Minor League Report (8/26): Pitching, Hitting, and Everything in Between

[David Youngs]

Thursday night had a little bit of everything across the Twins' farm. Read up on all the action!

TRANSACTIONS

• RHP Hector Lujan was activated from the Wichita IL. 
• 1B Gabe Snyder assigned to Wichita Wind Surge from Cedar Rapids Kernels

SAINTS SENTINEL
Toledo 9, St. Paul 8 (11 innings)
Box Score

Despite a solid rehab outing from Randy Dobnak and a total team performance from the St. Paul offense, the Saints dropped a tightly contested game in the Buckeye State on Thursday night.

After giving up an early run in the third inning the Saints pounced back with a three runs in the fourth frame. Gilberto Celestino punched a double to right that scored Mark Contreras to put St. Paul on the board. Sherman Johnson followed suit with a single that scored Celestino from second. The most impressive hit of the inning and arguably the game came when Dreg Maggi crushed a triple to centerfield that scored Johnson all the way from first to put the Saints up 3-1.

St. Paul punched two more runs in the fifth inning when Jimmy Kerrigan smacked a two-out single to score Jose Miranda and Trevor Larnach. Larnach tallied an RBI single of his own in the sixth inning that drove in JT Riddle. 

On his rehab journey back to the Twins, Randy Dobnak was solid on the bump against the Mud Hens. Dobnak pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball while giving up five hits, four walks, and striking out two. The start marked Dobnak's second rehab start. The fan-favorite struck out five batters over three perfect frames at Low-A Fort Myers this past weekend. It's only a matter of time before he is back with the parent club!

After Dobnak left the game, Ian Hamilton gave up three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Yet when it looked like Toledo would mount a comeback, Ryan Mason stepped in and shut down the Mud Hens, tossing 1 2/3 innings of one-hit scoreless baseball. Chandler Shepherd followed that with a perfect inning on the mound to put the Saints in a position to hold a 6-4 lead in the ninth. 

That didn't happen, as Toledo plated two runs in the inning to tie the game despite a valiant effort from reliver Nick Vincent.

The Saints and Kernels played a game of cat and mouse in the 10th and 11th innings, with both teams scoring runs thanks to the extra-innings rule that puts a runner at second to start the inning. Unfortunately for St. Paul, Toledo managed to squeak out two runs in the 11th to secure the win. 

Despite the loss, every single player in the Saints starting lineup tallied a hit. Drew Maggi, Tomas Telis, and Gilberto Celestino all tallied two-hit games. Sherman Johnson had an impressive three-hit game with a run and RBI for the Saints.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Tulsa 4, Wichita 2
Box Score

A late-inning power display wasn't enough for the Wind Surge to push past a dominant pitching performance from Tulsa on Thursday at Riverfront Stadium. A team known for their offense, Wichita was only able to manage four hits on the night. 

Wichita failed to put any runs on the board until the bottom of the ninth inning. The dynamic duo of Trey Cabbage and Spencer Steer mounted a final-inning comeback attempt for the Surge. After Steer drew a walk, Cabbage launched his 16th homer with the Wind Surge (25th overall) over the wall to bring Wichita within two runs. 

Jordan Balazovic didn't have his strongest night of the year, giving up four runs on nine hits over six innings. However, the Wichita bullpen tandem of Mitchell Osnowitz and Adam Lau were rock-solid, tossing a combined three innings of scoreless ball. The two didn't give up any runs and surrendered only one walk while striking out three batters. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 8, Beloit 0
Box Score

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have had moments of brilliance on both sides of the ball so far this season. Tonight, they combined all five tools of the game for a dominant 8-0 win over regional rival Beloit.

The Kernels punched their first five runs thanks to the long ball. After Yunior Severino led off the inning with a single Wander Javier launched a home run (12) over the left field wall to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead. Two innings later the Kernels found themselves with runners on base thanks to a walk from Seth Gray and a single from Javier. Michael Helman followed with a three-run shot over the left field wall to break the game open for Cedar Rapids. 

Helman continued his stellar night in the seventh inning by leading off with a triple to the right field gap. He later scored thanks to an RBI single from Edouard Julien. That wasn't the final run of the inning. Following a Matt Wallner single and a pair of walks, Julien scored lucky number seven for Cedar Rapids. 

The offensive performance was one of the most dominant on the season for Cedar Rapids, who now have a +52 run differential overall. 

Cedar Rapids starter Sawyer Gipson-Long was absolutely brilliant in this one, posting arguably his best outing of the year. Gipson-Long (W, 2-1) tossed six scoreless innings while giving up six hits and striking out nine batters. It was the third time that the Lithia Springs, GA, native's has hit nine strikeouts this season, second to his season-best 11 K's on July 21.

And while Gipson-Long's performance was incredible, reliever Tyler Palm was just as effective. Palm tossed two innings of one-hit ball while striking out three batters. The appearance was a well-needed cleanser for Palm, who gave up two runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings on last week against Wisconsin. 

Osiris German sealed the deal for the Kernels with a scoreless ninth inning to secure an important win for Cedar Rapids in the playoff race. The Kernels are now 55-44 are sit a full 2.5 games ahead of Great Lakes for second place in the High-A Central League. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 4, Bradenton 2
Box Score

Despite an early deficit, the Mighty Mussels used dominant pitching and timely hitting to grind out a close game in the Sunshine State. 

After Bradenton scored two runs in the third inning, the Mussels responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. After walking and stealing a base Jake Rucker scored courtesy of a Willie Joe Garry Jr. single. 

Rucker's momentum carried into the fourth inning. With runners on first and second, Rucker laced an RBI triple to right field to give Fort Myers a 3-2 lead. That lead would expand 4-2 when Rucker scored during the next at-bat thanks to a wild pitch. 

Fort Myers starter Sean Mooney was absolutely outstanding on the evening. Mooney tossed 4 2/3 innings of 10-strikeout ball, only surrendering a pair of runs on three hits and two walks. RHP Logan Campbell was just as dominant in his Mussels debut, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one hit. Zaquiel Puentes sealed the deal with his first save of the year, tossing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Pirates Black 6, FCL Twins 3
Box Score

A multi-hit game from Kala'i Rosario wasn't enough to push the FCL Twins to a victory against the Pirates on Thursday afternoon. The Pirates jumped on Twins' starter Giovahniey German early, plating four runs in the first three innings. German (L, 2-2) pitched three innings, giving up seven hits, four runs, and a walk while striking out five. 

Rosario's first hit was a single in the second inning. He followed that with a leadoff double in the sixth inning and was later driven in on an RBI single from Argenis Jimenez. 2021 Competitive Balance round pick and Twins Daily Top 20 Prospect Noah Miller knocked an RBI double (2) in the third inning to score the Twins' first run. Miller and Rosario are both having excellent seasons at the plate. Miller touts a .269 batting average and Rosario has a .290 average. 

After reliever Jordan Carr gave up three runs, LHP Elpidio Perez was excellent. Perez pitched three scoreless innings for the FCL Twins, giving up only one hit and two walks while striking out four. Despite the loss, the Twins' pitching staff managed to strike out 15 batters on the day. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

YOU decide!

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

St. Paul @ Toledo (6:05PM CST) – LHP Bryan Sammons (0-1, 5.32 ERA)
Tulsa @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) – RHP Chris Vallimont (5-5, 6.08 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35PM CST) – RHP Cody Lawyerson (1-4, 5.15 ERA)
Bradenton @ Fort Myers Game One: (3:30PM CST) – RHP John Stankiewicz (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
                                          Game Two: (30 minutes after game one) - LHP Zarion Sharpe (4-2, 3.59 ERA)

 

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[matthew0211]

4 2/3 innings with five hits, four walks, and two K's is not a solid outing.  It's almost a 2 WHIP.  This is who Dobnak is as a pitcher.  If he is any more than a 9th or 10th option for the rotation next year, the FO will have failed miserably over the off-season. 

[Taildragger8791]

Sabato and Cavaco both wearing golden sombreros tonight. Oof. 

[mikelink45]

7 for 39 - last nights top prospect results. .179 with 16 Ks.  Get that minor league hitting instructor to work.

 

[roger]

A bit concerning that Dobber gave up four walks, considering that free passes led to his problems late last year.  Checked to see if they may have occurred late in the game and he was tiring due to it being his second rehab start.  Unfortunately, that wasn't the case as he walked one in each of the first four innings.  But was great seeing him pitch into the fifth inning with only one run.  Expect one more start for the Saints before rejoining the Twins rotation.  Hopefully, he will do well and so they can count on two of these young guys, Ober and Dobnak, for the 2022 rotation.

Balazovic hasn't been the same pitcher since his streak of nearly 30 innings without a run ended a month or so ago.  After not pitching last year, gotta believe his arm has tired a bit.  Appears they are going to keep sending him out there to build innings so he doesn't have this problem next year when he could/should be with the Twins late next summer.

Although Javier's big night took the headlines, Severino and Julien were both 2-4 plus a walk.  Although he hasn't totally turned the corner, Javier has had many two and three hit nights this year.  Could be wrong, but I don't remember many multi hit nights in any of his previous years, so that is an improvement.  Maybe next year he will finally put it together and become that star shortstop we all yearn for.  Biggest question is whether or not it will be with the Twins as it is doubtful he gets added to the 40-man roster.  He has been in the organization for six years, yet he missed so much time injured.  Does he qualify as a MiLB free agent this year?  Or not?

Also saw that Sabato was 0-4 last night with all four at bats ending with the K.  Gotta assume there will be some adjustment to the higher level, but golden sombreros aren't good anytime.  That is what they call 4 K's, isn't it?

[jmlease1]

Celestino's continued success at the plate in AAA is a good sign for his future. I've always liked him as a player, and I'm glad they protected him in the Rule 5 (I'm certain he would have been taken...but it's possible he might have been returned). He's going to have a chance to compete for a spot on the roster next year as a right-handed bat who can play all three OF spots. I don't think he needs a call up at this point: he just needs ABs in AAA.

[Major League Ready]

When I checked on the Milb games last night I noticed Gibson-long threw 67 pitches, 56 for strikes.  So, I watched the innings he pitched.  You can't tell much given the camera work for A+ games but you could not miss that everything was around the zone.  Anyone know what he has for velocity?

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

Anyone know what he has for velocity?

Video claims low 90s for fastball. 90-92, touches 93.