Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/26): Rochester Roasts the Pigs, Schulfer Shines for Kernels

[Ted Schwerzler]

A handful of affiliates found themselves on the wrong side of the action tonight but the Rochester Red Wings had enough offense for all of them. Brent Rooker went yard in the 16-run affair, and neither potential callup (LaMonte Wade being the other) was pulled from the game. Cedar Rapids didn’t win, but that wasn’t because of Austin Schulfer. He turned in a great start and left them in a strong position upon leaving the mound.TRANSACTIONS

Rochester Red Wings

RHP Carlos Torres signed by Minnesota Twins assigned to AAA

Cedar Rapids

LHP Petru Balan placed on temporary inactive list

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 19, Lehigh Valley 6

Box Score

 

Another night, another high scoring affair for the Red Wings. Rochester pounced with 16 runs on 16 hits and really turned this one into a laugher late. Recently signed Drew Hutchison got the start and he went five and two-thirds innings giving up five earned on six hits. That was good enough to leave in position for the win however.

 

Seven of the nine Rochester batters recorded base hits in this one, and eight of them reached base. Six batters had multi-hit nights and most of the damage was done without leaving the yard. Brent Rooker and Zander Wiel both clubbed their 12th dingers of the season while Drew Maggi went yard for his seventh. In the 9th Jordanny Valdespin added his sixth, a three-run shot, for good measure.

 

 

Jaylin Davis continues to be a man possessed at Triple-A, and a three-hit night has his OPS sitting at 1.124 through his first nine games. This was one of those evenings where everyone contributes and it felt like no one was capable of making an out. Too bad for the Piggies but great fun for Rochester.

 

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Biloxi 7, Pensacola 4

Box Score

 

Adalberto Mejia continued to work his rehab assignment and turned in two scoreless in this one. Randy Dobnak put in five innings for the Wahoos and gave up four runs on eight hits. Although the hit totals were nearly even Pensacola came up three runs short in this contest.

 

 

Aaron Whitefield drove in the game’s first run in the second inning. Pensacola held the 1-0 lead until things were knotted up in the fifth. Then a three-run sixth inning had the home team looking for a rally. Caleb Hamilton drove in Alex Kirilloff to drop the deficit to two, and an eighth inning Mark Contreras double evened the score.

 

It was a ninth inning offensive output that eventually spelt demise for Pensacola. A base hit and a double put the Shuckers ahead by three and no answer came in the bottom half.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Charlotte 3, Fort Myers 2

Box Score

 

Two of the best teams in the Florida State League played a low scoring affair this morning in Charlotte. Edwar Colina got the start for the Miracle and came up just one out shy of making it through six innings. He gave up two runs, neither earned, and fanned five while walking three.

 

Immediately after trailing for the first time in the game Fort Myers responded with two runs to knot it up. A Jose Miranda double and then a Michael Helman sac fly were what pushes base runners across the plate.

 

The Stone Crabs were able to score the game winning run in the seventh and that spelled defeat for Fort Myers. Recently promoted Wander Franco had himself a nice game going 3-for-4 and driving in the early runs for the home team.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Wisconsin 4, Cedar Rapids 0

Box Score

 

Austin Schulfer toed the rubber looking to secure a series victory in this one. Despite going six strong innings with six strikeouts and allowing just two runs (one earned), the bats never came alive and the Kernels fell 4-0.

 

Gilberto Celestino was the only Cedar Rapids player to tally multiple hits, and teammates Jacob Pearson and Estamy Urena were the only other players to up their average.

 

Tomorrow these two teams will square off for the rubber match.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Bristol 11, Elizabethton 6

Box Score

 

Ryley Widell began the game on the mound for the E-Twins but a tough outing had him chased before he was able to record three outs. Leaving the first down 4-0, and then heading into the third with a seven run deficit, Elizabethton found themselves behind the eight ball all night.

 

In the middle innings the home team struck. Spencer Steer recorded his first professional double to drive in Willie Joe Garry during the third inning. In the fourth it was Alex Isola and Steer again plating another three runners. An Albee Weiss fifth inning jack job brought the deficit to just two, but that’s where the runs ended.

 

Steer is certainly off to a great start in his professional career and the 4-for-5 evening should fuel him for the next few contests.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Orioles 5, GCL Twins 0

Box Score

 

Anthony Escobar made the start and worked three scoreless while striking out four and allowing just one hit. Tallying just four hits on the day however, a goose egg ended up being the final tally for the home team.

 

2019 first round draft pick Keoni Cavaco notched his second professional knock and is now 2-for-11 in his young career.

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Austin Schulfer (Cedar Rapids) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Hitter of the Day – Spencer Steer (Elizabethton) 4-5, 3 RBI, 2 2B

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

 

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Fort Myers) - 0-5, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) – 1-3, 2 R, K

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Fort Myers) – 1-1

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 0-2, BB

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) – 1-4, HR(12), 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Fort Myers) – Did not pitch

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

#9 - Blayne Enlow (Fort Myers) - Did not pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Fort Myers) - Injured list (Tommy John surgery)

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – Did not play

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured list

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Fort Myers) – Did not play

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) – 1-3, BB

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) – 2-3

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

#18 - LaMonte Wade Jr. (Rochester) – 0-4, R, RBI, BB, K

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

#20 - Jose Miranda (Fort Myers) – 2-5, R, RBI, 2B

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Lehigh Valley (6:05PM CST) – LHP Devin Smeltzer (0-2, 2.70 ERA)

Biloxi @ Pensacola (6:35PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (0-1, 4.18 ERA)

Charlotte @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - TBD

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - TBD

Bristol @ Elizabethton (5:30PM CST) – RHP Tyler Benninghoff (0-0, 13.50 ERA)

 

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

 

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[ScooterDance]

Out of curiosity - will the top 20 prospect summary be updated once the mid season prospect rankings are complete?

[rdehring]

Davis continues to impress the heck out of me, although it looks like the Pigs pitching wasn't that great last night.

 

That was Mejia's first appearance of more than an inning and now hasn't allowed a run in 6.0 innings.  Looks like he has another two weeks on his rehab before he will have to be activated...or DFA.  If healthy, could he be that second lefty needed in our bullpen?

 

Sure looks like Tampa Bay's Wander (Franco) is off to a better start to his career than our Wander.  How do the Ray's keep getting all this talent?

 

Great seeing Schulfer have another strong start.  Is it time we start considering him for some of these Top 40 rankings?

 

But the best news of all, at least for me, was the first start of the year for 18 year old Anthony Escobar.  Including yesterday's 3.0 shutout innings, he has allowed only 7 earned runs in his first 63.1 innings as a professional.  Was hoping this kid would come to the States and dominate.  Yesterday, he took a first step towards that hope becoming reality.  

[Faucet]

Davis is definitely locked in. Talk about draft equity!! The Twins have some serious decisions to make soon, because there's a log jam at the top. 

 

[Obsvr]

would be nice if Keoni hit a home run once in awhile.

[stringer bell]

About Mejía, he started his rehab on June 10th, and the limit is 30 days, so by July 10th, the Twins will have to activate him on the 25-man roster or DFA him.

 

On the flip side, he is on the 60-day injured list, so he can't be activated until July 1st, so the window would be between July 1 and July 10.