Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month - July 2021

[Seth Stohs]

After taking a look at the top hitters in the Twins minor leagues in July yesterday, let’s take a look at who the top starting pitchers in the organization were. There were certainly some strong candidates for the top spot.

Before we share our choices for the Twins Minor League Top Four Starters for July, there were some other solid starting performers that just missed the cut. Let’s discuss the top starting pitchers in the organization in July. 

HONORABLE MENTION

• RHP Ben Gross - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 G, 3 GS, 21.0 IP, 2.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 14 H, 4 BB, 25 K
• RHP Jordan Balazovic - Wichita Wind Surge - 5 GS, 28.1 IP, 2.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 21 H, 11 BB, 31 K.

THE TOP FOUR STARTING PITCHERS

#4 - RHP Giovahniey German - FCL Twins - 5 GS, 16.2 IP, 1.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 9 H, 7 BB, 19 K
German was born in Massachusetts but grew up in the Dominican Republic. The Twins signed him as a 16-year-old in 2017. He spent two seasons in the DSL. After missing the 2020 season, He came to the States this spring and was placed on the FCL Twins roster. His first start was June 28th and he gave up four earned runs in four innings. In his first start of July, he gave up three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Since then, he has tossed 13 1/3 innings and only allowed an unearned run. In his July 13th start, he tossed five no-hit innings and allowed two walks.    

#3 - LHP Aaron Rozek - FCL Twins/Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels/Wichita Wind Surge - 5 G, 2 GS, 22.0 IP, 1.64 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 16 H, 2 BB, 29 K
Rozek grew up a Twins fan in Burnsville. After high school, he went to Minnesota State-Mankato. He redshirted and then pitched four seasons for the Mavericks. He also played in the Northwoods League during his summers. He went undrafted in 2018 and has played independent baseball since. Until, that is, the Twins signed him in June. It’s been an interesting month. After two appearances in the FCL, including five shutout innings on July 3rd in which he struck out 11, he was moved to the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. He pitched three scoreless innings in relief and recorded a Win. He was then sent to Ft. Myers where he has pitched three times. He tossed five scoreless innings in his first start there and ended the month with a two-inning scoreless outing. The lefty rarely, if ever, touches 90 on a radar gun, but he mixes things up well to keep hitters off balance. 

#2 - LHP Tyler Watson - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 G, 3 GS, 19.0 IP, 0.47 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 11 H, 7 BB, 17 K
Watson spent most of the season’s first month in a piggybacking role, either starting and working three innings or coming on after the starting and working three innings. In June, he worked mostly as a more traditional relief pitcher, working two innings or less. His final appearance of June was a four-inning start, and his four outings in July  were all either four or five innings. His non-start, he came into the game in the second inning and pitched until the seventh inning. On the month, he gave up just two earned runs. He limited base runners. He was very good. Overall this season, the former Nationals prospect is 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. 

And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is (Drumroll, please...) 

Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels - RHP Louie Varland - 5 GS, 27.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 20 H, 8 BB, 36 K
Louie Varland was a star on the diamond and on the wrestling mat in his years at North St. Paul High School. He stayed home and pitched for three years at Concordia University in St. Paul, the first two years with his brother Gus. Gus was the 14th round pick of the Oakland A’s in 2018. He was traded to the Dodgers earlier this year.  Louie was the 15th round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2019. He pitched in just three games that summer for Elizabethton. 

He used the 2020 summer to get healthy, get stronger and gain velocity, and he did just that, hitting 100 mph on a radar gun before spring training. But for now, the intent for Varland is to be a starter, and he’s been fantastic. He began the season with Ft. Myers where he went 4-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 10 games. In 47 1/3 innings, he walked 16 and struck out 76 batters. He made two July starts in Ft. Myers, but mid-month, he was promoted to HIgh-A Cedar Rapids. He has made three starts for the Kernels so far and is yet to allow a run. In 16 innings, he has given up just eight hits, walked seven and struck out 17 batters. His best start was in Cedar Rapids against Beloit when he gave up one hit and struck out nine batters in five scoreless innings. 

Overall this season, the 23-year-old is 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. In 63 1/3 innings, he has walked 23 and struck out 93 batters. 

Congratulations to our Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month of July, Cedar Rapids RHP Louie Varland. 

 

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[Dman]

Kind of tough seeing no Sands, Canterino, Duran, Winder etc. in these lists but congrats to the guys who made it.  Louie has been outstanding from day one.  His current dominant stretch just adds to the legend at this point.  Not sure how he is doing it with mainly just the fastball and some control issues at least to start the season.  Still he has the best pitching line in the system.  Congrats well deserved recognition.

Been pretty surprised by Watson as I thought he might be done.  I think a reliever role suits him best and we could really use lefties so would be nice if he can be dominant in short bursts.

Had already asked Seth about Rozek because of the great success he has had and was stunned he didn't have a fastball in the 90's.  Not sure if he can continue to make his stuff work all the way up but he sure pitched well this month and caught my attention.

Gross is another guy who exceeded my expectations and I would like to see him move up to AA and see if he can handle some of the best hitters in the minors.  He has been too good to keep at High A.

 

[roger]

Expect Balazovic was well on his way to the #1 spot until his last two outings.  Have you heard if there is anything wrong?  Minor injury?  Dead arm?

When I read about Varland every fifth day I just shake my head.  Can he continue to dominate game-after-game?  I think not, until he does it again.  I guess we all can just sit back and enjoy the ride to wherever he takes us.

Really like Gross.  Was wondering if Rozek is another Dobnak?  He doesn't drive Uber in the off season, does he?

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Isn't the word on Varland that he doesn't have enough pitches to stick as a starter? (Doesn't seem to stop Lance Lynn, but whatever.) It does feel like he could race through the minors if they would use him as a bullpen option. But with the numbers he's put up so far, it's hard to argue with the current path he's on. Surely he'll get a cup of coffee with Wichita by the end of the season.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, roger said:

Expect Balazovic was well on his way to the #1 spot until his last two outings.  Have you heard if there is anything wrong?  Minor injury?  Dead arm?

When I read about Varland every fifth day I just shake my head.  Can he continue to dominate game-after-game?  I think not, until he does it again.  I guess we all can just sit back and enjoy the ride to wherever he takes us.

Really like Gross.  Was wondering if Rozek is another Dobnak?  He doesn't drive Uber in the off season, does he?

I would guess it was simply regression... he had thrown something like 25 scoreless innings in a row earlier. 

[Eephus]

In that clip, Varland looks like Jim Palmer with his zipping fastball 

[Seth Stohs]

9 hours ago, roger said:

Expect Balazovic was well on his way to the #1 spot until his last two outings.  Have you heard if there is anything wrong?  Minor injury?  Dead arm?

When I read about Varland every fifth day I just shake my head.  Can he continue to dominate game-after-game?  I think not, until he does it again.  I guess we all can just sit back and enjoy the ride to wherever he takes us.

Really like Gross.  Was wondering if Rozek is another Dobnak?  He doesn't drive Uber in the off season, does he?

Most minor leaguers drive Uber or have some sort of offseason job because they don't get paid. The Twins have signed more than a dozen players from independent leagues this year. Just a ton, plus a couple of weeks ago, they signed four guys from the USPBL.  All that and I'm sure they would be absolutely thrilled if any of them gets to the big leagues. 

[Seth Stohs]

8 hours ago, Alex Schieferdecker said:

Isn't the word on Varland that he doesn't have enough pitches to stick as a starter? (Doesn't seem to stop Lance Lynn, but whatever.) It does feel like he could race through the minors if they would use him as a bullpen option. But with the numbers he's put up so far, it's hard to argue with the current path he's on. Surely he'll get a cup of coffee with Wichita by the end of the season.

Lance Lynn is the exception. Sounds like Joe Ryan is close to that as well with so many fastballs. Depends on the movement, I'm sure. 

[darwin22]

Seth:  Thanks for the excellent update on these pitching prospects.  Was interesting to read about German and Rozek as I didn't realize how well they pitched in July.  Well deserved praise for Tyler Watson.  Saw him in his July 11 home start for Kernels against Peoria.  Although he struggled a tad with his command early on, he settled down to have a solid start.  Sure would be nice to see him progress next season with a promotion to Wichita.  He could be a dependable LH bullpen option by 2023.