Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/27): Garver Powers Lookouts

[Seth Stohs]

Did Jose Berrios make his final start for the Red Wings on Wednesday night? Could his next start be early next week in a Twins uniform? We shall find out. If so, he ends his Rochester stint with a 10-5 record and a 2.44 ERA after a loss in this game. Will JT Chargois get there first? How about Trevor Hildenberger? And, Mitch Garver is making a strong case for a September (or sooner) call up.

 

In #OldFriend news, Doug Bernier hit for the cycle on Wednesday night for the Round Rock Express.Continue reading for much more information on the scores and highlights from the six Twins minor league affiliates on Wednesday.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 0, Pawtucket 3

Box Score

 

For this game, he gave up three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight. However, in the fourth inning, he gave up the three runs on two hits and two of the walks.

 

DJ Baxendale came out for the seventh inning. He had started his bullpen stint in Rochester with 10 straight scoreless appearances before giving up two runs in his appearance two days ago. He gave up just one hit - and no runs - over 1.2 innings. He struck out one. Ryan O’Rourke came in and got the final out.

 

The Red Wings hitters combined for just five hits. Adam Brett Walker went 3-4. Tommy Field had two hits in the game.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 8, Tennessee 4

Box Score

 

Though his ERA went up a little bit to 3.38, Kohl Stewart improved to 5-4 on the season. The right-hander gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out two. Zack Jones came on and gave up one run on two hits and a walk in his inning. Jake Reed gave up a hit and walked two, but gave up no runs over two shutout innings. Trevor Hildenberger then worked a perfect ninth inning (to drop his AA ERA to 0.70.

 

Mitch Garver is making a very strong case for a September call up. The catcher/DH has been terrific for the last two months. On Wednesday night, he went 2-4 with his 25th double and tenth home run of the season. His homer gave the Lookouts a 5-3 lead that they never gave up. Edgar Corcino got things going. Batting eighth he went 3-4 including his first AA home run and two runs batted in. Engelb Vielma, batting ninth, went 3-4 with an RBI.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 7, Palm Beach 3

Box Score

 

Randy LeBlanc posted his fourth straight quality start for the Miracle. It helped them to a sweep of Palm Beach. The right-hander went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. Luke Westphal came on and was charged with an unearned run in the seventh. He walked two and struck out two. Mike Theofanopoulos got two outs, one on a strikeout. Brian Gilbert gave up a hit but got a strikeout to end the eighth inning. Todd Van Steensel gave up a hit in a scoreless inning.

 

Brian Navarreto went 3-4 with two RBI. LaMonte Wade went 2-3 with his sixth double and an RBI. Trey Vavra hit his 15th double. Daniel Kihle added his second double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 10, Kane County 2

Box Score

 

Through his first nine starts for Cedar Rapids, Dereck Rodriguez was 1-7 with a 7.71 ERA. At the time, manager Jake Mauer said that the young man was going to have to figure things out. Since then, Rodriguez has completed six or more innings in eight straight starts. On this night, he went six innings and gave up one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out six. Over those eight starts, he has a 3.44 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 49.2 innings.

 

Max Cordy worked the next two innings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out five. Michael Cederoth struck out three (and walked one) in a scoreless inning.

 

Rodriguez improved to 3-11. Even in his nice stretch these last eight starts, he is just 2-4. On this night, the Kernels’ hitters gave him plenty of run support. Chris Cavaness had the big hit. With the bases loaded, he hit his second triple. All three runs scored, and on a throwing error, so did Cavaness. Chris Ibarra went 3-6 with his first double with the Kernels. Zander Wiel and Nelson Molina were both 2-3 with two walks. Casey Scoggins had a single and two walks. JJ Fernandez knocked his 20th double.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Pulaski 2

Box Score

 

The E-Twins got strong pitching and several key hits throughout this game. Tyler Wells started. He went the first 4.1 innings and gave up one run. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five. Austin Tribby came on and threw 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out two. Johan Quezada gave up a solo home run in 1.1 innings. He had three hits and struck out one. Patrick McGuff picked up his second save for the E-Twins with another scoreless inning. The Twins 36th round pick has now thrown 14.1 innings as a pro without giving up a run.

 

The Twins got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Amaurys Minier hit his fifth home run to give them a 1-0 lead. In the seventh inning, Andre Jernigan hit his second homer of the season to give them a 2-1 lead. Shane Carrier drove in two runs. He was 2-4 with his ninth double. Alex Kirilloff singled in a run. Ariel Montesino went 2-4.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 2, GCL Orioles 3

Box Score

 

Huascar Ynoa fell to 0-4 despite another solid start. His ERA is a respectable 2.96. The right-hander went 5.1 innings and gave up two runs (one earned). He walked one and struck out nine. Zach Strecker came on and gave up one run on one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings. He struck out two. Daniel Martinez gave up one hit in a scoreless inning.

 

The Twins selected shortstop Jose Miranda with one of their supplemental second round picks. On Wednesday, Miranda hit his first professional home run. Aaron Whitefield went 1-3 with a walk.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Dereck Rodriguez, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Edgar Corcino, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Pawtucket (10:05 am CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - LHP David Hurlbut

Ft. Myers - No Game Scheduled

Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons

Elizabethton @ Bristol (6:00 CST) - RHP Ryan Mason

GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - TBD

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

 

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[GMinTraining]

3 - 4 tonight with 3 of teams 5 hits.

 

He could be on his way for that September call up.  Leads AAA league in HRs and on the heals of leading in RBI again.  That would be an amazing 5 years in a row that he could possibly lead his league in HRs & 4th in a row in RBI.  

.360 .420 .629 1.049 [bA / OBP / SLG / OPS] over last 24 games (July)

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160722&content_id=191038540&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

 

[pierre75275]

Duffy and Berrios have to be trading places at this point right? It makes sense, they are on the same rotation.

[clutterheart]

It was old friend Sam Deduno doing a rehab stint who shut down the GCL Twins for a few innings

[Seth Stohs]

 

Duffy and Berrios have to be trading places at this point right? It makes sense, they are on the same rotation.

 

Depends on what happens at the trade deadline and if you think Duffey should make his adjustments at AAA or at the big league level. Either way, Berrios should not make another start for Rochester (in my opinion).

[Seth Stohs]

 

It was old friend Sam Deduno doing a rehab stint who shut down the GCL Twins for a few innings

 

I meant to write about that... I think he threw two shutout innings. It's the second time he's pitched against the GCL Twins in his rehab.

[DocBauer]

Seth, do you have a breakdown of Garver's past two months by any chance?

 

This team has a big hole at catcher going forward. They have nothing at AAA to offer for reinforcement except Murphy. And considering what he's done, performance wise, before, he might still be OK despite his horrific season. Sometimes young guys flounder and then recover. But the Twins also need to find out what they have in him. He wouldn't be the first young player to struggle, injury re-hab or whatnot, then come back to the show and perform better.

 

And while their are some young catchers in the system that offer encouragement, Garver offers the most, and is closest. I don't know if the answer is to bring him straight up or not. But the fact that he's still in AA despite impressive numbers, and a hot spell, and not already in AAA to build toward September and/or 2017 is ridiculous and a huge mistake.

 

Granite, Melotakis and Hildenberger are the same, but I'm focusing on Garver at the moment.

[Seth Stohs]

 

His OPS by month:

 

April: .708

May: .746

June: .728

July: .997

[Taildragger8791]

 

Seth, do you have a breakdown of Garver's past two months by any chance?

This team has a big hole at catcher going forward. They have nothing at AAA to offer for reinforcement except Murphy. And considering what he's done, performance wise, before, he might still be OK despite his horrific season. Sometimes young guys flounder and then recover. But the Twins also need to find out what they have in him. He wouldn't be the first young player to struggle, injury re-hab or whatnot, then come back to the show and perform better.

And while their are some young catchers in the system that offer encouragement, Garver offers the most, and is closest. I don't know if the answer is to bring him straight up or not. But the fact that he's still in AA despite impressive numbers, and a hot spell, and not already in AAA to build toward September and/or 2017 is ridiculous and a huge mistake.

Granite, Melotakis and Hildenberger are the same, but I'm focusing on Garver at the moment.

 

AAA has another catcher that needs to play a lot and salvage himself, in JRM, as well as a clogged DH spot. I don't think there's a big enough difference between AA and AAA to stunt development by staying a little longer. What do you propose to make the puzzle pieces fit there?

[FormerMinnasotan]

Are the Twins still trying to have Kohl Stewart be a sinker ball pitcher still. Honestly I can't foresee Stewart being really good with his k rate being so bad here in Chattanooga. I have herd the past few years the Twins have been insistent that Stewart use his low 90's sinker as his out pitch. To me, I thought when Stewart was drafted he was drafted to be a power pitcher, not a sinker pitcher more reliant on his defense making plays rather than getting a k when needed. I don't really see Stewart being a top of the rotation guy when he has a hard time keeping his k rate at a respectable level, plus while he has slightly better control than Stephen Gonsalves his walk rate isn't that much better than Gonsalves rate. I just wish I could see the Kohl Stewart we drafted as the 4th pick of the 2013 draft.