Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/25): Gonsalves' AA Debut

[Seth Stohs]

These minor league reports are getting longer, chock full of information on six Twins affiliates; highlights, pitchers, game summaries and more, so be sure to grab a beverage of choice and enjoy. As always, feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

For the second straight day, all six Twins affiliates played and there was a lot of action and some good stories. Stephen Gonsalves made his AA debut. When he was done, he was replaced by a familiar face who has returned to the organization. Tom Hackimer made his pro debut, replacing a former college teammate. Domenick Carlini was also very impressive in his pro debut and was helped by a big prospect from the Dominican. The E-Twins completed a sweep. Miguel Sano played more innings. So much going on, so be sure to read Saturday night’s minor league update.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Louisville 3

Box Score

 

Andrew Albers made the start for the Red Wings. In 5.2 innings, he gave up three runs on ten hits. He walked one and struck out two. He left the game with two runners on. DJ Baxendale was called in for his AAA debut. He came through with a strikeout to end the sixth. He then struck out two more in the seventh and also worked a hitless eighth. 2.1 perfect innings makes for a strong debut. Marcus Walden threw a scoreless ninth inning.

 

Miguel Sano was back at third base on Saturday night. He went 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts before exiting the game in the 8th inning. Adam Brett Walker went 2-3 with a walk and his 8th and 9th doubles. Kennys Vargas was 1-3 with a walk and his 11th home run. James Beresford went 1-3 with two walks.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Jackson 3

Box Score

 

For the last six weeks or more, we have been wondering aloud (in the Twins Daily forums) when Stephen Gonsalves would be promoted to AA Chattanooga. On Saturday night, he made that debut. An honest assessment would acknowledge that it was a bit shaky. However, if you consider that he gave up just two runs over five innings, it was solid. He gave up six hits, walked four and struck out six. He battled. He struck out three in the first inning but gave up a two-run single with two outs. In the fourth, he walked three to load the bases but did not allow a run. He battled, but overall, it was a nice first start for Gonsalves, something to build upon.

 

In the sixth inning, Zack Jones made his return to the Twins organization and the Chattanooga lookouts. He walked one and gave up a hit, but struck one out in a scoreless inning. Mason Melotakis gave up two hits and a walk but struck out three to get out of the 7th inning without a run. Jake Reed worked a perfect eighth inning. With a three-run lead, Trevor Hildenberger was called in for the ninth inning. He actually gave up a run on two hits and a walk but he struck out three to save a 5-3 win. It is his 12th save with the Lookouts and 15th overall. He recorded the save for Stephen Gonsalves’ first AA win.

 

The game was played on a day that ended in the letters D-A-Y, so Daniel Palka hit a home run, his Southern League-leading 18th homer. Zach Granite went 1-2 with a walk and two RBI. Ryan Walker went 2-3. Stuart Turner hit his 8th double and drove in two runs.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Jupiter 1

Box Score

 

Keaton Steele was on the mound for the Miracle and had a terrific start. He gave up just one run on three hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out one. The lone run came on a solo homer. John Curtiss pitched a scoreless seventh. He got two outs in the eighth inning but left with the bases loaded. Todd Van Steensel came in and got the final out of the inning. He struck out two and also worked a perfect ninth frame for his fourth save.

 

Edgar Corcino led the offense. He went 2-3 with his ninth double and fifth triple. TJ White went 2-4 with a walk. AJ Murray was 2-4 with his first Miracle double. Nick Gordon’s 14th double drove in a run.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Beloit 12

Box Score

 

It was a night to forget, for the most part, in Cedar Rapids. However, 2016 draft pick, side-winding Tom Hackimer made his professional debut. But, that was about it for the highlights.

That’s not quite true either. While the Kernels had just four hits in the game, one of them was JJ Fernandez. He hit his fifth home run of the season. Brad Hartong went 2-3. Sean Miller had the fourth hit.

 

Cody Stashak started and gave up seven runs on nine hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He walked three and struck out two. He was replaced by his college teammate at St. Johns, Tom Hackimer. He got four outs without allowing a run. He walked one and struck out one. Cam Booser came in and continued to struggle with control. In 1.1 innings, he gave up five runs (four earned) on two hits and four walks. He also threw three wild pitches. He’s fought through so many injuries, but his mid-to-upper 90s fastball makes him still intriguing. Sam Gibbons got the final two outs on strikeouts.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Kingsport 1

Box Score

 

With this win the E-Twins start their season with a three-game road trip in Kingsport. This was a very well-played game with good pitching and hitting.

 

Domenick Carlini made his first pro start. The lefty who was the 21st round pick from Southeastern Louisiana was on his game. He gave up one run on five hits over six innings. He walked none and struck out three. Righty Tyler Beardsley, the Twins 16th round pick from Sacramento State, picked up his first pro save with three shutout innings. He gave up just one hit, walked one and struck out one.

 

Offensively, Amaurys Minier led the way. The first baseman went 3-5 and each of his singles drove in runs. He had a two-run and two, one-run singles to give him four RBIs. Ariel Montesino went 2-5 to drop his season batting average to .500 (5-10). Jaylin Davis added his 2nd home run of the young season. Shane Carrier recorded his first hit as a pro, a double. Travis Blankenhorn went 0-3 but was on base four times and scored three times.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 0, GCL Red Sox 3

Box Score

 

The GCL Twins were shut out on Saturday morning in their second game. They managed just three hits and no runners advanced past second base. Joe Cronin had a nice day though. He went 1-2 with two walks. Jean Carlos Arias went 1-3 with a walk.

 

Huascar Ynoa made his first start. He was charged with two runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked on and struck out two. Moises Gomez walked one in an otherwise uneventful inning. Zach Strecker made his first appearance. In his inning, he gave up an unearned run on two hits. Onas Farfan struck out four, and walked one, over two hitless innings.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Domenick Carlini, Elizabethton Twins

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Amaurys Minier, Elizabethton Twins

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Louisville @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler (6-1, 2.49 ERA)

Jackson @ Chattanooga (1:15 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers (5-4, 3.59 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Jupiter (3:05 CST) - LHP Randy Rosario (3-5, 3.38 ERA)

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – LHP Lachlan Wells (1st MWL start)

Elizabethton @ Johnson City (6:00 CST) - RHP Ryan Mason (1st pro start)

GCL Twins - No Game Scheduled.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Saturday's games.

 

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[AZTwin]

In the DSL SS Agustin Marte (Age 17) stole 2 bases.  He now has 9 stolen bases in 13 games.

[AZTwin]

Was curious what the record was for stolen bases in that league.  It's pretty stiff competition down there and I only went back a few years.

2015: Randy Ventura (Braves) had 55 SB in 58 games.
2014: Gabriel Meija (Indians) had 72 SB in 70 games (and caught 20 times)

[FormerMinnasotan]

Overall it looks like a successful debut for Gonsalves (much better than Kohl Stewart's debut). I'd suspect as time goes on Gonsalves won't give up as many hits. If I have a concern it'd be his walks (4 in 5 innings). He wasn't great at Ft Myers with his control either. Does that look like something that can be fixed?

[nyazbeck]

I'm not to concerned with gonsalves the move to AA is hard for a pitcher

[clutterheart]

For a while now we have heard that Gonsalves' stats were better than his "stuff." If that is true we should expect him to struggle in AA until he figures it out.

[TwinsTakes-RD]

GCL Twins Takes! I like that!

[roger]

Have always been a fan of Baxendale and seeing him as a reliever is a bit surprising.  Do you know whether this is a change or just breaking in to AAA?

 

Great seeing Murray continuing to hit well after his move up.  Is his defense good enough to project as a potential big league starter?

 

Enjoy your Sunday, Seth.

[Han Joelo]

 Good stuff all around.  It was enlightening to hear the breakdown of Gonsalves game. 

 

I have to admit, I was bummed to see Goodrum go ofer.  Not that it means anything, but he's always been a favorite, and it would have been cool to see him follow up is first game with another loud one…kind of like Blankenhorn has done so far, except this time he had a quietly productive game.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Overall it looks like a successful debut for Gonsalves (much better than Kohl Stewart's debut). I'd suspect as time goes on Gonsalves won't give up as many hits. If I have a concern it'd be his walks (4 in 5 innings). He wasn't great at Ft Myers with his control either. Does that look like something that can be fixed?

 

I'm not concerned... 3 of the 4 walks came in one inning. Likely trying to be a little too fine. That's something you see at various levels. Pitchers think they have to be a little more perfect with their pitches and it doesn't always work. He's got the mechanics and the pitches and the makeup. I'm not worried yet. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Have always been a fan of Baxendale and seeing him as a reliever is a bit surprising.  Do you know whether this is a change or just breaking in to AAA?

 

Great seeing Murray continuing to hit well after his move up.  Is his defense good enough to project as a potential big league starter?

 

Enjoy your Sunday, Seth.

 

Regarding Baxendale I've always kind of seen him as fringy for a starter. But I think with a couple of mph on his fastball (from working shorter outings) to go with his slider, he could be a real solid bullpen option.

 

Murray has a lot of work to do as a catcher defensively. He didn't really catch at Georgia Tech, so he's learning. When I talked to Jake Mauer about him, he said he's a hard worker and is very similar to where Garver was two years ago. That's certainly encouraging.

 

[DarrenVahtra]

Earlier this year there were reports that Gonsalves was actually starting to throw with some velocity, like mid 90's, is that still the case or was that just a hot gun.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Earlier this year there were reports that Gonsalves was actually starting to throw with some velocity, like mid 90's, is that still the case or was that just a hot gun.

 

Probably a little of both. I think he sits more 90-93, but he lets one go from time to time... I know he hit 97 a few times and generally tops out at 94.