Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/1): Big Offense and Shutouts

[Seth Stohs]

It was a busy day in the Minnesota Twins minor league system. Rochester took on Tim Tebow and the Syracuse Mets. It was a big offensive game. Pensacola got an incredible pitching performance and carried it to a 1-0 win. The Miracle also posted a shutout behind Cole Sands. The Kernels got a strong start and a late, big inning to secure a win. A couple of E-Twins hit their first professional home runs .Was it enough? And, the GCL Twins tossed the first of the Twins three minor league shutouts of the day.Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Monday, starting with the transactions of the day.

 

AWARDS

 

Griffin Jax was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week.

 

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

• RHP Casey Legumina has been transferred from the Twins GCL roster to Elizabethton.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 9, Syracuse 7

Box Score

 

Most of tonight’s Twins affiliate scores were low. Not this one. The Red Wings offense showed up and the bullpen did a nice job of keeping the Mets at bay.

 

Drew Hutchison started and gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven. Ryan Eades gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. Yes, he struck out two. Cody Stashak improved to 4-0 after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three batters. With the lead, Ian Krol came in and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his fifth save.

 

Brent Rooker’s strong June continued on July 1st. He went 3-for-5 with his 13th home run of the season. Nick Gordon was also 3-for-5 with his 17th double. Tomas Telis went 3-for-4 with his 11th and 12th doubles. Jaylin Davis celebrated his 25th birthday with two doubles in four at-bats. Drew Maggi went 2-for-4 with his third triple.

 

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 1, Mississippi 0

Box Score

 

After spending the entire 2018 season in Cedar Rapids, Randy Dobnak has been a travelin’ man in 2019. He began in Ft. Myers but it wasn’t long before he moved up to Pensacola. He quickly moved up to Rochester where he made a couple of spot starts before returning to the Blue Wahoos. On Monday night, he put together one of the best starts of his career. In seven shutout innings, he gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out nine.

 

Hector Lujan and Sam Clay each pitched an inning to maintain the shutout and give the team a 1-0 win. It was Clay’s seventh save.

 

The game’s lone run came in the bottom of the third. Lewin Diaz doubled in Alex Kirilloff. Diaz went 2-for-3 with a walk and two doubles. He now has nine doubles in 12 games since joining Pensacola. Caleb Hamilton and Brian Schales each went 1-for-3 with a walk. Schales added his fifth double.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 6, Clearwater 0

Box Score

 

Cole Sands was very good again for the Miracle. On Monday night, he threw six scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and struck out seven batters. It was a terrific follow-up to his previous start in which he threw five no-hit innings.

 

Cody Allen came in for the seventh inning. He gave up two singles in a scoreless inning. Alex Phillips came on and threw two scoreless innings to complete the shutout.

 

Royce Lewis led the offense. He went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs. Trey Cabbage and Michael Helman also went 2-for-4. Helman hit his tenth double. Gabriel Maciel had two hits and stole his fifth base with the Miracle. Ernie De La Trinidad walked three times in the game.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Kane County 1

Box Score

 

The game was tied at one a piece going into the bottom of the eighth. Gilberto Celestino doubled to lead off the inning and scored when Chris Williams followed with his 11th double. A couple of batters later, Gabe Snyder’s sixth home run of the season gave the Kernels a 4-1 lead. Daniel Ozoria went 2-for-3 and drove in the team’s first run of the game. He also stole two bases in the game.

 

Kai-Wei Teng started and gave up one run on four hits in six innings. He walked two, hit one and struck out two batters. Carlos Suniaga came on and threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Moises Gomez came on and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to record his fourth save.

 

Check out Jeff Johnson’s article in The Gazetteon Teng and his translator, mentor and friend “Jay.” (Jen-Chieh Hsu)

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

E-Twins 4, Pulaski 8

Box Score

 

There were some pretty cool “firsts” for the Elizabethton Twins on Monday night. The E-Twins also committed five errors which hurt them on Monday night.

 

Prelander Berroa started and gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk in five innings. Steven Cruz came on and threw the next two innings. He was charged with two runs on three hits and three walks in two innings. He struck out four batters. Denny Bentley gave up an unearned run on one hit in his inning.

 

Willie Joe Garry, Jr., had a strong game. The speedy centerfielder went 3-for-3 with a walk. Tyler Webb went 3-for-4 in the game. Spencer Steer went 2-for-5 with his fourth double. Matt Wallner went 2-for-4. In the ninth inning, fifth-round pick Will Holland connected for his first hit as a pro, a home run. It was followed immediately by the first home run of fourth-round pick Seth Gray’s career.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 9, GCL Rays 0

Box Score

 

Donny Breek’s time in the GCL may not be too long this season. Don’t be surprised if he quickly moves up to Elizabethton. On Monday, the right-hander from The Netherlands tossed another five scoreless innings to give him nine on the season. On this day, he gave up two hits, walked two, hit one and struck out three.

 

Jose Guevara and Tyler Beck each threw two scoreless innings. Guevara gave up two hits, walked one and struck out two. Beck gave up one hit while striking out two batters.

 

Jesus Feliz led the offense. He went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Victor Heredia was also 2-for-5. Sergio Toribio had a double and drove in three runs. Erick Rivera walked twice. He had come in to replace Bryson Gandy who had previously walked. He was hit by a pitch on a bone in his foot and was removed for precautionary reasons. Wander Valdez also had a double.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Randy Dobnak, Pensacola Blue Wahoos (and Cole Sands, Ft. Myers Miracle too)

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Brent Rooker, Rochester Red Wings

 

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, 4 RBI, SF

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 1-4, K

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured List (shoulder)

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - 0-5, 4 K

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, K

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - 3-5, HR(13), R, 2 RBI, 2 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) - Injured List (Tommy John surgery)

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 3-5, 2B(17), R, 2 RBI

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Injured List (elbow)

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, BB, K

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - Did Not Play.

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

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, BB, 2B(14), R

#17 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - DId Not Pitch.

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-4, BB, R, K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - Did Not Pitch

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 0-4

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer (0-2, 2.62 ERA)

Mississippi @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - LHP Charlie Barnes (0-2, 3.94 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Clearwater (6:00 CST) - RHP Jhoan Duran (1-7, 3.19 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) - RHP Austin Schulfer (5-4, 2.65 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Pulaski (5:30 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 CST) - TBD

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Monday games or any other minor league topics you would like.

 

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[MNT1996]

The talent the Twins have in the minors is pretty impressive. Will be interesting to see what guys are dealt at the deadline

[twinstalker]

Can we start using the updated top 20 now?  Thanks!

[Old Twins Cap]

Royce Lewis batting second now? Try anything to get him off the schnide.

 

Lots of unanticipated pitchers making big moves forward, Dobnak, Sands, Jax, Balezovic -- interesting times in the minors, and portends a plethora of options, from trades to promotions.

 

If Twins keep the Kepler, Polanco, Buxton, Rosario, Garver, Sano and now Arraez core together, they will compete for a number of years.

[rdehring]

Wonderful seeing Jax get that weekly award.  He could be one to reach the Twins rotation sooner than anyone expects.  

 

Rooker continues to rake and Gordon has been solid.  Then there is Diaz, who may be having the best year at the plate of anyone in the organization.  Will be surprised if at least one of the three isn't gone a month from now.  Also enjoy seeing Garry, Jr's name mentioned.  He is off to a nice start to his first full season as a pro.

 

Interesting transaction, moving Torreyes off the 40-man.  That opens a spot for whomever the Twins recall before tonight's game.  Could they be adding Reed?  Or maybe it will be Mejia who needs a spot to come off the 60-day.  What have you heard Seth?

 

 

 

 

[Dman]

Man, Daiz is money right now.  Comes up big at the plate a lot.  I am very impressed with the season he is having.  He has been very consistent this year which bodes well for future success.  I still wonder if he gets dangled at the deadline because he needs to be added this year.  He has turned into a very good hitter\player.

 

Rooker is hot, hot, hot right now.  He has some absolutely wicked power.  If he keeps this up I see lot's of walks in his future.

 

Gordon also has his OPS in the mid 700's and is hitting .285.  It looks like rumors of his demise have been premature.

 

Never was a big believer in Dobnak but he always seems to get the job done. I wonder if he has MLB long reliever ability at some point.

 

Sands is the pitcher I have been watching.  I love how he attacks hitters.  The more he works on his stuff the better he gets.  Won't know much until he gets to AA but he looks like he is going to be real good to me.

 

Breek never should have started in the GCL given his performance last year but I guess those lower levels can be a numbers game.  It is too early to tell but it looks like the Twins might have found a good one.

 

A fun night full of good MILB performances.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Can we start using the updated top 20 now?  Thanks!

 

Tomorrow... Good Reminder!

[Seth Stohs]

 

Wonderful seeing Jax get that weekly award.  He could be one to reach the Twins rotation sooner than anyone expects.  

 

Rooker continues to rake and Gordon has been solid.  Then there is Diaz, who may be having the best year at the plate of anyone in the organization.  Will be surprised if at least one of the three isn't gone a month from now.  Also enjoy seeing Garry, Jr's name mentioned.  He is off to a nice start to his first full season as a pro.

 

Interesting transaction, moving Torreyes off the 40-man.  That opens a spot for whomever the Twins recall before tonight's game.  Could they be adding Reed?  Or maybe it will be Mejia who needs a spot to come off the 60-day.  What have you heard Seth?

 

I think Mejia makes the most sense, especially seeing the Torreyes move. Need to see what he can do for a month. 

[rdehring]

 

I think Mejia makes the most sense, especially seeing the Torreyes move. Need to see what he can do for a month. 

 

 

I think Mejia makes the most sense, especially seeing the Torreyes move. Need to see what he can do for a month. 

 

Just checked, Seth.  It was Mejia.  Now lets hope like heck he is healthy and can be the lefty this team needs.  Would fill one of two or three spots needed.

[David HK]

I'm grateful for all the work that gets put into these reports- they're always a good read, and show a lot of promise for the Twins' future!

 

On a side note: could there possibly be a better baseball name than Willie Joe Garry, Jr.?