Steve Lein

Minnesota Twins Affiliates took out some frustration on their opponents on Tuesday night to the combined score of 39-8 in their three wins on the evening. Much of that damage was thanks to eight home runs from some big sluggers, and men on base all night as they also drew 32 walks to go along with 42 total hits on the night. A top pitching prospect also made his return to the minors after his MLB debut. So keep reading to find out just how crazy the night was for your favorite Twins prospects! TRANSACTIONS Minor League Gold Glove OF Mark Contreras was promoted to St. Paul from Wichita In Fort Myers recent free agent signing OF Justin Washington was assigned from the GCL Twins, 3B Wander Valdez was sent back to the GCL Twins roster, and SS Ruben Santana was activated from the disabled list. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 17, Iowa 6 Box Score The Saints took advantage of some wildness from double-A’s 2019 strikeout king, Corey Abbott to jump out to an early lead. They got to the Cubs prospect for six runs in the first two innings, with a three-run Tomas Telis homer doing the bulk of that damage. They would tack on four more in the fourth after an RBI double from Ben Rortvedt was followed by another three-run blast, this one off the bat of JT Riddle, his first with the Saints. In all St. Paul hitters mashed seven hits (five for extra bases) and drew five walks against Abbott, taking full advantage of the extra baserunners and opportunities they were given. As far as the Saints starting pitcher went, it was Bailey Ober’s first appearance since making his MLB debut, and he dazzled. In five innings he allowed just one earned run on four hits, striking out five. It was good for his first win of the 2021 season. While watching the game the opposing broadcast’s announcer was excited to see Abbott on the mound, but Ober was the one who left a mark on him. “I’m very impressed so far with Bailey Ober. You understand why he posts zeroes so often [and] can see why he is tough to pick up. Six-foot-nine, long reach, and hides the ball very well.” With the big lead Ober’s day was done after just seventy pitches, with Ian Hamilton coming on for the sixth. Hamilton was hitting high 90’s with his fastball in his inning and struck out two. Robinson Leyer delivered two scoreless frames, allowing one hit and striking out one. Another RBI double from Ben Rortvedt and RBI single from Jimmy Kerrigan added a few more runs in the sixth, then Ryan Jeffers and Brent Rooker added insult to injury with home runs in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively. Jeffers was a three-run no-doubter, and Rooker’s a two-run blast to dead center that made the score 17-1. They were the fourth home run of the season for each player. Tom Hackimer would come on for the ninth but made the game last quite a bit longer than it should have. The bases were loaded before he recorded an out, then he was not able to finish it off. In all, Hackimer allowed 5 runs on three hits, four walks, and a hit batter. St. Paul was forced to go to Andrew Vasquez for the final out, and he made sure it went as quick as possible, getting a strikeout to end the game. WIND SURGE WISDOM Springfield 7, Wichita 2 Box Score Unlike the rest of their affiliate brethren, the Wind Surge were unable to pile on the runs on Tuesday, falling to the Cardinals in Wichita. Starter Bryan Sammons went the first four innings and surrendered all the damage Springfield would need as their pitchers allowed just six hits and three walks to Wichita’s lineup. In total he allowed four earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in his time. While he struck out six, three of his hits allowed were home runs. Dakota Chalmers came on for the fifth and went two innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits (including a homer of his own) while striking out two. Jonathan Cheshire was the only Wind Surge pitcher without a blemish, pitching a scoreless seventh, though he did walk two. Hector Lujan finished the final two frames, allowing a solo home run and striking out one. Jermaine Palacios led the way hitting for Wichita with a 2-for-4 night. Andrew Bechtold hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth. Jose Miranda contributed an RBI single in the third. As a team the Wind Surge had just three at-bats with runners in scoring position and left only five men on base. KERNELS NUGGETS Wisconsin 2, Cedar Rapids 9 Box Score Cedar Rapids slugger Seth Gray put the Kernels on the board early with a two-run blast in the first. He and Michael Helman would add to that lead in the third with a pair of RBI doubles, Helman’s of the 2-run variety for a 5-0 lead after three. Starter Tyler Beck ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth, allowing a run to score after three singles and a walk, and exiting with the bases loaded. In all he went 3 1/3, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four. Jordan Gore came on and allowed one inherited runner to score on a groundout but would stop the bleeding there by picking up a strikeout. He would add a scoreless fifth inning and add another K to his ledger. Lefty Tyler Watson would keep Cedar Rapids out front three scoreless innings. He scattered one hit and two walks while striking out three. The Kernels bats went pretty silent for the middle innings, but in the seventh Spencer Steer woke them up again with a leadoff double. Wander Javier drove him in with a single that was misplayed by the center fielder and allowed another runner to score that made it 7-2. Leobaldo Cabrera’s first home as a Twins prospect would make it 9-2 after eight. Lefty Zach Featherstone would finish the game for Cedar Rapids with three strikeouts in the ninth around a walk. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 13, Lakeland 0 Box Score After losing four in a row to the Tampa Tarpons by a combined score of 53-13, the Mighty Mussels have unleashed some frustration the past two games. In the final game of their series with the Tarpons they won 9-3 and were even more impressive in the opening tilt with the Flying Tigers. Fort Myers also got the scoring started early in this one courtesy of a slugger, in their case Aaron Sabato. His first inning home run was his second of the season and gave them the early 2-0 lead. They added another run in the second after loading the bases on a Misael Urbina sac fly but were just getting started. Starter Brent Headrick went the first five innings and was dominant. He threw just 67 pitches (43 for strikes), allowing only two singles and one walk while striking out five to pick up his second win of the season. Juan Pichardo went the next two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two. Matthew Swain would finish the shutout for the Saints going the final two innings. He allowed one hit, a walk, and struck out two. The Mighty Mussels broke the game open in the top of the sixth with quite a bit of help from Lakeland pitchers. Consecutive singles were followed by two four-pitch walks to score the first run of the inning. After a strikeout of Sabato another four-pitch walk scored another run before the bullpen was summoned for the Flying Tigers. It was greeted by a Kyle Schmidt double on their first pitch, scoring two more. Then two more walks, an RBI single from Anthony Prato, and a 2-run double from Edouard Julien would push Fort Myers’ lead to 11-0 before the inning was over. They would add a few more in the top of the ninth on a Yunior Severino two-run single for the final of 13-0. In all the Mighty Mussels racked up fourteen (!) walks and twelve hits against Flying Tigers pitching. Julien (2-for-3, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K), Schmidt (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI), and Prato (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI) had multiple hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Brent Headrick, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K) Hitter of the Day – Tomas Telis, St. Paul Saints (4-for-6, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, K #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL) #3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 0-for-3, 2 K #4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 2-for-5, 3 R, HR, BB, 2 K #5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back) #7 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – Did not play #8 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K #9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-for-3, BB #12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 2-for-6, R, HR, 3 RBI, K #13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Did not play #14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K #15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch #16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow) #17 - Ben Rortvedt (St. Paul) – 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A #19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-3, RBI #20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – W, 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Iowa (12:08PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (1-0, 3.95 ERA) Springfield @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) – RHP Cole Sands (0-0, 3.00 ERA) Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – LHP Kody Funderburk (0-0, 1.32 ERA) Fort Myers @ Tampa (5:30PM CST) – RHP Regi Grace (1-0, 4.50 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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Minnesota Twins affiliates all scored first in their respective games on Tuesday night, but only two of them were able to hold onto those leads thanks to standout performances from a few players. A top pitching prospect set a career high in strikeouts and a hitter had his first multi-home run game in Cedar Rapids, and multiple hitters in Fort Myers stood out in an all-around team effort. To find out how all of your favorite Twins prospects and teams performed on Tuesday night, keep reading! TRANSACTIONS The Minnesota Twins recalled pitchers Cody Stashak and Bailey Ober, with the latter making his MLB debut filling in for Michael Pineda. Pitcher Jhoan Duran was activated from the disabled list with the St. Paul Saints. Reliever Glenn Sparkman was released. In double-A RHP Chris Vallimont was activated from the disabled list and RHP Brandon Koch was assigned to Wichita from Cedar Rapids. Catcher Nick Garland was assigned to the Mighty Mussels from the Wind Surge, and LHP Zarion Sharpe was assigned from the GCL Twins and made his 2021 debut in their game. SAINTS SENTINEL Indianapolis 7, St. Paul 3 Box Score The Saints would strike first in opening frame, as Nick Gordon led off the bottom of the first with a single and would score on a Brent Rooker groundout for a 1-0 lead. The Indians were quick to get those back, and more however, in the second and third innings against starter Griffin Jax. They got four in the second and three in the third to take a 7-1 lead. Despite that, Jax did settle in and finish five innings. In all he allowed seven earned runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five. Ian Hamilton and Danny Coulombe each pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game. Coulombe struck out five of the eight hitters he faced. While St. Paul was only outhit 11-10, they only managed one extra-base-hit and were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Indianapolis on the other hand got three doubles and were 4-for-4 in run-scoring situations. Gordon (2-for-2, R), Tomas Telis (2-for-3, BB), and Keon Broxton (2-for-4, R, 2B, K, SB) had multiple hit nights. Gordon was removed from the game in the fourth inning though no reason was given at the time of this writing. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 3, Tulsa 12 Box Score While the Wind Surge jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first thanks to RBI doubles from Jose Miranda and Mark Contreras, the Drillers were quick to punch a hole into their hopes in this one. They got to starter Austin Schulfer for eight runs in the bottom of the third and never looked back, adding two more runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings for final score of 12-3. Schulfer finished 2 2/3, allowing those eight runs (7 earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two. The worst part about that big inning, was all eight runs scored after there were two outs and only a runner on first base. Dakota Chalmers went the next 2 1/3, allowing a two-run homer in the fourth. He walked two and struck out two. Calvin Faucher pitched the sixth and seventh innings and allowed the final two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two. Hector Lujan finished the game for Wichita with a scoreless inning. Coming into the game the Wind Surge lineup was leading the league in batting average but managed just six hits in this one. They were just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. Second baseman Peter Mooney went 2-for-5 in the losing effort and Jermaine Palacios’ eleven game hitting streak to open the season came to an end. KERNELS NUGGETS Beloit 2, Cedar Rapids 4 Box Score Starting pitcher Blayne Enlow was a standout in this one, as he delivered perhaps one of the best starts of his career for the Kernels to pick up his first win of the season. While it was only 5 2/3 innings, he set a new career high for strikeouts in a game with 10. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and three walks. In the outing he threw 83 pitches (52 for strikes) and got 15 swings and misses. Catcher Jair Camargo would give Enlow and the rest of the Cedar Rapids pitchers all the run support they would need on his own, as he delivered the first multi-home-run game of his career, both solo shots. The first came in the bottom of the second to give the Kernels a 1-0 lead, and the second came in the sixth to make it 4-1. In between his blasts Matt Wallner and Michael Helman also delivered solo home runs, accounting for all the home team’s scoring. Wallner’s was his third of the season, Helman’s his second. Camargo would finish the game 3-for-4, and Spencer Steer (2-for-4, 2B, K) and Gabe Snyder (2-for-4, K) would also collect multiple hits. Jordan Gore came on in relief of Enlow in the sixth and would go the next 2 1/3. The former infielder allowed one run on three hits while striking out four and displaying mid-90’s velocity on the mound. Owen Griffith came on for the ninth and made it a little interesting with a pair of walks to start the inning, but Camargo helped him out by picking off one of those runners at first base for the first out (his second pickoff of the game). He would settle down and get a strikeout and easy ground ball to record his first save of the year. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 8, Tampa 2 Box Score Fort Myers scored almost immediately as consecutive singles from Misael Urbina and Edouard Julien led off the game. Urbina would score on a double-play grounder from Keoni Cavaco for a 1-0 lead after three hitters. It would remain that way until the top of the fifth when the Mighty Mussels took advantage of three walks and three RBI singles from Anthony Prato, Urbina, and Julien to make it 4-0. Charles Mack would add another tally in the sixth with his first home run of season. Righthander Regi Grace made the start for Fort Myers and held the Tampa lineup scoreless in his five innings. He allowed one hit, walked three, and struck out five. He threw 74 pitches with 44 of them going for strikes (59.5%), including 11 swinging. Two of those free passes came in his final inning as he neared his pitch limit. The Tarpons finally got on the board when the Mighty Mussels bullpen was summoned for the sixth. Zarion Sharpe was the pitcher, and he actually got three outs before a run was scored, but because the third out came on a wild-pitch strikeout the inning was extended. What followed was an RBI double and RBI single before Ryan Shreve was summoned to get the fourth out and end the threat. Shreve would go the next two innings in addition, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out two. Osiris German would finish the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out one. Fort Myers would tack on more runs in the final two innings, with Willie Joe Garry Jr delivering a run scoring single in the eighth, and Kyle Schmidt a two-RBI double in the ninth. There were multi-hit efforts from Urbina (2-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K), Julien (4-for-4, R RBI, BB, 3 SB), and Prato (2-for-5, R, RBI, K). All hitters in the lineup except Cavaco scored a run in this one and they drew nine walks in addition to their 11 hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Blayne Enlow, Cedar Rapids Kernels (W, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K) Hitter of the Day – Jair Camargo, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-for-4, 2 HR (2), K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Injured List (wrist) #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL) #3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 1-for-3, K #4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, K #5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back) #7 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, BB, 2 K #8 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, R, 3 K #9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – W, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K #11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-for-4, R, BB #12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, SF, 2 RBI, 2 K #13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, HR (3), K #14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 2-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K #15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch #16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow) #17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – 1-for-3 #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A #19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, K #20 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K (MLB debut) WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Indianapolis @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – RHP Chandler Shepherd (0-1, 9.82 ERA) Wichita @ Tulsa (12:05PM CST) – RHP Josh Winder (1-0, 1.17 ERA) Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Tyler Beck (1-0, 1.17 ERA) Fort Myers @ Tampa (5:30PM CST) – LHP Brent Headrick (1-0, 1.13 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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Watched him pitch that game. He actually struck out the last guy before that immaculate inning on three pitches as well, so got 4 hitters in a row on 12 pitches. Then he struck out the first two hitters to start the next inning on 4 pitches each... Since I'm counting, that was 6 consecutive K's needing only 20 pitches. It was unquestionable dominance.

Some good info on your questions at these links as well: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-39-prospects-minnesota-twins/ http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2018/?list=int

This is an ongoing criticism of mine for Baldelli. Absolutely has a "rule book" that he sticks too, even though it keeps failing him over and over. Playoffs last year were the prime example. The starters never should have been pulled when they were, no matter what this stupid book says. Throw it in the burning dumpster with everything else.

I mentioned this in my long paragraph about his outing. The RBI single he gave up on his first pitch was routine groundball, if the shortstop was in his normal position. Second ball in play was a dribbler to short that Palacios misplayed about 10 feet into the grass, I don't think he would have got an out if fielded cleanly. The third was a swinging bunt in no-mans land in front of Cano and Hamilton that neither could get to in time. Then the 4th BIP was a lazy fly ball to center for his last out. So no, there was not any form of good contact against him. Yes, signed out of Cuba in 2019, was highly ranked for international signees at the time, but had some form of issue that pushed his signing out of the normal period.

I can't emphasize enough how dominant he looked last night. The Broadcast team mentioned him hitting 96 MPH on a fastball, the highest reading they had seen in the game. He was also throwing something with good arm-side run and sink in addition to a sweeping slider. 6 straight K's, needing only 20 pitches. You can't really get any better than that and his swinging strike rate was 44%... (for some context, Josh Hader leads the majors in SwStr% from a reliever at 23.3% right now).

Completely agree with everything said here from what I saw. Cano is also on my list of players I think could debut this season: Moran was pretty good as well. He got quite a few swings and misses too and was the second time I've watched him pitch this year. Has gone 1+ innings each of his outings, at least 3 K's in all. In 6 IP he has 10 K's, and more importantly, only 1 BB thus far.

Three of the Minnesota Twins affiliates had their home openers on Tuesday night, and there were varying levels of significance for each. The St. Paul Saints were having their first as a major league affiliate, the Wichita Wind Surge their first ever as a team and in a brand-new stadium, and Fort Myers their first at Hammond Stadium as the Mighty Mussels. Unfortunately, any positive vibes from those circumstances were not on anyone’s side in the system this night. Keep reading to find out how all your favorite prospects fared on a night you would hope there would be more reasons to celebrate, but I at least think there’s a bullpen arm in double-A the Twins should check out. TRANSACTIONS There was a flurry of transactions in the system before Tuesday’s games with the Saints needing reinforcements. The Minnesota Twins optioned infielder Nick Gordon to St. Paul with the activation of Luis Arraez from the IL. Zander Wiel (quad strain), Tzu-Wei Lin (oblique strain), and Drew Maggi all were placed on the IL in triple-A. To take their places, infielders Damek Tomscha from double-A, Yeltsin Encarnacion from high-A, and Daniel Ozaria from low-A were assigned to the Saints. In Fort Myers OF Misael Urbina was assigned to the Mighty Mussels. SAINTS SENTINEL Iowa 11, St. Paul 1 Box Score The St. Paul Saints and CHS Field christened their first home opener as a Twins affiliate…with a dud when it came to the game. The lineup was no-hit for 7 2/3 innings before Tomas Telis came through with a solo home run to put their first hit and run as an affiliate on the board at their beautiful stadium. JT Riddle added a single in the ninth, but that was it for the offense. They had just one plate appearance with a runner in scoring position and left only three men on base for the game. On the other hand, the Iowa Cubs also lit up Saint’s pitchers, including Randy Dobnak, for 11 runs on 12 hits and eight walks, though they did manage to collect nine strikeouts. Dobnak especially had some trouble, walking five compared to just one strikeout on the game. He went 4 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits and the free passes. Ian Hamilton allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in his inning of work, striking out three. Juan Minaya surrendered four runs on five hits in 1 2/3, striking out four. Danny Coulombe was the only one who came out unscathed, allowing one hit and one walk in two innings. He struck out one. Tomorrow’s starter against the cubs is RHP Griffin Jax, and Twins Daily’s David Youngs got to talk some baseball and business shop with him earlier this week. Youngs also spent opening night at CHS Field, reporting on the positives that were present outside the game's result. WIND SURGE WISDOM Amarillo 3, Wichita 2 Box Score The starting pitchers for both the Sod Poodles and Wind Surge traded zeroes for the first three innings, but the visitors got to Cole Sands of Wichita first in their inaugural home opener with 2-run single in the top of the fourth. Sands’ night was done after finishing that inning, allowing those two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. He threw 85 pitches, with 51 of them going for strikes (60.7%). Caleb Hamilton and Ray Morales answered with back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to tie it at two and the bullpens would take over after that. Left-hander Jovani Moran was the first up for the Wind Surge, and he went the next 2 2/3 innings, striking out three along the way. He was removed for Yennier Cano with a runner on second in the seventh and would be charged a run as Cano’s first pitch was weakly grounded through a big hole on the left side with a shift on. But after that Cano was the story as I watched this one on MiLB.tv. He struck out the next batter on three pitches, all swinging, and that trend would continue in the eighth as he tacked on an “immaculate inning” with three more strikeouts on nine pitches. Back out for the ninth, Cano got two more strikeouts on four pitches each, so if you are counting that was six punchouts on just 20 pitches, including a stretch of four straight on the minimum number of pitches possible. While I simultaneously watched the Minnesota Twins bullpen implode yet again, Cano was beyond impressive. He looked intimidating on the mound, had big life on his mid-90’s fastball, a slider with bite, and got swings and misses on nearly everything. The only contact he gave up was that weak RBI groundball through the vacated shortstop spot on his first pitch, a dribbling chopper ruled an error on the shortstop (don’t think he could have got the out anyway), and a swinging bunt in no-mans land in front of him that the catcher couldn’t get quick enough to get an out. Call him up right now (only slightly kidding): The Wind Surge went on to threaten in the ninth, getting the tying run on second base with two outs, but an incredibly bad strike three call with Jermaine Palacios in the batter’s box ended the game in the loss column for the home team in their inaugural season’s home opener. It was a great crowd given the circumstances, with nearly 8,000 in attendance, and I’ll forgive them for doing “the wave” that the broadcasters opined had been going on for a period of time that I will say is longer than it ever should. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Quad Cities 12 Box Score Cedar Rapids jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second after Jair Camargo led off the inning with a double, scored on a Wander Javier single, then Gabe Snyder hit a solo home run. Quad Cities answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, and another in the fourth against Kernel’s starter Ben Gross. The righthander would finish five innings on the game, allowing four runs (3 ER) on five hits while striking out five. Down 4-2 in the top of the fifth the Kernels were able to tie it up at four thanks to a two-run home run from Seth Gray, his first of the year. The River Bandits would get those back, and more, against reliever Zach Featherstone in the sixth, however. A pair of walks, a single, 2-RBI double, and 2-RBI triple would make it 8-4 Quad Cities before Tyler Palm was summoned and stopped the bleeding but would be roughed up for four runs himself in the eighth after walking the bases loaded with no outs. Jonathan Cheshire would record the final out of the game for Cedar Rapids with a strikeout. In the top of the ninth Gabe Snyder clubbed his second home run of the game to account for the Kernels fifth run but it was far from enough. Camargo (2-for-4, R, 2B, K) and Snyder (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, K) were the only batters with multiple hits. MUSSEL MATTERS Clearwater 10, Fort Myers 2 Box Score The Mighty Mussels got on the board first in this one when Keoni Cavaco launched his first home run of the 2021 season, a two-run shot for the early lead. It left his bat at 103.9 MPH with a launch angle of 29 degrees and certainly made "that sound": Starter Hunter McMahon allowed just two hits through his first four innings but ran into trouble quickly in the fifth. A double, RBI triple, and RBI single put an end to his night after 63 pitches (45 for strikes). In total he would be charged with three earned runs on five hits. He struck out three. Casey Legumina came on in relief and allowed one inherited runner to score on a double before striking out two in a scoreless sixth. He would allow two runs of his own in the seventh after a pair of walks was followed by a double. He finished 2 2/3 innings and allowed the two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Matthew Swain pitched a scoreless eighth inning but got lit up in the ninth for five runs, including two home runs. Reliever Juan Pichardo would get the final two outs, including a K. The Fort Myers lineup was unable to get anything going after Cavaco’s blast and would finish the game with just five hits, were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base. Max Smith, Anthony Prato, and Willie Joe Garry Jr. each had a stolen base in the loss. 2020 first round pick Aaron Sabato continued the strange start to his season with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Yennier Cano, Wichita Wind Surge (2.1 IP, 2 H, 6 K’s, 27 pitches, 23 strikes/12 swinging) Hitter of the Day – Gabe Snyder, Cedar Rapids Kernels (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Injured List (wrist) #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL) #3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 0-for-2, R, BB #4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, K #5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back) #7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 1-for-4, R HR, 2 RBI, K #8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K #9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 1-for-4, R, BB, 2 K #12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, BB #13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K #14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-for-1, K (pinch-hit appearance) #15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K #16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow) #17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – 0-for-1, HBP, RBI, K #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A #19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 3-for-5, K #20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – Did not pitch WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Iowa @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (0-0, 1.80 ERA) Amarillo @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) – RHP Austin Schulfer (0-0, 36.00 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30PM CST) – RHP Blayne Enlow (0-1, 2.25 ERA) Clearwater @ Fort Myers (5:05PM CST) – RHP Regi Grace (0-0, 1.93 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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No mention of Louie Varland and his 10 k's in 4 1/3 on opening night?! ?

Start throwing darts at the board hoping something sticks. Andrew Vasquez looked good for the Saints last night...

I wonder what went wrong for you, I had the Saints game on as I wrote this (it was Omaha's broadcast). Was fun to see the Jeffers homer when it happened

Awesome! You'll have a great time. I stayed at the University Plaza Hotel when I went there for work, which is right next to the stadium. Make sure to check out Springfield Brewing Co. (try the beer cheese soup!), and if you want a baseball atmosphere in an unexpected spot, Ebbets Field Pub just south of the stadium

It sure has been a while, but holy cow are we glad to be back with your Minnesota Twins Minor League Reports! Plus, so much has changed! The St. Paul Saints are the triple-A affiliate, a new team with a new stadium is on-board in double-A, the Cedar Rapids Kernels’ whole team got a promotion, and the Fort Myers squad has a new name.To find out everything that happened with your favorite Twins prospects on MiLB opening day, keep reading! TRANSACTIONS The Minnesota Twins recalled infielder Nick Gordon to take the place of Luis Arraez who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list.LHP Lachlan Wells was assigned to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.SAINTS SENTINELSt. Paul 2, Omaha 8 Box Score The Saints debut as a major league and Twins affiliate didn’t quite go to plan, but count me as one who is super excited they are in the fold instead of an independent. Starter Andrew Albers went the first four innings but was touched up for a single run in three of them, and four in the other as the Saints fell behind 7-0 while he was on the mound. He allowed eight hits total and struck out six. Glenn Sparkman came on for the fifth and allowed a solo home run, Omaha’s fourth of the game, but struck out five in his two innings. Lefty Andrew Vasquez came on for the seventh and flummoxed Omaha hitters with his slider that the broadcaster compared to “those wiffle ball pitches you see in your backyard.” He went 1-2-3 in both his innings, striking out three. Saints hitters were also flummoxed by Storm Chasers pitching throughout the game, striking out 15 times and collecting only five hits and two walks. Zander Wiel and Ryan Jeffers led the way with two hits apiece, and Jeffers delivered the first two runs as an affiliate for St. Paul with a two-run homer in the seventh. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 2, Springfield 0 Box Score Another new affiliate for the Twins, Wichita got their season off on the right foot defeating the Springfield Cardinals 2-0. It's fun for me to see this matchup at Hammons Field in Springfield, MO as it is one of the MiLB stadiums I have had the pleasure of attending, and reminds me of their parent club’s Busch Stadium in mini form. As for this game, it was a pitcher’s duel throughout with the teams trading zeroes until the top of the eighth, when the Wind Surge struck for two runs. Singles from Damek Tomscha and Jose Miranda started the inning, then Mark Contreras and Andrew Bechtold finished it with consecutive RBI singles with two outs to account for the scoring. Josh Winder made the start for Wichita and went the first 4 2/3’s, allowing no runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six. He threw 81 pitches with 57 of them going for strikes (70.4%), including 14 swinging strikes. Left-hander Jovani Moran got the last out of the fifth with a K, then struck out two more in a scoreless sixth. Sidewinder Tom Hackimer was next out of the bullpen and added two more scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out three. International signing out of Cuba in 2019, Yennier Cano, came on for the ninth and bookended a single with a pair of strikeouts to close out the victory. Aaron Whitefield, batting ninth, led the Wind Surge offense with two hits including a double and a stolen base. Contreras finished 1-for-2 with a pair of walks in addition to the RBI. Gilberto Celestino led off the game with a single and finished 1-for-5. KERNELS NUGGETS Peoria 0, Cedar Rapids 7 Box Score In the Kernels first game as a high-A affiliate, they got the job done on opening night in convincing fashion. They chased Chiefs starter Ian Bedell from the game before he could complete one inning, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk in the opening frame. They would add two more in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings to jump out to a 7-0 lead that was more than enough. Kernels pitchers cruised throughout the game, allowing just three hits to Peoria hitters and scattering five walks. Kody Funderburk made the start and went the first three innings, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out two. Andrew Cabezas went the next four innings and picked up the win, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out two. Melvi Acosta finished the game with two scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two. Leadoff man Spencer Steer (2-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB) was the only Kernels batter with multiple hits, while Matt Wallner, Jair Camargo, and Seth Gray each clubbed a double. Gabe Snyder had an RBI triple in the first and was hit by a pitch twice. While the lineup had just seven hits, they also drew eight walks. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 3 Box Score Newly minted as the Twins low-A affiliate and renamed the Mighty Mussels before last year’s MiLB season was cancelled, Fort Myers opened their new era with a 6-3 win over Bradenton. Willie Joe Garry Jr. got the scoring started three pitches into the game, launching a home run to right-center for the early 1-0 lead. Fort Myers would leave the bases loaded without adding another run in the opening frame and from there until the seventh inning the pitchers were the story. Mussels starter Regi Grace went 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Though he struck out the first two hitters of the fifth, he was lifted as his pitch count reached its limit at 75. He was relieved by Louie Varland who was drafted in the 15th round of the 2019 draft out of Concordia-St. Paul, and he would finish the game’s final 4 1/3 with some eye-popping numbers. He gave up two earned runs on two hits and a walk among his 16 batters faced, but struck out TEN(!) of them. The runs given up came on a two-run home run that gave the Marauders a 3-2 lead after seven, but the bats would pick him up in the ninth to give him the win. Will Holland led off the top of the ninth with a double and a few walks (one intentional to Garry Jr.) around a strikeout kept the bases loaded for the bulk of it. The first two runs would score on wild pitches, then with two outs Edouard Julien delivered the finishing blow with a two-run single. Garry Jr. (1-for-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB), Holland (1-for-3, 2B, 2 R, BB), Keoni Cavaco (1-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB), and Julien (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) led the way for the offense in the win. Aaron Sabato was 0-for-5 with 3 K’s in his minor league debut. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Louie Varland, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (4.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 10 K) Hitter of the Day – Ryan Jeffers, St. Paul Saints (2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Did not play #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL) #3 - Trevor Larnach (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, BB, K #4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K #5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back) #7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB #8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-5, 3 K #9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 1-for-5, 2 K #12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, 3 K #13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-5, R, 2B, K #14 - Misael Urbina (Complex) – N/A #15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch #16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow) #17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – Did not play #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A #19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-3, R, BB #20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – Did not pitch WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Omaha (12:05PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes Wichita @ Springfield (6:35PM CST) – TBD Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Ben Gross Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:05PM CST) – RHP Casey Legumina Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! Click here to view the article

Yes. Dobnak should be starting. Square peg, round hole type thing. But I don't want him at the alternate site either. Is April though, I still think he'll be in the rotation by the end of May.

Winder and Miranda were both on the initial list of names I put together for this, but that list was long and I had to keep some off for brevity's sake! Working against Winder is he's only reached the Midwest League (Low-A) before losing the 2020 season, so likely too far away, but advancements he has made are intriguing. Was in the mid-to-upper 90's in instructs, so he'll be fun to follow this year. Miranda had a brief stint in double-A in 2019, and there is a bat there, but he needs to be more selective. Tends to swing at everything like Willians Astudillo. With other infield depth, I left him off.

Pretty fun to see him hit a home run on the first MLB pitch he ever saw!

In scouting terms, you are usually getting the players "peak" velocity. I'd rather it be where they tend to "sit" but that is why I try to use adjectives like "touches" xxMPH when describing them. Duran, for example, can touch 100, but likely will primarily be in the 94-96 range.

Across all of Major League Baseball, 212 players made their MLB debut during the short sprint of the 2020 season. The Minnesota Twins accounted for six of those players –hitters Aaron Whitefield, Travis Blankenhorn, Brent Rooker, Ryan Jeffers, playoff surprise Alex Kirilloff, and pitcher Edwar Colina. All of those players were mentioned in this preview after a lengthy delay to the start of the MLB season, and you’ll see quite a few of the same other names in this year’s version. As an immense fan of the minor leagues due to my experiences in those ballparks as a kid, top prospect lists and scouting reports have always been must-read material for me during the winter months as we wait for Spring. There are numerous websites and lists dedicated to this these days, including some of the best you will find about your hometown team right here at Twins Daily. I have certainly made plenty such lists over the years and have been a Minor League Report contributor here since the site’s inception, but because of the depth provided elsewhere I like to put out my own version of a list every year that instead talks about prospects you might see in the majors during the upcoming season. While 2020 was beyond weird when making this list, this season is perhaps even harder as there is no MiLB data from the prior season to rely on. I expect this list to either be woefully inaccurate or right on the nose, as assumptions from the prior season carry over. So, who are the next Minnesota Twins that could make their debut during the 2021 season? ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER: The number of names in this section is a testament to the maturity of the Twins minor league system going into the 2021 season. Six of the eight names are on Twins Daily’s Top Prospect List and the other two have appeared there in the past. With this many heralded prospects knocking on the major league’s door and an already established MLB roster, it could lead to some interesting roster moves during the 2021 season. Jhoan Duran (23 years old on opening day), RHP – TD’s #5 Prospect There is a lot to like with Duran. He has size, triple-digit velocity, and a unique pitch that can give hitters fits if they are sitting on his fastball. Like many young hurlers, development of his off-speed or breaking pitches will determine whether he remains a starter in the majors or gets transitioned to the bullpen. While he spent time at the alternate site in 2020, he has only pitched 37 innings at the double-A level with inconsistent results. It is not out of the question he starts the MiLB season back in double-A, pushing any potential debut timeline out to later in the summer, which also could come as a reliever much like Brusdar Graterol in 2019. Nick Gordon (25), IF (Gordon made his MLB debut on 5/6, and went 1-for-2 with a BB and 2 SB) I have had Gordon on this list for several years now, and the 2021 season may be the make-it-or-break-it campaign for the Twins first round pick from the 2014 draft. The stat lines have not been flashy but improvement year-to-year at each level has been noticeable. He followed up a 2017 season in double-A where he hit .270/.341/.408 by hitting .333/.381/.525 to earn a promotion to triple-A in 2018. He hit only .212/.262/.283 after moving up, but the next season improved to .298/.342/.459 at the same level and it may have been a hard choice between him and Luis Arreaz for a promotion if he had not been injured at the time. I think Gordon can find an infield utility role, but whether that comes with the Twins or not is what the 2021 season may be all about for him. Jordan Balazovic (22), RHP – TD’s #6 Prospect Hype around Balazovic, much like Duran, is also warranted. He may not have the same level of raw stuff as Duran, but the performance has been better in comparison. The only caveat there is Balazovic has not pitched above single-A yet, though he did end up at the alternate site late in the 2020 season. I would be surprised if he began anywhere but double-A Wichita to start the year, and he is certainly going to be on an innings limit. These things work against him in terms of debuting in 2021 but being on the 40-man roster also places him high on any depth charts for promotion. He also has far less risk of being transitioned to a reliever in the future due to his above average control of all of his pitches. Ben Rortvedt (23), C – TD’s #17 Prospect (Rortvedt made his MLB debut on 4/30, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, R, and BB) Rortvedt was added to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season to make sure he was not lost in the Rule 5 draft. This is mainly due to his defensive chops as a catcher, but potential with the bat still remains as a 23-year-old with good plate discipline likely to play at triple-A for the first time this year. The defense will get him to the majors, but it depends on if his bat is unlocked enough to become a regular in an organization already boasting two strong bats at the position in Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers. He is basically an ideal emergency catcher as is and I can envision a career much like former Twins catcher Drew Butera as a good floor. Dakota Chalmers (24), RHP Chalmers has only pitched around 60 recorded innings since having Tommy John surgery during the 2018 season, and less than 200 total innings in six years as a professional, but that has not stopped him from getting close to the majors. That is because of strong raw stuff that includes a mid-90’s fastball and bat missing sliders and changeups as his secondary offerings. Control of these pitches has always been the issue as he has walked 6.6 per nine innings pitched over his professional career. This was especially evident in his time in the Arizona Fall League after the 2019 season, where he was all over the board from terrible to dominant in his outings there, depending on that control. He started the AFL Championship game that the Twins prospects went on to win (with help from other prospects, of course). Gilberto Celestino (22), OF – TD’s #11 Prospect (Celestino made his MLB debut on 6/2, starting in CF and going 0-for-2 with a K) Celestino is an interesting case study on 40-man protection situations, as he is a player who has yet to play any games above A-ball, and only eight of them in the advanced Florida State League at that. As is the case with all these guys, you can blame that on a lost 2020 MiLB season, but his apparent rise in those circumstances is noteworthy as he did spend 2020 at the alternate site in St. Paul. Celestino’s bat came alive with Cedar Rapids in the latter half of the 2019 season where from July onward he hit .348/.413/.532. If the bat has continued to come around there is an exciting prospect here as he has always been a fantastic outfielder, including in center. Someone on the MLB roster could learn something about playing walls from him, too: Bailey Ober (25), RHP – TD’s #20 Prospect (Ober made his MLB debut on 5/18, starting the game and going 4.0 IP , allowing 4 ER on 5 H, 1 BB, and struck out 4 in a win against the Chicago White Sox) You will not find a better statistical performer as a starting pitcher in the Twins system from the 2019 season, where Ober posted eye opening numbers including a 0.69 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and K/9 rate of 11.4 at Fort Myers and Pensacola. You might expect such numbers to warrant a higher ranking on prospect lists, but he is a bit of a unicorn in the tool aspects as a 6’9” hurler whose fastball *might* touch 90 MPH on a good day. What he does have however, is perhaps some of the best control you will find in all of the minor leagues. While striking out 100 hitters in 78 2/3 innings in 2019, he walked just nine for a rate of 1.0/9IP. Pitches will always play up when you can locate them like he does, especially from his frame, and Ober is one I am particularly looking forward to following again in the 2021 season. TOP PROSPECTS: It is disappointing I had to remove one of the entries who would be in this section before Spring Training even started, but it is still worth mentioning Royce Lewis’ name. His 2019 campaign in the Arizona Fall League that resulted in an MVP award does not seem to get the credit it should. It was the best performance by a Twins prospect by far since I have been following that league with a keen eye for more years than I care to admit. His knee injury is a major bummer for the 2021 season (I guess welcome to the torn ACL club, Royce!), just like the cancelling of 2020’s minor league season was. We are going to have to wait even longer for the former #1 overall pick to arrive in the majors, but I have no doubts it will be well worth the wait. I consider each of the players in this section to be on equal footing when it comes to their maturity in the Twins system as the 40-man roster players above. They just have not needed to be added to that list yet. Trevor Larnach (24), OF – TD’s #3 Prospect (Larnach made his debut on 5/8, playing LF and going 0-for-4 but reaching base on a HBP) Twins Daily’s 2019 MiLB Hitter of the Year gets less accolades than fellow outfielder Alex Kirilloff, but I would not argue with you if you put them on equal footing as hitters. Larnach has comparable power to all fields and a bit better plate discipline to make up for any lag in hitting that skill evaluators might perceive. With the glut of corner outfield talent in the upper portions of the Twins system, having Larnach start the 2021 season back in double-A is logical, but his bat is one that could force the issue as the MLB season wears on. Blayne Enlow (22), RHP – TD’s #10 Prospect (Update: Enlow hit the disabled list in early June, and was later determined to need Tommy John surgery and will mist the rest of the 2021 season) When drafted in 2017, Enlow was said to have one of the best curveballs available, which was an even more impressive statement as he was a high school pitcher. But that pitch took a step back when he became a pro, leading to relatively unimpressive strikeout numbers. That tide could be changing as he continues to grow into any adjustments made by coaches, as reports from instructs last fall included added velocity (mid 90’s) and a reinvigorated breaking ball. Losing the 2020 season was especially detrimental to evaluating someone like Enlow, but youth is still on his side as the youngest player to appear on this list. I would envision 2022 as a more likely MLB debut year for him, but you never know. Matt Canterino (23), RHP – TD’s #9 Prospect Canterino is another prospect where the loss of a 2020 season looms large. As an advanced college draftee in 2019 he spent time with Cedar Rapids in his first professional season and could have been fast-tracked to the upper levels in 2020. Instead of impressing on the diamond, he did so off of it, earning a late addition to the alternate site in St. Paul where he demonstrated some added velocity and also got some notice for touching 99 MPH in throwing sessions over the winter. Because his delivery has a lot of moving parts, there are some questions about if he can remain a starter long-term, but he has answered them positively in every way he can so far. If he is ticketed for double-A Wichita early in the season (or to start it?), take notice. MINOR LEAGUE DEPTH: While these players are not necessarily top prospects, they are at or near the top of the system and have performed well to get themselves there. It could be a thing where a pitcher is lined up to pitch on the right day the Twins need a spot-start across the river at Target Field, or an injury leads to needing a specific position covered and there is no other ready replacement available. Maybe something new has clicked and they have improved their stock from internal evaluators. No matter how it happens, players like these are always needed at some point during the MLB season. Griffin Jax (26), RHP (Jax made his MLB debut on 6/8 against the New York Yankees, in relief. He pitched 1 inning, allowing 3 ER on 3 H, and striking out 1) Jax reached triple-A for three starts during the 2019 season due to a stellar campaign at Pensacola where he posted a sub 3.00 ERA in 111 1/3 innings and earned an All-Star nod. He is not a strikeout artist but has limited walks and hard contact as a pro. Ryan Mason (26), RHP Mason was not able to pitch as much as he would have liked during the 2019 season due to an ulnar nerve injury that cut it short after just 23 innings with Pensacola. But those innings were fantastic as he closed out seven games for saves with a 2.35 ERA with 28 K’s and earned Twins Daily’s MiLB Relief Pitcher of the Month award for April. Zander Wiel (28), 1B/OF Wiel has been a favorite follow of mine since the Twins took him in the 12th round of the 2015 draft out of College World Series champion Vanderbilt. He may not have any loud tools, but has been productive throughout his MiLB career, leading the International League in doubles with 40, and all Twins minor leaguers with 86 runs scored with Rochester in 2019. DARK HORSES: There always seems to be a player or two who comes out nowhere to make a surprise debut for me. They might be a known name but are not that far up the ladder at the season’s outset, returning from an injury so they have been forgotten some, or have a unique skillset or background I find intriguing that could pay big dividends. These are my shots in the dark at guys who that could be in 2021. Tom Hackimer (26), RHP (Hackimer was promoted to triple-A in mid-May but had some struggles and was released in June) A pure reliever prospect who could remind fans of Pat Neshek when it is all said and done. A sidewinder who missed most of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury returned in 2019 to post a 2.54 ERA and 75 K’s in 56 2/3 innings between Fort Myers and Pensacola, earning a FSL All-Star selection in the process. Matt Wallner (23), OF – TD’s #13 Prospect A native Minnesotan and another advanced hitter out of the Brent Rooker/Trevor Larnach mold from college, Wallner could move quickly if he is hitting bombs like he did at this spring training game I was fortunate enough to attend last year: Cole Sands (23), RHP – TD’s #15 Prospect Another victim of no 2020 season, Sands was fantastic in 2019 pitching at three levels in his first taste of professional ball, ending the year with a start in double-A. He was especially dominant with Fort Myers, posting a 2.25 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in nine starts. His changeup has been rated as the best in the Twins system by Baseball America. Yennier Cano (27), RHP An international signing in 2019, Cano has flown a little under the radar despite being rated as one of the top arms available in that market up to that point. A standout from Cuba that played on their national teams, Cano boasts high-90’s velocity and a full repertoire that could be culled to play to his strengths out of the bullpen. Chris Vallimont (24), RHP Vallimont was the prospect addition in the deal with the Miami Marlins for Sergio Romo during the 2019 season and impressed with Fort Myers after the trade. He has been a starter with a full repertoire including a fastball with movement and slider that gets swings and misses, especially against same-sided hitters. The Twins want him to throw that slider more, which could be an interesting development to follow this season as the organization has taken a particular interest in slider heavy relievers recently. These are (some of) the players I think could make their MLB dreams come true during the 2021 season and don a Minnesota Twins jersey for the first time. When do you think any of them will show up at Target Field? Who are you looking forward to the most? Who are the prospects I’ve missed that you believe could do so this year? View full article