Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/21): Lee Dominates

[Seth Stohs]

It may not have been a full-scheduled, busy day in the Twins farm system, but off the field, a lot was going on. The Red Wings were rained out, and Chattanooga’s game was suspended after a couple of top prospects gave them the lead. The Miracle and Kernels got some terrific pitching, and both teams got just enough pitching.There were several transactions, so continue reading to check out everything from the Twins farm system on Thursday

 

TRANSACTIONS

It’s been a couple of busy days of late in terms of transactions in the Twins minor league system. I would expect there could be more moves coming in the not-too-distant future. Here is what was announced on Thursday:

• RHP Tyler Duffey was promoted to Rochester and will join their rotation. A corresponding move will need to happen Friday before the Red Wings games.
• LHP David Hurlbut was promoted from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga. Hurlbut recently returned to action after missing nearly a year with shoulder discomfort. Since his return, he threw 12 innings without allowing an earned run. He was named to the Florida State League All-Star game last year.
• Dalton Hicks hasn’t played in about 10 days, but he was officially put on the disabled list (trapezius strain) and catcher Jairo Rodriguez was added to the Lookouts roster.
• LHP Mat Batts was promoted to the Ft. Myers Miracle from Cedar Rapids. The southpaw was terrific in his time with the Kernels late last season and to this point this year.
• RHP Luke Bard was removed from the disabled list and will be added to the Cedar Rapids starting rotation. He did not pitch in 2014 and missed most of the 2013 season as well. He had another surgery last May 15^th and is excited to get back on the mound.
• LHP Jose Velez was promoted from extended spring training to the Kernels. He has pitched a handful of innings with Ft. Myers when they have needed arms. He was signed after playing the last two seasons in independent baseball.
• RHP Yorman Landa was returned to the disabled list and returned to Ft. Myers to be evaluated. He had returned after missing almost exactly one year following shoulder surgery. Reportedly, he suffered shoulder pain and will be checked out in Ft. Myers.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester @ Norfolk

Box Score

 

This game was rained out. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, starting at 5:00.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga @ Mobile

Box Score

 

The game started late because of rain. It was suspended in the top of the third inning due to rain. In that top of the third, the Lookouts took a 2-0 lead when Byron Buxton doubled in Carlos Paulino, and two batters later Miguel Sano singled in Buxton. Alex Wimmers had thrown two shutout innings.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 1, Brevard County 0

Box Score

 

The story in this game was pitching, and that starts with the starter, Brett Lee. The left-hander completed eight shutout innings. He gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out six. Three of those strikeouts came in the eighth inning when he was still hitting 93 mph. In his most recent start, last Friday, he threw seven shutout innings before given up two runs in that eighth inning. In the start before that, he gave up one run in threw 7.1 innings. In other words, he has been pitching great.

 

The Miracle stayed scoreless in the game for seven innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tanner Vavra led off with a double down the right field line. The ball was booted and Vavra got to third base. The next batter, Zach Granite, singled through a drawn-in infield to score Vavra and give the Miracle the 1-0 lead going to the ninth inning. Granite was the lone Miracle hitter with a multi-hit game. He was 2-4. Alex Swim returned to the lineup and had a double.

 

Minnesota native Brandon Peterson came in for the ninth inning. Three batters and three strikeouts later, the game was over. It was Peterson’s first save of the season.

 

A terrific pitching performance by Brett Lee, and Brandon Peterson slammed the door shut to end it. Not a bad impression to make on Twins GM Terry Ryan who is in Ft. Myers to watch the Miracle.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Peoria 2

Box Score

 

For the fifth straight game (and sixth out of seven starts), right-hander Felix Jorge completed six innings. It was also his fifth straight quality start. Jorge gave up two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

 

The Kernels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Peoria starter Matt Pearce walked three of the first four Kernels batters to load the bases. Zack Larson flew out to right field to drive in one run. T.J. White came through with a two-out, two-run triple. The Kernels had just two more hits in the game.

 

Trevor Hildenberger came on for the seventh and eighth innings. He did not allow a run, or a hit, or walk a batter, and struck out three to drop his ERA to 0.40 on the season. He has not given up a run in 19 innings.

 

Cameron Booser came on for the ninth inning. He got a fly out and strike out before walking a batter. In came a pinch runner and on the first pitch, catcher Brett Doe threw him out attempting to steal second to end the game.

 

Nick Gordon got a night off.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Brett Lee, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zach Granite, Ft. Myers Miracle

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Norfolk (DH @ 5:05 CST) – LHP Pat Dean, LHP Taylor Rogers

Chattanooga @ Mobile (7:05 CST) – LHP David Hurlbut

Brevard County @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) – LHP Luke Westphal

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:30 CST) – RHP Jared Wilson

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Thursday games.

 

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[jokin]

Cedar Rapids 3  Peoria 2

[clutterheart]

Hope Bard can stay healthy. Bummer about Landa.

[clutterheart]

...

[dgwills]

 

Cedar Rapids 3  Peoria 2

oh.. well that makes more sense. It's a pretty confusing article otherwise.

 

[Kevin]

 

Cedar Rapids 3  Peoria 2

Fixed--ed.

[COtwin]

Staufer coming up. Looks like the Twins brass set the bar pretty low for him, cause I swear he tripped over it. 2 innings 5 hits 2 walks and 3 runs. His WHIP must be close to 47.3. But on the bright side. He did strike 1 guy out.

 

 

And Oliveros still can't get even a shot of espresso with the big league club.

[Seth Stohs]

My bad on the Cedar Rapids score. Thanks for correcting it Kevin! 

 

There is another thread on Stauffer being activated from his DL stint.

[twinssouth]

Best of luck to Bard Its been quite a journey for this kid.

[Mike Sixel]

I find it odd that Bard would go to SP again......and not slowly come back.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Why is Batts being promoted over Gonsalves? What more does he have to do to move up?

[Steven Buhr]

 

Why is Batts being promoted over Gonsalves? What more does he have to do to move up?

I'm jst speculating, so don't take this as anything other than that, but... Two things: Batts has been pretty much Gonsalves' equal in terms of being effective and he's older, so the need to push him up is more urgent than with Gonsalves, and I think they're still working with Gonsalves on the breaking ball. He throws a good curve and he is trying to mix in a new slider. His coaches have told various media outlets that they'd like to see Gonsalves improve his breaking ball, maybe even pick one or the other and focus on that.

 

If there is a need in Fort Myers, he would certainly be ready to fill it. If there isn't that need, however, he can work on the breaking ball in CR in th meantime. He'll go up within a month, I'm sure.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

It is past time for Brett lee to move up to Chattanooga and Gonsalves to take his spot on the Miracle.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I find it odd that Bard would go to SP again......and not slowly come back.

 

I wondered if they would just have him go to the bullpen, but he told me a few weeks ago that he was going up to 6 innings in EST games. It's really remarkable what he has been able to come back from. I hope he does well. One of the really good people.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I wondered if they would just have him go to the bullpen, but he told me a few weeks ago that he was going up to 6 innings in EST games. It's really remarkable what he has been able to come back from. I hope he does well. One of the really good people.

 

Good luck to him!

[Seth Stohs]

 

It is past time for Brett lee to move up to Chattanooga and Gonsalves to take his spot on the Miracle.

 

I think that'll happen (at least with Lee) soon. He went back to Ft. Myers because of injury, similar to Hurbut. He's now made 3 straight terrific starts. Can't imagine it would be too long.

[blairpaul715]

I like to move up all the good young pitchers, but when anyone of us says, so and so should move up, just give the rest of us RUBES an idea of who you would remove........its not that easy, especially this yr when there are few players that are playing poorly in the minors..........example, is of course i want Gonsalves moved up, but Wilson who is 25 is pitching well, do we just cut him? Maybe...but with Gonsalves we have time on our hands cuz he is young, so i see the need to promote the older guy to see if he can cut it at the next level..........its not like Gonsalves is the next Hamels, at least he is not projected to be, but that is another debate ...............I am rambling here and not sure i got my point across, but it is a hard year to promote, especially in the pitching department..........................By the way, most teams covet their own prospects, so it is hard to trade prospects for prospects.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I like to move up all the good young pitchers, but when anyone of us says, so and so should move up, just give the rest of us RUBES an idea of who you would remove........its not that easy, especially this yr when there are few players that are playing poorly in the minors..........example, is of course i want Gonsalves moved up, but Wilson who is 25 is pitching well, do we just cut him? Maybe...but with Gonsalves we have time on our hands cuz he is young, so i see the need to promote the older guy to see if he can cut it at the next level..........its not like Gonsalves is the next Hamels, at least he is not projected to be, but that is another debate ...............I am rambling here and not sure i got my point across, but it is a hard year to promote, especially in the pitching department..........................By the way, most teams covet their own prospects, so it is hard to trade prospects for prospects.

 

In reality, you've got time on your hands with Jared Wilson too. He was only drafted in 2013, so there's no hurry with him at all. He was pitching last year, his first full season, out of the bullpen. They want to give him a chance to start, so no rush. That said, if he keeps it up, you need to move him. The question becomes what to do in Ft. Myers.

 

We say/think that Gonsalves is ready to move up. We say/think that Hu is ready to move up. We say/think that Berrios is ready to move up. So, what do you do in Rochester? let's just, for the sake of argument, say that you take Pat Dean out of the rotation. Does he get released or go to the bullpen? If he goes to the bullpen, who gets taken out of the bullpen, released, demoted or DLd? 

 

For guys like Gonsalves, Hu and Berrios, they move them when they believe they're ready for that next level. Someone will get moved and that's just the way it is. 

 

But, to your point, it's definitely not as easy as just saying, "Move him up."

[nicksaviking]

I just looked at the Rochester team and see that the average age of Rochester offense is 27.6 years with only Ortiz and the recently demoted Vargas under 26-years-old.

 

I think it's time to get rolling on this turnover.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I just looked at the Rochester team and see that the average age of Rochester offense is 27.6 years with only Ortiz and the recently demoted Vargas under 26-years-old.

 

I think it's time to get rolling on this turnover.

 

Which guys at Chattanooga are you certain area ready to move up right now and succeed in AAA? 

 

Like it/them or not, and they do need "placeholders", "Organizational" guys to play until guys are ready for the next level.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

In reality, you've got time on your hands with Jared Wilson too. He was only drafted in 2013, so there's no hurry with him at all. He was pitching last year, his first full season, out of the bullpen. They want to give him a chance to start, so no rush. That said, if he keeps it up, you need to move him. The question becomes what to do in Ft. Myers.

 

We say/think that Gonsalves is ready to move up. We say/think that Hu is ready to move up. We say/think that Berrios is ready to move up. So, what do you do in Rochester? let's just, for the sake of argument, say that you take Pat Dean out of the rotation. Does he get released or go to the bullpen? If he goes to the bullpen, who gets taken out of the bullpen, released, demoted or DLd? 

 

For guys like Gonsalves, Hu and Berrios, they move them when they believe they're ready for that next level. Someone will get moved and that's just the way it is. 

 

But, to your point, it's definitely not as easy as just saying, "Move him up."

Good point. I don't have Seth's expertise. A month ago, I would have said dump Peavey and move up Brett Lee and Gonsalves. Now maybe move Berrios up to Rochester--maybe DL a pitcher--then move Lee up to Chat. and Gonsalves to Miracle. It is tougher than it looks.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Good point. I don't have Seth's expertise. A month ago, I would have said dump Peavey and move up Brett Lee and Gonsalves. Now maybe move Berrios up to Rochester--maybe DL a pitcher--then move Lee up to Chat. and Gonsalves to Miracle. It is tougher than it looks.

 

 

We're all guilty of it at the beginning of the season. We make a ton out of a guy hitting .150 on April 15th, not remembering that he's 3-20 and a 4-5 day has him hitting .350.

 

Peavey was off to a very slow start. He was getting crushed. I probably would have removed him from the rotation or dropped him, and he'd been terrific the last 3-4 starts. 

 

They're all case-by-case. The big thing is that they just have to do what they think is best for each player and each situation.