Article: Twins Daily Minor League Hitter Of The Month: August 2016

[Seth Stohs]

I can’t believe that it is already Labor Day. For most of our Minnesota readers, that means school starts tomorrow! The Dog Days of August can be difficult in a long minor league season. We saw yesterday how the starting pitchers were excellent during the month. Today, we consider the top hitters in the Twins system in August. Who ended the season strong?

 

In case you missed it, here were the previous August winners:

• Starting Pitcher of the Month, Stephen Gonsalves
• Relief Pitcher of the Month, Jake Reed

While the pitching did seem to be a bit above the hitting during the month, there were several hitters that had strong August performances as well. Congratulations to all of the players mentioned below.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

• OF Shane Carrier (Elizabethton) - .296/.327/.454 (.781). 32-108 with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs.
• OF Jaylin Davis (Cedar Rapids) - .253/.333/.451 (.784). 23-91 with six doubles, four homers and 10 RBIss.
• IF Nelson Molina (Cedar Rapids) - .319/.376/.429 (.805). 29-91 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBIs.
• C John Ryan Murphy (Rochester) - .328/.361/.448 (.809). 19-58 with one doubles, two homers and ten RBIs.
• OF Daniel Palka (Rochester) - .228/.282/.525 (.807). 23-101 with six doubles, eight home runs and 13 RBIs.
• C Stuart Turner (Chattanooga) - .303/.321/.434 (.755). 23-76 with seven doubles, one homer and 12 RBIs.

THE TOP SIX HITTERS

 

Number 6 – Ft. Myers/Chattanooga – 3B TJ White - .312/.360/.473 (.833). 29-93 with six doubles, three triples, one home run and 15 RBIs.

 

 

 

 

White was set to have a big season. At 5-11 and 230 pounds, he is incredibly strong, but he also runs very well. After a few games with the Miracle, he was moved up to AA due to some injuries. He struggled for a couple of months before finally being sent back to Ft. Myers where he again played quite well. He was again promoted to Chattanooga mid-month and has been very good since, much more ready. He’s got power potential, but for such a big, strong young man he gets a lot of triples and runs real well. A high school teammate of Rangers prospect Joey Gallo, White went to UNLV. The Twins used their 18th-round pick in 2014 on him.

Number 5 – Ft. Myers – OF Joe Maloney - .330/.367/.477 (.845). 29-88 with seven doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs.

 

Maloney was the independent leagues player of the year in 2015. The Twins signed the catcher following the season. After a strong showing in spring training, he began the year in Chattanooga. With Mitch Garver and Stuart Turner on the roster, Maloney spent his time at DH and in the outfield. Midseason, he was struggling and was sent back to Ft. Myers where he started slow. However, he took off in August, hitting for average and showing good power in the Florida State League.

Number 4 – Chattanooga – OF Zack Granite - .316/.354/.410 (.765). 37-117 with five doubles, three triples and 14 RBIss.

 

Granite is no stranger to these hitter of the month awards articles. The speedy center fielder has had a terrific season with the Lookouts. He has been everything you would want from a leadoff man. He’s hit for average, been able to get on base, and even shown a little more pop in his bat than he has in the past. For the month, he hit over .300 and displayed his speed with the extra- base hits. He also stole 15 bases during the month. He currently sits at 55 steals for the season. He was also named to the Southern League’s postseason All-Star team this month. Granite was the team’s 14th-round pick in 2013 out of Seton Hall.

Number 3 - Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids – 2B Travis Blankenhorn - .320/.371/.495 (.866) 31-97 with seven doubles, two triples, two homers and 15 RBIs.

 

Blankenhorn has had a very good year with the bat in 2016. He was the Twins tihrd-round pick last year out of high school in Pennsylvania. He split last season between the GCL and Elizabethton. He began this season at extended spring training, in part learning to play second base. He demolished the Appy League and was soon promoted to Cedar Rapids where he has continued to hit. While his defensive position remains uncertain, his bat has kept him in the lineup most days. He had a big month in August, hitting for average, showing some speed and hitting a couple of Kernels homers.

Number 2 - Elizabethton – 1B Lewin Diaz - .333/.381/.564 (945). 26-78 with four doubles, one triple, four homers and 13 RBIs.

 

Late last week, we named Lewin Diaz our Short Season Hitter of the Year. When the season is just over two months, a strong month can propel a guy to such an award. Diaz was terrific in August. He hit for average, got on base and showed the tremendous power potential one might hope for in a 250 pound young man. The 19-year-old maybe should be ranked higher this month, but with playing time split more in the rookie leagues, he has 20-30 fewer plate appearances than others. However, Diaz is starting to become what the Twins envisioned when making him a big-money sign from the Dominican in 2014.

 

Number 1B - Cedar Rapids – 2B Luis Arraez - .425/.444/.487 (913). 48-113 with seven doubles and 18 RBIs.

 

Update - Due to Labor Day and the author of this article apparently began researching for the Hitter of the Month with the B's instead of the A's. Arraez had an incredible season with the Kernels and he has had many multi-hit games. His .347 average led the Midwest League. He became the youngest player to lead the MWL in hitting since Mike Trout. Still just 19, Arraez will advance to Ft. Myers in 2017.

And the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is:

 

Rochester – OF Adam Brett Walker - .269/.314/.537 (.851). 29-108 with four doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 21 RBI.

 

 

 

Walker is not a stranger to appearing in hitter of the month award articles. He’s won a few and ranked highly several other times. In August, he again showed the type of power that he has. While he’ll never hit for a big average, and he’ll strike out too much, he has come a long way since the Twins used their third-round pick in 2012 on the strong outfielder.

As I wrote last week, this is the fourth straight full-season that Walker has hit 25 or more home runs. He and Daniel Palka provided the Red Wings with some massive power in the middle of their lineup. When it comes to pure power, Walker (and Palka) are right up there with Miguel Sano for biggest in the organization.

Walker was added to the Twins 40-man roster last November. With today being the last day of the Rochester season, it is possible he will earn his first big league call up today.

There were a lot of real solid hitting performances in the Twins system in August. While there may not have been any 1.000 OPS months, there were quite a few in the .800-.900 range. Consolidating full-season players with the short-season players can be difficult. So, let me know what you think. Feel free to discuss the winner or any of the mentions in the comments.

Congratulations to the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month for August, 2016, Adam Brett Walker.

 

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[GMinTraining]

Here's to praying for a Call up after today's game.  TD Hitter of the Month and Rochester Team MVP all in last 5 days.  Way to finish strong either way.  

[Rosterman]

Walker NEEDS to come up, if nothing else to meet the coaches, sit on the bench, and see a pitcher or two as a pinch-hitter. 

 

Palka power has come abck down to earth, but he is still a prospect to watch.

 

So, is Diaz the Twins firstbaseman of the future?

 

Be interesting to see where Blankenhorn ends up. Y'know, could he be here to start 2019? Will he still be a third base, or is Trey Cabbage the future for that position.

 

Joe Maloney would do good to find somewhere to work up his catching skills. Would make him a valuable possibility.

 

The total lack of prospects at Rochester shows that the Twins are relying too much on minor league free agents these days, or the few names that were elevated at the end of the season from Chattanooga are just getting a taste. Would hopefully see the entire Chattanooga roster at Rochester and less emphasis placed on minor league free agents, who then come up and take rosters spaces and tread water in the major leagues. Don't get me wrong, great for guys who are looking for that spot paycheck. 

 

Boy, the Twins did raid the indy leagues. Was surprised they did't bring Caleb Thielbar and Mark Hamburger back into the fold!

[jokin]

 

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


 

 

I guess your editor took Labor Day off?

[jokin]

 

 

 

 

Palka power has come abck down to earth, but he is still a prospect to watch.

 

Palka's average came back down to earth in August, but certainly not his power, one more HR than Walker, gaudy ISO of .297 (Walker's August ISO was .269). 

[Kevin]

 

I guess your editor took Labor Day off?

Nope, just tardy.

 

Ed.

[Lonestar]

How did Luis Arraez not make the list?

And if you include those pesky September numbers, shouldn't Mitch Garver be there somewhere?

[Seth Stohs]

 

How did Luis Arraez not make the list?

And if you include those pesky September numbers, shouldn't Mitch Garver be there somewhere?

 

I must have started researching players' Augusts with the Bs and missed the A's because Wow! Arraez was tremendous! Hit .425!