Ted Schwerzler

The Minnesota Twins brought back Kyle Farmer this season with the thought that he could play multiple positions and be a positive influence in the clubhouse. Those realities remain, but he’s been a scratch mark in the lineup, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better any time soon. With Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis locked into the left side of Minnesota’s infield, there was never going to be a desire for Rocco Baldelli to consistently start Kyle Farmer. As a rotational infielder, he has value in multiple spots, and if he could keep up with career averages, he'd have a pulse at the plate. The problem for Minnesota, and Farmer, is that he’s been pushed into a starting role and completely lost his way. With injuries taking Correa and Lewis out of the lineup, Farmer has consistently drawn starts at the hot corner. Willi Castro has assumed shortstop duties, and while José Miranda has gotten run at third base as well, it’s been Farmer more often than the production would warrant. That production, namely, is a 3-for-45 start in which he has just one extra-base hit and a 13-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. It’s not as though Farmer is getting unlucky, either. He has a ridiculous .094 BABIP, but somehow, he deserves it. He hasn’t found a single barrel, with 32 batted balls. His hard-hit rate is a career-worst 21.9%; that checks in 13% below his career average. When putting the ball in play, he’s generated a truly horrible 62.5% ground ball rate, and his 12.5% line drive rate gives him almost zero chance to find success through trajectory. It’s not as though pitchers are doing anything entirely different to him. He’s seeing the same diet of pitches he always has, and for a guy who has played 431 big-league games, the book is well-established. His chase rate isn’t out of whack, and his whiff rate is largely in line with career averages, as well. If there is something that stands out, it may be a level of passivity. Swinging at just 54% of pitches in the zone, and with a career-low 44% overall swing rate, Farmer seems to be up at the dish searching. He’s seeing a career-high 67.9% first-pitch strikes; opposing pitchers are immediately putting him behind in the count. If he’s looking for one pitch, or one location, the results certainly aren’t bearing fruit. It’s unlikely that a 33-year-old suddenly became quite this cooked, but nothing about how Farmer is going right now works. The Twins wouldn’t have had to pay $6 million on the open market to keep him, and he looked like an unnecessary expense even before the year began. Playing like he is now, the veteran utility player isn’t worthy of a roster spot, and if Miranda does anything to seize the opportunity, that may come to fruition when Correa returns from the injured list. Right now, it’s just an 18-game sample, and a month that Farmer will want to rip from his record book forever. A -9 OPS+ really doesn’t even do the futility justice, and generating an RBI while doing a Javier Báez impression on Wednesday night all but sums it up. If Farmer is going to remain on this roster all season long, the production has to turn a corner, no matter who else is available. View full article

The Minnesota Twins have held to a rigid rotation behind the plate dating back to last season, and at this point, the results are negatively impacting them. Regardless of the intentions, it’s time to break away from such a straightforward playing schedule. Image courtesy of © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports When Derek Falvey dealt Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers, it signified a changing of the guard at the catching position. While Ryan Jeffers is certainly no Joe Mauer, it was the former second-round pick’s time to shine in a regular role. He had flashed promise in a small sample as a rookie, and despite lackluster 2021 and 2022 seasons, it appeared there was more to develop. That belief has come to fruition over the past two seasons. Rocco Baldelli has seen Jeffers produce a 136 OPS+ at a position not known for premium offensive numbers. He has done it while owning strong on-base numbers and showing an ability to slug at a respectable rate. After he played in 96 games last season, there was never a reason to think Jeffers would come in and trend toward 162 this year, but Minnesota is following the same blueprint they outlined in 2023. Signed to a three-year $30 million contract last offseason, Christian Vázquez was supposed to come in and be a stabilizing veteran presence who contributed both defensively and at the dish. He has been fine from a catching perspective, and he has flashed a strong arm multiple times this season when throwing out would-be base stealers. The problem is that his bat has been every bit as non-existent as it was a year ago. Vázquez worked hard this offseason to increase bat speed and come in with a heightened ability to produce in the lineup, but it has all gone wrong for the veteran backstop. After owning a poor 65 OPS+ last season, it’s hit new lows this year, with a 42 OPS+ even after a three-hit game Wednesday night. Vázquez has just one extra-base hit in 48 plate appearances, and his 12/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio has ensured that his OBP stays as miserable as his slugging average. It's damnation with faint praise that Vázquez owns a 28.1% hard-hit rate, which is the highest mark he has produced since 2020. His 91.5-mph average exit velocity is also a career high. Chasing at 37% of pitches outside the zone, though, is a career worst. His decision-making at the plate has fallen off the rails. Baldelli has played Vázquez 14 times, compared to Jeffers’s 20 appearances, but they are dead even behind the plate. Until Wednesday, the team had alternated them perfectly all year, and when they broke that pattern, it was to give Vázquez a second straight start behind the plate Wednesday night. Jeffers has been routinely used as the designated hitter because of his bat, but continuing to play Vázquez so regularly puts the lineup in a position to fail. At this point, he has become something of a guaranteed out, and while his defense is an asset behind the plate, an already poor lineup can’t overcome his insertion. Minnesota doesn’t have a plethora of strong bench options at this point. With no Carlos Correa or Royce Lewis in the mix, guys like Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro are already playing far too often. That being said, there is still always a bat available that represents a better fit than Vázquez does. Moving to something of a two-to-one or three-to-one schedule for Jeffers behind the plate seems like a straightforward answer. Playing the catching tandem is likely rooted in an idea that Minnesota can keep both Jeffers and Vázquez fresh and healthy if neither is overextended. That is a worthwhile plan of attack, but it doesn’t have to be as rigid as we have seen over the past year. Keeping tabs on Jeffers’s health and production would allow the coaching staff to see how he handles the increased workload, and getting him into something like a total of 130 or more games this season needs to be the goal. The Twins aren’t moving the boat anchor of a contract that Vázquez owns, but taking down their ship with his dreadful bat isn’t a sensible plan, either. View full article

Joe Ryan got some early breathing room, and while the Chicago White Sox attempted to claw back, the Minnesota Twins made sure to keep piling on and never let this one become much of a game. Their modest three-game winning streak is a season-best. Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Joe Ryan 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (92 pitches, 60 strikes, 19 whiffs) Home Runs: Willi Castro (2) Top 3 WPA: Max Kepler (.178), Willi Castro (.156), Christian Vazquez (.103) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Austin “Only Doubles” Martin With Joe Ryan cruising through the first two innings for the Twins, including striking out the side in the 1st inning, Minnesota got to Garrett Crochet in the 2nd inning. Thanks to an egregious strike zone from Laz Diaz, Carlos Santana drew a leadoff walk. Austin Martin then doubled, his fifth in a total of just 12 hits, and Rocco Baldelli’s squad had runners on second and third with no one out. Christian Vazquez and his 14 OPS+ stepped in and blooped a single that just barely scored Santana from third. Willi Castro has struggled to get the bat going this year, and after Kyle Farmer went down flailing while being given an extra strike, the Twins shortstop stepped in. He connected for his second dinger of the year, and it was a birthday banger. The three-run blast made it a 4-0 game for the Twins and they had Chicago on the ropes early. Ryan Jeffers reached on an infield single looking to keep it rolling, but Byron Buxton struck out and Manuel Margot grounded out softly to end the inning. A sizeable lead is something that Ryan definitely will sign up for though, and he had breathing room against the worst team in baseball. White Sox Get Ryan Ryan has been the Twins' best starter this season, and he’s picked up strikeouts in droves. What he has also done, and what was previously a problem, is giving up the long ball. Kevin Pillar was victim number one on Wednesday, and after getting Braden Shewmake on strikes, Korey Lee tagged him for a second solo shot in the 3rd inning. Very quickly, after jumping out to a four-run lead, Minnesota had their lead halved. Back on for the 4th inning, Ryan came for vengeance. Although he allowed an Andrew Benintendi double, strikeouts of Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn, and Paul DeJong gave him the side again. Through four innings of work, the Twins starter had seven strikeouts. Shewmake dropped down a one-out bunt in the 5th inning to give the White Sox a runner and advanced to second on a walk. Stealing third while catching Ryan napping, Vazquez then threw through to second with Danny Mendick striking out and Shewmake came home. In an inning that Ryan largely nibbled, Chicago had made it a 4-3 game. Twins Daily's winning "Make It Official!" game recaps are sponsored by Official Fried Chicken, which you can find in center field of Target Field. With a name like "Official," we know we have to be the best in the game every day, and from your first bite, you'll know that's a promise we make good on. Kepler Keeps Cruising With the White Sox turning to Deivi Garcia in relief of Crochet, the Twins brought on the platoon bats and looked to add on. Manuel Margot got Crochet for a double before the pitching change, and it was Max Kepler driving him in on a blooper that had a .060 expected batting average. DeJong couldn’t come up with the catch going out from short and Minnesota made it a 5-3 game. Vazquez kept his good night rolling, and another single pushed him to 3-for-3 allowing Kepler to make third base. Farmer has been nothing short of a colossal disappointment and while he swung at a pitch that bounced in the left-handedStewart batter’s box, the wild pitch generated an RBI when Kepler raced home to give the Twins a 6-3 lead. After Matt Bowman took over for Ryan in the 7th inning, Minnesota went back to work against Tim Hill in the bottom half. Kepler got his second double on a blooper that again should have been caught, but it was enough to chase the reliever from the game and bring on Dominic Leone for Chicago. Vazquez, Farmer, and Castro went down on strikes to end the inning. Bullpen Locks it Up Despite not having some of the expected horses in relief to start the year, Baldelli has seen his bullpen perform admirably. There was more of that tonight as Matt Bowman came on for Ryan in the 7th inning and worked three outs on just six pitches. Brock Stewart then took over in the 8th inning, and he continues to be one of the greatest success stories for the franchise over the past two seasons. His strikeout of Mendick was something that appeared to redefine the laws of gravity. After warming up for extras and not being needed last night, Griffin Jax came on in a save opportunity Wednesday. Looking to nail down his third of the season, he was set to face Chicago’s 5-6-7 hitters. Getting a fly out to start the inning and a ground out on the next batter, Jax made quick work of the White Sox hitters with DeJong stepping in as the game's final out. Grabbing the strikeout, Jax gave the Twins their first three-game winning streak of the season and set up a four-game sweep on Thursday. Notes The Twins could be getting their starting shortstop back in the next few days. While Carlos Correa has been dealing with an intercostal strain, it seems he may be on the fast track for a return. Minnesota heads out on a road trip beginning Friday, and they travel to both Los Angeles and Chicago. He could rejoin the team without a rehab assignment according to reports. Closer Jhoan Duran worked Tuesday night for Triple-A St. Paul. While he struck out the side, he also gave up a pair of runs on four hits. Most notably though, his velocity was considerably down. Right now that doesn’t seem to be a concern. He is scheduled to pitch on Friday and could be an option for Minnesota next week. While his late-game heroics last night were exciting, Byron Buxton continues to be an absolute problem in Minnesota’s lineup. With three strikeouts tonight, he now owns a 28/1 K/BB on the season. This article is dated, but the strikeouts have been a problem for some time now. What’s Next? Finishing out the four-game series against the Chicago White Sox with a matinee on Thursday, the Twins will head out on the road. Simeon Woods Richardson is being recalled to make the start in game four, and Ronny Henriquez is being optioned. This means Bailey Ober will start game one against in Los Angeles, and Minnesota could bring another reliever on the road. Set for a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, they will see old friends Miguel Sano and Aaron Hicks along with superstar Mike Trout. Sano’s defense Wednesday against the Orioles was on display, and he has the hardest average exit velocity in baseball at the moment. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Didn't get that either. And then to pinch run for him at 3B?

After an ugly start to the game, and a troubling start by ace Pablo López, the Minnesota Twins continued to battle and came through last with a walkoff victory. Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, and Alex Kirilloff showed that the fight is definitely in them. Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Pablo Lopez 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (76 pitches, 45 strikes, 5 whiffs) Home Runs: Trevor Larnach (2), Byron Buxton (1) Top 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (.506), Alex Kirilloff (.243), Ryan Jeffers (.209) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Welcome Back Kep Pablo Lopez toyed with walking Nicky Lopez to lead off the game but ultimately battled back from 3-0 and got him to ground out for the first out of the game. Stretching the strike zone against Eloy Jimenez, the Twins ace had his first strikeout. Still yet to give up a walk in the first inning, Lopez has walked just four this season. After Alex Kirilloff fanned on some Erick Fedde splitters, and Edouard Julien watched the strike zone stretch against him, the recently returned Trevor Larnach grabbed his second double of the season. In scoring position with two outs for Max Kepler, the right fielder picked up where he left off last night. His single to center made it a 1-0 game. Byron Buxton doubled to give Minnesota runners on 2nd and 3rd, but Willi Castro couldn’t cash them in. Pablo Hits a Wall Fedde continued to keep Twins hitters off balance, and while Minnesota was up 1-0, he had racked up six strikeouts in just three innings while walking none. Danny Mendick started the fourth inning with a single before giving him a pair of bases on an overthrown pickoff attempt. Walking Gavin Sheets put runners on the corners before Ely Jimenez stepped in. A hanging breaking pitch that sat close to middle-middle got deposited into the left field seats and Chicago had a 3-1 lead. While the temperature dropped following a pregame rain, it may have been the culprit for Lopez struggling to find his typical stuff. After working at 94-95 mph during the first three innings, he had dropped to 92-93 mph in the 4th inning. Walking Andrew Vaughn following the home, the Twins starter had added a quick pair of walks to his otherwise slim season total. With pitches mounting and a serious lack of effectiveness in his stuff, Rocco Baldelli got Kody Funderburk up with sights on bailing out Lopez. Getting a gift of a strike-three call against Dominic Fletcher, Lopez ended up striking out the side, but he was now at 76 pitches and looking anything but his dominant self. Fedde Flusters Twins After being non-tendered by the Washington Nationals in 2022, the former top-100 prospect took his talents to Korea. Posting a 2.00 ERA in more than 180 innings, he seemed to find something that worked. Pitching for the White Sox this season, he came in with a 3.10 ERA despite a 5.98 FIP. Through four innings Tuesday against the Twins, Fedde looked every bit the dominant starter Washington once hoped he would be. Allowing three hits in the first inning, he then shut it down from there and racked up eight strikeouts while walking none. Minnesota got out to an early lead but then seemed to lose their way against the Chicago starter. Meanwhile, Lopez saw his night come to a close after just four innings and 76 pitches. His 38-pitch 4th inning did him in, but throwing a 91.9 mph fastball for his last pitch is something to monitor. That’s well below his 95.2 mph average this season and was the slowest pitch he has thrown in a Minnesota uniform. Still on in the 6th inning, Fedde continued to stymie the Minnesota lineup. With 11 strikeouts, he had set a new career high, and getting the Twins to consistently go down in order seemed like something of a breeze. On top of whiffing like crazy, the Twins had drawn no walks despite Fedde coming in with nine free passes across 20 1/3 innings this year. Santana Comes Through Despite looking like an absolute corpse in the batter’s box all season, and being fooled mightily for the second strike of his 7th-inning at-bat, Carlos Santana brought the Twins back within one. After a Buxton bloop single and a 90-foot advancement on a wild pitch, the Minnesota first baseman lined a ball to the left-center gap. Buxton raced home and Santana pulled into second with his second double of the season. Kyle Farmer stranded him there, but Minnesota was in the White Sox bullpen and had shown some signs of life. Unfortunately, Chicago immediately wiped away Minnesota's resurgence in the top of the 8th inning. With Steven Okert starting another inning, Danny Mendick recorded his first double of the season to open the frame. Baldelli countered with Jay Jackson, who got Robbie Grossman on a flyout before pitching around Jimenez to set up the double play. Striking out Andrew Vaughn, he was one out from escaping danger, Andrew Benintendi came through with a two-out single to bring home both Mendick and Jimenez making it a 5-2 game. Larnach Launches With Michael Kopech coming on in relief for the White Sox, Minnesota was forced to face velocity out of the bullpen to claw back. Christian Vazquez greeted him with a single to start the inning, and it was Larnach who launched a big fly to again make it a one-run game. Getting an opportunity with Matt Wallner struggling, Larnach is looking to make this the season he can harness his power and stick at the major league level. While the book against him has been about struggling with breaking pitches, Larnach handles velocity just fine. He turned around a 99 mph fastball and sent it into the outfield seats. Facing Steven Wilson in the 9th inning, it took Buxton just two pitches to tie the game up. Swinging on the second pitch of his at-bat, he ripped a 110.5 mph laser down the line that left in a hurry. Hitting the netting on the foul pole, Buxton's first home run of the season came at a necessary time for Minnesota. After a Santana walk, Ryan Jeffers pinch hit for Farmer and blooped an excuse me swing into left field in front of Benintendi. The White Sox outfielder wasn't able to get there and the Twins had runners on second and third. Austin Martin took over at third base for Santana, and Christian Vazquez stepped in with one out and an opportunity to walk it off. Wilson got him swing and it was on the shoulders of Alex Kirilloff to send Minnesota home happy. Working a 3-1 count, he sent a base hit through the right side and allowed Martin to scamper home walking it off for the victory. On a night where little went right early, Minnesota made their luck and came through late. Notes Jhoan Duran was officially assigned to the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday to begin a rehab stint. The hope would be that he could throw a few days this week and join the major league team for the first time this season by sometime next week. Justin Topa, who was the key big-league piece in the Jorge Polanco trade, progressed to throwing against live hitters today and should be nearing a rehab assignment soon. What’s Next? The Twins continue with their series against the Chicago White Sox and play a third-night game on Wednesday. With Joe Ryan taking the ball for Minnesota, he will be opposed by strikeout machine Garrett Crochet. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

The Minnesota Twins lineup has been one of the most frustrating parts of the roster for each of the past two seasons. While it saw a significant uptick in the second half last year, its reverted to the same poor tendencies that we saw out of the gate. What is the process, and why is it being implemented? At this point, all things should be on the table for the Twins when looking to shake things up offensively. Carlos Correa was Rocco Baldelli’s best hitter when he went on the injured list, and he’s at least a couple of weeks away from a return. Royce Lewis was lost immediately, and he’s even further out. Minnesota has a terrible .461 OPS with runners in scoring position and has gone 1-for-14 with a 7/1 K/BB with the bases loaded. The league average OPS with runners in scoring position is .744 and teams own a .713 OPS with the bases loaded. Putting a starting pitcher’s back against the wall often opens them up to a crooked number, but the Twins have wilted. The results, or lack thereof, speak for themselves, but it’s the process that seems broken as well. While it’s assumed that the club is constructed solely to be boppers that launch home runs and celebrate strikeouts, that’s not entirely true. Michael A. Taylor and Joey Gallo were jettisoned with the idea that Manuel Margot and Carlos Santana could even out contact rates. The club knows the 2019 baseball isn’t still in play, and while they aren’t playing station-to-station, they are clearly trying to elevate the baseball. At the big league level, there are very few ways to find success by putting the ball on the ground. It’s a process that hampered Max Kepler for years, and it was during both 2019 and 2023 when he found success that he was elevating the ball with ideal launch angle trajectories. Right now though, the 2024 team appears to be almost entirely cut from the mold that replicates the worst version of Kepler. David Popkins and Rudy Hernendez currently have their lineup posting the worst BABIP (batting average on balls in play) across Major League Baseball. The most straightforward way to dissect the problem is the way in which they are impacting the baseball. Wanting an ideal launch angle that provides line drives and fly balls with velocity, they are instead beating the ball into the ground or popping it into the air. Neither of those outcomes will produce anything but convertible outs. From 2019-2023, Minnesota was third in baseball when it came to average exit velocity on batted balls with a launch angle between 7 and 35 degrees. They were also fourth in average launch angle on batted balls with a 90+ mph average exit velocity. In short, they were putting balls in play with ideal trajectories and hitting them hard. Those types of batted balls turn into extra-base hits and force fielders to make difficult plays if they are going to generate outs. This season, they are 11th and 14th in those respective areas. Of course part of the hope for the Twins this season was to strike out less. They racked up whiffs at a monumental pace last season, so trading some amount of bat speed or upward trajectory for a greater level of contact could have been part of the plan. So far, that isn’t bearing any fruit either. Their strikeout rate is fourth in the majors, and their chase rate is in the middle of the pack. They also swing and miss fourth-most across the sport. Only the Athletics make less contact out of the strike zone, and the Twins are third worst making contact in the zone, leading to the 29th contact rating in baseball. This isn’t to say that Minnesota should go back to adopting an all or nothing approach that sells out for power, but nothing about their desire to simply put the bat on the ball is producing ideal results or showing a strong process. If it’s a coaching issue that neither of the three-headed hitting coach group are able to get across to the lineup, then a change should be made there. If it’s something that the players simply aren’t able to execute then going back to the drawing board and figuring out alternatives needs to happen. No matter what, this same broken narrative can’t continue to play out unless Minnesota wants to sink themselves. Right now they aren’t hitting the baseball hard enough, or with the optimal bat path. It’s fair that they don’t have the sluggers needed to send droves of baseballs over the fence either. A multi-faceted process that breaks things down individually could help, but no matter what the changes are, they need to come soon. View full article

The Minnesota Twins are off to a slow start at the major-league level this season, and they have seemingly sent that same vibe down to the farm system. With a Double-A split being the high-water mark, it was a week to forget. Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK The Twins' minor-league system is still without some key contributors to start the season. Walker Jenkins hasn’t played since going down in the first game of the season, and Brooks Lee is still far from returning to game action. Cory Lewis is at least a couple of weeks from game action, and Matt Canterino hasn’t yet returned. Brent Headrick also joined the injured arms on the shelf; it’s been a multitude of maladies. As Rocco Baldelli’s club looks for reinforcements, and players are shuffled throughout the system, remaining available while being productive in the early portion of the season could produce early promotions. As the weather warms, the hope would be that lineups across the system take another step forward. WEEK IN REVIEW Triple-A: St. Paul Saints Overall: 8-12 (1-5 last week), 10th place in the IL West Overview: It was a tough week going up against fourth-place Indianapolis, and despite having a rehabbing major leaguer in Max Kepler, they were shut down by starter Paul Skenes. 🔥Will Holland paced an otherwise lackluster St. Paul lineup with a .983 OPS and six RBIs, while launching a home run. 🔥Caleb Boushley put up a strong turn in his rotation spot, working six scoreless innings while striking out eight. 😏Anthony Prato was the only player to appear in all six of St. Paul’s games this week. He hasn’t taken off at the plate yet, but the 9/6 K/BB was again reflective of his solid approach. 😏Austin Schulfer returned from an early-season injury and recorded his first three scoreless innings of relief, striking out two. 🥶Chris Williams and Patrick Winkel got additional run for the Saints with Jair Camargo promoted to Minnesota. They combined to go 1-for-25, with Winkel recording the only base hit. 🥶Josh Staumont earned an option following his rehab assignment with two outings that resulted in three hits on four runs (despite a 5/1 K/BB) What’s Next: The Saints return for some home cooking against former Minnesota affiliate Rochester. The Washington affiliate is currently sixth in the IL East and sit at 9-9 on the year. Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge Overall: 4-11 (3-3 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North Overview: After being swept by Springfield in a tough road series two weeks ago, the Wind Surge came home and got a split. They also played a couple of games as their alter ego, the Chili Buns. 🔥Jake Rucker played in all six games for Wichita, and his .804 OPS paced the team this week. He launched a homer and recorded five RBIs. 🔥Marco Raya continues to get the kid gloves treatment, only going three innings in his scoreless start, but he had a 4/0 K/BB. 😏Emmanuel Rodriguez slowed the torrid offensive pace he kicked off the year with, but he posted 10 walks, which outpaced his nine strikeouts. He also stole four bases. 🥶Alerick Soularie hit the skids this week, going 0-for-10 across 13 plate appearances. He did steal a pair of bases. 🥶Miguel Rodriguez made a pair of appearances but allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits in just three innings. He did manage to avoid any free passes and had four walks. What’s Next: Heading on the road to face San Antonio, the Wind Surge will go to work against the 8-4 club that is presently the third seed in the Texas League South. High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels Overall: 6-8 (2-4 last week) Fourth place in the Midwest League West Overview: A successful homestand was followed by the opposite record when heading out to play the Timber Rattlers on the road. 🔥Luke Keaschall started the season with only designated hitter duties, but has since moved to the field, and he had a .930 OPS in six games this week. He had a pair of doubles and RBIs, with five walks. 😏Rubel Cespedes was also in all six games this week and posted an .830 OPS. While he did strike out six times, he recorded three doubles. 😏Ricardo Olivar only hit .263 in five games this week, but he slugged an impressive .526 behind a home run and pair of doubles. 😏Jacob Wosinski came on in a pair of games for relief work and tallied 4 1/3 innings with a 4/2 K/BB 🥶Andrew Morris turned in an ugly start, allowing five runs on ten hits in only 3 2/3 innings. 🥶Misael Urbina, Keoni Cavaco, and Nate Baez each got into three games, but they only recorded a single hit each, and all three posted four strikeouts. What’s Next: The Kernels come home and host Beloit for seven games, but the second of Saturday’s doubleheader they will be the away team as it’s an early-season makeup game. Beloit sits third in the Midwest League West at 9-5. Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Overall: 6-9 (2-4 last week) Fourth place in Florida State League West Overview: A 2-4 week on the road was followed by a 2-4 week at home. Fort Myers put up 16 runs on a Friday night win, but the offense was otherwise stifled. 🔥Maddux Houghton got into all six games this week and ripped off an impressive 1.283 OPS. He had just a pair of doubles for extra-base hits, but went 9-for-17 with five walks. 🔥Brandon Winokur and Gregory Duran both also tallied OPS totals over 1.000 for the week, and each recorded a home run; they combined for 13 walks. 🔥Rayne Doncon had a 1.008 OPS while batting .360, and he made a home of second base while picking up five doubles in six games. 😏Nolan Santos appeared in relief for two games and recorded a 3/1 K/BB while allowing only a single unearned run across 4 1/3 innings. 😏Charlee Soto made a three-inning start that included a 5/3 K/BB and two runs (one earned). 😏Angel Del Rosario recorded just three hits and a pair of walks, but he swiped five bases in the process. 🥶Xander Hamilton made two appearances in relief, but gave up three runs on four hits and a pair of walks in just 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three. 🥶Byron Chourio saw his hot start slow substantially, going just 1-for-10 this week with a 5/1 K/BB. PROSPECT SUMMARY #3 – Emmanuel Rodríguez (Wichita) – 3-19, 2 2B, RBI, 9 K, 10 BB, 4 SB #4 – Gabriel González (Cedar Rapids) – 5-19, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 3 K, BB, 2 SB #5 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K #6 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K #7 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 5-16, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K #9 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 8-21, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 5 K, BB #11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 4-18, 2B, RBI, 6 K, 6 BB #12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 7-20, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 K, 5 BB, SB #13 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 4-16, 2B, RBI, 3 K, 6 BB #14 – C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) – 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K #15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 4-19, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 5 K, SB #16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 2-17, 2B, 6 K, 4 BB, SB #19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 5-19, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 K, BB #20 – Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K PLAYERS OF THE WEEK HITTER - Gregory Duran, Fort Myers PITCHER - Caleb Boushley, St. Paul View full article

A year ago, the Minnesota Twins watched a new second baseman emerge, and it was because of Edouard Julien’s presence that they felt free to move Jorge Polanco. He has been anything but the same player to start the season. Why? Image courtesy of © Brian Bradshaw Sevald-USA TODAY Sports The Twins had multiple reasons for trading Jorge Polanco. They needed to clear payroll somewhere, and his contract had positive market value. Just as importantly, though, Edouard Julien's emergence in 2023 pushed Polanco out. Not unlike many of his teammates this season, Julien has endured a failure to launch. As Matthew Trueblood touched on, he became overwhelmingly passive at the dish out of the gate. Allowing the opposition to dictate at-bats is never going to be a fruitful strategy, and for a leadoff hitter expected to set the table, it left the lineup's would-be run producers starving. Beyond just a patient approach though, Julien has leaned into a power approach. That’s not exactly surprising, given the Twins' desire to send baseballs over the fence at any opportunity, but it gets away from a lot of the things that he does well. A season ago, Julien hit 16 home runs in 408 plate appearances. He’s currently on pace to add about seven more round-trippers to that total in 2024, but that increase has come as part of a stretching toward two offensive extremes. On the positive side, Julien’s ISO is up 15 points from 2023. He’s leaned into a higher launch angle and has slightly increased his barrel rate. His hard-hit rate has also gone up, and he’s putting more balls in the air. In and of themselves, each of those things are positive. Combining them with a few other realities currently at play, the downside shows up. Last season, Julien dominated at-bats by controlling the zone and generating walks. His 15.7% walk rate has dipped to 11.8% this season, and his 34.2% strikeout rate has expanded the gap between good and bad outcomes. There’s also the type of contact he is generating with the trajectory of his bat through the zone. While it is a positive that he’s striking the ball harder, it’s not to such an extent that the jump in fly ball rate is a good thing. Julien has never truly crafted himself as a power hitter, and putting the ball in the air is beneficial mainly if it’s a line drive or if it goes over the fence. Not enough of his batted balls leave the yard, and those that do aren’t often of the majestic type. Adding 18% to his fly ball rate would be fine if it came from the amount of time he put the ball on the ground, but he’s lost over 10% of his line drive production. Not every player needs to find 25-home run power, and when they do, it often drastically changes how they go about competing on a per-plate appearance basis. What Julien was doing in 2023 would consistently result in getting on base, and occasionally running into a pitch for extra bases. The value in that profile is immense--especially so at the top of a lineup. Julien living for barrels has had him swinging out of his shoes, and showing expected results that are even worse than the actual outcomes. When Byron Buxton hit 28 home runs during the 2022 season, it was all but over for him in transforming into a power hitter. He was never again likely to be a guy who drew walks (though, unlike Julien, he never really was one), and selling out for slugging had become his game. That is a bit more workable from a middle-of-the-order profile, but not what Julien should be looking to emulate. Minnesota ultimately replaced Luis Arráez at second base with a player who could be an equally effective, but different, type of hitter. That only happens if Julien gets back to something of the approach he showed last season. While needing to make second-year adjustments is sensible, it’s more about reacting to the opposition's changes than it is altering your process at the plate. View full article

The Minnesota Twins sought to snap a five-game skid on Saturday, and Bailey Ober did everything he could to position them well for it. The offense remained in a sputter, and while opportunities were missed all day, Rocco Baldelli's club did just enough to get the job done. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Bailey Ober 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (82 pitches 57 strikes, 14 whiffs) Home Runs: N/A Top 3 WPA: Bailey Ober (.264), Griffin Jax (.162), Byron Buxton (.108) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Ober Keeps Cruising For whatever reason the Kansas City Royals have had Bailey Ober’s number throughout his career. That remained the case when they blew him up during his first start of the season. Since that outing Minnesota’s third starter has been great. That continued on Saturday as Ober worked against the Tigers. Rocco Baldelli had Ober on the bump last Sunday against Detroit and his starter flirted with a shutout, going six innings and allowing no runs on just 84 pitches. On Saturday, Ober was again in position to pitch deep deep into the game. At just 58 pitches through five innings, and staked to a 2-0 lead, things looked promising once again. Sac Flies Get it Done With Ober holding down the Tigers offense, giving up just one hit to Detroit through the first five innings, Minnesota was methodical in getting on the board. Byron Buxton ripped his sixth double of the season to open the 2nd inning, and a Reese Olson wild pitch pushed him to third base. Riley Greene robbed Willi Castro of a base hit on a diving catch, but Buxton scored the game’s first run. In the 3rd inning, it was more of the same. Austin Martin doubled to lead off before advancing on an Edouard Julien ground out. Ryan Jeffers then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and Martin waltzed home. Minnesota plated two more runs in the 5th inning for their first crooked number of the day. Another Martin leadoff base hit led to a run when a Spencer Torkelson error allowed him to scamper home. Taking advantage of Jeffers still standing at third base, Trevor Larnach continued to be productive and his sacrifice fly brought in the Twins catcher. Through five, Minnesota had a comfortable 4-0 lead. Tigers Break Through Cruising through the first five innings, Ober found trouble for the first time in the 6th inning. Getting Parker Meadows and Jake Rogers on two quick strikeouts, he was just an out away from ending the frame. A walk to Greene came back to hurt though when Wenceel Perez tripled and gave the Tigers their first run of the ballgame. Ober responded by getting Torkelson to fly out and stranded a run 90 feet from home. Minnesota didn’t have an immediate answer in the 6th inning after Jose Miranda flew out and Castro struck out. Jair Camargo, still looking for his first big league hit, grounded out to third base. Ober’s day was over and Steven Okert was on for the 7th inning. Bullpen Memories Brought Back After Ober looked great for six innings in his last time out against the Tigers, it was the bullpen that came on and coughed up the game. Those same memories began to rear their head in the 7th inning on Saturday. Okert got Kerry Carpenter to ground out, but Matt Vierling singled and then the lefty walked Buddy Kennedy fresh off the bench to bring the tying run to the plate. Rather than let this go sideways, Baldelli had a quick hook and brought Cole Sands on to face Javier Baez. After two strikes off of the plate, Baez got a Sands bender to hang and lined it to left field. Martin left his feet and the ball got by him. Vierling came home and the Twins lead was now just 4-2 with the tying run in scoring position. Meadows popped out, and pinch hitter Mark Canha struck out. Sands walked a tightrope but escaped with the lead intact. The Twins did attempt to respond in the bottom half, but came up short. Julien squeaked a ball through the infield before Jeffers drew a one-out walk. Against the lefty Joey Wentz, Baldelli went with Carlos Santana off the bench. A weak fly out dropped him to 0-for-14 on the year with runners in scoring position, and he has just three hits in his last 40 at bats (.075). Manuel Margot grounded out on the first pitch of his pinch hit at-bat, and both runners were left on the bases. Kody Funderburk made a slight mess of his appearance, and while he was able to get a pair of outs, the leadoff walk to Greene proved costly with him coming around to score on a Carpenter single. Matt Bowman came on to get the final out of the 8th inning, but it was a 4-3 game. Runners (Never) In Scoring Position The Twins had a chance to give their bullpen a breather in the bottom of the 8th inning. Buxton grounded out to start the inning, but Kyle Farmer took his base after getting plunked, and Castro singled to put the pair on second and third. Camargo stepped in for his biggest at-bat yet, and needing to put the ball in play, struck out on a foul tip. Martin’s looper to right got caught, and the threat was averted. As has been the case all year, ineptitude with runners in scoring position was again a problem today. Although the Twins struck out just six times, they managed to go 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and they left eight runners on base. Despite the seven hits and four runs, there was so much more meat left on the bone for Baldelli’s lineup. Griffin Jax came on looking to grab a save and immediately struck out the pinch-hitting Zach McKinstry. Jax got Baez to strike out on a six-pitch at bat the the lumber never left his shoulder, and Meadows flew out to Margot ending the game. Minnesota put an end to a five-game losing streak, and while the offense wasn't what it should have been today, they got it done. Notes Max Kepler is closing in on a return to the Twins after playing multiple rehab games with Triple-A St. Paul. Jhoan Duran, after facing live hitters pregame on Friday, is nearing a rehab assignment of his own, and would provide a big boost to the bullpen. Daniel Duarte, who opened the season in relief after being a non-roster invitee this spring, is done for the year and will undergo an elbow procedure on May 8. What’s Next? Minnesota wraps up a series with the Tigers during a matinee affair on Sunday. Louie Varland gets the ball for the Twins with Casey Mize going for Detroit. The culmination of the series ends a stretch in which the teams will have played each other seven out of their past ten games. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

The Twins affiliates were on the wrong side of some lopsided results on Friday, but it was the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels saving the day for the system. Image courtesy of William Parmeter TRANSACTIONS RHP Josh Staumont activated from IL and optioned to St. Paul. SAINTS SENTINEL Indianapolis 7, St. Paul 2 Box Score After pitching for the Twins against Detroit during his last time out, Simeon Woods Richardson was back on the bump Friday for St. Paul. He worked five innings and allowed a pair of runs on six hits and a walk. Woods Richardson struck out four and continued his solid start to the year. Tony Kemp kicked off the scoring with a 2nd inning home run, but Indianapolis evened the score at one in the bottom half. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. picked up his fourth double of the season in the 4th inning, and it drove in Max Kepler. St. Paul once again had reclaimed the lead. Things went downhill from there as St. Paul allowed Indianapolis to tie things in the 5th inning, and then a five-run 8th inning spelled disaster. Hobie Harris took the loss giving up the damage on two hits and three walks. Keirsey Jr. was the only Saints hitter to record a pair of hits. Austin Schulfer made his second appearance of the season and worked two scoreless innings with a strikeout. WIND SURGE WISDOM Tulsa 5, Wichita 0 Box Score Playing as their alter ego Chili Buns moniker, Wichita sent top pitching prospect Marco Raya to the bump. Once again he was handled cautiously, working just three innings and throwing 44 pitches. He gave up no runs on two hits while walking none and striking out four. The sides stayed even at zero through the first four innings, but Tulsa broke through in the 5th inning. Jumping out by a 2-0 lead, they grabbed another run in the 6th inning and two more in the 8th inning. Wichita wasn’t able to push anything across on their five hits. KERNELS NUGGETS Wisconsin 13, Cedar Rapids 3 Box Score Miguelangel Boadas was on the bump for Cedar Rapids, but after 33 pitches to get just one out and allowing four runs, he was out of the game. Wisconsin tagged Boadas for two hits and a pair of walks. Gabriel Gonzalez scored on a first inning balk, but the lead was quickly wiped away by the Timber Rattlers eight-spot in the bottom half. Wisconsin added another three runs in the 2nd inning, and a single tally in the 3rd inning to make it a 12-1 game before Cedar Rapids had a chance to catch their breath. Agustin Ruiz singled home Danny De Andrade in the 4th inning for the Kernels second run of the game, and Ricardo Olivar scored Luke Keaschall in the 8th inning to make it 12-3. With the Timber Rattlers scoring again in the bottom of the 8th inning, Cedar Rapids stared at an eventual ten-run defeat. The Kernels had just six hits on the evening, and Jay Harry’s double was the only one to go for extra bases. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 16, Jupiter 1 Box Score Cesar Lares got the start Friday for the Mighty Mussels. He worked four innings of scoreless baseball, and while he walked three hitters, he danced around the traffic. Lares gave up only a single hit while striking out two. It didn’t take long for Fort Myers to get on the board with Brandon Winokur singling home Rayne Doncon in the 1st inning. A 3rd inning balk with Doncon at the dish brought home Wilfri Castro and the Mussels had a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Rafael Cruz singled home Poncho Ruiz before he stole third base and an errant throw allowed him to come home and make it a 4-0 game. Jupiter got a run back in the 5th inning, but it was all Fort Myers from there. Maddux Houghton singled in Gregory Duran, and Brandon Winokur blasted his second homer of the season. With Doncon and Houghton on the bases, Winokur’s three-run shot made it an 8-1 contest. Fort Myers added runs in the 6th inning with Jose Rodriguez scoring both Duran and Houghton before Ruiz’s double brought Winokur and Rodriguez in. Up 12-1, this tilt was already a laugher. For good measure the Mighty Mussels added four runs in the 7th inning to get to their eventual 16-1 winning total. Duran singled home Del Rosario, and Isaac Pena drew a bases loaded walk to plate Castro. Ruiz then also walked, scoring Duran, and a wild pitch allowed Doncon to race home for good measure. Fort Myers generated their 16 runs on 13 hits. Duran, Houghton, Winokur, and Ruiz each had two hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K Hitter of the Day – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) - 2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR(2), BB PROSPECT SUMMARY #3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 1-3, BB #4 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, R #5 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR(2), BB #11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 1-3, BB #12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 1-2, R, 2 BB #13 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 0-4 #15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, R, K #16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 0-4, K #19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, RBI #20 – Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Indianapolis (5:35 PM CST) – RHP Caleb Boushley (1-1, 7.20 ERA) Wichita vs Tulsa (6:05 PM CST) – RHP A.J. Alexy (0-1, 7.71 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:10 PM CST) – RHP C.J. Culpepper (0-0, 2.25 ERA) Fort Myers vs Jupiter (5:05 PM CST) – RHP Charlee Soto (0-0, 2.57 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games! View full article

The Minnesota Twins had an opportunity to establish themselves as clear frontrunners in the AL Central this offseason. They opted against doing that, and were fine being good enough in a division where that should get it done. Early on though, the competition has lapped them. Image courtesy of © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports It should have never been a shock that the Twins were going to dial back payroll this offseason. Derek Falvey said as much almost immediately following a successful postseason run, and with Joe Pohlad taking over as the new face of ownership, the front office's strategy was a direct result of his family not providing assets to the club. So while Sonny Gray went elsewhere, and the seemingly ideal free agents landed in other spots, Minnesota stood pat. Sure, they spent some money on Carlos Santana, and shuffled strengths with the Jorge Polanco trade, but there was very little commitment to building depth or quality across the roster. Despite that lack of aggressiveness, the Twins found themselves as favorites. In a division where Stephen Vogt was taking over for Terry Francona, and A.J. Hinch wasn’t yet sure what he had with the Tigers, there was no reason why Minnesota couldn’t sleepwalk their way to a second division title. Rocco Baldelli’s pitching staff was going to have issues in the rotation, but the bullpen seemed solid. The lineup took forever to get going a year ago, but that shouldn’t repeat itself, right? Well, here we are, roughly three weeks into the 2024 Major League Baseball season, and projections have flipped on their heads. Baseball Prospectus sees the Twins as competitors in a four-team race for the top. FanGraphs has put the odds highest for the Guardians, and that’s in spite of their having lost Shane Bieber for the season. It seemed laughable for there to be so much hype for the Royals being a competitor in 2024. They spent money, but on the likes of Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Hunter Renfroe. Even a Twins team not spending money should lap that sort of competition. It’s Kansas City, though, that has raced out to a 12-7 start, almost the exact opposite of where Minnesota finds themselves. This is still far too early for panic. The regular season is 162 games long so that sample sizes are able to be established and the cream can rise to the top. The Twins need to get healthy. Namely, Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis need to return. They also need to produce. Byron Buxton, Santana, Edouard Julien and others all have to join Alex Kirilloff and Ryan Jeffers in carrying the lineup load. If the odds are going to tip back into the favor of the Twins, it will be because they start to right the ship before the end of April. There is ample opportunity, with games against the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels upcoming. Right now, it’s Minnesota that is circled on the calendars of the opposition. A Twins start that has culminated in a 6-11 record has all but given everyone else in the division an open opportunity to take over. So far, they have evened the playing field, and this Minnesota isn’t going to back their way into another postseason berth from here. What seemed like an offseason built around simply being better than depressed competition now has the Twins staring in the mirror, seeing that depressed quality on their own countenance. View full article

All of the Twins affiliates were in action on Thursday night, and three of them finished with 6-5 tallies. The score was a popular one with results favoring both sides of the scoreboard. Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily TRANSACTIONS Util Tony Kemp signed and assigned to St. Paul. OF Max Kepler begins rehab assignment with St. Paul. RHP Jack Noble assigned to Cedar Rapids. LHP Aaron Rozek transferred to Wichita. Fort Myers placed RHP Tanner Hall on the 7-Day IL with a strained left glute. SAINTS SENTINEL Indianapolis 6, St. Paul 5 Box Score It was a busy night for the Saints when considering everything that was taking place in Indianapolis. Not only was Twins right fielder Max Kepler starting a rehab assignment, but big league veteran Tony Kemp was in the lineup for the first time, Matt Wallner rejoined the club, and top Pirates pitching prospect Paul Skenes was on the bump to oppose them. Joe Gunkel was on the bump for St. Paul and worked four innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out three, and while it wasn’t a bad showing by any means, Skenes put Indianapolis in a spot where it was going to be tough for them to lose. The 2023 draft pick threw 3 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball. He punched out eight and walked two while consistently being above 100 mph. Realistically, he has no business still being on the farm. Down 4-0 in the 7th inning, Wallner finally was able to get St. Paul on the board. His infield single allowed Tanner Morris to race home and the Saints cut the deficit to 4-1. With the bases loaded and two outs, the single run was the only one that could be mustered before the inning turned over. Jordan Balazovic got tagged for another pair of runs in the 8th inning to make it a 6-1 game and the Saints early insurmountable deficit didn’t get any easier. A four-run 9th inning made things interesting, but Kemp was called out on strikes to end the game. The runs came on a one-out sacrifice fly from DaShawn Keirsey Jr. that brought home Diego A. Castillo, and a three-run shot from Wallner scoring Anthony Prato and Yoyner Fajardo. Although Skenes dominated early, it was good to see the Saints battle late. Wallner was the only batter to record a pair of hits, but seeing him parlay that output into sustained success would be a great development for the Twins. The one hit off of Skenes was a 113.1 mph double by Twins prospect Yunior Severino. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 7, Tulsa 6 (F/10) Box Score It was Travis Adams on the bump for Wichita, and he worked four innings allowing four runs on five hits and three walks. Adams grabbed six strikeouts while allowing a longball as well. The recently transferred Aaron Rozek then took over in the 5th inning. After Tulsa got a pair in the 2nd and 4th innings, Wichita worked their way back during the bottom of the 4th frame. Noah Cardenas singled to center field, scoring Tanner Schobel and Andrew Cossetti. With Kala’i Rosario on third, and Cardenas advancing to second on a throwing error, Jake Rucker’s double brought them both home and evened the score at four. Carson McCusker gave the Surge their first lead of the night when he singled home Emmanuel Rodriguez - who walked three times in this game - in the 5th inning. They added on in the sixth inning when Schobel drove in Rucker. Tulsa scored a pair of runs in the 9th inning, so this tilt was headed to extras. Sheldon Reed struck out two in the 10th and didn't allow the Manfred Man to score. Ben Ross singled home Alerick Soularie for the walkoff win, and the Wind Surge crowd went home happy. The seven hits for Wichita were dispersed evenly, but both Cardenas and Rucker drove in a pair of runs each. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 5 Box Score John Klein started for the Kernels in Wisconsin. The right-hander from Brooklyn Park allowed four runs on six hits over four innings. He struck out two without a walk. Despite Klein getting hit around a bit, the Kernels did their part to provide him with run support. Rubel Cespedes singled home Luke Keaschall in the first inning before a Jay Harry single brought home Gabriel Gonzalez for the game’s second run. After allowing a pair in the bottom of the 1st inning, Cedar Rapids put up another two-spot in the 2nd inning. Keaschall’s third double of the year scored both Jose Salas and Misael Urbina to make it a 4-2 game. Replicating frames again, the Kernels scored another pair in the 3rd inning. Ricardo Olivar’s home run brought home Cespedes, and it was a 6-2 game. The Kernels gave a pair back during the 4th inning, but still had their lead intact. Wisconsin scored another run in the 7th inning, but that was the closest they got as Cedar Rapids hung on for a one-run victory. Keaschall, Cespedes, and Olivar all finished with a pair of hits including an extra-base knock on the night. MUSSEL MATTERS Jupiter 6, Fort Myers 5 Box Score Jeremy Lee was on the bump for the Mighty Mussels, and he put in five innings of work. Giving up three runs (two earned), he allowed six hits while walking three and striking out five. Jupiter added a third run in the 3rd inning to take a 3-0 lead. Fort Myers answered with a tally in the bottom half with Byron Chourio driving in Maddux Houghton on a sacrifice fly. Brandon Winokur’s two-out single scored Angel Del Rosario and brought the Mighty Mussels within one. Another sacrifice fly from Chourio, this time in the 5th inning, scored Houghton again and evened things at three. Unfortunately the tie ballgame was short lived with the Hammerheads adding a pair in the 6th inning, and scoring another run in the 7th inning. Looking to draw even, Fort Myers pushed a pair across in the 8th inning. Houghton scored Rafael Cruz on a single before Del Rosario’s first double scored Houghton. The one-run deficit couldn’t be overcome though, and the Mighty Mussels came up short. Houghton finished the night 3-for-3 with Winokur and Del Rosario both grabbing a pair of hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Rozek (Wichita) - 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Day – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, R, 2B(3), 2 RBI PROSPECT SUMMARY #3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 0-2, R, 3 BB, K #4 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, R, 2 K #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 2-5, RBI, K #11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K #12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 2-4, R, 2B(3), 2 RBI #13 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 1-4, R, BB, K #16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, K #19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 2-4, HR(2), R, 2 RBI, K. FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Indianapolis (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1, 7.56 ERA) Wichita vs Tulsa (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Marco Raya (0-0, 3.00 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:40 PM CST) – TBD Fort Myers vs Jupiter (6:05 PM CST) – TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! View full article

The Minnesota Twins have come out of the gates for the 2024 MLB regular season in about the most lethargic way possible. While the pitching staff has been stout, the lineup has been every bit the problem it was a season ago. It’s time to rip the Band-Aid off and fix the hitting process. Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports When Derek Falvey and Thad Levine were hired to lead Minnesota’s front office instead of Terry Ryan, they were handed a holdover manager in Paul Molitor. It took two years for them to make their own hire instead, in the form of Rocco Baldelli, and he’s largely been a success story in terms of communication and results. Rudy Hernandez was a Molitor holdover, and while the front office has also brought in David Popkins and Derek Shomon to help out the hitters, the three-headed department now needs to be under a microscope. It was well-documented just how bad the Twins were a season ago when it came to hitting with runners in scoring position. Failing to push runs across the plate is why the team found themselves hovering around .500 at the midway point, and it wasn’t until the Cleveland Guardians completely fell off that the division tilted in Minnesota’s favor. Royce Lewis was eventually inserted into the Twins lineup, and so was hot-hitting rookie Matt Wallner. The production ticked upward, and Minnesota found themselves hosting postseason games and winning a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Ultimately, though, the lineup could still be inconsistent, and the same problems have reared their head to start the 2024 season. Despite moving on from both Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda in the starting rotation, and losing big names like Caleb Thielbar, Jhoan Durán, Justin Topa, and Josh Staumont from the bullpen, it hasn’t been the pitching that has scuffled out of the gate. With a lineup unable to score runs, failure to execute with runners in scoring position again, and an overall lack of execution, it’s time for the specialty coaches to come under fire. With Tyler Wells shelved after an elbow injury, the Baltimore Orioles called upon Albert Suárez to start the final game of a three-game series on Wednesday. Having not pitched in the majors since 2017, he nonetheless shoved against Minnesota. While he generated just four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, he got 14 whiffs on 75 pitches and his fastball was untouchable, as far as Twins batters were concerned. Preparation and process are the responsibilities of position coaches, and putting Minnesota in a spot where the lineup can execute is the chief role for Popkins, Hernandez, and Shomon. It may be a communication problem, in that the players simply aren’t grasping or working hard enough to implement what they're being told, but that doesn’t make the situation any better. If there is an inherent issue with process, we have seen enough results at this point to conclude something different is needed as well. It can’t continue to be on Lewis or some other hot rookie to prop up this lineup. The Twins' higher-paid, proven veteran talents need to produce. While Carlos Correa was among the best things going before his injury, Byron Buxton owns a 21/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio that would make Miguel Sanó blush. Ryan Jeffers has come on of late, but Edouard Julien has been slow to go, and Kyle Farmer has looked utterly worthless in his expanded role. Where the Twins turn from here, and if they hire someone with a greater level of experience remains to be seen. The hitting coach triumvirate is not the sole reason for the slow start, but continuing down this path and hoping the slog sorts itself out would be an insufficient way to address the start. It’s time to make a change, in an effort to keep this season from going entirely off the rails. What shape that change takes is up to the front office, but there has to be one. View full article