Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/7): Cabbage, Blankenhorn Leading GCL

[Seth Stohs]

Six affiliates. Seven Twins minor league games. The Minnesota Twins game reminds us of the beauty of these minor league reports where we recognize performance every day in the minor league system. Everyone knows about Miguel Sano. He’s been a top prospect since signing. You knew all about lefty Ryan O’Rourke who threw a one-two-three inning in his major league debut on Tuesday night.In today’s report, you’ll read the names of the top prospects, but you’ll also read about the other guys who are putting in a ton of work. How many of them will get that opportunity to get that promotion, to get called up to the big leagues and make their debut? We shall see.

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

 

Following Tuesday night’s game, the Twins announced that catcher Chris Herrmann was being optioned to Rochester. Eric Fryer was being added to the 40-man roster and called up. The timing is interesting as Fryer just left the Red Wings over the weekend to start working out with Team USA in preparation for the Pan Am Games. To make room for Fryer, Ricky Nolasco was placed on the 60-day disabled list.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Buffalo 10

Box Score

 

It was a tough night for the Red Wings who didn’t get pitching or hitting in this game.

 

Four pitchers threw for Rochester and all four gave up at least two runs. Greg Peavey started. He gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings. He walked none and struck out four. Cole Johnson came on and was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk in two innings. Logan Darnell gave up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. He struck out two. Alex Meyer went the final 1.1 innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk.

Oswaldo Arcia provided much of the offense. He hit his sixth home run. It was his fourth homer in five games and his fifth in his last seven games.

 

Jorge Polanco had a single. He has at least one hit in all four games he has played in. Unfortunately, he also had two more errors in this game and has four in four games.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Game 1 – Chattanooga 5, Jacksonville 0

Box Score

 

The Lookouts were able to get back in the win column on Tuesday in game 1. This game began on Monday, but after four innings, it was suspended due to rain. Jason Wheeler had thrown four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. When the game resumed, newcomer, 39-year-old Scott Atchison came on. He gave up a hit, but no runs in his inning. Alex Muren gave up two hits and a walk, but no runs in his two innings.

 

Brandon Peterson finished it out with two more scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck out one. That’s nine shutout innings with the Lookouts for Peterson. The last time he gave up a run was against Bradenton, way back on May 5^th. That’s 16 games and 24.2 innings. In that time, he’s given up eight hits, walked five and struck out 33.

 

Aderlin Mejia homered for the second straight game. He was 2-4. Jairo Rodriguez went 2-4 with his first double. Levi Michael gave the team a cushion with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. It was his third of the season. Adam Brett Walker went 1-3 with a walk and his 21^st double.

 

Game 2 – Chattanooga 4, Jacksonville 5

Box Score

 

The Twins lost lefty Matt Tomshaw in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft in December. He is with the Marlins AA affiliate in Jacksonville, the same city he went to college. On this night, he went five innings and gets credited with the win. After throwing three zeroes on the mound, the Lookouts scored three runs against him in the fourth and another in the fifth. He is now 4-5 with a 3.10 ERA on the season.

 

He faced his college teammate (and Twins minor league teammate) Adam Brett Walker twice in this game. The first time, Tomshaw was able to strike out Walker. The second time, Walker singled in a run, his 71^st RBI of the season. Kennys Vargas went 2-3 and drove in a run. Levi Michael had a single and a walk.

 

Tim Shibuya got the spot start for the Lookouts. He gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits in just 2.1 innings. Jake Reed came on and gave up a hit and a walk over 2.2 scoreless frames. Zack Jones returned from the disabled list in fine form, striking out two in an inning.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Jupiter 3

Box Score

 

Things got very interesting in the ninth, but the Miracle improved to 47-36 on the season. Aaron Slegers started on the mound. The right-hander gave up one run on six hits over seven innings. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. He improved to 6-4. Corey Williams struck out two in his perfect inning. Tyler Jay came on for the ninth, attempting to protect a three-run lead. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. However, he stranded a runner at third base to pick up his first professional save.

 

Zach Granite and Engelb Vielma each had two hits in the game. The Miracle had nine hits in the game.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Beloit 8

Box Score

 

In an afternoon game on Tuesday, the Kernels hosted the Beloit Snappers. Luke Westphal made the start. The left-hander gave up three runs on four hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Luke Bard came on and deuces were wild. In two innings, he gave up two runs on two hits. He walked two and struck out two. Cam Booser threw two scoreless innings, but he gave up three runs (two earned) in the ninth. He struck out four and walked three in three innings.

 

Tanner English had another strong game. The centerfielder went 2-4 with his 11^th and 12^th doubles. Brett Doe went 2-4 and stole his fourth base. Edgar Corcino, playing in his thirty-second game, doubled for the tenth time .

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 2, Princeton 4

Box Score

 

The E-Twins fall to 7-7 on their season with this loss in Princeton. Tyler Kuresa gave them a lead in the second inning with his third homer of the short-season. Down 4-1, Rainis Silva hit his first homer of the year in the ninth. Kuresa added his second double. Kamron Young doubled for the first time, and Austin DIemer hit his third double.

 

Alexis Tapia started for the E-Twins. He gave up four runs (3 earned) on seven hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out seven. Kuo Hua Lo came on and struck out two over 2.2 perfect innings.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 4, GCL Orioles 3 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

It was a good day in the GCL for the Twins' top two high school draft picks from last month. Third-round pick Travis Blankenhorn went 4-5 in the game with his second triple. Fourth-round pick, Trey Cabbage, went 3-6, but his 11^th inning single scored Luis Arraez with the walk-off win. Arraez went 2-5 with a walk. Brian Olson went 1-3 with two walks.

 

Eduardo del Rosario went the first five innings. He gave up three hits and walked one, but gave up no runs. He struck out five. He was replaced in the sixth inning by Matz Schutte. He was charged with three unearned runs on three hits in the inning. Miguel Gonzalez threw two scoreless innings. So did a rehabbing Yorman Landa. The hard-throwing right-hander walked two and struck out two. Johan Quezada struck out one in a perfect inning to get credited with the win.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Slegers, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Travis Blankenhorn, GCL Twins

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Buffalo @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – RHP JO Berrios

Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (12:05 CST) – LHP David Hurlbut

Ft. Myers @ Jupiter (5:35 CST) – RHP Chih-Wei Hu

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:00 CST) – RHP Felix Jorge

Elizabethton @ Kingsport (6:00 CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00 CST) – TBD

 

Feel free to discuss the games from Tuesday night or as any questions you may have.

 

Click here to view the article

[RedBull34]

I'm starting to wonder if TR comes onto TD to get roster ideas....

[clutterheart]

AA bullpen is looking pretty rough

[Seth Stohs]

 

AA bullpen is looking pretty rough

 

Peterson and Muren have been terrific.Jake Reed had a terrific game, and Zack Jones is back after his 7-Day DL stint. Likely just needed the break.

[nicksaviking]

It would be great if Cabbage and/or Blackenhorn started tearing the cover off the ball.  Below AA, there aren't many serious offensive prospects to get excited about so far. 

 

Also interesting that Blackenhorn has already played at four different positions and Cabbage at three.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

It would be great if Cabbage and/or Blackenhorn started tearing the cover off the ball.  Below AA, there aren't many serious offensive prospects to get excited about so far. 

 

Also interesting that Blackenhorn has already played at four different positions and Cabbage at three.

 

I really liked that they went with HS upside type guys with these two.  Good seasons in the GCL would go a long way to giving these guys some solid status.  They are quite a bit younger than their league.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Also interesting that Blackenhorn has already played at four different positions and Cabbage at three.

 

Yeah, I think this is a good thing. They've had a couple games where one plays third and the other plays short. Neither is likely to stay at SS, and obviously both won't be able to play 3B at the same time. I think it's good to get them some time all over because you never know what the Twins need at the big league level will be in 5-6-7 years when these guys are (hopefully) ready.

[Han Joelo]

Is that a typo? 71 rbi for ABW?

[Tibs]

It's hard to believe the Miracle are 11 games over .500 now. With that rotation they have to believe they have a good chance of winning every game.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is that a typo? 71 rbi for ABW?

 

Nope, that is correct.

[Han Joelo]

Holy schnikies. I know rbi is a "meaningless" stat, but 71? That is pushing historic. That dude comes through when it counts.

[jokin]

 

Yeah, I think this is a good thing. They've had a couple games where one plays third and the other plays short. Neither is likely to stay at SS, and obviously both won't be able to play 3B at the same time. I think it's good to get them some time all over because you never know what the Twins need at the big league level will be in 5-6-7 years when these guys are (hopefully) ready.

 

 

Asking again on Luis Arraez.  Lots of intriguing performance and personal information about him.  

 

How close is he to being considered as much, or more a prospect than Cabbage and Blankenhorn?

 

Is the glove translatable to the major leagues at this point?  He's been killing it at the plate, both this year and last year, and he just turned 18 in April.

Edited July 8, 2015 by jokin

[RedBull34]

 

Holy schnikies. I know rbi is a "meaningless" stat, but 71? That is pushing historic. That dude comes through when it counts.

I wouldn't say worthless, just not indicative of much except timely hitting.

[TNLooky2015]

 

I wouldn't say worthless, just not indicative of much except timely hitting.

 

Isn't that what baseball is?  Timely hitting or Not

[TRex]

 

Asking again on Luis Arraez.  Lots of intriguing performance and personal information about him.  

 

How close is he to being considered as much, or more a prospect than Cabbage and Blankenhorn?

 

Is the glove translatable to the major leagues at this point?  He's been killing it at the plate, both this year and last year, and he just turned 18 in April.

To the untrained eye, I think he will have a hard time generating 'prospect status' among the KLaw types for these reasons:

1. ? arm: He has played 333 innings as 2B, and only 28 at SS (i.e. he is unlikely to become a SS).
2. ? speed: He has a 'non-prospect' SB # and %.
3. ? power: His value seems to be tied up in BA (and I prefer BA to OBP).

Now, all this is not to say he isn't a prospect. To show what is required to be be tabbed as a real MI prospect at the level of the GCL, compare what Arraez has done to what Luis Rivas did at age 16.