Search the Community

Defense has been a hallmark of the Twins organization throughout the franchise’s history. Twins prospect Noah Miller added to that legacy by taking home a Minor League Gold Glove on Tuesday. Image courtesy of Fort Myers Mighty Mussels The Cedar Rapids Kernels had a tremendous 2023 season, including winning the team’s first Midwest League title since 1994. Awards have been pouring in for the Kernels based on their terrific season. Cedar Rapids manager Brian Dinkelman was named Midwest League Manager of the Year, and outfielder Kala’i Rosario was selected as the league MVP. Rosario was joined on the MWL All-Star team by Tanner Schobel, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Miguel Rodriguez. Another player added to the decorated team’s awards on Tuesday. Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods announced nine recipients of the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive excellence. The winners at each position were selected from players across the 11 full-season leagues in the minors. Twins shortstop Noah Miller was selected as the best defensive shortstop. He will receive his own Rawlings Gold Glove, modeled after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball’s top defensive players. “We’re thankful for our long-standing partnership with Minor League Baseball that enables us to recognize the deserving 2023 recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for their incomparable defensive ability,” said Mike Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer for Rawlings. “We congratulate this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award class of Minor League players and look forward to seeing their future baseball careers develop.” The Twins selected Miller in the Competitive Balance Round A (36th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school in Wisconsin. Last season, he handled 446 total chances, helped turn 54 double plays, and finished with 295 assists in 107 games for High-A Cedar Rapids, posting a .984 fielding percentage. For the second consecutive season, he logged over 800 innings at shortstop and has a .978 fielding percentage for his career. The Twins were drawn to Miller’s solid defensive tool and athletic ability in the 2021 MLB Draft. His baseball IQ is tremendous, and his instincts will help him to stick at a premium defensive position for a long time. His strong, accurate arm helps him make plays that other shortstops can’t complete. Miller should continue to move up the organizational ladder because he continues to be a plus defender. Offensively, Miller continues to make gradual improvements as a switch-hitter. In 120 games, he hit .223/.309/.340 (.648) with 20 doubles, five triples, and eight home runs. His OPS improved by over 20 points compared to his first year of full-season action in 2022. He knows the strike zone well and can work counts in his favor, which helps him to draw walks. Miller, 20, will continue to add strength, which can help his power numbers improve as he gets closer to Target Field. Congratulations to Miller and the other Gold Glove winners! View full article

Did you know Darryl Strawberry slugged 1.000 for the Saints in 1996? Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Image is of Tanner Schobel) TRANSACTIONS RHP Carlos Luna transferred from AA Wichita to AAA St. Paul RHP Cole Sands recalled by Twins LHP Brent Headrick optioned to AAA St. Paul Saints Sentinel St. Paul 8, Louisville 4 Box Score Patrick Murphy: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K HR: Hernán Pérez (5) Multi-hit games: Yunior Severino (2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI), Chris Williams (2-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB) On the night they retired Darryl Strawberry’s jersey, the Saints bested the Bats, winning smoothly with a star-studded audience in the crowd. Strawberry was a Saint in 1996, where he slashed .435/.538/1.000—yes he slugged 1.000—over 29 games. He then won the World Series with the Yankees. It was a good year to be Darryl Strawberry. With Mike Veeck, Marv Goldklang, Van Schley, and, of course, Bill Murray on hand for the ceremony, the Saints felt a powerful, important presence looming over their game. And it fueled them. Patrick Murphy was excellent to start, working four frames with no earned runs while striking out five. After he blanked the Bats in the 4th, his Saints bats got rolling; Hernán Pérez smoked a three-run shot to right-center to start the scoring. The Bats struck for three of their own the following inning—very rude of them—but the Saints had an answer: if three runs weren’t enough, why not try four? Yunior Severino cracked a double and Chris Williams singled up the middle to plate three; the final run scored on a wild pitch. St. Paul scored one more time, but they didn’t need the run, and they were able to earn a victory to send Strawberry and the four men who brought baseball to St. Paul home with a win. Severino played first base for the second time since joining the Saints. Let the speculating commence. Noelvi Marte is the 24th-ranked prospect in MLB; he singled in two at-bats. Wind Surge Wisdom Wichita 13, NW Arkansas 3 Box Score Jaylen Nowlin: 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Yoyner Fajardo (2-for-6, 2 R, RBI), Tanner Schobel (2-for-6, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI), Patrick Winkel (2-for-6, 2B, R, 2 RBI), Seth Gray (2-for-4, 3 R, RBI, BB), Jake Rucker (3-for-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI) The Wind Surge obliterated their opponents on Saturday. It’s always a good sign when it takes me a few minutes to type out the multi-hit games. It was a true group event; every hitter reached base at least once—that’s every hitter that appeared in the game, all 10 of them—as the Wind Surge totaled seven walks on top of their 14 hits. Perhaps the most absurd stat from the game is that Wichita went 9-for-22 with runners in scoring position. 22! There were only two innings that didn’t see a baserunner. Not to be overshadowed, starter Jaylen Nowlin pitched very well, allowing a lone earned run over 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. More importantly, perhaps, is that he only walked one batter. For a young hurler often at odds with his command, Saturday was a wonderful sight to see. Regi Grace dominated in relief as well; he tossed 3 2/3 shutout frames to bring the game to a quiet end. Yoyner Fajardo stole three bases to bring his season total to 39. NW Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace is Kansas City’s second-best prospect; he doubled in four at-bats. Kernels Nuggets Cedar Rapids 10, Quad Cities 12 (10 Innings) Box Score Cory Lewis: 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K HR: Carson McCusker (2) Multi-hit games: Noah Miller (2-for-6, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI), Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB) The Kernels were walked-off on Saturday. No one could blame Cedar Rapids’ offense for losing them the game; outbursts in the fifth, eighth, and ninth helped plate 10 runs for the Kernels. Again, this was a shared success, with every starter either scoring a run or earning an RBI. Noah Miller was perhaps the most successful batter, as he doubled twice and knocked in three out of the lead-off spot. He’s slashing .244/.326/.463 since the start of August. Despite exiting from Friday’s game after a nasty collision with the outfield wall, Emmanuel Rodriguez played in Saturday’s match, singling and walking in six plate appearances. Pitching was hard to come by—for either side, really—as every Kernels pitcher not named Mike Paredes exited with more earned runs than they entered with. The game mercifully ended in the 10th, when—after Cedar Rapids failed to plate their Manfred Man—the River Bandits ended the game with a homer in the bottom half of the inning. Kansas City’s catcher Carter Jensen is their eighth-best prospect, and he knocked in two with a single and a sacrifice fly. Mussel Matters Ft. Myers 3, Bradenton 1 Box Score Miguelangel Boadas: 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Jay Harry (2-for-3, R) The Mighty Mussels smothered Bradenton’s bats on Saturday. Miguelangel Boadas may have started the game, but it was an all-around effort to limit offensive damage; Danny Moreno, Juan Mendez, and Ricardo Velez were all exceptional as well, carrying Fort Myers to the finish line with just one earned run. The most impressive outing? Perhaps Mendez, who struck out five over two scoreless frames. And the bats did what they needed to do to help win. They only acquired five hits—typically not enough to win—but they also worked six walks, giving themselves plenty of extra chances to knock in runners. They did. Scoring in each of the first three innings, Fort Myers struck a 3-0 lead that never wavered. Danny De Andrade earned a pair of RBIs, doubling in a run in the 1st while scoring another off a 3rd inning sacrifice fly. 2023 draft pick Jay Harry singled twice; his brother in recent draftee status, Luke Keaschall, walked once in four plate appearances. The bases proved to be eventful on Saturday, with Fort Myers stealing three bases while being caught twice and picked off once. If my Washington math is correct, they broke even on steals. Pittsburgh’s 11th-ranked prospect—an infielder named Mitch Jebb—struck out once in four trips to the plate. Complex Chronicles FCL Twins 2, FCL Red Sox 3 Box Score Carlos Gutierrez: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K HR: Harold Grant (4) Multi-hit games: None The FCL Twins fell to the FCL Red Sox in a low-scoring affair on Saturday. The New Bash Brothers—Brandon Winokur and Walker Jenkins—disappointed fans looking for fireworks with a tepid one hit over six combined at-bats. That one hit was immediately wiped out when catcher Diego Viloria picked off Jenkins. Certainly, the two will have better games in the future. No hitter could really put anything together, though; a Harold Grant two-run homer served as the team’s only run-scoring knock. Both Carlos Gutierrez and Matt Gabbert pitched well, with the two arms combining for 12 strikeouts and just one walk—a rarity for the lower levels of the minors. Dominican Dailies DSL Twins 2, DSL Mariners 1 Box Score Joel Garcia: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Junior Del Valle (2-for-2) The DSL Twins sneaked by the DSL Mariners on Saturday. Joel Garcia had another fine start, following up his four-frame one-earned run outing on the fifth with five shutout innings and five strikeouts. He allowed a few more baserunners than you’d like, but he eluded damage well, always finding a way to strand men on base. The entirety of the DSL Twins’ offense came in the fourth; Javier Roman doubled in Moises Lopez, and Jesus Peraza—with the help of a Junior Del Valle sacrifice bunt—singled in Roman. Star international signing Hendry Chivilli continued his poor start to pro ball, punching out three times in four trips to the plate. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Joel Garcia, DSL Twins Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jake Rucker, Wichita Wind Surge PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 1-5, R, K #2 - Walker Jenkins (FCL Twins) - 1-3, K #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, 3 R, BB #5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K #8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, K #10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 2-6, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 K #12 - Luke Keaschall (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, R, BB #13 - Brandon Winokur (FCL Twins) - 0-3, K #15 - Jordan Balazovic (Minnesota) - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K #16 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB #17 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 2-5, 2B, R, RBI, K #18 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, R, 2 K #20 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL Twins) - 1-3, R SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Louisville @ St. Paul (2:07 PM) - RHP Carlos Luna Wichita @ NW Arkansas (2:05 PM) - RHP David Festa Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (1:00 PM) - RHP C.J. Culpepper Bradenton @ Fort Myers (11:00 AM) - RHP John Klein View full article

The Minnesota Twins were embarrassed by the Phillies but there were signs of hope on the horizon in St. Paul. After a long rain delay, both Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee hit home runs for the Saints. Alerick Soularie had a big day for Wichita. Emmanuel Rodriguez homered for Cedar Rapids but, because we can't have nice things, he was also removed from the game after colliding with the wall making a great catch. View full video

The Twins affiliates were all in action on Sunday. Only one of them won, but Cory Lewis and Dalton Shuffield highlighted the best performances. Image courtesy of Ethan Chapman TRANSACTIONS LHP Brent Headrick recalled by Twins LHP Jovani Moran optioned to St. Paul SAINTS SENTINEL Columbus 2, St. Paul 0 Box Score The Saints started Kody Funderburk as an opener for their tilt on Sunday. He worked 2 1/3 innings and gave up a run on one hit and two walks. Funderburk struck out four, and after Moran’s option, continued to position himself for a call-up to Minnesota. Columbus scored runs in the third inning and the sixth inning on just three total hits. Trevor Larnach recorded a pair for the Saints but their three didn’t produce a run. Ronny Henriquez worked 1 2/3 innings of hitless baseball and struck out three. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 10, Tulsa 9 Box Score Chad Donato was on the bump for Wichita, and it was a short outing. He allowed eight runs over three innings. Seven hits did him in, and he also gave up a pair of walks. After falling behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning, the Wind Surge led off with a run when Yoyner Fajardo blasted his sixth home run of the season. Wichita gave up another in the second, but answered with five runs of their own. Will Holland roped his third triple of the year, clearing a loaded set of bases. Willie Joe Garry Jr., Jake Rucker, and Dalton Shuffield all scored. Fajardo then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Holland before Tanner Schobel doubled home Frank Nigro. The Drillers regained the lead in the third inning on a three-run shot, and they added a ninth run with a fifth-inning single. That made it a 9-6 game. Looking to draw even, Dalton Shuffield stepped in and lifted and launched his ninth homer of the year to tie things up. Alex Isola and Aaron Sabato scored on the big fly. In the eighth inning Sabato doubled for the 15th time, scoring Fajardo and putting Wichita ahead. That was enough for them to hang on and grab the victory. Fajardo picked up a pair of hits to lead the Wind Surge. KERNELS NUGGETS Lansing 2, Cedar Rapids 1 Box Score The Kernels turned to Cory Lewis on Sunday and he pitched quite well yet again. The right-hander tossed six innings and gave up just one run on three hits and a walk. He also punched out five batters. Lansing plated a run in both the sixth and seventh inning to take a 2-0 lead over Cedar Rapids. In the eighth inning, Noah Miller hit his sixth homer to put the Kernels on the board. However, the solo shot wasn’t enough to bring them back. The blast was Miller’s second hit of the day. Unfortunately, the team had just three total hits. MUSSEL MATTERS Dunedin 11, Fort Myers 9 Box Score Miguelangel Boadas made the start Sunday afternoon for the Mighty Mussels. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings after allowing four runs on five hits. Boadas didn’t give up a walk and struck out four batters. Fort Myers kicked off the scoring in the second inning when Kamron Willman doubled home both Nate Baez and Gregory Duran. The Blue Jays answered with four runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the Mighty Mussels answered in the fourth inning. Kyle Schmidt hit his second homer of the season and made it a one-run game. The fifth inning saw Dunedin add in a big way again. Their five runs put a six-run deficit between themselves and the Mighty Mussels. That didn’t deter Fort Myers’ comeback though, and they answered with six runs of their own in the eighth inning. Yohander Martinez drove in Baez on an error before Schmidt scored on a wild pitch. Martinez followed his lead and came home on another uncorked one, before Rafael Cruz clubbed a three-run homer. His eighth of the season brought home Willman and Ricardo Olivar knotted the game at nine. In the bottom of the eighth, Dunedin brought home two more runs which was enough to end the day with a win. Willman finished the day as the only Mighty Mussels player with a pair of hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Cory Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Day – Dalton Shuffield (Wichita) - 1-1, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR(3), 3 BB PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 0-4, K #5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(7, walkoff), K #7 - David Festa (Wichita) - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K #8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 0-1, 2 BB, K #10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-4, RBI, BB #16 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 3 K TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Louisville @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - TBD Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05PM CST) - TBD Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30PM CST) - TBD Bradenton @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s games! View full article

In the Complex League today, several Twins draft prospects made their professional debuts, and none were more impressive than Brandon Winokur. Yunior Severino went jack-job in his third straight game, while Zebby Matthews and Noah Miller shined for the Kernels. Check out all of the action within. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge TRANSACTIONS OF Trevor Larnach optioned to Triple-A St. Paul UT Hernan Perez assigned to Single-A Fort Myers on minor league rehab assignment SAINTS SENTINEL Toledo 5, St. Paul 3 Box Score Simeon Woods Richardson took his turn Thursday for the Saints on Irish heritage night. He didn’t last five innings, but the 4 1/3 innings were quality allowing just a single run on two hits. Walks were a bugaboo as he racked up five of them, but the Saints starter kept damage at bay with six strikeouts to his credit. Trailing by one entering the third inning, Kyle Garlick stepped in for St. Paul and lifted a sacrifice fly to score Ernie Yake. That run knotted things up, and they would stay that way until the seventh inning. Austin Schulfer was looking to wriggle out of a bases loaded spot, but instead gave up a two-run single and the Saints found themselves in another deficit. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, facing former Twins reliever Matt Wisler, Anthony Prato crushed a double off the left field wall driving in both Alex De Goti and Andrew Stevenson to even things back at three. Toledo added a run during their portion of the eighth inning, and then a tough play with the infield drawn in saw Chris Williams get no outs and another run score. He missed tagging the base at first, and made an errant throw to the plate attempting to cut down the run. St. Paul needed to come back from two runs behind with just three outs remaining. Yake stepped in needing to get things going, and it was clear Jair Camargo, Austin Martin, and Trevor Larnach were all unavailable as Toby Gardenhire didn't insert a pinch hitter. With the rain falling significantly, Stevenson singled to bring Prato up with a chance to tie the game. He drew a walk with fans behind the plate showing off their chests in the rain, and Garlick stepped in having a chance to win it. Coming through yet again, Garlick ripped a double to right field scoring Stevenson and putting the tying run just 90 feet away. Contreras popped out to right field, and that's where the rally ended. Prato and Yake both recorded a pair of hits on the evening. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 4, Frisco 1 Box Score It was Pierson Ohl’s night for Wichita. He worked five innings of one-run ball. Ohl gave up three hits but walked just one and struck out five on the evening. Patrick Winkel opened the scoring during the first inning when his ground out allowed Brooks Lee to score from his leadoff walk. They did give the run back during the top of the second inning, but recaptured the lead during their half of the third inning. Yunior Severino crushed his 21st home run of the year, and third in three games, to score DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and make it a 3-1 ballgame. The fifth inning saw the Wind Surge add again when Jake Rucker ripped his 14th double of the season to score Winkel and push the lead to three. Alex Scherff came on for the final two innings and shut down Frisco allowing a single hit and giving up zero free passes. He punched out four to preserve the lead. Keirsey Jr. and Severino both finished with a pair of hits. Brooks Lee did grab one on the evening, and his days with Wichita are numbered. KERNELS NUGGETS Wisconsin 4, Cedar Rapids 3 (F/10) Box Score The Kernels went with Zebby Matthews for the start Thursday, and he worked six strong innings. Allowing just two runs on five hits, Matthews punched out seven on the evening and didn’t allow a single free pass. The Kernels were up against the Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff tonight who is working through a rehab assignment. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out three across four innings. After getting behind by a run in the second inning, the Kernels answered when Noah Miller singled home Misael Urbina to draw even. Wisconsin answered in the bottom half, but that lead wouldn’t hold. Again, it was Miller, this time with a fifth inning double to score Keoni Cavaco and even things up. Both sides remained tied through nine innings and extras were necessary. Because why not, it was again Miller in the 10th inning with a single to plate Cavaco for the second time, and the Kernels had their first lead of the night. Miguel Rodriguez walked the leadoff batter for Wisconsin, and a Robert Moore single scored two for the Timber Rattlers, walking off Cedar Rapids. Miller had three hits on the night with Jorel Ortega adding two of his own. MUSSEL MATTERS Palm Beach 9, Fort Myers 4 Box Score The Mighty Mussels turned to Jarret Whorff on Thursday. He worked four innings of three run baseball. Palm Beach scored on three hits and five walks, despite punching out five times during his outing. Giving up two runs in the third inning, Fort Myers responded with a pair of their own during the fourth inning. Rafael Cruz singled to drive in the rehabbing Hernan Perez, and Dylan Neuse cracked his fourth triple allowing Cruz to score. The game didn’t stay tied long after the Cardinals put up a three-spot in the fifth inning. Trying to mount a comeback, the Mighty Mussels started with one as Perez lofted a sacrifice fly to score Alec Sayre and make it a 5-3 game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Fort Myers couldn’t tack on more however, and a four-run eighth inning made it a laugher. One last gasp in the ninth inning saw Neuse drive in Cruz, but the 9-4 lead was enough for Palm Beach to hold on. Cruz and Maddux Houghton were the only Mighty Mussels to record a pair of hits on the night. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Braves 7, FCL Twins 5 Box Score Thursday was a big day for 2023 Twins draft picks. The first three of them, Luke Keaschall, Jay Harry, and Brandon Winokur all made their professional debuts. Brayan Medina was on the bump Thursday for the FCL club and worked five innings of three-run baseball. He cruised through the first four before allowing two hits, and three walks to bite him. Medina did strike out three on the day. Looking to make a comeback in the sixth inning, it was the draftees that did some of the heavy lifting. After Daniel Pena singled to score Isaac Pena, Nate Baez grounded out and drove home Luke Keaschall on the play. Keaschall reached with a walk before stealing both second and third to set up the run. Jay Harry then walked before Brandon Winokur stepped in and launched his first professional home run, putting the Twins ahead 4-3. With the new draftees getting into just their first game, both Keaschall and Harry were lifted after the top of the sixth inning for Jankel Ortiz and Bryan Acuna. Unfortunately the Braves put up a four-spot in the seventh inning to regain the lead and they held it for good. Winokur did reach on a dropped third strike during the ninth inning, and Yasser Mercedes grounded out to bring him home. No one recorded multiple-hits, but each player making their pro debut made an impression. DOMINICAN DAILY DSL Dodgers Mega 9, DSL Twins 7 (F/6) Box Score Cristian Hernandez drew the start on Thursday and gave up just a single run through his first three innings. The wheels fell off a bit when he was unable to finish the fourth inning. Working 3 2/3 on the day, Hernandez gave up four runs on three hits and five walks. He did strike out five. Trailing 5-0 through five and a half innings, the Twins put up a four spot in their half. Unfortunately that one-run deficit wouldn’t hold as the Dodgers put up for more to open the sixth inning and stretch their advantage again. The Twins responded with three of their own in the sixth inning, but that still left them two short and the sides decided to wrap this one up there. The Twins spread out their six hits with no one recording more than one. Each of them were singles and opportunity passed them by going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position while leaving 12 on base. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Zebby Matthews (Cedar Rapids) - 6.0, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K Hitter of the Day – Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(21), K PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 1-3, R, 2 BB #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, BB, K #10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-3, BB #11 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL Twins) - 0-4, RBI, K #12 - Luke Keaschall (FCL Twins) - 0-2, R, BB, K, 2 SB #13 - Brandon Winokur (FCL Twins) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(1), K #14 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 4.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 5 BB, 6 K #16 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, 4 K #17 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(21), K #20 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL Twins) - 0-4, K FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Toledo @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - LHP Dallas Keuchel Frisco @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:40PM CST) - RHP Kyle Jones Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - RHP Juan Mercedes Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! View full article

Marco Raya twirled a gem on the farm again, and Dallas Keuchel's impending opt out was a point of consternation. Read more in the farm report below. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Marco Raya) TRANSACTIONS Dallas Keuchel decided to extend his opt out with the Twins to August 1. SAINTS SENTINEL Omaha 5, St. Paul 4 Box Score Simeon Woods Richardson got the start on Friday for the Saints, and he went five strong innings. He allowed just two runs on five hits. His command was better in this game. He didn't give up a walk, and he still put away four Omaha hitters via strikeouts. The third inning saw Omaha plate two runs and take the lead, but St. Paul stormed backed in the fifth inning. Austin Martin singled home Ernie Yake before Kyle Garlick drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Alex De Goti. Gilberto Celestino then singled home Martin, and it was a 4-2 lead for the Saints. Unfortunately, they didn't add the rest of the game. Cody Laweryson struck out two batters over two scoreless innings. Michael Boyle tossed a scoreless eighth frame. Josh Winder came in for the bottom of the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. He gave up three runs on three hits and two walks and recorded just one out. Andrew Stevenson was the lone Saints hitter to record a pair of hits on the evening. WIND SURGE WISDOM Amarillo 3, Wichita 2 Box Score The Wind Surge went with top pitching prospect Marco Raya on Friday night, and he twirled four strong innings. He gave up just a single run on two hits. Raya avoided free passes and punched out four in the process. After giving up a first-inning solo blast, the Sod Poodles didn't score again until they added a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Needing a rally to stay alive, David Banuelos homered for the seventh time to make it a 3-1 game in the eighth inning. Yoyner Fajardo continued to produce with a ninth-inning single, but no one followed Severino home. Tanner Schobel was left on third base. Severino had two singles in the game. Will Holland had two hits, including his eighth double of the season. Pierson Ohl gave up two runs on three hits and two walks (one intentional) in the final four innings. He had seven strikeouts. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 8, Peoria 5 Box Score The Kernels gave Zebby Matthews the ball on Friday night, and he turned in five innings of three-run baseball. Matthews gave up five hits but walked no one and struck out six batters. After allowing an opening inning blast to Peoria, Cedar Rapids went to work if the bottom of the first. Kala'i Rosario launched his 13th dinger of the season which also drove in Noah Miller. That was followed by solo shots from Ben Ross (14th) and Jorel Ortega (4th) to make it a 4-1 game entering the second inning. In the fourth inning, Willie Joe Garry Jr. singled home Andrew Cossetti before Miller smacked his fifth big fly to make it a 7-1 game. Peoria tried to claw back in the sixth inning and drew within four, but Garry Jr. launched his third homer or the year in the bottom half to make it an 8-3 contest. Although Peoria again added in the eighth inning, the two runs weren't enough to make a difference. Miller led off and went 2-for-3 with a walk. He also stole his ninth base. Garry Jr. batted ninth. He was also 2-for-3. A.J. Labas gave up two runs on five hits and recorded three outs. Niklas Rimmel came into the game with the bases-loaded in the eighth frame. One run scored on a sacrifice fly, but Rimmel got all six batters he faced out, four on strikeouts. MUSSEL MATTERS Bradenton 11, Fort Myers 3 Box Score Jarret Whorff took the ball for Fort Myers and things went sideways early. He lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on six hits and four walks. Whorff struck out out four, but the damage had been done. Down 11-0 heading to the ninth inning, Fort Myers was essentially playing for pride. After Danny De Andrade was hit by a pitch and Kamron Willman walked, Rubel Cespedes singled home Danny De Andrade for the team's first run. It came on their first hit. Later, Yohander Martinez added a two-out single that drove in two runs and finish out the scoring. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 6, FCL Red Sox 3 (F/7) Box Score Zarion Sharpe drew the start for the Twins as his rehab continued. He gave up one run on two hits over two innings. He struck out a pair. Jacob Wosinski gave up two runs on four hits in one innings. Matt Gabbert came on and struck out four batters over the final four scoreless innings. The Red Sox and Twins matched tallies in the second and third innings. Getting down one, the Twins responded with Isaac Pena singling home Jose Rodriguez. Then getting down two in the third inning, Harold Grant doubled home both Yasser Mercedes and Byron Chourio. Rodriguez’s fifth inning homer, his fourth, provided the Twins with their first lead. Adding another pair in the sixth inning, the Twins saw Fredy Michel race home on a Giovanny Rivero groundout before Anderson Nova singled home Endy Rodriguez. That was enough to secure the victory in this one. Rodriguez doubled along with his homer on Friday, and his two hits represented the only Twins player recording a multi-hit effort. This was a seven-inning game because the teams also completed a previously-suspended game. Box Score here. DOMINICAN DAILY DSL Phillies Red 4, DSL Twins 2 (F/7) Box Score The good news is that Friday the DSL Twins kept the opposition in single digits. The bad news is that they dropped another game and now are 7-24. Leonardo Lugo got the start and worked three innings allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks. He did strike out three. The Twins were down 2-0 after the first inning, but got on the board in the third inning when Dameury Pena singled home Angel Trinidad. The Phillies extended the lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning, and the Twins could only answer with one run in the seventh inning. Carlos Silvas was back in the lineup working behind the dish today, and Hendry Chivilli led off. Only Ewing Matos, who drove in Jesus Peraza for the second run, had a pair of hits today for the Twins. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Marco Raya (Wichita) - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 47 pitches, 37 strikes, 78.7% Hitter of the Day – Jose Rodriguez (FCL Twins) - 2-4, 2B, HR(4), RBI, K PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 0-4, K #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, K #4 - Marco Raya (Wichita) - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 47 pitches, 37 strikes (78.7%) #5 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 1-3, R, BB, K #8 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 1-5, R, RBI, K #10 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 0-3, BB #11 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL Twins) - 1-3, R #14 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER , 0 BB, 4 K #16 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR9(13) #17 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 2-4, R #20 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL Twins) - 2-4, 2B, HR(4), RBI, K SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Omaha (7:05PM CST) - LHP Dallas Keuchel Wichita @ Amarillo (7:05PM CST) - RHP Travis Adams Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Kyle Jones Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30PM CST) - RHP Andrew Morris Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games! View full article

Interestingly, the Twins have used many players from the 2021 draft as trade capital. How has the team fared in those deals and how have their professional career progressed in 2023? Image courtesy of Steve Buhr, Twins Daily Major League Baseball's 2023 Draft is scheduled to start on July 9, 2023. Each team prepares for the draft with a specific plan, and sometimes those plans play out better than others. To prepare fans for the upcoming draft, this series will examine recent Twins drafts and how those players have performed so far in their professional careers. First Round: Chase Petty, Noah Miller High school pitchers can follow various development paths during their professional careers. It is one of the most challenging player types to draft and develop in an organization. The Twins had two picks near the back of the first round in 2021 and used their first selection (26th overall) on Chase Petty, a high school flamethrower from New Jersey. His time in the Twins organization was limited to two appearances because the team traded him to Cincinnati before the 2022 season for Sonny Gray. Last season, he pitched 98 1/3 innings between Low-A and High-A with a 3.48 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and an 8.8 K/9. From Minnesota's perspective, they received two strong seasons from Sonny Gray, and they can give him the qualifying offer. The Twins receive draft pick compensation if he declines the offer and signs with another team. It's easy to see why the Twins pulled the trigger on this deal. Miller is entering his third professional season and has shown various skills. His defense at shortstop continues to improve, and he is a strong base runner. At the plate, he needs to refine his swing and make more consistent contact. Last season at Low-A, he hit .212/.348/.279 (.627) with 18 extra-base hits in 108 games. Miller faced older batters in nearly 92% of his plate appearances as a teenager in the Florida State League. The Twins moved Miller to Cedar Rapids for the 2023 season, where he continues to play shortstop while also playing second base for the first time in his professional career. In the season's first 51 games, he posted a .562 OPS, while facing older pitchers in all but two at-bats. Clearly, the front office believes he can hold his own against older competition, so it will be interesting to see if he gets more comfortable at his level in 2023. Second Round: Steve Hajjar Hajjar was a very intriguing pick for the Twins as a strong college left-handed pitcher with some room to grow. In 2022, he made the majority of his starts in Fort Myers, where he posted a 2.47 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. At the trade deadline, Minnesota included him as one of the pieces in the Tyler Mahle trade that hasn't worked out in the team's favor. His time in the Reds organization was also minimal because they traded him to the Guardians in March. Hajjar missed time to begin the 2023 season but is currently on a rehab assignment. Twins fans might see plenty of Hajjar in the future now that he is back in the AL Central. Third Round: Cade Povich Like Hajjar, Povich was a Big Ten college pitcher that the Twins thought highly of entering the draft. During the 2022 season, he pitched at Cedar Rapids and posted a 4.46 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP in 78 2/3 innings. Minnesota dealt him to the Orioles in the Jorge Lopez trade, and he has spent the 2023 campaign pitching at Double-A. In his first 11 starts (47 innings), he allowed 29 earned runs on 48 hits with a 69-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Fourth Round: Christian Encarnacion-Strand Twins fans will follow Encarnacion-Strand's career because of his connection to the Tyler Mahle trade. During the 2022 season, he split time between High-A and Double-A while hitting .304/.368/.587 (.955) with 31 doubles, five triples, and 32 home runs. His stock was rising at the trade deadline, and he has built off his success in 2023. He has been crushing the ball at Triple-A this season with a 1.162 OPS with 13 doubles and 17 home runs in 42 games. He's on the doorstep of the big leagues and will likely make his debut later this season. Other Prospects Still in the Organization Christian MacLeod (5th round): He missed the entire 2022 season with Tommy John surgery. He's made four starts this season between Low-A and High-A with mixed results. His performance should improve as he gets further from surgery. Travis Adams (6th round): He's pitched the entire 2023 season in the Wichita rotation with a 6.55 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. Last season he threw over 100 innings with a 3.93 ERA between Low- and High-A. Jake Rucker (7th round): The Twins have used Rucker as a utility man during his professional career. In 2022, he played at three levels, including Triple-A, when there was a late-season need (after the Kernels season ended). He posted a .711 OPS in 124 games. He's been a regular for the Wind Surge with a .715 OPS in 52 games. Noah Cardenas (8th round): He played nearly 100 games for Fort Myers in 2022 with an .834 OPS while playing catcher and first base. His OPS has dropped by over 70 points at High-A this season. Pat Winkel (9th round): Winkel has been an on-base machine during his professional career with a .351 OPS, which is over 100 points higher than his batting average. Wichita has used him as one of the team's primary catchers in 2023. Ernie Yake (10th round): Minnesota used him at four levels in 2022, including the organization's two highest levels. This season, he has a .753 OPS with appearances at High-A and Triple-A. Kyler Fedko (12th round): Fedko finished 2022 at Cedar Rapids, and that's where the Twins sent him to begin 2023. In 25 games, he is hitting .169/.330/.310 (.639) with five extra-base hits. David Festa (13th round): He put himself on the prospect map with a strong performance last season. In 103 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and a 9.4 K/9. His strikeout rate has risen at Double-A this season (10.6 K/9), but he has allowed 22 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings (4.75 ERA). He is arguably the highest-rated prospect left in the Twins organization from this draft class, and he has the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter at the big-league level. Pierson Ohl (14th round): He had a 3.53 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings at Low-A during the 2022 season. Ohl has made starts for High-A and Double-A in 2023 with a 5.24 ERA and 8.7 K/9. Mikey Perez (15th round): In 2022, Perez posted a .728 OPS while playing at three levels in the Twins' system. He's played at Fort Myers in 2023, hitting .212/.282/.323 (.605) through 34 games. Johnathan Lavallee (16th round): The Twins have used Lavallee primarily as a reliever in his professional career. In 14 appearances, he has a 5.31 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP and 13.3 K/9. Dylan Neuse (17th round): He has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Fort Myers line-up this season while hitting .298/.382/.436 (.817) with 11 extra-base hits in 39 games. Neuse can play all three outfield positions but gets most of his defensive reps in center field. Mike Paredes: (18th round) Paredes split time as a starter and reliever in 2022, but he's been primarily used in a relief role this season. In 11 appearances, he has a 2.49 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 6.8 K/9. Jaylen Nowlin (19th round): Minnesota went over slot to sign Nowlin in the 2021 draft, and he rewarded them with a strong 2022 season (3.80 ERA in 22 appearances). With Cedar Rapids, he has posted a 3.86 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 in 2023. Dillon Tatum (20th round): He has added catching depth to the Twins system while also playing some at first base. Tatum is on pace to set career highs in multiple offensive categories. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2020 Draft Retrospective -2019 Draft Retrospective -2018 Draft Retrospective -2017 Draft Retrospective -2016 Draft Retrospective What are your impressions of the 2021 draft class? Which traded player do the Twins want back the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In the meantime, enjoy some absolute blowouts on a fruitful evening for minor league baseball. Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Zebby Matthews) TRANSACTIONS None Saints Sentinel St. Paul 14, Omaha 1 Box Score Randy Dobnak: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K HR: Andrew Stevenson (3), Royce Lewis (4) Multi-hit games: Andrew Stevenson (2-for-6, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI), Royce Lewis (2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Mark Contreras (3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI), Andrew Bechtold (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB), Hernán Pérez (3-for-5, 3B, R, 5 RBI), Jair Camargo (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI) It was destruction. Two-thirds of the lineup earning multi-hit honors says more than anything creative this writer could conjure. The Saints scored for breakfast, scored during lunch, and scored while consuming dinner, bludgeoning Omaha’s poor pitchers for 14 runs off 16 hits. It’s almost cruel. It’s almost impossible to pick a leader from the bunch, but Hernán Pérez and his five RBIs sticks out amongst the melee; any other selection would be just fine, though. The pitchers did their job as well. The walk monster crept up and swallowed Randy Dobnak whole again, coaxing four free passes from the righty, but he halted the damage, only allowing one earned run over his five innings of work. From there it was a combo bullpen effort, with Ronny Henriquez, Cody Laweryson, and Jose Bravo holding the Storm Chasers scoreless to end the game. Royce Lewis tormented a minor-league pitcher again, smacking the fourth homer of his rehab assignment with St. Paul. Mark Contreras added twin stolen bases to go with his three knocks on Saturday. Tyler Gentry was the Royals’ best prospect to have a close look at the chaos; he walked and took a hit by pitch. Wind Surge Wisdom Wichita 6, Springfield 3 (10 Innings) Box Score Travis Adams: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Brooks Lee (2-for-6, 2B, R), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (3-for-5, 2 2B, R), Yunior Severino (2-for-5, R, RBI) An explosive 10th inning gave Wichita the victory on Saturday. It would probably be hard to find a player more relieved than Travis Adams. The 23-year-old suffered earned runs and a hurt ego to start the season, entering the game with an ERA north of 7.00 on the young season. He cut a full run off of it. Staring down a tough Springfield offense—one second in the Texas League in OPS—Adams held mayhem down, allowing a lone earned run over six impressive innings. The offense was there, too, but it took a little longer for this truth to become self-evident. Wichita struck for two runs in the 3rd, giving themselves a slim lead before nestling into a hibernation. Outs came easy; bats were chilled. It wasn’t until the bonus inning before the team made their second attack. But what an attack it was: four runners crossed home plate as Yoyner Fajardo and Will Holland both earned two-RBI knocks—Holland’s of the rare triple variety. Springfield plated their Manfred Man(n), but Hunter McMahon ensured the game ended there, striking out the final batter of the game. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. earned three hits in a game for the second time this month. Brooks Lee’s 14 doubles are good for first in the Texas League, tying him with Ryan Bliss for the honors. Wichita turned a season-high three double plays; they also committed a season-high three errors. In an atypical turn, the usually-stacked Cardinals could only offer their 22nd-ranked prospect—Mike Antico—as their finest selection for their AA squad; he singled twice and walked. Kernels Nuggets Cedar Rapids 7, Wisconsin 1 Box Score Alejandro Hidalgo: 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K HR: Ben Ross (4) Multi-hit games: Ben Ross (2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI), Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI), Noah Miller (2-for-4, 3B, 2B, 3 RBI) The Kernels smoked their opponents on Saturday. Alejandro Hidalgo—wild; often unable to command himself—found great success on the mound. While not perfectly efficient, the righty battled well, utilizing his dazzling changeup to great effect across four empty frames of work. He struck out four and walked two. In a season of extremes with walks, this was a positive step for the youngster. And the Kernels had his back early. A 1st-inning ambush established a pair of quick runs and subsequent scores in the 6th and 8th made the game a laugher. The twin poles of offensive stimulants came from Ben Ross and Noah Miller: the two batters earned five bases each, turning in clutch extra-base hits precisely when their team needed it. Miller’s effort was especially quenching, as he had not had a multi-extra-base-hit game all season. That essentially ended the game. Mike Paredes and John Stankiewicz protected the lead, carrying the team to the finish line with only a small one-run scratch marking the immense achievement for Cedar Rapids’ pitching staff. Wisconsin’s lead-off hitter, Eric Brown Jr., is the best prospect the team has to offer, and the second baseman was held hitless in five trips to the plate. Mussel Matters Fort Myers 2, Dunedin 7 Box Score Zebby Matthews: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K HR: Rafael Cruz (2) Multi-hit games: None Fort Myers’ bullpen soiled an opportunity to win on Saturday. Zebby Matthews was as expected. The Western Carolina product continued his tremendous dominance over Low-A hitters, out-witting Dunedin with each of his many offerings over five shutout innings before mercifully ending his reign on the mound. He touched 95.4 MPH and elicited 10 swings and misses. It’s been clear for nearly two months that Matthews is simply too good for his current level. Like their father team, Mighty Mussels’ relievers could not induce quiet outs against Blue Jays bats. Perhaps inspired by Matthews no longer eating them alive, Dunedin ran the kind of assembly line that would make Henry Ford proud—only their product was runs, not cars. The carnage ended with seven painful runs searing and ruining the ERAs of Johnathan Lavallee and A.J. Labas. Fort Myers’ tepid offense could offer no response. Outside of Rafael Cruz’s solo shot—a smoked 109.3 MPH missile—the Mighty Mussels could only muster an RBI walk in the 1st, totaling four hits over the 9-inning battle. DH Tucker Toman represented the best prospect on Dunedin’s squad; he singled and walked in four plate appearances. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Zebby Matthews Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Hernán Pérez (ft. Noah Miller and Ben Ross) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 2-for-6, 2B, R #2 - Royce Lewis (St. Paul) - 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-2, 2R, 2 BB, K #4 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - 3-for-5, HR, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K #9 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - 4-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI #13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, 3B, 2B, 3 RBI #19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 2-for-5, R, RBI SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Omaha @ St. Paul (5:07 PM) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5, 7.12 ERA) Wichita @ Springfield (6:05 PM) - RHP Chad Donato (1-3, 9.90 ERA) Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 PM) - TBD Fort Myers @ Dunedin (11:00 AM) - TBD Fort Myers @ Dunedin (30 Minutes Later) - TBD View full article

It was quite the day for rehabbing players, and Noah Miller continues to look sharp for the Kernels. Michael Helman is tearing up the competition for Fort Myers, and Alex Kirilloff looks closer than ever to a return for the Minnesota Twins. Image courtesy of William Parmeter TRANSACTIONS RHP Simeon Woods Richardson optioned to St. Paul RHP Bailey Ober recalled by Minnesota SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 8, Scranton/WB 5 Box Score With Bailey Ober heading across town and rejoining the Twins today, Randy Dobnak made the start in his place. He was efficient and impressive, working four scoreless innings. Dobnak allowed just a single hit and gave up only one free pass. He struck out three. Dobnak has been used in a hybrid role this year, so he was lifted after 51 pitches. Josh Winder, rehabbing for the Twins, piggybacked Dobnak and worked three innings of relief on his own. He allowed a run on two hits. The run came off just a solo home run, and Winder generated three strikeouts. Possibly coming to the end of his rehab stint, Alex Kirilloff blasted an opposite-field homer in the cold during the 1st inning. He’s been impressive for St. Paul, and could be a significant boost for the Minnesota lineup. Elliot Soto then added another run for the Saints when he singled in Ryan LaMarre during the 4th inning. Kirilloff wasn’t satisfied with his first homer of the day, so he decided to add another. In the 7th inning, with Soto and Edouard Julien on, the Twins slugger pulled one to right center field and picked up his fifth RBI of the day. Jorge Alcala made his 2023 debut for the Saints in the 8th inning and it was almost a disaster. Allowing a pair of hits and a walk, he had the bases loaded before getting a pop out to end the inning. Looking for a little bit more insurance, the Saints added a pair in the bottom half. LaMarre scored in a Byron Buxton-like fashion after a shallow Soto sacrifice fly. Hernan Perez also came home on an error. Trevor Megill's struggles continue for the Saints and he was taken deep by Jake Bauers in the 9th inning. It was his second blast of the game and an attempt to crawl back with an unlikely rally. Megill did get two outs, but after a Billy McKinney walk and a Michael Hermosillo home run, the lead was down to just three and his day was done. Brock Stewart, who has been great for the Saints this year, came on and allowed a triple by Estevan Florial, but getting Jamie Westbrook ended the game. Kirilloff was joined by both Soto and Perez in the multi-hit category on the day. WIND SURGE WISDOM Tulsa 4, Wichita 3 Box Score The Wind Surge closed out their series against the Drillers with Carlos Luna on the mound. He gave Wichita 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on a pair of solo shots. Luna did punch out a trio of Tulsa batters while walking just one. It didn’t take long for Wichita to grab a lead today with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. clubbing his second home run of the year in the top of the 1st inning. Brooks Lee was on, and the two-run shot had the Wind Surge off and running. Before the frame closed, Pat Winkel stepped in and recorded his second double of the year, this one driving in Armani Smith. Unfortunately for Wichita, that is where the adding ended. Jonny DeLuca and Jorbit Vivas both homered in the 3rd inning to cut the Wind Surge lead, and then Vivas went yard again in the 6th inning to even the score. An RBI single for Jose Ramos followed a few batters later and Andy Pages crossed the plate for a go ahead run. The Wind Surge got just four hits on the afternoon, and two of them came from Keirsey Jr. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 11, Beloit 1 Box Score Pierson Ohl took the ball this afternoon for the Kernels and was very sharp. He scattered four hits across five innings giving up only a single run on a solo homer. He picked up five strikeouts and avoided allowing any free passes. Complementing Ohl’s strong performance on the mound was the Cedar Rapids offense. They came out with a first inning run when Ben Ross singled in Noah Miller, and from there they just kept adding on. The 2nd inning saw the Kernels plating four runs. Miller singled to drive in both Jeferson Morales and Ernie Yake, before Tanner Schobel lifted a line drive to center field, scoring Miller and Noah Cardenas. Cardenas got in on the run production with a double of his own during the 3rd inning. He tried to stretch it for a triple but was gunned down. That didn’t prevent both Morales and Miller from scoring on the play. Beloit finally got on the board with a 4th inning solo shot, but it was immediately answered by Cedar Rapids in the 5th inning. Cardenas put the ball in play and with the Sky Carp booting it around, Yake raced home. A 6th inning wild pitch gave Schobel a chance to cross the plate, and Miller drove Keoni Cavaco in on a sacrifice fly. The offensive outburst checked in to the tune of 10 runs on 10 hits. Miller stirred the drink strong at the top of the Kernels lineup. Going 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored, and three walks, he’s up to an .805 OPS this year. Cardenas joined him in the multi-hit affair as well, picking up three and scoring on a 9th inning balk. MUSSEL MATTERS Jupiter 10, Fort Myers 9 (F/11) Box Score The Mighty Mussels got a start from Tomas Cleto today, and while he only went three innings, his single run was nice to see in a game that saw 19 runs on 28 hits. Both Jupiter and Fort Myers kicked off scoring in the 1st inning with a run apiece. The Mighty Mussels got their first tally from a Jorel Ortega single to score the rehabbing Michael Helman. From there, it was a back and forth offensive onslaught. Needing to answer four Jupiter runs, Ricardo Olivar’s solo shot in the 6th inning brought Fort Myers within three. Trading runs in the 7th inning, Helman tripled to drive in Alec Sayre and make it a 6-3 game. Needing a last ditch effort in the 9th inning, Fort Myers was up to the challenge. A throwing error allowed Sayre to score and the bases were loaded for Olivar. He was plunked by a pitch to get an RBI the hard way. Carlos Aguiar then evened the score at six when he drove in Helman. Jupiter’s 10th inning run scored on a fielder’s choice in the top half before Luis Baez score for the Mighty Mussels on a wild pitch. Onto the 11th inning, and trailing by three after Jupiter singled and tripled in runs, Fort Myers again had to erase a three-run deficit. Helman continued to make his presence felt and a double allowed Yohander Martinez to score. Aguiar picked up another RBI on a single as he drove in Helman, but Ortega wound up being stranded at second base and the rally ended two bases short. Playing down a handful of levels it’s not surprising to see him rake, but Helman went 4-for-5 on the day with a trio of runs scored and a pair of RBI. He’s got a 1.226 OPS during his rehab assignment and should be back with the Saints in short order. Outfielder Dylan Neuse was the only other Mighty Mussels hitter to record multiple hits on the day. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Pierson Ohl (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER 0 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Day – Michael Helman (Fort Myers) - 4-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 1-4, 2B, 1 R, BB #11 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-4, K #14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 4-5, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI #18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Rochester (5:05PM CST) - TBD Springfield @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP David Festa West Michigan @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - TBD Fort Myers @ Daytona (5:35PM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s games! View full article

The Minnesota Twins avoided what would have been an embarrassing sweep by beating the Nationals 3-1 at Target Field Sunday. Jorge Polanco drove in two runs and Bailey Ober had a solid first start of the season for the Twins. In the minors, the rehabbing Alex Kirilloff hit two home runs for the Saints, Noah Miller and Noah Cardenas led the Kernels' lineup to an 11-run performance and Ricardo Olivar hit his homer in first full-season ball action. All that and more in tonight's Twins System Recap. View full video

Bailey Ober, backed by an early grand slam and a couple of major-league rehabbers, led the St. Paul Saints to a shutout victory on Tuesday at CHS Field, while Wichita got three home runs to steal Game 1 of their series in Tulsa. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Brooks Lee) TRANSACTIONS OF Alex Kirilloff, IF Jorge Polanco, and RHP Josh Winder were all sent on rehab assignments to the St. Paul Saints, getting one step closer to rejoining the MLB club. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez was placed on the 7-day injured list for Cedar Rapids with a left abdomen strain. IF Michael Helman was sent on a rehab assignment to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. SAINTS SENTINEL Scranton/WB 0, St. Paul 6 Box Score The St. Paul Saints nearly fielded a full MLB team on Tuesday, as Jorge Polanco, Alex Kirilloff, and Josh Winder joined the roster on rehab assignments along with Bailey Ober making the start. Ober delivered another excellent start after his six shutout innings last Wednesday. He went five scoreless in this one, perhaps being lifted early as the Saints held a big lead. He allowed just three hits and one walk while punching out six. Of his 72 pitches, 47 went for strikes (65%) including nine swinging. Mark Contreras got the party started for the Saints in the bottom of the first with a grand slam after Matt Wallner (walk), Kirilloff (single), and Chris Williams (single) loaded the bases. Kirilloff and Contreras both added RBI singles in the fifth frame, and Ober and the rest of the Saints cruised from there. Relievers Patrick Murphy (1 IP, 2 H, K), Cody Laweryson (1 IP), Dereck Rodriguez (1 IP, 3 K), and Brock Stewart (1 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K) each contributed a scoreless inning to finish the first shutout of the 2023 season for the Saints. Wallner (1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, K), Kirilloff (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K), Williams (1-for-2, R, 2 BB), Andrew Bechtold (0-for-2, 2 BB, K), Contreras (2-for-5, R, 5 RBI, K), and Tony Wolters (1-for-3, BB) all reached base multiple times. Polanco finished 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 4, Tulsa 2 Box Score Right-handed pitcher Blayne Enlow got the nod in the series opener against Tulsa and delivered a solid performance. He went six innings, needing just 69 pitches (46 strikes) to do so. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and a pair of walks while picking up five punch outs. Both his runs allowed came in the first inning, and from the second through the sixth he held the Drillers scoreless. Wichita finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, when DeShawn Keirsey Jr. delivered his first home run of the season to tie the game at two. Brooks Lee and Yunior Severino followed with solo shots of their own in the eighth to give them a 4-2 lead. Severino’s went to the opposite field, while Lee’s left the stadium: Jose Bravo relieved Enlow in the seventh inning and recorded the next five outs, including two strikeouts. Left-hander Kody Funderburk came on for the final out in the eighth and gave up the Driller's first hit since the third inning, but retired the next hitter to keep the two-run lead intact. He remained in the game to close it in the ninth and it got interesting. He recorded two outs on just three pitches, then got up two strikes to the next hitter, but a chopper and then a seeing-eye single put the tying runs on base. A walk then loaded the bases before Funderburk finally buckled down and struck out the final hitter of the game to pick up his first save of the season. Wichita recorded just five hits in the game, but three of them left the yard which led to their 4-2 win. Yoyner Fajardo (1-for-3, BB, K), Severino (1-for-3, HR, BB), and Pat Winkel (0-for-2, R, 2 BB) each reached base two times. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 2, Beloit 6 Box Score Lefty Jaylen Nowlin took the mound for the Kernels looking to rebound from a rough outing his last time out. He did so for the first four innings, facing the minimum and racking up six strikeouts, but the wheels fell off in the fifth. The first five hitters of the inning reached base, resulting in three runs and he recorded just one out before being lifted. In all, Nowlin went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and two walks, while striking out seven. John Stankiewicz got them out of the fifth with no further damage but ran into similar trouble in the seventh. In his two innings, he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out two. Charlie Neuweiler finished the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck out three. The Kernels lineup, down Emmanuel Rodriguez who was placed on the injured list on Tuesday, managed just five hits in the game. They actually scored first in the top of the fifth, when Willie Joe Garry Jr. drove in Jose Salas with a single, but Noah Miller’s inside-the-park home run in the eighth was their only other run-scoring play in the game. Miller finished the game 2-for-4, while Ben Ross, Salas, and Garry Jr. accounted for their other three hits. Salas also stole two bases. MUSSEL MATTERS Jupiter 5, Fort Myers 1 Box Score C.J. Culpepper made his second start of the young season for the Mighty Mussels in Tuesday’s series opener and retired the first six hitters of the game. He ran into trouble in the third, however, and before it was over the Hammerheads had taken a 4-0 lead. Culpepper finished four innings, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out five. Fort Myers scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to Andrew Cossetti’s second home run of the season (108.4 mph, 27 degree angle, 432 feet). He finished the game 2-for-4. Michael Helman had two hits in three at-bats, including a double, in the first game of his rehab assignment. As a team, the Mighty Mussels were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left only five men on base for the game. A.J. Labas allowed one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Gabriel Yanez finished the game with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Bailey Ober, St. Paul Saints (W, 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 6 K) Hitter of the Day - Mark Contreras, St. Paul Saints (2-for-5, R, GS, 5 RBI, K) PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI #5 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - 0-for-1, K (pinch-hit for Willi Castro) #8 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-3, R, K, 2 SB #11 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, K #14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, R, HR, RBI, K #18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, K #20 - Misael Urbina (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Scranton/Wilkes Barre @ St. Paul (6:37 PM CDT) - RHP Aaron Sanchez (0-0, 3.65 ERA) Wichita @ Tulsa (11:05 AM CDT) - RHP David Festa (1-0, 2.61 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 PM CDT) - RHP Kyle Jones (0-1, 3.18 ERA) Jupiter @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CDT) - LHP Develson Aria (0-0, 6.00 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! View full article

Three of the four Twins minor-league affiliates won their games on Wednesday. Two of the top three prospects hit homers. The Number 5 prospect made his MLB debut. It was a good day in the Twins organization. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge TRANSACTIONS Edouard Julien was officially called up from the Saints to the Twins. Ernie Yake was promoted from Cedar Rapids to take Julien’s on the Saints roster. Wichita activated catcher Frank Nigro from the Development List and placed Aaron Sabato on the 7-day injured list SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 5, Indianapolis 1 Box Score Bailey Ober was on the mound for the third time this season and had his best start so far. The 6’9" righty dominated Indianapolis hitters striking out six while only allowing two runners to reach base through six innings pitched. Ober threw only 67 pitches with only 20 of those missing the strike zone, a great improvement from his previous start when he walked four batters through 3 2/3 innings. The offense was carried by a couple of two-run home runs by two Andrews; Bechtold and Stevenson. Stevenson had the first home run following the Saints' first run of the game, which came courtesy of a throwing error by Indianapolis catcher Grant Koch in the top of the fourth. The Saints only needed two relievers out of the bullpen Wednesday afternoon, Randy Dobnak and Trevor Megill. Dobnak threw two innings and allowed two hits, a walk, and Indianapolis’s only run in the game. Megill had his best inning of the spring in the ninth. He struck out the side on just 13 pitches. Mark Contreras led the offense. He went 2-for-3 and walked twice. He also stole his third base. Stevenson went 2-for-5 WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 8, Naturals 2 Box Score The Wind Surge had a fantastic day on offense led by Twins Daily top prospect Brooks Lee. Lee hit his first Double-A home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, extending his team’s lead to 6-0 over the Naturals. The home run may have been Lee’s only hit but was enough to extend his hitting streak to five games. Jake Rucker went 2-for-4 with a walk. Alex Isola was 2-5 and hit his first home run of the season. Pat Winkel and Anthony Prato each walked twice. Blayne Enlow made his second start of the season for Wichita. He threw 4 2/3 innings and struck out eight batters. However, he walked three batters and gave up four hits. The bullpen remained consistent keeping the Naturals bats quiet. Tyler Beck threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit and two walks. He also struck out five batters. Jordan Brink recorded the final four outs for the Wind Surge, but not without giving up one run. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 10, Quad Cities 5 Box Score Twins Daily’s #3 prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez followed up his walk-off grand slam from Tuesday night by crushing a three-run home run in his second at-bat on Wednesday. He struck out three times and is hitting just .167, but he has a .971 OPS and seven of his nine RBI came in those two at-bats. Noah Miller continued his hot start and has more than validated his spot at the top of the lineup. In this game, he went 2-for-2 with three walks. 2022 fifth-round pick Ben Ross went 2-for-5 including his first home run of the season. Jeferson Morales went 2-for-2 with two walks and his first double and home run of the season. Jaylen Nowlin made his second start of the year and struggled. In just 3 1/3 innings, he was charged with four runs on five hits and three walks. Orlando Rodriguez came in and recorded four walks, but no hits, over 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. John Stankiewicz was next out of the ‘pen. He struck out four over two innings. He gave up only a solo homer. Regi Grace finished by getting all six batters he faced out, two on strikeouts. MUSSEL MATTERS Clearwater 5, Ft. Myers 3 Box Score The main news with the Mighty Mussels on Wednesday may have been who was not playing in their game, rather than who was. Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff, who began rehab assignments with the team in the last week, were both on a scheduled rest day on Wednesday. They are expected to be in the lineup on Thursday. Starting on the mound for the Mighty Mussels was C.J. Culpepper, making his first-ever professional start. Culpepper tossed a strong four innings, but his command of the strike zone was inconsistent. He walked three batters and gave up two hits. Culpepper was replaced by fellow 2022 draft pick Ben Ethridge. He gave up one run on two hits over two innings. Hard-throwing Juan Mendez took the loss. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the seventh inning. Lefty Zach Veen needed just six pitches to work a perfect inning. The Mussels lineup had a great game getting on base eight times via the walk, but their hitting game did not translate into as great a performance. The Mussels five hits came at the wrong times (they were 0-for-12 with Runners in Scoring Position). 2022 sixth-round draft pick Jorel Ortega went 0-for-2, but he walked three times. He also stole his third base of the season. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Bailey Ober (St. Paul) - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K Hitter of the Day – Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-2, 2 R, 2 H, RBI (2), 3 BB PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects performed today: #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - (1-3, HR(1), 2 R, 2 RBI, K) #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - (1-for-4, HR(2), R, 3 RBI, BB, 3 K) #5 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - (0-for-2, BB) #8 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - (0-for-4, R, K) #11 - Matt Wallner (Minnesota) - (0-1, pinch hit for Julien) #14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - (2-for-2, 2 R, 2 H, RBI, 3 BB) #20 - Misael Urbina (Cedar Rapids) - (1-for-5, R, 3B, RBI) THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS The Saints will play their third game in Indianapolis with Louie Varland on the mound. The game starts at 6:37 p.m. CT The Wind Surge will have their third game of the homestand against Northwest Arkansas. David Festa will pitch against Jonathan Bowlan with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. CT The Kernels will play another game at home against the Quad Cities River Bandits. First pitch (from Kyle Jones) is set for 6:35 p.m. CT. Develson Aria is set to make his season debut for the Mussels on Thursday night against the Threshers with first pitch set for 5:15 p.m. CT> Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games. View full article