Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/10): Awards, Awards, Everywhere!

[Cody Christie]

Monday means another week's worth of honors handed out by each league in the minors. The Twins were well represented this week as three position players took home top honors.

 

Minnesota's Opening Day DH isn't exactly where he'd like to be but the Southern League recognized his outstanding play. In seven games, Kennys Vargas went 10-for-23 with a double, two triples, and three home runs. He showed remarkable patience by drawing seven walks and he also drove in 10 runs. (Note - following Monday's marathon game in Chattanooga, Kennys Vargas was promoted to AAA Rochester.)

 

Tanner English has been on a tear through the Midwest League. Over the last six games, he went 13-for-25 with five doubles and a triple. He's hit .315/.383/.490 since the All-Star break. He ranks third overall in the Midwest League with 35 stolen bases and second overall in runs scored.

 

LaMonte Wade was a ninth-round pick by the Twins back in June and he's already making his mark in the Appalachian League. Across six games this week, he went 8-for-22 with a pair of homers and a double. He coaxed eight walks on the way to scoring eight runs. Only four Appy League players have more than his seven home runs.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester --, Buffalo -- (Postponed)

 

The Rochester game in Buffalo was postponed on Monday night due to rain. The team was already scheduled for a doubleheader on Tuesday to make up a postponed game from 5/31. This means the teams will play another doubleheader on Thursday. Five games in three days between the two teams tied for second place in the International League North. Sounds like some exciting baseball should be on the docket.

 

Byron Buxton was also reinstated from the disabled list and officially optioned to Triple-A. He had five hits in 12 at-bats for Rochester on rehab assignment. The move stops his service-time clock and it also uses up one of Buxton's three minor league option years. To make room for Buxton infielder Nate Hanson was released.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Mobile 5 (16 Innings)

Box Score

 

The Lookouts played well into the night as both clubs tried to gain the upper hand in this back and forth contest. Chattanooga jumped out to a first inning lead after Jorge Polanco led off with a triple. It took a two-out infield single from Kennys Vargas but the run scored. The offense went silent until the seventh inning when the club plated three runs after three singles and a hit-by-pitch started the inning.

 

Tim Shibuya was long gone before a decision was handed out in this one. He went four shutout innings, striking out two. Alex Muren pitched three big shutout innings in the late stages of the game to keep zeros on the board. Alex Wimmers earned his seventh victory after two shutout innings of work even though he had to escape a bases-loaded jam.

 

Over five hours after the game started, Niko Goodrum drove in the winning run with a single after Heiker Meneses and Jorge Polanco had singled. He had been 0-for-5 on the night with a pair of walks before the big hit. Max Kepler was the lone starting player to not pick up a hit in the contest.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8, St. Lucie 4

Box Score

 

Fort Myers used a balanced attack to pound out eight runs on 14 hits. Four batters collected multiple hits including a three-hit, three-RBI night from Aderlin Mejia. Tanner Vavra collected a pair of doubles and scored two runs. Marcus Knecht smacked his fourth triple on his way to reaching base three times.

 

Mat Batts started and scattered four runs on seven hits. Over five innings, he struck out five and walked three for his six victory. Jake Reed and Nick Burdi combined for four scoreless innings of relief. Burdi was perfect across two frames, getting three strikeouts.

 

The Miracle scored six of the eight runs with two outs and eight of the nine batters in the order registered at least one hit. David Wright, on MLB rehab assignment for the Mets, finished the night 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

E-Twins 3, Greeneville 5 (7 Innings)

Box Score

 

Elizabethton saw their two-run lead disappear over the final two innings, including two unearned runs in the last frame. Jose Abreu threw a wild pitch and shortstop Manuel Guzman had a throwing error that turned into the final two runs. Andro Cutura got the no-decision after lasting four innings and allowing one earned run.

 

The E-Twins were limited to two hits on the offensive side of the ball. Jermaine Palacios hit his sixth double and scored a run. Kamran Young drove in two runs with his third home run of the season. The team didn't have many other opportunities as they went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring positions.

 

E-Twins 3, Greeneville 2 (7 Innings)

Box Score

 

It looked like the E-Twins were on their way to being swept in their doubleheader before the offense decided to wake up in the bottom of the seventh inning. After two walk to start the frame, Nelson Molina used a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Jermaine Palacios grounded out for the second out but Daniel Kihle saved the day with a single. Palacios is now hitting .458.

 

Nate Gercken allowed both runs and he was pulled with two outs in the fifth inning. He struck out seven and walked two. Anthony Mciver earned his second win after collecting the last seven outs and allowing only one hit.

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Twins 11, GCL Rays 3

Box Score

 

The GCL Twins capitalized on some wild pitching in the bottom of the second inning to score eight runs on two hits. There were six walks, two hit-by-pitches, two fielding errors, and two wild pitches. It sounds like it was quite the circus of an inning.

 

Both Christian Cavaness and Robert Molina went 2-for-4 including a double, the team's lone extra-base hit, for Cavaness. Every batter in the line-up scored at least one run. Roberto Gonzalez reached base three times and scored two runs.

 

Eduardo Del Rosario improved to 3-0 on the season after tossing five innings of one-run ball. He struck out four and didn't walk any as his ERA improved to 1.46. Luis Hernandez and Andrew Vasquez each pitched two frames and combined to allow a pair of runs.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Eduardo Del Rosario, GCL Twins

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Aderlin Mejia, Fort Myers Miracle

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Buffalo (4:35 CST) – LHP Taylor Rogers

Rochester @ Buffalo (Game 2) – RHP Tyler Duffey

Chattanooga vs. Mobile (6:15 CST) – LHP David Hurlbut

Ft. Myers @ St. Lucie (5:30 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Cedar Rapids @ Lake County (6:00 CST) – RHP Keaton Steele

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (6:00 CST) – TBA

GLC Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 am CST) – TBA

 

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[big dog]

Congrats to Kennys.  Let's hope he tears up Rochester and gets back to Target Field.  Where he'll play...somewhere.

[clutterheart]

We've seen lots of young International FA pitchers do nice things in the rookie leagues only to flame out as they get up to A ball.  But I like that Del Rosario cut down on his walks.  He had pretty bad control in the DR league, didn't look great in the bullpen as a 19 year old in the GCL but he has adjusted and kept the walks down and got his strike outs up.

Good adjustments from the young fella!  

 

45 SO, 7 BB 37 IP and its looks like he is getting a bunch of ground balls.Is there any reports on his pitches?

[Mike Sixel]

Burdi's raw stuff is just too much for this level. Does anyone know if he's working on stuff, or just dominating?

[DJL44]

I would love it if Vargas could hit well enough to be a major league DH. Sano can play the field and my guess is RF is his spot next season.

[nytwinsfan]

 

I would love it if Vargas could hit well enough to be a major league DH. Sano can play the field and my guess is RF is his spot next season.

I agree with this up and until the RF part. Sano can play outfield in a pinch, sure, but it just doesn't maximize his value (in fact it minimizes it). It makes more sense to have him at 3B if we trade Plouffe, DH, or 1B. The Twins have too many possible plus defenders who can also hit well in the outfield pipeline. If we really want Vargas to be an everyday player, then either Plouffe will need to be traded or Mauer will need to move off 1B.

[DocBauer]

Plouffe is a huge trade chip for us. IF we use it. He can continue to play 3B, 1B and DH and rotate with Sano and Mauer at these spots. I also hope the best for Vargas, and I have not given up on him. 

 

But he won't be up tomorrow. And I've come to believe his skipping AAA hurt him. As of now, I'd be targeting him for Rocheter to begin 2016. But no question his development as a switch hitting DH/backup 1B would be big for the lineup, and allow greater flexability to trade Plouffe.

 

Interesting that all the top relievers we had such high hopes for this season...before imploding and getting demoted...seem to be turning their seasons around. Is this an indicator of 2016 level promotion and potential '16 ML call ups? I sure hope so as this was one of the few dim spots in an otherwise outstanding organization wide milb season to this point.,

[Mike Sixel]

Vargas was never a great prospect, I don't think skipping AA was the big issue.....

[DocBauer]

Question on Tanner English; all reports have him excellent defensively, and it appears he can hit, make contact, and take walks. But for what appears to be a slight stature, he seems to have a little pop in his bat. 21 doubles 8 triples 5 homeruns as of my look up of him today.

 

Is this pop sustainable? More to the point, allowing for at least a little additional physical maturity and growth, is it sustainable? Because if so, he sure seems to be a legit CF/top of the order prospect to keep an eye on.

[BoomBoom]

 

Interesting that all the top relievers we had such high hopes for this season...before imploding and getting demoted...seem to be turning their seasons around. Is this an indicator of 2016 level promotion and potential '16 ML call ups? I sure hope so as this was one of the few dim spots in an otherwise outstanding organization wide milb season to this point.,

Never should have gotten rid of Gary Lucas.  Can't think of a pitcher who pitched under him who flamed out at any level?  Berrios learned to pitch in A and high A ball under Lucas and see how he turned out.  Bet you can't find a pitcher in the system who didn't love Lucas as their coach.  Just saying......... 

[DJL44]

 

Question on Tanner English; all reports have him excellent defensively, and it appears he can hit, make contact, and take walks. But for what appears to be a slight stature, he seems to have a little pop in his bat. 21 doubles 8 triples 5 homeruns as of my look up of him today.

 

Is this pop sustainable? More to the point, allowing for at least a little additional physical maturity and growth, is it sustainable? Because if so, he sure seems to be a legit CF/top of the order prospect to keep an eye on.

 

I saw English a week or so ago. My guess is a lot of that "pop" is speed. He had a hustle double in the game I saw that wouldn't happen with an MLB caliber outfielder. He's an above average baserunner but I don't think his swing is exceptionally powerful.