Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/28): Graterol Gets 10 Ks in Breakout Start for Fort Myers

[Tom Froemming]

Brusdar Graterol is by far the youngest pitcher to appear for the Miracle this year and has already established a personal season high in innings pitched this year. It was to be expected that he was going to be challenged after his promotion up from Cedar Rapids. Well, tonight was Graterol’s fifth start with Fort Myers, and he dominated.TRANSACTIONS

-The prospects acquired in the Eduardo Escobar trade now have new homes. Ernie De La Trinidad was added to the Fort Myers Miracle roster while both Jhoan Duran and Gabriel Maciel were sent to Cedar Rapids.

 

-We also know where one of the new additions from the Astros are headed. Gilberto Celestino is going to be joining Elizabethton. No word yet on Jorge Alcala.

 

-Jared Akins, who has been with Cedar Rapids, is on his way back down to the E-Twins. Shane Carrier was placed on the Fort Myers DL with a left quad strain. Bailey Ober was placed on the Cedar Rapids DL with a right elbow strain.

 

-Both Miguel Sano and Gabriel Moya were officially called up from Rochester to the Twins. Taylor Motter rejoined the Red Wings after being outrighted.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Louisville 5, Rochester 2

Box Score

 

SP: D.J. Baxendale (4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)

HR: None.

Multi-hit games: None.

 

The Red Wings offense has been pretty brutal. They only mustered four hits and struck out 10 times while not drawing a single walk. Trevor May was impressive over two shutout innings, striking out a pair of batters while throwing 18 of his 26 pitches for strikes, but Alan Busenitz struggled badly (three runs on five hits and a walk over two innings). Willians Astudillo caught for the first time since June 2 and threw out the only base runner who attempted to steal a base off him.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Tennessee 4, Chattanooga 1

Box Score

 

SP: Ryan Eades (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)

HR: Chris Paul (6)

Multi-hit games: Chris Paul (3-for-4, HR), Zander Wiel (2-for-4)

 

The Lookouts led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Tyler Jay gave up a walk-off grand slam. Prior to that, Ryan Eades (two innings), Anthony Marzi (five innings) and Williams Ramirez (one inning) had combined to shut out the Smokies. Chris Paul had a great night, going 3-for-4 with a homer, and Zander Wiel had a pair of hits. The rest of the Chattanooga line up combined to go 1-for-21.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1: Fort Myers 5, Daytona 1 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

W: Brusdar Graterol (5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K)

SV: Jovani Moran (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)

HR: None.

Multi-hit games: Royce Lewis (3-for-4, 2B), Taylor Grzelakowski (2-for-4, 2B)

 

The Miracle staff combined for 12 strikeouts and this was just a seven-inning game. Wow. Brusdar Graterol had a breakthrough performance in this, his fifth start with Fort Myers. One run on two hits and three walks to go with 10 strikeouts. This was Royce Lewis’ fifth multi-hit game in 13 contests with the Miracle.

 

Game 2: Dayton 5, Fort Myers 4 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

SP: Andro Cutura (5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

HR: None.

Multi-hit games: None.

 

Ernie De La Trinidad made his debut with the org, and was 1-for-3. Ho-hum, right? Well, his one hit was a Little League home run. He sent a single out to right field, it was misplayed and EDLT (just go with it) rounded the bases.

Alex Kirilloff carried a 10-game hitting streak into today. With there being two seven-inning contests, you’d figure it was going to be tough to keep that streak rolling, but Kirilloff recorded a single in Game 1 before hitting a double in this game.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Quad Cities 3, Cedar Rapids 2

Box Score

 

SP: Blayne Enlow (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

HR: None.

Multi-hit games: Jose Miranda (2-for-5), Trey Cabbage (2-for-4)

 

Frustrating night for the Kernels, as they closed the gap to one run in the fourth inning but could not find a way to tie it up from there. Blayne Enlow had a quality start, going six innings for the fourth-consecutive start. Gabriel Maciel was 0-for-5 in his debut in the Twins organization.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Bristol 0

Box Score

 

W: Josh Winder (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Michael Helman (3-for-4)

 

Michael Helman has made quite the early impression. This was his 10th pro game, and he’s now hitting .412 and already has six stolen bases. The Twins’ 11th-round pick out of Texas A&M, Helman has primarily been playing second base, but he has also made starts at shortstop and left field. Josh Winder threw five one-hit innings before Juan Gamez and Pedro Garcia each added two no-hit innings.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 5, GCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

 

W: Osiris German (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

SP: Andriu Marin (4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)

HR: Hunter Lee (1)

Multi-hit games: Alberoni Nunez (3-for-4, 2B), Estamy Urena (2-for-4) , Austin Hale (2-for-4)

 

Petru Balan had a big performance out of the bullpen for the Twins, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out three batters. This was a tie game heading into the bottom of the eighth, but Alberoni Nunez delivered the game-winning run on double.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Brusdar Graterol, Fort Myers

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Alberoni Nunez, GCL Twins

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

1. Royce Lewis (FM): 3-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI | 0-for-3, R, BB, K

2. Alex Kirilloff (FM): 1-for-3, BB, RBI | 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, K

3. Brusdar Graterol (FM): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

4. Nick Gordon (ROC): 0-for-4, K

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

6. Trevor Larnach (ET): 0-for-4, K

7. Brent Rooker (CHAT): 0-for-3, BB

8. Akil Baddoo (CR): 1-for-5, 4 K

9. Wander Javier: Out of for the season

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

11. Blayne Enlow (CR): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

12. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 0-for-3, K

13. Travis Blankenhorn (FM): 0-for-1, K

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

15. Ben Rortvedt (FM): 0-for-3

16. Yunior Severino (ET): 1-for-5, 3 K

17. Lewin Diaz (FM): Out with an injury.

18. Ryan Jeffers (CR): 0-for-4, 2 K

19. Jacob Pearson (CR): 1-for-4, R, 2 K

20. Luis Arraez (CHAT): 0-for-4, 2 K

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Louisville, 5:00 pm CT: Stephen Gonsalves

Chattanooga at Tennessee, 4:30 pm CT: TBD

Fort Myers at Daytona, 4:35 pm CT: TBD

Cedar Rapids vs. Quad Cities, 2:05 pm CT: Jordan Balazovic

Elizabethton vs. Bristol, 5:00 pm CT: Brian Rapp

GCL Twins: Off

 

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

 

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[h2oface]

Damn. No higher than A ball prospects. Wake me up in 3 years.

[Danchat]

I wonder where the five new kids rank in the top 30/50 prospects? Would Alcala fit in somewhere between 11-15 (I think he's a better prospect than Wade but not sure about Thorpe)?

[nater79a]

Tyler Jay:

0.2 IP 

2 H

4 R 

4 ER

2 BB

0 K

Walkoff grand slam

 

Ouch.

 

[nater79a]

 

I wonder where the five new kids rank in the top 30/50 prospects? Would Alcala fit in somewhere between 11-15 (I think he's a better prospect than Wade but not sure about Thorpe)?

 

MLB.com ranks them like this:

#11 Jorge Alcala   (right behind Thorpe)

#14 Gilberto Celestino   (right behind Wade)

#17 Gabriel Maciel

#22 Jhoan Duran

 

Seth also tweeted this today:

 

 

 

[rghrbek]

Gordon another donut...is it time to put  him back at AA?  He's still a very good prospect, but he literally cannot get a hit at AAA.  All kids go through ups and downs, but his confidence has to be in a bad spot...I'm worried.

[h2oface]

Tyler Jay:

0.2 IP

2 H

4 R

4 ER

2 BB

0 K

Walkoff grand slam

 

Ouch.

I was just thinking about Jay as I watched the game today, and wondering how it would have been for the Twins if they would have taken Benintendi with the #6 pick of the 2015 draft, instead of Jay. Boston didn't miss him at #7.

[launchingthrees]

I'm surprised at the lack of strikeouts from Enlow. He was touted as a high end arm and he's profiling a lot like Kohl Stewart to me.

[sftwinsfan]

Got to be concerned about Nick Gordon potentially being handed a starting job next year at Target Field.  Maybe after a bad year they can convince Dozier to sign a 1-year deal to reestablish his value for another run at free agency in 2019.  Sadly the backup plan would probably be Taylor Motter or someone like him getting even more playing time next year.  

[shimrod]

Dozier sure looks like he wants to stay, at least through the end of the season. His play this year's destroyed his trade value. 

 

If we need a stop-gap veteran 2B next year I'd like the Twins to look elsewhere. Dozier can put up big numbers with hot stretches but he seems to spend half of every year in a slump. Surround him with consistently good hitters and a team can deal with that, but the Twins haven't done that and it doesn't look likely to happen next year either. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Got to be concerned about Nick Gordon potentially being handed a starting job next year at Target Field.  Maybe after a bad year they can convince Dozier to sign a 1-year deal to reestablish his value for another run at free agency in 2019.  Sadly the backup plan would probably be Taylor Motter or someone like him getting even more playing time next year.  

 

I don't think he should be handed a job. I think the team would be smart to sign someone on a 1 year deal to man 2B. He doesn't look that ready.

[rdehring]

 

Got to be concerned about Nick Gordon potentially being handed a starting job next year at Target Field.  Maybe after a bad year they can convince Dozier to sign a 1-year deal to reestablish his value for another run at free agency in 2019.  Sadly the backup plan would probably be Taylor Motter or someone like him getting even more playing time next year.  

Lets stay positive, sftwinsfan.  The starting second baseman next year is going to be Eduardo Escobar.  Will believe, or maybe hope for, that until the ink is dry on his signature on a contract for someone else.

[rdehring]

As I was reading this, was thinking about Trevor May.  And wondering what the Twins plan is for him.  With 2 innings last night and the 'starting' role recently, are they getting him ready to be a starter?  When will they bring him back to Target Field?  Gotta face major league hitters before next spring?

 

Enjoyed the video of De La Trinidad.  Didn't realize how small he is.

 

Great start for Graterol.  But also another real nice appearance by Moran.  Took a look and was astonished by his last 10 games (21.2 innings).  Only 2 earned runs with 29 strikeouts and only 1 walk...yes, 1 walk and 9 hits is a WHIP below 0.50.

 

Also, no need to worry about Enlow and the strikeouts.  The kid is barely 19 and pitching in A ball.

[jorgenswest]

Maybe Astudillo will get a second chance to show he can catch with the injuries to Sawyer and Graterol. Rupp is no longer on the team. The only other option on the team is Jordan Pacheco. They might also consider moving Navaretto up a level.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Tyler Jay:

0.2 IP 

2 H

4 R 

4 ER

2 BB

0 K

Walkoff grand slam

 

Ouch.

He's been stripped of what he was by the Baseball Gods. I wonder if he has TOS and just doesn't want to do the surgery. They shut him down last year in fear that he had it, but then decided he just needed a mechanical adjustment. Either way, something's clearly missing.

 

Gordon another donut...is it time to put  him back at AA?  He's still a very good prospect, but he literally cannot get a hit at AAA.  All kids go through ups and downs, but his confidence has to be in a bad spot...I'm worried.

Might be even worse for his confidence if you send him back down. I'd just ride it out, he should be better off in the long run going through a rough patch. 

 

I'm surprised at the lack of strikeouts from Enlow. He was touted as a high end arm and he's profiling a lot like Kohl Stewart to me.

It's certainly something to take note of, but no reason to be concerned at this point.

 

As I was reading this, was thinking about Trevor May.  And wondering what the Twins plan is for him.  With 2 innings last night and the 'starting' role recently, are they getting him ready to be a starter?  When will they bring him back to Target Field?  Gotta face major league hitters before next spring?

I think the Trevor May as a starter ship has sailed. He's averaged 24 pitches per appearance over his last seven games and the Twins have quite a few other starting options already on the 40-man-roster. I think he's ready to come up and help the bullpen right now.

[slash129]

Ober's elbow injury sure sucks ... He was looking like a riser ... At this point in the season, he's probably done with any meaningful outings

[MN_ExPat]

 

He's been stripped of what he was by the Baseball Gods. I wonder if he has TOS and just doesn't want to do the surgery. They shut him down last year in fear that he had it, but then decided he just needed a mechanical adjustment. Either way, something's clearly missing.

 

I'd have to concur Tom.   We saw him at the Jacksonville/Chattanooga game a couple of weeks ago and while my son was speaking with him very briefly before the game I noted that he looks in fantastic shape (he's bulked up a lot), but... yeah, something doesn't seem 100% with his arm despite the increase.   Sometimes an arm just gives out and it's a real shame to see.   

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Got to be concerned about Nick Gordon potentially being handed a starting job next year at Target Field.  Maybe after a bad year they can convince Dozier to sign a 1-year deal to reestablish his value for another run at free agency in 2019.  Sadly the backup plan would probably be Taylor Motter or someone like him getting even more playing time next year.  

I'm ready for Royce Lewis...even though he may not be ready.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Notes from Elizabethton   I spent an afternoon and evening there yesterday, The GM, Mike Mains, could not have been nicer. He gave me free access and took me around the field and clubhouse. Here are some random observations.1) One member of the organization (not Mike Mains) told me that this was the best group of players, both in skills and in character, in 16 years. 2) There were 8 to 10 scouts there (and based on what I saw, they were not there to see the Bristol Pirates players. The night before in Johnson City, there were 3 to 4 scouts to see the Cardinals and the Braves. Not sure what, if anything that says, but I found it interesting. I talked to a Brewers scout and without looking at any of his notes, he readily gave me the numbers for Trevor Larnach, Yunior Severino, Chris Williams and Ricky De La Torre. 3) A Twins coach said that Severino hit a ball over the light poles at Johnson City that week. 4) In batting practice balls hit by Williams and  Larnach just sounded crisper than when others hit the ball. 5) Josh Windsor had a no hitter through 4 with only 1 BB, He allowed 1 hit in the 5th and was removed after 5. It was a planned move, because I talked to Moises Gomez, who told me before the game that he was scheduled "to pitch tonight". 6) I was in the dressing room while the players had a pregame meal about 4 pm for a 6 pm game. The menu was outstanding...skinless chicken breasts, diced roasted sweet potatoes, and cut up fresh cantaloupe and water melon..The strength and conditioning coach, Chuck Bradway,(he has a masters degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science from the University of Tampa and extensive experience in this area of conditioning, and who looked to be in top shape himself) was in charge of the meals. After the game, a post game meal was served, consisting of Lasagna and I'm not aware of the other dishes, if any. I was told that the nutritional clubhouse meals had been started several years earlier. 7)  The old Washington Senators star, Jim Lemon, had coached there and was revered by long time manager Ray Smith, and long tome hitting coach, Jeff Reed. The  4 coaches" lockers were labeled in large letters the following: COBB, RUTH, LEMON, and GEHRIG. 8).I met a new technical analyst, who was working on his computer. Reed told me his help was invaluable. 9) Cupping therapy was being used on several players' shoulders.Cupping increases blood flow to muscle strains and speeds healing by bringing more blood to the cupped areas. It leaves a 2 inch in diameter red circle where each cup had  been removed. About 4 cups were used at a time. 10) The first base coach is named Takashi Mioshi. Prior to his arrival from Japan this year, (his first year) he requested information about the history of Elisabethton and the surrounding area from the GM, so he could fit in better. 11) The Watauga River is a shallow river which flows by the Twins' stadium less that 200 yards away. Sometimes after a practice on a hot day, the players will go lie down in the shallow river to cool off and just relax. The players I met and talked with were all polite and friendly...maybe they were just a laid back bunch from the cupping and from lying in the river.

[Han Joelo]

 

Notes from Elizabethton   I spent an afternoon and evening there yesterday, The GM, Mike Mains, could not have been nicer. He gave me free access and took me around the field and clubhouse. Here are some random observations.1) One member of the organization (not Mike Mains) told me that this was the best group of players, both in skills and in character, in 16 years. 2) There were 8 to 10 scouts there (and based on what I saw, they were not there to see the Bristol Pirates players. The night before in Johnson City, there were 3 to 4 scouts to see the Cardinals and the Braves. Not sure what, if anything that says, but I found it interesting. I talked to a Brewers scout and without looking at any of his notes, he readily gave me the numbers for Trevor Larnach, Yunior Severino, Chris Williams and Ricky De La Torre. 3) A Twins coach said that Severino hit a ball over the light poles at Johnson City that week. 4) In batting practice balls hit by Williams and  Larnach just sounded crisper than when others hit the ball. 5) Josh Windsor had a no hitter through 4 with only 1 BB, He allowed 1 hit in the 5th and was removed after 5. It was a planned move, because I talked to Moises Gomez, who told me before the game that he was scheduled "to pitch tonight". 6) I was in the dressing room while the players had a pregame meal about 4 pm for a 6 pm game. The menu was outstanding...skinless chicken breasts, diced roasted sweet potatoes, and cut up fresh cantaloupe and water melon..The strength and conditioning coach, Chuck Bradway,(he has a masters degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science from the University of Tampa and extensive experience in this area of conditioning, and who looked to be in top shape himself) was in charge of the meals. After the game, a post game meal was served, consisting of Lasagna and I'm not aware of the other dishes, if any. I was told that the nutritional clubhouse meals had been started several years earlier. 7)  The old Washington Senators star, Jim Lemon, had coached there and was revered by long time manager Ray Smith, and long tome hitting coach, Jeff Reed. The  4 coaches" lockers were labeled in large letters the following: COBB, RUTH, LEMON, and GEHRIG. 8).I met a new technical analyst, who was working on his computer. Reed told me his help was invaluable. 9) Cupping therapy was being used on several players' shoulders.Cupping increases blood flow to muscle strains and speeds healing by bringing more blood to the cupped areas. It leaves a 2 inch in diameter red circle where each cup had  been removed. About 4 cups were used at a time. 10) The first base coach is named Takashi Mioshi. Prior to his arrival from Japan this year, (his first year) he requested information about the history of Elisabethton and the surrounding area from the GM, so he could fit in better. 11) The Watauga River is a shallow river which flows by the Twins' stadium less that 200 yards away. Sometimes after a practice on a hot day, the players will go lie down in the shallow river to cool off and just relax. The players I met and talked with were all polite and friendly...maybe they were just a laid back bunch from the cupping and from lying in the river.

This is great stuff.  Thanks for taking the time to make notes and relate it all.

[ashbury]

COBB, RUTH, LEMON, and GEHRIG. Jim Lemon was a fine major leaguer but this is hilarious. Your post deserves its own thread. Convert it to a blog entry, and see if it gets promoted to article-hood.

[Han Joelo]

 

COBB, RUTH, LEMON, and GEHRIG. Jim Lemon was a fine major leaguer but this is hilarious. Your post deserves its own thread. Convert it to a blog entry, and see if it gets promoted to article-hood.

Yup.  Agreed.  And I'm not just saying that for the bump.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'd have to concur Tom.   We saw him at the Jacksonville/Chattanooga game a couple of weeks ago and while my son was speaking with him very briefly before the game I noted that he looks in fantastic shape (he's bulked up a lot), but... yeah, something doesn't seem 100% with his arm despite the increase.   Sometimes an arm just gives out and it's a real shame to see.   

 

I mean, Tyler Jay had a bad game, but in his nine games before this,  he had given up two earned runs over 14.2 innings in his previous nine games. So, maybe it was just that, a bad game. 

[rdehring]

 

This is great stuff.  Thanks for taking the time to make notes and relate it all.

 

Notes from Elizabethton   I spent an afternoon and evening there yesterday, The GM, Mike Mains, could not have been nicer. He gave me free access and took me around the field and clubhouse. Here are some random observations.1) One member of the organization (not Mike Mains) told me that this was the best group of players, both in skills and in character, in 16 years. 2) There were 8 to 10 scouts there (and based on what I saw, they were not there to see the Bristol Pirates players. The night before in Johnson City, there were 3 to 4 scouts to see the Cardinals and the Braves. Not sure what, if anything that says, but I found it interesting. I talked to a Brewers scout and without looking at any of his notes, he readily gave me the numbers for Trevor Larnach, Yunior Severino, Chris Williams and Ricky De La Torre. 3) A Twins coach said that Severino hit a ball over the light poles at Johnson City that week. 4) In batting practice balls hit by Williams and  Larnach just sounded crisper than when others hit the ball. 5) Josh Windsor had a no hitter through 4 with only 1 BB, He allowed 1 hit in the 5th and was removed after 5. It was a planned move, because I talked to Moises Gomez, who told me before the game that he was scheduled "to pitch tonight". 6) I was in the dressing room while the players had a pregame meal about 4 pm for a 6 pm game. The menu was outstanding...skinless chicken breasts, diced roasted sweet potatoes, and cut up fresh cantaloupe and water melon..The strength and conditioning coach, Chuck Bradway,(he has a masters degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science from the University of Tampa and extensive experience in this area of conditioning, and who looked to be in top shape himself) was in charge of the meals. After the game, a post game meal was served, consisting of Lasagna and I'm not aware of the other dishes, if any. I was told that the nutritional clubhouse meals had been started several years earlier. 7)  The old Washington Senators star, Jim Lemon, had coached there and was revered by long time manager Ray Smith, and long tome hitting coach, Jeff Reed. The  4 coaches" lockers were labeled in large letters the following: COBB, RUTH, LEMON, and GEHRIG. 8).I met a new technical analyst, who was working on his computer. Reed told me his help was invaluable. 9) Cupping therapy was being used on several players' shoulders.Cupping increases blood flow to muscle strains and speeds healing by bringing more blood to the cupped areas. It leaves a 2 inch in diameter red circle where each cup had  been removed. About 4 cups were used at a time. 10) The first base coach is named Takashi Mioshi. Prior to his arrival from Japan this year, (his first year) he requested information about the history of Elisabethton and the surrounding area from the GM, so he could fit in better. 11) The Watauga River is a shallow river which flows by the Twins' stadium less that 200 yards away. Sometimes after a practice on a hot day, the players will go lie down in the shallow river to cool off and just relax. The players I met and talked with were all polite and friendly...maybe they were just a laid back bunch from the cupping and from lying in the river.

So much information, tarheeltwinsfan, thanks.

 

And it makes me feel much better about the organization after hearing some of the things you talked about.  I don't know how long they have been doing most of these things, but there is no question they are taking good care of these young men.