Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/29): Not Joshing Around

[Matt Braun]

A full seven games were played in the land of the Twins minor league system thanks to a doubleheader. Ignoring the panic this caused the writer to undergo, all was recorded and written about. Josh Winder was great again, Lewin Diaz continued to rake, and a longtime MLB relief pitcher threw in the Twins system for the first time ever, all that and more in this edition of the Minor League Report.TRANSACTIONS

RHP Cody Allen transferred to A+ Fort Myers from AA Pensacola

RHP Zack Littell optioned to AAA Rochester from the Twins

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 9, Pawtucket 6

Box Score

 

Preston Guilmet: 2 ⅔ IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 66.0% strikes (33 of 50 pitches)

HR: Jaylin Davis (4), Wilin Rosario (9)

Multi-hit games: Wilin Rosario (2-for-5, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI), Zander Wiel (2-for-4, RBI), Tomas Telis (3-for-4, 2B, R), Ronald Torreyes (3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI)

 

The Red Wings won another game and have clawed their way back to one game under .500 despite their slow start.

 

The Red Wings ran a bullpen game and the five pitchers used combined for four earned runs while punching out eleven batters.

 

Every Red Wings batter reached base in some way and all but one did so by getting a hit. In total, they had six extra-base hits in the game.

 

Jaylin Davis continued to terrorize AAA pitchers as he blasted his fourth AAA home run in just his twelfth game at the level. Unfortunately for him, there are other outfielders on the 40-man roster so a callup in the near future seems unlikely, but it is still great to see him hit well.

 

Video evidence of Wilin Rosario capping off a clutch six run 8th inning:

 

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 5, Biloxi 1

Box Score

 

Griffin Jax: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 68.3% (56 of 82 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Lewin Diaz (2-for-4, 2 2B, R), Jimmy Kerrigan (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R)

 

In the least surprising event of the day, Griffin Jax had another great outing. His ERA on the year now sits at an astonishingly low 1.67.

 

Lewin Diaz continues to rake at the plate as he hit a pair of doubles in the game. His AA OPS sits at .977 now and really I am running out of ways to compliment how well he is doing at the plate. All I can do is pray for whatever poor pitcher has to face him next.

 

Travis Blankenhorn collected an RBI single in the fifth inning and then ended the game with this great play at second base:

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game one: Ft. Myers 2, Bradenton 5 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

Tyler Watson: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 77.3% strikes (51 of 66 pitches)

HR: Royce Lewis (6)

Multi-hit games: None

 

The Miracle lost the first game of their doubleheader in extra innings against the Bradenton Marauders.

 

Royce Lewis cracked his sixth home run of the year as he continues to fight through the slump that he has been in for basically the entire season. He has shown signs of breaking free and the recent power surge could be him getting back to the old Royce Lewis we all know and love.

 

Cody Allen came in to the game in the seventh inning and threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout and topped out at 91 MPH on the fastball. The Twins obviously are interested enough in potentially coaxing the old Cody Allen out of him and how he performs in the coming weeks will affect how the Twins work the trade deadline.

 

Game Two:

Ft. Myers 1, Bradenton 4 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

Jordan Balazovic: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 62.2% strikes (51 of 82 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Royce Lewis (2-for-4)

 

The Miracle also unfortunately dropped the second game of their doubleheader against Bradenton.

 

The Marauders became one of the few teams that could actually slow down Jordan Balazovic. I suspect foul play or at the very least some good old-fashioned voodoo as Balazovic has been a buzzsaw for most of the season

 

Royce Lewis built off his home run in the prior game by having a multi-hit game, yet another potential sign that good things are in store in the second half for the young shortstop.

 

Despite slapping seven hits and drawing three walks, the Miracle were only able to put up a single run as they went just 2-for-11 with RISP.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Kane County 0

Box Score

 

Josh Winder: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 67.4% strikes (64 of 95 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Jacob Pearson (2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI), Gilberto Celestino (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Estamy Urena (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R)

 

It was all Cedar Rapids in their impressive 6-0 shutout of Kane County.

 

Josh Winder was spectacular as he threw eight shutout innings while punching out eight. Kane County’s hitters were utterly baffled all night as Winder navigated their lineup with the ability of a grizzled mariner through a stormy sea.

 

The Kernels set the tone early as they put up a four spot in the very first inning thanks to a Yeltsin Encarnacion single and a Gilberto Celestino bases-clearing double. Although, they really just needed the one run with the way Winder tossed the ball in the game.

 

E-Town E-Notes

Elizabethton 8, Greeneville 1

Box Score

 

Andriu Marin: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 64.4% strikes (47 of 74 pitches)

HR: Albee Weiss 2 (2), Anthony Prato (1)

Multi-hit games: Albee Weiss (2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI), Matt Wallner (2-for-5, 2 R)

 

The young Twins gave the business to Greeneville in an 8-1 rout.

 

Andriu Marin and Ryan Shreve combined for nine innings without any earned runs and a combined fourteen strikeouts, an outstanding pitching showing from the both of them.

 

There were many Elizabethton batters who performed well in the game, but Albee Weiss stands out as he blasted his first two home runs of the year to help lead the offensive charge. In total, all but two Elizabethton batters reached base safely via a hit and thirteen total hits rained down from the bats of the other Twins.

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Twins 0, GCL Red Sox 2

Box Score

 

Miguel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K,

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Victor Heredia (2-for-2, BB)

 

Four GCL Twins pitchers threw in the game and they combined for a total of twelve strikeouts.

 

Keoni Cavaco was absent from the lineup after being pulled early from the game yesterday. It is only speculation, but I assume they are playing it safe with the recent first-round draft pick.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Josh Winder

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Albee Weiss

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 3-for-8, HR, R, RBI, K (Two games)

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 0-for-3

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

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

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, R, BB, K

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 K

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

#8 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - With the Twins

#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-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured list

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - 2-for-7, BB, 2 K (Two games)

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - 0-for-3, BB

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI

#17 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2K

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

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

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-7, K (Two games)

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Pawtucket @ Rochester (12:05 P.M.) - RHP Kohl Stewart

Pensacola @ Mississippi (5:05 P.M.) - RHP Andro Cutura

Bradenton @ Fort Myers (12:00 P.M.) - TBD

Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 P.M.) - RHP Andrew Cabezas

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (4:00 P.M.) - RHP Cody Laweryson

 

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

 

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[AlwaysinModeration]

Nice to see Lewis warming up.

 

Hope Allen puts up a string of scoreless innings.

[Aerodeliria]

Allen's velocity needs to come up a notch or two on the fastball. I noticed that in 2019 his ground ball rate has dropped precipitously (-11%) and naturally that means the long ball rate has jumped (+8%).

 

If that we're not enough, his walks per nine have skyrocketed to almost 8 per 9.

 

I hope they've found a mechanical issue they can work on; otherwise, he's toast.

[Tom Froemming]

That had to have felt good for Royce Lewis. Why? Bradenton was the team that threw at him after he did pushups on second base. I took a look back at that situation and gave my interpretation of what went down:

 

[rdehring]

Enjoyed reading your report, Matt.  Especially liked your comments about Cody Allen.  Could the Twins be so fortunate to have him work out for a August-November run?

 

One game to go for the Red Wings to be at .500.  Then onward towards a playoff spot.  Wasn't that long ago they were 13 games under.  Gotta be excited for them as they begin to get some of their players back from the Twins.

 

Does Jax impress you as much as me?  Not knowing much about what type of pitcher he is, keep wondering who is a good comparison...at least success wise.  Would it be Radke?  Or may Gibson or Scott Baker?  Anyone have any ideas of what we can hope for?

 

And isn't Winder having a really nice season for the Kernels?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Damn, and I was hoping to drive down and watch him pitch this weekend, but, other things ...

 

Time is running short — he may not be in Cedar Rapids much longer!

[puckstopper1]

The write up says Winder went 8 innings which caught my eye as that would be an extremely rare feat in the Twins system this season.  

 

The linked box score says he went only 6 innings.  More in line with the system this season.

 

Still a terrific outing.

[Matt Braun]

The write up says Winder went 8 innings which caught my eye as that would be an extremely rare feat in the Twins system this season.  

 

The linked box score says he went only 6 innings.  More in line with the system this season.

 

Still a terrific outing.

 

That’s because I accidentally linked last week’s box score! Good catch.