Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/28): Memorial Day Memories Made?

[Seth Stohs]

Happy Memorial Day to each of you. The Twins have a game in Kansas City. The Miracle and Lookouts each had a scheduled day off as they await more reports on the tropical storm beating up Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Rochester played an afternoon game, and Cedar Rapids played their sixth game against Clinton in just four days. You guessed it. More extra innings. And lots of transactions.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins announced that they have claimed utility infielder Taylor Motter from the Mariners. He will report to Rochester.
• The Kernels made a series of transactions after all of the pitching that was needed in their extensive series with Clinton:
  • First, Akil Baddoo returned to action after missing seven days with a hamstring injury. He told me that missing seven days now made more sense than trying to play through the pain and making it worse.
  • The Kernels added right-handed pitchers Melvi Acosta and Jordan Balazovic from extended spring training.
  • RHP Moises Gomez was returned to the Elizabethton roster (EST).
  • Catcher David Banuelos and RHP Nick Brown were placed on the DL.
• Following the Kernels game, we learned that OF Shane Carrier was promoted to Ft. Myers.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Buffalo 4

Box Score

 

Zack Littell worked a quality start in this game. Unfortunately, the two runs he gave up in the sixth inning proved to be the difference. On the game, Littell gave up three runs on six hits and two walks (and a hit batter) over the first six innings. Tyler Duffey finished the final three innings. He gave up a run on two hits (and also hit a batter). He struck out two.

 

Nick Gordon led the offense. The shortstop went 3-for-4 in the game. He is now hitting .333 (10-for-30) in his time with the Red Wings. Nick Buss went 2-for-4 with his eighth double. Jake Cave added a single and walked once.

 

The Red Wings remain over .500 at 24-23 for the season.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

 

The Lookouts got Memorial Day off and will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the White Sox affiliate.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

 

The Miracle haven’t been able to get too many games in over the last week due to the tropical storm that is affecting Florida and surrounding states. They had a scheduled off day on Monday and the plan is to head to Clearwater on Tuesday.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Clinton 4 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

The Kernels and LumberKings ended a four-day, six-game series in Cedar Rapids with another extra-innings game. After both ends of the Sunday doubleheader went extra frames, the Kernels called up a couple of arms just to help out.

 

Tyler Watson made the start. He gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five. Jordan Balazovic was added to the roster before the game. The Canadian was terrific. He gave up three walks over his 3 2/3 innings of work. He gave up no runs, no hits and struck out five. Carlos Suniaga came on and gave up two earned runs. One came in the ninth inning to tie the game, and the other came in the tenth inning which proved to be the losing run. Both runs were unearned. He struck out three.

 

The Kernels got an nice game from Jose Miranda. He went 3-for-4 with his sixth double. Alex Kirilloff went 2-for-4 with a walk and his eighth home run. Shane Carrier, drove in two runs. Following the game, he was promoted to Ft. Myers. Jordan Gore added a walk and a single.

 

Regarding Carrier, he had been slumping about a week ago. Teammate Edwar Colina offered a suggestion. He encouraged Carrier to shave his beard. Weird, right? Well, a year ago, Carrier was struggling at E-Town, and he shaved. He then went on a long hitting streak, didn’t get a hit in one game, and then went on a longer hitting streak that carried into his return to the Kernels. Carrier tried it, and almost everything he’s been hitting since has been hit very hard.

 

The Kernels are now 23-25 on the season as they await Wisconsin for a home series.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Jose Miranda, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 2B(6))

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Jordan Balazovic, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K - Midwest League debut)

 

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - Scheduled Day Off.

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - Did Not Pitch

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 3-4, R

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, BB, HR(8), R, RBI

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - No Game

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-5, 3 K

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HBP

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - No Game

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) - Per Doogie Wolfson, could come off the DL as soon as Tuesday.

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Play

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#18 - Yunior Severino (Extended Spring Training)

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - No Game

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - Disabled List, still no official timetable for return.

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Birmingham (6:05 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (4-1, 2.39 ERA) Chattanooga @ Birmingham (7:05 CST) - TBD

Ft. Myers @ Clearwater (6:00 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (1-3, 2.93 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.84 ERA)

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have.

 

Click here to view the article

[AZTwin]

Congrats to Carrier. Well deserved and gives Pearson an opportunity to play more at Cedar Rapids

[ashbury]

Was it stated elsewhere what kind of injury Bañuelos has?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Was it stated elsewhere what kind of injury Bañuelos has?

 

The press release said "lower back strain." Quotations are mine.

 

 

[benji21]

I am so excited about Kiriloff. I’m not one who cares tooo much when he gets promoted, just that this kid is absolutely mashing! Love this pick. One no hit game in the last like, what, month??

 

As for the top prospect roundup format, I know some like the full listing, but I liked the old way. If the prospect wasn’t listed I just assumed he had the day off. Just my $.02. Thanks Seth!

[puckstopper1]

The Kernels Box Score links to the wrong game...

[mikelink45]

Nice report.  I do like all the prospects listed.  It helps an old brain remember what is happening to the players on the list.  But it also makes me curious - when do you do an adjustment and drop and add players to the prospect list?

 

Gordon keeps hitting and the Twins need hitting - any way we can combine these two?

[Seth Stohs]

 

The Kernels Box Score links to the wrong game...

 

Updated, thank you!

[gunnarthor]

 

Nice report.  I do like all the prospects listed.  It helps an old brain remember what is happening to the players on the list.  But it also makes me curious - when do you do an adjustment and drop and add players to the prospect list?

 

Gordon keeps hitting and the Twins need hitting - any way we can combine these two?

I'd imagine he'll be up fairly soon, actually.

[jud6312]

Nick Gordon who? I think we all know the next SS up will be Motter.

 

 

 

[jud6312]

[DocBauer]

I've been pretty silent on the whole Gordon issue. While I'm anxious to see him, and the Twins offense has been ugly, I've chosen to believe the FO knows what they are doing with Gordon and will promote him as needed and when ready. Not convinced a young, developing middle infielder is going to be the guy to ignite this team. (Especially with Sano back at 3B and Escobar returned to SS). But I have to tell you I'm comjng around to the idea in a hurry! As long as he would get regular playing time between 2B and SS.

 

Sorry Kernels fans, but Carrier is not going to be your last promotion over the next couple of weeks.

[mikelink45]

 

I'd imagine he'll be up fairly soon, actually.

I do too, but this idea that it has to be after June 1 is ridiculous.  The April and May dates count just as much and we need the best we have in our lineup.

[70charger]

I expressed skepticism in the past about Kirilloff, and I'll own up to it. He's making me look like an idiot.

 

He needs to move up, and frankly, I hope he keeps making me look like an idiot in Ft. Myers.

[gunnarthor]

 

I expressed skepticism in the past about Kirilloff, and I'll own up to it. He's making me look like an idiot.

 

He needs to move up, and frankly, I hope he keeps making me look like an idiot in Ft. Myers.

I certainly wasn't as down on him as you were but I thought he'd need more time to get his hitting back on track. Really impressive season so far.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I certainly wasn't as down on him as you were but I thought he'd need more time to get his hitting back on track. Really impressive season so far.

 

I was always really, really high on him... and I thought he would need more time to get the hitting on track.