Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/2): Yabba Da-Baddoo!

[Tom Froemming]

Akil Baddoo had a monster night for Cedar Rapids, going 4-for-5 with a double and two triples. Also, LaMonte Wade did something for the first time all season, Fort Myers swept a doubleheader and Chris Paul, Mark Contreras and Trey Cabbage all hit home runs.Transactions & Other Notes

Moises Gomez was added to Fort Myers with Kevin Marnon being transferred from the Miracle to Elizabethton.

 

Cedar Rapids activated Bryan Sammons and placed Brusdar Graterol on the DL due to a right hand contusion.

 

Also, I just wanted to mention real quickly that the DSL Twins had their Opening Day. Unfortunately, they lost 15-5.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Norfolk 7, Rochester 3

Box Score

 

SP: Gabriel Moya (2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Jake Cave

 

I guess Nick Anderson is human after all. He’d given up three earned runs in 23 1/3 innings entering this game (1.16 ERA) but gave up twice that many runs while recording just two outs tonight.

 

The Red Wings were trying to bullpen their way through this one, and other than Anderson it worked out pretty well. Gabriel Moya made his first start since 2014 and gave up one run over 2 2/3 innings. Jake Reed (1 1/3 innings), Alan Busenitz (2 1/3 innings) and John Curtis (one inning) all had scoreless outings.

 

Jake Cave was 2-for-3 with a walk. He’s been on a tear since his brief cup of coffee with the Twins, going 13-for-39 (.333) with four homers in 11 games. Nick Gordon had a double and Chris Carter had a double of his own to go with a couple of RBIs.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 7, Birmingham 5

Box Score

 

W: Paco Rodriguez (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)

SP: Cody Stashak (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

HR: Chris Paul (3)

Multi-hit games: LaMonte Wade, Brent Rooker, Zander Wiel

 

LaMonte Wade has been one of the better performing prospects in the entire Twins system, so much so that a lot of fans have been calling for him to be promoted all the way up to the majors. He’s been getting on base (of course) and hitting for some more power, but coming into tonight there was one thing he hadn’t done.

 

Hit a double.

 

That’s right, Wade had six home runs and even a triple in 38 games played, but zero doubles. How weird is that!?

 

Wade finally hit a double in what was a two-hit night. Brent Rooker continued to roll, hitting both a double and a triple. Zander Wiel also had a double in a multi-hit effort. Chris Paul homered in what was a three-RBI night.

 

The Lookouts scored all seven of their runs in the first three innings. Todd Van Steensel pitched two more scoreless, no-hit innings to go with a pair of strikeouts. He’s given up just one run on three hits over his last 16 innings pitched.

 

Hey, remember that one time Michael Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons? How crazy is it that he was a like "I wanna play baseball” and the White Sox were just like “OK, go to Double-A, I guess.”

 

Hmmm ... how do you think LeBron James would do on the Lookouts right now?

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1: Fort Myers 3, St. Lucie 1 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

W: Andro Cutura (7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Lewin Diaz

 

This was a makeup game that was originally postponed on May 20. Andro Cutura, a seventh-rounder from the 2014 draft, picked up his first career complete game, though being part of a doubleheader it was only scheduled for seven innings. Still counts.

 

Cutura threw 54 of his 87 pitches for strikes (62.1 percent). This was the second-consecutive start in which he went seven innings. He’s given up just six hits and one earned run over his last 14 innings pitched.

 

This game was tied at 1-1 heading into the seventh inning, but the Miracle got their only extra-base hits of this game all in a row in the top of the seventh. Jimmy Kerrigan hit a one-out double, Lewin Diaz brought him around to score on another double, then Caleb Hamilton doubled in Diaz for a nice insurance run.

 

Game 2: Fort Myers 5, St. Lucie 1

Box Score

 

W: Ryan Mason (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

SP: Charlie Barnes (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)

HR: Mark Contreras (3)

Multi-hit games: Luis Arraez

 

This game was also tied at 1-1, but instead of Fort Myers breaking through in the seventh, this game went into extra innings. There, the Miracle offense awoke.

 

Luis Arraez led off the inning with a single, then Travis Blankenhorn, who was the “free” runner that started the inning at second base, scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. St. Lucie unraveled from there, as Mitchell Kranson walked, Taylor Grzelakowski hit an RBI single and Lewin Diaz followed with a run-scoring single of his own.

 

Charlie Barnes struck out six batters over six innings of one-run ball. He got off to a slow start, but has pitched to a 3.04 ERA over his last four starts (23 2/3 innings). Ryan Mason finished the game with two scoreless innings. This was his 14th appearance with Fort Myers and already his seventh decision. He’s 5-2.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 7, Burlington 5

Box Score

 

W: Bryan Sammons (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)

SV: Jovani Moran (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)

HR: Trey Cabbage (4)

Multi-hit games: Akil Baddoo, Alex Kirilloff, Ben Rortvedt, Trey Cabbage

 

What a night for Akil Baddoo. He led off this game with a double, added a bunt single in the second inning and tripled in the fourth inning. That’s right, he was already a home run shy of the cycle after just four frames. Baddoo struck out in the seventh, then cracked yet another tripe in the eighth inning, giving him nine total bases on the night.

 

Bryan Sammons struck out eight batters over six innings of two-run ball. In his first full season as a pro, Sammons now has a 2.74 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over nine starts. Jovani Moran’s line tonight syncs up pretty well with the rest of his season so far. He was nasty, striking out five batters in 2 1/3 innings while surrendering just one hit, but he also walked three batters.

 

Andrew Bechtold played second base for the first time in his professional career.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Bryan Sammons, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Akil Baddoo, Cedar Rapids

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

1. Royce Lewis, CR: 0-for-4, BB

2. Fernando Romero, MIN

3. Nick Gordon, ROC: 1-for-4, 2B

4. Stephen Gonsalves, ROC: Did not pitch.

5. Alex Kirilloff, CR: 2-for-4, BB, RBI, 2 Rs

6. Wander Javier: Out for the season with a shoulder injury.

7. Brent Rooker, CHAT: 2-for-5, 2B 3B, RBI, R

8. Blayne Enlow, CR: Did not pitch.

9. Brusdar Graterol, CR: Out with a right hand contusion.

10. Akil Baddoo, CR: 4-for-5, 2B, 2 3Bs, R

11. Zack Littell, ROC: Did not pitch.

12. Lewis Thorpe, CHAT: Did not pitch.

13. Lewin Diaz, FM: 3-for-7, 2B, R, 3 RBI

14. LaMonte Wade, CHAT: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, R

15. Mitch Garver, MIN

16. Ben Rortvedt, CR: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs

17. Travis Blankenhorn, FM: 1-for-4, R

18. Yunior Severino: Inactive, expected to join E-Town later this month.

19. Tyler Jay, CHAT: Did not pitch.

20. Felix Jorge: Out with knee injury.

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Norfolk, 12:05 pm CT (Stephen Gonsalves)

Chattanooga vs. Mobile, 4:15 pm CT (Lewis Thorpe)

Fort Myers at St. Lucie, 11:00 am CT (Tyler Wells)

Cedar Rapids at Burlington, 2:00 pm CT (Edwar Colina)

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the games.

 

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[jun]

4 for 5, 1 single 1 double 2 triples just 1 run and no RBI? Wow...

[ashbury]

Yabba Da-Baddoo!

Been savin' up that'un all season, hadn't ya?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Been savin' up that'un all season, hadn't ya?

You know it. I'm sure I stole that from somebody on here but I don't remember who it was. 

[walt-o-meal]

 

Been savin' up that'un all season, hadn't ya?

Zoiks!

[nytwinsfan]

Any update on Graterol's injury? Must not be too severe since I've seen very little discussion of it.  Also, any word on how Wander Javier's surgery went? 

[mikelink45]

That's great news. I've been waiting for him to heat up all season. But I really like the fact that are number 5 7 13 14 and 16 prospects all had multi-hit nights as well. Overall a very good night for our hitters

[dbminn]

I fully support the bold change to the prospect summary. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Any update on Graterol's injury? Must not be too severe since I've seen very little discussion of it.  Also, any word on how Wander Javier's surgery went? 

The Graterol move was just announced yesterday at around 3 pm, that's all the information that's out there right now.

[Darius]

The Wade double anomaly is very strange.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Any update on Graterol's injury? Must not be too severe since I've seen very little discussion of it.  Also, any word on how Wander Javier's surgery went? 

 

Graterol was icing his hand before a game in the middle of the week, according to Jeff Johnson... but no information on what happened or severity. I don't think it sounds too serious.

[rdehring]

After a slower than slow start, Rooker has his average over .250 and his power has arrived.  Baddoo has been on fire the last 7 games with his average almost at .250.  So exciting seeing these two put their slow starts behind them and start showing us what we all were expecting from them.

 

On a sad note, the most disappointing performance to me this spring has been from Andrew Bechtold.  His bat started cold and remains in the freezer.  On the other hand, is it time to start listing Kirilloff when he doesn't get at least two hits, rather than when he does?

 

And most exciting today is the anticipation of Lewis Thorpe having another dominant game tonight.  Please don't disappoint, please?

 

And what a great headline, Tom.  Loved it!

[ashbury]

You know it. I'm sure I stole that from somebody on here but I don't remember who it was. 

Credit where credit due: the redoubtable Deduno Abides, last year.

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/26872-article-twins-minor-league-report-723-slegers-continues-strong-streak/?p=657028

[jmlease1]

Rooker is coming around nicely. AA was the right spot for him and he should run the full season there. Hopefully he stays strong throughout the year and piles up 450-500 ABs and we see how he does late in the year with a lot of baseball under him. Nice to see him respond after a slow start.

 

Goodness Kirilloff is hitting well. Any reports on how his defense looks? A little curious to see how he's developed on that after the year layoff.

[jkcarew]

Nice report.

 

A couple of comments allude to Baddoo ‘heating up’ or having had a slow start. But, his OBP has been over 400 pretty much all year...higher than Kirilloff’s...right among the league leaders. His approach is an extreme example of taking pitches, working the count and forcing pitchers to come over the middle of the plate. Results in a ton of walks...and a high number of strike-outs. Recently, more hits and fewer walks (relatively)...which might be a happy result of pitchers trying harder not to walk him. Good signs all around.

 

In the top prospect summary, we had been including batter K’s, which is an important part of the development for many of these guys...especially Rooker. Seems Rooker’s K-rate has slowed down recently, even as the power has started to show up. Nice.

[gil4]

 

Hey, remember that one time Michael Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons? How crazy is it that he was a like "I wanna play baseball” and the White Sox were just like “OK, go to Double-A, I guess.”

Hmmm ... how do you think LeBron James would do on the Lookouts right now?

 

My guess is he would hit around .202, with an OBP around .289, slugging .266, OPS .556. Maybe slightly lower OBP (big strike zone), slightly higher slugging.

 

He would probably put more fans in the seats than Tebow, and that's saying something, but if you're trying to win and you're determined to sign a basketball player, Tracy McGrady might be the way to go. (If an NFL player is close enough, apparently Colin Kapernick can bring some heat.)

[Doctor Wu]

 

That's great news. I've been waiting for him to heat up all season. But I really like the fact that are number 5 7 13 14 and 16 prospects all had multi-hit nights as well. Overall a very good night for our hitters

I agree. Baddoo was due! After such a slow start to the season I hope he starts putting it all together over the summer.

[Doctor Wu]

I'd never noticed the name Andro Cutura before, but some nice recent stats, and what a great baseball name that is! You mentioned that he was a 7th round pick from 2014. How does he fit into the "prospect" list at this point? or is even  considered someone that the organization thinks might potentially reach the majors?