Article: Twins Minor league Report (8/20): Tyler Jay Pitches Well

[Eric R Pleiss]

After being laughed out of the Bronx the Twins traveled to Baltimore and took out their frustrations on the Orioles with a 15-2 butt-kicking that included another Miguel Sano home run (his tenth) and a 1-6 night from Byron Buxton in his return to MLB action.RED WINGS REPORT

 

Scheduled off day

 

LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

Chattanooga Lookouts @ Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Box Score

 

Lookouts starter Aaron Slegers cruised through six innings giving up just a single run, but ran into trouble and was lifted with two outs in the seventh for J.T. Chargois. Slegers finished the night giving up six hits, three runs, two walks, and he struck out seven. Chargois came in after the damage was done and struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth.

 

The Lookouts managed just six hits against the Blue Wahoos and the only man with a multi-hit night was the number nine hitter and DH, Levi Michael. Michael was 2-3 with a run scored. Max Kepler played center field and was 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.

 

Final: Lookouts 1, Blue Wahoos 3

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers Miracle @ Bradenton Marauders

Box Score

 

Starting for the Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday night was none other than Omar Bencomo. You win all of the bonus points if you know who Omar Bencomo is and how he ended up on the Fort Myers Miracle. If you don't know who he is, you're not alone. Bencomo hasn't played affiliated baseball since 2011, when he was a 22 year-old in the Midwest League for the Tampa Bay Rays. Since then he has spent a couple of years playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, and in 2015 he played for two different Independent League teams (Wichita Wingnuts, Laredo Lemurs) before finding his way onto the Fort Myers squad. But I digress. Bencomo pitched seven innings of three-hit baseball. He gave up no runs, walked no one, and struck out four, picking up his first win of the season. Tyler Jay, the Twins top draft pick in this year's draft, came in to pitch the eighth and faced the minimum and recorded a strikeout. Todd Van Steensel picked up his thirteenth save of the year and a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.

 

The pitching was working for the Miracle on Thursday and the bats did just enough, pushing across a single run in the seventh inning thanks to a two-out RBI from Logan Wade. Wade finished the night 2-4. Mitch Garver also had a pair of hits for the Miracle, 2-4, with a run scored. The rest of the squad was pretty quiet.

 

 

Final: Miracle 1, Marauders 0

KERNELS KORNER

Kane County Cougars @ Cedar Rapids Kernels

Box Score

 

Kernels starter Ethan Mildren continues to work his way back from a recent demotion to the bullpen, and as a result is on a pretty limited pitch count, which resulted in him being pulled from the game after just four innings. Mildren gave up just three hits, one a costly solo home run. He walked one and struck out two. He was replaced by Yorman Landa who pitched two hitless innings to earn his second win of the year. Zach Tillery picked up a two-inning hold (his first of the year), and John Curtiss picked up the save, preserving the one-run lead.

 

Only one of the Kernels runs was earned, and it came off an RBI from Brian Navarreto. He was 1-3 with an RBI, and he scored the other run. Navarreto actually picked up his RBI and run scored on the same play, as he singled home Zack Larson and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. That was all the offense the Kernels would get the whole night, winning the game 2-1 despite only four hits.

 

Final: Cougars 1, Kernels 2

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton Twins @ Pulaski Yankees

Box Score

 

The Twins had a 2-0 lead for most of the game before giving up a four-spot in the seventh inning. Starter Samuel Clay pitched four scoreless innings that included four strikeouts and no walks, but reliever Nate Gercken, working into his third inning of relief, gave up three hits and a walk before being lifted in the seventh. Tyler Stirewalt replaced Gercken and proceeded to walk the first three batters he faced, pushing in two more runs, before inducing a double play to escape the inning. Because of the way baseball works, Stirewalk wasn't charged with any of those runs, and his statline looks fairly clean. No hits, no runs, no strike outs, but three walks and a wild pitch. Jose Abreu pitched the eighth with the Twins then down 4-2, to finish the game.

 

The E-Twins bats were fairly inactive, as they recorded just six hits in the contest. Only LaMonte Wade had multiple hits, both for extra bases. Wade hit his fourth triple of the year and his eighth home run of the year, a solo shot in the third. No other hitter recorded multiple hits, and leadoff hitter Jermaine Palacios kept the Twins out of any rallies with an 0-4 night that included three strikeouts.

 

Final: Twins 2, Yankees 4

 

GCL Twins

Gulf Coast League Twins @ GCL Orioles

Box Score

 

Lachlan Wells earned his fifth win of the year pitching five innings and giving up just one run on a solo home run in the fourth. Wells struck out five, walked one and gave up just four hits. He was replaced by Luis Hernandez who gave up three runs on a walk and a hit in the sixth, recording just two outs. He was replaced by Hector Lujan who pitched 2.1 innings of three hit baseball to earn his first hold of the year. Closer Johan Quezada picked up a pair of strikeouts in the ninth, as well as his seventh save.

 

Final: Twins 5, Orioles 4

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Hitter of the Day - Omar Bencomo, Fort Myers Miracle

Pitcher of the Day - LaMonte Wade, Elizabethton Twins

 

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

 

Rochester @ Scranton/WB - Jose Berrios (3-2, 3.38) vs. Kyle Davies

 

Chattanooga @ Pensacola - TBD vs. Cody Reed

 

Fort Myers @ Bradenton - TBD vs. Frank Duncan

 

Cedar Rapids @ Clinton - Randy Rosario (1-4, 4.50) vs. Lukas Schiraldi

 

Elizabethton @ Pulaski - Dereck Rodriguez (5-1, 1.75) vs. TBD

 

Gulf Coast Twins @ GCL Red Sox - TBD vs. TBD

 

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[twinssouth]

So, Levi Michael was back at DH after being out a few games, makes sense. Polanco again was at 2nd and Niko continued to play SS. Humm, wondering what's going on.

[Seth Stohs]

 

You win all of the bonus points if you know who Omar Bencomo is and how he ended up on the Fort Myers Miracle.

 

Of course, people who read the Twins Daily Minor League Reports will get a lot of bonus points... Good for... hmmm... we should develop some sort of points/prizes system here!

[twinssouth]

Just thinking (I know, it's hard) when Michael is fully healthy, he'll probably go back to 2nd where Polanco has been playing. I can't see a platoon. Polanco would have to go back to SS which moves Goodrum out which means the Twins are still committed to SS or find another position (which I doubt) or go to AAA. Interesting.

[Eric R Pleiss]

You can use your bonus points for your first free beer at the next Winter Meltdown!

Of course, people who read the Twins Daily Minor League Reports will get a lot of bonus points... Good for... hmmm... we should develop some sort of points/prizes system here!

 

[benji21]

Anyone know where Palacios has been? He was such a mainstay in these reports. Is he ice cold, injured, or secret option #3?

[nytwinsfan]

Tyler Jay's FIP is now 1.98 with 17 K in 13.1 innings.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Anyone know where Palacios has been? He was such a mainstay in these reports. Is he ice cold, injured, or secret option #3?

 

Last 6 games, 3-26... .115/.148/.154... 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Just thinking (I know, it's hard) when Michael is fully healthy, he'll probably go back to 2nd where Polanco has been playing. I can't see a platoon. Polanco would have to go back to SS which moves Goodrum out which means the Twins are still committed to SS or find another position (which I doubt) or go to AAA. Interesting.

 

My sense, and in talking to some, is that Polanco is going to be left at 2B. Michael may be more of a utility guy, playing all over. I don't know if that's true or not. Could play Polanco at both places too. But, there are less and less who think Polanco can play SS.

[Mike Sixel]

No surprise on Polanco. And so many judged those who said so.

[DJL44]

Maybe it's just the name but Placido Polanco was a very useful player who didn't play much SS in the big leagues. Instead he played 3B or 2B depending on where he was needed. Maybe Jorge Polanco can follow in that mold. That means he probably spends all of next season at Rochester as a utility player.

 

Levi Michael isn't supposed to have the arm for anywhere but second base. My guess is he's also at Rochester next year.

[Seth Stohs]

 

No surprise on Polanco. And so many judged those who said so.

 

I don't know if that's true, but many hoped that he would make some improvements and become an adequate shortstop. 

[drjim]

No surprise on Polanco. And so many judged those who said so.

"Judged"

[Mike Sixel]

Ridiculed, ripped, roasted? Either way, I am glad they have moved him to his long term position. He looks like a legit prospect.

[clutterheart]

Twin need to have Alex Meyer shadow Aaron Slegers to learn how to be over 6' 9" tall and still pitch like a pro

[drjim]

Ridiculed, ripped, roasted? Either way, I am glad they have moved him to his long term position. He looks like a legit prospect.

Also false. You did nothing but repeat what was generally the scouting consensus about his likely outcome.

 

People thought it was worthwhile to give him as much a chance to stay at ss for both value and need reasons. You would think people can disagree without feeling like some martyr.

 

He was always a legit prospect even if he didn't stay at ss. Moving to 2b now probably sets up an offseason trade. Maybe they can get a c or sp.

[bird]

 

Also false. You did nothing but repeat what was generally the scouting consensus about his likely outcome.

People thought it was worthwhile to give him as much a chance to stay at ss for both value and need reasons. You would think people can disagree without feeling like some martyr.

He was always a legit prospect even if he didn't stay at ss. Moving to 2b now probably sets up an offseason trade. Maybe they can get a c or sp.

 

 

My recollection is that most of the discussions about Polanco have centered on the scouting report's revelations about his arm strength, and about the errors, both as indications that he may fail the test as an every day shortstop. The consensus seemed to be happiness that he was being given a shot. Very civil conversations, with only a handful of opinions (thrylos as I recall) that he is the ss of the future, and lots of doubt that it would work out for him.

 

Hardly any ridiculing and ripping if any at all.

[twinssouth]

My sense, and in talking to some, is that Polanco is going to be left at 2B. Michael may be more of a utility guy, playing all over. I don't know if that's true or not. Could play Polanco at both places too. But, there are less and less who think Polanco can play SS.

Good stuff Seth, then Goodrum has appeared to emerge on the radar screen.

[2wins87]

 

Twin need to have Alex Meyer shadow Aaron Slegers to learn how to be over 6' 9" tall and still pitch like a pro

 

"Ok Alex, step one, lose about 10 mph of velocity off your fastball.  Upper 80's is all the velocity anyone should need."

[Seth Stohs]

 

Good stuff Seth, then Goodrum has appeared to emerge on the radar screen.

 

I always believed in Goodrum as a shortstop... that said, he hasn't played there regularly in a couple of years, so that will be interesting to watch.

[nicksaviking]

I really thought Jay would be given multiple innings, even while pitching out of relief.  Man, he's going to take a long time to stretch out and get to a respectable innings workload, he's going to have to be on the same schedule as the guys they draft as HS starters.

 

Levi Michael's .801 OPS is looking optimistic.  It feels a little hallow though as he really doesn't appear to be more than average at any particular thing, save perhaps for taking a walk.  9 2B, 5 3B and 4 HR in 181 AB I guess can equal a .437 SLG, but it sure doesn't feel very impressive. Sometimes boring ballplayers turn into sneaky good ballplayers.

[stringer bell]

What is left at Chattanooga looks to me like the laboratory for utility and role players. Michael and Goodrum, for sure, look like utility guys who could make the majors. Turner is a guy whose glove (mitt!) should get him to the majors despite a sluggish bat. Harrison and Walker could peak as bench or right handed platoon partners. Polanco might end up in a utility role, as well.

[sane]

Friday night in Rochester.

Waldo Arcia and Danny Santana just went  combined Oh-for 12 with four strikeouts, preparing for their September call-up.