Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/13): Colina, Jax Provide Quality Starts

[Seth Stohs]

A week after Royce Lewis faced Casey Mize in a Battle of #1 Overall Picks, he (and his Miracle teammates) faced Brendan McKay who was taken three picks after the Twins took Lewis. Lewis and Kirilloff each had one hit off of the talented left-hander. Griffin Jax put together another quality start. Edwar Colina put together one of the best starts of his career (and he was part of a no-hitter earlier in the season). The E-Twins began their night with back-to-back home runs.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

• It’s a rarity, but on Monday there were no transactions in the Twins minor leagues.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Columbus 2

Box Score

 

Chase De Jong was on the mound for the Red Wings in Ohio, facing off against Columbus. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five. Nick Anderson worked the final 2 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit. He struck out three batters without issuing a walk.

 

Jon Kemmer led the offense. He went 3-for-4 with his fifth Red Wings double. Gregorio Petit went 2-for-4 with his ninth double.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

 

No Game Scheduled.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Charlotte 3

Box Score

 

Down 3-2 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Caleb Hamilton drilled his 15th double of the season to drive in the tying and winning runs. Ryan Costello went 2-for-4. Royce Lewis got the Miracle on the scoreboard in the third inning when he singled in Hamilton.

 

Griffin Jax put up another quality start. It was the tenth time in his eleven starts that he has completed six innings. On this night, he began with three perfect innings and five scoreless innings before giving up three runs in the sixth inning. In total, he gave up five hits, walked two and struck out six batters. Jovani Moran came on and struck out four batters over two, one-hit innings. He walked two. Kevin Marnon picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Quad Cities 3

Box Score

 

Edwar Colina had another strong start for the Kernels. He gave up one run on two hits (one solo homer) and two walks over the first seven innings. He struck out a career-high ten batters. Rickey Ramirez came on and pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but he gave up two runs in the ninth to push the deficit to 3-0.

 

The Kernels got a base runner in the ninth inning, but were unable to break up the shutout. Trey Cabbage broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning with a single. The team had just four hits in the game. Michael Helman had two of them.

 

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 4, Greeneville 1

Box Score

 

Sometimes a strong start is all you need. In this game, Lean Marrero led off the top of the first inning with his second E-Twins homer. The next batter, Yunior Severino, drilled his fifth home run. Two batters into the game, the Twins had what proved to be enough runs to win this ball game. Jean Carlos Arias added a two-run triple later in the game. Yeltsin Encarnacion went 2-for-4 with his fourth double. Gilberto Celestino walked twice and stole his sixth base.

 

Kody Funderburk started and threw four scoreless innings. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out two. Funderburk's four innings extended the E-Twins starters' stretch of scoreless innings to 26 (per Mike Gallagher). Brian Rapp came on and worked the next four innings. He was charged with an unearned run on two hits and a walk. He struck out six on his way to his first professional win. Johan Quezada came on and pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the year. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out one.

 

 

GCL TWINS TALK

GCL Twins , GCL Orioles

Box Score

 

Monday’s game was postponed by rain.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Jon Kemmer, Rochester Red Wings (3-4, 2B(5)).

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Edwar Colina, Cedar Rapids Kernels (7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, RBI, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, 2B(19), R

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

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 0-4, K

#5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - No Game Scheduled

#8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, BB

#9 -Wander Javier - out of for the season

#10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did not pitch

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

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-3, BB, 2 K

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 K

#14 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - No Game Scheduled

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

#16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) - 1-4, HR(5), R, RBI, 2 K

#17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - Out for the season (wrist)

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, K

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) - No Game Scheduled.

#21 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, HBP

*Since Wander Javier is out, I’d add #21 to the list.

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Columbus (6:05 CST) - TBD

Chattanooga @ Mississippi (7:00 CST) - TBD

Charlotte @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (4-7, 4.17 ERA)

Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids - LHP Tyler Watson (4-5, 4.66 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (6:00 CST) - RHP Luis Rijo (3-1, 2.35 ERA)

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (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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[FormerMinnasotan]

What kind of prospect is Edwar Colina? I go through his numbers in Cedar Rapids and he looks solid, but I have to think his lack of height (he’s listed at 5’11”) might play into his potential down the road. What could be Colina’s floor/ceiling realistically be?

[Seth Stohs]

 

What kind of prospect is Edwar Colina? I go through his numbers in Cedar Rapids and he looks solid, but I have to think his lack of height (he’s listed at 5’11”) might play into his potential down the road. What could be Colina’s floor/ceiling realistically be?

 

He's a Top 50 guy for me... I feel like he should be higher. He throws 95-96 mph. Has a good, developing pitch mix. Definitely one to watch.

[NDTimIrish]

What a terrible day for prospects!

[MN_ExPat]

I see the walks still being a little high for him (Colina), but over his last ten starts he seems to be trending in the right direction.   You're right Seth, this kid is definitely one to follow.

[MN_ExPat]

 

He's a Top 50 guy for me... I feel like he should be higher. He throws 95-96 mph. Has a good, developing pitch mix. Definitely one to watch.

Seth, I was wondering who you (and the rest of the TD writers) think would make good picks for the AFL this year?

[Lonestar]

Nick Anderson should be added to 40-man roster. In fact he should be on the MLB roster -- a power reliever capable of more than one inning.

[rdehring]

When I look at last night's box scores, Seth, I see two players who had good nights and aren't in your Top 21...for good reasons.  But I suspect both, Griffin Jax and Michael Helman, are going to be in the discussion for good rankings this next off-season.  

 

Do you think either is deserving of Top 20 status?  Or are they more likely to be in the 20's or even 30's?  I don't do rankings anymore and after all these trades am glad I don't.  So many players one would think should be in the teens or twenties, probably more than spots will be available for.

 

Speaking of ratings, will you be including guys from the DSL like Anthony Escobar or Victor Heredia and the center fielder from Venezuela they signed for big money?

[ashbury]

Nick Anderson should be added to 40-man roster. In fact he should be on the MLB roster -- a power reliever capable of more than one inning.

He's old enough he should be ready, but I'd like to see a bit more success in high-leverage situations at AAA, before making him a priority for the majors. He didn't do well in a couple of recent first-inning "opener" stints, where he faces the other team's best batters right away. His last two outings have been better, but mid-innings or when you're behind are less pressure. That's my concern with him for now.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Seth, I was wondering who you (and the rest of the TD writers) think would make good picks for the AFL this year?

I think Jax would make a ton of sense. I'm sure they'd love to get him some more innings, though there's obviously a limit to how far you want to push a guy from one year to the next. Also, I believe you're only allowed to send one guy below Double A, and there are some other strong options in Fort Myers.

 

Zander Wiel, Luis Arraez, Zack Granite, Jorge Alcala and Cody Stashak are also guys that would seem to make sense as far as I can tell. 

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

 I appreciate a starter who can consistently give you 6+ innings.

[Squirrel]

 

What a terrible day for prospects!

Yeah, that whole Chattanooga lineup just didn't do anything! What a bunch of slackers!

[Tom Froemming]

 

I think Jax would make a ton of sense. I'm sure they'd love to get him some more innings, though there's obviously a limit to how far you want to push a guy from one year to the next. Also, I believe you're only allowed to send one guy below Double A, and there are some other strong options in Fort Myers.

 

Zander Wiel, Luis Arraez, Zack Granite, Jorge Alcala and Cody Stashak are also guys that would seem to make sense as far as I can tell. 

Darn, I don't think Granite's going to be eligible since he still hasn't come off the DL yet. Would have been nice to get him some extra work out there.

[slash129]

 

What a terrible day for prospects!

 

The pitchers only gave up 9 runs across 4 games, so there had to be some bright spots on that side.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, I was wondering who you (and the rest of the TD writers) think would make good picks for the AFL this year?

 

Who would i like to see?

 

Kirilloff, Lewis, Rooker, and either Navarreto or Rortvedt.

Tyler Wells, Cody Stashak, and if healthy, Hackimer.

 

But there are so many reasons to send guys to the AFL beyond prospect status.

[Seth Stohs]

 

When I look at last night's box scores, Seth, I see two players who had good nights and aren't in your Top 21...for good reasons.  But I suspect both, Griffin Jax and Michael Helman, are going to be in the discussion for good rankings this next off-season.  

 

Do you think either is deserving of Top 20 status?  Or are they more likely to be in the 20's or even 30's?  I don't do rankings anymore and after all these trades am glad I don't.  So many players one would think should be in the teens or twenties, probably more than spots will be available for.

 

Speaking of ratings, will you be including guys from the DSL like Anthony Escobar or Victor Heredia and the center fielder from Venezuela they signed for big money?

 

Jax is borderline Top 30 for me even after adding  5-6 new guys in the organization.

 

Helman's too early to know yet. 11th round pick, solid college player, already moved to 2B... he'd be borderline top 50 maybe for me.

 

I don't' rank any players until they reach the GCL, unless they're 7-digit international signees and that's only because we include them in the prospect handbook.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

I think Jax would make a ton of sense. I'm sure they'd love to get him some more innings, though there's obviously a limit to how far you want to push a guy from one year to the next. Also, I believe you're only allowed to send one guy below Double A, and there are some other strong options in Fort Myers.

 

Zander Wiel, Luis Arraez, Zack Granite, Jorge Alcala and Cody Stashak are also guys that would seem to make sense as far as I can tell. 

 

I agree on the Jax idea... that would be a good one.

 

There is no One Below Double A rule anymore, so that's' not an issue.

 

Granite probably wouldn't be ready yet. He just started his rehab from his torn rotator cuff last week, so I'm guessing he wouldn't be ready. 

[Squirrel]

 

Darn, I don't think Granite's going to be eligible since he still hasn't come off the DL yet. Would have been nice to get him some extra work out there.

Even if Granite were off the DL ... why would you send him? It would seem ... a wasteful use of a spot to me, but then, I don't know. I've been baffled by these decisions in the past, so maybe I'm a little 'unclear' the purpose of who goes to the AFL or not.

[Steve Lein]

 

I think Jax would make a ton of sense. I'm sure they'd love to get him some more innings, though there's obviously a limit to how far you want to push a guy from one year to the next. Also, I believe you're only allowed to send one guy below Double A, and there are some other strong options in Fort Myers.

 

Zander Wiel, Luis Arraez, Zack Granite, Jorge Alcala and Cody Stashak are also guys that would seem to make sense as far as I can tell. 

 

See yesterday's MiLB report thread for some more information on this.

 

The Twins sent four players to the AFL last year out of Fort Myers (Paul, Hackimer, Vasquez, Miller).

[Tom Froemming]

 

Even if Granite were off the DL ... why would you send him? It would seem ... a wasteful use of a spot to me, but then, I don't know. I've been baffled by these decisions in the past, so maybe I'm a little 'unclear' the purpose of who goes to the AFL or not.

For Granite it would have been great just to get him some more live pitching before he closes up shop for the year. I think as far as the parent clubs are concerned, the purpose of the AFL is mainly to extend the season for certain guys.

 

So some players you'd think would make sense probably won't go because they've played a ton (Lewis, Kirilloff, Rooker) or they don't need to increase their innings any farther (Graterol, Jax?). Then some other less obvious guys will go simply because these teams still have to be functional (maybe a middle infielder like Alex Perez or a catcher who can play multiple positions like Mitchell Kranson).

[MN_ExPat]

 

For Granite it would have been great just to get him some more live pitching before he closes up shop for the year. I think as far as the parent clubs are concerned, the purpose of the AFL is mainly to extend the season for certain guys.

 

So some players you'd think would make sense probably won't go because they've played a ton (Lewis, Kirilloff, Rooker) or they don't need to increase their innings any farther (Graterol, Jax?). Then some other less obvious guys will go simply because these teams still have to be functional (maybe a middle infielder like Alex Perez or a catcher who can play multiple positions like Mitchell Kranson).

Well said, although I think Kirilloff might still be a candidate due to him missing last year.   Then again, I'm often known to be wrong and I sometimes have been known to eat crayons .

[Seth Stohs]

It'll presumably be in tonight's' Twins minor league report, even though it won't be official until the team announces it tomorrow... but.. Lewis Thorpe fans.... 

 

 

 

[FormerMinnasotan]

It'll presumably be in tonight's' Twins minor league report, even though it won't be official until the team announces it tomorrow... but.. Lewis Thorpe fans....

 

 

https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/1029415780377669632

Yea! Happy to see him move up! As long as health isn’t an issue he should make his Twins debut sometime next year!

[Pitz]

 

It'll presumably be in tonight's' Twins minor league report, even though it won't be official until the team announces it tomorrow... but.. Lewis Thorpe fans.... 

 

 

Nice. Also saw a Nate Rowan tweet that Buxton is returning from the DL for Rochester.

@njrowan

 

(Sorry I don't know how to post the tweet.)

Edited August 14, 2018 by Pitz

[Seth Stohs]

 

For Granite it would have been great just to get him some more live pitching before he closes up shop for the year. I think as far as the parent clubs are concerned, the purpose of the AFL is mainly to extend the season for certain guys.

 

So some players you'd think would make sense probably won't go because they've played a ton (Lewis, Kirilloff, Rooker) or they don't need to increase their innings any farther (Graterol, Jax?). Then some other less obvious guys will go simply because these teams still have to be functional (maybe a middle infielder like Alex Perez or a catcher who can play multiple positions like Mitchell Kranson).

 

Correct... we also have to remember that they do have to fill a team and need certain positions and need depth and yet have just 6-7 per team. So guys like Perez and Kranson (especially a catcher who can play other positions) make a ton of sense. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Nice. Also saw a Nate Rowan tweet that Buxton is returning from the DL for Rochester.

@njrowan

 

(Sorry I don't know how to post the tweet.)

 

Just post the link...