by the Twins in the 43rd round of the 2011 draft. He attended Jacksonville University where he was a teammate of Twins outfield prospects Adam Brett Walker and Jonathan Murphy. After being selected, he made three starts in the GCL before making a spot appearance with the Ft. Myers Miracle. He ended up posting a 2.13 ERA in 25.1 innings (7 games, 4 starts). In 2012, both of them started the season in the bullpen in Beloit. There were “prospects” that needed to start, so the tandem was sent to the bullpen. They were good in that role, and eventually each was given an opportunity to start. When I posted my 2012 Minnesota Twins Minor League Starting Pitchers of the Year, they both were in the Top 5 in the organization. In 111 innings (15 starts, 10 relief), Hurlbut posted a 2.76 ERA. Tomshaw missed about a month, but he pitched well in his time in Beloit as well. In 86.1 innings (6 relief, then 14 starts), he posted a 3.02 ERA. Despite the success in Beloit in 2012, they were both sent back to the Midwest League, this time to Cedar Rapids. Not only did they repeat at the level, but instead of starting (where they had very good success, they were in the bullpen). Tomshaw missed some time early in the season (you know, “DL” stuff) and made just nine appearances with the Kernels. His ERA was 5.10, but as a starter, he was better, and he moved to Ft. Myers in late May. There, he pitched in 17 games and made 14 starts. He posted an ERA of 3.94 in 96.1 innings. Hurlbut pitched in more roles. He began the season in long relief. At one point when Tyler Jones was hurt, he became the closer for a month, and then he made three starts for the Kernels. All told, he pitched in 25 games (and 50 innings) for the Kernels. He was 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA. He received his promotion to the Miracle in early August where he made four starts and had a 3.54 ERA in 20.1 innings. This year, they both returned to the Miracle, and they both returned to the bullpen. However, both made just three relief appearances before being put into the starting rotation. Tomshaw is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA. After going four innings and giving up one run in his first start, he has gone six innings without allowing an earned run in each of his last two starts. Hurlbut is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 39 innings. He gave up just one run in his eight innings out of the bullpen. In his five starts, he has given up just six earned runs in 32 innings. On May 8, he threw a complete game against Jupiter and gave up just two runs (1 earned). Last night, he gave up just two runs (1 earned) in seven innings. Neither has the “stuff” that fits the “top prospect” mold, but both have three good pitches, good control and a high baseball IQ. Hurlbut generally sits around 88 to 89 mph with his fastball, though he hits 91 at times, so he made it cut a bit, giving it more movement and helping him miss the sweet spot of bats. He has a very good curveball in the mid-70s, and his changeup continues to improve. Tomshaw generally sat 85 to 87 mph, though out of the bullpen last year, I saw him hit 91 a couple of times. This year, he has been consistently between 87 and 91. He has a very good changeup, and his work-in-progress pitch is the curveball. When it is on, it can be very tough on left-handers. And, he is again throwing The Thing, a pitch you'll need to ask him about!! Impeccable control is part of the success of both of them. In 286.1 professional innings, Hurlbut has walked 1.8 per nine innings and struck out 6.7 per nine innings. Tomshaw has thrown 280.2 innings as a pro and walked 1.8 per nine innings. He has struck out 6.1 per nine innings. Despite putting up good numbers and not allowing many runs and keeping their teams in games, neither David Hurlbut or Matt Tomshaw will appear on anyone’s Top 30 or even Top 50 prospect lists. Fair or not, that is the reality. True or not, Tomshaw and Hurlbut will continue to pitch in the Twins system as long as they continue to pitch as they have as they move up the ladder. Neither was a high draft pick with the security of a big bonus. However, the Twins have shown in the past that if you perform, no matter where you’re drafted or how you get signed, there will be opportunities. Tomshaw was drafted in the 43rd round, a round that no longer exists in the MLB draft. However, New Britain’s Cole Johnson and Rochester’s AJ Achter are pitching very well in the late innings for their teams, and they also were drafted after the 40th round. Anthony Slama was a 39th round pick. Michael Tonkin was a 30th round pick. Cole De Vries wasn’t drafted. If you perform, you’ll keep getting opportunities to move up. That will be the challenge for these two left-handers. They will need to continue to work and improve to meet the challenges of each new level. Tomshaw (25) and Hurlbut (24) have been teammates along most of their path since being drafted late in that 2011 draft, and I’m sure they’ll continue to push themselves to keep getting better. So while it’s great to talk about the Buxton’s, the Sano’s, the Meyer’s, the Stewart's and the like, remember there are some tremendous stories of some minor leaguers who don’t get the accolades, but continue to work hard every day. At Twins Daily, we want to make sure they are recognized. Matt Tomshaw and David Hurlbut deserve to be recognized. Photos in this story by Linwood Ferguson, Ft. Myers Miracle.

It was an interesting day in the Minnesota Twins system. At the top, the Twins got another horrific starting from Kevin Correia and Michael Tonkin struggled again. David Ortiz took it to his old team for the second straight night and the Red Sox topped the Twins 9-4. There were two walk-off wins in the Twins' minor leagues, so that’s always fun. Another team scored its winning run thanks to a big blast in the team’s first inning. Unfortunately, if you’re a Cedar Rapids fan, it was a tough night. For the second straight day, they were swept in a double header against Peoria. Let’s look at the goings on in the Twins system: TRANSACTIONS As mentioned yesterday, Ryan Walker and Carlos Avila were added to the Cedar Rapids Kernels roster on Wednesday morning. They take the roster spots of Engelb Vielma and Jason Kanzler. Dalton Hicks came off the Ft. Myers Miracle DL, and Alex Swim returned to Extended Spring Training. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 5, Columbus 4 Box Score Going into the 9th inning, Pedro Florimon had been 0-13 in his short time with the Red Wings. However, he picked a great time for his first hit, a leadoff double. Two batters later, James Beresford drove him in with a sacrifice fly to give the Red Wings a walk-off win. Chris Herrmann went 2-3 with a walk, his second double and his second stolen base. Wilkin Ramirez went 2-4. Scott Diamond made the start for the Red Wings. The lefty gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits. In 5.1 innings, he struck out two. Yohan Pino went the next two innings and didn’t allow a run despite giving up a hit and walking two. He struck out three. Matt Hoffman got two outs. He walked two and struck out one. AJ Achter pitched the final inning and was perfect. He struck out two. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 4, Portland 3 Box Score Walk-off home runs are fun! Even walk-off singles are great! Winning walk-off walks? Well, hey, they're certainly better than walk-off (or any) losses!! Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, the Rock Cats got a single and a double from Corey Wimberly and Tony Thomas, respectively. That set up an RBI single for Nate Hanson, followed by the game-tying RBI single off the bat of Kennys Vargas. Still no one out, Reynaldo Rodriguez singled to load the bases. Danny Ortiz grounded into a force out. However, with one out, Brandon Waring worked the game-winning, walk-off walk. Waring walked three times in the game. Nate Hanson was the hitting hero, however. He went 3-3 with two walks. Along with his game-tying single, Vargas walked twice as well. Tyler Duffey started for New Britain. He went five innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out five. Jim Fuller gave up one run on two hits and two walks over his two innings. Ryan O’Rourke walked one and struck out one in his scoreless inning. Dan Turpen struck out two in a scoreless inning. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 4, Brevard County 3 Box Score David Hurlbut has been terrific since moving into the Miracle rotation. On this night, he improved to 3-1 with a seven-inning effort. He gave up two runs (one earned) on eight hits and a walk. Tim Shibuya pitched a scoreless inning. Tyler Jones came in with a two-run lead and he recorded the save, though he made things interesting by giving up a run on one hit and two walks in the ninth. Adam Walker came up to bat in the top of the first inning and gave the Miracle all the runs they would need. His sixth homer run came with the bases loaded. He went 2-4 in the game. Dalton Hicks returned to the Miracle lineup from the DL and went 1-3 with a walk. KERNELS NUGGETS Game 1 – Cedar Rapids 3, Peoria 4 Box Score For the second straight day, the Kernels played two games. Kohl Stewart was the starter in the first contest. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out three. Brandon Bixler took the loss. He gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in his three innings. He struck three out without a walk. Mitch Garver went 2-2 with two walks. Chad Christensen, Bo Altobelli, Michael Quesada and Joel Licon each went 2-4 in the game. They had base runners. In fact, they were 5-13 with runners in scoring position. However, they still left 11 runners on base. Game 2 – Cedar Rapids 3, Peoria 5 Box Score The Kernels gave up five first inning runs and were unable to come back. Derrick Penilla made his first start since his recent call up. He gave up those five runs – though just three were earned – on five hits and a walk in three innings. He struck out five. Todd Van Steensel was again impressive. He gave up just one hit over four shutout innings. He walked none and struck out five. Chad Christensen went 2-4 in the second game as well. He hit his seventh double and drove in two runs. Joel Licon went 2-3. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Todd Van Steensel, Cedar Rapids Kernels Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Nate Hanson, New Britain Rock Cats THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Columbus @ Rochester (2:35 CST) – Alex Meyer (Listen) Portland @ New Britain (9:35 a.m.) – Sean Gilmartin (Listen) Ft. Myers @ Brevard Country (5:35 CST) – Alex Wimmers (Listen) Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) – Felix Jorge (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games.

When we heard the sad and unfortunate news on Monday afternoon that Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez has an elbow sprain, it made me feel awful. The assumption (true or not) is that sometime in the near future, he will have Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of this season and likely some of the 2015 season. If you’re a real, true baseball fan (and let’s face it, if you’re reading this web site, you are), you want to see the best performing. Jose Fernandez, despite being just 21 years old, is one of the best. Fernandez is just the most recent example of what has become an epidemic over the last couple of years. “Everyone” is having Tommy John surgery. No team, including the Twins, is immune to this surgical procedure. Fifteen Major League pitchers have already had Tommy John surgery in the last two months. Jose Fernandez photo by Steve Mitchell IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE The Atlanta Braves have long been touted as an organization that develops pitching talent, and they are. This year, they have had no fewer than four Tommy John surgeries including a couple of big leaguers and a top prospect. Brandon Beachy and Kyle Medlen both had their second Tommy John surgeries this spring. Many like to tout the Tampa Bay Rays organization as the one to emulate, and they certainly do a lot of things well. They are said to have some special things that they do medically to study how to keep players healthy. Jeremy Hellickson hasn’t had Tommy John surgery, but he has missed a lot of time the last couple of seasons. Matt Moore, another one of baseball’s best young pitchers, had Tommy John surgery last month. Baseball America’s JJ Cooper tweeted last night that from 2010 through 2012, 15 high school pitchers were drafted. If Fernandez has Tommy John Surgery, he will be the sixth in that group. Two others on currently on the DL with elbow or forearm issues, and one had hip surgery. Count Dylan Bundy and Jameson Taillon among those who have already had the surgery. The two that are on the DL right now with elbow issues are Top 50 prospects Archie Bradley and Max Fried. Max Fried’s high school teammate, Lucas Giolito, had Tommy John while still in high school and still was a first-round pick. Two possible Top 10 2014 draft picks, Jeff Hoffmann (East Carolina) and Erick Fedde (UNLV), have or soon will have Tommy John surgery. And both still could get drafted in the first round. TOMMY JOHN AND THE TWINS Tommy John was a Minnesota Twins TV broadcaster from 1994 through 1996. Unfortunately, that is not the only connection to the Twins. The Twins have been affected in one way or another by Tommy John surgery over the past decade. I went back ten years of Twins and Twins minor league rosters and here is a list of guys who have had Tommy John surgery before, during or after their Twins career (This is not necessarily complete): Brian Duensing – in College at Nebraska Mike Pelfrey – with Mets before coming to Twins as free agent. Kyle Gibson – in minor leagues, in September 2011 Lester Oliveros – in September 2012 Samuel Deduno – in 2008 with Rockies Corey Williams – on April 1, 2014 Alex Wimmers – in minor leagues, in August 2012 JT Chargois – in minor leagues, in August 2013 Dallas Gallant – in minor leagues, 2011 Andrew Ferreria – in college at Harvard Jeff Manship – in college at Notre Dame Francisco Liriano – with Twins in November 2006 Pat Neshek – with Twins in November 2008 Scott Baker – with Twins in April 2012 Carlos Silva – with Cubs in 2012 Andrew Albers – with Padres in 2009 Joe Mays – with Twins in 2003 Kyle Waldrop – with Pirates in 2013 Matt Maloney – with Twins in July 2012 Carl Pavano – with Yankees in 2007 Joe Nathan – with Twins in March 2010 Bobby Korecky – in minors with Twins in 2005 Matt Bashore – in minors in 2010 Tom Stuifbergen – in minors in July 2013 Carlos Gutierrez – in minors in college Jhon Garcia – in minors in April 2013 Dan Sattler – in minors in August 2012 Brian Kirwan – in minors in 2006 This list also does not include a couple of hitters. Remember Matt Macri? He made his Major League debut with the Twins in 2008 after coming to the team from the Rockies organization. They had drafted him in 2001 out of high school, but he went to Notre Dame. A shortstop, he had Tommy John surgery in 2004. And, of course, the big news this spring in Ft. Myers came when the Twins announced that Miguel Sano would have Tommy John surgery and miss most, if not all, of the 2014 season. WHY, OH WHY? So many fans seem to have a solution to this problem or what they would do to try to keep players from needing Tommy John surgery. That’s funny, of course, since the medical profession has not yet determined any preventative measures to avoid Tommy John surgery. Aside from not becoming a baseball pitcher, there are several theories out there right now about why there seems to be this influx of Tommy John surgeries. However, I’m not going to pretend to know with any certainty. I happen to agree with those who say that some pitchers do too much upper body weight lifting which creates less flexibility and more stress on the ligaments. I wouldn’t be surprised if specialization in high school (playing one sport year-round rather than playing two or three sports) has some correlation too. Of course, you will find examples on both sides of this as well. I don’t necessarily think pitch counts alone determines if a pitcher will eventually require Tommy John surgery. We have seen pitchers with “perfect” mechanics have Tommy John surgery, and we have seen pitchers with “poor” mechanics have long careers. TNSTAAPP – There’s No Such Thing As a Pitching Prospect. Eerily, that acronym is becoming more and more true. I do have one overriding belief in my head at this time on pitchers and Tommy John surgery. Here’s how you can determine whether or not a pitcher will have Tommy John surgery at some point in his career: Grab a coin and flip it. If it’s heads when it lands, he might have Tommy John surgery. If it’s tails, well, he might not have Tommy John surgery.

It was a quiet Mother’s Day in the minor leagues as both Ft. Myers and Cedar Rapids had days off. However, the Twins finished their series in Detroit, the Red Wings were in Toledo and New Britain was in Bowie, and there was still plenty to write about. The Twins fell behind early in Detroit on Sunday, but they didn’t give up and walked away with a 4-3 win and a series win against the Tigers. They will get Monday off before hosting the Boston Red Sox in a three game series starting Tuesday. Here are the game updates from the Twins minor league system from Saturday. TRANSACTIONS The Ft. Myers Miracle placed Byron Buxton (wrist) and Levi Michael (foot) on the 7-Day Disabled List. As most know by now, Buxton re-injured his wrist on a slide into third base on Thursday. That same night, Michael fouled a ball off of his foot and hasn’t played since. In Cedar Rapids, Zack Larson was put on the Disabled List (on Saturday). Tony Thomas RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 0, Toledo 7 Box Score Things got off to a bad start and the bats just were not able to make up for it with their offense. In fact, the offense had just three hits in the game. Logan Darnell made his first Rochester start in two weeks. He had a nice stint with the Twins in between. In the first inning, he gave up five runs, though just two were earned due to a Pedro Florimon error. He gave up one more run over the next three innings. In his four innings, he gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four. Aaron Thompson gave up a run on two hits in the eighth inning. In between, set up man AJ Achter threw three perfect innings and had a lot of cheers from the Toledo crowd. The Toledo native had a lot of family and friends in attendance. In the three games in Rochester, Florimon went 0-8 (with three walks) at the plate. He also committed one error each game. Mike Hessman, the 36 year old for Toledo, his a third inning home run off of Darnell. It was the 399th home run of his minor league career. Since 2003, he has hit 14 major league home runs as well. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 11, Bowie 1 Box Score The Rock Cat bats were back on Sunday afternoon. They scored 11 runs while accumulating 13 hits and six walks. The first five batters in the lineup each had two hits. Corey Wimberly led off and went 2-4 with two walks and his fifth double. Tony Thomas was 2-4 with a walk, his fourth home run and three RBI. Danny Ortiz drove in three runs and went 2-5. Kennys Vargas was 2-5 and drove in two runs. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-4 with a walk and his sixth home run. Coming into the game, Kennys Vargas was on fire. In his last 19 games (since April 21), he had gone 26-70 and is hitting .371/.450/.671 (1.121) with six doubles, five homers and 13 RBI. Matt Summers put in a terrific start. He gave up one run on four hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out seven. Ryan O’Rourke gave up one hit and walked one in a scoreless inning. Dan Turpen pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Lester Oliveros struck out one in a perfect inning as well to end the game. MIRACLE MATTERS No Game Scheduled. KERNELS NUGGETS No Game Scheduled. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – AJ Achter, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Tony Thomas, New Britain Rock Cats SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Toledo (9:30 a.m. CST) – Kris Johnson (Listen) New Britain – No Game Scheduled Ft. Myers @ Brevard Country (5:35 CST) – Matt Tomshaw (Listen) Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (DH at 5:05 CST) – Josue Montanez, Ethan Mildren (Listen) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Sunday games. The Twins took the series against the Tigers with a 4-3 win on Sunday, so on Monday you can take 50% off a large or extra-large pizza from PapaJohns.com by using the promo code 'twinswin'.