Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/21): Thorpedo Locked In

[Tom Froemming]

There were too many great performances across the Twins’ minor league system to mention them all in this intro, but Lewis Thorpe was particularly impressive. He had 12 strikeouts and only gave up one hit and one walk over seven innings. Holy smokes. Check out what else happened in the minors on Thursday.TRANSACTIONS

Alex Kirilloff was promoted to Fort Myers. To take his spot in Cedar Rapids, Ben Rodriguez was activated from the DL.

Edgar Corcino was promoted to Rochester, Jaylin Davis jumped up to Chattanooga and Nick Buss was released.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Syracuse 1 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

W: Nick Anderson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)

SP: Zack Littell (6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: None

 

Zack Granite got the walk-off hit, picking up his very first RBI of the season. This game was knotted up at 0-0 until the Red Wings, or I guess they were the Plates tonight, broke through with a run in the seventh inning.

 

Jake Cave singled, LaMonte Wade drew a one-out walk, Willians Astudillo singled to load the bases and Kennys Vargas managed to drive in a run on a ground out.

 

Tyler Duffey was nasty in the eighth, striking out three of the four batters he faced, but allowed the game-tying run to score in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Anderson pitched a scoreless 10th inning before Granite managed to drive home the free runner (bonus runner?) in the bottom half of the inning to end it.

 

Byron Buxton was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts and a stolen base.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 12, Biloxi 2

Box Score

 

W: Lewis Thorpe (7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K)

HR: Tanner English (1), Jimmy Kerrigan (2), Brent Rooker (10)

Multi-hit games: Kerrigan, Chris Paul, Ryan Walker, English

 

Complete domination. Lewis Thorpe was untouchable on the mound and the offense was firing on all cylinders. Here's a great Tweet from Chris Blessing of Baseball HQ;

Jimmy Kerrigan was 4-for-5 and scored four runs and Chris Paul had three hits and had six RBIs. Just when you think it couldn’t get any better ...

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 10, Bradenton 0

Box Score

 

W: Charlie Barnes (7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Mark Contreras, Lewin Diaz, Luis Arraez, Ben Rortvedt, Taylor Grzelakowski, Caleb Hamilton, Brandon Lopez

 

… the Miracle put together an even more impressive performance. Every member of the Fort Myers lineup had at least one hit, with seven batters putting together multi-hit games.

 

Mark Contreras and Lewin Diaz led the way in terms of hitting with three hits each, but Luis Arraez reached safely four times, picking up two hits and two walks. Caleb Hamilton led the team in total bases on the night, as he hit a double and a triple.

 

Charlie Barnes, who’s been really rolling, had one of his most impressive performances as a pro, pitching seven shutout innings. Colton Davis was perfect over the final two frames. Alex Kirilloff was 1-for-6 and scored a run in his FSL debut.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 5, Wisconsin 4

Box Score

 

W: Randy Dobnak (6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)

SV: Jovani Moran (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB 5 K)

HR: Royce Lewis (7), Ben Rodriguez (4)

Multi-hit games: Akil Baddoo, Royce Lewis, Ben Rodriguez, Davis Banuelos

 

The Kernels were down a run heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Ben Rodriguez hit a go-ahead two-run inside-the-park home run to put the Kernels on top. Jovani Moran was perfect over the final 2 2/3 innings, all while protecting a one-run lead. He’s struggled with control at times, but when Moran is on (like he was tonight) he’s special. Of the eight batters he faced, he struck out five of them.

 

Royce Lewis, beat up knee and all, slugged his seventh homer, a three-run shot. Randy Dobnak scattered nine hits across 6 1/3 innings to earn his fifth victory.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 9, Burlington 5

Box Score

 

W: Blair Lakso (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4K)

SV: Johan Quezada (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K)

SP: Andrew Cabezas (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Ryan Jeffers, Jared Akins, Ariel Montesino, Chris Williams, Trevor Casanova, Ricky De La Torre, Lean Marrero

 

Ryan Jeffers is among the more intriguing new faces to the Twins’ organization. We’re learning this early on: Dude can hit. Jeffers was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBIs and a pair of runs Thursday. Fellow 2018 draftee Trevor Casanova was 2-for-3 with a walk.

 

On the mound, 18th-round pick Andrew Cabezas made his professional debut, striking out five batters over three innings of one-run ball.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

OFF

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Lewis Thorpe, Chattanooga

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Jimmy Kerrigan, Chattanooga

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

1. Royce Lewis, CR: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs, R, K

2. Fernando Romero, MIN

3. Nick Gordon, ROC: 0-for-4, 2 Ks

4. Stephen Gonsalves, ROC: Did not pitch.

5. Alex Kirilloff, FM: 1-for-6, R, K

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

7. Brent Rooker, CHAT: 1-for-4, HR, BB, RBI, 2 Rs

8. Blayne Enlow, CR: Did not pitch.

9. Brusdar Graterol, CR: Did not pitch.

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

11. Zack Littell, ROC: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K

12. Lewis Thorpe, CHAT: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K

13. Lewin Diaz, FM: 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 Rs

14. LaMonte Wade, ROC: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, K

15. Mitch Garver, MIN

16. Ben Rortvedt, FM: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 Rs, K

17. Travis Blankenhorn, FM: 1-for-5, RBI, R, 2 Ks

18. Yunior Severino, ET: Did not play

19. Tyler Jay, CHAT: Did not pitch.

20. Felix Jorge: Out with knee injury.

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Scranton, 6:05 pm CT: Stephen Gonsalves

Chattanooga vs. Biloxi, 6:15 pm CT: Sean Poppen

Fort Myers at Bradenton, 5:30 pm CT: Tyler Wells

Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin, 6:35 pm CT: Bailey Ober

Elizabethton at Bristol, 6:00 pm CT, TBD

GCL Twins vs. GCL Red Sox, 11:00 am CT: TBD

 

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

 

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[Han Joelo]

Hell of a report.  Way too much to comment on.  Jeffers is making a mockery of rookie leagues.

 

 

[jokin]

Ryan Jeffers in 3 games has already pretty much proven that he's well beyond Appy League stuff. Top 2nd round or better picks out of college really should be starting out in A ball, at the very least.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Ryan Jeffers in 3 games has already pretty much proven that he's well beyond Appy League stuff. Top 2nd round or better picks out of college really should be starting out in A ball, at the very least.

 

But they don't. Even #4 overall pick last year Brendan McKay spent last year in the short-season leagues. Not a big deal. I always believe in letting them adjust to everything that going pro means in E-town (or the GCL) that first year. I think it's worth it. 

 

And also, three games is never enough for any sort of evaluation. Yes, I expect he'll move up to Cedar Rapids, but they won't do that for a couple of weeks. 

[Seth Stohs]

Thorpe started the game with 4.2 perfect innings. That's 14 batters... 11 of them were strikeouts. He was unreal.

 

Zack Littell had a no-hitter through four innings as well. He gave up three hits in the fourth and then that was about it. 

 

7 E-Twins had 2+ hits. 7 Miracle hitters had 2+ hits. 

 

3 Lookouts players had 3+ hits. Chris Paul had 6 RBI.

 

Zack Granite had a walk off.

 

I really don't know if I've ever seen a night like this in all my years of following the Twins minor leagues.

[nater79a]

 

Thorpe started the game with 4.2 perfect innings. That's 14 batters... 11 of them were strikeouts. He was unreal.

 

Zack Littell had a no-hitter through four innings as well. He gave up three hits in the fourth and then that was about it. 

 

7 E-Twins had 2+ hits. 7 Miracle hitters had 2+ hits. 

 

3 Lookouts players had 3+ hits. Chris Paul had 6 RBI.

 

Zack Granite had a walk off.

 

I really don't know if I've ever seen a night like this in all my years of following the Twins minor leagues.

 

Exactly!

 

It's not often you can have a pitcher throw seven innings of shutout ball and not get minor league pitcher of the day.  

 

Or have a player collect three hits and six RBI and not get minor league hitter of the day.

 

Solid depth to the top-notch performances today.

 

 

[dougd]

And Anthony Escobar threw 7  no-hit, one walk innings as the DSL Twins beat the Yankees.

[Jeff A]

I don't understand the "Plates" thing.  I get that it's a promotion of some sort, but what are they promoting?  And why "Plates"?

[puckstopper1]

WOW!  Great day yesterday in the system.

 

One question - why is Sano only playing every other day?  Is he doing something else that is preventing him from playing more?

[Dman]

 

Ryan Jeffers in 3 games has already pretty much proven that he's well beyond Appy League stuff. Top 2nd round or better picks out of college really should be starting out in A ball, at the very least.

For as great as Jeffers has been 13th round pick Casanova has been better with the bat so far.  

 

[rdehring]

Cannot be happier for Thorpe, who recently had three shutout outings before his clunker a couple starts ago.  Seems he is settling in at this level and his stuff is rising to the top.  And to see him do it against one of the best teams in the league makes it even better. 

 

But the best news of the night might be that Rortvedt continues hitting well at Fort Myers.  The Twins need catching badly.  Can this young man be the answer?  And if so, how soon?

 

Almost couldn't believe your comment about Granite getting his first RBI of the year. So I checked.  I know he missed some time, but the season is half over and it was his first RBI of the year!

 

While doing that, saw the averages for both Gordon and Wade.  Neither has all that many at bats at AAA, but both appear to need some work before moving on to the big stage.

 

 

[ashbury]

Sure, Jeffers has started off well, with a BA of .636 in his first three games. But (wait for it) it's constructed on a BABIP of .700. I predict this gaudy average comes down. If he's still above .600 a month from now I'll be very surprised.

[gunnarthor]

Is Biloxi a good AA team?

 

I imagine Sano is working on conditioning issues and the team probably wants him to work on that more than hammering some A ball pitcher.

 

Nice the Kiriloff got the promotion. Looks like he could be a pretty special bat for us. Sweet.

[FunnyPenguin]

 

WOW!  Great day yesterday in the system.

 

One question - why is Sano only playing every other day?  Is he doing something else that is preventing him from playing more?

I think he is using the day off to work on conditioning each time, correct me if I'm wrong but I read that somewhere

[Seth Stohs]

 

WOW!  Great day yesterday in the system.

 

One question - why is Sano only playing every other day?  Is he doing something else that is preventing him from playing more?

 

I''d have to look back at my answer to the Sano question from the last couple of minor league reports but basically they're putting him on a spring training schedule. Play about every other day, work on the mechanics, and on the days that he doesn't' play, he puts in more of a big workout and probably does a lot more work.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I don't understand the "Plates" thing.  I get that it's a promotion of some sort, but what are they promoting?  And why "Plates"?

 

Apparently in Rochester "Garbage Plates" are a thing. Basically it's a big plate of a variety of foods. 

 

They did one game of this promotion last year and it was so successful that pretty much all of their Thursday games they're now the Plates.

 

The rest of the league has picked up on it. I know when they played Buffalo, they were the "Buffalo Wings". 

 

https://rocwiki.org/garbage_plates 

[Loosey]

 

I don't understand the "Plates" thing.  I get that it's a promotion of some sort, but what are they promoting?  And why "Plates"?

It's a reference to some Rochester food thing.  A big plate of food with random things on it called a "garbage plate".  It would be like if the St. Paul Saints changed their name to the "Hot Dish" or something.

[PDX Twin]

 

It's a reference to some Rochester food thing.  A big plate of food with random things on it called a "garbage plate".  It would be like if the St. Paul Saints changed their name to the "Hot Dish" or something.

 

Interesting. I was trying to twist it into something having to do with photographic plates and Kodak...

[rdehring]

 

Is Biloxi a good AA team?

 

I imagine Sano is working on conditioning issues and the team probably wants him to work on that more than hammering some A ball pitcher.

 

Nice the Kiriloff got the promotion. Looks like he could be a pretty special bat for us. Sweet.

Biloxi won the Southern Division first half with a 41-29 record.  Don't know anything else about them, but that would suggest they are good.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Royce Lewis is only 19, and a cornerstone of this organization’s future. Why is he playing through a knee issue at low A?

[ashbury]

Royce Lewis is only 19, and a cornerstone of this organization’s future. Why is he playing through a knee issue at low A?

Because team doctors believe it's not doing damage?

[jokin]

 

But they don't. Even #4 overall pick last year Brendan McKay spent last year in the short-season leagues. Not a big deal. I always believe in letting them adjust to everything that going pro means in E-town (or the GCL) that first year. I think it's worth it. 

 

And also, three games is never enough for any sort of evaluation. Yes, I expect he'll move up to Cedar Rapids, but they won't do that for a couple of weeks. 

 

But, that's the point.... far better evaluation can be done at a higher level. Why have a top pick, already 21 years old, spinning his wheels in a league with more-difficult-to-evaluate conditions and circumstances?

 

You can always send him down to the Appy. Why not let him work with your better evaluators, better field conditions, better supervisory nutrition and training, better competition, right away? And then go from there? They made the .8 million dollar investment. Why not maximize the potential return?

[ashbury]

But, that's the point.... far better evaluation can be done at a higher level.

I don't think evaluation is the largest purpose of the minor leagues. Develop prospects carefully, and the evaluations take care of themselves in due time.

 

/ edit - I'm all for analytics, but I would trade 100 of me for one good coach who knows how to bring first-year guys along.

[Vanimal46]

Arraez is a name I keep reading. Before his unfortunate season ending injury last year he was on the top ~20 prospect lists for the organization. Is he rising up your personal list Seth/Tom?

[jokin]

 

Sure, Jeffers has started off well, with a BA of .636 in his first three games. But (wait for it) it's constructed on a BABIP of .700. I predict this gaudy average comes down. If he's still above .600 a month from now I'll be very surprised.

 

Of course he won't maintain this level. It isn't so much about the current production numbers, as in getting the guys with the most potential in the right developmental level and on the fastest trajectory to the majors.

[jokin]

 

I don't think evaluation is the largest purpose of the minor leagues. Develop prospects carefully, and the evaluations take care of themselves in due time.
 
/ edit - I'm all for analytics, but I would trade 100 of me for one good coach who knows how to bring first-year guys along.

 

Seth and I seem to disagree with you. These guys are constantly being evaluated during their minor league development. The initial evaluation, I would think, is especially important- it's what leads to proper competitive placement commensurate with his optimal developmental projection.

 

Jeffers is a very big guy for a catcher- 6'4", and possibly a bit heavy- 225#. Catchers already take forever to reach the majors. Other than pitching, no position is harder on the body than catching- the risk of both incidental and overuse injury constantly endangers full- or even minimal- return on investment. Every edge to move the process along should be pursued, especially when a prospect shows initial special talent at a position of scarcity. 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2018 by jokin

[Jham]

I'm concerned about Nick Gordon already losing trade value. It's also disappointing that neither Stewart or Gonsalves have made it or even appear to be anything more than back end or bull pen filler. Seems like whether we draft college or high school arms we can't get it right.

 

Otherwise great day for Twins affiliates!

[jokin]

 

Thorpe started the game with 4.2 perfect innings. That's 14 batters... 11 of them were strikeouts. He was unreal.

 

Zack Littell had a no-hitter through four innings as well. He gave up three hits in the fourth and then that was about it. 

 

7 E-Twins had 2+ hits. 7 Miracle hitters had 2+ hits. 

 

3 Lookouts players had 3+ hits. Chris Paul had 6 RBI.

 

Zack Granite had a walk off.

 

I really don't know if I've ever seen a night like this in all my years of following the Twins minor leagues.

 

Have you set the date yet for when your midseason top prospect list is published?

 

Inquiring minds need to know...

[Seth Stohs]

 

But, that's the point.... far better evaluation can be done at a higher level. Why have a top pick, already 21 years old, spinning his wheels in a league with more-difficult-to-evaluate conditions and circumstances?

 

You can always send him down to the Appy. Why not let him work with your better evaluators, better field conditions, better supervisory nutrition and training, better competition, right away? And then go from there? They made the .8 million dollar investment. Why not maximize the potential return?

 

I'm pretty sure they are trying to maximize the potential return. It's not a race to get to the Kernels or the Miracle. Jeffers hit in college. He's got things to work on. For him specifically, I think working for a month or whatever with two former MLB catchers can't' be a bad thing (Ray Smith, Jeff Reed). 

 

I think most people would prefer guys move up the ladder because they started too low than move down the ladder if that would be necessary. I always say,, let them adjust to the wood bat and pro life in a good, quiet environment with good coaches and then let them move up. It certainly didnt hurt Rooker to spend a month in E-Town. 

[Steve Lein]

 

I don't understand the "Plates" thing.  I get that it's a promotion of some sort, but what are they promoting?  And why "Plates"?

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/garbage-plate_n_4854514.html