Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/25): Colina Cruises to Complete Game

[Seth Stohs]

This has to be a difficult time of the season for players who hear their names in trade rumors. While it’s easy to say that you can shut that out of your mind during the game, it is impossible. In most of the last decade, the Twins have been sellers. This year, the Twins appear to be buyers. That means, the minor leaguers are likely hearing their names flying through the internet. It has to be a distraction for anyone in the Twins top 50-60 prospects because that kind of news can come at any time right up to (and even for a few moments after) the deadline next week.

 

But the games continue, and on Thursday, there was a lot of action throughout the system. Sure, the GCL Twins, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos made up for that with a doubleheader. Rochester had a big comeback. Pensacola had a complete game, and then got a walk-off win too. One top prospect had a home run and provided the extra-inning, game-winning RBI for the Miracle. The Kernels got another great start from a player the organization acquired at last year’s deadline. Elizabethton got a big win too.Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Thursday, starting with the transactions of the day.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• OF Byron Buxton was activated from the Injured List with OF Jake Cave optioned to Rochester.
• LHP Devin Smeltzer was optioned to Rochester. RHP Sean Poppen was recalled.
• The Twins traded Pensacola catcher Brian Navarreto to the New York Yankees organization for cash considerations.
• The Twins acquired RHP Jeremy Bleich from the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations. The 32-year-old debuted last year with two innings with the A’s (2 ER, 1 out). With all of the Red Wings starters bouncing from Rochester to the Twins, they just need some arms.
• Eden Prairie RH RP Adam Bray was promoted to Rochester.
• C Ryan Jeffers and RHP Jhoan Duran were promoted to Pensacola.
• C/1B Chris Williams came off of the Cedar Rapids Injured list and was promoted from the Kernels to the Miracle.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Norfolk 9

Box Score

 

The Red Wings fell behind early after a five-run top of the first. However, a Jaylin Davis two-run single scored two runs to cap a four-run bottom of the 8th for the Red Wings to tie the game at 7-7. But the lead didn’t last for long, and the Wings took a loss.

 

DJ Baxendale started a bullpen game for the Red Wings (as several of their starters are currently with or returning from the Twins). He gave up six runs on eight hits (including 3 HR) over the first three innings. He walked two and struck out three. Jake Reed came on and tossed three scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one and struck out two batters. Zack Littell came on and gave up an unearned run over this two innings. Gabriel Moya came on for the ninth inning with the game tied and gave up a two-run homer to Orioles’ top prospect Ryan Mountcastle.

 

Nick Gordon led the offense. He went 3-for-4 with a walk and his fourth homer of the season. Alejandro de Aza and Wynston Sawyer each went 2-for-4 with a walk. Sawyer added his 17th double. Zander Wiel added his 27th home run.

 

 

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Pensacola 2, Mobile 1

Game 1 - Box Score

 

It got interesting late, but Edwar Colina completed the seven-inning game for the Blue Wahoos on Thursday. Obviously that is important when it occurs during a double header. In his second start since his promotion to Pensacola, Colina came into the final inning with a shutout. He got the first two batters out, but then he issued a walk and a single. The Mobile run then scored on a passed ball which also put the tying run into scoring position. But he got a fly out to end the game.

 

Colina went all seven innings (101 pitches, 70 strikes) and gave up only the unearned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out ten batters. It’s also fun to see how a pitcher does against top prospects. Jo Adell is the Angels top prospect and a consensus Top 10 prospect nationally. Colina go Adell out all three times he came to the plate and struck him out twice. Obviously three plate appearances fits the definition of Small Sample Size, but it does show Colina’s upside.

 

The Wahoos scored both of their runs in the first innings. Alex Kirilloff led off with a single and stole second base. With two outs, Mark Contreras singled in Kirilloff. Ben Rortvedt followed with a run-scoring double.

 

Contreras and Rortvedt each went 2-for-4. Rortvedt hit his fourth and fifth doubles.

 

Pensacola 3, Mobile 2

Game 2 - Box Score

 

Ryan Jeffers was called up to the Wahoos earlier in the day, and after starting out 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, he got one more opportunity. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Trevor Larnach reached on a two-out error. Jeffers came up, fell behind 0-2, and then drilled a double to left field that scored Larnach from first to end the game and the doubleheader.

 

The Blue Wahoos scored twice in the fifth inning and back-to-back RBI singles from Alex Kirilloff and Lewin Diaz.

 

It was a bullpen game for Pensacola. Anthony Vizcaya started and gave up just one hit over three scoreless innings. He walked three and struck two batters out. Hector Lujan came on and was charged with two runs on three hits and two walks and a hit batter in an inning and a third. Tom Hackimer came into the 5th inning with the bases loaded and one out and got out of it. He worked 2 2/3 innings and gave up just one hit. He struck out two without walking anyone, though he did hit three batters.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 3, Lakeland 2 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

Royce Lewis provided the Miracle with their first run of the night with a first-inning home run, his 10th of the season. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning. He hit a fly ball down the right field line for a game-winning sacrifice fly.

 

 

Tyler Watson started for the Miracle. The left-hander was very good. He gave up just one run on four hits over the first seven innings. He struck out five batters without walking any. Johan Quezada came on and pitched a strong eighth inning, flashing 101 on the radar gun. However, he was charged with a ninth-inning run that tied the game. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out two while recording four outs. Calvin Faucher got the final two outs of the ninth inning and then threw a scoreless top of the 10th.

 

Gabriel Maciel went 2-for-5 in the game. Jacob Pearson had the only other extra base hit, his third double since joining the Miracle recently.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 1

Box Score

 

Luis Rijo was on his game again on Thursday night. The right-hander, acquired last year at the trade deadline from the Yankees, gave up just one run on four hits over the first seven innings. He struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone.

 

 

The Kernels got things going with four runs in the first inning. Trevor Casanova singled in a run and then Wander Javier drilled a three-run homer. It was his sixth of the season. Spencer Steer went 2-for-4 with his first triple. Javier added a single as well.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

E-Twins 9, Princeton 4

Box Score

 

Elizabethton got off to a fast start and continued it throughout the game. Willie Joe Garry, Jr., led the way. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, his sixth double and his third home run. Matt Wallner had two doubles on the night. Janigson Villalobos hit his third homer, and Will Holland added his second home run.

 

Andriu Marin started and was charged with three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six. Frandy Torres struck out three batters over the next 2 2/3 innings. He gave up just one hit. Erik Cha worked the final two innings. He gave up a run on four hits. He struck out three batters.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins, GCL Orioles

Box Score

 

Game Postponed by Rain.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Edwar Colina, Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Willie Joe Garry, Jr., Elizabethton Twins

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(10), GW-Sac Fly

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - Game 1 (1-3, R), Game 2 (1-4, RBI)

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

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Pensacola) - Game 1 (1-3), Game 2 (1-4, R)

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, R, 3 RBI, HR(6)

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Ft. Myers) - Temporary Inactive List (Pan Am Games)

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL Twins) - Rained Out

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Injured List (groin).

#9 - Jhoan Duran (Pensacola) - Promoted to AA, Did Not Pitch

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch

#11 - Lewis Thorpe (Minnesota) - Did Not Pitch

#12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 3-4, BB, HR(4), R, RBI,

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Pensacola) - Promoted to AA, Game 2 (1-4, 2B(1), GW-RBI)

#14 - Luis Arraez (Minnesota) - 1-4, R, 2B(8)

#15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) - 2-4, 2-2B(11), R, 2 RBI, 2 K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - Game 1 (2-3, 2-2B(5), RBI, K

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

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

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL Twins) - 3-4, HBP, 2B(11), 3B(2), 3 R

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - Injured List

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Indianapolis @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - TBD

Mobile @ Pensacola (6:35 CST) - TBD

Lakeland @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - RHP Blayne Enlow (2-2, 3.35 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Andrew Cabezas (4-5, 3.54 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Bristol (5:30 CST) - RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 0.00 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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[carlito_b]

Nick Gordon has had a really encouraging season and if not for arraez and ehire playing so well I think he would be giving the big league team quality play. Colina IMO is our third best pitching prospect in the organization.And at this point what does jake reed have to do to get a call up?they've literally called up almost everyone else at least once. I'm not saying I think he deserves it over stashak but I just feel for the guy.

[Danchat]

 

Nick Gordon has had a really encouraging season and if not for arraez and ehire playing so well I think he would be giving the big league team quality play. Colina IMO is our third best pitching prospect in the organization.And at this point what does jake reed have to do to get a call up?they've literally called up almost everyone else at least once. I'm not saying I think he deserves it over stashak but I just feel for the guy.

I have been a big supporter of Jake Reed, but his numbers have been flat-out bad at AAA this year. He needs a chance in a different organization, methinks.

[FormerMinnasotan]

First off I wonder how big a pitching prospect Edwar Colina really is? I’ve been interested in him since his succesful season last year between Cedar Rapids and Ft Myers. It’s apparent that he’s got some legitimate stuff with his fastball and slider. I just wonder at 5’11” if his body can withstand the stress of starting pitching while maintaining his power stuff? I guess if Colina transitioned to the bullpen it’d be fine, yet right now he looks legit as a starter.

 

Also with the promotion of Duran to Pensacola is it time to promote Luis Rijo to Ft Myers? His w/l record isn’t great, however Rijo’s stats outside of w/l seem to paint a picture of a decent pitching candidate. As of late Rijo seems to really finding a groove and it seems all cylinders are firing for him. What’s surprising is the uptick in K’s. For a more “pitch to contact” type pitcher Rijo’s uptick in K’s seems to suggest a growth in Rijo as a starting pitcher.

[Seth Stohs]

 

First off I wonder how big a pitching prospect Edwar Colina really is? I’ve been interested in him since his succesful season last year between Cedar Rapids and Ft Myers. It’s apparent that he’s got some legitimate stuff with his fastball and slider. I just wonder at 5’11” if his body can withstand the stress of starting pitching while maintaining his power stuff? I guess if Colina transitioned to the bullpen it’d be fine, yet right now he looks legit as a starter.

Also with the promotion of Duran to Pensacola is it time to promote Luis Rijo to Ft Myers? His w/l record isn’t great, however Rijo’s stats outside of w/l seem to paint a picture of a decent pitching candidate. As of late Rijo seems to really finding a groove and it seems all cylinders are firing for him. What’s surprising is the uptick in K’s. For a more “pitch to contact” type pitcher Rijo’s uptick in K’s seems to suggest a growth in Rijo as a starting pitcher.

 

Colina is my #13 overall prospect (behind Graterol, Balazovic, Duran, Enlow as far as pitchers). Keith Law had him as the #10 Twins prospect before the season. I think the fastball at 98, the consistency, the strength, the pitch mix, etc. I don't think he's 5-11. I'd have to look at the prospect handbook to see where he is at now.

 

As for Rijo, when you throw 96, you're more than just pitch-to-contact.

[rdehring]

At a time of year when Gordon began his season long slump the past couple years, he seems to be turning it up a notch.  Good for him.  Will he still be a Twin next spring to battle Arraez for the second base job?

 

After seeing his performance slide for a couple months, great seeing Rortvedt have a big game.  Same for Javier who had his second multi-hit game of his last ten.

 

Other than the number of strikeouts, 8 to 5, Rijo and Watson had identical lines of 7.0 innings of 1 run ball with no walks.  Both were deserving the Pitcher of the Day recognition, had Colina not been mowing down 10 Bay Bears. 

 

And what can you say about Willie Joe Garry, Jr?  Would also be interested in your opinion, Seth, of Spencer Steer.  Is he a utility type, say someone like Gonzalez who can play several positions well and hit well enough to stay in the lineup most days?  Or is he a potential stud with the bat who will become a regular for the Twins playing position X?  Although its only been a few weeks, sure looks like they may have found a good one with this year's third round pick. 

 

 

[puckstopper1]

Solid sticks in the system - especially at Rochester (Davis, Gordon, Rooker) could lead to better arms for the Twins in the next week.

[Dman]

Granted it was just a first impression but I didn't think Willie Joe Garry was going to be any good any time soon.  I know he was young last year but he looked pretty lost at the plate.  Also I don't remember there being any hype surrounding the 9th round pick.  I figured the Twins liked the tools but I really wondered about the hit tool and after that first year it didn't look like it would be fast developing to me. I know not to get too exited about numbers from E-town but for a 19 year old his stats are impressive.  I am starting to think the Twins might have found yet another sleeper in the 9th round.

 

I see Colina is back to his being himself again.  When he is on he is very impressive.  Rijo seems to have turned a corner as well.  Nice to see him gaining some speed on his heater. 

 

Gordon has been pretty consistent with no second half swoon in site so far.  Granted he was injured early and didn't start the season on a roster this year.  I think he has restablished himself as a very good prospect again.  Only thing he is really missing is power and that comes late for a lot of players.

[jmlease1]

Gordon is doing a nice job this year. I'm sure he's a little frustrated at sticking in AAA again and getting passed over by Arraez, but this has been a good bounce-back season for him. He plummeted down the rankings after a really rough stint in Rochester in 2018, but it's important to note that this was his first real hiccup in pro baseball. Dude was promoted every single year of his pro career before 2019 (sure it was a mid-year one in 2018, but he's never repeated a full year). He hit in A+, AA, and now he's hitting again in AAA.

 

The luster has gone off him because he's no longer 19 and projectable (which often seems to be dreaming about a guy's ceiling while trying hard not to look at the floor...), he's 23 and getting close to who he is as a player. But he looks like a useful MLB player who could start in the middle infield for you. I'd be pretty comfortable moving on from Schoop and looking at Arraez/Gordon at 2B next year.

 

Glad to see Hackimer back...do we know why he was suspended yet?

[Aerodeliria]

Free Hackimer! Good to see him back in action. He's a tough hombre.

 

A Rooker + Gordon + 1 would look attractive to many a team.

[rdehring]

 

Gordon is doing a nice job this year. I'm sure he's a little frustrated at sticking in AAA again and getting passed over by Arraez, but this has been a good bounce-back season for him. He plummeted down the rankings after a really rough stint in Rochester in 2018, but it's important to note that this was his first real hiccup in pro baseball. Dude was promoted every single year of his pro career before 2019 (sure it was a mid-year one in 2018, but he's never repeated a full year). He hit in A+, AA, and now he's hitting again in AAA.

 

The luster has gone off him because he's no longer 19 and projectable (which often seems to be dreaming about a guy's ceiling while trying hard not to look at the floor...), he's 23 and getting close to who he is as a player. But he looks like a useful MLB player who could start in the middle infield for you. I'd be pretty comfortable moving on from Schoop and looking at Arraez/Gordon at 2B next year.

 

Glad to see Hackimer back...do we know why he was suspended yet?

One of the reasons I cooled on Gordon was because 2018 wasn't his first problem with the bat.  It really was an instant replay of 2017 when he spent the entire year at Chattanooga.  With roughly the same number of at bats in the first and second half, he hit .315 average/.880 OPS in the first half.  He then went on to hit only .221/.609 in the second half.  That is a huge drop off. 

 

When he again struggled in the second half of 2018, it made sense to question what his future would be.  Seems to have put that behind him this year.  Yet, as Dman mentioned above he missed a lot of the first half so maybe the second half swoon has only been delayed?  Hopefully, he will keep hitting like he has for the next six weeks...or at least the next few days should he be included in that elusive deal.    

[Seth Stohs]

 

At a time of year when Gordon began his season long slump the past couple years, he seems to be turning it up a notch.  Good for him.  Will he still be a Twin next spring to battle Arraez for the second base job?

 

After seeing his performance slide for a couple months, great seeing Rortvedt have a big game.  Same for Javier who had his second multi-hit game of his last ten.

 

Other than the number of strikeouts, 8 to 5, Rijo and Watson had identical lines of 7.0 innings of 1 run ball with no walks.  Both were deserving the Pitcher of the Day recognition, had Colina not been mowing down 10 Bay Bears. 

 

And what can you say about Willie Joe Garry, Jr?  Would also be interested in your opinion, Seth, of Spencer Steer.  Is he a utility type, say someone like Gonzalez who can play several positions well and hit well enough to stay in the lineup most days?  Or is he a potential stud with the bat who will become a regular for the Twins playing position X?  Although its only been a few weeks, sure looks like they may have found a good one with this year's third round pick. 

 

Nick Gordon is good at baseball. 

 

Colina had a few more strikeouts and what he was able to provide that pitching staff with the complete game was the other tie-breaker.

 

I don't like limiting guys. You don't draft a guy in the 3rd round to be a utility infielder and then the reality is that if he becomes a utility infielder in the big leagues, that''s a huge success. How that will play out in the Twins system, we'll see. I think the question this early in his career is just which position(s) can he play, and then next year, keep pushing forward.

[RichReese]

I understand that the Twins will have difficult choices to make this fall for the 40-person roster, but I am sorry to lose Brian Navaretto. Of course, I was also sorry to lose Bobby Kielty, so what do I know.

[Roaddog]

I actually had thought maybe Navaretto could be a backup next year. I just don't see Castro coming back

[Mr. Brooks]

I actually had thought maybe Navaretto could be a backup next year. I just don't see Castro coming back

A backup in MLB, or AA?

He has a career .573 milb OPS.

For perspective, that's 60 points lower than Drew Butera had in the minors.

That would likely equate to about a .495 MLB OPS.

[Roaddog]

A backup in MLB, or AA?

He has a career .573 milb OPS.

For perspective, that's 60 points lower than Drew Butera had in the minors.

That would likely equate to about a .495 MLB OPS.

 

Which means little. As a defense only catcher, you could do worse

[Mr. Brooks]

Which means little. As a defense only catcher, you could do worse

I mean, my mind is always open to be swayed, with some examples.

But, I'm not sure that's true.

How many sub .500 OPS bats have been allowed to hang around an MLB team, no matter how good their defense is?