Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/2): Kirilloff, Gordon Make Season Debuts

[Seth Stohs]

It’s just one day, right? May 2nd. But it was a pretty nice day if you enjoy following the Twins minor leagues. First, there were a boatload of transactions from the big leagues down to Cedar Rapids. A couple of Top 10 prospects made their season debuts; Nick Gordon with the Red Wings and Alex Kirilloff with the Blue Wahoos.

 

And then to the games. The four Twins full-season affiliates played a total of five games and a couple of them were really good games. Plus, the Minnesota Twins beat the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon, winning the game, the series and the season series with one of the league’s best teams.Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Thursday, starting with the transactions of the day.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins put LHP Adalberto Mejia on the Injured List with a “strained right calf.”
• RHP Mike Morin was added to the 40-man roster and called up to the Twins.
• SS Nick Gordon was activated from the Injured List.
• LHP Devin Smeltzer was promoted to the Red Wings and will start on Friday.
• OF Alex Kirilloff was activated from the Pensacola Injured List.
• RHP Andro Cutura was placed on the Injured List, and RHP Dusten Knight was placed on the Restricted List in Pensacola. (In other words, he has been suspended.)
• RHP Randy Dobnak and RHP Alex Phillips were promoted from Ft. Myers to Pensacola.
• RHP Joe Record was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers.
• RHP Moises Gomez and RHP Rickey Ramirez were promoted to the Miracle from Extended Spring Training.
• RHP Andrew Cabezas was activated from the Cedar Rapids Injured List.
• Phil Miller also wrote that following Game 1 of the Miracle doubleheader, Miguel Sano packed up his stuff and was moving up to Pensacola to start playing for the Blue Wahoos this weekend.

I think that’s it… Uffdah!

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 7

Box Score

 

After missing the first month of the season, Nick Gordon made his season debut for the Red Wings. He singled in his first at bat and ended the game 3-for-5. Jordany Valdespin was the only other player with more than one hit. He went 2-for-3 with a walk. He also stole his second base.

 

Ryan Eades was the “opener” for the Red Wings. He gave up just one hit over two scoreless innings. Chase De Jong came on as the “primary” pitcher. He gave up four runs on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter over four innings. He also threw two wild pitches. He struck out three. He falls to 0-3 with a 16.20 ERA. Jake Reed was next to the mound. He threw one scoreless inning and then gave up three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out one.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 0, Biloxi 1

Box Score

 

Alex Kirillloff made his return to a lineup after missing the first month with a wrist injury. He also made his Double-A debut after just half of a season last year with the Miracle. He flew out to deep center field in his first at bat. He was intentionally walked his second time to bat. He struck out the next two times he batted.

 

Jorge Alcala made the start for the Wahoos. He threw five shutout innings. He gave up five hits and struck out eight batters without issuing a walk.

Jeff Ames then struck out four batters over the next two innings. Cody Stashak worked the final two innings. He struck out five batters, but he was charged with an unearned run and took the loss.

 

Pensacola had just three hits in the game. Jaylin Davis went 2-for-3 with a walk. Luis Arraez added a single. Ernie De La Trinidad walked twice.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

The Miracle had a doubleheader on Thursday after their Wednesday afternoon game was rained out.

 

Game 1 - Ft. Myers 4, Clearwater 3

Box Score

 

The Miracle fell behind Clearwater 3-0 in the first inning, but they kept clawing their way back and won in walkoff fashion.

 

With two runners on and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Trevor Larnach singled in Akil Baddoo from second base to give the Miracle the Game 1 win.

 

Miguel Sano starred for the Miracle. In his first at bat, he singled. In the fourth inning, he hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 3-2. The next inning, he came through again with a two-out, RBI bloop single to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh, he recorded his fourth hit of the game, a single to left field before being removed for a pinch runner.

 

Royce Lewis went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game. It marked his third multi-hit game in his last four games. In addition to his walkoff single, Larnach added his team-leading eighth double.

 

Jhoan Duran gave up three runs in the first inning. He needed 32 pitches to get through the inning, but since he didn’t hit the Magic Number of 35 pitches in the inning, he continued. He gave up only those three runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out six batters without issuing a walk.

 

Hector Lujan is credited with the win. He worked two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck one out.

 

Game 2 - Ft. Myers 1, Clearwater 0

Box Score

 

Melvi Acosta has been a swingman throughout his career with the Twins. He’s worked out of the bullpen, in long relief, and occasionally starting. With the doubleheader, he had the chance to make a spot start and it couldn’t have gone much better. Acosta worked six shutout innings. He gave up four hits, hit one batter and struck out three. He threw 71 pitches. 46 of them were strikes.

 

Moises Gomez, called up from extended spring training earlier in the day, threw a one-two-three seventh inning to record the save.

 

The Miracle bats were quiet as well in a 1-0 game. Michael Helman led the way, going 2-or-3 in the game. Lewin Diaz doubled and scored the game’s lone run on a sacrifice fly off of the bat of Ben Rortvedt. In his second game with the MIracle, Trey Cabbage doubled for his first Florida State League hit.

• Shortstop Dalton Guthrie had a triple in three at-bats for Clearwater. He was the Twins 40th round pick out of high school in 2014. He also is the son of 1991 Twins World Series champion Mark Guthrie. Dalton was the Phillies sixth-round pick in 2017 out of Florida.
• Alec Bohm was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Wichita State. He was promoted to the Threshers before this series. The third baseman went 1-for-7 in the doubleheader. Clearwater’s Game 2 starter,
• Colton Eastman, was the Twins 20th round pick in 2015 out of high school. He went to Cal State-Fullerton and was the Phillies fourth-round pick in 2018.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Bowling Green 2

Box Score

 

Andrew Cabezas returned from the IL and got right back on the mound. He pitched well. He gave up one run on four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four batters. Brian Rapp came on and worked the final three innings. He gave up an unearned run on four hits. He struck out one.

 

The Kernels had just five hits in the game. Estamy Urena went 2-for-3 with a double.

 

There wasn't much offense, but check out this play by centerfielder Gabriel Maciel.

 

 

Rays top prospect Wander Franco went 1-for-3 in the game and is now hitting .321 on the season.

 

And some more Kernels defense, this time from 1B Ben Rodriguez.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Melvi Acosta, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Miguel Sano, Ft. Myers Miracle (Nick Gordon, Rochester Red Wings - of players not on MLB rehab)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - Game 1 (2-3, BB, R, K), Game 2 (0-3, 2 K)

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 0-3, BB, 2 K

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Did Not Pitch

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - Game 1 (2-4, 2B(8), RBI), Game 2 (0-3, K)

#5 - Wander Javier (EST) - Injured, early May return

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Did Not Play, hamstring

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) - 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (84 pitches, 53 strikes)

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

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

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Game 1 (0-3, BB, 2 R)

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 3-5, R, RBI, K, E

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured List, late-May return possible

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - Game 1 (0-2, BB)

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - Game 2 (0-3, RBI SF)

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 2 K

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

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 1-5, K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K (88 pitches, 63 strikes)

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - Game 1 (1-3), Game 2 (0-2, BB)

 

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Pawtucket (5:05 CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer (1st AAA start)

Biloxi @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - RHP Brusdar Graterol (2-0, 2.30 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (0-3, 4.98 ERA)

Dayton @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Blayne Enlow (2-2, 7.64 ERA)

 

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

 

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[Danchat]

Is this a permanent promotion for Smeltzer? If so, then both of the prospects we got for Dozier are in AAA, so you can't say they aren't far off. 

[Otwins]

Smeltzer is interesting. Hope he does well in Rochester. Maybe he could be the long relief man for Twins

[glunn]

Another well written, interesting MILB report. Thanks, Seth.

[operation mindcrime]

Way to go Gabriel Maciel!!! \m/

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is this a permanent promotion for Smeltzer? If so, then both of the prospects we got for Dozier are in AAA, so you can't say they aren't far off. 

 

I don't know if it's permanent, but they did release Justin Nicolino the other day. So he will get a good opportunity. 

[h2oface]

At least De Jong is blowing games in the minors instead of the Majors, eh?

 

Is Rooker out indefinitely? Not much time in the lineup after striking out 28 of 56 (50%) at bats.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Sano moving up to Pensacola after two games, getting some time playing with Royce Lewis. Now on to spend some time with Kiriloff and Brusdar. While the Twins go 19-10. This is working out just fine.

[dbminn]

Congratulations to all of the players getting a promotion or starting their season!

[mini_tb]

I'd much rather see the Twins try to revive the corpse of Ervin Santana than keep trotting De Jong out there.

[rdehring]

What a nice start to his season for Nick Gordon.  And Kirilloff back in action made May 2 the best day of the year.  After a couple clunkers, glad to see Alcala have a very good start for the Blue Wahoos.  Also really good to see Lewis having multi-hit games on a regular basis.

 

A bit surprised that Sano is moving up after only two games, but after yesterday sure seems like he is ready.  Could he come back hitting the best of his career? 

 

The Twins have a decision to make when Astudillo comes off the IL next week.  Does Cave go back to AAA?  But what will they then do when Sano is ready in ten days to two weeks?  Do they cut back to 12 pitchers...unlikely?  If not the only moves left will be to either send Astudillo to AAA or move Adrianza.  Tough decisions that are good to have.  And wouldn't it be great having both Cave and Astudillo down in AAA chomping at the bit to get back up when their is an injury?

[TNTwinsFan]

Adrianza would be my vote to move upon Sano's return. Marwin can fill the backup SS and 2B role. Cave goes down when Astudillo returns.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not very impressed with the pitchers in our top 20, outside of Graterol. Nice to see Smeltzer pitch well but his upside is limited. The FO made a lot of trades at the deadline the last two years but I'm not sure the returns are all that inspiring. Certainly too early to make a final decision but, ugh. I'd much rather have Ynoa back than Littell. 

 

Nice to have Gordon and Kiriloff back and good to see Sano is moving. Seems like Lewis is getting hot, too.

[Twinsfan12]

Ben Rortvedt was actually 0x2 with the game winning RBI SAC Fly in game 2 last night. Another big play in this 1-0 victory, was in the 3rd inning, when Ben picked off the runner at 1st base after a one out bunt single. That was huge, because right after the pick off the next batter hits a 2 out triple and is eventually stranded at 3rd without scoring. That was his 3rd pick off at 1st base this season already. Ben's defense has been great, and he has been very solid at the plate...lots of quality AB's. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm not very impressed with the pitchers in our top 20, outside of Graterol. Nice to see Smeltzer pitch well but his upside is limited. The FO made a lot of trades at the deadline the last two years but I'm not sure the returns are all that inspiring. Certainly too early to make a final decision but, ugh. I'd much rather have Ynoa back than Littell. 

 

Nice to have Gordon and Kiriloff back and good to see Sano is moving. Seems like Lewis is getting hot, too.

 

Jorge Alcala has a 4.71 ERA and a 2.41 FIP with 11.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9... 

 

Graterol's been really good, even before factoring in his age to level of competition.

 

Thorpe had two really bad starts but he was really good the last three. 

 

Enlow has had two rough ones. Balazovic has been really good. Gonsalves has been hurt. 

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'd much rather have Ynoa back than Littell.

Littell certainly hasn't been inspiring the last year, but Ynoa hasn't really distinguished himself either. Ynoa is taking a 40-man spot now too. Probably a wash?

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ynoa--000hua

[caninatl04]

Any thoughts on what's up / wrong with DeJong?

 

Does he need to suffer a "strained right calf" to sort things out?

[scottz]

I wonder if there is anyone interesting pitching in the minors on Friday. Let's just scroll to the bottom here and...

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Pawtucket (5:05 CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer (1st AAA start)
Biloxi @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - RHP Brusdar Graterol (2-0, 2.30 ERA)
Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (0-3, 4.98 ERA)
Dayton @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Blayne Enlow (2-2, 7.64 ERA)

 

Oh. OK. Kind of interesting group.

[gunnarthor]

 

Littell certainly hasn't been inspiring the last year, but Ynoa hasn't really distinguished himself either. Ynoa is taking a 40-man spot now too. Probably a wash?

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ynoa--000hua

mlbpipeline likes him well enough and Atlanta just promoted him to AA. He's certainly not a lock to make it to the majors and he might end up as a bullpen arm. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Any thoughts on what's up / wrong with DeJong?

 

Does he need to suffer a "strained right calf" to sort things out?

No need. De Jong is already off the 40-man roster (again). They can DL IL him in the minors, or demote him in the minors, as desired the rest of the season, with no serious roster implications (beyond each affiliate's roster size, of course). (And even when he was on the 40-man, he still had an option year remaining.)

[etwinsfan]

Dusten Knight is now showing released. Any news on that one?

Edited May 5, 2019 by etwinsfan

[Twins33]

Dusten Knight is now showing released. Any news on that one?

"•The Twins have released righthander Dusten Knight for a violation of team policy. Knight was a hit on social media this season because he liked to do back flips after notching saves; in seven games, he had posted a 1.59 ERA and three saves. Knight, 28, was selected by the Twins in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft last December from the Giants organization."

 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-bullpen-shows-off-its-versatility/509490352/

[etwinsfan]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to see Pensacola soon and was looking forward to seeing that backflip. Oh well.

Edited May 8, 2019 by etwinsfan