Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/18): Wiel, Gordon Stay Hot as Lookouts Sweep Doubleheader

[Eric R Pleiss]

The Cedar Rapids Kernels had their game postponed for the fifth consecutive day as the wild springtime weather continues to batter the Midwest. The rest of the Minor League affiliates were in action, and there is plenty to be excited about from Wednesday’s games.

 

To find out how all your other favorite Minnesota Twins prospects fared on Tuesday night, read on!TRANSACTIONS

 

LHP Andrew Vasquez assigned to Chattanooga Lookouts from Fort Myers Miracle.

RHP Carlos Suniaga assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from GCL Twins.

RF Alex Robles assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from Elizabethton Twins.

Fort Myers Miracle placed 3B Brandon Lopez on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 17, 2018.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Charlotte 9, Rochester 2

Box Score

 

The game was pretty much over when Red Wings starter Myles Jaye was lifted after three innings. He gave up eight hits and six runs, all earned. He walked three and struck out just two of the 19 batters he faced. Ryne Harper pitched the next two innings, giving up just a single run on three hits. Matt Magill came in next and was the only Rochester pitcher to not give up any runs on Wednesday night, pitching two scoreless innings. He walked no one and struck out four Charlotte Knights. Mason Melotakis pitched the final inning, he gave up two runs (one earned) on a pair of hits. He walked none and struck out one.

 

The hitting was not great on Wednesday night and the Red Wings managed just five hits, with four coming from the 6-7-8 hitters. Leonardo Reginatto was the only batter with multiple hits, and he did all he could, slapping a couple of doubles and scoring a run. Kennys Vargas hit a home run in the clean up spot as part of a 1-for-4 night. The Red Wings 1-2-3 hitters were 0-for-11 with four strike outs and just one walk.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 12, Jacksonville 4 (Game 1)

Box Score

 

In the first game of the double header the Lookouts scored three runs in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings to keep the game out of reach. The Looks were led by Zander Wiel, Tuesday night’s hero, who was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, a home run, three RBIs and a walk. What a night! LaMonte Wade has a nice game as well, he was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, including a triple, a home run, and a walk, collecting two RBIs. Nick Gordon, Edgar Corcino and Sean Miller all had multiple hits as well.

 

The Lookouts did enough with their bats to give starter Stephen Gonsalves plenty of room to work with. Gonsalves pitched six full innings, giving up three earned runs. He walked two and struck out eight, and also gave up a couple of home runs. Gonsalves moved to 2-0 on the year and his ERA is 1.76. Cody Stashak came on for the seventh inning and gave up a run on two hits with the game already out of hand.

 

Chattanooga 3, Jacksonville 2 (Game 2)

Box Score

The Lookouts saved just enough runs to win the second game of the doubleheader, coming from behind to win a 3-2 ballgame. Nick Gordon was 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Brian Navarreto had a nice game as well, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Tanner English added the other RBI on a sac fly as part of a 1-for-1 night, hitting ninth. Zander Wiel struggled in the second game, he was 0-for-3 with three strike outs.

 

Ryan Eades pitched 3 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out six before being lifted for Omar Bencomo. Bencomo picked up the win with the Lookouts scoring late, he pitched 3 1/3 innings, gave up four hits and a run. He walked none and struck out four.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Dunedin 8, Fort Myers 4

Box Score

 

Fort Myers led the game 4-1 after four and a half innings, but gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, and then five runs in the seventh to fall to the Dunedin Blue Jays. Starter Anthony Marzi went 4 1/3 innings, and scattered seven hits, and three runs. He walked two, struck out five, and left the game with a lead. Colton Davis gave up three runs in just 1 2/3 innings on three hits, and two walks. He struck out one and was tagged with the loss. Ryan Mason pitched the final two innings, giving up a couple runs of his own on two hits. He walked one and struck out four.

 

Jimmy Kerrigan was 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI to lead the way for the Miracle. Alex Perez was the only other batter with multiple hits, 2-for-5 with three strike outs. Jaylin Davis reached base four times with a 1-for-2 night that included three walks. The Miracle were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 base runners.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – Postponed, Inclement Weather

 

The Kernels and the Snappers game will be made up as part of the Kernel’s HOME series against Cedar Rapids in June as this is the last trip that the Cedar Rapids makes to Beloit in the first half of the season. Because of terrible weather in the Midwest, the Kernels haven’t played since Friday.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Matt Magill, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester - OFF

Chattanooga (6:15pm Central) – Lewis Thorpe (0-1, 5.40)

Fort Myers (5:30pm Central) – Tyler Wells (1-0, 2.00)

Cedar Rapids (Double header, 4:00pm Central) – Game 1: Blayne Enlow (0-0, 2.08), Game 2: Tyler Watson (1-0, 1.69)

 

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

 

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[glunn]

Great wrapup!

[Tuba]

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

[launchingthrees]

 

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

 

 

 

This was my first thought as well.

Edited April 19, 2018 by launchingthrees

[rdehring]

You didn't mention the biggest hit for Chattanooga, Eric.  Rooker didn't have multiple hits, but he did hit his first home run of the year.  Then 1-for-3 in the nightcap for a very positive day at the plate.

 

Maybe that will be the start of his getting his bat going at AA.

 

 

[puckstopper1]

Nice to see the Lookouts cook the Jumbo Shrimp in the DH sweep!

[Darius]

Come September, if they don't force the Twins hand before then (or, God forbid, serious injury from a current starter), getting guys like Gordon, Gonsalves, and Romero is going to be like adding talent at the trade deadline.

 

There is a bunch of quality depth right now. I never thought I'd say that about this organization.

[Han Joelo]

 

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

 

I was thinking about this as well.  Theory:  Consider that on average, MLB teams use about 10 different starting pitchers in a given season.  So in addition to the trickle down effect that has on a minor league system, you have to figure each Milb team needs to plan for more than 5 starters.  Probably not 10; I would assume as part of that MLB 10 you are dealing with both injuries  and ineffectiveness, where with the Milb teams, you'd mostly plan have to worry about injuries.

 

Bottom line, a couple of injuries at each level, and next thing you know you've got a whole system out of whack.  Miles Jaye is pitching at AAA so that [insert name of 18 year old in EST] does not get thrown in A ball before they are ready.

 

Also, as you consider my theory, remember what Jack Handey said--"I think one of the first signs your radarscope is going out is something I call 'image fuzz out.'  But I've never actually seen a radarscope, so don't totally go by what I am saying here."

[Seth Stohs]

The best Twins minor league news I heard yesterday came on Instagram. I was on Mariana's live instagram chat, and Luis Arraez came on and told us that he is supposed to be activated and play for the Miracle starting tonight! 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

You didn't mention the biggest hit for Chattanooga, Eric.  Rooker didn't have multiple hits, but he did hit his first home run of the year.  Then 1-for-3 in the nightcap for a very positive day at the plate.

 

Maybe that will be the start of his getting his bat going at AA.

 

 

 

I had tweeted that he "Mashed" his first homer of the year. Chris was at the game. Hopefully one wind-aided homer will get him going!

 

Also, Zander Wiel had the walk off the night before. He had doubles in his first two at bats in Game 1. Then his third at bat, he drilled another ball down the third base line. The left fielder had some issues with it and Wiel just kept running for an inside-the-park home run. He's been on fire. 

[mikelink45]

With Morrison and Grossman stinking in MLB it has me thinking again about the great Vargas debate - would we really be worse off if we had put him at DH and not signed Morrison?  Just wondering.  

​Also wondering why Gordon is not getting some MLB time while Polanco is out?   

 

With Grossman looking so bad in the field (and at bat) I wonder if Granite or Wade might not look good on the big club?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

I don't know much about him. I was a bit surprised to see him on the roster with both of those guys in AA. I'm assuming (perhaps I'm wrong) that he's org filler. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's released at some point to make room. As it is, there are several deserving guys in AA for what amounts to one AAA spot. That will probably change due to DL stints at the major league level, so it isn't a bad way to start, but both Gonsalves and Littell did well in AA last year. I've got to think both will be in AAA sooner than later.

[howieramone2]

 

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

Where they start is unimportant, where they end is. It could be as simple as better weather down south.

[youngpadawan]

With the major league outfield banged up, I would like to see Wade come up. He takes professional at bats and would be a definite upgrade over Grossman or Adrianza in the OF. LaMarre should be playing over Grossman in the outfield, as well.

[Mike Sixel]

With the major league outfield banged up, I would like to see Wade come up. He takes professional at bats and would be a definite upgrade over Grossman or Adrianza in the OF. LaMarre should be playing over Grossman in the outfield, as well.

Great user name, btw.

 

I'd probably promote Granite if they need someone, and move Wade and Gordon to Rochester.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Great user name, btw.

I'd probably promote Granite if they need someone, and move Wade and Gordon to Rochester.

 

Yup,, Granite's on the 40-man roster already (as is Jake Cave). Both are hitting under .200 in Rochester right now, but that's pretty unimportant at this point. 

 

Gordon's off to a start again, just like he was last year, and Wade is Wade. Great PAs, walks, solid all around. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

 

I don't know with certainty, but this is pretty normal around minor league baseball early in the season. All those guys that were signed to minor league deals with big league invites go somewhere. They don't want to lose them right away, so they just make room. Obviously if Gonsalves and Littell pitch well, they'll move up. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

With Morrison and Grossman stinking in MLB it has me thinking again about the great Vargas debate - would we really be worse off if we had put him at DH and not signed Morrison?  Just wondering.  

​Also wondering why Gordon is not getting some MLB time while Polanco is out?   

 

With Grossman looking so bad in the field (and at bat) I wonder if Granite or Wade might not look good on the big club?

 

Regarding Vargas/Grossman/Morrison... I wasn't as big of a fan of the Morrison signing as most around here, but if Vargas is the alternative, I don't get too excited about that. Would he be doing better than a guy who's started out 4-46 or something? Sure. Grossman's like 1-23 since his opening day hit. But I'd take both of them over Vargas. Vargas is good depth. 

 

Regarding Gordon... 1.) There's no reason to bring him up unless he's ready - and based on his 2nd half last year, defensive question marks and ability to hit LHP last year, there's no reason for them to think that, 2.) He's not on the 40-man roster and no need to put him there yet. 

[FormerMinnasotan]

I wonder why Myles Jay is getting starts at AAA while Gonsalves and Littell are stuck in AA.

I agree as well. In fact I also feel Dietrich Enns should be moved from Rochester’s rotation as well, that would make room for both Gonsalves and Littell. I don’t see any point in Jaye and Enns taking rotational spots away from Gonsalves and Littell.