Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/28): Rooker Rocks, Hamilton Heroic

[Cody Christie]

Kohl Stewart hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season but the Twins are going to push their 23-year old former first round pick. Stewart was promoted to Rochester on Thursday after posting a 4.76 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in 68 innings. Things have gone better in his last four starts. In 24 1/3 innings pitched, he has allowed four earned runs (1.48 ERA) while posted a 29 to 8 strikeout to walk ratio.

 

In a corresponding move, Dietrich Enns was transferred to Chattanooga. Enns had made 12 starts for Rochester and posted a 5.31 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP in 59 1/3 innings. As a 27-year old, it seems interesting to be sending Enns back to Double-A since he was already older than the competition at Triple-A. Maybe, it will be a good wake-up call.ROSTER MOVES

• INF Jorge Polanco had MLB rehab assignment transferred from Ft. Myers to Rochester.
• C Juan Graterol signed by Minnesota to a minor league contract and assigned to Rochester
• RHP Kohl Stewart transferred from Chattanooga to Rochester
• C Jordan Pacheco placed on the disabled list at Rochester with a right knee contusion, retroactive to June 26.
• LHP Dietrich Enns transferred to Chattanooga from Rochester.
• RHP Brusdar Graterol transferred to Fort Myers from Cedar Rapids.
• LHP Tyler Watson transferred to Cedar Rapids from Fort Myers.
• OF Jared Akins transferred to Cedar Rapids from Elizabethton
• C Robert Molina placed on the disabled list at Cedar Rapids with a left hand contusion.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Syracuse 1 (Game 1- 7 Innings)

Box Score

Fernando Romero got the start on the mound and pitched six innings. He allowed one run on six hits while striking out one and walking two. In a tight game, he did enough to keep the Red Wings on top. John Curtiss earned his eighth save after pitching a perfect seventh. He struck out one and saw his season ERA dip to 2.12.

 

Leonardo Reginatto helped to get the scoring started in the third. He lead-off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Byron Buxton single. In a rare sight, Buxton got thrown out trying to steal second base. His steal streak is still active at the big league level. Nick Gordon eventually drove in Reginatto and Rochester took a 1-0 lead.

 

In the fourth, Zack Granite singled with two outs and moved into scoring position after an error by the right fielder. Reginatto singled and Grante scored to push the lead to 2-0. Jorge Polanco and Buxton both finished 2-for-3 as they get closer to returning to the big league roster.

 

Rochester 7, Syracuse 5 (Game 2- 7 Innings)

Box Score

Rochester used a huge four-run seventh inning to sweep the double header. LaMonte Wade doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch. Gregorio Petit and Juan Graterol connected on back-to-back singles before Nick Gordon cracked his first Triple-A home run to put the Red Wings on top for good.

 

Wade finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Graterol joined the hit parade with a 2-for-3 night including two RBI. Jorge Polanco went 2-for-4 and Byron Buxton went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

 

D.J. Baxendale went 2 1/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one. Luke Bard couldn’t make it through two innings as he surrendered three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Nick Anderson picked up the win and improve to 4-1 after he pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Gabriel Moya earned his third save with a clean seventh inning.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Tennessee 7

Box Score

The Lookouts cranked four home runs included two from Brent Rooker but it still wasn’t enough to come out victorious in this one. Rooker finished the day 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, and added his 17 double. Andy Wilkins and Brian Navarreto chipped in with their own home runs. The Lookouts only had one at-bat with a runner in scoring position and only four runners were left on base.

 

Omar Bencomo allowed three home runs in six innings of work. He struck out six and allowed five earned runs on four hits. Cody Stashak was actually charged with the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits in the final two innings. He struck out two and walked one.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 13, Tampa 0

Box Score

Fort Myers scored at least one run in the final six frames to blowout Tampa. Charlie Barnes and Hector Lujan combined for the shutout on the mound. Barnes pitched six shutout frames by scattering three hits, all singles. He struck out two and walked two. Barnes hasn’t allowed a run in his last 16.2 innings. Lujan earned his first save by pitching three innings and striking out three.

 

Luis Arraez reached base five times include a three hit night. He added his 14^th double and scored a pair of runs. Caleb Hamilton also exploded at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and five RBI. He’s homered in back-to-back games. Mark Contreras, Shane Carrier, and Lewin Diaz also had multi-hit efforts. Overall, the club at 14 hits and still missed some opportunities as they went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids --, Burlington – (Postponed-Rain)

Wind blew the tarp off the field in Burlington and the Kernels and Bees found themselves without a chance to play baseball. A similar situation happened earlier this year at the same field. The Kernels will play a doubleheader on Friday, which is scheduled to start at 5:00 pm.

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 2, Danville 11

Box Score

Yunior Severino chalked up four hits but it wasn’t enough for the E-Twins. Ricky De La Torre had the team’s lone extra-base hit, a double, as he finished 2-for-4. Chris Williams reached base twice with walks but was held hitless.

 

Tyler Palm took the loss as he allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in two innings. Things didn’t go much better for Seth Pinkerton as he allowed four runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked three. Johan Quezada and Rickey Ramirez combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings to end the game. Quezada struck out two and walked one.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 11, GCL Rays 12 (11 innings)

Box Score

The GCL Twins held multiple leads in this game but allowed six runs in the final four innings resulted in the loss. Prelander Berroa started and gave up five runs (four earned) in four innings. He struck out three and walked two. Michael Montero and Tanner Howell each pitched two innings and allowed one run apiece. Denny Bentley was charged with his first blown save as he allowed three runs on three hits in two innings. Petru Balan got charged with the loss but the only run scored against him was the runner that started on second base in the final frame due to MiLB’s extra-inning rules.

 

Janigson Villalobos, Yeison Perez, and Gabe Snyder all finished with three hit. Perez and Snyder each had a long-ball. Villalobos had a double and a triple. Multiple fielding errors and passed balls hurt the team. Tyler Webb didn’t start the game and he was still able to collect a pair of outfield assists after entering as a defensive replacement.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Caleb Hamilton, Fort Myers (3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Charlie Barnes, Fort Myers (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB)

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#2 – Fernando Romero (Rochester) – 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB

#3 – Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 2-7, HR, 4 RBI, R, K

#5 – Alex Kirilloff (Fort Myers) – 1-4, 3 RBI, K

#7 – Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 3-4, 2 HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, K

#13 – Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 2-5, 2 R, RBI

#14 – LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R, K

#17 – Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 0-4, RBI, K

#18 – Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) – 4-5, RBI, K

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs Lehigh Valley (6:05 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves (5-3, 4.56 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Tennessee (6:00 CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (1-4, 5.61 ERA)

Fort Myers vs Lakeland (6:00 CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (6-3, 2.68 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) – RHP Bailey Ober (3-1, 5.16 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (Game 2) – RHP Blayne Enlow (0-2, 4.43 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Danville (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox (11:00 AM CST) – TBD

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

 

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[D.C Twins]

Dear FO, 

 

We are worried and confused. If you cannot find a roster spot on a non-playoff contender for Romero, what chance will any of us have ever?!

 

Please clarify or trade us at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

Humbly Yours,

 

The Entire Twins Minor league Pitching Staff (signatures found in supplemental on line material)

[rghrbek]

Wonder if they will move Stewart to the bullpen?  We here at TD have given him a long  leash, as we should, being a high #1, but he's been mostly a bust.  Curious as to the move.

 

Can't hurt but I'll be shocked if he ever sees MLB as a starter.

[Mike Sixel]

I guess demoting Romero isn't about innings limits....

[dbminn]

Mostly another good day for the top prospects. 

 

Arraez now has 109 PA in June and he's rocking at .455/.495/.636. Too small a sample size to say he's a top prospect. A big sample size to be hitting .455, at any level. 

 

 

[scottz]

No Sano. Buxton 2 for 3 followed by 0 for 4 and 2 more K’s. Will we see either before September?

[Seth Stohs]

 

I guess demoting Romero isn't about innings limits....

 

I don't think the Twins ever said it was. Molitor said that it wasn't that he was pitching horrible, just that it was becoming very laborious. He definitely had been struggling in his past 4-5 starts, so I think they're almost calling it a refresh. 

[Tomj14]

So Kevin Abel (freshman) threw 129 pitches in a complete game 2 hit, 2 walk game. Yet professionals somehow can't  throw more than 100?

[rdehring]

 

Dear FO, 

 

We are worried and confused. If you cannot find a roster spot on a non-playoff contender for Romero, what chance will any of us have ever?!

 

Please clarify or trade us at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

Humbly Yours,

 

The Entire Twins Minor league Pitching Staff (signatures found in supplemental on line material)

I don't have a problem with sending Romero back to AAA.  He struggled through several of his last starts.  Let him go back to Rochester where there is less pressure and hopefully a few less innings.  Then bring him back in September or at the end of July if Santana or Lynn is traded.

[rdehring]

And what a night for the bats.  Arraez goes 3 for 4 with 2 walks, Rooker hits 2 home runs plus a double, and Severino gets 4 hits...and none are hitter of the day.  Not saying I disagree with your choice, Cody, just that's a lot of hitting from some exciting prospects.

 

Its only been five games (.500 average), but Severino looks to be a very good prospect.  Thanks to Atlanta for cheating!  And Arraez is hitting .500 average in his last ten games (46 at bats).  I don't recall ever seeing that.

[mikelink45]

Sano and Buxton continue to disappoint.  Every 2 K game in the minors is a startling thing to see with Buxton.  Bat control or strike recognition just does not seem to be taking hold with him. 

 

Nice to see Romero overcome his demotion which had to take a big psychological toll on him and then pitch a good game in the minors.  I am anxious for him to return to a major league team that is quickly losing my interest.  Seeing Berrios pitch is the most exciting aspect of the MLB team now, but Romero was someone who gave me a second reason to sit up and get excited. 

 

Polanco please come back and be what you were the last half of last year without the PEDs.

[Dman]

 

Wonder if they will move Stewart to the bullpen?  We here at TD have given him a long  leash, as we should, being a high #1, but he's been mostly a bust.  Curious as to the move.

 

Can't hurt but I'll be shocked if he ever sees MLB as a starter.

 

I think the bullpen is the best place for Stewart.  He can maximize his stuff there and if he adds a few ticks has a chance to be dominant there.  I know he is still young but given what we have seen I think we have better prospects for starting pitchers than Stewart.  Let's see if he can blow us away in the pen.  I really think he can be successful there.

[BJames]

When can Polanco return?

[puckstopper1]

 

When can Polanco return?

 

July 5.

[jkcarew]

The 1 K in 6 innings for Romero is curious...the swings and misses were down in his last few starts with Twins. Maybe something to keep an eye on.

[rdehring]

 

When can Polanco return?

The Twins have played 77 games.  Assuming they get all three in versus the Cubs this weekend, that's the 80 games he was suspended.  So Monday at Milwaukee (July 2) would be the first game he could be activated, again assuming there aren't any rainouts this weekend.

[Steve Penz]

 

Mostly another good day for the top prospects. 

 

Arraez now has 109 PA in June and he's rocking at .455/.495/.636. Too small a sample size to say he's a top prospect. A big sample size to be hitting .455, at any level. 

Seems to me he rocked 2 years ago.  He does not seem to have any power but he gets on base and hits like mad.  Also, he started at SS the other day.  I thought he was only 2B.  It never hurts to have more depth up the middle.  

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

The 1 K in 6 innings for Romero is curious...the swings and misses were down in his last few starts with Twins. Maybe something to keep an eye on.

 

It would be interesting to see what he was throwing. It's quite possible they are asking him to throw something that's getting hit at the ML level.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Seems to me he rocked 2 years ago.  He does not seem to have any power but he gets on base and hits like mad.  Also, he started at SS the other day.  I thought he was only 2B.  It never hurts to have more depth up the middle.  

 

Yeah, he was one of those high ceiling guys that everyone thought could rocket up the list... then he shredded his knee. 

 

He could still rocket up said lists this year, especially if he keeps this up. 

[Mike Sixel]

So Kevin Abel (freshman) threw 129 pitches in a complete game 2 hit, 2 walk game. Yet professionals somehow can't throw more than 100?

He shouldn't have. Professional scouts rip college coaches that do this left and right. Teams stay away from drafting pitchers whose coaches do this. Certain schools have seen their pitchers go later in drafts because is how they treat them.

[terrydactyls]

So Kevin Abel (freshman) threw 129 pitches in a complete game 2 hit, 2 walk game. Yet professionals somehow can't  throw more than 100?

 

College coaches don't always have the health of their pitchers at the top of their priority list. Winning keeps you employed at the college level.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So Kevin Abel (freshman) threw 129 pitches in a complete game 2 hit, 2 walk game. Yet professionals somehow can't  throw more than 100?

 

It's not that they can't... pros just care more about the long-term value of the player than a college program will. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

And what a night for the bats.  Arraez goes 3 for 4 with 2 walks, Rooker hits 2 home runs plus a double, and Severino gets 4 hits...and none are hitter of the day.  Not saying I disagree with your choice, Cody, just that's a lot of hitting from some exciting prospects.

 

Its only been five games (.500 average), but Severino looks to be a very good prospect.  Thanks to Atlanta for cheating!  And Arraez is hitting .500 average in his last ten games (46 at bats).  I don't recall ever seeing that.

 

Granite it .500+ one month last year. It's not normal though... Plenty have done it for a ten-game stretch, but Arraez is certainly back. Remember when he was at Cedar Rapids, all the 2, 3, 4 and even 5-hit games. 

 

 

[terrydactyls]

If you look at the picture of Rooker that leads this article, you will see why he will never make it with the Twins. It is clearly evident that he is watching the ball all the way until contact is made with the bat. Contrast that with the picture of our 2017 All Star, Sano, from an article about a week back. Sano's helmet is flying off and his head is looking towards the left field bleachers anticipating where the ball will go. Thats the Twins Way. Come on, Rooker, get with the program.

[Tomj14]

 

He shouldn't have. Professional scouts rip college coaches that do this left and right. Teams stay away from drafting pitchers whose coaches do this. Certain schools have seen their pitchers go later in drafts because is how they treat them.

Well he pitched the best game in the history of the college world series. He will have that and be a college world series champion the rest of his life, and I am not willing to take that away on faith in pitch counts.

I will also say the odds this kid pitches in the major leagues is real low, so what are we actually protecting him from?

 

[Mike Sixel]

Well he pitched the best game in the history of the college world series. He will have that and be a college world series champion the rest of his life, and I am not willing to take that away on faith in pitch counts.

I will also say the odds this kid pitches in the major leagues is real low, so what are we actually protecting him from?

I don't think you and I are going to agree on this. No biggie.

[rdehring]

 

Granite it .500+ one month last year. It's not normal though... Plenty have done it for a ten-game stretch, but Arraez is certainly back. Remember when he was at Cedar Rapids, all the 2, 3, 4 and even 5-hit games. 

Yes, I remember he hit like this last month almost the entire year at C.R.  Or at least it seems like he did.  I didn't recall anyone hitting .500 for ten games, but I also don't check that very often.

 

Don't know if he will be a hit for the Twins, but would sure like to see him have a chance sometime next year.

[jkcarew]

 

If you look at the picture of Rooker that leads this article, you will see why he will never make it with the Twins. It is clearly evident that he is watching the ball all the way until contact is made with the bat. Contrast that with the picture of our 2017 All Star, Sano, from an article about a week back. Sano's helmet is flying off and his head is looking towards the left field bleachers anticipating where the ball will go. Thats the Twins Way. Come on, Rooker, get with the program.

I know it's easy to pile on Sano right now, and there's not much question Sano's future is trending decidedly down and Rooker's up.  But just in an exercise in perspective, and also to remind ourselves that Sano is worth significant salvaging efforts...here is how Rooker's half-year at Chattanooga compares to Sano's half year there..

 

Sano, 22 years old, HR% 5.2; BB% 13.3; SO% 23.8; OPS 918 (Sano was coming off a missed year with Tommy John)

 

Rooker 23 years old, HR% 4.3; BB% 6.9; SO% 28.5; OPS 813

 

Rooker seems to be making very steady progress, especially with the K rate.  Encouraging.

[108Stitches]

Why do we keep Enns?

[108Stitches]

Why do we keep Enns?