Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/12): Buxton Stays Hot

[Cody Christie]

Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa have already made their big league debuts this season so it's pretty easy to call Byron Buxton the best prospect left in the minor leagues. Buxton seems eager to join the other top prospects at baseball's highest level with his hot hitting over the last couple of weeks.

 

One has to wonder if the Twins will be tempted to call-up their prized prospect to add a little punch to their lifeless offense in recent weeks. Buxton might still have some raw parts to his game but his speed might be enough to get him on base and let him wreak havoc.

 

The action on the farm included some crazy games so check out all the results below.RED WINGS REPORT

 

Rochester 3, Scranton/WB 13 (Completed Early Rain)

Box Score

Lester Oliveros did not have the best outing in his fourth start of the season. The pitcher was lit up for five runs including two home runs without recording an out. The Red Wings were forced to turn to the bullpen in the first inning. Alex Meyer tossed three scoreless frames while striking out five and walking two.

 

 

 

While Meyer stopped the bleeding, Mark Hamburger reopened the wound by allowing seven runs on eight hits while only recording four outs. Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Wheeler allowed one run over the last 2.2 innings of work.

 

The Red Wings offense was going to need to show up in a big way and it just wasn't in the cards on this night. Eric Fryer collected a trio of hits and an RBI. Reynaldo Rodriguez scored two runs while Jose Martinez reached base three times. However, the team was limited to two hits with runners in scoring position and that makes it tough to recover from a double digit deficit.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

 

Chattanooga 1, Birmingham 0

 

Box Score

The Lookouts found themselves in the midst of quite the pitcher's duel on Friday evening. David Hurlbut pitched seven innings for the second consecutive game and he didn't allow a run or a walk. He struck out five and scattered four hits to lower his ERA to 5.14 on the season. Nick Burdi earned his fourth hold following a scoreless inning of work and J.T. Chargois earned his second save.

 

Byron Buxton continues his hot hitting ways by going 2-for-4 including a walk. He has now hit safely in eight straight contests. Jorge Polanco also picked up a pair of hits and his 12th stolen base. Mike Gonzles had the lone extra-base hit and RBI while Max Kelper raised his average to .305 with a pair of hits.

 

With the win, the Lookouts are 12 games over .500 and tied for the league lead in wins. They have a 4.5 game advantage over the Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League North.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

 

Fort Myers 4, Bradenton 3

Box Score

 

Fort Myers pulled one game over .500 after their sixth consecutive victory. The Miracle never trailed in the game but they found themselves tied with the Marauders after the fourth and eighth inning before finally taking the lead for good in the top of the ninth.

 

Chih-Wei Hu made his third start since his spot start in Rochester. He pitched five frames and allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out two and walking three. Hu was closing in on 90 pitches so the Miracle turned things over to Alex Murnen who earned his second victory. He pitched three innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit. Todd Van Steensel picked up his seventh save with a perfect ninth.

 

Chad Christensen had a big night at the plate. He reached base four times including a double and three RBI. He also stole his ninth base of the season. Mitch Garver and Alex Swin each collected a double and Garver plated his 20th run of the year. The team left 14 runners on base but they scored enough for the win.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

 

Cedar Rapids 3, Great Lakes 4 (Game 1- 13 Innings)

 

Box Score

 

The Kernels were planning on playing a couple of seven inning games on Friday evening but that plan quickly went to the wayside. Their first contest versus the Great Lake Loons stretched to 13 frames and the clubs combined to use nine pitchers.

 

Dereck Rodriguez made the start for Cedar Rapids and allowed three earned runs in four innings of work. He struck out a pair and walked two. Luke Bard and Randy LeBlanc combined to pitch seven scoreless frames to keep the Kernels in the game. Jose Velez took the loss after a bad Max Murphy throw allowed a run to get into scoring position in extra innings.

 

Brett Doe was the lone Kernels hitter with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 and walked twice. Murphy drove in a couple of runs with a triple in the second inning but Cedar Rapids wouldn't score again.

 

Cedar Rapids 1, Great Lakes 3 (Game 2- 8 Innings)

Box Score

 

Game 2 went well into the night with both teams shying away from scoring runs. Keaton Steele ran off quite the impressive streak on the mound in this one as he retired 11 straight and yielded just one run on three hits while striking out a season- high eight batters.

 

There wasn't much offense to write home about. Rafael Valera made his first start of the season and collected a double. Zack Larson went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Pat Kelly had the lone RBI heading into the seventh but this game was also destined for extra-innings and a Kernels loss.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – David Hurlbut, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Chad Christensen, Fort Myers Miracle

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Scranton/WB (6:05 CST) – LHP Jason Wheeler

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (6:30 CST)- RHP Alex Wimmers

 

Ft. Myers vs. Bradenton (5:05 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers

 

Cedar Rapids vs. Lansing (6:35 CST) - RHP Zach Tillery

 

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

 

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[h2oface]

What is the point of having Oliveros start? He was doing just fine as a reliever, and there are plenty of starters now.... and more coming?.

[Pitz]

Anyone heard anything about when Dalton Hicks or Levi Michael may be getting back on the field?

 

After a really good May, Travis Harrison has really been struggling.

 

Nice to see Kepler with a couple hits. I know its not wise to scout stat lines, but based on his June walk and strike out numbers already nearly matching his May totals, I'd say pitchers have made some adjustments - and he seems to be adjusting as well. Of course I could be making all this up. Anybody have any insights?

[Platoon]

What is the point of having Oliveros start? He was doing just fine as a reliever, and there are plenty of starters now.... and more coming?.

You took the words right out of my IPad! Why exactly is he starting? This outfit is always trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. And NO, I am not comparing Lester to a hogs audio receptical attachment.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Don't have a problem trying.  He was quite lights out as a reliever.  That said, I suspect Berrios will head up shortly and Oliveros will go back to the pen.  Meyer has been doing better lately too.  It could be just to keep the spot warm for him.

[Mike Sixel]

Don't have a problem trying.  He was quite lights out as a reliever.  That said, I suspect Berrios will head up shortly and Oliveros will go back to the pen.  Meyer has been doing better lately too.  It could be just to keep the spot warm for him.

The way they treat makes it clear they do not value him as a MLB RP.

[GMinTraining]

Can't wait for Dalton Hicks to get back with the Lookout.  He will be a key component when the second half starts.  He was off to an amazing start before his injury.

[gbg]

Oliveros was out righted earlier this year and every other team passed on him. This tells me that no other team values him either.

[howieramone2]

My guess is they are showcasing Oliveros. Maybe we can get some space for international signings.

[d-mac]

Nice to see TR and company jerking around another reliever in AAA. Oliveros must be the new Slama.

[d-mac]

Buxton sounds just about ready. But, I would like to see him, Sano, and Polanco get bumped up to AAA for a month or two and see some crafty pitchers that will throw something other than a fastball in a hitters' count. If the repeated experiences of Hicks, Vargas, Arcia, and Rosario (you can't expect him to have success with that K/BB ratio long term) have taught us anything is tha rushing a prospect through or skipping AAA all together doesn't lend itself to a young hitter developing good plate discipline.

[DocBauer]

Speaking of Meyer...NICE JOB

 

[GMinTraining]

 

Buxton sounds just about ready. But, I would like to see him, Sano, and Polanco get bumped up to AAA for a month or two and see some crafty pitchers that will throw something other than a fastball in a hitters' count. 

I'm finding that there are way more pitchers throwing off speed stuff at the Double A level in a hitters count.  Especially from the better prospect pitchers and there are several on each team.  You definitely notice the difference from High A ball.

[Rosterman]

Remember, Ervin Santana will be heading to Rochester this week to start games. So Oliveros was just a temporary stopgap (unless you'd rather see Darnell or Hamburger start).

[Seth Stohs]

Yeah, the Oliveros thing is just a bullpen game. Not a big deal.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yeah, the Oliveros thing is just a bullpen game. Not a big deal.

It was his 4th start, Seth. It seems pretty clear there is some effort by the team and/or player to use him in more of a long/swing man role, probably because he was no longer being considered for a middle relief role in MLB. Not unlike Mark Hamburger's role change a few years ago.

[Seth Stohs]

 

It was his 4th start, Seth. It seems pretty clear there is some effort by the team and/or player to use him in more of a long/swing man role, probably because he was no longer being considered for a middle relief role in MLB. Not unlike Mark Hamburger's role change a few years ago.

 

If he ever has an MLB role, it'd be long relief. But, that it's his fourth start says nothing about him having a future as a starter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If he ever has an MLB role, it'd be long relief. But, that it's his fourth start says nothing about him having a future as a starter.

Sure, but that is still a shift from his past and once-projected usage. Suggests he is even further out of the Twins bullpen plans than his spring waiving implied.

[d-mac]

 

Sure, but that is still a shift from his past and once-projected usage. Suggests he is even further out of the Twins bullpen plans than his spring waiving implied.

 

The Twins couldn't find a quality relief option from their own AAA team if one walked up and punched Terry Ryan in the face.