Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/21): Saturday Night’s Allright

[Tom Froemming]

Miguel Sano played his first game since being called up to Rochester. Fernando Romero and Blayne Enlow were on the bump. Brent Rooker and Zander Wiel stared for Chattanooga, Alex Kirilloff and Ben Rortvedt did damage for Fort Myers and (of course) Ryan Jeffers and Chris Williams continued to be the bash brothers for E-Town. However, it was a Cedar Rapids outfielder who tallied the most total bases on the evening (and probably not the one you’d assume).

 

Come check out what happened across the minors Saturday.RED WINGS REPORT

Norfolk 5, Rochester 3

Box Score

 

SP: Fernando Romero (7.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Gregorio Petit, Jordan Pacheco

 

Fernando Romero got off to a terrible start, opening this game by walking the first two batters he faced. He then gave up a single to load the bases with nobody out. The Tides tallied three runs in the first, but Romero was able to recover and pitching into the eighth inning.

 

Miguel Sano, in his first game since being promoted from Fort Myers, started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He drove in a run on a ground out.

 

Rochester’s lineup is in desperate need of a boost. Over their past six games, they’ve managed to scratch across just five runs. This was their sixth-straight loss and the Red Wings are 3-12 in their last 15 games.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 12, Mobile 10 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

W: Tyler Jay (2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)

SP: Dietrich Enns (5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Zander Wiel, Brent Rooker, Mitchell Kranson, Jaylin Davis, Jimmy Kerrigan

 

Lookouts manager Tommy Watkins has seen a couple of his better leadoff options promoted up to Rochester, but he may have found his new tablesetter tonight. First baseman Zander Wiel hit first for Chattanooga tonight and was 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, a walk and scored all four times he was on base.

 

Brent Rooker, who hit directly behind Wiel was also 3-for-6 with two doubles and a walk. He also drove in three runs. That’s a nice one-two punch right there.

 

This was a crazy game. Mobile led 6-1 after the first three innings but Chattanooga managed to storm back and tie the game at 7-7 in the eighth inning. This one went into extras, and while the Lookouts were able to score in the top of the 10th, the BayBears answered with a run of their own to send this game into the 11th. Chattanooga responded with a four-run inning. That surely would be enough, right? Yes, but Mobile didn’t go down quietly. They managed to score twice before the game finally ended.

 

Some of the numbers are just silly. The Lookouts were 9-for-27 with runners in scoring position. They had 17 hits and drew nine walks, so there was just constantly traffic on the bases.

 

Jordan Gore made the jump all the way up from Cedar Rapids earlier this month, but he’s fitting right in. Tonight he hit a triple, drove in three runs and drew three walks. As you’d imagine by the score, there was a lot of bad pitching, but Andrew Vasquez kept rolling along. He was the first man out of the bullpen for Chattanooga and struck out five of the seven batters he faced. Sam Clay struck out three batters in his two innings of scoreless work.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Lakeland 8, Fort Myers 2

Box Score

 

SP: Andro Cutura (3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

HR: Ben Rortvedt (3)

Multi-hit games: Alex Kirilloff

 

Starter Andro Cutura ran into trouble in the fourth inning and the Ryan Mason, who’s been having an excellent year, got knocked around in the fifth, putting the Miracle behind 8-0 after five innings. The Fort Myers lineup wasn’t able to dig out of that hole, but there were a couple strong performances.

 

Ben Rortvedt hit a two-run home run, his third already with the Miracle in just 28 games. Rortvedt only had five home runs in 161 pro games prior to being promoted to Fort Myers. Alex Kirilloff was 3-for-4 and scored a run.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 7, Lansing 5

Box Score

 

W: Blayne Enlow (6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

HR: Jean Carlos Arias (5)

Multi-hit games: Robby Rinn, Jean Carlos Arias, Jared Akins

 

Blayne Enlow was in control and the Kernels put up a six spot in the fifth inning of this one. Jean Carlos Arias got Cedar Rapids on the board with a solo homer in the second inning and then capped off the big rally in the fifth with a run-scoring triple.

 

Enlow completed six innings for the third-straight start and has never had to eclipse 80 pitches over that stretch. The only runs he gave up were unearned, so Enlow’s ERA sits at 3.16 on the season.

 

Arais was hands down the offensive star of the game, but Robby Rinn had two hits and drove in a pair of runs and Jared Akins also had two hits.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 7, Princeton 6

Box Score

 

W: Pedro Garcia (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K

SV: Seth Pinkerton (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

SP: Josh Winder (4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

HR: Chris Williams (9), Ricky De La Torre (2), Micheal Helman (1)

Multi-hit games: Ryan Jeffers, Ricky De La Torre, Michael Helman

 

Michael Helman, a member of the 2018 draft class, hit his first professional home run and it was extra sweet because it put the E-Twins up for good. A second baseman out of Texas A&M, Helman also had a single.

 

Ryan Jeffers was 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice, of course, because that’s what he does. Jeffers is now hitting .422 with an 1.121 OPS. Chris Williams hit a home run, because that’s what he does. The Clemson product now has nine dingers for E-Town. Shortstop Ricky De La Torre hit his second homer of the season.

 

Josh Winder had a rough start, giving up six runs on eight hits over four innings, but Pedro Garcia bailed him out with four frames of one-hit ball and the bats mounted a comeback.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Red Sox 7, GCL Twins 6 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

SP: Andriu Martin (4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: LaRon Smith, Yeison Perez

 

The Twins held a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth but the Red Sox managed to tie it up and then won this one in extras. Victor Tademo and Kidany Salva each drove in two runs, LaRon Smith had three singles and Yeison Perez was 2-for-3 with a double.

 

It’s actually a little crazy that the Red Sox scored only seven runs. Five Twins pitchers combined to surrender 17 hits, they walked four batters and the defense committed four errors.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Blayne Enlow, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Jean Carlos Arias, Cedar Rapids

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. Please note that this Prospect Summary has been updated.

 

1. Royce Lewis (FM): 0-for-4, K

2. Alex Kirilloff (FM): 3-for-4, R

3. Brusdar Graterol (FM): Did not pitch.

4. Nick Gordon (ROC): 1-for-4, RBI, K

5. Stephen Gonsalves (ROC): Did not pitch.

6. Trevor Larnach (ET): 1-for-4, K

7. Brent Rooker (CHAT): 3-for-6, 2 2B, BB 3 RBI, R, K

8. Akil Baddoo (CR): 1-for-5, R, 2 K

9. Wander Javier: Out of for the season

10. Zack Littell (ROC): Did not pitch.

11. Blayne Enlow (CR): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

12. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 0-for-4, K

13. Travis Blankenhorn (FM): 0-for-4, 3 K

14. Lewis Thorpe (CHAT): Did not pitch.

15. Ben Rortvedt (FM): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

16. Yunior Severino (ET): Did not play.

17. Lewin Diaz (FM): 1-for-3, BB, 2 K

18. Ryan Jeffers (ET): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R

19. Jacob Pearson (CR): Was used as a late sub, only pinch ran and played left field.

20. Luis Arraez (CHAT): 1-for-2, R

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Norfolk, 12:05 pm CT: Zack Littell

Chattanooga at Mobile, 5:05 pm CT: Lewis Thorpe

Fort Myers: Off

Cedar Rapids at Lansing, 12:05 pm CT: Jordan Balazovic

Elizabethton vs. Princeton, 5:00 pm CT: TBD

GCL Twins: Off

 

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

 

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[nater79a]

Any word on the Trey Cabbage injury?  Caught the following tweet from Steve   mentioning he crumpled to the ground rounding the first base bag. 

 

 

 

 Hope it's not serious.

[Tom Froemming]

Sounds like everything is gonna be OK.

[nater79a]

 

Sounds like everything is gonna be OK.

 

Great to hear. 

Straight from the parents so I'd call that official!

[sloopjont]

What's happened with Wade?  It seems like he's had several ofers lately.

[rdehring]

Wiel and Rooker just continue smashing the ball.  And Kirilloff seems to be hitting even better.  Plus every good game/week/month for Rortvedt adds to the likelihood he can someday be the answer for the Twins behind the plate.  

 

Looked at Enlow's splits.  Take a look at his numbers before and after the break, unbelievable!  He and Balazovic could both be special someday.

 

The Twins drafted a catcher out of Clemson in the 8th round of this year's draft, Chris Williams. They then signed him for $10,000, giving them extra slot dollars to help sign all three of the high school kids and the second baseman from Texas A&M. 

 

I see Williams is usually at first base.  Has he been a catcher in any games for ETon?  But the kid sure can swing the bat, although we know a lot of players have put up BIG numbers at ETon and never heard from again.  Am trying to remember the name of the first baseman from Saint Maarten several years ago, was it Rene Leveret?  Or do I have that wrong?   

[AZTwin]

It’s time to move Jeffers up to single A. He’s been absolutely mashing in rookie ball

[DocBauer]

Love that Enlow is getting stronger as the season moves along. Very nice to see.

 

I hate to cripple E-Town but Jeffers and Williams should definitely get some time at Cedar Rapids.

 

I missed the Helman signing somehow. Thought i had read somewhere he was expected to be a tough sign and might be headed back to school. Glad to see it happened as I thought he was a nice selection.

[Tom Froemming]

I doubt we'll see many promotions until after the trade deadline. There could be quite a few guys coming and going, so it seems to me like it makes sense to keep things the way they are unitl you know which opportunities open up.

 

So that's just another reason why the next couple weeks should be really fun to follow.

[Mike Sixel]

There's no reason for Jeffers to be where he is. Promote him

[Dman]

 

There's no reason for Jeffers to be where he is. Promote him

 

Totally agree.  If they were waiting for Larnach to show up so they could play together they have done that now so move him up.  While I recognize stats in E-town mean very little I haven't seen anybody hit 400 there with a 500 OBP.  Let this guy start seeing better breaking ball stuff and really see what kind of hitter he is.

 

FWIW it looks like I will be eating my crow soon as I didn't like the Jeffers pick at all.  Fangraphs seemed to be the only site that had him rated high enough to be taken where he was.  I have to give credit to the Twins scouts and FO for this one as they took a risk but it looks like a good one. But please move him up, he does not seem challenged at the plate at all right now.

[108Stitches]

When will the End come for Enns?

[Dman]

When will the End come for Enns?

 

I think the deadline.

[Major League Ready]

 

There's no reason for Jeffers to be where he is. Promote him

 

This one is hard to understand. It makes you think that something is in the works to move a few pieces. If not, what does the guy have to do?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Any chance of seeing Vasquez on the Twins this year? What is his strikeout pitch?  i

[108Stitches]

Vasquez slider is ridiculous. That’s what he gets them out on

[mikelink45]

I guess Sano has learned his lessons! sure.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Any chance of seeing Vasquez on the Twins this year?

Yes. Vasquez is Rule 5 eligible this winter if we don't add him to the roster, so he might get the call in September like Moya did last year.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Wiel and Rooker just continue smashing the ball.  And Kirilloff seems to be hitting even better.  Plus every good game/week/month for Rortvedt adds to the likelihood he can someday be the answer for the Twins behind the plate.  

 

Looked at Enlow's splits.  Take a look at his numbers before and after the break, unbelievable!  He and Balazovic could both be special someday.

 

The Twins drafted a catcher out of Clemson in the 8th round of this year's draft, Chris Williams. They then signed him for $10,000, giving them extra slot dollars to help sign all three of the high school kids and the second baseman from Texas A&M. 

 

I see Williams is usually at first base.  Has he been a catcher in any games for ETon?  But the kid sure can swing the bat, although we know a lot of players have put up BIG numbers at ETon and never heard from again.  Am trying to remember the name of the first baseman from Saint Maarten several years ago, was it Rene Leveret?  Or do I have that wrong?   

 

 

Chris Williams has played only 1B for the E-Twins so far.

 

 

He told me earlier today that he played 1B/3B as a sophomore at Clemson, caught as a junior and played 1B this year. 

 

And yes, Rene Leveret.  He has been an indy league star the last bunch of years.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I missed the Helman signing somehow. Thought i had read somewhere he was expected to be a tough sign and might be headed back to school. Glad to see it happened as I thought he was a nice selection.

 

They signed Helman, Mack and Sands (and maybe LaRon Smith) all on the last possible day (July 6th). 

[Seth Stohs]

 

There's no reason for Jeffers to be where he is. Promote him

 

Yup, he's got his month worth of "adjustment" completed, so absolutely. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Totally agree.  If they were waiting for Larnach to show up so they could play together they have done that now so move him up.  While I recognize stats in E-town mean very little I haven't seen anybody hit 400 there with a 500 OBP.  Let this guy start seeing better breaking ball stuff and really see what kind of hitter he is.

 

FWIW it looks like I will be eating my crow soon as I didn't like the Jeffers pick at all.  Fangraphs seemed to be the only site that had him rated high enough to be taken where he was.  I have to give credit to the Twins scouts and FO for this one as they took a risk but it looks like a good one. But please move him up, he does not seem challenged at the plate at all right now.

 

 

No need to eat crow or alter much opinion on 2018 rookies yet.  Plenty of time for that.  .400/.500 is obviously fantastic. But it's 30 games. Likely if he played another 30, they'd come down some. That said, totally on board with him moving up and continuing to catch a couple of times a week and mostly DH.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

When will the End come for Enns?

 

I think I'd try the bullpen first. The front office/scouts must have seen something in order to make him the #2 piece in the Garcia trade. Maybe it's a curveball.I don't know. Nothing looks spectacular. But I'd consider getting Tyler Wells up to AA to make starts and move Enns to the bullpen. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Any chance of seeing Vasquez on the Twins this year? What is his strikeout pitch?  i

 

I'd doubt it. He's only been in AA for like a month. Lots of other relievers that they need to make decisions on that need to get the call. Vasquez tops out at about 91, 92, but he's got a great slider.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I guess Sano has learned his lessons! sure.

 

He's doing what he needs to be doing. He's lost a bunch of weight, and he's working on taking more pitches to better understand the strike zone again. The rest will come with time. 

[Aerodeliria]

Thanks for these updates. It makes me forget about the "big league" team for a few moments.

[Aerodeliria]

Thanks for these updates. It makes me forget about the "big league" team for a few moments.

[jmlease1]

 

I doubt we'll see many promotions until after the trade deadline. There could be quite a few guys coming and going, so it seems to me like it makes sense to keep things the way they are unitl you know which opportunities open up.

So that's just another reason why the next couple weeks should be really fun to follow.

 

This makes sense to me. a week or two won't make much difference and know what all the pieces you have on the board before you make your moves is reasonable.

[mlhouse]

Jeffers and Williams smash Rookie level minor league pitching because putting their prospects in levels of competition below their development level is what the Twins do.

 

Players like these guys are wasting their time in Rookie ball.  If you have ever been to an Appy game there is a major and easy way to distinghish pitchers:  those that can change speeds and those that cannot.  And in that league those ptichers are few and far between. 

 

Advanced college hitters like these guys are completely wasting their time playing Rookie ball.