Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/7): Lewis, Balazovic Shine in Futures Game

[Cody Christie]

Every day at Twins Daily, prospects take center stage every in our Minor League Reports. However, Sunday’s MLB Futures Game allows some of the top talent in the organization to get recognized on the national stage. For some, Royce Lewis was one of the most impressive bats during batting practice. He was also wore a microphone during the game so that provided some additional entertainment. Lewis went 1-for-2 in the game and had a shot to win it in the seventh.

 

Jordan Balazovic might not be as well known as Lewis, but he is rising on prospect lists. The right-handed pitcher out of Canada is quickly moving up prospect lists. Even MilB.com did a story on his journey. In his first appearance in any All-Star Game, he pitched a perfect frame.TRANSACTIONS

OF Jake Cave recalled by Minnesota from Rochester.

LHP Devin Smeltzer recalled by Minnesota from Rochester.

INF Wilin Rosario reinstated from the IL with Rochester.

 

AWARDS

The Twins announced their weekly Hitter and Pitcher of the Week:

• Hitter of the Week: Jaylin Davis, Rochester

In eight games including a Friday doubleheader, Davis hit .364 (12-for-33) with three doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, two walks and a 1.128 OPS. Davis, 25, was a 25th-round pick by the Twins in 2015 and has hit .284 (81-for-285) with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 47 RBI in 77 games between Double-A Pensacola and Rochester.

• Pitcher of the Week: Luis Rijo, Cedar Rapids

Rijo made the start on Thursday vs. Burlington, pitching 7.0 shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and 10 strikeouts. The 20-year-old Venezuela native was acquired by the Twins in 2018 from New York-AL, in exchange for right-handed pitcher and current Ranger Lance Lynn

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Scranton/WB 7 (Game 1- 7 Innings)

Box Score

Yeltsin Encarnacion tried to carry the Red Wings offense all by himself in this one. He finished the day 3-for-3 with a run scored. Brent Rooker knocked his 14th home run of the year, while Jimmy Kerrigan collected his first Triple-A home run. Unfortunately, it was not enough.

 

In a bullpen game, Preston Guilmet started and pitched three scoreless frames. He struck out three and limited batters to three hits. Jake Reed ran into some trouble in the fourth. He allowed four earned runs on three hits. Ryan Eades took the loss after allowing two earned runs on three hits in one inning. DJ Baxendale took the final frame and allowed a solo home run.

 

Rochester 3, Scranton/WB 6 (Game 2 - 7 Innings)

Box Score

Rochester pitchers allowed six runs in the first three innings and the offense couldn’t recover. In only his fourth start for Rochester, Drew Hutchison took the brunt of the damage. He was charged with six runs on eight hits in five innings. This included three home runs. Gabriel Moya made it through a scoreless innings with a strikeout and two hits allowed.

 

Fresh off his Player of the Week honors, Jaylin Davis clocked his eighth home run. It was a two run-shot and it briefly put Rochester on top. Ronald Torreyes and Wilin Rosario both went 2-for-3. Zander Wiel collected his 22nd double.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 5, Birmingham 6 (10 Innings)

Box Score

Pensacola scored three runs over the final two innings, but it wouldn’t be enough as the bullpen faltered in extra frames. Charlie Barnes allowed his most earned runs in over a month, but he was able to keep the Blue Wahoos in the game. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits with six strike outs. Alex Phillips and Hector Lujan combined for four shutout innings to hold serve while the offense recovered. Zack Weiss allowed the final two runs of the game and was stuck with the loss.

 

Offensively, four batters had multiple hits and the Blue Wahoos combined for eleven total hits. Unfortunately, the team went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Alex Kirilloff knocked his fourth home run. Lewin Diaz went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Palm Beach 12

Box Score

Fort Myers had won six straight, but all good things must come to an end. Fort Myers was limited to eight hits including two extra-base hits. Jose Miranda went 1-for-4 with his 17th double. Michael Davis went 2-for-2 with a double.

 

In a blowout loss, Cody Allen might have provided a positive light. Allen was used as an opener and pitched a perfect inning. According to reports, he was sitting in the low 90s with his fastball and he threw 83% of his pitches for strikes. Since joining Fort Myers, he has thrown four scoreless innings. There weren’t many other positives for the pitching staff as every pitcher that threw at least one inning allowed a minimum of one run.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 5, Quad Cities 2

Box Score

Cedar Rapids earned their seventh win in a row, a season high. Kai-Wei Teng also extended the Kernel’s quality start streak to nine straight games. He pitched seven innings and the only run scored with him on the mound was unearned. He struck out four and didn’t walk any as his season ERA dipped to 1.85. Cedar Rapids is 6-0 when he takes the mound. Moises Gomez earned his sixth save after striking out the side in the ninth.

 

Gabe Snyder had a role in two of the biggest moments of the day. His first inning solo home run gave Cedar Rapids an early lead. In the sixth, he coaxed a two out walk and scored from first on a double from Jared Akins. Chris Williams followed with a double of his own to stretch the lead to 3-1.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 7, Kingsport 3

Box Score

Elizabethton was out-hit six to nine, but it didn’t factor into the outcome of this game. Prelander Berroa did well to pitch five innings for the second consecutive start. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits for his first victory. In relief, Osiris German was very strong. He limited the Cardinals to one hit over three innings. He struck out four and walked a pair. Nate Hadley pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.

 

Matt Wallner drove in a pair of runs with a home run in the first inning. It was his second professional home run. Charles Mack went 2-for-4 and added his third home run. Seth Gray reached base twice and scored a pair of runs to help the cause.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

TD Pitcher of the Day- Kai-Wei Teng, Cedar Rapids (7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 0 BB)

TD Hitter of the Day- Gabe Snyder, Cedar Rapids (2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (AL Futures Game) – 1-2, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) – 1-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Injured list

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) – 1-4, R, K

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, K, BB

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (AL Futures Game) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 K, 0 BB

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL Twins) - Did not play

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) – 1-7, HR, RBI, R, 2 K

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

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

#11 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) – Did not pitch

#12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 1-8, 2 K

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

#14 - Luis Arraez (Twins) - 1-5

#15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) - 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) – 1-5, 2 K

#17 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Out for year with Tommy John surgery

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

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL Twins) – No scheduled game

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - 2-5, RBI

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester- Scheduled Off-Day

Pensacola @ Birmingham (7:05 CST) – RHP Jorge Alcala (5-5, 6.69 ERA)

Fort Myers vs. Daytona (6:00 CST) – RHP Cole Sands (4-2, 2.47 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:35 CST) – RHP Austin Schulfer (6-4, 2.40 ERA)

Elizabethton Twins @ Johnson City (5:30 CST)- LHP Ryley Widell (0-3, 10.38 ERA)

GCL Twins vs. GCL Pirates (11:00 am CST) – TBD

 

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

 

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[SpicyGarvSauce]

Keith Law wasn't exactly impressed with Lewis in his article reviewing the Futures Game.

[nicksaviking]

With Davis, Rooker, Raley and Larnich hitting so well and with Kirilloff, Badoo and Celestino still having some steam, I sure hope teams looking to sell pitching this year are interested in outfield help. The Twins look to be OK in that department at the MLB level in the near future.

[Major League Ready]

 

Keith Law wasn't exactly impressed with Lewis in his article reviewing the Futures Game.

 

I am starting wish they had taken Gore.

[jkcarew]

 

Keith Law wasn't exactly impressed with Lewis in his article reviewing the Futures Game.

Wondering when the leg kick is going to go...still waiting. Even on his 35-hopper pulled through the whole, the leg kick seemed mis-timed and a hindrance, but quick hips and hands bailed him out.

 

Meanwhile, he really does glide around out there...really smooth and athletic looking. Easy to see why he's a top prospect. We'll just have to wait a bit to see how the bat comes around.

[lcpenfield]

Does anyone know what happened to Pitcher Landon Leach? He was the Twins 2nd round pick who signed with them in 2017. 

 

[ashbury]

Does anyone know what happened to Pitcher Landon Leach? He was the Twins 2nd round pick who signed with them in 2017. 

In late june he was put on the Injured List. That carries a minimum 7-day stay, and evidently he's not recovered yet. I don't know whether there was an announcement of what exactly is wrong; in the past it has been his shoulder. Worrisome, I agree.

 

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