Article: Wednesday Minor League Update (Video)

[Seth Stohs]

Wednesday was a different day at Hammond Stadium, at least from what I've become accustomed to. The Twins are taking on the Boston Red Sox tonight at 7:00 local time (6:00 in Minnesota). So big league players didn't report until after noon.

 

The Twins High-A and Low-A minor league teams took a bus north to Sarasota to take on the Orioles High-A and Low-A teams. So they left early. It was quieter than usual in the morning, but there was still plenty going on including the Orioles AAA and AA teams coming to Ft. Myers to take on those Twins squads.Around 9:30, things got going on the minor league side of things with some stretching for those still around. There wasn't a lot activity. A few pitchers threw scheduled bullpens. Infielders and outfielders did a round of infield. Really, they just got themselves prepared for the noon game.

 

EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING TEAM

 

However, back on the GCL field, the players who will be going to extended spring training were working out. It was a full practice.

 

Pitchers did their PFPs. They worked with the infielders on situational plays. Outfielders took fly balls.

 

They then went through a good round of batting practice. There is some serious talent and potential in that group of young players. The most high-profile prospect in the group is probably 3B Trey Cabbage who has a very nice swing from the left side of the batters box and a lot of power. Well, a lot of power potential.

 

 

When it comes to power potential, first baseman Kolton Kendrick was drafted in the eighth round last year because of it. He hit a few home runs during batting practice.

 

Lewin Diaz was on the field and took mark in fielding ground balls. However, he did not participate in batting practice on the field.

 

You may or may not recognize some of the other names but we will likely hear from several of them during the short seasons of Elizabethton or the Gulf Coast League. A few of these bats will likely wind up in Cedar Rapids at some point.

 

When it comes to power, few had showed more than Jaylin Davis. In fact, if you read his bio in the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook, you'll read that he hit two home runs against Carlos Rodon while at Appalachian State. He was hurt much of last season as he fell to the 24th round and then didn't play last year. A big, strong young man, he hit some balls well beyond the fence.

 

Roberto Gonzalez was the Twins 15th round pick in 2014 out of high school in Orlando. As I wrote yesterday, he worked some with Ken Griffey Jr., in the offseason. He has been fighting a hamstring but he got on the field today. He is very intriguing. When he made contact the ball flew. He probably hit a couple of balls 380. But, he also popped a bunch into the cage. He's got a lot of work to do, but the upside is pretty high.

 

 

Kamran Young was the Twins 21st round pick out of Cal State-Dominguez Hills. He has a strong left-handed swing and launched a few home runs well beyond the outfield fence.

 

But it isn't just about the big guys on this roster. There are some little guys who can fly. Emmanuel Morel and Jorge Munoz are small. Without looking or knowing I'd say they're both around 5-10 and 150 pounds (at most). Munoz is a very talented shortstop. However, in batting practice, he can put a thump into the ball. He didn't have any home runs, but he drove the ball really well. I'm not saying he's going to put up similar numbers in the rookie leagues this year, but he has impressed me to this point more than Jermaine Palacios impressed me last year. (Note, Jermaine Palacios has been very impressive this spring).

 

Jorge Andrade is also small. He's probably 5-9 and 155 pounds. In his final round of batting practice, he uncoiled on a ball and hit it well over the fence in right field.

 

I wrote about Tyree Davis last year, about him being one of the best athletes in the system. Unfortunately he missed most of the 2015 season with an elbow injury. He spent his season rehabbing before heading home to Compton for his offseason. While working out, he said he gained almost 25 pounds, and it looks like it was all muscle. He's very fast, and the switch-hitter will hopefully progress with a line drive swing because he can fly. He also is strong and could develop some power.

 

 

Yesterday I talked to Callan Pearce, in part about his experience in the WBC Qualifier. One of his South African teammates was outfielder Rowan Ebersohn. Though he is not tall (maybe 5-10?), he is stocky and strong. His first couple of rounds were more fundamental but he showed some real good pop in later rounds as well.

 

Alex Perez is a smooth shortstop. He also takes a very professional round of batting practice, spraying line drives all over the field.

 

GAME DAY

 

A little bit about the AAA game against the Orioles AAA Team.

 

Right-hander David Martinez started and went three innings. Another veteran Marcus Walden came on in relief.

 

Jake Reed pitched an inning. It didn't go well. He hit a batter and walked one, He gave up a blooper and a couple more hits. The inning ended with just two outs. He was throwing hard and getting good movement though. Nothing to worry about.

 

Brandon Peterson came on and had a clean, 1-2-3 inning. He struck out the first two batters and got a soft line out to end the inning. Lots of others get mentioned, and throw harder, but few relievers in the Twins system can match the numbers that Peterson has put up the last two years.

 

JT Chargois got an inning at the end. The first pitch he threw went for a double to right (I would argue the hitter was just late on the pitch). He hit a batter and walked a couple. I know he got a strikeout too. Again, nothing to be concerned out. It's not unusual for guys coming back from big league camp to struggle a bit in their first outings.

 

 

Offensively, the AAA team had a couple of home runs. Later in the game, centerfielder Shannon Wilkerson hit a long home run to left field. Earlier, Travis Harrison crushed a first-pitch well beyond the fence in left-center field.

 

 

One last thing that I would point out is that Niko Goodrum played shortstop for the Twins team. He made some great plays and had many opportunities. He looks so comfortable and smooth at the position and has plenty of arm to play there.

 

The AAA starting group, which means little at this point:

 

C: Jairo Rodriguez

1B: Dalton Hicks

2B: Heiker Meneses

SS: Niko Goodrum

3B: Stephen Wickens

LF: Travis Harrison

CF: Shannon Wilkerson

RF: Daniel Palka

DH: Adam Brett Walker

 

Here is how the AA team started:

 

C: Joe Maloney

1B: Bryan Haar

2B: Levi Michael

SS: Engelb Vielma

3B: TJ White

LF: Keury De La Cruz

CF: Zach Granite

RF: Alex Swim

DH: Tanner Vavra

 

In the AA game, the Twins sent lefty Tyler Jay to the mound. He was hitting 95 mph with his fastball and a sharp curve ball at times. He threw four innings. Through the first three innings, he had four strikeouts. The fourth inning started with a triple and two singles. However, he got a double play and a pop up to end the inning. Unofficially, I think he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out four and got six outs on ground balls.

 

Offensively, TJ White and Bryan Haar had multi-RBI games and hits. White crushed a triple.

 

In about the 2nd inning, with Jay pitching, a foul tip hit the home plate umpire in the forearm. After a minute, he finished the inning. The Twins training staff checked on him for awhile in between innings. He came back out and stood there not looking good at all. He went back to the dugout and the game was paused. His day was clearly done. Hopefully he's alright. The umpire in the field ran to his vehicle to get his home plate ump gear.

 

In an attempt to not slow down the game, Tom Kelly stepped out of the Twins dugout and said he would umpire the game from behind the mound. The Orioles manager had no problem with that.

 

The first pitch from the Orioles pitcher bounced, and TK yelled, "Ball! That's too low."

 

Those in the crowd got a good chuckle, as did the pitcher. The inning went by just fine as the pitcher was close to the plate and the batters were aggressive, understanding the situation.

 

 

NOTES

 

I chatted with Brett Lee, the left-hander who pitched well in Ft. Myers and Chattanooga last season. He went to Venezuela in the offseason, but was only able to stay for a couple of weeks. He hardly pitched. Turns out that he ate something that didn't work for him and got really sick. He said that he lost over 20 pounds.

 

However, he worked out in Jacksonville throughout the offseason and gained weight back. After reporting to spring training at 220 pounds a year ago, he was very happy about reporting at 230 this spring. He said he and his arms and legs have felt very strong.

 

Tanner Vavra was back in action today. After missing yesterday after being hit in the helmet on Monday, he played the second half of the AA game at shortstop.

 

TWINS GAME

 

The minor league games finished around 2:30 and now we await the Twins-Red Sox game in 90 minutes or so. The Twins lineup was set, but there was a late change. Darin Mastroianni is replacing Byron Buxton in the lineup. Buxton apparently felt ill and was removed from the lineup.

 

Dozier 2B

Rosario LF

Mauer 1B

Sano RF

Plouffe 3B

Park DH

Escobar SS

Suzuki C

Mastroianni CF

 

It will be a game matching Kyle Gibson against Clay Buchholz. The Red Sox are sending a solid lineup down Daniels Parkway.

 

Betts RF

Pedroia 2B

David Murphy DH

Bogaerts SS

Ramirez 1B

Sandoval 3B

Chris Young LF

Swihart C

Bradley CF

 

On Thursday, the AAA and AA teams travel while the High-A and Low-A teams stay home.

 

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