Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/4): Big Night For Big Performances

[Seth Stohs]

It was a busy Tuesday in the Minnesota Twins minor league system. All six full-season affiliates played, with the GCL Twins playing two games. Max Kepler got on base four times, and he wasn’t even the hitter of the day. Kennys Vargas did a couple of things that will probably surprise you. Zach Granite made a web gem for Ft. Myers. And you’ll be impressed by the top of the Cedar Rapids lineup.All that and more in the coming paragraphs of today’s Twins Minor League Report.

TRANSACTIONS

With Tyler Duffey promoted to the Twins, Jason Wheeler was promoted from the Lookouts to the Red Wings.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Gwinnett 5

Box Score

 

Michael Bowden made his second Red Wings start. In this one, he gave up two runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. He walked two and struck out one. Aaron Thompson came on and got the final out of the sixth. He got one out in the seventh as well before leaving with two men on base. Michael Tonkin came on having not allowed a run in over 16 innings. However, he gave up a three run homer that provided the final 5-2 score.

 

The Red Wings had eight hits. James Beresford and Jose Martinez each had two hits. Reynaldo Rodriguez and Danny Ortiz each hit their 28^th doubles. Chris Herrmann went 1-2 with a walk and stole his third base. Danny Santana went 0-4 and is now 1-12 since his return from the Twins.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 10, Jackson 3

Box Score

 

Down 3-2 going into the seventh inning, Chattanooga scored five times in the seventh and three times in the eighth to get a commanding win. Catcher Jairo Rodriguez was the only Lookouts hitter without a hit. Kennys Vargas was moved to the ninth spot in the lineup. He went 2-5 with a triple (yes, really) and his fifth home run. Max Kepler went 2-3 with two walks. He also stole his 14^th and 15^th bases. Stephen Wickens went 2-4 with a walk and his tenth double. Dalton Hicks and Heiker Meneses each went 2-5. Jorge Polanco hit a single and walked twice. Adam Brett Walker doubled for the 24^th time this season and drove in his 85^th and 86^th runs of the season.

 

With Jason Wheeler moving back up to AAA, the Lookouts needed to go with a bullpen game. Tim Shibuya started and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in three innings. Adrian Salcedo gave up one run on two hits and a walk in two innings. DJ Johnson gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs, in two innings. Alex Wimmers struck out three over two perfect innings.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, St. Lucie 7

Box Score

 

Mat Batts had a great July, but this August started out poorly. He gave up three runs in the first inning and another in the fourth. In all, he went five innings and gave up four runs (3 earned) on nine hits and a walk. He struck out three. He falls to 5-3 with a 2.04 ERA. Brian Gilbert gave up three runs on five hits in his inning. Zack Jones came on and struck out four over two perfect innings. Corey Williams struck out one in his scoreless inning.

 

Marcus Knecht went 2-4 with a walk and his 18^th Miracle double. Engelb Vielma was 2-4 with a walk. He stole his 25^th and 26^th bases. Aderlin Mejia went 2-5 with his sixth double. Zach Granite hit his third triple.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Dayton 1

Box Score

 

The Kernels got strong pitching in this one, but the story in this game was the offense. The Kernels knocked out 15 hits to go with five walks. The top of the lineup definitely set the table. Leadoff man Tanner English led the way. He went 5-5 with three doubles (19 for the season) and three RBIs. He also stole his organization-leading 34^th base. Nick Gordon hit second and went 3-4 with a walk. Brian Navarreto went 2-3 with a walk. Tyler Kuresa went 1-3 with two walks.

 

On the mound, Keaton Steele got the job done and evened his season record at 3-3. He gave up one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out three without walking a batter. Luke Bard gave up one hit over two scoreless innings.

 

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Elizabethton 2, Johnson City 5

Box Score

 

One tough inning was the difference in this game. Jermaine Palacios has been great with the bat, but his fifth inning error led to four unearned runs. Andro Cutura was charged with five runs, though just one was earned, in five innings. He gave up seven hits, walked one and hit one while striking out four. Tyler Stirewalt gave up just one hit and hit a batter over three shutout innings.

 

Manuel Guzman led the offense. He went 3-4 with his second double. Jermaine Palacios went 2-5 with his fourth double in four games with the E-Twins. Travis Blankenhorn went 2-4.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

Game 1 – GCL Twins 7, GCL Orioles 0

Box Score

 

The Twins had a tremendous effort with the bats and the arms in Game 1 on Tuesday. Lachlan Wells made the start. The Austalian righty gave his team five innings of shutout ball. He gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out two. He is now 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA on the season. Brandon Poulson came on and worked two perfect innings. He struck out two.

 

When Jermaine Palacios was promoted to Elizabethton, Ariel Montesino was sent back to the GCL. In this game, he went 2-3 with a walk, a double and a home run. Luis Martinez went 2-3 with two RBI. Lewin Diaz went 1-2 with two walks. Christian Cavaness made his first start and went 1-2 with a walk. A rehabbing Blake Schmit went 1-3 with a walk.

 

Game 2 – GCL Twins 4, GCL Orioles 5 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

The second game needed an extra inning. Eduardo del Rosario made the start and he continued to pitch very well. He gave up just one hit over five shutout innings. He walked two and struck out five. Then Max Cordy came on for the sixth inning. He gave up two runs on one hit and a walk in just 2/3 of an inning. Johan Quezada came on and got the final out of the sixth and then worked the seventh. He gave up an unearned run on two hits. He struck out two. Hector Lujan came on and got two outs in the eighth. However, he gave up two runs on three hits to take the loss.

 

Lean Marrero, the Twins 16^th-round pick in June out of Puerto Rico, went 2-4 in the game with his first professional home run. Lewin Diaz went 2-3 with a walk. Roberto Molina went 2-4 with two RBI. Luis Arraez went 1-3 with two walks. Blake Schmit went 1-4 and stole a base.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Keaton Steele, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Tanner English, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Gwinnett (6:35 CST) – LHP Taylor Rogers (8-8, 3.65 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Jackson (7:05 CST) – RH Greg Peavey (6-3, 4.41 ERA)

St. Lucie @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves (5-1, 2.11 ERA)

Dayton @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (5-4, 2.49 ERA)

Elizabethton – No Game Scheduled

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

 

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below

 

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[Pitz]

I thought I posted this earlier, but I must have encountered some sort of error - or I'm going crazy. 

Thanks for the excellent report. I have questions about 3 players that may have been addressed elsewhere and I missed them. If so, my apologies.

What is Zander Wiel's injury? I hope this missed time doesn't prevent him from starting in CR next year.

 

Any information on Brusdar Graterol? I recall it being mentioned several weeks ago that he had come stateside and I thought that meant he would be joining the GCL team. He is not listed on the roster though and hasn't pitched since June 20th. Is he dealing with an injury as well?

 

Also wondering about Taylor Clemensia who is on the E'town roster but has yet to pitch in any games.

[Loosey]

What else does Kepler have to do to get a AAA promotion?  I think he clearly has met that development point, now it's time for refinement in AAA and a hopefully a September call up.  Or does Terry Ryan have no idea who he is because he isn't a middling 38 year old reliever? 

[Seth Stohs]

 

What else does Kepler have to do to get a AAA promotion?  I think he clearly has met that development point, now it's time for refinement in AAA and a hopefully a September call up.  Or does Terry Ryan have no idea who he is because he isn't a middling 38 year old reliever? 

 

I think the September call up is a given. I think he sticks with Chattanooga through their playoff run unless something weird happens.

[Mike Sixel]

Agreed, this was a great write up!

[clutterheart]

Zander Wiel- has a busted hand - he got hit by a pitch and is at least 4 weeks out.

 

Brusdar Graterol - I think I read that he is too young to play in the GCL?  He turns 17 later this month so maybe he will start then

 

Taylor Clemensia - He was playing in the Europe Jr Championships and I don't think those are over yet so he is probably still in Europe

Edited August 5, 2015 by clutterheart

[drjim]

 

I think the September call up is a given. I think he sticks with Chattanooga through their playoff run unless something weird happens.

 

Do you think he gets called up ahead of Buxton and Arcia? Barring injury they aren't calling up all three.

 

I cannot remember the Twins calling up a prospect to sit on the bench, and it's not like Hicks and Rosario don't need the reps.

[clutterheart]

 

I think the September call up is a given. I think he sticks with Chattanooga through their playoff run unless something weird happens.

 

Are the folks in Rochester getting squirrelly over many of the top prospects skipping AAA?  I heard there was disappointment that Sano and Buxton didn't get there.  Now if Kepler skips I wonder if there will be a full revolt! 

[Eephus]

Brusdar Graterol. At that to the collection of great names in minors for the Twins.

[70charger]

 

Brusdar Graterol. At that to the collection of great names in minors for the Twins.

 

No kidding. I hadn't heard of this guy before today, and I wasn't exactly sure whether Pitz was trolling.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Are the folks in Rochester getting squirrelly over many of the top prospects skipping AAA?  I heard there was disappointment that Sano and Buxton didn't get there.  Now if Kepler skips I wonder if there will be a full revolt! 

 

Oh, I'm sure... but I'm certain that Kepler will spend much of 2016 in Rochester. He'd just come up for September, not for good. He's not in the Buxton/Sano category, though he's that next step.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Do you think he gets called up ahead of Buxton and Arcia? Barring injury they aren't calling up all three.

 

I cannot remember the Twins calling up a prospect to sit on the bench, and it's not like Hicks and Rosario don't need the reps.

 

Fair point... I don't know what they'll do, but if they're in contention, I can see them calling them all up. Maybe not. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I thought I posted this earlier, but I must have encountered some sort of error - or I'm going crazy. 

Thanks for the excellent report. I have questions about 3 players that may have been addressed elsewhere and I missed them. If so, my apologies.

What is Zander Wiel's injury? I hope this missed time doesn't prevent him from starting in CR next year.

 

Any information on Brusdar Graterol? I recall it being mentioned several weeks ago that he had come stateside and I thought that meant he would be joining the GCL team. He is not listed on the roster though and hasn't pitched since June 20th. Is he dealing with an injury as well?

 

Also wondering about Taylor Clemensia who is on the E'town roster but has yet to pitch in any games.

 

Yup, Zander Wiel has a broken hand from being hit by a pitch. He's done for the year, but should be just fine next season.

 

Graterol came to the states to have his elbow examined. Won't be pitching in the GCL.

 

Clemensia not likely to play this year. 

 

Also, Rainis Silva has a broken finger.

[Badsmerf]

At this point, Kepler being promoted really doesn't do much unless it is to the Twins. Like Seth said, I'm betting he plays in AAA for a good chunk of 2016. He'll be the swing man when injury happens.

 

Jim, there has been a lot of prospects come up and not play every day. When Benson and Parmalee made the jump from AA they weren't in the lineup everyday. It seemed like a reward for great seasons and to get a taste of the MLB. Hopefully they do the same with Kepler (and limit Mauer's ABs).