Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/22): Dobnak Dazzles... Again!

[Seth Stohs]

It was a good night for teams throughout the Twins' minor league system. There wasn’t a loss to be found among the Twins affiliates. One starting pitcher’s impressive streak continues. One starter had one rough inning but was solid other than that. One prospect was just shy of hitting for the cycle. And one affiliate was rained out.Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Monday, starting with the transactions of the day

 

Be sure to check out Steve Buhr’s articleon Kernels’ pitching coach and “Dragon” Leader Virgil Vasquez and his encouragement of strikeouts by his pitchers.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• LHP Gabriel Moya’s MLB rehab was transferred from Pensacola to Rochester.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 8, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 6

Box Score

 

The Red Wings fell behind 6-0, but they scored five in the fifth inning and then single runs in each of their final innings to take the 8-6 win.

 

In the fifth inning, the Red Wings got a two-run double from Randy Cesar. He scored when Wilin Rosario switched places with him with a double of his own. Zander Wiel knocked in a run with a single before Tomas Telis hit a sacrifice fly.

 

Cesar led the offense. He went 3-for-5 with his seventh and eighth doubles and four RBI. Wilin Rosario went 2-for-5 and his double was his first of the season. Wiel had the RBI single to go with two walks. John Andreoli went 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base. Luke Raley went 1-for-3 but was twice hit by a pitch.

 

Justin Nicolino started for the Red Wings. The lefty gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four. Ryan Eades worked the next three innings and gave up two run (one earned) on one hit and a walk. He struck out two. Matt Magill continued his rehab and worked two perfect innings, with four strikeouts. In his four appearances now, he has given up zero runs in five innings. He has allowed one hit, walked one and struck out eight.

 

 

The Red Wings infield had four more errors in this game.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 7, Mobile

Box Score

 

Brusdar Graterol came into this game having giving up only one earned run in 17 innings this season. He threw five innings on Monday night and put a zero on the board in four of them. However, in the fourth inning, he lost a bit of control and gave up four runs. On the game, he gave up those four runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out six batters.

 

Graterol was replaced by Sam Clay. Clay gave up two hits and a walk, but no runs, over his two innings. Ryan Mason came on and recorded his third save. He gave up two hits over two scoreless innings. He struck out three batters including the game’s final out.

 

 

Brian Schales had a really nice night at the plate. He had a single, his fourth double and his first triple of the season. Schales came to the Twins in November from Miami in exchange for Nick Anderson.

 

Luis Arraez went 2-for-4 with a walk. Caleb Hamilton was 2-for-3 with a walk and his fourth double. Tanner English was also 2-for-4

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Bradenton 1

Box Score

 

To say the Miracle have received pretty solid starts most games would be a bit of an understatement. On this night, Randy Dobnak made his third start of the year. He threw six shutout innings. He gave up five hits, but no walks, and struck out two batters. He now has 16 scoreless innings to start the season.

But he isn’t the only Miracle starter with that same ERA. Bailey Ober has started the season with 18 innings and a 0.00 ERA. Their Opening Day starter, Bryan Sammons, will make his fourth start of the season on Tuesday. He has started with a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings.

 

Hector Lujan came on and gave up one run on one hit and one walk over the next two innings. He struck out three. Johan Quezada recorded his first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

 

The hitters provided two runs in the third and two more in the fourth inning. Royce Lewis had singles in his first two at-bats. He scored on Jose Miranda’s third double of the season. Ben Rortvedt added his fourth double of the season. Aaron Whitefield walked twice and stole his sixth base of the season, leading the organization.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids, Wisconsin

Box Score

 

The game in Wisconsin was postponed by rain. The teams will play two games on Tuesday, starting at 12:05.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Randy Dobnak, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Brian Schales, Pensacola Blue Wahoos

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 2-5, R, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - Injured List

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K (81 pitches, 48 strikes)

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Play

#5 - Wander Javier (EST) - No Game

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Out of Lineup (hamstring)

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch

#8 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#9 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Play

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - Injured List

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured List

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - 1-3, BB

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - 1-3, BB, R, 2B(4)

#15 - Yunior Severino (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - Rained Out.

#17 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 1-4, BB, K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - Did Not Pitch

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, 2B(3), RBI, 2K

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Scranton/Wilkes Barre @ Rochester (5:05 CST) - TBD

Mobile @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer (2-0, 0.50 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) - LHP Bryan Sammons (2-0, 0.00 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (12:05 CST) - RHP Andrew Cabezas (0-1, 6.00 ERA), RHP Luis Rijo (0-2, 4.35 ERA)

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Monday’s games.

 

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[Aerodeliria]

Miraculous Miracle magic for the starters.That's a very encouraging sign for now and the future.

[clutterheart]

Has there been any news on Smeltzer's head injury? Is he back with the team?

[Dman]

Not sure what to think about Dobnak.  He always seems to have good results and a decent ERA but he doesn't strike a lot of guys out so I guess he is your pitch to contact type of pitcher.  It is hard to make the jump to MLB with that kind of pitching style but maybe he is someone who can do it. 

 

It has been a pleasure to watch him pitch aggressively as he doesn't give up many walks.  He goes right after the batters.  He has the WHIP to be successful but the next jump will tell the tale.  AA is the tough jump for pitchers especially those with low K numbers and AAA can be even harder.  Here's hoping he can refine one of his pitches to get those K number up.

[rdehring]

That is one heck of a trio starting for the Miracle.  Great seeing Graterol come back with a clearn 5th inning after running into trouble in the 4th.  Always good seeing Arraez have another two fer.

 

The Twins are going to need to either go with a bullpen game or bring up a starter for tomorrow.  Have you heard anything about which, Seth?  Could see them bring up someone to start the game, then send him back on Thursday and replace him with Magill...who seems about ready.  Only question is who goes down?

 

Also good seeing Rortvedt both hit for a solid average while picking up more extra base hits for a better OPS.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Has there been any news on Smeltzer's head injury? Is he back with the team?

According to the pitching matchups for today, he is scheduled to start for the Blue Wahoos today. Sounded initially like he was OK too, so I think he's pretty lucky. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

 

The Twins are going to need to either go with a bullpen game or bring up a starter for tomorrow.  Have you heard anything about which, Seth?  Could see them bring up someone to start the game, then send him back on Thursday and replace him with Magill...who seems about ready.  Only question is who goes down?

 

 

I dont' think they'd go with a bullpen game. I think they would call up someone. 

[nicksaviking]

I can't wait to get Magill back in the MLB bullpen.

 

I never expected I'd type that sentence. 

[108Stitches]

Wahoos pitching staff is human after all! Who knew??

[Old Twins Cap]

 

I dont' think they'd go with a bullpen game. I think they would call up someone. 

 

Someone on the 40 man. 

 

Littel?  Who else?

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Cesar is all-hit, no-hands, as Seth noted. He notched his 8th error in 9 games at 3b yesterday.

[AceWrigley]

 

Cesar is all-hit, no-hands, as Seth noted. He notched his 8th error in 9 games at 3b yesterday.

Frank Robinson would name him "Klank" . . . probably.

[jmlease1]

 

Someone on the 40 man. 

 

Littel?  Who else?

 

Littell seems the most likely? Stewart has struggled out the gate, so i'm not sure they'd swing him up to start right now, otherwise he'd be the next most likely. I think we'll see Thorpe at some point this year, but I suspect they're not looking for him to make his MLB debut on a Rochester-Houston-Rochester shuttle job.

[2wins87]

 

Littell seems the most likely? Stewart has struggled out the gate, so i'm not sure they'd swing him up to start right now, otherwise he'd be the next most likely. I think we'll see Thorpe at some point this year, but I suspect they're not looking for him to make his MLB debut on a Rochester-Houston-Rochester shuttle job.

 

Stewart would be scheduled to go for Rochester tomorrow I think.  I might prefer him over Littell since he has a propensity for ground balls and fly balls have a propensity to leave Minute Maid Park.  I'd have to think that the Twins infield would back him up way better than the Red Wings' has.

 

Littell would be scheduled to go Thursday but will have 4 days of rest tomorrow so he's certainly an option too.

[rdehring]

Depending on who starts tonight for Rochester, Thorpe, Stewart and Littell all would have at least four days rest if held out for a Twins start tomorrow.

 

[Dman]

Littell would be a tough choice.  He has 1.6 WHIP and 5.3 ERA in AAA.  I hate to see what those numbers would look like against that Houston lineup.  I think that would be a give away game at this point.  I thought that AAA would be deep with pitching talent but that hasn't shown up yet this year that I can see. 

 

I wonder if they would call Poppen up? Decent K rate and WHIP.  I don't know if he has any plus pitches but good results in AA so far.  Maybe too early to tell what those numbers mean anyway.  Still he has a hot hand\arm right now.

[2wins87]

 

I wonder if they would call Poppen up? Decent K rate and WHIP.  I don't know if he has any plus pitches but good results in AA so far.  Maybe too early to tell what those numbers mean anyway.  Still he has a hot hand\arm right now.

 

Poppen is not on the 40-man and he pitched on Saturday, so he's not an option on 3 days rest.  He's got pretty good velocity (above average but not plus), his secondary stuff is more average-ish I think.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I want to see Thrope, though I suspect it woudl be Stewart. I can see why though...

 

We shoudl see Thorpe at some point this season. 

[Dman]

 

Poppen is not on the 40-man and he pitched on Saturday, so he's not an option on 3 days rest.  He's got pretty good velocity (above average but not plus), his secondary stuff is more average-ish I think.

Yep good point.  Please ignore me.  I wasn't thinking when I wrote that.

[jkcarew]

A month ago, it seemed that any number of Rochester starters could be knocking at the door by the end of April. Instead, it's impossible to find one to whom you'd want to give a major-league start right now. Everyone's results have been pretty bad. Will have to go with whoever has been pitching best (despite results) among Littell, Thorpe, Stewart...and hope for the best.

 

Meanwhile, Rortvedt has been the best offensive player among prospects on this list...by a pretty wide margin. Good for Rortvedt, but not what plans or expectations were. Combination of injuries and slow starts has made tracking the position-player prospect list a bit...underwhelming so far.

[howieramone2]

 

A month ago, it seemed that any number of Rochester starters could be knocking at the door by the end of April. Instead, it's impossible to find one to whom you'd want to give a major-league start right now. Everyone's results have been pretty bad. Will have to go with whoever has been pitching best (despite results) among Littell, Thorpe, Stewart...and hope for the best.

 

Meanwhile, Rortvedt has been the best offensive player among prospects on this list...by a pretty wide margin. Good for Rortvedt, but not what plans or expectations were. Combination of injuries and slow starts has made tracking the position-player prospect list a bit...underwhelming so far.

I agree. I never would have thought all three would get off to slow starts and Gonsalves getting hurt. I thought we had decent depth to handle situations like this.

Edited April 23, 2019 by howieramone2

[gil4]

 

Frank Robinson would name him "Klank" . . . probably.

We need someone to give his glove the special Gene Mauch/Willie Norwood hot glove treatment.

 

[h2oface]

Why is Rooker not playing lately?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Someone on the 40 man. 

 

Littel?  Who else?

 

Yeah it's likely a spot start, so you wouldn't want to make a 40-man roster decision unless you absolutely had to.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Cesar is all-hit, no-hands, as Seth noted. He notched his 8th error in 9 games at 3b yesterday.

 

It was 7 errors in 7 games, so he's improving... 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Stewart would be scheduled to go for Rochester tomorrow I think.  I might prefer him over Littell since he has a propensity for ground balls and fly balls have a propensity to leave Minute Maid Park.  I'd have to think that the Twins infield would back him up way better than the Red Wings' has.

 

Littell would be scheduled to go Thursday but will have 4 days of rest tomorrow so he's certainly an option too.

 

Yeah, I'd go with Stewart on his regular rest. Also, he pitched well in Houston last year in one outing. It''s home for him. Most important it's his regular day so you aren't pushing Littell up. The other option could be to go bullpen game tonight and have Thorpe go on an extra day rest but I don't 'think that makes a lot of sense either. Most likely, they have already made that decision for travel purposes. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Why is Rooker not playing lately?

 

Hamstring. I included that in the Prospect information last night. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Poppen is not on the 40-man and he pitched on Saturday, so he's not an option on 3 days rest.  He's got pretty good velocity (above average but not plus), his secondary stuff is more average-ish I think.

 

Poppen throws 94-96 so I think that's pretty good.

 

But I agree that he''s not an option. Not on the 40-man. No reason to push him straight from AA.