Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/11): Wiel Drives the Red Wings Bus

[Seth Stohs]

The Red Wings returned from their All-Star break with a doubleheader. In game 1, Ronald Torreyes had three hits and homered twice. But as we have known since childhood, Zander Wiel makes the Red Wings bus go round and round. Quietly the 2015 12th round pick from Vanderbilt is putting together a monster season in Triple-A. He deserves to be noticed and a game like this will get a player noticed.

 

There were a large number of transactions again on Thursday including the transfer of Cody Allen from the Miracle to the Red Wings.Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Thursday, starting with the transactions of the day.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• RH RP Cody Allen was reinstated from the temporary inactive list and promoted from Ft. Myers to Rochester.
• IF Brian Schales was promoted from Pensacola to Rochester.
• The Red Wings officially received recently-optioned RHP Kohl Stewart and LHP Devin Smeltzer from the Twins.
• DJ Baxendale was placed on the Red Wings Injured List.
• LH RP Andrew Vasquez was sent from Rochester to Pensacola.
• The Blue Wahoos also announced that the Twins have signed veteran infielder (and former big leaguer) Ivan De Jesus, Jr. to a minor league deal and assigned him to Pensacola.
• RHP Edwar Colina was promoted from Ft. Myers to Pensacola.
• RH RP Moises Gomez was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers.
• RH RP Nate Hadley, the Twins 25th round pick last month, was promoted to the Kernels from Elizabethton.

RED WINGS REPORT

Game 1 - Rochester 13, Lehigh Valley 5

Box Score

 

Zander Wiel continues to quietly put up big numbers for the Red Wings this year. In this game, he hit his 23rd and 24th doubles and his 14th and 15th home runs. He drove in seven runs. That is a good week!

 

 

Ronald Torreyes knocked his sixth and seventh homers and drove in four runs. He went 3-for-4. Wilin Rosario was also 3-for-4 in the game. Jaylin Davis went 2-for-4. Nick Gordon drove in two runs with a single.

 

Sean Poppen started Game 1 and gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over four innings. He also struck out four batters. Carlos Torres came on to start the fifth inning. He went the final three innings and gave up two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out three… to win his third game since joining the Red Wings.

 

 

Game 2 - Rochester, Lehigh Valley

Box Score

 

Game is in progress. This will be updated upon game's completion.

 

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 2, Montgomery 6

Box Score

 

Lefty Bryan Sammons started and gave up four runs on four hits over the first four innings. He walked one, hit two batters, and struck out three batters. Zack Weiss came on and gave up one run on one hit over 2 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out one batter. Alex Phillips gave up two runs on two hits over the next two innings. He walked three and struck out one. Hector Lujan got the final two outs of the top of the ninth inning, but not before allowing an inherited runner to score and two more of his own. He gave up three hits and struck out one batter.

 

Travis Blankenhorn led the offense. He went 2-for-4 with his 14th double.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers, Daytona

Box Score

 

Game cancelled by Rain. It will not be made up.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Great Lakes 3

Box Score

 

Luis Rijo put together one of the best starts in the organization in his most recent starts, and he followed it with another really strong start. The right-hander started with six shutout innings. He gave up two runs in the seventh. In 6 2/3 innings, he gave up those two runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out six batters. Alex Schick came on and gave up one run on two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two batters.

 

For the second straight game, Trevor Casanova hit a home run, his third in 15 games since joining the Kernels. A catcher, he has been playing often in the Kernels outfield, and on this night he threw out a runner at home. It provided the team their lone run. Gabe Snyder went 2-for-3 with a walk.

 

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In case you missed it, on Wednesday night in Cedar Rapids, they introduced their 2019 Hall of Fame class. The group included long-time Board of Directors member Gary Keoppel, players Jerry Reuss and Hector Cruz ,and manager Jake Mauer. Jeff Johnson chatted with Mauerabout getting away from the game, what he misses and what he’s up to these days.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

E-Twins 0, Burlington 5

Box Score

 

The E-Twins had a rough game. The offense only managed four hits, the same number of errors that they had in the night.

 

Spencer Steer hit a triple, the team’s lone extra-base hit. Matt Wallner had a single, and he also threw out a runner at third base from right field.

 

Ben Gross made the start for the E-Twins. He went the first four innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out six without a walk. Lefty Erik Cha came on and gave up three runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. He struck out three. Steven Cruz struck out six batters in three scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 3, GCL Orioles 2

Box Score

 

German right-hander Niklas Rimmel made the start for the Twins on Thursday afternoon. He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits over five innings .He struck out five without walking any, though he did hit one batter. Venezuelan righty Miguel Rodriguez came on and tossed three scoreless innings for his second straight outing. On this day, he gave up one hit, walked one and struck out seven batters. Lefty Evan Gillespie, recently signed out of Faulkner University, gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth. He was credited with his first professional win.

 

The Twins entered the bottom of the ninth inning down 2-0. With one out, Wander Valdez, Francisco Martinez and Bryson Gandy all singled to load the bases. Alec Craig walked to bring in the team’s first run. Martinez scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Jesus Feliz walked to reload the bases. Parker Phillips ended the game with a sacrifice fly deep enough to score Bryson Gandy with the winning run.

 

LaRon Smith went 2-for-4. Along with the game-winning RBI, Phillips went 2-for-4. Wander Valdez entered the game late and went 2-for-2.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Luis Rijo, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Rochester Red Wings

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - Rained Out

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 0-4, RBI, 3 K

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

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) - Rained Out

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2 K

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL Twins) - Did Not Play

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Game 2 (

#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) - Game 1 (1-4, R, 2 RBI), Game 2 (

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) - Rained Out

#14 - Luis Arraez (Minnesota) - All Star Break

#15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) - 1-3, 2 K, OF Assist

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - 1-4, K

#17 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Injured (Tommy John)

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

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL Twins) - 0-3, 2 BB, R, RBI

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - 2-4, 2B(14), RBI

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (5:05 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (4-4, 5.50 ERA)

Montgomery @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak (4-0, 2.92 ERA)

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) - RHP Blayne Enlow (2-2, 1.95 ERA)

Great Lakes @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Josh Winder (6-1, 2.32 ERA)

Burlington @ Elizabethton (5:30 CST) - Andriu Marin (1-1, 2.77 ERA)

GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox (11:00 CST) - TBD

 

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

 

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[Danchat]

This Luis Rijo guy has been pitching really well as of late. I know he's Rule 5 eligible, but I wonder if they could sneak him through next year since he's got quite awhile to go before he'll be a big leaguer.

[Tom Froemming]

Here are some more highlight's of Wiel's performance from the first game today:

[dbminn]

Thanks for the montage, Tom. Wiel's last AB is a thing of beauty. Went with a decent pitch and demolished it.

[Twinsoholic]

Torreyes was 5 for 6 in the double header with 3 homers and 5 rbi. He has been on fire since returning to Rochester.

[rdehring]

Had Rochester won the second game, they would have been back to .500.  Now they are 2 games under.  Their lineup is so strong with Rooker, Wiel, Gordon, Davis, Cave, Sawyer, Maggi, Rosario and Raley...when he gets healthy. They gotta get over that hurdle for a playoff run in August.

 

Don't know what is wrong with Javier, but it is more than a slump.  He has just 2 hits in his last 10 games...yes, that's 8 games of 0 for whatever (2-37).  With 40-man roster spots at a premium this winter, he is a headscratcher.

 

I will be shocked if we don't see several of the 40-man roster eligible players traded before the end of the month...players who are favorites of many of us.  Better to use 'em than lose 'em.

 

Look for big starts today from Thorpe, Enlow and Winder.

[jkcarew]

The summary for our first round draft pick (and #7 prospect) needs to be changed from "Did Not Play" to "Seldom Plays" or even "Never Plays" or "Injured", maybe?

[Han Joelo]

 

The summary for our first round draft pick (and #7 prospect) needs to be changed from "Did Not Play" to "Seldom Plays" or even "Never Plays" or "Injured", maybe?

 

How about "Exceptionally Raw?"

 

Hopefully not the heir apparent in the Matt Moses-Trevor Plouffe lineage.

[jmlease1]

It's going to be interesting to see how Cody Allen does in AAA. Be great if we were able to "fix" him and have him as a viable option. Basically this is a "did the Angels give up on him too soon or is he cooked" move.

 

Next few weeks are going to be very interesting as some of these prospects audition for a trade possibility.

[mini_tb]

Not everyone can be a polished high floor guy like Levi Michael 

[Vanimal46]

Wander Javier needs to break out of this slump... Quickly.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Don't know what is wrong with Javier, but it is more than a slump.  He has just 2 hits in his last 10 games...yes, that's 8 games of 0 for whatever (2-37).  With 40-man roster spots at a premium this winter, he is a headscratcher.

 

He's making the decision really easy for the Twins... 

[Dakota15]

Decision as in to trade him? 

 

[jkcarew]

 

How about "Exceptionally Raw?"

 

Hopefully not the heir apparent in the Matt Moses-Trevor Plouffe lineage.

Exceptionally Raw would probably be appropriate, as well. But, at least in terms of statistical likelihood of even first round draft picks working out...I think Trevor Plouffe is probably not a bad outcome...though I'll hope for more for now

[Han Joelo]

 

Exceptionally Raw would probably be appropriate, as well. But, at least in terms of statistical likelihood of even first round draft picks working out...I think Trevor Plouffe is probably not a bad outcome...though I'll hope for more for now

Despite my best efforts, it is hard not to wish on every "top" prospect a trajectory like the one the Acuna's and Guerrero's seem to be on.  Forget panning out, or being really good--nowadays they need to be all that, and they need to do it as teenagers!

 

 

[Han Joelo]

 

He's making the decision really easy for the Twins... 

To not 40 man him, I assume.  With where he appears to be at right now, it would be a real shame if someone took him and stunted whatever growth he's got to make, by having him sit on a MLB bench for a year.

[Mike Sixel]

 

To not 40 man him, I assume.  With where he appears to be at right now, it would be a real shame if someone took him and stunted whatever growth he's got to make, by having him sit on a MLB bench for a year.

 

He's so far away, I can't see anyone stashing him for a year.