Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/30): Big Names Go Yard, Relievers Lock It Up

[Ted Schwerzler]

The big league club had a getaway game today so the focus this evening was on the minor league action. A duo of top prospects left the yard, while plenty of relief pitchers turned in very strong outings for their respective clubs. As the regular season comes to a close, these farm teams are looking to finish strong.TRANSACTIONS

Chattanooga Lookouts

INF Jordan Gore placed on DL with a left wrist sprain

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6. Buffalo 1

Box Score

 

Wrapping up their second-to-last series of the 2018 season, the Rochester Red Wings threw a bullpen game in this one. Ryan Eades got the start and lasted into the fourth inning. Luke Bard went just an out shy of three complete innings and tallied his second win of the season. Andrew Vasquez escaped some trouble to blank Buffalo over one and two-thirds innings, and Tyler Duffey recorded his third save of the year.

 

The Bison scored their first and only run in the first inning of this one. From there, the Red Wings answered with two runs of their own. Byron Buxton scored on a Gregorio Petit single, and Petit was driven in by LaMonte Wade.

 

Rochester tallied another run in the third as Nick Gordon raced home on a passed ball. Up 3-1 entering their half of the fourth, it was time for the Red Wings to pull away. Jon Kemmer doubled in Zander Wiel, and then another wild pitch allowed Alex Perez to cross the plate. Gordon earned the game’s final RBI on a single that scored Buxton.

 

As the season comes to a close for the Red Wings, it will be interesting who can use some nice performances down the stretch to cement their position with the Twins in the final month.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Jackson 2, Chattanooga 1

Box Score

 

Recently signed Austin Adams was on the bump to start this one. Working as the opener for Jorge Alcala, he went two scoreless innings offering up three hits and two walks but avoiding any damage.

 

The Generals struck first, tallying a run in the third inning. After a single dropped in, a misplay in the infield allowed the Jackson runner to score. Alcala was given a fresh slate in the sixth however, as Mitchell Kranson launched his third home run of the year for Chattanooga to draw things even.

 

Unfortunately the tie was short-lived, and Jackson answered with a run of their own in the seventh. On the night, Jackson doubled up Chattanooga in the run column and nearly did so in hits as well. These two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow night.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 0

Box Score

 

Charlie Barnes was given the start in this one, and he lasted one out shy of five innings. Allowing just one hit, he struck out five and issued only one free pass. The strong effort lowered his ERA to 2.81 on the year.

 

The sixth inning is where all the damage came in this one. Alex Kirilloff homered, his sixth of the season for the Miracle, and the two-run shot put the good guys on the board. Ryan Costello followed with a solo blast of his own, and that 3-0 score is how this one ended.

 

Jovani Moran got the win working three and one-third innings of hitless relief. The Miracle outhit the competition seven to one in this one. Thanks to dropping both games of their doubleheader tonight, Charlotte now is a game and a half back of Fort Myers in the FSL South standings.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 11, Burlington 3

Box Score

 

If tonight’s results are any indication, it appears the Kernels are ready to storm into the postseason. Jhoan Duran made an abbreviated start with his playoff efforts looming. Still, he turned in four solid innings allowing three unearned runs on three hits while walking and striking out three.

 

Cedar Rapids offense made sure that there was no doubt in this one. Scoring 11 runs on 11 hits, an eight-run sixth inning gave the home team all the cushion it needed.

 

Trailing after the top half of the second, Trevor Larnach ripped his third homer of the year to put the home team on the board. A wild pitch then allowed Trey Cabbage to score knotting the game at two.

 

In the third Burlington again jumped out ahead, and that 3-2 lead stood until the sixth. Michael Davis tripled in both Larnach and Jacob Pearson to put Cedar Rapids up for good. Victor Tademo added on with an RBI single, and Michael Helman got involved with a two-RBI single of his own. Capping off the inning, Cabbage notched his 22nd double of the season to clear loaded bases and put this one out of reach at 10-3. Yet another passed ball allowed the final run in the eighth, this time scoring Helman.

 

Derek Molina earned the win in relief, twirling three shutout innings and fanning five batters. Tomorrow night Cedar Rapids will put a bow on their 2018 regular season schedule at home.

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Scheduled Off Day

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Derek Molina (Cedar Rapids) – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB 5 K

Twins Daily Hitter(s) of the Day – Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) – 1-2, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB, HR(3)

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Royce Lewis (Fort Myers) – 1-4

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Fort Myers) – 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(6)

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 2-5, R, RBI

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) – 1-2, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB, HR(3)

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

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

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 1-3

#15 - Ben Rortvedt (Fort Myers) – 0-3

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, 2 BB, 3 K

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, R, BB, K

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) – 0-4

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-2, 4.91 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Jackson (6:05PM CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (1-2, 1.67 ERA)

Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (3-3, 3.28 ERA)

Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Melvi Acosta (2-4, 2.88 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Kingsport (5:30PM CST) – RHP Josh Winder (0-0, -.—ERA)

 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games!

 

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[MikeW]

The middle infielders in Cedar Rapids are very good

[108Stitches]

I watched the Chat game. I am convinced Alcala will not get out of AA ball.

[Monkeypaws]

Glad to see Gordon turning it around in Rochester: 7 for 17 over the last 4 games, raised the BA a whole 10 points. Hope it continues.

 

 

[rdehring]

The Miracle have 3 games remaining with a 1.5 game lead, giving them a magic number of 3.  Charlotte has 4 games remaining, making it 6 games in four days.  That could be rough for their pitching staff.  The Miracle are on a 4 game winning streak and now control their own destiny.  Win three more and they are in!

 

If the Miracle make it the Twins will have three teams in the playoffs (Fort Myers, Cedar Rapids and Elizabethton).  Considering the GCL Twins finished a game and a half out of first and the DSL Twins were a game out with a 50-22 record, things look very good from A ball down. 

 

That looks good for the Twins future.  Unfortunately, that future may be two or three years away.  But it sure looks like the FO plan of building organizational strength has been working.  Too bad they don't have a magic wand that can give us more hope for next year! 

 

 

[gunnarthor]

Honestly, I'm actually upset that the Twins have kept Kiriloff in A+ for this long. He isn't learning anything there. They should push him to a level where he might struggle and see pitches he won't see in A+. Usually, I wouldn't complain since he's coming off an injury and a missed season but his numbers are stupid good. 

 

Among players with 200 PA in the FSL, Kiriloff is first in Avg, 8th in OBP (everyone ahead of him is at least 2 years older), 4th in slg (same caveat). He's too advanced for the FSL and he should be in AA looking at new breaking balls and better pitchers.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Honestly, I'm actually upset that the Twins have kept Kiriloff in A+ for this long. He isn't learning anything there. They should push him to a level where he might struggle and see pitches he won't see in A+. Usually, I wouldn't complain since he's coming off an injury and a missed season but his numbers are stupid good. 

 

Among players with 200 PA in the FSL, Kiriloff is first in Avg, 8th in OBP (everyone ahead of him is at least 2 years older), 4th in slg (same caveat). He's too advanced for the FSL and he should be in AA looking at new breaking balls and better pitchers.

 

Thad Levine said at the Baseball Prospectus event on Saturday that if he even suggests moving Alex Kirilloff to AA this year that someone needs to slap him. Lots of reason to keep him in Ft. Myers and I guarantee he is continuing to learn. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

 

 

 

 

That looks good for the Twins future.  Unfortunately, that future may be two or three years away.  But it sure looks like the FO plan of building organizational strength has been working.  Too bad they don't have a magic wand that can give us more hope for next year! 

This statement is true...but alas, it was also true the last 6 years.  Time will tell.

[gunnarthor]

 

Thad Levine said at the Baseball Prospectus event on Saturday that if he even suggests moving Alex Kirilloff to AA this year that someone needs to slap him. Lots of reason to keep him in Ft. Myers and I guarantee he is continuing to learn. 

What's he learning? Seriously. The defense can be worked at in AA and the quality of opponents is superior. He's dominating that league at 20. Absolutely dominating. There is nothing for him to learn there. He's seen the best pitching high A will throw at him. Why wait 8 months to see if he can hit AA? Send him there now, let him get a taste of it. Even if he goes 1-36, it's good for him to know what to work on.

[Seth Stohs]

 

What's he learning? Seriously. The defense can be worked at in AA and the quality of opponents is superior. He's dominating that league at 20. Absolutely dominating. There is nothing for him to learn there. He's seen the best pitching high A will throw at him. Why wait 8 months to see if he can hit AA? Send him there now, let him get a taste of it. Even if he goes 1-36, it's good for him to know what to work on.

 

Learning goes far beyond stats, but on another level, isn't learning to play in a playoff chase, and hopefully in a playoff series or two a learning experience?

[jmlease1]

 

What's he learning? Seriously. The defense can be worked at in AA and the quality of opponents is superior. He's dominating that league at 20. Absolutely dominating. There is nothing for him to learn there. He's seen the best pitching high A will throw at him. Why wait 8 months to see if he can hit AA? Send him there now, let him get a taste of it. Even if he goes 1-36, it's good for him to know what to work on.

 

What would he really have gained by jumping up another level to get into AA for a month at the end of the season? It's more likely to create misleading results than inform you of anything about him as a player and isn't going to advance his skill set in any significant way. he's still going to start next year at AA; 30 ABs isn't going to change that.

 

One of the great things about Ft. Myers for developing prospects for the Twins is they have more advanced facilities there (because it's also the spring training home) than any other minor league affiliate. (consider the fact that he's coming off a major injury) It's an excellent place for a guy like Kirilloff to develop and rushing him out of there for 30 meaningless ABs doesn't seem like a smart, considered plan to me.

 

He's a top prospect, he's going to being a huge riser in the offseason rankings, but right now the twins seem to have a plan for him and it's been working.

[108Stitches]

I get both sides of the AK situation. But other teams have no problem accelerating their young talent. But like gunnarthor said, what isn’t he doing that would justify holding him back? I agree NOW you let him get the playoff experience. But he should have been up in AA weeks ago. I haven’t looked except in passing but I can’t think of another player who is doing this well that is being held back in the entire MLB system. Don’t be afraid! #freekiriloff

[Tom Froemming]

Y'all know the minor league regular season ends on Labor Day, right? Not sure what AK can learn in four games with the Lookouts ...

[gunnarthor]

 

What would he really have gained by jumping up another level to get into AA for a month at the end of the season? It's more likely to create misleading results than inform you of anything about him as a player and isn't going to advance his skill set in any significant way. he's still going to start next year at AA; 30 ABs isn't going to change that.

 

One of the great things about Ft. Myers for developing prospects for the Twins is they have more advanced facilities there (because it's also the spring training home) than any other minor league affiliate. (consider the fact that he's coming off a major injury) It's an excellent place for a guy like Kirilloff to develop and rushing him out of there for 30 meaningless ABs doesn't seem like a smart, considered plan to me.

 

He's a top prospect, he's going to being a huge riser in the offseason rankings, but right now the twins seem to have a plan for him and it's been working.

I'll grant you the better facilities in Ft Myers but I disagree with your first paragraph. And I agree that at this point, it's a moot point. The season is almost done.

 

BUT, I do think even just a handful of games at AA could've been helpful for him. It wouldn't have mattered if the sample size is too small for stats. It would have shown Kiriloff what a better slider or change up look like. He could see things that he hasn't seen yet. He's our best pure hitting prospect since Mauer and he's dominating the FSL even more than Mauer did. 

[caninatl04]

How does Duffey get credited with a save? Were there a bunch of runners when he came on in the 8th?

[ChrisKnutson]

If the FO is keeping Kirilloff in Fort Myers for the purpose of getting some playoff experience, fine, but if that’s the case then it’s only fair to have AK skip AA, because he’s definitely earned that type of promotion.

[ashbury]

How does Duffey get credited with a save? Were there a bunch of runners when he came on in the 8th?

Five-run lead, bases loaded. That has the tying run on-deck.

[John Kelsey]

 

If the FO is keeping Kirilloff in Fort Myers for the purpose of getting some playoff experience, fine, but if that’s the case then it’s only fair to have AK skip AA, because he’s definitely earned that type of promotion.

 

A+ to AA is a huge jump, no way he will skip that level. 

[ChrisKnutson]

A+ to AA is a huge jump, no way he will skip that level.

 

I mean it’s not like he’s jumping from Single A to the majors like Juan Soto.