Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/9): Poppen, Dobnak Deliver

[Seth Stohs]

The Triple A All-Star break is upon us. The short-season leagues are in full swing. There were a number of low-scoring contests in the Twins farm system on Monday. Weil and Webb provided offense. The catcher’s mitt was Poppen for Ft. Myers, and Kirilloff and Gelly provided the offense.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Outfielder Ryan LaMarre was claimed by the Chicago White Sox.
• The Twins released Felix Jorge last week, but they announced Monday night that they have re-signed him to a minor league deal.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score

 

The Red Wings are now on their All-Star break. Willians Astudillo was the one Red Wings player to make the International League All-Star team. Since Astudillo was called up to the big league club, Nick Anderson will represent the Red Wings. The International League will take on the Pacific Coast League All-Stars on Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Jacksonville 3

Box Score

 

Sean Poppen probably deserves better, but part of the development process is getting your work. Through six innings, Poppen had yet to allow a run and had given up just two hits. But he went out for the seventh inning and gave up three runs on two homers. So, over his seven innings, he gave up three runs on five hits. He struck out seven without issuing a walk. It was a quality start, yet it doesn’t highlight just how well he pitched. Cody Stashak worked a scoreless inning in relief.

 

The offense provided just two runs. Zander Wiel went 2-for-4 with his 19th double and first triple. Jaylin Davis also had two hits. Taylor Motter added his first double.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Palm Beach 6

Box Score

 

The Miracle got behind early and weren’t able to come back. Andro Cutura started and was charged with five runs on five hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. Colton Davis went the next 3 1/3 innings and did not allow a run. He gave up three hits and struck out four. Ryan Mason went the next 3 1/3 innings and also did not allow a run. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out two. Brady Anderson walked two, but he got the final two outs of the game without allowing a run.

 

The Miracle had just five hits. Taylor Grzelakowski went 2-for-3 with a walk and his 11th and 12th doubles. Alex Kirilloff had two singles. Miguel Sano went 0-4 with a strikeout.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Kane County 3

Box Score

 

Royce Lewis had a day off, but he was called on to pinch hit in the ninth inning. He came through with a single to center field which loaded the bases with one out. Unfortunately, the Kernels were not able to score the game-tying run and lost a close one.

 

Randy Dobnak again provided the Kernels with exactly what they needed, quality innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on eight hits and a walk over the first seven innings. He struck out four and needed just 89 pitches. Melvi Acosta came in for the eighth inning and gave up a run on four hits.

 

Jose Miranda led the offense. He went 3-for-5 with his 18th double. Jean Carlos Arias went 2-for-5 with his eighth triple. David Banuelos went 2-for-5 with his 11th double, and Jared Akins went 2-for-5 with his first Kernels double.

 

 

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 2, Danville 0

Box Score

 

The story of this game was some terrific pitching for the Twins. 2018 draft pick Kody Funderburk gave up four hits and no runs over the first four innings. He walked two and struck one out. Moises Gomez worked the middle three innings. He gave up just one hit and walked one while striking out two. Derek Molina recorded his second save. He struck out four batters over two perfect innings.

 

The E-Twins managed just three hits in the game but were able to score two runs. Chris Williams and Alex Robles had back-to-back bases-loaded RBI singles in the sixth inning to provide the run support. Ryan Jeffers went 1-for-2 with two walks in the game.

 

On a side note, Zack Seipel, Atlanta’s 27th round pick in June, worked two scoreless innings. . He walked one and struck out two. He was drafted out of the University of Minnesota-Crookston. It was the fourth appearance of his professional career.

 

 

GCL TWINS TALK

GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 6

Box Score

 

Steven Cruz started for the Twins. He gave up four runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out four. Michael Montero came on and gave up one hit over 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck one out. Denny Bentley threw two scoreless innings. Erik Cha was charged with two unearned runs on one hit.

 

Tyler Webb led the offense by going 4-for-5 in the game. Janigson Villalobos went 2-for-3 with his third double. Samuel Vasquez was 2-for-5.

 

Side note: 2017 #4 overall pick Brendan McKay made a rehab appearance for the GCL Rays. He had not played for the last month due to oblique muscle tightness. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Also, Jelfry Marte, who agreed to terms with the Twins a year ago but never signed after the Twins withdrew their offer after his physical. Marte went 1-for-4 and is now hitting .271.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Tyler Webb, GCL Twins (4-5)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Sean Poppen, Chattanooga Lookouts (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. Please note that we will be updating our Top Prospect rankings so this list will be updated soon.

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 1-1 (used as pinch hitter)

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

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - All Star break

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - All Star break

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, K

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 1-4, K

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, BB, R, K, SB(16)

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

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - Did not pitch

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, RBI, K

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - All Star break

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

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB, K, R

#18 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) - 0-3, BB, R, K

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - Did not pitch

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - DFAd and Released and Re-signed on Monday.

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester - All Star break

Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (6:05 CST) - TBD

Palm Beach @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (3-6, 3.48 ERA)

Cedar Rapids - No Game Scheduled

Elizabethton @ Johnson City (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 am CST) - TBD

 

 

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

 

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[jimbo92107]

Hey, the Twins got Felix Jorge back! I hope he gets back on track after...whatever!

[curt1965]

Terrific highlight on Poppen, Seth! Most people miss that point!

[rdehring]

Great seeing Zander Wiel back on the field.  Seems like he picked up right where he left off before the injury.  Another great story this season from someone few of us expected.

 

We continue to see Grz' name in these reports.  With Rortvedt moving up, he hasn't been behind the plate a lot.  But certainly seems like someone who has a chance to make it.  Gotta love these guys that come out of nowhere.

 

 

 

 

[ashbury]

Hey, the Twins got Felix Jorge back! I hope he gets back on track after...whatever!

Why was releasing and re-signing Jorge preferable to waiving him once he's off the 40-man? Seems like the latter limits the chance of his departing, since the other team would have to have a 40-man spot and be willing to use it (even if only temporarily). Or, if they didn't care either way, why re-sign?

[ashbury]

Why was releasing and re-signing Jorge preferable to waiving him once he's off the 40-man? Seems like the latter limits the chance of his departing, since the other team would have to have a 40-man spot and be willing to use it (even if only temporarily). Or, if they didn't care either way, why re-sign?

Well, never mind. MLBTR explains that his stint on the DL came at an inconvenient time and the rules apparently don't allow waiving, only re-add to the 40-man, or release. Or, trade? Maybe you can't trade someone on the DL.

 

I think someone here even explained this recently. I have an excellent memory - but it's short.

[gunnarthor]

Good for Marte, hope he does well in the Rays system.

[jimbo92107]

 

Why was releasing and re-signing Jorge preferable to waiving him once he's off the 40-man? Seems like the latter limits the chance of his departing, since the other team would have to have a 40-man spot and be willing to use it (even if only temporarily). Or, if they didn't care either way, why re-sign?

All I can do is speculate...imagine that... If Jorge's knee problem is a long-term recovery project, then other teams don't want to take a chance on him. The brief time he pitched in the majors, clearly there was talent in the young man. I thought his smooth delivery reminded me of Erv Santana, minus a few mph. 

 

If the Twins saw that potential, they might not be ready to give up on him yet. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

All I can do is speculate...imagine that... If Jorge's knee problem is a long-term recovery project, then other teams don't want to take a chance on him. The brief time he pitched in the majors, clearly there was talent in the young man. I thought his smooth delivery reminded me of Erv Santana, minus a few mph. 

 

If the Twins saw that potential, they might not be ready to give up on him yet. 

 

He was hit in the knee late in spring training and that's' initially why he missed time, but recently, the reports have been triceps, which is a different injury. 

 

But, I like the Santana comp. Jorge was 91-94, and most were closer to 94. It''ll be interesting to see how he comes back... but I'm' glad he's there. No such thing as too many pitching prospects, cuz TINSTAAPP!