Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/30): Sano Begins Rehab Assignment

[Steve Lein]

With the Pensacola Blue Wahoos having a travel day and the Cedar Rapids Kernels being rained out, there were just two games on Tuesday night in the system. A Minnesota Twins slugger made his first appearance in game action on the year, kicking off his rehab assignment with Fort Myers while Rochester’s offense clubbed their way to double-digit runs.To find out how all of your favorite Twins prospects who were in action on Tuesday fared, keep reading!

 

TRANSACTIONS

• As alluded to above, Miguel Sano was officially sent on a rehab assignment to the Fort Myers Miracle.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 11, Scranton/WB 2

Box Score

 

The Rochester lineup pounded out 12 hits and drew four walks as they blew out the RailRiders 11-2 behind home runs from Drew Maggi, Zander Wiel, and Jordany Valdespin. Wiel’s fifth inning blast was his sixth of the year as he continues to slug above his career norms in the season’s opening month. He finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBI, and also drew a walk.

 

 

They took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third and never looked back as they tacked on more in each of the fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Randy Cesar (2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI), Valdespin (2-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI), and Maggi (2-for-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, 2 RBI) also collected multiple hits on the game.

 

Kohl Stewart got the start for the Red Wings, his first turn back with Rochester after making a spot start for the Twins and delivered a quality outing. He went the first six innings, scattering five hits and three walks and allowing just one run. He struck out three and was effectively wild, as just 51 of his 91 pitches went for strikes (56%). Tyler Duffey went the next two frames, allowing one run on three hits along with striking out three. Austin Adams finished the game, allowing two hits but no runs.

 

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Scheduled Day Off

 

Pensacola took a series on the road against the Jackson Generals 3-2 and got the day off on Tuesday as they head home for a series against the Biloxi Shuckers. The Blue Wahoos finished the month of April with their best record in team history at 17-8. They have won all five series they’ve played thus far and look to continue that trend with righthander Sean Poppen on the hill on Wednesday.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Clearwater 3, Fort Myers 0

Box Score

 

The story heading into this game was the start of a rehab assignment for the Twins Miguel Sano. With his lacerated foot finally healed, he slotted in at third in the Miracle batting order, playing third base. In is first at-bat of the night, he was hit by pitch with the count at 2-0, and in his second drew a four-pitch walk where no pitch was close to the zone. With him scheduled to play just five innings he’d need some help from teammates to get another plate appearance, and luckily Royce Lewis did so with a two-out single. The first pitch Sano saw was definitely in his wheelhouse but ended up as just a towering infield flyout. Lewin Diaz then entered the game for him at first base, with Ryan Costello sliding over to third.

 

On the mound for the Miracle was lefty Bryan Sammons, who carried a 0.42 ERA into this start. Although he managed to improve that mark to 0.40 on the game, he was only able to finish one inning as the Threshers lineup worked him for several long at-bats resulting in 37 total pitches. He gave up two hits, walked two, and struck out two but escaped with the bases loaded.

 

Anthony Vizcaya came out from the bullpen for the second inning and finished the next three. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Johan Quezada went the next two after that, allowing one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out three. Tom Hackimer then added two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. His ERA on the year in 13 1/3 innings now stands at 0.68. Calvin Faucher finished the game for the Miracle with a scoreless ninth, walking two but allowing no hits and striking out one.

 

There wasn’t much offense to talk about for Fort Myers, as they managed just three hits on the game. Lewis raised his average back above .200 with a 2-for-4 night. Ben Rortvedt had the only extra-base hit with a double and drew a walk four plate appearances.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Bowling Green @ Cedar Rapids - PPD: Rain

 

The Kernels were unable to get their game in at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday as persistent rain kept the field too wet. They’ll make it up with a doubleheader on Wednesday, with right-hander Luis Rijo taking the mound for Cedar Rapids in game one at 5:00PM CST.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Tom Hackimer, Fort Myers Miracle (2.0 IP, H, 3 K)

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Rochester Red Wings (3-for-4, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

 

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 2-for-4

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - Injured List

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - No game

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-4, 2 K

#5 - Wander Javier (EST) - No Game

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Did not play

#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) - 0-for-4, 3 K

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - Injured list

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured list

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - Did not play

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

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - Game PPD

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

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - No game

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-4

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (5:35PM CST) – RHP Zack Littell (1-2, 4.50 ERA)

Biloxi @ Pensacola (6:35PM CST) - RHP Sean Poppen (2-0, 0.75 ERA)

Clearwater @ Fort Myers (12:00PM CST) – RHP Jhoan Duran (0-3, 3.63 ERA)

Bowling Green @ Cedar Rapids, Game 1 (5:00PM CST) – RHP Luis Rijo (0-2, 4.20 ERA)

Bowling Green @ Cedar Rapids, Game 2 - RHP Austin Schulfur (3-1, 2.45 ERA)

 

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

 

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[Mike Sixel]

Given the change in the ball, every AAA hitter should be hitting more. Hurray about Sano being back!

[jkcarew]

Listened to the Miracle game. 2 of the 3 hits (both by Lewis) were infield dribblers...two balls were hit well to the outfield. But, it’s early and the Florida State League...so they say.

 

In addition to his double, Rortvedt threw out another would-be base stealer and has now nabbed 8 of 12. And with Lewis barely 50% in the SB department, despite reports of his elite speed, it got me thinking. Does the FSL also have longer basepaths?

[h2oface]

Odd photo of Sano. Must be loading up to swing. He doesn't look so trim in that pic.

[jokin]

 

Odd photo of Sano. Must be loading up to swing. He doesn't look so trim in that pic.

 

I've seen trimmer manatees at the aquarium.

[jokin]

 

 

.

In addition to his double, Rortvedt threw out another would-be base stealer and has now nabbed 8 of 12. And with Lewis barely 50% in the SB department, despite reports of his elite speed, it got me thinking. Does the FSL also have longer basepaths?

 

No, but it does suggest that stealing bases is an acquired skill...

[rdehring]

Great seeing Stewart go back down and deliver a very good start.  It's early, but he seems to be the best candidate to aid the starting rotation if/when another starter is needed.

 

Was Sammons removed from the game because of their 35 pitch per inning rule?

 

Not certain getting hit and then walked is what management was looking for in Sano's first start.  Hopefully, he will get some opportunities to swing the bat this week. 

 

Good to see Rortvedt continue playing good baseball.  Sure feels like his hitting has taken a another positive step this year while playing good behind the plate.  Add that he swings from the left side and sure looks like the catcher we need to join Garver on the Twins roster at the end of next year.

[Guest]

 

Odd photo of Sano. Must be loading up to swing. He doesn't look so trim in that pic.

Don't read too much into the photo. He's beginning to pull his body back from an inside pitch. He saw nothing close to a strike his first 2 PAs.

 

Sano is unlikely to ever be 'trim.' But seeing him in BP and the dugout before the game, I can say that I've seen Sano heavy and this isn't that version of him. But you'll all get to see him for yourselves in a couple of weeks and you can judge then.

[ashbury]

Does the FSL also have longer basepaths?

Yes, and uphill to each base.

 

Like this, only in reverse:

[Seth Stohs]

 

Great seeing Stewart go back down and deliver a very good start.  It's early, but he seems to be the best candidate to aid the starting rotation if/when another starter is needed.

 

Was Sammons removed from the game because of their 35 pitch per inning rule?

 

Not certain getting hit and then walked is what management was looking for in Sano's first start.  Hopefully, he will get some opportunities to swing the bat this week. 

 

Good to see Rortvedt continue playing good baseball.  Sure feels like his hitting has taken a another positive step this year while playing good behind the plate.  Add that he swings from the left side and sure looks like the catcher we need to join Garver on the Twins roster at the end of next year.

 

Yes. Sammons threw 38 pitches in the first inning last night. 

 

The one "at-bat" Sano got last night was a Major-League popup!!! 

 

https://twitter.com/JimCrikket/status/1123384818623033344 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

A couple more of Steve's Sano photos from last night. As others have said, Sano will never be skinny, but he is in good shape. Hopefully that continues. 

 

 

https://twitter.com/JimCrikket/status/1123395154105253888 

[Kernels Fan]

Would love to see Hackimer get moved up a notch or two.  After his injury and rehab, he seems to have a lot more control and maturity.  He used to hit every other batter, of course since the ball is essentially coming in from third base.  But he hasn't really been challenged at High-A ball this year.

Move Dusten Knight to Rochester and Hackimer to Pensacola?

 

[Steve Lein]

 

Great seeing Stewart go back down and deliver a very good start.  It's early, but he seems to be the best candidate to aid the starting rotation if/when another starter is needed.

 

Was Sammons removed from the game because of their 35 pitch per inning rule?

 

Not certain getting hit and then walked is what management was looking for in Sano's first start.  Hopefully, he will get some opportunities to swing the bat this week. 

 

Good to see Rortvedt continue playing good baseball.  Sure feels like his hitting has taken a another positive step this year while playing good behind the plate.  Add that he swings from the left side and sure looks like the catcher we need to join Garver on the Twins roster at the end of next year.

 

Stewart was okay. Certainly limited the damage.

 

Yes, that is why Sammons would have been removed. And this is a good rule. 

 

If you look at the pitch locations for Sano, he didn't see anything near the strikezone until that pop up. It was dead-middle, he just missed it.

 

Rortvedt is definitely coming around!

[lamiwe21]

I spotted Alex Kirilloff in the Wahoos dugout tonight.

[Guest]

 

Listened to the Miracle game. 2 of the 3 hits (both by Lewis) were infield dribblers...two balls were hit well to the outfield. But, it’s early and the Florida State League...so they say.

In addition to his double, Rortvedt threw out another would-be base stealer and has now nabbed 8 of 12. And with Lewis barely 50% in the SB department, despite reports of his elite speed, it got me thinking. Does the FSL also have longer basepaths?

Don't give up on Lewis as a potential base stealer. Byron Buxton was thrown out 11 times (about 25 per cent) at CR in 2013. Plenty of time for learning yet.

[jokin]

 

A couple more of Steve's Sano photos from last night. As others have said, Sano will never be skinny, but he is in good shape. Hopefully that continues. 

 

 

Wnoa. With all that time off, it remains to be seen what kind of shape he's in. Pictures don't lie, I see a pretty big shape who needs to get back on that diet ASAP.

 

The Twins don't need 2 DHs (or a 1B).