Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/30): Walker Walkoff Highlights Night

[Seth Stohs]

My Fourth of July weekend started a bit early. A little much-needed time off from my 8-5 job (which has been more like 8-8 the last month) allows me to hang out and relax for a few days. Maybe even ride around in a truck in the woods, looking for a deer friend. Sorry! But hey, the Twins minor leaguers still play ball, and we at Twins Daily will still cover it.

 

They gave us plenty to talk about on Thursday night. Adam Brett Walker lived up to his twitter handle (@walkoff28) with a HUGE homer in Game 1 tonight for the Red Wings. A couple of Twins' second-round picks had real solid games in Ft. Myers, where another starter has quietly had a solid season. Chattanooga played and it was still June, so of course Daniel Palka homered, again. And another 2016 pick played in his first professional game.All that, and much more, in today’s Twins Minor League Report.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Game 1 - Rochester 5, Pawtucket 1 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

I think we know that Adam Brett Walker is what he is on the baseball field, and sometimes that works out really, really well for his team. Game 1 on Thursday was one of those times. He came up big with the walk off grand slam.

 

 

The Red Wings had just five hits in the game. James Beresford went 2-4 with his 11th double. Logan Schafer hit his first Red Wings triple.

 

Andrew Albers was very good as well. The lefty gave up one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out three and didn’t issue a walk. JT Chargois gets the win after a perfect, two-strikeout inning.

 

Game 2 - Rochester 1, Pawtucket 6

Box Score

 

There was a different, less exciting script in the second game of the doubleheader, especially for the Red Wings. Nick Greenwood gave up four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out four without a walk. Ryan O’Rourke came on with a runner on in the sixth and got one out, on a strikeout. However he gave up an intentional walk and a hit and both runners scored. David Martinez got the final out of the sixth and worked through the seventh.

 

Eddie Rosario went 2-3 with his 14th double. Miguel Sano added a double. Tommy Field hit his first Red Wings triple. Stephen Wickens was also 2-3.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 7, Pensacola 3

Box Score

 

The Lookouts had a touchdown and PAT and held Pensacola to just a field goal for the Thursday night win.

 

Ryan Eades improved to 5-3 with six strong innings. He gave up just one run on four hits. He walked three and struck out six. Jake Reed worked the next two innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and two hit batters. He did strike out four. Mason Melotakis struck out two in a perfect ninth inning.

 

Daniel Palka ended an incredible June with yet another homer, his 20th of the season and two RBI. He ends June with 13 homers and 30 RBI in the month. Not too shabby. Shannon Wilkerson entered the game in center field, replacing Zach Granite (who went 1-2). Wilkerson went 2-3 with his seventh double and his second home run. It was a two-run blast to give the Lookouts a cushion in the eighth inning. Dalton Hicks went 2-4 with his 16th double. Ryan Walker was 2-4. Stuart Turner had a single, and he also stole his first two bases of the season.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Palm Beach 0

Box Score

 

Keaton Steele is the least known of the Miracle rotation, but he has quietly put together a solid season. He had one of his best starts on Thursday night. He threw 6.2 shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out two. He is now 4-6 but has a solid 3.66 ERA.

 

Steele was replaced by Luke Bard who got the next four outs. Mike Theofanopoulos came in for the ninth inning. He gave up one hit, but he recorded his first Florida State League save.

 

Joe Maloney led the offense. He went 2-4 and also stole his first two bases with the Miracle. AJ Murray notched his third triple. Nick Gordon recorded the lone RBI on a single.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Quad Cities 6

Box Score

 

Eduardo del Rosario started and worked six innings. However, he gave up six runs on six hits (two homers). He walked three and struck out four. Anthony McIver and Cameron Booser each worked scoreless innings. Booser did so while walking one and giving up one hit.

 

Luis Arraez continued to hit. He went 2-4. Nelson Molina, batting third, went 2-4 with his fifth double. Zander Wiel added an RBI double, his 15th of the year.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 1, Pulaski 3

Box Score

 

Travis Blankenhorn gave the E-Twins a 1-0 lead in the first inning with his third homer of the season. But that was it in terms of runs scored. Jaylin Davis was 1-3 and had a walk. Lewin Diaz added his third double. Alex Kiriloff batted sixth again, but this time, he played left field. He went 1-4. Brandon Lopez made his professional debut. He signed a little later since Miami was playing in the College World Series. He went 1-3 with a walk. He batted fifth and played shortstop.

 

Domenick Carlini actually pitched pretty well, but a couple of errors led to a couple of unearned runs, and he took the loss. He gave up the two unearned runs on just one hit. He walked two and struck out one. Hector Lujan went the final three innings. He gave up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out two.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 2, GCL Orioles 0

Box Score

 

Bo Hellquist, a non-drafted free agent from Savage (Burnsville HS) and Minnesota-Duluth, made his pro debut. The crafty lefty threw 4.1 scoreless innings before meeting his pitch limit. He gave up three hits, walked none and struck out five. Daniel Martinez struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings to record his first win. Callan Pearce struck out three over two shutout innings. Garrett Kelly recorded his first save. He struck out two in a perfect ninth.

 

Akil Baddoo led off and went 2-4 with his first stolen base. Jose Miranda went 2-3 with a walk and his first stolen base. He also drove in both Twins runs. Australian Aaron Whitefield went 2-4. Jorge Munoz went 1-3 with a walk and his first steal. Manuel Guzman, in his first rehab game, went 1-3 with a with a stolen base.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Keaton Steele, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Shannon Wilkerson, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler

Chattanooga @ Pensacola (6:30 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Jupiter @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) - TBD

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:00 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

Pulaski @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Red Sox @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - RHP Miguel de Jesus

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

 

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[curt1965]

Great picture, Seth! How did you get the deer to cooperate?

[diehardtwinsfan]

13 home runs in June?  That's insane.

[Major League Ready]

How much if a liability is Palka defensively in the OF?  I cant find a scouting report that is not 3 years old.  Is he a DH / 4th outfielder at the ML level or can he play acceptable OF defense?

 

Mauer has 2 year left.  Maybe Palka spends next year in AAA and eventually replaces Mauer.  Is the IF at the end of next year Sano / Vielma / Polanco / Palka?  That could be good provided this came with good returns for Dozier and Nunez.

 

Edited July 1, 2016 by Major Leauge Ready

[Seth Stohs]

 

Great picture, Seth! How did you get the deer to cooperate?

 

We must have seen 40 deer driving around the woods last night in maybe an hour. That one was just kind of standing at the side of the road. My daughter saw it, and I was in the back seat. We got past it and it just kind of stopped, so my brother said, take a selfie with it. It was still just standing there, so I took a couple and then it just calmly walked across the gravel road, in no hurry. Got a few more decent pictures of the deer. Gotta love it!

[Seth Stohs]

 

13 home runs in June?  That's insane.

 

Yeah, i have a feeling we'll have an article written on him in a few days!

[Seth Stohs]

 

How much if a liability is Palka defensively in the OF?  I cant find a scouting report that is not 3 years old.  Is he a DH / 4th outfielder at the ML level or can he play acceptable OF defense?

 

Mauer has 2 year left.  Maybe Palka spends next year in AAA and eventually replaces Mauer.  Is the IF at the end of next year Sano / Vielma / Polanco / Palka?  That could be good provided this came with good returns for Dozier and Nunez.

 

He's not blazing fast, but from all I've read and seen and heard, he sure looks solid defensively. I think he can play at least acceptable defense in the outfield (right field). I haven't seen enough of him at 1B, a couple of games this spring. He looks fine there too, but I just haven't seen enough to know for sure.

 

I think he's got a chance. Like Walker though, the key will be making enough contact.

[nyazbeck]

Palka makes more contact than walker i'm more concerned with Walker hitting .220 at AAA then Palka hitting .275 at AA

[Major League Ready]

 

He's not blazing fast, but from all I've read and seen and heard, he sure looks solid defensively. I think he can play at least acceptable defense in the outfield (right field). I haven't seen enough of him at 1B, a couple of games this spring. He looks fine there too, but I just haven't seen enough to know for sure.

 

I think he's got a chance. Like Walker though, the key will be making enough contact.

Thanks Seth.  Palka is reported to have a strong arm where Walker is said to be suspect in that area.  If he has decent speed he and takes decent routes he might be a big bat without the being a big defensive hole. It pained me to watch Delmon and I don't ever want to watch that again.  I hope this guy turns out to be a surprisingly good transaction.  His K rate is quite a bit less than Walker but it would be really encouraging to see him improve in that area in the next year.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Major Leauge Ready

[gunnarthor]

Is Trey Cabbage hurt?

[FormerMinnasotan]

I just looked up to see who is pitching for Ft Myers on MiLB.com, and turns out Randy Rosario is pitching tonight meaning Tyler Jay is being skipped. What's up with Jay? Is he injured or is he just being skipped to help limit his innings?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

We must have seen 40 deer driving around the woods last night in maybe an hour. That one was just kind of standing at the side of the road. My daughter saw it, and I was in the back seat. We got past it and it just kind of stopped, so my brother said, take a selfie with it. It was still just standing there, so I took a couple and then it just calmly walked across the gravel road, in no hurry. Got a few more decent pictures of the deer. Gotta love it!

 

I assumed you had plans on killing and eating it... 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Trey Cabbage hurt?

 

He was... they didn't want him to take the 12+ hour bus ride to E-Town from Ft. Myers. It was his back, though not the same injury as last year. He is now in Elizabethton. Should play soon.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I just looked up to see who is pitching for Ft Myers on MiLB.com, and turns out Randy Rosario is pitching tonight meaning Tyler Jay is being skipped. What's up with Jay? Is he injured or is he just being skipped to help limit his innings?

 

He struggled of late, and even more so, it's to limit innings. Nothing injury wise.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I assumed you had plans on killing and eating it... 

 

I couldn't kill it... I rather enjoy eating it though! Ha!

[Platoon]

We must have seen 40 deer driving around the woods last night in maybe an hour. That one was just kind of standing at the side of the road. My daughter saw it, and I was in the back seat. We got past it and it just kind of stopped, so my brother said, take a selfie with it. It was still just standing there, so I took a couple and then it just calmly walked across the gravel road, in no hurry. Got a few more decent pictures of the deer. Gotta love it!

Did you get any decent pictures of you? Duh, that was a silly question. :)

[Thrylos]

1. This is a killer shot.  Really.

 

2. Glad you are jumping into the Palka bandwagon   The Twins first baseman of the future

[FormerMinnasotan]

He struggled of late, and even more so, it's to limit innings. Nothing injury wise.

Ok, makes sense. Looking at Jay I get a sense he could be a very special starter, so since this is his first year as a starter as a professional I think it is smart if he struggles a bit to sit down, rest and learn where things are going wrong.