Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/8): I Wander Who Hit That Grand Slam

[Matt Braun]

Fan favorite La Tortuga stole the headlines yesterday when he was optioned to Triple- A after the Twins win. The move wasn’t surprising to most, and was necessary for expanding the bullpen to make room for another reliever (who was later revealed to be Ryan Eades), but sending down the man who refuses to strike out was not the easiest of decisions. How Astudillo did in his first game in the minors in 2019, some more dingers hit by some of the usual suspects, a homer that was especially grand, and much more in this edition of the minor league report.TRANSACTIONS

C Willians Astudillo optioned to AAA Rochester

RHP Ryan Eades contract selected by Minnesota

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Pawtucket 2

Box Score

 

Randy Dobnak: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 61.1% strikes (55 of 90 pitches)

HR: Drew Maggi (6), Wilin Rosario (7)

Multi-hit games: Willians Astudillo (3-for-4, RBI, BB), Wilin Rosario (2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB), Drew Maggi (2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)

 

The Red Wings pushed their win streak to six games thanks to a consistent offensive attack and a great start from Randy Dobnak who now holds a 2.55 ERA in his time at AAA.

 

Fan favorite Willians Astudillo was demoted to AAA yesterday and apparently took the news in stride as he collected three hits and somehow walked in his first game back in the minors.

 

Four Red Wings hitters (Astudillo, Rooker, Rosario, Maggi) reached base multiple times and all but three hitters reached base at least once during the game.

 

Trevor Hildenberger was called on in the ninth to end the game and gave up a homer in his sole inning of work. His AAA ERA now sits at 8.44 and I truly hope that he can put it back together soon as he has shown that he can be a dominating reliever in the majors.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 2, Biloxi 5

Box Score

 

Charlie Barnes: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 60.3% strikes (44 of 73 pitches)

HR: Jaylin Davis (9)

Multi-hit games: Michael Davis (2-for-4, 2B)

 

Despite great showings from the Davis brothers (note: Michael and Jaylin are not actual brothers to the best of my knowledge), the Blue Wahoos fell to the Shuckers by a score of 5-2.

 

It was a close 2-1 affair until the Shuckers were able to break through with three runs off Jeff Ames in the bottom of the eighth inning. A Travis Blankenhorn RBI double in the top of the ninth would trim the lead to just three, but the Blue Wahoos were unable to score again by the time their outs ran out.

 

Side-arming reliever Tom Hackimer came into the game in relief of Charlie Barnes and threw a pair of scoreless innings to bring his AA ERA down to a microscopic 1.08.

 

In the end, the Blue Wahoos' inability to get a hit with RISP helped do them in as they went a combined 1-for-8 in opportunities where a man was in scoring position.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Jupiter 2

Box Score

 

Cole Sands: 5 ⅓ IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 62.2% strikes (51 of 82 pitches)

HR: Lewin Diaz (13), Jose Miranda (4), Trey Cabbage (2)

Multi-hit games: Lewin Diaz (2-for-3, HR, R, RBI, BB), Trevor Larnach (2-for-4), David Banuelos (2-for-4, RBI)

 

Lewin Diaz continued to make an absolute mockery of the very concept of A+ by launching his 13th homer of the year in support of yet another multi-hit game for the slugging first baseman. The only reason why he hasn’t been promoted to AA is because his bus ticket to Pensacola was lost in the mail (or probably some actual legit reason, who knows). Perhaps the Twins want to give Alex Kirilloff that playing time at first base. In any case, it seems like Diaz will be moving up sooner rather than later because A+ pitchers cannot stop him, they can only hope to contain him.

 

Not to be outdone by Diaz, the baby bombas, Jose Miranda and Trey Cabbage, both launched home runs of their own as every Miracle run came off a hot, fresh, and piping tater.

 

Cole Sands was dealing early in the game but was removed after the first out in the sixth because of a cut in his pitching hand. Hopefully it is more precautionary than anything and Sands can get back out there soon.

 

Aaron Whitefield swiped his 19th base of the season which puts him just behind Vidal Brujan for the FSL lead (Brujan has 21 steals).

 

You also may or may not be surprised by this little tidbit from Marshall Kelner:

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Peoria 7 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

Josh Winder: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 63.6% strikes (63 of 99 pitches)

HR: Wander Javier (2)

Multi-hit games: Andrew Bechtold (3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB), Gabe Snyder (2-for-5, 2B, R), Estamy Urena (2-for-3, RBI)

 

The Kernels won quite the game this Saturday that took an extra inning to end and went berserk in the bottom of the eighth.

 

Josh Winder was nothing short of outstanding in his start as he went seven full innings without surrendering so much as an extra-base hit, much less a run.

 

The game was a seemingly normal 2-0 affair heading into the bottom half of the eighth but the Chiefs took advantage of Brian Rapp’s wildness by scratching four runs across thanks in part to a hit-by-pitch, walks, and some singles.

 

All seemed lost heading into the ninth but the Kernels were able to put some men on before Gabriel Maciel singled one of them home, giving the Kernels a deficit of just one run. Jacob Pearson struck out, Gilberto Celestino walked, and the bases were loaded for Wander Javier. What did Wander Javier do with those loaded bases? He unloaded them along with himself as he blasted a grand slam to give the Kernels a 7-4 lead.

 

 

But, the baseball gods were not done as the Chiefs took advantage of some wildness this time from Alex Schick in the bottom of the ninth and tied the game right back.

 

The 10th started with a man on second base and the Kernels were able to take advantage thanks to an Andrew Bechtold RBI single. The Chiefs were not able to capitalize like the Kernels did as Derek Molina slammed the door shut and ended the inning without even allowing the free runner to advance.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Josh Winder

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Drew Maggi

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

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

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - Injured list

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

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

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB, K

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - 1-for-3, 2B, R, 2 BB, K

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#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) - Did not play

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured list

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

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - 1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 K

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, R, BB

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

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - Did not play

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

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Pawtucket: (12:05 P.M.) - RHP Chase De Jong

Pensacola @ Tennessee (2:35 P.M.) - RHP Jorge Alcala

Fort Myers @ Lakeland (12:00 P.M.) - RHP Edwar Colina

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids Game 1 (1:00 P.M.) - RHP Andrew Cabezas

 

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

 

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[Aerodeliria]

Free Hackimer!

[Aerodeliria]

Hackimer line for 2019:

 

ERA: 0.84!!

 

G: 19

 

SV: 1

 

SVO: 1

 

IP: 32

 

H: 13!!!!!!!

 

R: 4

 

ER: 3

 

HR: 0!!!

 

BB: 10

 

IBB:1

 

SO: 49!!

 

AVG: .125!!!

 

WHIP: .097!!

 

GO/AO: 1.26

 

 

Can we just call him up and see what happens?

[Aerodeliria]

PS: If you're presently on the Hackimer bandwagon, there was a nice article by Fangraphs on him. It seems he is really nerdy--like Trevor Bauer. Here is the link (it's a bit old but worth your 10 minutes): https://blogs.fangraphs.com/twins-prospect-tom-hackimer-on-being-a-pitching-nerd/

[ashbury]

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Pawtucket 2

Box Score

 

Randy Dobnak: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 61.1% strikes (55 of 90 pitches)

HR: Drew Maggi (6), Wilin Rosario (7)

Multi-hit games: Willians Astudillo (3-for-4, RBI, BB), Wilin Rosario (2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB), Drew Maggi (2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)

 

The Red Wings pushed their win streak to six games thanks to a consistent offensive attack and a great start from Randy Dobnak who now holds a 2.55 ERA in his time at AAA.

 

Fan favorite Willians Astudillo was demoted to AAA yesterday and apparently took the news in stride as he collected three hits and somehow walked in his first game back in the minors.

 

Four Red Wings hitters (Astudillo, Rooker, Rosario, Maggi) reached base multiple times and all but three hitters reached base at least once during the game.

 

Trevor Hildenberger was called on in the ninth to end the game and gave up a homer in his sole inning of work. His AAA ERA now sits at 8.44 and I truly hope that he can put it back together soon as he has shown that he can be a dominating reliever in the majors.

 

Not only was it a walk Astudillo drew, it was on the first four pitches they offered him! Apparently Pawtucket came into the game with an obvious plan for him, and he laid off. After that, it was vintage Tortuga, with him reaching a bit on some of his swings, but obviously things were going his way last night.

 

Dobnak was perfect through three innings. It's often said that every no-hitter has one stellar play that keeps it intact, and I was wondering if that might prove to be the case after second-baseman Jordany Valdespin made a spectacular horizontal leaping grab of a liner by Sox batter Cole Sturgeon for the first out of the third inning. The no-no was broken up in the fourth, of course, with a no-doubt hit to left field and a wild pitch and a double to center which scored a run. Then Dobnak settled back down and pitched a clean fifth, and got the first two men in the sixth as well before giving up a couple of base runners and then finishing his night's work with a swinging strikeout. Early in the game his fastball seemed to be sitting at 92 MPH, but nearer the end I saw a couple of pitches at 94. He seemed to rely more on the offspeed stuff (curve or change, I couldn't tell you) to put batters away, though.

 

Preston Guilmet needs some recognition for pitching two clean innings of his own in the seventh and eighth.

 

I didn't have high expectations when Hildenberger took the mound, and I saw nothing to give me hope. He was workmanlike, and a few pitches fooled batters but mostly it looks like it's going to be a struggle for him to make it back to the majors.

 

Arraez played shortstop and Rooker was in left, but neither of these players whom I was hoping to get a read on defensively was particularly tested last night. Astudillo continues to be the slowest player to go out to his position, reaching RF later than Cave managed to saunter out to CF. (Only Rooker trotted, FWIW.)

 

Speaking of Cave, I thought he got a terrible read on that ninth-inning HR to left-center, not that there turned out to be a chance to catch it, a few feet beyond the fence. We've gotten pretty spoiled by our current starting outfield for the big club.

 

Earlier in the day I got to see a couple of Red Sox players from the past. Catcher Rich Gedman (now hitting coach for Pawtucket) hosted a Q&A session - here's a poor photo but it's the best I thought to take:

 

And here's '75 World Series hero Bernie Carbo, again a poor candid shot, of him listening to a presentation (he wasn't nearly as grumpy as this moment of concentration would imply):

 

At the game, here's Wilin Rosario taking a cut at a pitch from Brian Ellington:

 

I like their ballpark; sadly in 2021 it will no longer be used for AAA, as the team is moving to Worcester. Anyway it was a beautiful night for a ballgame in Rhode Island!

[ashbury]

PS: If you're presently on the Hackimer bandwagon, there was a nice article by Fangraphs on him. It seems he is really nerdy--like Trevor Bauer. Here is the link (it's a bit old but worth your 10 minutes): https://blogs.fangraphs.com/twins-prospect-tom-hackimer-on-being-a-pitching-nerd/

[gunnarthor]

Of all our prospects, Javier is the one I care least about statistics and just want him to get at-bats. Hopefully he can stay healthy for us and make full use of that talent.

[Aerodeliria]

Not only was it a walk Astudillo drew, it was on the first four pitches they offered him! Apparently Pawtucket came into the game with an obvious plan for him, and he laid off. After that, it was vintage Tortuga, with him reaching a bit on some of his swings, but obviously things were going his way last night.

 

Dobnak was perfect through three innings. It's often said that every no-hitter has one stellar play that keeps it intact, and I was wondering if that might prove to be the case after second-baseman Jordany Valdespin made a spectacular horizontal leaping grab of a liner by Sox batter Cole Sturgeon for the first out of the third inning. The no-no was broken up in the fourth, of course, with a no-doubt hit to left field and a wild pitch and a double to center which scored a run. Then Dobnak settled back down and pitched a clean fifth, and got the first two men in the sixth as well before giving up a couple of base runners and then finishing his night's work with a swinging strikeout. Early in the game his fastball seemed to be sitting at 92 MPH, but nearer the end I saw a couple of pitches at 94. He seemed to rely more on the offspeed stuff (curve or change, I couldn't tell you) to put batters away, though.

 

Thanks for giving us such an in-depth analysis. If Dobnak can maintain this level a couple of more times, he deserves a call. Edited June 9, 2019 by Aerodeliria

[Tom Froemming]

 

PS: If you're presently on the Hackimer bandwagon, there was a nice article by Fangraphs on him. It seems he is really nerdy--like Trevor Bauer. Here is the link (it's a bit old but worth your 10 minutes): https://blogs.fangraphs.com/twins-prospect-tom-hackimer-on-being-a-pitching-nerd/

 

You can also check out Seth's Get To Know piece on Hackimer from Feb. '17 and my Prospect Spotlight Series article on him from November of that year. 

 

This guy has tremendous strikeout and groundball rates, it seems almost impossible for hitters to really drive the ball against him, but the big question is with his control. Issues a lot of walks, hits a ton of batters. He already has 10 hit batsmen this season, tied for third most among all minor league pitchers. Still, most definitely a guy to keep on your radar.

[Tom Froemming]

FYI, just updated this article to include video of the Wander Javier grand slam.

[rdehring]

Thanks Ashbury, love those first hand reports.

 

Last Sunday the Red Wings were 11 games under .500.  After losing Sunday and Monday it grew to 13 games.  After winning 6 straight they are now within sight of .500, just 7 games back.  Hopefully the pitching will settle down and help this lineup get back to .500 and then into a race for the playoffs.  And its not just the four prospects at the top of the order as they have four guys at the bottom who are hitting very well. 

 

What I loved about Astudillo's night wasn't the 3 hits, rather, that he was in the lineup less than 24 hours after being sent down from the Twins.  So often you hear about players sulking around and taking 3 days or longer to report.  Not Willians!!!

 

Totally agree with gunnarthor about the importance of Javier playing nearly every game for the rest of the season.  Still believe there is a strong possibility this kid is the Twins shortstop of the future.

[jkcarew]

Kirilloff’s injury disclosed yet? Isn’t it odd that a baseball injury is undisclosed? Do we know when he’ll be back? Surprising little chatter here for something that seems a bit out of the ordinary going on for the no. 2 prospect (and a top 10 overall).

Edited June 9, 2019 by jkcarew

[rdehring]

Speaking of runs for a playoff spot, after a really slow start to their season Cedar Rapids is now 3 games over .500 and only 2.0 games behind Burlington for that second playoff spot in the first half.  Time is running out as there aren't a lot of games left, but can they catch and pass Burlington?

[operation mindcrime]

This Josh Winder guy is pitching pretty good for us! 7th round pick last year out of VMI. He signed for the exact slot value of 198,700! He turns 23 in October. Let's hope he can keep this up!

[curt1965]

I agree with jkcarew! Crickets from the Twins organization and I surmise people in the know are told to keep quiet. Makes me wonder what the big suspense is?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Thanks for giving us such an in-depth analysis. If Dobnak can maintain this level a couple of more times, he deserves a call.

 

Instead he was sent down to Pensacola today... 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Of all our prospects, Javier is the one I care least about statistics and just want him to get at-bats. Hopefully he can stay healthy for us and make full use of that talent.

 

I completely agree... though if he does stay healthy and gets games and at bats, I think he will put up numbers as well... and that's even more fun!

[Seth Stohs]

 

FYI, just updated this article to include video of the Wander Javier grand slam.

 

Great video!

[ashbury]

Instead he was sent down to Pensacola today... 

It can't be anything due to the performance last night, so I trust he has taken the AAA start as a positive, and will redouble his efforts to keep moving up.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

 

I agree with jkcarew! Crickets from the Twins organization and I surmise people in the know are told to keep quiet. Makes me wonder what the big suspense is?

Twins organization helped fake the moon landing?  Maybe Kirilloff found out?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

PS: If you're presently on the Hackimer bandwagon, there was a nice article by Fangraphs on him. It seems he is really nerdy--like Trevor Bauer. Here is the link (it's a bit old but worth your 10 minutes): https://blogs.fangraphs.com/twins-prospect-tom-hackimer-on-being-a-pitching-nerd/

Thanks. The Fangraphs article was interesting.