Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/30): Memorial Day Moves and More Pitching Gems

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Though your local post office wasn’t open today, the Twins' transaction wire was bustling with activity.

 

Congrats to Byron Buxton, who was named International League Batter of the Week. Buxton had an OPS of 1.564 over the six-game period. We’ll circle back to talk more about Buxton in a bit.The first move - though not an actual transaction - was the news that Phil Hughes was being moved into the bullpen and Kyle Gibson will return to the rotation and start on Wednesday.

 

Shortly after that, came the news that the Red Wings were activating Max Kepler, who had been sidelined with a groin strain.

 

Lower down the organizational ladder, the Fort Myers Miracle tweeted that Kohl Stewart would be promoted to Chattanooga tomorrow. Congrats to Kohl!

 

Finally, taking Stewart’s spot in Fort Myers will be Randy LeBlanc, who’s receiving a long-deserved promotion. Cedar Rapids also is sending C.K. Irby and Andro Cutura to Fort Myers to rehab injuries on the extended spring side

 

Oh, and then there was this from Phil Miller: Santana to DL, Buxton up. Yes, Santana injured a hamstring in Oakland on Monday and Buxton will be flying from Indianapolis to join the Twins there on Tuesday.

 

And then there were baseball games today too.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Indianapolis 0

Box Score

 

Jason Wheeler continued to put his 2015 season in the rearview and look like the 2014 version. On Monday, he was dominant over eight shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five.

 

The Red Wings scored in the third inning when Jorge Polanco drove in John Ryan Murphy. Buxton was replaced in the field by Buck Britton in the bottom of the inning.

 

Rochester tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning. Buck Britton walked and James Beresford was hit by a pitch. They later scored on Polanco's and Kennys Vargas' ground outs.

 

Not that they needed them, but Rochester scored four more runs in the seventh inning. Polanco, again, was involved. This time with a one-out double. Eddie Rosario drove in Polanco with a single and Max Kepler singled to drive in Vargas, who had reached on an error and Wilfredo Tovar tripled, driving in Rosario and Kepler.

 

Ryan O'Rourke closed out the game with a scoreless one-hit inning.

 

Polanco's three hits led the charge with two RBIs. Kepler had two hits as did Tovar.

 

The Red Wings start their seven-game road trip with a victory.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga - Day off

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers - Day off

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 2

Box Score

 

The Kernels won in dramatic fashion on Monday afternoon, improving to 29-21 on the season. This is the second consecutive walk-off win for the Kernels and third in the last eight days.

 

Cedar Rapids scored first when LaMonte Wade drove in Sean Miller with a third inning single. Wade extended his streak to 30 straight games of reaching base safely. If he is able to extend his streak one more game, he’ll have reached base in every game in May. Wade added a walk later.

 

The Kernels added a second run in the eighth inning. Zander Wiel hit a one-out double and later came around to score on a throwing error.

 

Randy LeBlanc (mentioned above) pitched eight scoreless innings. In his last six starts, LeBlanc has allowed one earned run in 43 innings (an ERA of 0.21). LeBlanc allowed six hits and struck out six.

 

Michael Cederoth gave up a two-run home run in the ninth inning to blow the save and tie the game. It also set up the bottom of the ninth heroics.

 

Sean Miller, who drove in Sunday’s winning run, singled to start the inning, his second of the game. Miller advanced to second when Luis Arraez drew a walk and later stole third. A wild pitch allowed Miller to score, winning the game for the Kernels.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher(s) of the Day – Jason Wheeler, Rochester and Randy LeBlanc, Cedar Rapids

Hitter of the Day – Jorge Polanco, Rochester

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester at Indianapolis (6:05PM CST) – RHP Jose Berrios (3-1, 1.61 ERA)

Chattanooga at Birmingham (7:05PM CST) - RHP D.J. Baxendale (4-5, 3.06 ERA)

St. Lucie at Fort Myers (6:05 CST) – LHP Tyler Jay (3-4, 2.89 ERA)

Cedar Rapids at Beloit (6:30PM CST) – LHP Sam Clay (3-2, 2.47 ERA)

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Monday’s games.

 

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[Deduno Abides]

With Buxton in Rochester and Kepler active, and the way Wheeler has been pitching, an argument could be made that Rochester is more formidable than the Twins. Now that Buxton is coming back up, let's hope his performance in AAA continues with MN.

[Guest]

I don't know how much of it was luck and how much was skill, but the way Sean Miller put himself into position to score the walkoff run for CR was impressive. He took such a long secondary lead off of second base that the Wisconsin catcher threw down to try to pick him off. Instead of going back to 2nd, though, Miller immediately bolted for 3rd and made it so easily that there wasn't even a throw made. Then he scored easily on a WP.

[Han Joelo]

Stewart but not Gonsalves. Unless I missed something? Interesting.

[jokin]

 

With Buxton in Rochester and Kepler active, and the way Wheeler has been pitching, an argument could be made that Rochester is more formidable than the Twins. Now that Buxton is coming back up, let's hope his performance in AAA continues with MN.

 

Don't forget Polanco and Shag-wa

[jokin]

 

Stewart but not Gonsalves. Unless I missed something? Interesting.

 

Coin flip?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Stewart but not Gonsalves. Unless I missed something? Interesting.

 

Numbers are fairly similar. And Stewart was there for 10-12 more starts. Without knowing, they may have had a certain plan for Stewart, or certain things they wanted him to do, or see from him, etc. 

 

Gonsalves deserves it too, and I think it will happen. I'd be fine with 1.) him starting the FSL All Star game in Ft. Myers, or 2.) let him put up some crazy numbers so he can pitch in the Futures Game in his hometown of San Diego. I'm holding on to the hope that that is the reason he hasn't moved up yet. I'd be OK with that. That's what happened with Berrios two years ago.(not that I put them in the same category quite yet, just comparing the situations).

[Han Joelo]

Ok. Sounds good to me. In those lower levels, I suppose there is a fair amount of communication as far as what is going on. I.e. Gonsalves isn't sitting around moping and wondering. Good to see LeBlanc move. His name means "0 ERA" in French.

[Rosterman]

Sounds like the Twins did a hattrick last season when they managed to off Wheeler from the 40-man and have him rebound like he has. Looks like a definite keeper and add-on next season.

[ericberget]

I'm really intrigued by Lamonte Wade. Career .427 OBP is impressive. Does he project to be above or below average defensive outfielder?

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I'm really intrigued by Lamonte Wade. Career .427 OBP is impressive. Does he project to be above or below average defensive outfielder?

 

He's playing CF.  At the very least, that tells me he'd be above average in the corners.  Not the best metric, but the fact he's getting PT out in CF says they like his defense.

[diehardtwinsfan]

So who get the boot in Chattanooga to make room for Stewart?

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm really intrigued by Lamonte Wade. Career .427 OBP is impressive. Does he project to be above or below average defensive outfielder?

 

he's playing CF in Cedar Rapids, and he's capable there. He's just fine. But generally, most think he's a solid left fielder as he moves up. 

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I'm really intrigued by Lamonte Wade. Career .427 OBP is impressive. Does he project to be above or below average defensive outfielder?

 

When he was drafted, the comp that Twins had on Wade was David DeJesus. Had he not been injured for much of the year - and playing a significant amount of time unnecessarily at first base - Wade would have went much higher in the draft.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

So who get the boot in Chattanooga to make room for Stewart?

His spot lines up with Omar Bencomo, so I would assume him. The move wasn't made official til after the Lookouts had sent out their game notes for the day.