Twins Minor League Report (7/17): Mark Contreras Is the Redemption Story We Need in 2021

[Tom Froemming]

Mark Contreras has gone from organizational afterthought to on the doorsteps of the big leagues in a matter of months. He got things started for the Saints tonight in a big 8-0 victory. 

TRANSACTIONS
Twins recall RHP Beau Burrows and select Juan Minaya from St. Paul.
Cedar Rapids activates Andrew Cabezas from the 7-day IL.
Matt Wallner sent to FCL Twins for a rehab assignment.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 8, Columbus 0
Box Score

Matt Shoemaker: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K
Multi-hit games: Mark Contreras (2-for-3, HR), Drew Stankiewicz (2-for-4)
HR: Mark Contreras (10), Brent Rooker (19)

The Twins drafted Mark Contreras as a senior out of UC Riverside and signed to a $10,000 bonus in 2017. After a poor 2019 in which he hit .186/.271/.328 (.599 OPS) in 411 plate appearances, it felt like he was among the players who could least afford a lost 2020 season. Having those numbers represent his most-recent performance for such a long time is not good for a ballplayer’s resume. 

Contreras, who turned 26 earlier this year, put those numbers behind him with a strong start to this season in Wichita. Now, it’s easy to wonder if this is that same guy from 2019. Did the Twins sign another Mark Contreras and I just missed it?

Contreras had a six-game cameo with the St. Paul in late-May, went back down to Double-A for a single game, but returned to the Saints on June 3. From that point to coming into today, Contreras hit .265/.341/.590 (.931 OPS). Tonight, Contreras hit his 10th homer in just 34 games for St. Paul, matching the total he hit in 112 games back in 2019.

What an incredible turnaround.  

After Matt Shoemaker delivered five clean innings (yes, he’s still around), Jonvani Moran Followed with 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his Triple-A debut, striking out five of the 10 batters he faced. Kyle Barraclough finished off the shutout by recording the final four outs, two of them on strikeouts.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 8, Tulsa 7 (10 innings)
Box Score

Chris Vallimont: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 7 K
Multi-hit games: BJ Boyd (3-for-4, BB, SB)
HR: None

And you thought the end of the Twins game was unbelievable ...

 

Tulsa led this game 7-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning but they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, or something. Jordan Gore delivered 1-2-3 innings in both the ninth and 10th, managing to strand the extra innings bonus runner. He picked up his first-career Double-A victory.

KERNELS NUGGETS
South Bend 7, Cedar Rapids 3
Box Score

Andrew Cabezas: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Multi-hit games: Gabriel Maciel (2-for-2, 2  BB), Kyle Schmidt (2-for-3, BB)
HR: Wander Javier (9)

Tyler Watson did an amazing job stabilizing this game for the Kernels, delivering five shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking out nine batters out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, the bats couldn’t grab the lead and the rest of the bullpen stumbled, giving up five runs in the bottom of the eighth.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 7, Jupiter 5
Box Score

Orlando Rodriguez: 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Multi-hit games: Will Holland (2-for-3, 2B, HR, BB, SB), Charles Mack (2-for-4, 2B), Ruben Santana (2-for-2, 2 BB)
HR: Will Holland (5)

Speaking of good stories, Orlando Rodriguez had a successful debut in the org. He had been pitching for Schaumburg in the independent Frontier League and this was his third year in indy ball. He went seven innings and threw 62 of his 93 pitches for strikes (66.7%).

Will Holland was the star of this game, hitting a two-run double and a two-out home run. He also drew a walk and stole a base, his sixth steal of the season.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Red Sox 15, FCL Twins 2
Box Score

Donny Breek: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 5 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K
Multi-hit games: None
HR: None

The Twins gave up eight runs in the top of the first inning. There were three hit batsmen, three walks, an error and a grand slam. Basically an entire Twingo card worth of action.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher: Orlando Rodriguez, Fort Myers
Hitter: Will Holland, Fort Myers

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Prospects performed:

#1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL)
#2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain)
#3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – DNP
#4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain)
#5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
#6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – DNP
#7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – DNP
#8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – DNP
#9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
#10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids - with FCL Twins on a rehab assignment) – 0-for-2
#11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery)
#12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – DNP
#13 – Cole Sands (Wichita) – DNP
#14 – Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K
#15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-for-2, BB, R
#16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 1-for-4, BB, R
#17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, K
#18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury)
#19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow)
#20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 7 K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Columbus at St. Paul, 2:05 pm CT: Andrew Albers
Tulsa at Wichita, 1:05 pm CT: Austin Schulfer
Cedar Rapids at South Bend, 1:05 pm CT: TBD
Jupiter at Fort Myers, 11 am CT: Zarion Sharpe

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[mikelink45]

What scares me is that they might decide to bring Shoemaker back.  Trade him quick now that he has two good AAA games.  

[roger]

This was Moran's first game for the Saints, right?  Considering he got 5 of his 8 outs by strikeout, what a way to get started at AAA.  The K's are certainly there.  This kid has what it takes to be good for the Twins, doesn't he?

Saw that Javier had only one hit (1-4), but it was a big home run.  Gotta keep this young man hitting.  And A. Pena had his second consecutive game without multiple hits, going 1-3 with a double in the FCL.  Awhile ago, Seth mentioned that he was signed as a 16-year old for around $200,000, so he must have been a mid-level prospect.  Sure having a good start to baseball in the U.S.

 

[Dman]

Contraras and Rooker both with HR's again last night.  Seems like one or the other hits one every night now.  Starting to think Moran is the real deal.  We could really use some pen guys stepping up and filling in MLB roles.

The walks and hits finally caught up to Vallimont and runs came in.  Not sure what he needs to do exactly but he I believe the experts had him pegged as a reliever and he is starting to look more like a reliever to me.

I don't know what got into Tyler Watson but what a game for him.  I don't think I have seen him strike out 9 guys before.  Could he have found an out pitch?  ERA looks good and WHIP is starting to come down.  Maybe there is something there?

Holland finally has a good game with Multiple hits.  Hoping he gets a but more consistent.

Still the affiliates won three out of four so a good night to watch them play.