Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/1): Boomstick Begins Rehab Assigment

[Matt Braun]

Slugger Nelson Cruz made his first appearance in a professional baseball game in a while when he made the first start of his rehab program for the Fort Myers Miracle today. How he fared and much more in this edition of the minor league report.TRANSACTIONS

DH Nelson Cruz transferred to A+ Fort Myers on a MLB Rehab Assignment

OF Mark Contreras transferred to A+ Fort Myers from AA Pensacola

OF Albee Weiss transferred from A+ Fort Myers to Rookie ball Elizabethton

OF Brent Rooker reinstated from the injured list at AAA Rochester

OF Tanner English transferred to AA Pensacola from AAA Rochester

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Buffalo 2

Box Score

 

Sean Poppen: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 56.5% strikes (52 of 92 pitches)

HR: Zander Wiel (8)

Multi-hit games: Randy César (2-for-4, R), Drew Maggi (2-for-4, R)

 

The Rochester Red Wings’ pitching was absolutely on point tonight as Sean Poppen, Fernando Romero, and Ryan Eades combined for just one earned run over all nine innings with 11 punchouts in total.

 

But the Red Wings did not forget to bring the offense with them as well as they slugged four total extra-base hits that helped them put together seven runs in the game. All but two hitters got a hit for the Red Wings.

 

Brent Rooker was activated from the IL and quickly made his presence known by hitting an RBI double in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2 in the Red Wings favor.

 

Here is video evidence of Zander Wiel’s homer that tied the game in fifth:

 

 

A Jake Cave bases-clearing double:

 

 

The Brent Rooker RBI Double:

 

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 4, Mississippi 8

Box Score

 

Jeff Ames: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 61.9% strikes (26 of 42)

HR: Jimmy Kerrigan (4), Alex Kirilloff (2)

Multi-hit games: Alex Kirilloff (3-for-3, HR, 2B, R, RBI, BB)

 

The Blue Wahoos ran a bullpen game against the Braves and the Braves pounced all over each pitcher the Blue Wahoos sent out by putting up at least a single earned run on all five Blue Wahoos’ pitchers that pitched today.

 

The major offensive performance for the Blue Wahoos came from a decent hitter named Alex Kirilloff who was more than just a phantom menace to the Braves as he reached base in every plate appearance this game along with slapping a homer and coming just a triple short of the cycle. He has turned it on the last few weeks and has been hitting more like the Alex Kirilloff we all know and love.

 

Outside of Kirilloff’s performance and an eighth inning Jimmy Kerrigan two-run homer, the Blue Wahoos were unable to do much against the Braves offensively and fell to them by a score of 8-4.

 

The Alex Kirilloff homer:

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 0, Lakeland 1

Box Score

 

Jhoan Duran: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 65.7% strikes (67 of 102)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: None

 

It was a good old fashioned pitchers duel as Jhoan Duran and Johan Quezada combined for just a single earned run on the day yet Duran was saddled with the tough-luck loss as the Miracle offense failed to score in the game. Duran unfortunately moves to 0-5 on the year but still holds a good ERA and excellent peripherals, he’ll continue to be a fun player to keep track of all season.

 

Hotshot prospect Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 with a single and a pair of strikeouts in his first rehab game. He’ll play in the game on Sunday too and will probably be re-evaluated then.

 

The Miracle offense in total could only scatter four singles and three walks against Lakeland’s pitching and the offense had only two chances to hit with a runner in scoring position.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Beloit 2

Box Score

 

Josh Winder: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Yeltsin Encarnacion (2-for-4, BB), Wander Javier (2-for-5, 2 R), Andrew Bechtold (2-for-3, 3 R, 2B, BB), Gabriel Maciel (2-for-4, RBI)

 

The Kernels were all over the Snappers today as they bested them with both their arms and their bats.

 

Kernels pitchers combined for just a single earned run over the entirety of the game as Moises Gomez and Alex Schick picked up right where Josh Winder left off and refused to allow the Snappers to score even a single run more than they did off Winder.

 

A bases-clearing double from Gabe Snyder in the fourth inning proved to be the boost the Kernels needed to topple the Snappers as Beloit could only answer with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning before not scoring for the rest of the game.

 

All but two Kernels hitters reached base safely at least once during the game and five Kernels batters reached base multiple times.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jhoan Duran

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Alex Kirilloff

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-4, 4 K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 3-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-3, BB

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, 2 R

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - 1-for-4, 2B, RBI K

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) - 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

#8 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#9 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Tommy John surgery, out for year

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, K

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured list

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - 0-for-3, BB, K

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - 0-for-4, K

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-5, 2 K

#17 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - With the Twins-did not pitch

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-for-3, BB, 2 K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - Did not pitch

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-4, K

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Buffalo @ Rochester Game 1: (1:05 P.M.) - RHP Kohl Stewart

Pensacola @ Tennessee (1:05 P.M.) - LHP Bryan Sammons

Fort Myers @ Lakeland (12:00 P.M.) - RHP Cole Sands

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (2:00 P.M.) - RHP Andrew Cabezas

 

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

 

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[drock2190]

Golden Sombrero for the golden boy himself, Royce Lewis. 

 

Wonder what's ailing him, these days?

[jkcarew]

Nice to see Kirilloff heating up and Rooker back (and of course Cruz). No hits for Rortvedt today..but threw out the only attempted steal, AND picked a runner off first.

 

Lewis’s slow start has given way...to a truly horrible middle. Last 16 games: slashing .167/.203/.333 (.536). 2/25 BB/K (36% K rate)

[MNT1996]

I'm really excited to follow Nelson Cruz through the minors. The guy looks like he has some potential.

[nater79a]

For those that are curious, the five Blue Wahoo pitchers that Matt alluded to giving   up at least one earned run are as follows:

 

Ames -  1 run

Jay (2)

Hackimer (2)

Ramirez (2)

Stashak (1)

 

 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Nice to see Kirilloff heating up and Rooker back (and of course Cruz). No hits for Rortvedt today..but threw out the only attempted steal, AND picked a runner off first.

Here are those two throws from Rortvedt:

[ashbury]

I'm really excited to follow Nelson Cruz through the minors. The guy looks like he has some potential.

A lot of hitters stall out at high-A in the Florida State League. Slow your roll. Time will tell.

[John Bonnes]

 

Here are those two throws from Rortvedt:

 

Geezus, but those were two awfully nice plays. 

[benji21]

Wander Javier didn’t seem to need the last two years. It looks like he just hits and hits. I hope he stays on the field. After his multi hit game yesterday, it’s probably time to promote him (kidding).

[Aerodeliria]

Hackimer let me down.

 

That Cruz kid is a bit old to be still at high A.

 

(BTW, Cruz's swing looks fine. The final turn of the wrists on the follow through look normal.)

Edited June 2, 2019 by Aerodeliria

[Monkeypaws]

The next time the Twins offer a cup of coffee to someone, I'd like to see it be Zander Weil.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Wander Javier didn’t seem to need the last two years. It looks like he just hits and hits. I hope he stays on the field. After his multi hit game yesterday, it’s probably time to promote him (kidding).

 

He's a guy that I suspect will be offered up by the FO in a trade for ML help.

[rdehring]

Good seeing Cave heat up following a slow start after being sent down.  Expect Rochester's lineup will get another addition tomorrow when it is likely Arraez will be returned.

 

Looked at Kirilloff's last 10 games, .351 average with a pair of home runs and only 6 strikeouts along with 6 walks.  Took a few weeks to shake off the rust, but seems he is back to being the Alex Kirilloff we all expect to see.

 

And what does Duran get for his excellent start, his 5th loss in 5 decisions.  Seems to confirm that wins and losses doesn't tell us all that much.  Also good seeing Winder continue to dominate the Midwest League.

 

I know TD doesn't include the DSL games in this report, but they began their season yesterday with a 13-4 loss to the Yankees.  After battling for the championship last season, this season could be long if wins are what you are looking for.  Can't believe how young this team is with 21 of their 34 rostered players having no, none, zero professional experience.  Granted, not all the rookies are 17 years old, but this may be the youngest, most inexperienced DSL team I remember.  The best news was that Misael Urbina played center field and was in the lead off spot.  He was 1 for 4 with his hit being a double.

[Danchat]

Boy, Fort Myers has quite the rotation - Duran, Ober, Sammons, Balazovic... that's pretty solid. The Escobar for Duran and others trade is looking pretty good, especially with our higher up starting prospects looking rather shaky (Littell, Thorpe, Gonsalves).