Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/27): Del Rosario is Stunning and Rooker Goes Yard

[Eric R Pleiss]

With the big league team spending the day trying to shake off being swept by the Dodgers, the front office has been busy on the phones. The Twins traded John Ryan Murphy to Arizona, full details here, and there are rumors that Ervin Santana, newly acquired Jaime Garcia, Brandon Kintzler and even Brian Dozier are drawing interest from other teams.Find out everything that happened in the Twins minor league system on Thursday.

 

Transactions: Anthony Recker promoted to Rochester from Chattanooga, taking Murphy’s spot, Brian Navarreto was promoted from Fort Myers to Chattanooga to take Recker’s spot, and the Lookouts also added LHP Gabriel Moya (the return for John Ryan Murphy). Twins signed Indy baller Jimmy Kerrigan and have assigned him to Cedar Rapids, and he’ll join the team Saturday.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3 @ Indianapolis 1

Box Score

 

I just don’t even know what to do about Kyle Gibson. He started on Thursday night for the Red Wings and tossed 5.0 innings of 1-hit baseball. He struck out five and didn’t walk a soul. Alex Wimmers replaced Gibson, throwing 2.1 innings and giving up no runs, two hits, a walk and grabbed a strikeout. Michael Tonkin threw in 0.2 innings of scoreless ball but then ran into trouble in the ninth, giving up a walk and a pair of hits to start the ninth before striking out the next batter and being replaced by John Curtiss with one out in the ninth and the bases loaded. Curtiss induced a sacrifice fly to give Indianapolis their first run of the night (charged to Tonkin), and then struck out the final batter of the game to earn the save.

 

The Wings used efficient team play, as they had just seven hits, only one for extra bases, a double, to push three runs across, thanks to a lousy 1-10 performance with runners in scoring position. No Wings player had more than one hit, although Kennys Vargas was 1-2 with a double and two walks, and Tommy Field had a pair of walks as well. Niko Goodrum was 1-3 with a walk and a run scored, plus a pair of stolen bases.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Birmingham 9 @ Chattanooga 6

Box Score

 

The Lookouts played from behind most of the night, despite taking an early 1-0 in the first inning. They gave up multiple runs in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings, allowing nine runs to cross the plate. Not a great game for the pitching staff. The hitters tallied 11 hits, six for extra bases and threw in another three walks, led by Carlos Paulino, the nine-hitter, who was 2-3 with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Nick Gordon was 1-5 with a pair of RBI at the top of the order, and former first-rounder Levi Michael was 2-5 with a solo home run, and 2 RBI.

 

Starter Dereck Rodriguez went 5.2, giving up seven runs, all earned, on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. He was lifted for Randy LeBlanc, who lasted 2.1 innings giving up five hits of his own, and two more runs before Luke Bard came in for the ninth, holding the Barons hitless and grabbing a strike out.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 9 @ Lakeland 2

Box Score

 

The two best performances from the Twins system both came in Lakeland on Thursday night as Eduardo Del Rosario was nearly flawless in his Florida State League debut, and Jermaine Palacios nearly hit the cover off the baseball. Del Rosario pitched 8.0 innings and gave up only gave up one hit, one unearned run, one walk, and he struck out four. This is the second time Del Rosario has thrown 8.0 innings on the year, and might be his best start (though a 7.0 inning shutout game with 10K's back on April 25^th is a strong contender as well). Del Rosario turned the ball over to Anthony McIver in the ninth, who ran into a wee bit of trouble and came out after 0.2 innings, after giving up a pair of hits and an unearned run. He was replaced by Andrew Vasquez who struck out the only batter he faced to end the game.

 

Big day with the sticks for the Miracle as Tanner English, Jermaine Palacios and Brent Rooker all went deep as part of a nine-run outburst. Palacios led the way with a 4-5 night that included a solo home run, and three RBI. Zander Wiel also had a nice day, 3-5 with a run scored.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1 @ Peoria 3 (Game 1)

Box Score

 

In the first game of two 7-inning games on Thursday night (making up for a rain out on Wednesday) the Kernels took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first but gave up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning and never scored again. The Kernels were just 1-5 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base. No player had multiple hits, but three of the five hits were doubles, one each from Travis Blankenhorn, Ben Rortvedt and Amaurys Minier.

 

The Kernels got a full game out of their starter Tyler Beardsley on just six innings, saving the bullpen for game two. Beardsley pitched 6.0 innings, gave up six hits, three earned runs, struck out one, and gave up a home run. Beardsley gave up a fair number of hits, but was fairly efficient over six innings, throwing just 80 pitches. Quick game at Dozer Park in Peoria, even for a 7-inning game, clocking in just under an hour and a half at 87 minutes.

 

Cedar Rapids 0 @ Peoria 4 (Game 2)

Box Score

 

Kernels starter Evan Sanders struggled through 4.0 innings, giving up just three hits, but he walked six and gave up four earned runs. He also struck out four. With a fully rested bullpen after the first game, it was time to bring in a reliever and Patrick McGuff got the call in the fifth. McGuff gave Cedar Rapids 2.0 innings of scoreless ball, giving up a pair of hits and recording three strikeouts.

 

After not scoring for the final six innings in the early game, the Kernels extended their scoreless streak to 13 innings, failing to bring anyone home. The Kernels had just three hits, and a pair of walks for five base runners, and were 0-3 with runners in scoring position. Travis Blankenhorn, Lewin Diaz and Trey Cabbage all had singles. Lewin Diaz and Caleb Hamilton walked.

 

E-Twins E-Notes

Elizabethton @ Princeton

Postponed, Rain

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Twins 8 @ GCL Orioles 14

Box Score

 

It takes a lot to blow a 5-0 lead, but after seeing the Twins do in earlier this week, the GCL Twins figured they’d give it a try as well. Up 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third, the GCL Twins gave up 11 runs. A lot of things have to go wrong to give up 11 runs in an inning. But three errors, a passed ball, a home run, a walk, a pair of intentional walks, a walk, six singles and a double will pretty much do it every time. All that before an inning-ending double play. Not a great day for starter Taylor Clemensia who gave up seven runs, but just two earned, through 2.1 innings. Amilcar Cruz suffered as well, giving up four runs, all earned, over 2.2 innings before turning the ball over to Joe Rosenstein who got into the run-giving up game as well, giving up a three spot over 2.2 innings. Dane Hutcheon, mercifully, ended the eighth, and the night for GCL Twins pitchers, striking out the only batter he faced. Hutcheon, you may not be aware, is an infielder.

The GCL Twins did manage put eight runs across the plate, so a couple of guys had pretty solid days, led by Benjamin Rodriguez 3-5 with a double, a run scored and 3 RBI. Royce Lewis was 2-4 with three runs scored. Every other GCL Twins player had a hit, except Roni Tapia, who was 0-4 with a K.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Eduardo Del Rosario, Fort Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, Fort Myers Miracle

 

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Toledo (6:05pm) – Tim Melville (3-3, 2.63)

Birmingham @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) – Fernando Romero (9-6, 2.68)

Fort Myers @Lakeland (5:30pm) – Brady Anderson (4-6, 4.65)

Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (7:00pm) – Domenick Carlini (3-8, 5.40)

Elizabethton @ Princeton (4:00pm) – Bryan Sammons (1-0, 1.83)

GCL Red Sox @ GCL Twins (11:00am)

 

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

 

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[rdehring]

When Gibson had his almost great start last time out for the Twins, I kept saying don't bring him out for the 8th. Seven innings of shutout baseball would be a great night for him and the Twins. Well, Molitor brought him back out and didn't pull him after the first hit, or the second.

 

Maybe had he pitched 7 shutout innings last time out, he wouldn't have been in Rochester last night. And I put that on Molitor.

[clutterheart]

Despite a nice June, Blankenhorn's prospect status is starting to tank.  .235/.337/.404 with 101 strikeouts.  yikes!  He turns 21 in a few days so quickly the "he's young" explanation is fading.

 

Andrew Bechtold is only 4 months older and hitting the snot out of the ball at E-Town.  I think he should be sent up to Cedar Rapids post haste.  This will move Blankenhorn to 2B and there is a huge wave of Middle infielders in the rookie leagues that is looking to overtake him.

 

[Tomj14]

Are we really surprised that Gibson dominated at AAA, he has been pretty much league average or better for the last two months. And after Colon's next start (which will be short again) they are going to have to call Gibson back up. Like I have said many times before I am not a huge fan of Gibson but right now he is the third or fourth best starter the Twins have in their system.

[Jeff A]

Do you know why Gibson was pulled after five innings and 69 pitches?

[Cap'n Piranha]

Let's hope it's because either Colon is retiring or they're close to trading Santana or Garcia for a nice package.

[CCTwinsFan]

 

Do you know why Gibson was pulled after five innings and 69 pitches?

Rain delay.

[Han Joelo]

*I'm making this up, but it sounds good to me.

 

The Braves opened the bidding at Del Rosario, the Twins countered with a GCL prospect, and they settled on Ynoa.  Sad to lose Huascar, but glad Eduardo is still in the system.

[Mike Sixel]

I'll put this here:

 

Jermaine Palacios, SS, Twins: Minnesota is absolutely flush with shortstop prospects. Nick Gordon is the top player in the system and the Twins doled out $4 million to international signee Wander Javier in 2015 (and he’s looking good in rookie ball). From a depth perspective, Palacios falls somewhere in the middle, having spent time at both A-ball levels in 2017. He’s done nothing but hit the cover off the ball throughout his pro career (outside of an ugly 2016 season) with an average of .298. The 20-year-old middle infielder is hitting .324 in 2017 and just recorded his 100th hit in 74 games. Palacios is still raw in a number of areas. He needs to be more patient (15 walks in 309 at-bats), get better reads on stolen bases (12-for-22 in attempts) and get more consistent on defence. If he doesn’t stick at shortstop, Palacios — who’s seen a big jump in his home run output in 2017 — could develop into an offensive-minded second baseman.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/the-prospect-stock-watch-bichette-locastro-palacios/

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

When Gibson had his almost great start last time out for the Twins, I kept saying don't bring him out for the 8th. Seven innings of shutout baseball would be a great night for him and the Twins. Well, Molitor brought him back out and didn't pull him after the first hit, or the second.

Maybe had he pitched 7 shutout innings last time out, he wouldn't have been in Rochester last night. And I put that on Molitor.

 

That may be right, though they weren't going to send down Santana, Berrios or Mejia. Garcia gets a spot, and if Colon didn't want to retire, he wasn't an option... So, maybe it was going to be Gibson regardless... Only other option (sticking with the assumption that the first five starters were givens), is putting Gibson in the bullpen and sending down Busenitz or Pressly. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Despite a nice June, Blankenhorn's prospect status is starting to tank.  .235/.337/.404 with 101 strikeouts.  yikes!  He turns 21 in a few days so quickly the "he's young" explanation is fading.

 

Andrew Bechtold is only 4 months older and hitting the snot out of the ball at E-Town.  I think he should be sent up to Cedar Rapids post haste.  This will move Blankenhorn to 2B and there is a huge wave of Middle infielders in the rookie leagues that is looking to overtake him.

 

Blankenhorn made the move over to 2B for the 2nd half (after the made their 4 promotions). He's been playing there most every day with guys like Jernigan and Cabbage and Hamilton splitting time at 3B. 

 

I don't think his prospect status has fallen a whole lot, if any. And, Blankenhorn crushed the snot out of the ball at E-Town a year ago, so using Bechtold's E-Town numbers aren't terribly meaningful on their own.

[PDX Twin]

"Kernels starter Evan Sanders struggled through 4.0 innings"

 

I didn't realize we had a Kernel Sanders in the system.

[Dman]

 

Despite a nice June, Blankenhorn's prospect status is starting to tank.  .235/.337/.404 with 101 strikeouts.  yikes!  He turns 21 in a few days so quickly the "he's young" explanation is fading.

 

Andrew Bechtold is only 4 months older and hitting the snot out of the ball at E-Town.  I think he should be sent up to Cedar Rapids post haste.  This will move Blankenhorn to 2B and there is a huge wave of Middle infielders in the rookie leagues that is looking to overtake him.

I'm not ready to give up on Blankenhorn just yet.  I think he is going to take the Max Murphy route.  It is the long way around but I still think he is going to be a special hitter.  He had great success to start the season so he can do it just needs to change his approach a little.

[jmlease1]

 

Are we really surprised that Gibson dominated at AAA, he has been pretty much league average or better for the last two months. And after Colon's next start (which will be short again) they are going to have to call Gibson back up. Like I have said many times before I am not a huge fan of Gibson but right now he is the third or fourth best starter the Twins have in their system.

 

Not surprised at all that Gibson dominated at AAA. The question is whether Kyle is a quality back of the rotation innings-eater in MLB or a AAAA player. Kyle Gibson is a tease. Game Score actually illustrates the problem with Kyle Gibson pretty nicely: overall this season he clocks in at 41. a couple of times per month he'll put together a start that will score in the mid-upper 50's and you'll start to think he's figuring it out...and then he'll turn in another game score of 15. (aka, brutal)

 

He was awful for the first two months, roughly average the last two. The consistency just isn't there and he's nearly 30. He was like this last year too. One terrific start mixed in with 2 below average ones and a disaster. Next year he's arbitration eligible and despite his poor performance over the last 2 seasons, would still somehow be in line for a raise (arbitration is a silly system) to at least $5M, maybe $6M. I just don't see the value.

 

Conclusion: Kyle Gibson is a AAAA pitcher.

[Seth Stohs]

 

"Kernels starter Evan Sanders struggled through 4.0 innings"

 

I didn't realize we had a Kernel Sanders in the system.

 

Oh my... he came up like 4-5 weeks ago, and this is just become a thing... but this is one of the greatest comments I've ever read on Twins Daily!!

[ScooterDance]

 

"Kernels starter Evan Sanders struggled through 4.0 innings"

 

I didn't realize we had a Kernel Sanders in the system.

I legitimately LOL / snorted. And yes, snot shot out of my nose. While sitting in a starbucks. And I'm not even ashamed, because that was awesome.

[Bob Sacamento]

Brusdar Graterol called up to Etown

[rdehring]

Brusdar Graterol called up to Etown

Does this kid have true ACE potential, Bob?

[Bob Sacamento]

Does this kid have true ACE potential, Bob?

Yes, high octane fastball that sits 97-98 comfortably into the 4th/5th with life along with a slider that's 87-89 with sharp break. He still has to work on his curve and develop a changeup along with his overall command. Definitely alot to like about the kid. He is a max effort guy like alot od the kids are nowadays, just to give you an idea his warmup pitches are 94-96.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Brusdar Graterol called up to Etown

 

Like it a lot!

[Eric R Pleiss]

 

"Kernels starter Evan Sanders struggled through 4.0 innings"

 

I didn't realize we had a Kernel Sanders in the system.

I've failed as a blogger for not diving into this.  

[mikelink45]

Gibson raises a different question for me - one I wrote too much about last year - what good are our pitching coaches?  Our young pitchers struggle too much when they get to MLB.  Other systems get some really good results when young pitcher jump in to the majors, but our fail rate (or at least the rate by which we get underwhelming performances) is too high and has been for a while.  

 

We have not heard much about our pitching coach and the new system, but I note that everything we do seems to be reaching into the waste basket of baseballs waiver bin instead of progressing more of our own. 

 

I have no answer for Gibson but I would like to see how he does in another system.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Gibson raises a different question for me - one I wrote too much about last year - what good are our pitching coaches?  Our young pitchers struggle too much when they get to MLB.  Other systems get some really good results when young pitcher jump in to the majors, but our fail rate (or at least the rate by which we get underwhelming performances) is too high and has been for a while.  

 

We have not heard much about our pitching coach and the new system, but I note that everything we do seems to be reaching into the waste basket of baseballs waiver bin instead of progressing more of our own. 

 

I have no answer for Gibson but I would like to see how he does in another system.

No question, the Twins need a new minor league pitching coordinator with the new regime.  Eric Rasmussen is too much like the old boys in charge.  In that same breath Cliburn needs shown the door as well