Minor League Report 8/28 Offensive Explosions and A Curfew-ed Game

[Matt Braun]

A bunch of games had a bunch of runs and one game had to be halted due to a curfew. For real. Read all about the wild night in the Twins' minor league system on Saturday, 

TRANSACTIONS
RHP Miguel Rodriguez reinstated from 7-day IL at A Fort Myers
RHP Ramon Pineda transferred from FCL Twins to A Fort Myers

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 9, Toledo 9 (Paused game)
Box Score
Drew Strotman: 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: 

Well, I had a write-up here, but apparently the game ran so late that it was paused due to a curfew. I'll leave the box score link so that people can check it out as they please, but know that the game is not technically finished. Also know that this is the first time I have ever seen something like this happen in a minor league game. Weird stuff.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 13, Tulsa 4
Box Score
Cole Sands: 3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
HR: Leobaldo Cabrera (8), Andrew Bechtold (16), Austin Martin (2), Spencer Steer (13)
Multi-hit games: Spencer Steer (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, BB), Austin Martin (3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI), 

Wichita gave Tulsa the business on Saturday.

...Oh, I need to say more? (Editor's Note: Yes, please.)

Here are a few questions: Is it a good thing when eight out of nine of your batters get a hit? Is it a good thing when six different hitters earn an RBI? Is it a good thing when your 1-2 hitters combine for six runs? I’m not a baseball expert, but I tend to think that the answer to all of those questions is yes.

Tulsa actually had the first lead of the game but a homer by Leobaldo Cabrera put the lead firmly in Wichita’s grasp. They would not let go. With five runs already on the board, Andrew Bechtold demolished a three-run homerun to make it a cruel seven-run lead. With a nine-run lead, Austin Martin clobbered a homer to make it an evil 11-run lead. Finally, with 12 runs on the board, Spencer Steer obliterated a solo shot to add a cherry on top of this battered cake. Tulsa actually out-hit the Wind Surge on Saturday which is objectively hilarious. 

Cabrera:

Bechtold:

Martin:

Steer:

Cole Sands allowed only one run over three innings but was inefficient as he tossed 80 pitches in order to do so. From there the combination of Kody Funderburk, Zach Neff, and Hector Lujan took Wichita to the finish line on Saturday.

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 1, Beloit 6
Box Score
Ben Gross: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Daniel Ozoria (2-for-3, RBI)

Cedar Rapids had the lone offensive dud on Saturday.

Ben Gross brought the strikeouts, but the Snappers proved resilient, and dropped 10 hits on the starter. It was an all-or-nothing approach that netted Beloit six extra-base hits off of Gross en route to a lead that would never really be challenged.

The lone Kernels run came thanks to a Daniel Ozoria infield single in the 5th inning. The team put together just six hits on the night, but oddly enough, three of those hits were doubles. 

In another odd turn, both teams had matching one walk, 14 strikeout performances by their respective pitching staffs (and lineups, technically). But, Beloit bunching their extra-base hits proved to be a wise strategy as they easily beat Cedar Rapids on Saturday.

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 8 
Box Score
Miguel Rodriguez: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
HR: Jesus Feliz (7)
Multi-hit games: Jake Rucker (2-for-5, 3 R), Will Holland (3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI)

Fort Myers was unable to recover from a 4-0 deficit on Saturday.

Starter Miguel Rodriguez had one to forget. The righty was activated just before the game and more than a bit rusty on Saturday. Allowing three walks over just a single inning more or less speaks for itself. Let’s hope that Rodriguez can get back on the horse the next time he’s called upon.

To their credit, the Mighty Mussels did not lie down and let the Marauders win this game without a fight. They were down by a score of 7-1 before a burning offensive spirit took hold across the dugout. 

Jesus Feliz kicked off the rebuttal with a solo homer in the 7th while Will Holland doubled home a run later in the inning. This would be just the first attack. Kyler Fedko unloaded the bases in the 8th with a double that was followed by the classic double error on the part of the Marauders. Unfortunately, the fight would end there. Bradenton plated one more run in the 9th, and Fort Myers fell narrowly short of a victory.

Casey Legumina provided a strong effort in the loss. He was able to siphon off the bleeding over five strong innings of one-run ball in relief of Rodriguez.

Complex Chronicles

The FCL Twins game was suspended in the 8th inning on Saturday. Nash will have the update for you on this game when it is completed on Sunday.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Casey Legumina
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Spencer Steer 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for season (torn ACL)
#2 – Austin Martin (Wichita) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K
#3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#4 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#5 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) - Injured List (Right Elbow Strain)
#6 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - Suspended game
#7 – Joe Ryan (St. Paul) - Did not pitch
#8 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List (Right Elbow Strain)
#9 – Chase Petty (Complex) - 
#10 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) - Did not play

#11 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) - Injured List (Right Shoulder Impingement)
#12 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) - Did not play
#13 – Gilberto Celestino (St. Paul) - Suspended game
#14 – Drew Strotman (St. Paul) - 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
#15 – Noah Miller (FCL Twins) - 1-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
#16 – Brent Rooker (Minnesota) - 0-1, R, BB, K
#17 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Out for Season (Tommy John surgery)
#18 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) - 1-3, 2 BB
#19 – Cole Sands (Wichita) - 3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
#20 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 2-4, HR, 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, BB

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Bradenton @ Fort Myers (10:00 AM) RHP Landon Leach
St. Paul @ Toledo (12:05 PM) RHP Beau Burrows
Tulsa @ Wichita (12:05 PM) RHP Austin Schulfer
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (1:05 PM) TBD

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[Mike Sixel]

What position is Martin playing these days?

[beckmt]

pitching seems to be hit and miss these days.  Coming off a year with no games at this time probably to be expected. 

[Major League Ready]

5 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

What position is Martin playing these days?

I have seen him at SS and CF.  Can't say I know the ratio.

[mikelink45]

I keep looking for pitchers who are showing promise for the future. Days like this are disappointing. I know something that this is late in the season so the pitchers are wearing down but I keep wondering why. The season started late and even though they had no minor leagues last year didn't they work out and keep developing during that time?  I do think it was another of Manfords bad decisions. But it was also a year where everybody should have healed whatever ailments they had. 

[terrydactyls]

This is a question for our resident medical examiner, Lucas Seehafer.  Does the absence of a 2020 minor league season account for the less effective late-season pitching performances?  Or is it more of a crutch for people to use to explain what's happening?

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I keep looking for pitchers who are showing promise for the futureI keep looking for pitchers who are showing promise for the future. Days like this are disappointing. I know something that this is late in the season so the pitchers are wearing down but I keep wondering why. The season started late and even though they had no minor leagues last year didn't they work out and keep developing during that time?  I do think it was another of Manfords bad decisions. But it was also a year where everybody should have healed whatever ailments they had. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

What position is Martin playing these days?

Continues to split time between SS and CF. 

So far, 12 games at SS, 9 games in CF... 1 DH. 

[roger]

Does anyone know anything more about Jake Rucker than what we see on his stats page?  Seems like another Tennessee player who is off to one heck of a nice start.

Have been wondering much the same as several comments above, ie, our pitchers sure are struggling as the season wears on.  Gross was very solid until recently.  Strotman hasn't been good since coming over from Tampa.  And yes he allowed only one run, but Sands using 80 pitches to get through three innings had to be terrible to watch for those folks at the game.

On the good side, great seeing Martin with a three hit night after several of 0 for's of late.  Is Sabato really hitting .143 average at Cedar Rapids?  On another note, has anyone heard if we are going to see the Petty kid in any games before the Complex season ends?

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, roger said:

Does anyone know anything more about Jake Rucker than what we see on his stats page?  Seems like another Tennessee player who is off to one heck of a nice start...

...Is Sabato really hitting .143 average at Cedar Rapids?  On another note, has anyone heard if we are going to see the Petty kid in any games before the Complex season ends?

Rucker's 2021 scouting report on MLB. He was ranked 209 overall and the Twins took him at 219. It' snot really much of  "start" since it's only 20 plate appearances. https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/jake-rucker-696160

Sabato was promoted to Cedar Rapids last week. He has 4 games there and 16 plate apperances. 

Rookie ball still has 3 weeks left. I'd expect Petty to get a couple starts in at least, but I haven't found anything.