Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month - July 2021

[Seth Stohs]

The trade deadline has passed, and so has the third month of the minor league season. Today, we start handing out awards by discussing the top hitters in the Twins minor leagues this month. 

Here are the top four hitters for the month of July, but first here are some players deserving of honorable mention. 

HONORABLE MENTION 

• OF Keon Broxton - St. Paul Saints - 19-68, .279/.383/.618 (1.000) with 2 doubles, 7 home runs, 11 BB, 24 K. 
• IF Andrew Bechtold - Wichita Wind Surge - 21-78, .269/.374/.577 (.951) with 6 doubles, 6 home runs, 12 BB, 31 K.
• OF Max Smith - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 16-65, .246/.398/.538 (.936) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 17 BB, 30 K.
• C Charlie Mack - Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels - 19-55, .345/.419/.491 (.910) with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 BB, 11 K.
• OF Luis Baez - FCL Twins - 18-49, .367/.466/.551 (1.017) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 5 BB, 11 K.
• C Alexander Pena - FCL Twins - 21-50, .420/.473/.520 (.993) with 5 doubles, 4 BB, 13 K. 
• OF Kala’i Rosario - FCL Twins - 26-80, .325/.360/.563 (.923) with 5 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 5 BB, 20 K. 

 

THE TOP FOUR HITTERS

Number 4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels - UT Michael Helman - 29-94, .309/.404/.521 (.925) with 6 doubles, 1 triples, 4 home runs, 14 BB, 20 K.

Michael Helman was the Twins 11th round pick in 2018 after one season at Texas A&M. Previously, he had put up monster numbers at Hutchinson CC. His pro career started out well with 12 games in Elizabethton before playing 27 games at Cedar Rapids. Combined, he hit .361/.409/.510 with six doubles, two triples and four homers. He jumped to High-A Ft. Myers, but he hit just .197 in 82 before an injury ended his season. After a missed 2020 season, Helman began the season in Cedar Rapids, now the High-A affiliate. In 70 games, he is hitting .233/.332/.421 (.753) with 13 doubles and ten home runs. He’s also got 11 stolen bases. The increased power and his ability to play at least seven positions on the diamond have moved him back up prospect rankings. 

 

Number 3 – St. Paul Saints - IF Drew Maggi - 21-81, .259/.355/.667 (1.022) with 6 doubles, 9 homers, 8 BB, 27 K.

32-year-old Drew Maggi is in his third season in the Twins organization. His pro career began in 2010 when he was the 15th round pick of the Pirates. Since then, he also has played in the Dodgers and Cleveland’s system. After splitting 2019 between Pensacola and Rochester, he spent the 2020 season in St. Paul at the Twins alternate site. In 56 games with the Saints this year, he has hit .238/.336/.481 (.818) with ten doubles and 11 homers, nine of which came in July. He had homers in the first four Saints games of July and seven in the first 12 games. 

Number 2 - St. Paul Saints – IF Jose Miranda - 37-112, .330/.402/.571 (.973) with 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 13 BB. 22 K. 

Jose Miranda was the Twins Daily choice for Minor League Hitter of the Month in both May and June. This month, his first full month with the Saints, he drops to second on the list despite putting up another great performance in July. 

Miranda was the 73rd overall pick in the 2016 draft, one spot ahead of Akil Baddoo. Like Baddoo, Miranda was left exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Unlike Baddoo, Miranda was not selected. He spent two months in Double-A to start the season and was promoted to the Saints where he has played 29 games now. Combined, he is hitting .347/.410/.612 (1.022) with 18 doubles, 22 homers and 62 RBI. 

 

And the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is:

St. Paul Saints – OF Jimmy Kerrigan - 25-68, .368/.436/.735 (1.171), 4 doubles, 7 home runs, 9 BB, 23 K.   

A Philadelphia native, Kerrigan stayed home and went to Temple University where he played two seasons. Then the school dropped its baseball program. He went to Virginia Commonwealth where he played well for two years but went undrafted. He played in the independent Frontier League before the Twins signed him midway through the 2017 season and played in Cedar Rapids. In both 2018 and 2019, he spent most of the seasons in Double-A with some time in Triple-A. He began the 2021 season at Double-A Wichita, but after just two games, he was promoted to the Saints. 

In 62 games, he has hit .261/.353/.495 (.848) with eight doubles and 12 home runs. He also can play all three outfield positions well, and has a very strong arm. 

 

We would like to congratulate St. Paul outfielder Jimmy Kerrigan, Twins Daily’s choice for Minor League Hitter of the Month for July 2021. Feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions.

 

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[jmlease1]

I'm happy for Drew Maggi that he's having a hot month and a good year overall for the Saints...but I have trouble naming a 32 year old career minor leaguer Hitter of the Month. I know it's not a prospect ranking or anything, but still.

[bean5302]

For me, it's about production based on the award name. Awards that ignore production and focus on popularity have long been an issue in baseball. I'd feel differently if this was an award for "Prospect of the Month" but it's an award for Minor League Hitter of the Month.

[bean5302]

I noticed another issue with the minor league reports the last couple days. Miranda's batting line showed less than 3 hits per game... that just doesn't seem right?

[roger]

After reading what Miranda did, was asking myself how did he not get the award for a third straight month.  But then I saw why.  Didn't realize that Kerrigan was having that kind of month....wow!  Thanks for the background about his not being drafted, play in the Frontier League, etc.  Great story, now does he have a shot at getting added to the 40-man and a callup come September?  Whether it is he or Contreras, would be great for the Twins to find an above average #4 outfielder who can both hit and play center field for next spring.

Fantastic seeing those three kids from the FCL Twins in your group of Honorable Mention.  Also appreciated seeing Helman's name.  Remember when he was drafted, seems he tore the cover off the ball at every stop he made leading up to the draft.  Wasn't his lowest batting average something like .325 at his various college stops?

 

[twinstalker]

I think this farm system is severely overrated.  Very little hitting brought in by Falvey, and he's done a great job of dismissing some Ryan guys.  As much as I screamed for better analytics, I'm worried the scouting has been lacking since the purge.  Hard to get excited about guys who will never play MLB (except for a sip of coffee, maybe).

[High heat]

They just graduated 2 top hitting corner outfielders and your organization top prospect tore his ACL.  How many are you supposed to have?
Also guys like Luis Arreaz were not looked at heavy coming through the system.  

now if your comment was on developing pitching you might have something. 

[bean5302]

7 minutes ago, High heat said:

They just graduated 2 top hitting corner outfielders and your organization top prospect tore his ACL.  How many are you supposed to have?
Also guys like Luis Arreaz were not looked at heavy coming through the system.  

now if your comment was on developing pitching you might have something. 

I'm not too impressed with the development of hitting in the Twins' system under Falvey and Levine, though I hardly think the book is closed. I think it's pretty easy to make the case either way right now.

 

[Danchat]

Kerrigan intrigues me as a bench OF with plus speed and a strong arm, but he will need to lay off the Ks (31.2% K rate). 

4 hours ago, roger said:

Great story, now does he have a shot at getting added to the 40-man and a callup come September? 

It will be difficult with the 40 man crunch coming this winter. That's not to say that we have an abundance of talent, but rather we have many fringe prospects to hoard / not hoard. Do you give up a spot that would have been spent on somebody like Barnes/Jax or a potential Rule 5 guy like Palacios/Javier to keep Kerrigan? Will the FO be more liberal in their Rule 5 protection now that Baddoo was a thing?

[MesaTwinsFan]

With the stats these players are putting up the chances of any getting a September call up are slim and none. The FO.  Will only call up fringe pitchers so Rocco can have a 17 or 18 man pitching staff. Fo doesn't care about service time on them. These fringe pitchers will never reach 6 years to reach free agency

[Brock Beauchamp]

21 minutes ago, MesaTwinsFan said:

With the stats these players are putting up the chances of any getting a September call up are slim and none. The FO.  Will only call up fringe pitchers so Rocco can have a 17 or 18 man pitching staff. Fo doesn't care about service time on them. These fringe pitchers will never reach 6 years to reach free agency

The September rosters are very different this season. Teams can only add two players for a total of 28.

[4twinsJA]

Been tough to judge hitters this year. So many have finally gotten hot in July, having last year off, it has taken a couple of months to get hitting again. 

[AceWrigley]

17 hours ago, twinstalker said:

I think this farm system is severely overrated.  Very little hitting brought in by Falvey, and he's done a great job of dismissing some Ryan guys.  As much as I screamed for better analytics, I'm worried the scouting has been lacking since the purge.  Hard to get excited about guys who will never play MLB (except for a sip of coffee, maybe).

I'm kind of the opposite. The amount of hard work and sacrifice these guys put in for years to maybe get the call the big leagues is always a great story. Not every player is destined for stardom but some sure do deserve a shot at their dream. There is no substitution for hard work and perseverance. So to the Drew Maggi's of the world, I'm rooting for you.

[Seth Stohs]

17 hours ago, twinstalker said:

I think this farm system is severely overrated.  Very little hitting brought in by Falvey, and he's done a great job of dismissing some Ryan guys.  As much as I screamed for better analytics, I'm worried the scouting has been lacking since the purge.  Hard to get excited about guys who will never play MLB (except for a sip of coffee, maybe).

A large percentage of the scouting group is still around. Sean Johnson took over for Deron Johnson, but Deron and Mike Radcliff are still very involved. It's a lot of the same scouting leadership, cross-checkers and scouts. 

And yeah, when Kirilloff, Larnach and Jeffers are no longer "prospects" the system ratings will take a step backwards, even if nothing really changes. 

[MesaTwinsFan]

23 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

The September rosters are very different this season. Teams can only add two players for a total of 28.

And those call ups will only be fringe pitchers with no chance of them being anything but inning eaters

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, MesaTwinsFan said:

And those call ups will only be fringe pitchers with no chance of them being anything but inning eaters

I'm not sure about that, but it's definitely possible.

We might see Strotman and/or Ryan, which would be fun... but I'm not holding my breath, as I suspect the team is eager to shut down one or both of them after 2020.

I CANNOT WAIT to put 2020 in the rearview mirror permanently. 

[bean5302]

2 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I'm not sure about that, but it's definitely possible.

We might see Strotman and/or Ryan, which would be fun... but I'm not holding my breath, as I suspect the team is eager to shut down one or both of them after 2020.

I CANNOT WAIT to put 2020 in the rearview mirror permanently. 

It's not 2020 anymore even if it feels like it watching the news these days hahahaha

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, bean5302 said:

It's not 2020 anymore even if it feels like it watching the news these days hahahaha

Yeah. The gift that keeps on giving.

Sigh.