Minor League Report (8/20): Ryan Dazzles in Saints Debut

[Ted Schwerzler]

There were some notable performances tonight across the Twins system, but none may have been more impactful than how recently-acquired prospect Joe Ryan started his tenure with the organization.

TRANSACTIONS

• Twins placed Miguel Sano on paternity list and recalled Edgar Garcia from Triple-A
• Nick Vincent cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 7, Iowa 4
Box Score

Saint Paul was a hot ticket tonight as both Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan were in the starting lineup. The former was kicking off a rehab assignment while the latter was making his organizational debut after being acquired in the Nelson Cruz deal while pitching in the Olympics.

Returning from Tokyo and his efforts with Team USA, Ryan was every bit as impressive as you could’ve hoped. He worked four innings allowing just a single run on a solo shot, but struck out the first six batters he saw, and nine in total. Ryan Mason also looked great in relief of the Saints starter going 2 1/3 innings giving up a single hit and punching out five.

The scoring started for the Saints when Byron Buxton drove in Jose Miranda on a sacrifice fly (that replay showed should have been a double). Iowa walked six batters in the first frame, so opportunities were plentiful. Jimmy Kerrigan plated Trevor Larnach on a single before a bases-loaded walk to Ben Rortvedt scored Tomas Telis. Drew Stankiewicz then walked scoring Mark Contreras, and Miranda singled in both Kerrigan and Rortvedt on his first hit.

After Iowa's run scored in the 4th, Ryan Mason came on to slam the door. He picked up his first Triple-A win working 2 1/3 innings and allowing just a single hit and striking out five. Chris Nunn also extended his scoreless streak with another 1 1/3 innings worked without a run.

Jimmy Kerrigan drove in Larnach in the 7th inning to match a Cubs run from the fourth frame, and Iowa did make things interesting with three in the 9th, but ultimately St. Paul held on. Kerrigan and Drew Maggi were the only Saints with two hits tonight.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 6, Springfield 4 
Box Score

Blossoming Twins prospect Cole Sands took the ball tonight for the Wind Surge, but he was chased after just 1 1/3 innings of work. He allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out one. Sands needed 39 pitches to record his four outs tonight.

After trailing 2-0 through two innings, Wichita picked up their starter. Spencer Steer singled to drive in Austin Martin, and Trey Cabbage plated Roy Morales on a 3rd inning single of his own. The score wouldn't hold with Springfield adding a third run in the bottom half of the inning, but Aaron Whitefield singled in the 4th inning to score Andrew Bechtold and knot things at three.

Getting behind again in the 4th, Wichita took the lead for good in the 5th. Cabbage reached on a throwing error that scored B.J. Boyd before Leobaldo Cabrera drove in Morales with a sacrifice fly. In the 7th inning, Cabrera hit his seventh longball of the year and gave the good guys two runs worth of breathing room.

Jordan Gore continues to be great on the bump and worked 2 1/3 innings to close this one out. Morales had a three-hit night while Whitefield picked up two of his own.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 1
Box Score

The Kernels sent Sawyer Gipson-Long to the bump tonight, and he was great over six strong innings. He allowed just a single, unearned run on three hits and gave up one free pass. He did punch out eight batters on the evening and dropped his ERA to 3.27 since joining the Kernels.

Michael Helman opened the scoring with a solo shot in the 3rd; his 13th home run of the season. After the Timber Rattlers answered in the 4th, Cedar Rapids went back to work. Wander Javier drove in Yunior Severino with a 5th inning single, and Helman lifted his second solo shot of the game in the 6th to make it 3-1.

That’s where this one would end with Zach Featherstone (2.0 IP, 4 K) and Melvi Acosta (1.0 IP 1 K, SV) both providing hitless relief efforts. Helman, Javier, and Max Smith all recorded two-hit nights for the Kernels.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Dunedin 5, Fort Myers 4 (F/10)
Box Score

Taking the ball for Fort Myers tonight was Sean Mooney. He worked 3 2/3 innings and allowed just a single run on three hits and two walks. He punched out seven and his ERA now sits at a miniscule 1.08 on the campaign.

Getting behind in the first, the Mighty Mussels evened things up on an Alerick Soularie single that scored Justin Washington. Keoni Cavaco then put a run on the board when Willie Joe Garry to score on his sacrifice fly in the 5th. Trailing again in the 7th, it was Cavaco who knotted things at three. A second sacrifice fly plated Justin Washington before Aaron Sabato left the yard for his 11th homer of the season.

After recording the first out in the bottom of the 9th, Carlos Suniaga gave up a base runner who then came around on the inning’s second single. Tying the game at four. This one was headed to the 10th.

With Fort Myers coming up short in the top half of extras, Dunedin took advantage with their turn and walked off the Mighty Mussels in the bottom half. 2021 draftee Patrick Winkel had two hits on the evening while Washington added three of his own.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 7, FCL Red Sox 2
Box Score

Erasmo Moreno was on the bump for this one and provided four strong innings of work. He allowed just one run on two hits while striking out two and walking one. Malik Barrington, recently signed as an undrafted free agent from Albany State University, made his professional debut and picked up the save. He worked three innings and struck out six allowing just a single hit.

The Twins took the lead in the third inning after getting down by one run. 2020 draft pick Kala’i Rosario hit his third homer of the year, a two-run shot, that also plated Zander Wiel. After giving up the lead in the 5th, and 6th inning Wander Valdez solo shot put the Twins back up by a run.

Rosario was back at it again in the 7th inning as his seventh double scored another run and pushed the lead to 4-2. Two wild pitches in the 8th allowed Valdez and Argenis Jimenez to score before a Luis Gomez double plated Noah Cardenas to push the final tally out to 7-2.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day- Joe Ryan (St. Paul) - 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Hitter of the Day- Michael Helman (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR(14)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Our most recent (post deadline and draft) prospect rankings are up! Check them out here.

#1 - Royce Lewis (rehab) - Injured List (ACL)
#2 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
#3 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#4 - Simeon Woods Richardson (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) - Injured List (elbow strain)
#6 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - 1-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
#7 - Joe Ryan (St. Paul) - 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
#8 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch
#9 - Chase Petty (Complex) - Did not pitch
#10 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) - 1-3, 2 RBI, K
#11 - Josh Winder (St. Paul) - Injured List (shoulder)
#12 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, 2B, B, K
#13 - Gilberto Celestino (St. Paul) - 0-1, K
#14 - Drew Strotman (St. Paul) - Did not pitch
#15 - Noah Miller (Complex) - Did not play
#16 - Brent Rooker (Minnesota) - Did not play
#17 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Out for season (Tommy John surgery)
#18 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) - 0-3, BB, K
#19 - Cole Sands (Wichita) - 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
#20 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 1-4, RBI, K

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Iowa @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – TBD 
Wichita @ Springfield (6:05PM CST) – RHP Jordan Balazovic (4-2, 3.74 ERA)
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Cody Laweryson (1-3, 5.06 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Dunedin (5:30PM CST) – TBD

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[jmlease1]

Bummer about Sands leaving with an injury. All I want out of Most of our starters in the minors is health and inning right now, so seeing another guy who needs the development time go down just stinks.

But Joe Ryan looks exciting! Wouldn't it be delightful if in a year everyone is talking about what a steal the Twins pulled off in dealing a rental for a rotation fixture? 

[jorgenswest]

Reading about guys shining like Leobaldo Cabrera is a big reason I enjoy these reports.

He may not be a prospect but fighting back into affiliated ball through the Empire League after getting released by the Yankees in 2018 makes for a good story.

Thanks to the crew that provides these reports. I really appreciate them.

[Dman]

Joe Ryan comes as advertised.  I Wonder if we get a look at him in MLB ball this year or if they really start limiting his innings. 

Nice to see Sabato continue to hit balls out of the park.  Maybe there is more hope than I thought there was for his bat to come around.

Mooney has been money but he hasn't pitched a ton this year either.

Man that Wichita team has some tough hitters.  Almost everyone on the team has an 800 OPS.  Has to be a tough lineup for pitchers to face

[DocBauer]

Anyone have word on Sands? Injuries to pitchers seems to be an epidemic this year. Just amazing to me how missing 2020 and losing that routine has affected so many young arms. Agree with jmlease1, just get as many IP as you can the rest of the year and keep everyone as healthy as you can.

Just a couple quick thought:

1] I hope Kerrigan sticks around for 2022. Solid defense everywhere and a decent bat, he's njce to have around as a 6th/7th OF type. Whitefield is having a rezlly nice rebound season at Wichita and is still only 24yo. Athletically, he's a potential 5 tool talent who might need to repeat AA in 2022 to further harness his potential. Not saying he's a top prospect,  but he has the potential be a solid reserve in a couple years. 

3] Gore doesn't have ideal size, and he's a little long in the tooth after converting from SS to RP, but I don't care about his age for that very reason. Is he part of the St Paul pen in 2022?

4] The turnaround for Sabato is amazing. Was he hurt earlier? Was he putting too much pressure on himself? Or was it simply a young guy taking longer than hoped for/expected to make that initial transition?

5] Kind of ironic that days after an article on TD about Gipson-Long he has maybe one of his best performances. A little more "oomph" and/or movement on his FB and ANY variation of a change pitch and I just wonder if he could be a really fast riser in 2022.

6] I would love someone with more immediate energy than me to break down the monthly records of our affiliates. I might be mis-remembering, but it feels like everyone was hovering around .500 or so early in the season before just taking off.

[Dman]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

 

1] I hope Kerrigan sticks around for 2022. Solid defense everywhere and a decent bat, he's njce to have around as a 6th/7th OF type. Whitefield is having a rezlly nice rebound season at Wichita and is still only 24yo. Athletically, he's a potential 5 tool talent who might need to repeat AA in 2022 to further harness his potential. Not saying he's a top prospect,  but he has the potential be a solid reserve in a couple years. 

3] Gore doesn't have ideal size, and he's a little long in the tooth after converting from SS to RP, but I don't care about his age for that very reason. Is he part of the St Paul pen in 2022?

 

I am with you on Kerrigan he is having a great year.  He has been patient at the plate his slugging is really good his K rate is just a bit higher than you would like to see it at 30% but other than that his metrics looks pretty solid.  He has been very under radar good.

I like Whitefield too but he is too aggressive at the plate so he doesn't walk much and his slugging is lower than both Kerrigan and Celestino.  If he can solve that next year he would be legit option at the MLB level IMO.

Gore has been far better than I ever imagined he could be.  I agree they have to move him up and he could be an option next year.

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

I am with you on Kerrigan he is having a great year.  He has been patient at the plate his slugging is really good his K rate is just a bit higher than you would like to see it at 30% but other than that his metrics looks pretty solid.  He has been very under radar good.

I like Whitefield too but he is too aggressive at the plate so he doesn't walk much and his slugging is lower than both Kerrigan and Celestino.  If he can solve that next year he would be legit option at the MLB level IMO.

Gore has been far better than I ever imagined he could be.  I agree they have to move him up and he could be an option next year.

I think we're sympatico on Kerrigan and Gore. A useful "extra" OF who could be useful and is definitely flying under the radar. And who cares what age Gore is, right? You move to the mound and suddenly you find a role. IF you hit MLB at 28yo or so and do well, does anyone care?

Absolutely agree on Whitefield as well. Of course I love his story! A hard softball leaguer from Australia who the Twins sign? How can you not love a story like that? And because of that, he's been a guy I've been following for some time. Just feels like he's been around for a while. And then I rezlize he's still only 24yo and teased us with a solid 2016-17 at rookie and low A ball before a pair of bad seasons in 2018-19. And after a brief 2020 ML appearance and time at St Paul, he's suddenly having a solid year for Wichita. Absolutely agree he is un-refined and needs work. The K's need to come down, better contact has to be made, and he's way too big, strong and athletic to show so little power. 

But what might he be with an off-season and a return to AA as a 25yo still learning the game? Not expecting greatness here, but could he be a bloomer in 2022?

[mikelink45]

Is there any reason, any good reason, why Ryan's next start is not for the twins?