Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/12): Byron Buxton- Still Hot

[Eric R Pleiss]

It has been more than 24 hours since the last time the Twins lost, which is a pretty big deal here in Twins territory. The Twins MiLB affiliates went 1-3 on the day but they had a couple of nice performances to make up for the poor results.

Continue reading to find out more detail about Thursday in the Twins farm system:RED WINGS REPORT

Gwinnett Braves @ Rochester

Box Score

 

Byron Buxton, heard of him? He hit leadoff for the Wings and was 2-5 with a run scored and a strikeout. He also stole a base. Speed kills, you guys. James Beresford had himself a day, 3-4, with a double and a run scored. Buck Britton, who, I assume, is hoping to capitalize on the excellent alliteration that he shares with Byron Buxton, was 2-4 with a double and a run scored, the only other Rochester hitter with multiple hits. As a squad, the Red Wings struck out six times and walked three times.

 

Rochester starter David Martinez (who?! 2005 international free agent signee by the Astros, bounced to the Texas Rangers MiLB system in 2015 before joining the Twins in 2016) fell behind early, giving up a pair of runs in the first, another in the third, and a fourth in the fifth (which proved to be the game winner) before being lifted. Martinez finished with four runs, all earned, on nine hits, a walk, a dinger, and he struck out five. The bullpen was dominant behind Martinez, giving up just one hit over the next four innings, with 1.1 innings from Dan Runzler, 1.2 from Alex Wimmers, and a scoreless ninth from Buddy Boshers. Boshers, who now owns a 1.15 ERA and could be the next man up if the Twins bullpen continues to struggle.

 

Final: Braves 4, Red Wings 3

 

LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

Pensacola Blue Wahoos @ Chattanooga

Box Score

 

The Lookouts dealt with a mid-game rain delay in the sixth inning, then turned in a strong bullpen performance and nearly put the game into extra innings, making the final out with the game-tying run in scoring position.

 

'Nooga took an early lead in the bottom of the first on a Ryan Walker RBI single that scored Zach Granite, but they fell behind the Blue Wahoos after surrendering a run each in the second and third innings and they never regained the lead. Chattanooga managed eight hits and five walks, but just didn't have enough to overcome that early deficit. Zach Granite (2-5, with a run scored) and Stuart Turner (3-4 with a solo home run) were the only Lookouts hitters with multiple hits. Shannon Wilkerson had a solo home run of his own as well, hitting in the nine-spot.

 

Aaron Slegers was the pitcher of record for the Lookouts, he started and went 4.1 innings with four earned runs off of six hits. He also walked four and struck out three. In the middle of the fifth, Mike Strong took over for Slegers and induced a double play to get the Lookouts out of a jam, but then gave up a run in the sixth, to put Chattanooga down 5-3. Luke Westphal then pitched three scoreless innings of one-hit baseball, giving up a walk and striking out four. Westphal now owns a 1.80 ERA.

 

Final: Blue Wahoos 5, Lookouts 4

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Bradenton Marauders @ Fort Myers

Box Score

 

The Miracle used a three-run seventh inning to secure a victory, despite being outhit 14-10. Of the 10 Miracle hits, five were clustered between just two hiiters, Edgar Corcino (2-4 with a double and a run scored) and Max Murphy (3-3 with a double and a walk). No other Miracle hitter had multple hits. As a team, Fort Myers struck out twelve times and walked just twice, so they're clearly learning from the Big League club!

 

Miracle Starter Keaton Steele pitched six innings of two-run baseball but left without a decision, despite earning a quality start. Brandon Peterson vultured a W to move to 2-0 thanks to that big seventh inning. Brian Gilbert came on to start the eighth and laid an egg, giving up a run and two hits, and walking a pair without recording a single out. Todd Van Steensel came in to save the day with a two inning save, his third of the year. Van Steensel gave up just one hit and struck out three, facing the minimum thanks to a pitcher-friendly double play.

Final: Marauders 3, Miracle 4

 

KERNELS KORNER

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Box Score

 

It does not seem fair to say that a team of young men working as hard as they can to win a game don't deserve a victory, but it sure felt like the Kernels tried their best to give this game away. Up 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Kernels gave up a leadoff home run to the Rattlers' cleanup hitter and then gave up the game winner an inning later to lose in walk-off fashion.

 

The Kernels tallied 12 hits on Thursday evening, two each from Luis Arraez and Sean Miller, and three from J.J. Fernandez, who had the best night in the system (3-4, two doubles, two runs scored, a walk and a strike out).

 

On the bump, the Kernels went with a bullpen game, giving two innings to "starter" Andro Cutura, who walked three and struck out three but kept Wisconsin off the board. Kuo Hua Lo gave up three runs, all UNEARNED, over 2.2 innings, but he walked four along with the four strikeouts he recorded. Sam Gibbons was then charged with a blown save (his first of the year) giving up a run before turning the game over to C.K. Irby. Irby, ever the competitor, made sure to outdo Gibbons, and Irby picked up both a blown save and the loss, giving up a run in the ninth and tenth innings to lose the game. Irby struck out five, walked one and gave up three hits.

 

Final: Kernels 5, TimberRattlers 6 (10 innings)

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Hitter of the Day - J.J. Fernandez - Cedar Rapids Kernels

Pitcher of the Day - Todd Van Steensel - Fort Myers Miracle

 

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

 

Syracuse Chiefs @ Rochester (6:05pm) - A.J. Cole vs. Jason Wheeler (1-1, 1.80)

 

Pensacola Blue Wahoos @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) - Amir Garrett vs. Ryan Eades (1-2 5.70)

 

Fort Myers @ St. Lucie Mets (5:30pm) - Felix Jorge (2-2, 1.38) vs. Scarlyn Reyes

 

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (6:35pm) - Sam Clay (2-1, 0.95) vs. Miguel Diaz

 

Please ask questions and discuss the Thursday games.

 

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[ThejacKmp]

I did not know that two guys could get a blown save together while giving up just one run. I guess it kind of makes sense but I had never heard that before. You learn something new every day.

[Eric R Pleiss]

PS - Photo credit to the amazing Jim Crikket (Steve Buhr).  I don't have the editing skills or knowledge to know how to put that up at the top of the page.

[Seth Stohs]

Travis Harrison (RF) and Shannon Wilkerson (CF) collided last night. Harrison had to leave the game. He seemed fine after the game, but he told me that he'd be checked by a doctor this morning to make sure all was OK. 

 

https://twitter.com/RickNymanSport/status/730908004124626945 

[Seth Stohs]

What Van Steensel did was remarkable.

 

In the 8th inning, he came on with the bases loaded and nobody out. He struck out the next batter before starting a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning. 

 

The ninth started with him giving up a triple. He got a ground out (with the runner not scoring) and then struck out two to end the game.  

 

All of that with a 4-3 lead.  Very impressive!

[Vanimal46]

4th consecutive game with multiple hits for Buxton! If we were playing NBA Jam, "He's on FIRE!"

[SirLoin]

 

4th consecutive game with multiple hits for Buxton! If we were playing NBA Jam, "He's on FIRE!"

 

But....But....  He struck out once.....  

[SirLoin]

I really feel for Gene Glynn.  He must have "Have to Give John Ryan Murphy At Bats" pre-printed on all of his lineup cards.

 

And this "David Martinez" gets starts while Alex Meyer floats aimlessly in nothingness?  Did he pull a Peyton Hillis and sleep with Paul Molitor's wife?

[gunnarthor]

I hope the team doesn't rush Buxton back.  He needed at bats so let's get him some more at bats so he's comfortable.  

[Monkeypaws]

Nice to see Turner heating up. If he could just provide average offense, the Twins catching problem might have a long-term solution.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I really feel for Gene Glynn.  He must have "Have to Give John Ryan Murphy At Bats" pre-printed on all of his lineup cards.

 

And this "David Martinez" gets starts while Alex Meyer floats aimlessly in nothingness?  Did he pull a Peyton Hillis and sleep with Paul Molitor's wife?

Not sure what Gene Glynn has to do with John Ryan Murphy...

 

I tweeted yesterday about Meyer. When he got back to Rochester, he did a bullpen and felt some shoulder fatigue, so they pushed him back. From what I've heard, the hope is he'll make a start next week. 

[puckstopper1]

Nice to see Gordon returning to action.  Hopefully he can stay hot.

 

Buxton could have really sent the TD posters over the edge if he would have came thru in the 9th with a man on and two out.  Unfortunately he did not.  Still, it looks like he is making some strides at the plate and on the base paths.

[puckstopper1]

 

Not sure what Gene Glynn has to do with John Ryan Murphy...

 

I tweeted yesterday about Meyer. When he got back to Rochester, he did a bullpen and felt some shoulder fatigue, so they pushed him back. From what I've heard, the hope is he'll make a start next week. 

 

Thanks for the update on Meyer, Seth.  I was going to suggest they put his face on a milk carton if he had not heard something soon.

[nicksaviking]

Luis Arraez looks like he might be an unheralded and underrated exciting prospect. He's the youngest player on the team by almost a year and he's hitting everything with a really nice 9/11 BB/SO ratio.

 

And the fact that he just turned 19 and he's at full season ball already probably says a lot about what the Twins think of him. The Twins normally keep international signings like him in short season leagues.

[bluechipper]

 

Luis Arraez looks like he might be an unheralded and underrated exciting prospect. He's the youngest player on the team by almost a year and he's hitting everything with a really nice 9/11 BB/SO ratio.

 

And the fact that he just turned 19 and he's at full season ball already probably says a lot about what the Twins think of him. The Twins normally keep international signings like him in short season leagues.

And his double play partner is hitting .186 with a .220 BABIP. This has got to turnaround for Jermaine Palacios at some point I hope. He's also just 19 years old, and hopefully he's using these struggles as a learning experience.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Luis Arraez looks like he might be an unheralded and underrated exciting prospect. He's the youngest player on the team by almost a year and he's hitting everything with a really nice 9/11 BB/SO ratio.

 

And the fact that he just turned 19 and he's at full season ball already probably says a lot about what the Twins think of him. The Twins normally keep international signings like him in short season leagues.

 

Definitely worth watching. Not quite in my top 30, though he's close. Little guy, makes contact, uses the whole field. Second baseman. Worth watching. 

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

I hope the team doesn't rush Buxton back.  He needed at bats so let's get him some more at bats so he's comfortable.  

It is a tough position for the Twins. If they bring him back to early it might just be a half-butted commitment to letting him develop his approach and contact ability. But, the longer they wait the closer they get to the date of gaining another year of S2 control. Would be foolish to bring him up within in weeks of gaining another year. Tough situation. 

[Jeff A]

Why did Cutura come out after two innings?

[jokin]

 

Luis Arraez looks like he might be an unheralded and underrated exciting prospect. He's the youngest player on the team by almost a year and he's hitting everything with a really nice 9/11 BB/SO ratio.

 

And the fact that he just turned 19 and he's at full season ball already probably says a lot about what the Twins think of him. The Twins normally keep international signings like him in short season leagues.

 

Definitely worth watching. Not quite in my top 30, though he's close. Little guy, makes contact, uses the whole field. Second baseman. Worth watching. 

 

So you're saying there's a chance that he's the second coming of Altuve?

 

(He's also Venezuelan, with better comparable numbers than Altuve at the same ages, but obviously, I'm not holding out a lot of hope that this might come to fruition.)

[Seth Stohs]

 

Why did Cutura come out after two innings?

 

He went on the DL today with elbow inflammation.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So you're saying there's a chance that he's the second coming of Altuve?

 

(He's also Venezuelan, with better comparable numbers than Altuve at the same ages, but obviously, I'm not holding out a lot of hope that this might come to fruition.)

 

Fairly aggressive comp...

[jokin]

 

Fairly aggressive comp...

 

Heh-he... yeah... "fairly"

[Jeff A]

Thanks, Seth.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

And his double play partner is hitting .186 with a .220 BABIP. This has got to turnaround for Jermaine Palacios at some point I hope. He's also just 19 years old, and hopefully he's using these struggles as a learning experience.

 

Palacios was quite a bit better than Arrez last year (if memory serves me right).  The fact that both are in A ball right now at that age is on its own pretty impressive.  Palacios got off to a pretty good start, so hopefully he's just a mechanical tweak away from turning it around.

[jokin]

 

Palacios was quite a bit better than Arrez last year (if memory serves me right).  The fact that both are in A ball right now at that age is on its own pretty impressive.  Palacios got off to a pretty good start, so hopefully he's just a mechanical tweak away from turning it around.

 

Plus, Palcios is the one with the huge upside. For further evidence, just look at Arraez and Palcios photographed together, it's like Seabiscuit and American Pharoah.