Twins Minor League Report (5/25): Blowout Bonanza

[Steve Lein]

Minnesota Twins Affiliates took out some frustration on their opponents on Tuesday night to the combined score of 39-8 in their three wins on the evening. Much of that damage was thanks to eight home runs from some big sluggers, and men on base all night as they also drew 32 walks to go along with 42 total hits on the night. A top pitching prospect also made his return to the minors after his MLB debut.

So keep reading to find out just how crazy the night was for your favorite Twins prospects!

TRANSACTIONS

• Minor League Gold Glove OF Mark Contreras was promoted to St. Paul from Wichita
• In Fort Myers recent free agent signing OF Justin Washington was assigned from the GCL Twins, 3B Wander Valdez was sent back to the GCL Twins roster, and SS Ruben Santana was activated from the disabled list.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 17, Iowa 6
Box Score

The Saints took advantage of some wildness from double-A’s 2019 strikeout king, Corey Abbott to jump out to an early lead. They got to the Cubs prospect for six runs in the first two innings, with a three-run Tomas Telis homer doing the bulk of that damage. They would tack on four more in the fourth after an RBI double from Ben Rortvedt was followed by another three-run blast, this one off the bat of JT Riddle, his first with the Saints. In all St. Paul hitters mashed seven hits (five for extra bases) and drew five walks against Abbott, taking full advantage of the extra baserunners and opportunities they were given.

As far as the Saints starting pitcher went, it was Bailey Ober’s first appearance since making his MLB debut, and he dazzled. In five innings he allowed just one earned run on four hits, striking out five. It was good for his first win of the 2021 season.

While watching the game the opposing broadcast’s announcer was excited to see Abbott on the mound, but Ober was the one who left a mark on him. “I’m very impressed so far with Bailey Ober. You understand why he posts zeroes so often [and] can see why he is tough to pick up. Six-foot-nine, long reach, and hides the ball very well.”

With the big lead Ober’s day was done after just seventy pitches, with Ian Hamilton coming on for the sixth. Hamilton was hitting high 90’s with his fastball in his inning and struck out two. Robinson Leyer delivered two scoreless frames, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Another RBI double from Ben Rortvedt and RBI single from Jimmy Kerrigan added a few more runs in the sixth, then Ryan Jeffers and Brent Rooker added insult to injury with home runs in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively. Jeffers was a three-run no-doubter, and Rooker’s a two-run blast to dead center that made the score 17-1. They were the fourth home run of the season for each player.

Tom Hackimer would come on for the ninth but made the game last quite a bit longer than it should have. The bases were loaded before he recorded an out, then he was not able to finish it off. In all, Hackimer allowed 5 runs on three hits, four walks, and a hit batter. St. Paul was forced to go to Andrew Vasquez for the final out, and he made sure it went as quick as possible, getting a strikeout to end the game.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Springfield 7, Wichita 2
Box Score

Unlike the rest of their affiliate brethren, the Wind Surge were unable to pile on the runs on Tuesday, falling to the Cardinals in Wichita.

Starter Bryan Sammons went the first four innings and surrendered all the damage Springfield would need as their pitchers allowed just six hits and three walks to Wichita’s lineup. In total he allowed four earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in his time. While he struck out six, three of his hits allowed were home runs. Dakota Chalmers came on for the fifth and went two innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits (including a homer of his own) while striking out two. Jonathan Cheshire was the only Wind Surge pitcher without a blemish, pitching a scoreless seventh, though he did walk two. Hector Lujan finished the final two frames, allowing a solo home run and striking out one.

Jermaine Palacios led the way hitting for Wichita with a 2-for-4 night. Andrew Bechtold hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth. Jose Miranda contributed an RBI single in the third. As a team the Wind Surge had just three at-bats with runners in scoring position and left only five men on base.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Wisconsin 2, Cedar Rapids 9
Box Score

Cedar Rapids slugger Seth Gray put the Kernels on the board early with a two-run blast in the first. He and Michael Helman would add to that lead in the third with a pair of RBI doubles, Helman’s of the 2-run variety for a 5-0 lead after three.

Starter Tyler Beck ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth, allowing a run to score after three singles and a walk, and exiting with the bases loaded. In all he went 3 1/3, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.

Jordan Gore came on and allowed one inherited runner to score on a groundout but would stop the bleeding there by picking up a strikeout. He would add a scoreless fifth inning and add another K to his ledger. Lefty Tyler Watson would keep Cedar Rapids out front three scoreless innings. He scattered one hit and two walks while striking out three.

The Kernels bats went pretty silent for the middle innings, but in the seventh Spencer Steer woke them up again with a leadoff double. Wander Javier drove him in with a single that was misplayed by the center fielder and allowed another runner to score that made it 7-2. Leobaldo Cabrera’s first home as a Twins prospect would make it 9-2 after eight.

Lefty Zach Featherstone would finish the game for Cedar Rapids with three strikeouts in the ninth around a walk.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 13, Lakeland 0
Box Score

After losing four in a row to the Tampa Tarpons by a combined score of 53-13, the Mighty Mussels have unleashed some frustration the past two games. In the final game of their series with the Tarpons they won 9-3 and were even more impressive in the opening tilt with the Flying Tigers.

Fort Myers also got the scoring started early in this one courtesy of a slugger, in their case Aaron Sabato. His first inning home run was his second of the season and gave them the early 2-0 lead. They added another run in the second after loading the bases on a Misael Urbina sac fly but were just getting started.

Starter Brent Headrick went the first five innings and was dominant. He threw just 67 pitches (43 for strikes), allowing only two singles and one walk while striking out five to pick up his second win of the season. Juan Pichardo went the next two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two. Matthew Swain would finish the shutout for the Saints going the final two innings. He allowed one hit, a walk, and struck out two.

The Mighty Mussels broke the game open in the top of the sixth with quite a bit of help from Lakeland pitchers. Consecutive singles were followed by two four-pitch walks to score the first run of the inning. After a strikeout of Sabato another four-pitch walk scored another run before the bullpen was summoned for the Flying Tigers. It was greeted by a Kyle Schmidt double on their first pitch, scoring two more. Then two more walks, an RBI single from Anthony Prato, and a 2-run double from Edouard Julien would push Fort Myers’ lead to 11-0 before the inning was over. They would add a few more in the top of the ninth on a Yunior Severino two-run single for the final of 13-0.

In all the Mighty Mussels racked up fourteen (!) walks and twelve hits against Flying Tigers pitching. Julien (2-for-3, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K), Schmidt (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI), and Prato (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI) had multiple hits.
 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Brent Headrick, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K)
Hitter of the Day – Tomas Telis, St. Paul Saints (4-for-6, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, K
#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)
#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 0-for-3, 2 K
#4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 2-for-5, 3 R, HR, BB, 2 K
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch
#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back)
#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – Did not play
#8 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch
#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-for-3, BB
#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 2-for-6, R, HR, 3 RBI, K
#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Did not play
#14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch
#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)
#17 - Ben Rortvedt (St. Paul) – 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A
#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-3, RBI
#20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – W, 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

St. Paul @ Iowa (12:08PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (1-0, 3.95 ERA)
Springfield @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) – RHP Cole Sands (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – LHP Kody Funderburk (0-0, 1.32 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Tampa (5:30PM CST) – RHP Regi Grace (1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

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[roger]

Great seeing Rortvedt find success with his bat now that he is playing at a level he would have been expected to reach this year.  Can't believe how Julien continues his hot hitting as the season's first full month comes to an end.

[PDX Twin]

How many times do you suppose a broadcaster ends up saying "Tarpa Tampons" instead of "Tampa Tarpons"? Accident waiting to happen.

[Dman]

30 minutes ago, roger said:

Great seeing Rortvedt find success with his bat now that he is playing at a level he would have been expected to reach this year.  Can't believe how Julien continues his hot hitting as the season's first full month comes to an end.

I am with you on Julien one would think he has to slow down at some point still they really should move him up as he has a 521 OBP.  He is literally on base every other time he comes to the plate for the last month.  If that isn't domination I don't know what is.  While he might regress some regressing from a 500 OBP to 400 isn't really a concern.  They could move Steer to AA to make room for Julien at High A.  Both players have been dominating and there is no one at AA that should be holding Steer back as there are two 30 year olds holding down the fort because we have no real prospect at that level right now.

[2wins87]

 

35 minutes ago, roger said:

Great seeing Rortvedt find success with his bat now that he is playing at a level he would have been expected to reach this year.  Can't believe how Julien continues his hot hitting as the season's first full month comes to an end.

The craziest thing to me is Julien's 8 for 8 stealing bases.  I wasn't under the impression that he had anything better than average speed.  Is he faster than I thought or is he just picking spots really well?

[Steve Lein]

 

[Steve Lein]

16 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

 

The craziest thing to me is Julien's 8 for 8 stealing bases.  I wasn't under the impression that he had anything better than average speed.  Is he faster than I thought or is he just picking spots really well?

Agree, it's almost like he's turned into a completely different player. He was a slugger at Auburn, broke Frank Thomas' RBI record I believe. No homers yet this year, but a big OPS driven by that on-base percentage. He's not a huge guy by any means, but also not what you think of for a burner type player either.

Edited May 26, 2021 by Steve Lein

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Hope to see Ober get a shot with the Twins again soon. He was better than the statline showed in his debut, and he keeps putting up video game numbers in the minors.

[Seth Stohs]

10 hours ago, Steve Lein said:

Agree, it's almost like he's turned into a completely different player. He was a slugger at Auburn, broke Frank Thomas' RBI record I believe. No homers yet this year, but a big OPS driven by that on-base percentage. He's not a huge guy by any means, but also not what you think of for a burner type player either.

And of course, not he has homered... @Steve Lein, find some more guys who haven't homered yet this year and mention that here too!!