Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/19): Helman Walk Off Caps Fort Myers Comeback

[Tom Froemming]

Four starting pitchers went at least five innings and gave up one or no earned runs, there were seven home runs hit — including a walk-off from Michael Helman — and Twins affiliates went 4-1. Come check out the details on what went down across the minor league system Friday night.TRANSACTIONS

Cedar Rapids activated pitcher Tyler Palm form the seven-day injured list and swapped him out for fellow pitcher Jose Martinez, who hits the IL due to a left groin strain.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Lehigh Valley 1

Box Score

 

Zack Littell: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 58.5% strikes (55 of 94 pitches)

HR: Zander Wiel (4)

Multi-hit games: Wiel (2-for-4, 2B, HR), Adam Rosales (2-for-4, 2B)

 

Zack Littell had a rough first start of the season but has recovered in his two outings since. Tonight was his best effort yet, as he threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball and racked up nine strikeouts.

The Rochester bats did a nice job getting a lead early. Zander Wiel led off the third inning with a double and was later doubled around by Adam Rosales. Wiel came up again the next inning and clubbed a three-run homer. That was plenty enough wiggle room in what turned out to be a rare low-scoring Triple-A game so far this season.

 

Matt Magill pitched for the second straight night and third overall appearance of his rehab assignment with the Red Wings. He pitched a 1-2-3 innings with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. With 1 1/3 more scoreless innings tonight, Mike Morin is up to 7 1/3 scoreless, three-hit innings to open the year.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Game 1: Pensacola 9, Biloxi 1 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

Griffin Jax: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 56.4% strikes (53 of 94 pitches)

HR: Brian Navarreto (1), Brian Schales (3)

Multi-hit games: Navarreto (3-for-4, 2B, HR), Mark Contreras (2-for-3, BB)

 

Brian Schales and Brian Navarreto both hit three-run homers and Griffin Jax was very good once again, giving the Blue Wahoos a very low-stress victory in the first game of this doubleheader. Jax gave up one earned runs on five hits over six innings pitched. He now has a 0.54 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on the season.

 

Gabriel Moya made the debut appearance of his rehab assignment, pitching the final inning. He gave up a leadoff single, then a one-out double to put runners on second and third. Things were looking a bit sketchy, but Moya struck out both of the next two batters to end the game.

 

Game 2: Biloxi 4, Pensacola 3

Box Score

 

Andro Cutura: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 64.4% strikes (38 of 59 pitches)

HR: Mitchell Kranson (2)

Multi-hit games: None

 

This was a much different story than the first game, as it was a back-and-forth affair. The Blue Wahoos were able to fight back from early deficits to tie this game twice, but could not generate one last comeback.

 

Biloxi scored twice in the bottom of the first, but Pensacola tied it up the next half inning thanks to a solo homer from Mitchell Kranson and an RBI groundout from Taylor Grzelakowski. Biloxi took the lead again in the bottom of the third inning, but the Blue Wahoos answered again. The Shuckers carved out another lead in the fourth inning and managed to protect it this time.

 

Ryan Mason delivered two no-hit innings out of the bullpen. He’s only surrendered three hits and one walk over 7 2/3 scoreless innings so far this season. He’s also struck out eight batters. Brian Schales hit a double in this one. He’s making a very good first impression in the org after being acquired from Miami over the offseason. Schales leads Pensacola with a .908 OPS.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 3, Charlotte 1

Box Score

 

Bailey Ober: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 68.0% strikes (51 of 75 pitches)

HR: Michael Helman (1)

Multi-hit games: Trevor Larnach (3-for-4)

 

WALK OFF, BABY! The Miracle trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Trevor Larnach drove in Fort Myers’ first run on what was his third single of the night. The first two batters were retired in the bottom of the ninth but Ryan Jeffers hit a single and Michael Helman blasted his first Florida State League homer to walk it off.

Bailey Ober, the reigning FSL Pitcher of the Week, gave up one earned run over six five-hit innings. He has not given up an earned run in 18 innings this season. Ober had six strikeouts and walked a batter, just his third walk issued on the season.

 

Hector Lujan struck out four batters over 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Michael Quezada picked up his second win by recording the final out of the top of the ninth inning.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Beloit 1

Box Score

 

Cole Sands: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 62.4% strikes (53 of 85 pitches)

HR: Trey Cabbage (5) Chris Williams (2)

Multi-hit games: Gabriel Maciel (2-for-4, 2B), Williams (2-for-4, 2B, HR)

 

Trey Cabbage has come out of the gates in absolute beast mode. He homered yet again tonight, giving him five home runs in just 13 games with the Kernels. He had eight homers in 99 games with Cedar Rapids last season. In case you missed it, SD Buhr had a great feature on Cabbage here at the site earlier this week.

 

Cabbage socked a solo homer in the seventh inning to break what was a scoreless tie at that point. Chris Williams followed with a dinger of his own to make it back-to-back jacks. He also provided a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.

Cole Sands was dealing again tonight. After five shutout innings his ERA is down to 1.93. With six more strikeouts, Sands has 18 Ks in just 14 innings this season. Austin Schulfer earned the win in relief by throwing three scoreless innings.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Bailey Ober, Fort Myers

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Michael Helman, Fort Myers

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

1. Royce Lewis (FM): 0-for-4, 3 K, E

4. Trevor Larnach (FM): 3-for-4, RBI

10. Akil Baddoo (FM): 1-for-3, BB

13. Ryan Jeffers (FM): 1-for-3, BB, R

16. Gilberto Celestino (CR): 0-for-4, 2 K

17. Zack Littell (ROC): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 58.5% strikes

18. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 1-for-3, BB, R)

20. Jose Miranda (FM): 0-for-4

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Lehigh Valley, 5:35 pm CT (Chase De Jong)

Pensacola vs. Mobile, 6:05 pm CT (Sean Poppen)

Fort Myers vs. Charlotte, 5:00 pm CT (Charlie Barnes)

Cedar Rapids vs. Beloit, 2:05 pm CT (Josh Winder)

 

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

 

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[Dman]

I have not been a big Jax fan because his K rate isn't that great  but he sure seems to find a way to get the job done.

 

So happy to Helman have some success.  It has been a tough start but here is hoping he is getting back to the hitter he was last year.

 

Cabbage I don't know what to say.  He has been great so far.  If he keep  this  up they have to send to high

 

Ober is on fire.  a but rough tonight but this guy can deal.  Just stay healthy and this guy can pitch. 

 

Great things again tonight.  Keep it up boys/

 

 

[h2oface]

What's up with Royce Lewis?

 

[dbminn]

Zander Weil is an interesting player. By the numbers, he has been a good hitter who has shown less power each year in the system. His HR have declined while his OPS has stayed steady: 

 

A:   19 HR / 568 PA / .792 OPS (1 HR/29.9 PA)

A+: 13 HR / 526 PA / .773 OPS (1/40.4)

AA:  7 HR / 435 PA / .827 OPS  (1/62.1)

 

He seems to have changed his approach since reaching AAA in late August 2018:

 

AAA: 7 HR / 102 PA / .795 OPS (1/14.6)

 

Weil has always hit a few more ground balls than fly balls. Through AA, he hit 1.1 GB/1 FB (line drives excluded). For 2019, he's hitting 4 fly balls for every grounder. 

 

Granted, the AAA sample size is small. Still, I'm curious... Has Weil made a conscious change? Seems like a reasonable adjustment if he wants a MLB career.

[Danchat]

Wiel and Schales are having strong seasons to start so far... I wonder if Wiel might make his way onto the MLB roster at some point.

[rdehring]

I really, really wanted the Blue Wahoos to win their second game for a five game sweep.

 

Zach Littell's first start was bad, the second so-so and last night very good.  Hopefully, he is now on track for more.  After Weil had a break-out year last year, he has quietly been one of the Red Wings best hitters this spring.  Expect will see a lot more games from him like last night, but will he make it to the Twins?

 

Griffin Jax is in his fourth year in the organization, yet after last night has pitched only 144.0 innings.  Last night's earned run was his first of the year in 16.0 innings.  Guess that confirms it wasn't a mistake to push this kid up to AA.  Will he keep it up and make it to the Twins next year?    

 

Then there is Ober and Sands.  Gotta love all these dominant pitchers the Twins have throughout the organization.  

[bird]

 

What's up with Royce Lewis?

 

The Twins have a 14-person team from their Analytics Department observing Lewis's every move. What they theorize is that Royce may be affected by his morning routine of consuming three bowls of Sugar Smacks and/or his pre-game meal of four Hostess Snowballs. They're looking at the spreadsheets to see if the twitch in the muscles on the inside of his left calf are connected to his nutrition intake and causing his hitting deficiency.

 

The alternative theory is he's just in a bit of a slump right now.

[Einstein1]

I really like the way Cabbage has started the season, hopefully he can keep it up.  

[rdehring]

 

What's up with Royce Lewis?

Wasn't he battling a few injuries in spring training?  Could be he isn't 100%.  Also understand he isn't getting a lot of pitches to hit as his walk rate is high.  Then could be his first slump as a pro, something he will need to work-thru and learn from.

[blindeke]

Willian Rosario, catching for Littel in that video, sure made a meal of framing every pitch. I guess that's what you do!

[Tom Froemming]

I tend to lean on the side of letting guys be athletic and do what feels natural to them, but I do think Royce is going to need to ditch the gigantic leg kick sooner or later.