Twins Minor League Report: Follow the Affiliates

[Seth Stohs]

There were a lot of changes to minor league baseball this offseason, and there were changes with all four Twins minor league affiliates. As minor league camp continues, find out the spring training timeline and learn a little about each affiliate and how to follow them.At Twins Daily, we have always taken a lot of pride in our minor league coverage. Frankly, no one covered the Twins minor leagues and prospects the way we did. So, trust us when we say that a lost minor league season in 2020 was hard on us.

 

While the 2021 season will begin late, we are excited about our minor league coverage plans for the upcoming season. We will again have daily minor league reports. In addition, we hope to have a strong presence at CHS Field throughout the season and provide even more coverage.

 

With that in mind, today I just wanted to start getting people thinking about the minor leagues. Today I'll remind you of the 2021 Twins affiliates.

 

Minor League Spring Training Update

 

But first, here are some quick notes on Twins minor league spring training:

• Players reported to Ft. Myers for spring training on April 1st. They had to go through the intake process, COVID protocols and more.
• April 5th was the first official practice.
• There are 134 players in Ft. Myers (73 pitchers, 14 catchers, 28 infielders, 17 outfielders, and two rehabbing)
• April 16th (Friday), the minor leaguers will play their first spring training games against other teams. Like big league spring games, the Twins affiliates will play only Boston, Atlanta and Tampa Bay affiliates.
• April 29th - Minor League camp breaks.
• May 4th - Minor League Opening Day.

Affiliates

 

The Elizabethton Twins are no longer an affiliate of the Twins. In fact, that team is now longer the Twins. They are now the River Riders and will play in a summer college wood bat league.

 

The Rochester Red Wings became the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals (managed by former Twins catcher/DH Matthew LeCroy), and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are now the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.

 

With that, let's take a look at the four full-season Twins affiliates, provide some background on the team and their stadium. We have also included links to the team's websites, team stores, and social media platforms. Find links to how you can watch the Twins players at the alternate site, and a couple of the affiliates have started podcasts.

 

 

St. Paul Saints

 

After nearly 30 years as a leader in independent baseball, the St. Paul Saints became the Twins Triple-A affiliate. The two sides became close last summer when the Twins were able to use CHS Field as their alternate site, a role they are playing again this month.

 

The Twins new Triple-A affiliate resides just 12 miles from Target Field. CHS Field is where the team will play. In fact, leading up to the start of the minor league season, CHS Field is the site of the Twins alternate site again. You can watch the workouts and simulated games in person for just $5. Find the schedule here, and how you can order tickets. And there are concessions.

 

When the team takes the field, they will be managed by Toby Gardenhire. Matt Borgschulte will be the hitting coach. Cibney Bello and Mike McCarthy will be the pitching coaches. Tyler Smarslok will be the fourth coach.

 

 

Team Website

Team Store

Saints on Twitter

Saints on Facebook

Saints on Instagram

Saints on YouTube

 

 

Wichita Wind Surge

 

The Twins new Double-A affiliate is in Wichita, Kansas, and it might be fair to say There’s No Place Like Home. Riverfront Stadium is new, and it is stunning (See here. It’s incredible!). Last Saturday, the first game ever was played in the stadium and over 7,500 fans watched Wichita State play Houston. While the new stadium is 635 miles from Target Field, the ten-hour drive down I-35 could be part of a longer vacation, or even a long weekend.

 

Ramon Borrego will again be the Twins Double-A manager, maintaining the same role he had in Pensacola. Luis Ramirez and Virgil Vasquez will be the team’s pitching coaches. Ryan Smith will be the hitting coach. Joe Mangiameli will be the fourth coach and work with the catchers.

 

Team Website

Team Store

Wind Surge on Twitter

Wind Surge on Facebook

Wind Surge on Instagram

Wind Surge on YouTube

 

Surge Cast: Episode 1

 

Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

The Twins moved their Low-A, Midwest League affiliate from Beloit to Cedar Rapids in 2013. With the minor league realignment this offseason, the Kernels got a promotion and are now the Twins High-A affiliate. Veterans Memorial Stadium is just 278 miles from Target Field. It’s a great trip. In addition, the Field of Dreams movie location is in nearby Dyersville.

 

Brian Dinkelman gets his managerial promotion to High-A without having to move! His pitching coaches will be Mark Moriarity and Richard Salazar. Bryce Berg will be the hitting coach. Jairo Rodriguez will be the team’s fourth coach and work with the catchers.

 

Team Website

Team Store

Kernels on Twitter

Kernels on Facebook

Kernels on Instagram

Kernels on YouTube

All Ears podcast

 

 

Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels

 

Ft. Myers has been the home to the Twins High-A, Florida State League affiliate for a long time. Before the 2020 season, it was announced that the team would no longer be the Miracle. Instead, they are now the Mighty Mussels. This past offseason, there was another change. The Mighty Mussels will now be the Low-A affiliate of the Twins.

 

OK, it’s a 1700 mile drive from Target Field to Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers. It’ll be 25 hours worth of driving, so unless you’ve got an epic vacation planned, flying would be the best way to get there. And if you plan it for later in the summer, you can catch a few GCL Twins games on the back fields as well.

 

In recent weeks, Aaron Sutton resigned as the Mighty Mussels manager to return home for personal reasons, leaving the coaching industry. Brian Meyer was going to be the team’s hitting coach, but he will now be the team’s manager. Peter Larson and Carlos Hernandez are the two pitching coaches. The Twins hired Derek Shomon who had been the hitting coach of the Schaumburg Boomers of the independent Frontier League. Rayden Ogando was recently brought in and will be the team’s fourth coach.

 

Team Website

Team Store

Mighty Mussels on Twitter

Mighty Mussels on Facebook

Mighty Mussels on Instagram

 

 

Again, we will have much more content on all four of these affiliates in coming weeks and throughout the season. But feel free to ask any questions you may have.

 

Click here to view the article

[mikelink45]

I am looking forward to these reports. Now if we can just get the team to keep promoting players to the big lakes it'll be an exciting time to watch the prospects grow

[Jeff A]

I assume "Brain Meyer" was a typo, but it would be really cool to have a manger named Brain.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I assume "Brain Meyer" was a typo, but it would be really cool to have a manger named Brain.

 

This has been edited, though a manager named Brain would be fun! 

[nicholas Anderson]

Excited for the season to begin. Already have our summer road trip planned. At the end of July early August, plan on seeing the Saints in Omaha, Windsurge in Northwest Arkansas and Twins in Houston!

[PDX Twin]

The way the "big" club is going, we'll all be craving wins by the time the MiLB season rolls around.

 

The Wichita park looks nice, but holy cow ... how far is it to a hill? Reminds me of living in Houston, where the highest point is a freeway bridge.

[jjswol]

One thing you didn't touch on here Seth is the minor league schedules. If you look at each of these teams schedules, the games both home and away are set up in six game blocks so each series is actually six games. I wonder what impact these six games series will have on the pitchers or the hitters as they become so familiar with each other of that short time period. I wonder too if this is another one of MLB's tests and if this practice will move to the big leagues. I suppose it can cut down on travel costs and it may benefit the players with less actual travel and more rest time.

[Teflon]

There should be a standard on Twins Daily that Wind Surge must always be written in italics.

[ashbury]

This has been edited, though a manager named Brain would be fun! 

There already was a Pinky Higgins, long ago.

 

[Teflon]

 

One thing you didn't touch on here Seth is the minor league schedules. If you look at each of these teams schedules, the games both home and away are set up in six game blocks so each series is actually six games.

 

I think the Saints play 30 games against the Iowa Cubs this year, don't they? Shoeless Joe and Midnight Graham would probably draw the line at having to be in Iowa that much.

[Seth Stohs]

 

The way the "big" club is going, we'll all be craving wins by the time the MiLB season rolls around.

 

The Wichita park looks nice, but holy cow ... how far is it to a hill? Reminds me of living in Houston, where the highest point is a freeway bridge.

 

It's always nice to follow four extra box scores each day, but it's especially good when the big-league club is struggling. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

One thing you didn't touch on here Seth is the minor league schedules. If you look at each of these teams schedules, the games both home and away are set up in six game blocks so each series is actually six games. I wonder what impact these six games series will have on the pitchers or the hitters as they become so familiar with each other of that short time period. I wonder too if this is another one of MLB's tests and if this practice will move to the big leagues. I suppose it can cut down on travel costs and it may benefit the players with less actual travel and more rest time.

 

Yeah, that's a big thing, I think. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the season, but I do think it's good for scheduling, and for traveling and such. Also, may push players to make quicker adjustments to adjustments. No scheduled minor league games on Monday, allowing for travel (and maybe makeup days?). 

[rdehring]

Do they also play 30 games against Omaha, Seth?

 

If so, that is half their schedule against two teams. Assume it will change in 2022 when COVID is behind us...hopefully.

 

Seeing I am among those who doesn't get to watch the Twins, can't wait for the farm clubs to begin playing. Do you know if they will have their usual MiLB tv package? Keep checking the minor league website and see nothing but the old 2019 message. Thinking it may be a good alternative to get some baseball this summer.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I wonder who was offended by the Miracle name. 

[tony&rodney]

Thank you for the good work. i always loved following the minor leagues. Drove to Orlando once with my oldest daughter to watch Bo Jackson. What a treat. Bo stood outside the bus visiting and signing until the last kid left, thanking everyone one for coming. 

The capsules and minor league updates are my favorite part of this site. Thanks again.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

There already was a Pinky Higgins, long ago.
 

And Cookie Lavagetto.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Do they also play 30 games against Omaha, Seth?

 

If so, that is half their schedule against two teams. Assume it will change in 2022 when COVID is behind us...hopefully.

 

Seeing I am among those who doesn't get to watch the Twins, can't wait for the farm clubs to begin playing. Do you know if they will have their usual MiLB tv package? Keep checking the minor league website and see nothing but the old 2019 message. Thinking it may be a good alternative to get some baseball this summer.

Also 30 against Omaha.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Excited for the season to begin. Already have our summer road trip planned. At the end of July early August, plan on seeing the Saints in Omaha, Windsurge in Northwest Arkansas and Twins in Houston!

Other good options are the weeks beginning May 25 and July 6, when the Saints play at Iowa and both Cedar Rapids and Wichita are at home.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Yeah, that's a big thing, I think. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the season, but I do think it's good for scheduling, and for traveling and such. Also, may push players to make quicker adjustments to adjustments. No scheduled minor league games on Monday, allowing for travel (and maybe makeup days?). 

The exception is Triple A West, which for some reason has its off-day on Wednesday.

[strumdatjaguar]

If I was going to see any of these teams, I’d go to Wichita. A seven nation army couldn’t hold me back. I hope their uniforms have white stripes.

I have a Chattanooga Lookouts TShirt for sale