Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/20): Mejia Makes Statement Start

[Seth Stohs]

As the short-season minor leagues get going, it’s a lot of fun to highlight a lot of Firsts: First hits, first doubles, first wins, etc. There were a lot of firsts in Elizabethton on Wednesday night. Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton both played in minor league games on Wednesday. Adalberto Mejia is also doing a good job of trying to get his name back on the forefront in the minds of Twins fans and front office personnel.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Wednesday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Chattanooga’s Williams Ramirez pitched in the Southern League All- Star game on Tuesday night and was placed on the Lookouts disabled list on Wednesday.
• Lefty Andrew Vasquez returns to the Lookouts.
• RHP Colton Davis and RHP Brady Anderson were activated from the Miracle DL with LHP Kevin Marnon going on the DL.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Syracuse 0

Box Score

 

Lefty Adalberto Mejia celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday by tossing seven shutout innings. He gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out eight batters in the game. He improved to 3-2 while dropping his ERA to 2.91 on the season. Gabriel Moya pitched a scoreless eighth inning despite giving up a hit and walking a batter. Alan Busenitz came on for a perfect ninth inning, including a strikeout. It was just his second save of the season.

 

The Red Wings offense didn't do much either. In fact, both of their runs came in the fourth inning. It had the making of a really big inning, but it also turned into a disaster. They had the bases loaded with nobody out, but two straight batters hit grounders that were fielded and the out was made at home. With two outs, Byron Buxton came through with a single that scored two, the second on a throwing error.

 

Buxton was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Willians Astudillo went 2-for-4 with his ninth and tenth doubles. Nick Gordon added a triple. LaMonte Wade was 0-for-2, but he walked twice.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

 

The Lookouts have the final day of their All-Star break on Wednesday.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 1, Tampa 5

Box Score

 

Clark Beeker put together another quality start, but the Miracle offense was unable to provide enough support. Beeker gave up three runs on six hits and a walk over the first six innings. He struck out seven. Brady Anderson came on and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over the final three innings. He struck out two.

 

The Miracle managed just four hits in the game. Caleb Hamilton had the long extra -base hit, his ninth double of the season. Miguel Sano went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Maybe more surprising, Luis Arraez went 0-for-4, though he did drive in a run.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids

Box Score

 

The Kernels enjoyed their final day of the All-Star break. They get back into game action on Thursday at home

 

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton Twins 15, Burlington 3

Box Score

 

Less than two weeks ago, 6-9 starting pitcher Tyler Palm was working in the United Shores Professional Baseball League. On Wednesday night, Palm made his first start for an affiliated baseball club and did a nice job. He gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out seven batters without issuing a walk. Derek Molina came on and struck out three in two scoreless, hitless innings. Juan Gamez threw the final two innings. He was charged with an unearned run on two hits and a walk. He struck out four.

 

The E-Twins got contributions from several players on their way to 15 runs on 19 hits. Alex Robles went 4-for-4 with a walk. He drove in two runs and scored two runs. Trevor Casanova, playing in his first game, went 3-for-4 with two doubles. He was also hit by a pitch. Jared Akins had a double and a triple. Casanova’s fellow catcher at Cal State Northridge, Albee Weiss, has already been moved to the outfield. He had his first two professional hits in this game, including a double. Fourth-round pick Dashawn Keirsey went 2-for-5 with a triple, again, his first two hits. Yunior Severino had his first two hits in the Twins organization and drove in four runs. Eighth-round pick Chris Williams had his first hit, a double.

 

GCL TWINS TALK

GCL Twins 5, GCL Orioles 1

Box Score

 

The GCL Twins improved to 3-0 on the season thanks to some strong pitching. Kai-Wai Teng’s first US start went well. In five innings, he gave up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out six. Next, Dylan Stowell made his first pro appearance. The 2018 34th-round pick gave up three hits and hit a batter, but no runs, over two scoreless innings. Osiris German recorded the save with two scoreless innings.

 

Aaron Whitefield batted second and started in centerfield. He went 1-for-3 with a double in the game. He had not played since April when he suffered a broken hamate bone. Gabe Snyder, 2018 pick from Wright State, picked up the first two hits of his professional career. Tyler Webb went 2-for-4. Snyder and Webb each stole their first base. Samuel Vasquez went 2-for-4 with a double. Janigson Villalobos had just one hit, but he drove in three of the team’s five runs.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Alex Robles, Elizabethton Twins (4-4, BB)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day:Adalberto Mejia, Rochester Red Wings (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - All Star Break

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - Did not pitch

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-4, 3B(3)

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - All Star Break, expect news of his promotion to Ft. Myers soon.

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - All Star Break

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - All Star Break

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) - All Star Break

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - All Star Break

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - All Star Break

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 0-4

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-2, 2 BB, K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - Did not play

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-2, BB, HBP, K

#18 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) - 2-5, R, 4 RBI, K

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - All Star Break

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - Disabled List, began rehab on June 19.

 

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - RHP Zack Littell (1-3, 3.58 ERA)

Biloxi @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - TBD

Tampa Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) - LHP Charlie Barnes (1-4, 3.88 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak (4-2, 4.01 ERA)

Burlington @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins - No Game Scheduled

 

 

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

 

Click here to view the article

[Jham]

2 out hit with the bases loaded scoring 1 worth a second on an error... Can we assume infield hit for Byron?

[jkcarew]

Yes...didn’t get the a ball out of the infield this game. But a walk and only one K. Baby steps...and the toe must feel fine with the SB.

[rdehring]

Looks like this Elizabethton team is going to be interesting to follow.  Certainly looks like they are going to score a lot of runs.  

 

Of note are this year's second and fourth round picks, Jeffers and Keirsey.  Also like what I see from Severino in his first action.

[ThejacKmp]

1.) Byron Buxton stealing bases in AA seems unfair.
 

2.) I can't remember the last time the Twins had this deep of a rotation. The five in MN are all solid and Mejia is a great #6 to have waiting. And that doesn't even include Santana, who could be back by the 4th. And Slegers. And Gonsalves, who would already be up for most Twins teams of the past decade.

 

3.) I wonder if Sano will move up to AA or AAA when their all-star breaks end?

 

[Dman]

Real nice start by Teng.  Good to see another nice young arm in the system doing well.  Long way to go but a good start.  Does anyone know if the International money gained in the Kintzler trade was used to aquire Teng?  Seems like he was acquired not that long after that trade.

 

Hopefully more guys in Cedar Rapids will be ready to move up in the next month because it looks like some of the guys in E-town and the GCL could be fast movers.

[mikelink45]

I am ready to trade Lynn and Odorizzi and pull up Mejia and Gonsalves.  

[puckstopper1]

 

and the toe must feel fine with the SB.

I was thinking the same thing, JK.    He was struggling with that with his injured toe.

 

To me this is the most important piece of the Buxton update.

[Ncgo4]

Where is Wander Javier? He doesn’t show on the Elizabethton lineup.

[John Kelsey]

 

Where is Wander Javier? He doesn’t show on the Elizabethton lineup.

 

He's out for the year. 

[jud6312]

 

Where is Wander Javier? He doesn’t show on the Elizabethton lineup.

Out for the year with a shoulder injury.

[Han Joelo]

Great to see Whitefield back in action.  I'll admit I stereotype all Aussies with a hint of Crocodile Dundee, but with Whitefield and his unorthodox background, maybe it fits a bit more.  Especially in an age of kids getting specialized in their sport at such young ages, it is always refreshing when an athlete-regardless of nationality--does it the old-fashioned way.  I like to think that at an age when most future professional ballplayers were getting toted around in mini-vans from camp to camp, he was out winging boomerangs at wombats.

 

Having said all that, Teng sounds like the opposite--a product of the Taiwanese baseball system and a former Little League World Series participant.  Equally good to have him on board.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

1.) Byron Buxton stealing bases in AA seems unfair.
 

2.) I can't remember the last time the Twins had this deep of a rotation. The five in MN are all solid and Mejia is a great #6 to have waiting. And that doesn't even include Santana, who could be back by the 4th. And Slegers. And Gonsalves, who would already be up for most Twins teams of the past decade.

 

3.) I wonder if Sano will move up to AA or AAA when their all-star breaks end?

 

 

1.) AAA

2.) and Littell, and Jorge started rehab appearances, and it's fun to see.

3.) No.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Real nice start by Teng.  Good to see another nice young arm in the system doing well.  Long way to go but a good start.  Does anyone know if the International money gained in the Kintzler trade was used to aquire Teng?  Seems like he was acquired not that long after that trade.

 

Hopefully more guys in Cedar Rapids will be ready to move up in the next month because it looks like some of the guys in E-town and the GCL could be fast movers.

 

I mean, not directly. They could have used half of it to get Pearson or Banuelos. Teng would have used part of it. There isn't a direct connection.

 

E-Town's two games in... they wont/shouldn't make any promotions for at least 2-3 weeks.  It'll even out. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I am ready to trade Lynn and Odorizzi and pull up Mejia and Gonsalves.  

 

I can't' imagine the front office thinks that at all right now. Depth is good. Odorizzi's struggled, but he'll be fine. And Lynn has been good now for 4-5 weeks, doing what he's' done in the past. 

 

Depth is good. Mejia's getting back into the picture now. Gonsalves is probably 4th on their list of Rochester guys ready right now.

[howieramone2]

 

I am ready to trade Lynn and Odorizzi and pull up Mejia and Gonsalves.  

Like those shiny new things do you? Odorizzi will be back next season. Lynn is the tough call because we can't give him a qualifying offer and is too valuable an asset to simple allow to walk. I believe we will trade him at the deadline for back of the pen help.

[jmlease1]

 

I can't' imagine the front office thinks that at all right now. Depth is good. Odorizzi's struggled, but he'll be fine. And Lynn has been good now for 4-5 weeks, doing what he's' done in the past. 

 

Depth is good. Mejia's getting back into the picture now. Gonsalves is probably 4th on their list of Rochester guys ready right now.

 

Agreed. For the first time in a long time the twins have guys from 1-5 that give them a chance every night, and there's depth in the high minors (and with pending rehabs) that aren't low-impact flyers you hope can survive through anonymity for a few weeks. 

 

Having that level of depth gives you a lot of flexibility. Odorizzi has stumbled a bit lately, but he's been a solid veteran. When Ervin gets back they'll have some decisions to make, but they'll also have options.

[Ben Noble]

I'm usually not too high on guys coming out of independent ball, but Tyler Palm could be worth keeping an eye on as a late bloomer. Went to a small school in MI, a small college in MI, then played in a small independent league in MI. Only 23 and stands 6-8, and added 4 mph to his average fastball in the past year.

 

Small school guys from the Midwest sometimes need extra time to develop, and tall young pitchers have mechanical issues that need cleaning up more often than not. No walks in his first start are, well...a good start!

[Rosterman]

Was somewhat sad to see the Twins cut ties with Featherston. He had a great spring. But when you slump in AAA ball and there are better prospects in the wind....yet the Twins advanced Motter who was hitting the same at AAA. And who can explain the call of Bobby Wilson. Of course, both have major league experience, which always means that the professional AAAA guys have a much harder road to follow to get to the majors.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Like those shiny new things do you? Odorizzi will be back next season. Lynn is the tough call because we can't give him a qualifying offer and is too valuable an asset to simple allow to walk. I believe we will trade him at the deadline for back of the pen help.

 

Oof, if they're going to trade him for 'back of the pen help', then they need to just keep him. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm usually not too high on guys coming out of independent ball, but Tyler Palm could be worth keeping an eye on as a late bloomer. Went to a small school in MI, a small college in MI, then played in a small independent league in MI. Only 23 and stands 6-8, and added 4 mph to his average fastball in the past year.

 

Small school guys from the Midwest sometimes need extra time to develop, and tall young pitchers have mechanical issues that need cleaning up more often than not. No walks in his first start are, well...a good start!

 

6-9 with a fastball that reaches 93-94... well worth taking a shot. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Was somewhat sad to see the Twins cut ties with Featherston. He had a great spring. But when you slump in AAA ball and there are better prospects in the wind....yet the Twins advanced Motter who was hitting the same at AAA. And who can explain the call of Bobby Wilson. Of course, both have major league experience, which always means that the professional AAAA guys have a much harder road to follow to get to the majors.

 

In large part because they aren't on the 40-man roster. Motter can play 6 positions. Featherston can play 3 positions. I mean, that''s an easy choice. What they really did was pick Reginnato over Featherston. 

 

Bobby Wilson was a terrific minor league signing. Obviously they were hoping Castro stayed healthy and Wilson would still be at Rochester, but he didn't'. 

[Han Joelo]

It's been mentioned, but the pitching depth is not something we're accustomed to.  I'm not going to drag any names from the past through the mud now, but if Gonsalves is currently our "number 9" starter, I like the Twins' chances of withstanding a war of attrition with Cleveland.  Ditto with the bullpen.  And while I'm not on the promote-them-now bandwagon, Gordon and Wade offer some decent depth on the position side, albeit unproven.  Its just that pesky catcher position that seems to be wanting.

[Seth Stohs]

Now-Official Moves:

 

Alex Kirilloff promoted to Ft. Myers. Ben Rodriguez activated from the Cedar Rapids DL.

 

Jaylin Davis promoted from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga.

 

Edgar Corcino promoted from Chattanooga to Rochester. 

[Han Joelo]

And after a couple of E-town games, its ready to start my "Is he Angel Morales or is he Eddie Rosario" watch with a whole bunch of different players.

[blindeke]

Where does Sano rank on the Top Prospects list?

[Seth Stohs]

 

And after a couple of E-town games, its ready to start my "Is he Angel Morales or is he Eddie Rosario" watch with a whole bunch of different players.

 

I love this line!! 

 

Rosario was amazing, but Morales was just as great and just as young. That said, lets' check in two months to see how many fit into that category. 

 

I think only De La Torre and Severino are that young. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Where does Sano rank on the Top Prospects list?

 

Not eligible... he surpassed his "rookie" status in 2015. But if he were a prospect still, Id' put him at #3 (behind Lewis and Graterol). 

[HrbekRules]

Seth, any ideas if Lewis is getting moved up yet?

[mikelink45]

 

Like those shiny new things do you? Odorizzi will be back next season. Lynn is the tough call because we can't give him a qualifying offer and is too valuable an asset to simple allow to walk. I believe we will trade him at the deadline for back of the pen help.

It is not that I hate having these two, but with pitchers ready to step in, it is an opportunity to get some return on our investment and keep building for the future.  I would add Dozier if he starts to heat up.