Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/19): Wimmers Continues To Dominate

[Seth Stohs]

The Lookouts had a couple of great performances on Friday night. A night after clinching a playoff spot, they continued their winning ways thanks in large part to a couple of first-round draft picks.

 

Check out everything that happened on Friday night in the Twins minor league system including a very special night in Rochester.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Louisville 3

Box Score

 

Rochester scored two runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead in this game. Unfortunately, they gave up two runs in the top of the seventh frame. However, a five-run bottom of the seventh gave them a lead that they were able to hold on to.

 

Taylor Rogers made the start. Through six innings, Rogers gave up one run. In the top of the seventh inning, he gave up two singles. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Rogers was replaced by lefty Logan Darnell. Darnell gave up two straight singles, allowing both runners to score before he was replaced by Mark Hamburger. The right-hander got the next two batters out to keep the deficit at 3-2. He worked another scoreless inning as well. After the Red Wings reclaimed the lead, AJ Achter pitched a scoreless ninth.

 

The Red Wings got a lot of production from their top two hitters. Leadoff man Danny Santana went 3-4 with a walk and his fourth double. James Beresford was 3-5. He had the first three Red Wings RBIs. But the big hit in the team’s five-run seventh came off the bat of Danny Ortiz. He hit a bases-clearing triple (his third of the year) to give the Red Wings the lead and some insurance. Doug Bernier was 1-1 with three walks in the game. On the other side of things, Oswaldo Arcia went 0-4 with three strikeouts.

 

It may have been a tough outing for Logan Darnell, but it was a good night for the left-hander. He was the Red Wings recipient of the Harmon Killebrew Award in 2014. He has continued to help in the community. On Friday night, he helped organize an Alzheimer's awareness night in Rochester. Darnell's mother was diagnosed with the disease a couple of years ago. Players wore special jerseys that were auctioned. Two season ticket holders bid $650 for Darnell's jersey. They then gave it to the Darnell family and made the $650 a donation. Alex Meyer's jersey went for $500. In all, they raised over $7,000 for Alzheimer's awareness in Rochester. If anyone is interested in donating, click here.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Jacksonville 2

Box Score

 

A night after clinching the first half North Division title in the Southern League on Thursday night, the Lookouts returned on Friday and continued their winning ways.

 

There were two primary stories in this game, and both involved former Twins first-round draft picks. Let’s start on the mound. Alex Wimmers made the start and threw seven shutout innings. He gave up three hits and walked two, but he also struck out 11 batters. He needed just 96 pitches, and 67 of them were strikes. An observer at the game reported afterwards, “Did you see Wimmers tonight? He was outstanding! (The Jacksonville hitters) could not do much. If it wasn’t for having a big leaguer (Michael Morse had two hits) in the lineup, they would have only had maybe one hit through six innings.”

 

In Wimmers’ past three starts, he has thrown 21.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He has given up just eight hits, walked seven and struck out 23. Overall, he is now 5-1 with a 4.31 ERA for the Lookouts this season.

 

Minnesota native Madison Boer came on and finished the final two innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, but was able to record his first save with the Lookouts.

 

2011 top pick Levi Michael returned to the field for the first time since injuring his ankle on May 4. He had singles in his first two at-bats, which were followed by a walk. He was 2-4 with that walk and he also stole two bases. Miguel Sano went 2-4 with his eighth double. Max Kepler had just one hit, but it was his eighth triple of the season.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

 

The Miracle and the rest of the Florida State League are on their All-Star break. The Miracle will be represented by Chih-Wei Hu, Alex Swim, Todd Van Steensel, and Ryan Eades. JT Chargois and Brandon Peterson had been named to the All-Star team, but were promoted to Chattanooga.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Clinton 4

Box Score

 

According to Jeff Johnson of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, manager Jake Mauer was pretty vocal about his team’s lack of offense following Thursday’s game. He said, “We’re going to have to get creative and figure out a way to reach them, or we’re going to have to get new guys. It’s one of the two. It sounds harsh, but that’s the nature of the beast."

 

The Kernels had eight hits on Friday night, but they were only able to muster one run in the game. Brett Doe led the way. He went 2-3. Zack Larson drove in the lone Kernels run.

 

This is the second time already this season that Mauer has gone public with his disappointment in some of the Kernels hitters.

 

Zach Tillery made the start. He gave up two runs on three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out five. Jose Velez gave up two runs on four hits in his two innings. He struck out two. Luke Bard walked one and struck out one in his scoreless inning.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Danny Santana, Rochester Red Wings

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Louisville @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – RHP Ervin Santana

Jacksonville @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) – RHP JO Berrios

Ft. Myers – Florida State League All Star Game

Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. Remember to check back on Saturday morning for the updated minor league statistical leaderboard.

 

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[jimbo92107]

"In Wimmers’ past three starts, he has thrown 21.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He has given up just eight hits, walked seven and struck out 23. Overall, he is now 5-1 with a 4.31 ERA for the Lookouts this season."

 

You know, Alex Wimmers isn't all that late to the party. There's still a little beer in the keg. If he keeps pitching like this, maybe Wimmers will be in the discussion for a September callup... :-)

[Old Twins Cap]

If I just read the line, "Mauer was pretty vocal" about his team's lack of offense, I would have to do a double-take.  And I did.  This is not your Twins kind of Mauer.  A vocal Mauer is one I can live with.

 

And will someone dig in on Wimmers and get the story?  Wasn't he psychologically damaged at some point, then physically hurt, and after all these years somehow he is putting it together?  Methinks there's something there worth discovering.

[Seth Stohs]

He's been through a lot, so he's a little order. Tommy John was a big thing. Having the control issues for half of a season was a big thing. He's overcome a lot, and I would be thrilled if he got a chance. I definitely believe he's got a realistic shot at a September call up, especially if he continues pitching well like this most times out. 

[Monkeypaws]

I would be happy to pull his name off my "first round bust" list. 

 

Those are some fine numbers.

[Shane Wahl]

Wimmers making it to the big leagues would be a fantastic story.

[DocBauer]

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We will make him better....stronger....faster than before."--Terry Ryan in regard to Alex Wimmers. Err....OK....so I'm paraphrasing liberally here.

 

But man, complete, unfortunate washout to what he's been doing? Wow! And it's not just the past 3 starts. He's been hot and cold this season, shut has had other good games. So this doesn't appear to just be a hot streak. It appears he's actually growing and getting better.

 

And I may joke about being bionic, but he really has overcome a lot. And for whatever reason, better velocity or not, it appears his SO's are up. Great story!

[Platoon]

So will Santana be re-claimed. He has been hitting better, and the Nunez experiment is really not sustainable. It's generally considered that Polanco's arm is a little weak for short, leaving Santana as the only candidate with the physical tools for the position. As for EE, it appears he has regressed to his norm. This is still the season to find out if Santana will be the guy. Something that could have, should have been done last year.

[Halsey Hall]

I'd imagine Santana is on a pitch count tonight.  Could be 45 tonight, 60 next time.  Should be interesting.

[Han Joelo]

Wasn't Wimmers a high strikeout guy when he first debuted? I seem to remember lines like this way back when.

[Jham]

 

So will Santana be re-claimed. He has been hitting better, and the Nunez experiment is really not sustainable. It's generally considered that Polanco's arm is a little weak for short, leaving Santana as the only candidate with the physical tools for the position. As for EE, it appears he has regressed to his norm. This is still the season to find out if Santana will be the guy. Something that could have, should have been done last year.

Seriously?  He was with the big league team almost the whole year last year.  He got sent down this year because of his bat.  He looked hopeless and confused at the plate.  The fact that he was also less than stellar on the field just made the call easier.  He's been given his shot.  It's up to him to earn another shot.  You don't just give away big league at-bats as part of a roster experiment without a pretty strong hunch?  Otherwise you're just hoping and guessing.  Look at Hicks.  Three years later and people still don't know what to think of him.  Good players will dominate lower levels.  Santana needs to rake and get his confidence back.  His defense won't win gold gloves, but he's good enough to play short in the big leagues.  He really really really needs to take some walks though.  No one was throwing him a strike when he was up.
 

[Seth Stohs]

I agree that with Santana, a large part of it is confidence. That said, plate approach is also a huge part of it and that's probably the piece that will determine if/when/how he makes it back.

[TheLeviathan]

If this continues with Wimmers, I would also be really interested in what he credits for the turnaround.  I saw his stats live at the game today and was absolutely shocked.  (In a good way!)

[h2oface]

Does Jake have Joe's phone number? 

[h2oface]

I don't know if it is the case, but if Santana is hitting balls close to the zone for hits, I hope that is acceptable. Of course it is important for him to get a better plan, but I hate seeing the talent to hit close pitches out of the zone for base hits instead of called strikes by bad umpires being extinguished.

[nater79a]

 

If this continues with Wimmers, I would also be really interested in what he credits for the turnaround.  I saw his stats live at the game today and was absolutely shocked.  (In a good way!)

 

My guess at what he credits for his turnaround?  Health.

[TheLeviathan]

 

My guess at what he credits for his turnaround?  Health.

 

Obviously, but he's had trouble when he has been healthy being tolerable much less this effective.

[Mike Sixel]

What position is Levi playing now?

 

and, man, I am pulling for Wimmers.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Wasn't Wimmers a high strikeout guy when he first debuted? I seem to remember lines like this way back when.

Wimmers did have a nice 4 game start to his pro career, with 23 Ks in 15 innings in high-A ball.  But that was the end of the good times for him until now.

 

I remember him described as a college control/finesse pitcher, maybe a lesser Kyle Gibson (or Tommy Milone).  Is that still accurate?  (Or was it ever accurate?)  It would sorta explain why they didn't keep him in the pen after last season, or why no one took a bullpen Rule 5 flyer on him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What position is Levi playing now?

Levi Michael has been exclusively a second baseman this season, as he was last season (with the exception of a few SS appearances in a rookie league rehab stint last year).