Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/13): Walker Attack!

[Cody Christie]

During the zombie apocalypse, a walker attack is not a good thing but for fans of the Chattanooga Lookouts, an Adam Brett Walker attack is a terrific thing.

 

Besides Walker's strong night at the plate, there were multiple strong pitching performances across the Twins system on Thursday. This wasn't the only piece of good news as big name prospects like Byron Buxton and Max Kepler continued to try and find ways to help their teams to win.

 

Which players had the biggest games on Thursday? You will have to read on to find out...RED WINGS REPORT

 

Rochester 3, Buffalo 0 (7 Innings)

Box Score

Pat Dean didn't allow a run as he pitched into the seventh inning for his ninth win of the season. It was his second time in his last three starts that he pitched six innings or more and didn't allow a run. Michael Tonkin was called on to get the final two outs and he recorded his 12th save.

 

On the offensive side of the ball, Xavier Avery had a big game after replacing Oswaldo Arcia after he was hit by a pitch. Avery finished the day 3-for-3 with a home run and all three of the team's RBIs. James Beresford and Eric Fryer each picked up a pair of hits and Byron Buxton went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

 

 

Rochester 1, Buffalo 2 (7 Innings)

Box Score

Rochester jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but the club wasn't able to hold on for their second win of the day. Logan Darnell put his club in position to win as he limited the Bisons to one run in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out five and walked one. Mark Hamburger took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run during his 1.1 innings.

 

There wasn't much excitement on the offensive side of things. Byron Buxton was the lone Red Wings player with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 with a steal but he struck out two times as well. Doug Bernier reached base twice and scored the team's only run.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

 

Chattanooga 4, Tennessee 3

Box Score

Chattanooga scored a very important run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Tennessee would put two on the board in the ninth to make it a one-run game. Brandon Peterson allowed both runs in the ninth inning but he had enough left in the tank to get the final out and earn his second save. Brett Lee pitched into the eighth inning for his 4th victory. He struck out three and limited the Smokies to one earned run.

 

Adam Brett Walker collected his 25th and 26th doubles of the season as part of a three-hit effort. Walker was part of the insurance run in the eighth as he ended up scoring the pivotal run on a Heiker Meneses single. Max Kepler continued his strong season as he is now one double shy of 30 ang hitting .332 after his 1-for-4 night.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

 

Fort Myers 0, Palm Beach 1

Box Score

 

Fort Myers had a hard time finding their offensive stroke on Thursday as the team was held to five hits. Engelb Vielma went 3-for-4 and Logan Wade had the team's only extra-base hit, a double. Mitch Garver went 1-for-4. Overall, the team went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

 

Luke Westphal was very good on the mound. He scattered five Cardinals hits over seven innings and limited them to one run. He struck out five and walked none but it wasn't enough as he was charged with his fourth loss. Todd Van Steensel pitched two shutout frames to end the game.

 

 

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

 

Cedar Rapids 7, Lake County 6

Box Score

 

The Kernels used a four-run fifth inning to mount a come-from-behind victory and win their third straight rubber game. Eight of the nine Kernels hitters reached base at least once and seven of them recorded at least one hit. Rafael Valera went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Tanner English extended his hitting streak to a personal-best 12 games and also extended his on-base streak to a Kernels' season-high 23 games.

 

The bullpen was strong for the Kernels after starter Zach Tillery allowed five runs on 11 hits in four innings. Luke Bard earned the win and remains a perfect 7-0 on the season. He allowed one run across a pair of innings. Yorman Landa and John Curtiss shut down the Captains the rest of the way for the club's 68th win.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

 

E-Twins 5, Bristol 4

Box Score

Dereck Rodriguez improved his record to 5-1 as he did just enough to lead Elizabethton to the victory. In seven innings, he allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out eight. His ERA sits at 1.75 for the season. Kuo Hua Lo picked up the save after tossing two shutout frames with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.

 

Travis Blankenhorn provided most of the offensive punch as he had three-run home run and drove in another for a total of four RBIs. Brad Hartong collected three hits including his fifth double. Jermaine Palacios and Daniel Kihle both had multi-hit efforts including a double for Palacios and a stolen base for Kihle.

 

 

GCL Twins Takes

 

GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 10

Box Score

Both of these teams slugged it out for the first few frames but the GCL Rays had way too much firepower. Blake Schmit used a triple and a home run to drive in a pair of runs. Kerby Camacho knocked his first two doubles of the season and scored a run. Christian Cavaness also drove in a run and scored a run out of the lead-off spot.

 

Jose Martinez was charged with the loss after allowing six earned runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked two. Andrew Vasquez and Luis Hernandez ran into some control issues later in the game as they combined for five walks and three earned runs.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Brett Lee, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Adam Brett Walker, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester vs. Scranton/WB (6:05 CST) – TBD

Chattanooga vs. Tennessee (6:15 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers

 

Fort Myers vs. Palm Beach (6:05 CST) – RHP Omar Bencomo

Cedar Rapids @ Fort Wayne (6:05 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario

Elizabethton @ Bristol (6:00 CST) – RHP Onesimo Hernandez

GCL Twins vs. GCL Red Sox (11:00 am CST) – TBA

 

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[BoomBoom]

When I look at Walker's 26 doubles to go with his 26 home runs, I can't help but think ABW II is more than a "All or Nothing" / "Boom or Bust" prospect.  His 55 XBH are tops in the Southern League.  Glad to see his breakout game after a long drought at the plate.  His August numbers of 12.5% BB rate and 23% K rate are encouraging signs as well.  

 

What I like about high XBH numbers, is that it tells me a player can put himself in scoring position without the help of others. 

[Seth Stohs]

I think strides are being made. He is a really hard worker, and he isn't just going up there hacking. I do think his approach at the plate will work to his favor at some point...

[kvothe]

Is Landa still coming back from injury, or is he just a bullpen guy now?

[puckstopper1]

Anyone know what Danny Santana's injury is, and how serious?  If he is going to be out for a bit, why not shift Polanco to AAA and get Gordon a cup of coffee at AA?

[clutterheart]

 

I think strides are being made. He is a really hard worker, and he isn't just going up there hacking. I do think his approach at the plate will work to his favor at some point...

 

What do you base this on?  Some quotes from Dougie Baseball?  His SO rate is 35.8%!!!  That suggest to me he IS up there hacking.

I suspect the FO is putting those quotes out there in the hopes they could've traded him.

 

He is seeing a slight uptick of Walks, but that has correlated with a big drop in his OPS.  The numbers suggest he is being hurt by Sano being out of the line-up.  He no longer has that protection so pitchers can throw Walker even more junk that he just can't lay off.  

[halfchest]

I know it's been discussed before but I'd like to know what are the scouting reports on Walkers defense?  Is he average in the corners at least?  That would go a long way towards his ability to be a major leaguer.   

 

If he can provide at least average to above average defense in the corners he could be a very good 4th OF/DH for the Twins as long as 2 of Hicks/Rosario/Buxton stay with the team.  That way we dont' need a shane robinson type sitting on the bench but we have a guy that can come in and tie or win a game with one swing of the bat. 

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

His SO rate is 35.8%.

 

He is seeing a slight uptick of Walks, but that has correlated with a big drop in his OPS.  The numbers suggest he is being hurt by Sano being out of the line-up.  He no longer has that protection so pitchers can throw Walker even more junk that he just can't lay off.  

 

Perhaps his value to the organization (to combine thoughts with Halfchest) begins with the protection he is afforded with the future line up. If Buxton, Dozier, ABW, Sano are your starting four, he'd get some pretty solid pitches, and his defense has to be better than Young-Willingham-Arcia. I don't know if I'd dump a guy in a trade who has that kind of power potential.....Adam Dunn looked good when he was protected in a line up. 

[SwainZag]

 

Perhaps his value to the organization (to combine thoughts with Halfchest) begins with the protection he is afforded with the future line up. If Buxton, Dozier, ABW, Sano are your starting four, he'd get some pretty solid pitches, and his defense has to be better than Young-Willingham-Arcia. I don't know if I'd dump a guy in a trade who has that kind of power potential.....Adam Dunn looked good when he was protected in a line up. 

 

Adam Dunn walked 16% of the time during his major league career, or twice what ABW has done in his minor league career.  That's huge.

[Trov]

 

Anyone know what Danny Santana's injury is, and how serious?  If he is going to be out for a bit, why not shift Polanco to AAA and get Gordon a cup of coffee at AA?

I don't know the injury severity of Santana.  I would agree with moving Polanco back up to AAA, but I would not send Gordon up to AA.  He is just really figuring out low A ball.  Why have him skip high A for a month to face even harder pitching that may just regress his development.  

[BoomBoom]

To your point about protection.  This is the first year Sano has played with Walker and Sano was batting 3rd in lineup while Walker was batting 7th.  Walker has never had what one would call protection (speed in front of him or power behind him in the lineup).

 

Sano has had the likes of Rosario; Buxton; Kepler; and Polanco; in front of him and Vargas behind him in his career.  Walker has rarely had a power threat near him in the lineup.  IMO

 

“I’ve seen Adam enough to know he’s a gifted kid, very athletic,” Molitor said about the 23-year-old outfielder. “Runs well for a big man. He’s got a lot of power. I think he’s learning on how to try to be a little bit of a better hitter.”

Molitor mentioned that Walker needed to cut down on the strikeouts, a fact that seemed evident as he led all of the system with 156 whiffs in 2014. He also pounded 25 home runs -- in the home run suppressing environment of the Florida State League, no less -- and led all of the Twins minor leaguers in that category as well.  Baseball America recognized Walker as having the farm’s best power.

 

Twins general manager Terry Ryan echoed Molitor’s assessment regarding Walker’s power and athleticism but added the rest of his game needed to be refined.

“You look at him physically and you expect to see some raw power out of the man. He has that. It’s just the matter of the rest of his game. He’s athletic. He can run. We’ve had him in the outfield and he’s OK. Now it’s just a matter of firming up the bat, taking good at bats. He’s certainly a threat.”

 

Can the big man stay in the outfield or is he a DH-type waiting in the wings?

“He can go get a ball. His range, his ability to cover ground is fine. That bat of his is something we are anxiously awaiting to see how it develops.”

 

 

[clutterheart]

 

Adam Dunn walked 16% of the time during his major league career, or twice what ABW has done in his minor league career.  That's huge.

Agree.  Twins fans need to stop comparing Walker to Adam Dunn.  Dunn was a much better prospect than Walker is.  I like Walker he is interesting prospect with a Huge Power tool.  But he is in no way comparable to Adam Dunn.  

 

In Dunn's 21 year old season he split time between AA and AAA

Walker at age 21 was in Low A the whole season

Dunn's last year in the minors (aged 21) he finished with 81 SO 62 BB in 94 games hitting .334/.444/.671

Walkers YTD season as a 23 year old in AA he has 164 So and 39 BB, hitting  .247/.312/.511

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Landa still coming back from injury, or is he just a bullpen guy now?

 

I think he's just a bullpen guy. That's what he was last year before the surgery.. He can dominate in the pen.

[Seth Stohs]

 

What do you base this on?  Some quotes from Dougie Baseball?  His SO rate is 35.8%!!!  That suggest to me he IS up there hacking.

I suspect the FO is putting those quotes out there in the hopes they could've traded him.

 

He is seeing a slight uptick of Walks, but that has correlated with a big drop in his OPS.  The numbers suggest he is being hurt by Sano being out of the line-up.  He no longer has that protection so pitchers can throw Walker even more junk that he just can't lay off.  

 

Some quotes from Mientkiewicz, watching/listening to lots of their games and seeing him taking a lot of pitches, working counts. He'll never be confused with passive at the plate, but he is working counts more.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I know it's been discussed before but I'd like to know what are the scouting reports on Walkers defense?  Is he average in the corners at least?  That would go a long way towards his ability to be a major leaguer.   

 

If he can provide at least average to above average defense in the corners he could be a very good 4th OF/DH for the Twins as long as 2 of Hicks/Rosario/Buxton stay with the team.  That way we dont' need a shane robinson type sitting on the bench but we have a guy that can come in and tie or win a game with one swing of the bat. 

 

Average would probably be fair... he moved to left this year which is an adjustment. He won't be a gold glover, but he's not Arcia. 

[BoomBoom]

 

Agreed there is no need to compare - Walker has many things he doesn't do well.  But there are also MANY things he does exceptionally well and those are XBHs and run production.  All the things Twins fans are complaining about with the parent club.  Regardless to how he gets it done - He gets it done year in and year out.  Based on his minor league sabermetrics - He shouldn't be half as successful as he has been, but he somehow repeats his habits in a winning cause.  Adam Dunn 1 playoff series in his career - Walker Championships in two of his first 3.  Just saying................Lol

 

Agree.  Twins fans need to stop comparing Walker to Adam Dunn.  Dunn was a much better prospect than Walker is.  I like Walker he is interesting prospect with a Huge Power tool.  But he is in no way comparable to Adam Dunn.  

 

 

 

[jimbo92107]

Is there a better name in the Twins minor league system than Kerby Camacho? 

[DocBauer]

I understand milb success and numbers don't project exactly to future ML production. Nevertheless, if a player successfully transitions level by level until reaching and making the ML level successfully, he tends to be the player he has previously shown himself to be. Improvements and development can and do take place. Take Dozier as an example. His AVG dipped from what he showed previously but his power increased a great deal. Mauer is more of the status quo; high AVG and OB with gapper power and that's what he became/was. (With a little luck, he'll be something close yet again)

 

If Walker could reach the majors and be a .240-.250 hitter with .310-.315 OB and stay a consistent 30/30-ish doubles and homers guy, he would be very valuable despite the lack of contact.

[DocBauer]

I understand milb success and numbers don't project exactly to future ML production. Nevertheless, if a player successfully transitions level by level until reaching and making the ML level successfully, he tends to be the player he has previously shown himself to be. Improvements and development can and do take place. Take Dozier as an example. His AVG dipped from what he showed previously but his power increased a great deal. Mauer is more of the status quo; high AVG and OB with gapper power and that's what he became/was. (With a little luck, he'll be something close yet again)

 

If Walker could reach the majors and be a .240-.250 hitter with .310-.315 OB and stay a consistent 30/30-ish doubles and homers guy, he would be very valuable despite the lack of contact.

[DocBauer]

Oops.

[sane]

This is probably off the main subject but:

 

Is there a link or source where I can find a list of the Twins minor-league prospects who must be added to the 40-man-roster in order to be exempt from loss in the next Rule V draft? I would appreciate that information. Thanks.....

[sane]

This is probably off the main subject but:

 

Is there a link or source where I can find a list of the Twins minor-league prospects who must be added to the 40-man-roster in order to be exempt from loss in the next Rule V draft? I would appreciate that information. Thanks.....

Cancel that request. Found it on Twins website

[sane]

http://twinsdaily.com/organization-chart.html