Article: Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month - July 2015

[Seth Stohs]

Earlier in the week, we announced Jermaine Palacios as our Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month. Then we named Mat Batts the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month. Today, we’ve got the top performances of relief pitchers in July. We’re posting this a little later than usual, but it’s important to recognize these guys who are often overlooked.

 

Four relievers didn’t give up an earned run all month. A few others had ERAs below one and more than a strikeout per nine innings. This was a difficult decision, so be sure to make your picks in the comments.There were many terrific bullpen performances in June. I’ve ranked the top five, but before getting to them, here are some pitchers who deserve honorable mention.

• RHP Mark Hamburger – Rochester Red Wings – 10 G, 12.1 IP, 1-0, 1.10 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 8 H, 1 BB, 10 K
• RHP Matt Summers – Ft. Myers/Chattanooga – 9 G, 16.0 IP, 1-0, 0.56 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11 H, 4 BB, 9 K
• RHP Kuo Hua Lo – Elizabethton Twins – 8 G, 14.2 IP, 1-1, 3-Saves, 1.23 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 5 H, 2 BB, 15 K

The Top 5 Twins Relievers for July 2015

Number 5 – GCL Twins – Johan Quezada – 8 G, 9.1 IP, 2-0, 3 saves, 0.00 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K

 

Quezada signed with the Twins late in 2012. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and in 43.1 innings, he walked 74 and struck out 50. The 6-6, 20 year old from the Dominican is certainly showing good control so far in 2015. He’s also showing a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s. Overall, he is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP. In 15.2 innings, he has walked five and struck out 16. He’s a project, but a project with a very strong arm. That explains why hitters hit just .065/.147/.065 (.212) against him.

Number 4 – GCL Twins – Miguel Gonzalez – 6 G, 13.2 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 6 H, 3 BB, 14 K

 

Gonzalez signed with the Twins in 2011 out of the Dominican. He spent a season in the DSL. He pitched in 20 games out of the bullpen in the GCL in 2013 and posted a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings (9 BB, 33 K). However, after moving into a starting role in 2014 (also in the GCL), he was injured after just 13.1 innings. He returned this year, back to the bullpen. Overall, in 21 innings, he is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He has four walks and 23 strikeouts. In July, opponents hit just .128/.196/.255 (.451) off of him. Most important, the 20 year old is healthy.

 

Number 3 – Ft. Myers Miracle – Nick Burdi – 10 G, 16.1 IP, 2-1, 2 Saves, 1.10 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 10 H, 0 BB, 23 K

 

 

 

The 22-year-old was the Twins 24^th round pick in 2011, and after three years at Louisville, he was the Twins 2^nd round pick a year ago. He struck out 38 batters in 20.1 innings in 2014 between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He began this season in Chattanooga where he went 3-4 with a 5.93 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP in 30.1 innings. He was demoted to the Miracle, and his first month there was terrific. He had a rough one this week, but he could be ready to move back up to the Lookouts soon. In July, opponents hit just .182/.175/.255 (.430) against him.

Number 2 – Rochester Red Wings – Michael Tonkin – 8 G, 15.0 IP, 2-0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 0.53 WHIP, 6 H, 2 BB, 19 K

 

 

Tonkin should get frequent flyer miles. He could probably travel for free all offseason just because he has gone back and forth from Rochester to the Twins literally a dozen times in the last three years. He will be out of options in 2016, so the Twins could have a difficult decision to make. He was demoted by the Twins late in June, and as you’d hope, he responded well with a great month in July. Overall with the Red Wings, he is 2-1 with nine saves. He has a 1.39 ERA, a WHIP of 0.77 and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. In the month, batters hit just .120/.154/.120 (.274) against him. It would be interesting to see what he could do in a full season (or even just a full half-season) with the Twins!

And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is:

 

Cedar Rapids/Ft. Myers – Trevor Hildenberger – 9 G, 11.0 IP, 0-0, 6 Saves, 0.00 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, 6 H, 0 BB, 16 K

 

 

Hildenberger was our choice for Relief Pitcher of the Month in May, and he has earned it again in July. The 24 year old, drafted a year ago out of Cal-Berkeley, finally got the promotion he deserved. He made six appearances for the Kernels in July and earned a save in each of those games. He moved up to Ft. Myers and debuted with them on July 22^nd. He began his tenure with the Miracle by giving up no runs on just four hits over 6.2 innings (four games). He struck out 11 and walked none. Last night, he gave up two runs on three hits in an inning. He has now pitched in 33 games this season. He has given up a run in just four of them. He has walked a batter in just five of those games. Hildenberger has a very interesting, deceptive delivery. In July, opponents hit just .182/.200/.250 (.450) against him.

So what do you think? Honestly, let me know how you would rank them. I’ve ranked the top five bullpen arms in the Twins organization in July, in my opinion, but I welcome your comments as well.

 

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[Mike Sixel]

Thanks Seth. Looks like a good order to me.

[sane]

Hildenberger's numbers are almost ridiculous. If you had chosen anyone else, this post would have certainly violated some length restrictions. You have done an excellent job..........almost as good as Hildenberger!

[David HK]

Thanks, Seth, for all the work you do so we can keep track of the young 'uns, and keep hope for the future alive!

 

You know, rather than watch Fien and Boyer be the destructive right-handed presence, why not get "Gulfa" Tonkin up here to stay?  Let him take his lumps and learn.  It's not like the aforementioned clowns are 1) any better, and 2) any part of any future Twins team after this woebegone year.  

 

I know he got lit some, and was more wild than AAA while he was up, but gawd, at least he's got K potential, he's done the job he got sent down to do, and we can at least see if he's going to be part of that future or not.  Or, we can choose to go with guys we already know are not--  and shouldn't be part of the present lineup, either.

[70charger]

 

 

You know, rather than watch Fien and Boyer be the destructive right-handed presence, why not get "Gulfa" Tonkin up here to stay?  

 

Umm. Best nickname ever.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Glad to see Burdi with a good month.

[David HK]

 

Umm. Best nickname ever.

Heh... glad somebody got that one--  and a 70 Charger, no less.  I had a 69, till it threw a rod on the way to Heart Butte summer blowout back in the day.