Jeremy Nygaard

All members of the Twins are ok after the bus taking the team from Fort Myers to Elizabethton struck a car driving the wrong direction on the freeway. Players hopped on a new bus and are back on their way. Unfortunately, the driver of the car was killed.

Max Kepler will join the Kernels. A curious move, as he's not able to throw (well) yet.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1908-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(6-17)-It-s-a-Miracle

It was a relatively slow day in the world of Twins Baseball with only two of the five ball clubs active. Though that didn't prevent us from hearing some pretty newsworthy things. Twins first round draft pick Kohl Stewart is en route to the Twin Cities. In fact, at 9:28 pm, he tweeted a photo of Target Field from the Twins dugout. He's obviously not signed, sealed and delivered. But he's well on the way. I'm holding out hope that the deal gets done by tomorrow afternoon and he throws out the first pitch tomorrow night. Top 10 Twins prospect Max Kepler will be joining the Cedar Rapids Kernels after the All-Star Break. The ensuing speculation is endless. My take: Buxton goes to Fort Myers with D.J. Hicks. Rory Rhodes also joins Cedar Rapids. Kennys Vargas would also take a step up to New Britain, who could easily clear a roster space or two. There will be many more moves, but that could be how a few dominoes fall when Kepler moves up. Hein Robb was sent from Cedar Rapids to Elizabethton to make room for Kepler. The Roster & Payroll page shows up-to-date rosters from the top of the organization to the bottom. ROCHESTER RED WINGS 10, SCRANTON/WB RAIL RIDERS 1 (Game 1) Box Score After an extremely slow start to the season, the Red Wings closed to within one game of .500 (35-36). Vance Worley pitched a seven-inning complete game for the win. He struck out two and gave up nine hits. The top-of-the-order certainly delivered for Rochester as well. Antoan Richardson was 2-for-2 with a double. He also walked three times. It's a pretty impressive feat for a guy with no home runs to have an OPS of .871. It does make it a little easier when you get on base almost half of the time you come up to the plate. At a minimum, Richardson's presence is going to make it that much easier to expose Clete Thomas to waivers when that time comes... because we all know that time will come. At the other end of the spectrum is Richardson competing with Hicks (and Mastroianni?) for the center field job in 2014. (Come on, like we can't at least pretend that Hicks could use some AAA seasoning.) Chris Herrmann was 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs batted in. Chris Colabello added two more hits to raise his average to .372 (!). Deibinson Romero added two more hits as well. ROCHESTER RED WINGS 3, SCRANTON/WB RAIL RIDERS 5 (Game 2) Box Score Virgil Vasquez spotted the Rail Riders three runs in the second inning (on a three-run home run) and that was more than the Wings could come back from, falling short in their quest to reach .500. Vasquez allowed six hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out one. Shairon Martis allowed two runs in two innings. The bats weren't as good in Game 2. Antoan Richardson eclipsed the .300-mark going 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. James Beresford was the only Red Wing with a muli-hit game. Chris Herrmann doubled. LP Andrew Albers (who looks shockingly a lot like Justin Morneau) will be on the hill tomorrow. The southpaw is 5-2 with a 3.01 ERA. Terry Ryan was also on record last week saying that Albers - and not Kyle Gibson - would be the next pitcher in line to start for the Twins. (Originally from Canada - the Twins love Canadians - before playing for Kentucky - the Twins also love Wildcats - of course he's next in line. FORT MYERS MIRACLE 6, PALM BEACH CARDINALS 5 Box Score The Miracle started off their second half with a bang. After scoring four seventh-inning runs to give themselves a 5-3 lead, Zack Jones allowed two inherited runners to score for his second blown save of the season. Andy Leer started off the bottom of the ninth with a single and Candido Pimentel made his Miracle debut as a pinch-runner. After a Levi Michael walk advanced Pimentel to second, Aderlin Mejia attempted a sacrifice bunt to move Pimentel to third. Only a sacrifice it was not. The third baseman threw the ball past the first baseman allowing Pimentel to score the game-winning run in walk-off fashion. Not a bad way to finish your first game in Fort Myers, eh? Aderlin Mejia is putting himself on the prospect map. In what was assumed to be short stay with the Miralce, Mejia is proving that he belongs. Batting leadoff and playing shortstop, Mejia went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Over his last four games, Mejia is 9-for-15 (.600) with 6 RBI. People were worried about the Miralce offense with Sano and Rosario left... Mejia is filling those shoes admirably. [ATTACH=CONFIG]4459[/ATTACH] Also picking up the slack was Stephen Wickens. Wickens went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. Jairo Rodriguez went 3-for-4. Manuel Soliman allowed three runs on seven hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked two. The choice to start Soliman is intriguing, to say the least. Coming off of the All-Star break, they obviously have a rested rotation and none of the five starters appear headed to New Britain. (Three have come up from Cedar Rapids since the beginning of the year, the two who started in Fort Myers both have WHIPs over 1.30 and K/9s under 6.5.) If the Miracle were in need of a starter, Adrian Salcedo would seem to be a much more obvious option. Salcedo pitched in relief tonight, allowing two hits in two innings. He struck out two. Salcedo continues to show impeccable control. In 29 innings this year, he's struck out 33 and only walked five. Chad Rodgers left with runners on base before giving way to Jones. Jones struck out three in getting five outs. Fort Myers starter for tomorrow night's game is TBD. NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS - off today. Back at it tomorrow night with a starter TBD. CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS - All-Star Game tomorrow with many Kernels scheduled to play. If you questions or comments, please comment below.

I'm sure the Rockies will explore all trade options before placing him on waivers, because he'll surely be claimed. I would be stunned if the Twins didn't put in a claim; I'd be equally stunned if a team with priority higher than the Twins didn't also put in a claim. The Twins and Rockies have been trading partners twice in the last handful of years (Jose Morales and Kevin Slowey), so maybe they do make a deal. Would the Rockies take either Cole De Vries or B.J. Hermsen for a guy they'd lose for nothing? Or could they do better?

Hein Robb will be joining the E-town Twins. No word who will take his place in CR (or their rotation).

Turner was drafted out of Ole Miss with the 78th overall selection in the 2013 draft. Baseball America ranked him #110 in their pre-draft 500. Turner signed quickly for a below-slot $550k. As is the Twins typical style, they drafted a catcher in Turner who earns rave reviews for what he can do defensively. Everything you want in a defensive catcher, Turner offers including an arm that threw out nearly half would-be basestealers with a pop time under 1.9 seconds. Despite finishing with a batting average of .389 that placed him third in college baseball's most competitive conference, questions remain about Turner's swing. The Twins believed enough in his hit-tool to make him a 3rd round pick. The likelihood is that Turner will begin his season with the E-town Twins, but Turner has what it takes to be the first position player from the 2013 to make the jump to full-season ball, potentially helping Cedar Rapids in their question for a Midwest League Title. Interview Feel free to add your own findings!

I would agree with that. I'd be hesitant to say most of these guys have already "signed". The first thing they get out of the way is the bonus. Once they agree on that, they fly to Fort Myers and get their physicals done. The dotted line comes last. I'm not sure if Gonsalves has made it to FM for his physical yet. I would be shocked if the Twins area scouts have talked money with any of the guys in the CWS. I know when Vanderbilt made it when they had Corey Williams, the Twins called him to let him know they were taking him, wished him luck and told him to take care of business and they'd be in touch with him after his season was over. The Twins may have worked out the details with Slegers advisor, but even that would seem ill-timed. I have no doubt though, that his will get done.

Looks like I was off... Goodrum activated and Candido Pimentel sent to Fort Myers. (I really didn't see that coming.) All the minor league teams have full rosters of 25. Hendriks is expected to be activated soon. Buxton is expected to move up to FM after the MWL All-Star game Tuesday. Roster and Payroll page updated.

Gonsalves is done. I don't know the exact number, but I'm guessing its in the $650k to $750k range.

I can't say with 100% certainty, but the "media consensus" of the Top 3 was not shared by the Twins. From what I've heard - both before and after the selection was made - the only guy whose name appeared above Stewart's was Appel.

What I've just been told is that "nearly everyone is done" and that the Twins will probably announce them all at once. Obviously, the CWS guys are not included. Stewart and Gonsalves will both sign. And the Stewart deal will be done "soon". How soon, I don't know, but it sounds as though terms are agreed upon for both.

Rochester doesn't have an obvious 3rd outfielder, so I would guess that Herrmann gets a lot of time in the outfield when Butera is behind the plate.

Nothing concrete. I've heard that Stewart will get slot or near-slot. Gonsalves will sign - at least that's what the Twins believe - but will probably get over slot. Molina will certainly get over slot, though the overage will be minimal.

The CK Irby deal is official. No word on bonus, yet.

All rosters are updated through this morning's release/promotion/signings. The minor league rosters also have starters 2-9 listed in order with their bench players (usually) in order by at-bats. (Rochester is more like 2-8, since they don't really have a third OF on their roster.) Starting rotations are in order in which they pitch. Bullpens are in order from closer to guy used in lowest-leverage situations. (Bascially, it's my "power" ratings for each bullpen. Guys at the bottom of any given group are those I'd consider most likely for demotion or release. (Even the DSL batters have been updated... not touching the pitchers... yet.)

Niko Goodrum will be activated before tomorrow's game. I would assume that signals the end of Joel Licon's time with the Kernels and he'll head to E-Town.

I'm with you. I think with him its a pitchability thing. He has four good pitches and keeps the ball on the ground. I'm thinking a Baxendale-type that can eat innings, but won't be over-powering. Obviously didn't get the same competition at Pitt (as Bax did at Arkansas). I don't think his bonus was overly "large" though, that's about par for the course in the 11th and 12th round.

Dakota Watts activated and sent to New Britain. Rockcats release Chris Pettit from "loan" and no longer have Mark Sobolewski.

Navaretto signs for slot ($262,500). Can't wait!

Stuart Turner deal officially done. Signed for $550K, well below slot of $703K. Turner has a legitimate shot at being Cedar Rapids starting catcher at some point in the 2nd half of the season (has been a couple of years since a college bat skipped rookie ball in his draft year - maybe Grimes and Bryant).

Weird, Kielty may be the guy I was thinking about, but that was an entirely situation. I know when I was reading about the Diamondbacks maneuver, that the Twins were mentioned... but now that I've read more about it... yeah, way different.

Mildren signs for $100k. The largest bonus a non-top-10 pick can get w/o dipping into spending pool.