Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/14): A Day Off To Dream

[Seth Stohs]

Several years ago, Minor League Baseball did something that I think is pretty cool. There are no minor league games on the day of the Major League All-Star Game with the exception of the lowest levels (who play in the afternoon). It allows minor leaguers to watch the game, watch the All-Stars and dream of what could someday be for them.

 

With that said, today’s minor league report is quite short. However, it was a big day for the GCL Twins and we’ve even learned of a couple of transactions.TRANSACTIONS

 

Cedar Rapids announced that right-hander Zach Tillery has been placed on the disabled list. Lefty Brandon Bixler was also released. There will need to be other moves made in the lower levels that will likely be announced on Wednesday.

 

Friend of Twins Daily Steve Buhr was doing a little review of the Twins minor league rosters and noticed that Brett Doe was no longer on the Cedar Rapids roster. He checked the Ft. Myers Miracle roster which now shows Doe. Buhr tweeted to Doe and it was confirmed that he has been promoted to the Miracle.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 11, GCL Red Sox 1

Box Score

 

The Twins had an early game on Tuesday. They scored a lot of runs, but it all starts with pitching, right? So, let’s start there.

 

Lachlan Wells, an 18-year-old right-hander from Australia made the start. He gave up just two hits and two walks over five shutout innings. He struck out five. Stephen Pryor came on and threw two scoreless innings as he continues his rehab. He has now worked six innings in four appearances. Brandon Poulson gave up one run on one walk and two hit batters in his inning. He also threw two wild pitches. He struck out one. Callan Pearce pitched the ninth. He gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs, in the inning.

 

The Twins scored four in the first inning. The big hit came with two outs. Bryant Hayman hit his second homer of the short-season, a grand slam which gave the Twins a 4-0 lead.

 

After scoring a single run in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Jermaine Palacios, the Twins put six on the board in the sixth inning. It started with a Hayman walk, followed by walks from Ruar Verkerk and Roberto Gonzalez. A Lean Marrero walk scored Hayman. They added runs on an error and a fielder’s choice, but that brought up fourth-round pick Trey Cabbage. He hit a double to drive in another run. Cabbage scored later on a ground out, and then Palacios drove in one more with a single.

 

Shortstop Jermaine Palacios is now hitting .409 after going 3-4 with a walk and his fifth double. Trey Cabbage went 2-3 with a walk and his first professional double. Lean Marrero, the Twins 16^th round pick this year out of Puerto Rico, went 2-2 with two walks and his first triple. Roberto Gonzalez went 1-1 with two walks and stole his third base.

 

The GCL Twins are now 12-8 on the season.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score

 

All-Star break. The International League All-Star game will be played on Wednesday night. The Red Wings are represented by 2B James Beresford and pitchers AJ Achter and Taylor Rogers.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Lachlan Wells, GCL Twins

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, GCL Twins

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester – International League All Star Game

Chattanooga @ Biloxi (7:10 CST) – RHP Alex Wimmers

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

Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – RHP Felix Jorge

Elizabethton @ Danville (6:00 CST) – RHP Alexis Tapia

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

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the transactions and Tuesday game.

 

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[nytwinsfan]

I think someone should do a separate write-up on Palacios. Kid is raking and there is not that much information available about him on the old Google. I don't even know how much he signed for. 

[Pitz]

After starting the season 1 for 19, Palacios is hitting .553 over his last 12 games with 4 doubles and a triple, 7 walks and 5 strikeouts.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Palacios is a decent prospect I'd say at this point.  He turns 19 in a few a days, but that still keeps him pretty young for the GCL.  I believe he's an international FA, but not the high bonus type.  He's a SS too.

[blindeke]

Trey Cabbage!

[Guest]

 

Friend of Twins Daily Steve Buhr was doing a little review of the Twins minor league rosters and noticed that Brett Doe was no longer on the Cedar Rapids roster. He checked the Ft. Myers Miracle roster which now shows Doe. Buhr tweeted to Doe and it was confirmed that he has been promoted to the Miracle.

 

Sure, Seth, why don't you just announce to the whole world that I have nothing better to do with my time than page through minor league rosters! Thanks a lot!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I think someone should do a separate write-up on Palacios. Kid is raking and there is not that much information available about him on the old Google. I don't even know how much he signed for. 

I'll get some video and pictures of him this weekend if everyone is interested.  Most of my time at GCL games have been watching/videoing Cabbage, Lewin Diaz, Roberto Gonzalez, and Blankenhorn (before his callup).

 

Also keep on eye on Lachlan Wells who is quietly having a real good year in GCL, looks to be his "Lewis Thorpe type 2013 GCL season".  The size is scary as he's listed at 5'8 and 160lb.  Sadly, he's pitched only on days I can't make it but he did tell me he'll be starting 7/25 game on Saturday, I'll try to get video then.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Sure, Seth, why don't you just announce to the whole world that I have nothing better to do with my time than page through minor league rosters! Thanks a lot!

 

I just assumed everyone already knew that... 

[nytwinsfan]

 

I'll get some video and pictures of him this weekend if everyone is interested.  Most of my time at GCL games have been watching/videoing Cabbage, Lewin Diaz, Roberto Gonzalez, and Blankenhorn (before his callup).

 

Also keep on eye on Lachlan Wells who is quietly having a real good year in GCL, looks to be his "Lewis Thorpe type 2013 GCL season".  The size is scary as he's listed at 5'8 and 160lb.  Sadly, he's pitched only on days I can't make it but he did tell me he'll be starting 7/25 game on Saturday, I'll try to get video then.

 

Thanks Bob!  Does anyone know how much Palacios signed for? Someone must know. Jeremey?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Thanks Bob!  Does anyone know how much Palacios signed for? Someone must know. Jeremey?

 

He didn't sign til September of 2013, there is nothing official which usually means pretty low probably 10K-30K but that is purely a guess.
 

[jokin]

 

I'll get some video and pictures of him this weekend if everyone is interested.  Most of my time at GCL games have been watching/videoing Cabbage, Lewin Diaz, Roberto Gonzalez, and Blankenhorn (before his callup).

 

Also keep on eye on Lachlan Wells who is quietly having a real good year in GCL, looks to be his "Lewis Thorpe type 2013 GCL season".  The size is scary as he's listed at 5'8 and 160lb.  Sadly, he's pitched only on days I can't make it but he did tell me he'll be starting 7/25 game on Saturday, I'll try to get video then.

 

Bob, I can't get anyone to comment on Luis Arraez.  Just turned 18, installed in the leadoff position early on, bats LH, a rare young Latin with terrific plate discipline.  Great year in the DSL in 2014.  Because he's playing 2nd to Palacios at SS,  I assume he's not as flashy with the glove, I'm interested in hearing any impressions you might have on him.

Edited July 16, 2015 by jokin

[Seth Stohs]

 

Bob, I can't get anyone to comment on Luis Arraez.  Just turned 18, installed in the leadoff position earlyt on, bats LH, a rare young Latin with terrific plate discipline.  Great year in the DSL in 2014.  Because he's playing 2nd to Palacios at SS,  I assume he's not as flashy with the glove, I'm interested in hearing any impressions you might have on him.

 

Arraez is seen as a contact hitter. Line drives. He could grow taller, but he's fairly stocky already. Solid infielder, probably more of a 2B.

 

Palacios is seen as a guy who can play all three infield positions well. Not a big guy, again. Not a big guy, but room to grow.

 

Neither would fit into my top 30 at this point.. maybe 40-50 range at this point with room to move up that list.

[Pitz]

 

 

 

Also keep on eye on Lachlan Wells who is quietly having a real good year in GCL, looks to be his "Lewis Thorpe type 2013 GCL season".  The size is scary as he's listed at 5'8 and 160lb.  Sadly, he's pitched only on days I can't make it but he did tell me he'll be starting 7/25 game on Saturday, I'll try to get video then.

Is that information correct? It also lists him as right-handed, but in the various images that come up in a google search he appears to throw lefty. I also thought I had found different height/weight for him elsewhere but can't find it and don't recall where - so maybe I just imagined it.

[jokin]

 

Arraez is seen as a contact hitter. Line drives. He could grow taller, but he's fairly stocky already. Solid infielder, probably more of a 2B.

 

Palacios is seen as a guy who can play all three infield positions well. Not a big guy, again. Not a big guy, but room to grow.

 

Neither would fit into my top 30 at this point.. maybe 40-50 range at this point with room to move up that list.

 

Thanks Seth, that's about where I thought/hoped they should both be placed.  Arraez is nearly a full year younger than Palacios, so maybe there might be a little more room for development.  I like the flexibility he might offer as a LHB. BR and MiLB both have Palacios listed at 6'0"/145#s, major stringbean- definitely reads like "room to grow."

 

Here's a case where 2 Venezuelan youngsters have plenty of time to come up together slowly and steadily, unheralded enough to avoid the pressures of expectations but motivated enough to try to stay out of Wander Javier's and Nick Gordon's shadows.  If/when Javier outgrows the SS position (6'/170#s and age 16), add two more to the MI prospect list, either of whom could potentially find a path up the prospect rankings, plus 6 years from now, when they're both 24 years old, Brian Dozier will be 34.  

 

BTW, I know it's far too early with Javier to write any potential prospect ratings down as gospel, but I did see video of the kid, and he's definitely got the classic uppercut power swing.  When do you first consider ranking the international signees?  Just watching the video and reading the writeups, it seems like the kid has a good chance to get a Top 20 ranking out of the chute.

 

Edited July 16, 2015 by jokin

[Seth Stohs]

I don't include anyone in my rankings until they've played in the GCL... Javier's probably a Top 10-15 guy now, without giving it a lot of thought. I think the moment he steps into a GCL game, probably next June after playing in some DSL games first, he'll be a definite Top 10.

[jokin]

 

I don't include anyone in my rankings until they've played in the GCL... Javier's probably a Top 10-15 guy now, without giving it a lot of thought. I think the moment he steps into a GCL game, probably next June after playing in some DSL games first, he'll be a definite Top 10.

 

Thanks for the clarification and the mouth-watering) info!  Good also to hear he'll be considered to be among the few 17-year-olds that the Twins push right to the GCL in their first season (Sano, Kepler, Minier to name a few that come to mind).

 

Perhaps here's the next best chance for a true phenom in the Twins system?

Edited July 16, 2015 by jokin