Article: Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher Of The Month - July 2016

[Seth Stohs]

After reviewing the top hitters in the Twins system in June yesterday, it’s time to consider who the top pitchers were in July. Tomorrow we’ll take a lot at the top starting pitchers, but today you’ll be able to see which relief pitchers performed well in July. There were quite a few solid performances.In case you missed them here are the previous July winners, we named Cedar Rapids Kernels first baseman Zander Wiel the Hitter of the Month.

 

First, a number of relievers worthy of mention:

• RHP DJ Baxendale (Rochester) - 11 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.0 IP,9 H, 3 BB, 11 K
• LHP Sean Burnett (Rochester) - 10 G, 1.74 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 10 K
• LHP Ryan O'Rourke (Rochester - 11 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 12 K
• RHP Marcus Walden (Rochester) - 10 G, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 13 H, 2 BB, 12 K
• RHP Zack Jones (Chattanooga) - 11 G, 1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 17 K
• RHP Jake Reed (Chattanooga) - 10 G, 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 8 H, 6 BB, 18 K
• RHP Thomas Hackimer (Cedar Rapids) - 8 G, 1.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, H BB, 5 BB, 10 K
• LHP Anthony McIver (Cedar Rapids) - 8 G, 2.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 13.1 IP, 12 H, 4 BB, 13 K
• RHP Colton Davis (Elizabethton) - 8 G, 3.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 18 K
• RHP Moises Gomez (GCL) - 6 G, 0.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 15.0 IP, 16 H, 4 BB, 13 K
• RHP Callan Pearce (GCL) - 9 G, 0.73 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, 14 K

THE TOP FIVE RELIEF PITCHERS

 

Number 5 - Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids – LHP Andrew Vasquez - 7 G, 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 24 K

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Vasquez was the Twins 32nd round pick in 2015 out of Westmont College in California. He began in the GCL last year where he walked 15 and struck out 22 in 12.1 innings. The 6-6 left-hander began this season in extended spring training and then started games in Elizabethton where he pitched four games. A week into July, he was promoted to Cedar Rapids. There, he has 15 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Overall for the month, he was 3-0 in the month. Opponents hit .170/.279/.226 (.505).

Number 4 – Rochester – RHP JT Chargois - 8 G, 1.54 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 12 K

 

Chargois has been a regular in these monthly relief pitcher reports. He has had a tremendous year . In July, he pitched in the Futures Game. While that didn’t go so well for him, the regular season games went better. Opponents hit just .214/.250/.286 (.536) against him. The 25-year-old has continued to show good control throughout the season. He recorded three saves in July. The team’s 2012 second-round pick has one big league appearance, but he should be up again in the very near future.

Number 3 – Rochester – RHP Alex Wimmers - 10 G, 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 13 K

 

Wimmers was the Twins 1st-round draft pick in 2010 out of Ohio State. He has certainly had problems through his professional career. He’s had control issues. He’s had Tommy John surgery. Through all the struggles, however, he appears to have found a role and experienced a lot of success in the Red Wings bullpen. Overall, he’s posted a 3.35 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 32 games and 43 innings in Rochester. He was even better in July. Opponents hit just .159/.260/.182 (.442) during the month. He was 1-0 with two saves. He may not be the mid-rotation starter that people envisioned when he was selected late in the first round six years ago, but it is possible that the now-27-year-old can reach the big leagues in the bullpen. He can become a free agent at the end of the season unless he’s on the 40-man roster.

Number 2 –GCL/Elizabethton – RHP Patrick McGuff - 8 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 22 K

 

McGuff was the Twins 39th-round pick in June out of Morehead State. After four games and 5.2 scoreless innings in the GCL, he was promoted to Elizabethton. He finished July with 8.2 scoreless innings for the E-Twins. For the month, he went 0-0 with two saves and 12.1 scoreless innings. He also struck out 22 batters in those innings, a 16.1 K/9 rate. Oppenents hit just .159/.245/.159 (.404) against him. He did give up one run in his first appearances of August to end his scoreless streak at 15.0 innings to start his career.

And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is:

 

Chattanooga Lookouts – RHP Trevor Hildenberger - 11 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 16 K

 

For the second straight month, Hildenberger is our choice for pitcher of the month. He has been a regular on these relief pitcher of the month posts all season, and all of 2015 when he was the Twins Daily Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2015.

He was the Twins 22nd-round pick in 2014 after five seasons at Cal-Berkeley. After spending that summer in the GCL, he began last year in Cedar Rapids where he posted a 0.80 ERA and a 0.64 WHIP in 28 games (45 innings). He was promoted to the Miracle where he had a 3.32 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in 13 games and 19 innings. He went to the Arizona Fall League where he had a 2.13 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 12.2 innings.

He began 2016 in Ft. Myers where he continued to dominate. He posted a 0.96 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in six games before being promoted to Chattanooga. In 32 games (38.2 innings), he is 2-3 with 16 saves. He has a 0.70 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. He has 10.5 K/9 and throws a ton of strikes, walking just 1.4 per nine innings.

At the end of last week, Hildenberger was placed on the Disabled List with right elbow tendinitis. Hopefully it will be a short stint on the DL and he can get to Rochester before the season ends.

There were several very strong relief pitcher performances in July. Feel free to agree or disagree with the order, if you like, but congratulations to each of these individuals on an excellent month of July.

Congratulations to the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for July 2016, Trevor Hildenberger.

 

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[Thrylos]

Good stuff.  DJ Baxendale's July in Rochester was also remarkable (11 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 11 K) and should probably be included in the list

[Seth Stohs]

 

Good stuff.  DJ Baxendale's July in Rochester was also remarkable (11 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 11 K) and should probably be included in the list

 

No question. That was a miss. I added him to the Honorable Mentions and maybe he could be in the 4-5 range. Thanks!

[RedWings5583]

11G, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 10.1 ip, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 12 K. May be a Wings lefty that could have made the list. 

[Gagne Fan]

Baxendale started his bullpen debut with Rochester going 13 appearances without an earned run. In July he only gave up runs in 1 of 11 outings.

Current Rochester numbers are

15.1 pitched, 9 hits, 4 bb, 16 k's, 1.15 era

0.78 WHIP

 

Not bad for a guy who was a starter before his promotion

[terrydactyls]

11G, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 10.1 ip, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 12 K. May be a Wings lefty that could have made the list.

 

Who?

[Gagne Fan]

Ryan O'Rourke

 

This award probably should have gone to the entire Red Wings bullpen. They have been unhittable

[Seth Stohs]

 

11G, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 10.1 ip, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 12 K. May be a Wings lefty that could have made the list. 

 

Wow! Did I ever miss that one!! What a terrific month for Ryan and I missed it. I put him in the Honorable Mention, and he should probably be 2 or 3. 

[DocBauer]

If I'm not mistaken, Hildenberger does not have to be added to the 40 man this offseason. That helps save a spot, temporarily at least, for another prospect to be protected. But it's kind of hard to not think he's deserving of at least a September call up. Unfortunately, there is a numbers game involved, and unless the Twins truly believe he's ready NOW, I don't think we'Lloyd see him until sometime next year in order to look at and protect others.

[ashbury]

I don't think we'Lloyd see him

Don't you just llove autocorrect?

[Mike Sixel]

Hard to understand how Boshers and Milone are on the roster, with all that success in AAA......Milone won't be here next year, let's see what these young guys have.

[Jordan1212]

Looking at our 40 man roster there are 5-7 spots I could easily clear up the likes of Tommy Malone Pat Dean those type bye bye

[twinssouth]

Hard to understand how Boshers and Milone are on the roster, with all that success in AAA......Milone won't be here next year, let's see what these young guys have.

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't agree with you more. Those are some fantastic results. Great to see Zach Jones have a terrific month. When Hildenberger comes back from DL, he should be moved up to AAA his numbers are unreal.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Baxendale started his bullpen debut with Rochester going 13 appearances without an earned run. In July he only gave up runs in 1 of 11 outings.
Current Rochester numbers are
15.1 pitched, 9 hits, 4 bb, 16 k's, 1.15 era
0.78 WHIP

Not bad for a guy who was a starter before his promotion

 

Baxendale has been amazing out of the bullpen, and that is where his future in the big leagues would be.

 

Just interesting (or at least unusual) that the Red Wings have 5 starters and all of them are left-handed.

[Seth Stohs]

 

If I'm not mistaken, Hildenberger does not have to be added to the 40 man this offseason. That helps save a spot, temporarily at least, for another prospect to be protected. But it's kind of hard to not think he's deserving of at least a September call up. Unfortunately, there is a numbers game involved, and unless the Twins truly believe he's ready NOW, I don't think we'Lloyd see him until sometime next year in order to look at and protect others.

 

That is correct. He doesn't have to be added, so there is little reason to bring him up there year unless they had been in contention and brought him up by now.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Hard to understand how Boshers and Milone are on the roster, with all that success in AAA......Milone won't be here next year, let's see what these young guys have.

 

I'd guess that they think that MIlone could have some value in August and if not, I can see them releasing him.

 

Boshers seems to be a different pitcher since coming back to affiliated ball. His breaking pitches look pretty legit. Maybe I'm wrong but I have no idea with them evaluating him. He's not old, so I don't mind them keeping him around at all. 

 

That said, I'd like to see Wimmers and there's no reason (in my non-knowledgeable) head for Chargois not to be up right now. Light should be up in September too. 

 

I'd then push Zack Jones and Trevor Hildenberger (if his elbow is OK) up to Rochester.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'd guess that they think that MIlone could have some value in August and if not, I can see them releasing him.

 

Boshers seems to be a different pitcher since coming back to affiliated ball. His breaking pitches look pretty legit. Maybe I'm wrong but I have no idea with them evaluating him. He's not old, so I don't mind them keeping him around at all. 

 

That said, I'd like to see Wimmers and there's no reason (in my non-knowledgeable) head for Chargois not to be up right now. Light should be up in September too. 

 

I'd then push Zack Jones and Trevor Hildenberger (if his elbow is OK) up to Rochester.

 

Fair on Boshers.....I think we are in agreement here.