Twins Minor League Report (4/19): The Arrival of Raya

[Steve Lein]

There were a few top pitching prospects on the mound for Twins affiliates on Tuesday night that each had strong outings for their teams. But it was another pitcher who isn’t quite recognized as such (yet…) who would steal the show in just his second professional outing.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• In Fort Myers, IF Jesus Feliz was activated from the 7-day IL and was in the lineup batting sixth and playing first base for the Mighty Mussels.

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 0, Toledo 11
Box Score

Jose Miranda led off the game for the Saints with a double, but that was literally as good as it would get for them the rest of it. As a team they managed just three hits, were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and left only five men on base on the night. In addition to Miranda’s double, Mark Contreras and Jermaine Palacios each had a single.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t any better for the pitching staff either as Toledo scored at least one run in six of their eight at-bats. Starter Cole Sands went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and a walk. Wladimir Pinto, Jovani Moran, Jordan Gore, and Ryan Mason went the next six innings, combining to allow six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out ten. Catcher David Banuelos was even called upon to get the final out of the game for the Saints and did so with one pitch.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Midland 4, Wichita 6
Box Score

The Wind Surge got a nice bounce-back start from right-hander Matt Canterino in this one, going three hitless innings. He struck out the side in the first on just 11 pitches but labored a little from there. In total, he walked two and struck out six, throwing 51 pitches (29 for strikes) in his outing. He was getting several swings and misses on mid-90s fastballs when he put them inside the zone, but also missed quite often. Overall a very encouraging outing from the top prospect, however. 

He also got some help from his defense, as left-fielder Leobaldo Cabrera definitely saved a couple of runs with this catch to rob a home run in the second inning:

Wichita took a 3-0 lead after the second inning as Michael Helman led off the frame with his second home run of the season, and later Cole Sturgeon drove in the other two runs with a single to right field.

After Canterino’s exit the RockHounds were able to jump on reliever Kody Funderburk in the fourth, as he allowed a two-run homer to cut the lead to one. Funderburk would finish three total innings, allowing two other hits and two walks while striking out two. Zach Featherstone was credited with a blown save and the win after allowing a game-tying two-run home run in the seventh.

He got the win as the Wind Surge lineup came right back in the bottom half. Spencer Steer drove in one with a fielder’s choice ground ball to score Austin Martin, who had singled and stole his seventh base of the season before that, and Helman added a sac fly to make the final score 6-4.

Austin Schulfer finished off the final two innings to pick up his second save, allowing two hits and striking out three.

Dennis Ortega had two hits, Matt Wallner drew two walks and scored a run, and Martin was 1-for-3 with two walks in the game.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Peoria 3, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score

The Kernels got another strong start from left-hander Cade Povich in their series opener with Peoria. He pitched into the fifth inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Though he struck out the first two batters of the fifth inning he had reached his pitch count at 81 in the game and was removed. He struck out nine hitters in the game and now has 17 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings pitched on the season in his two starts. 

Cedar Rapids scored single runs in the first and second innings thanks to RBI singles from Jair Camargo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. They took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when Wander Javier slugged his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it 4-2.

Bradley Hanner was the first relief pitcher for the Kernels and went a scoreless 1 1/3 innings. Cody Laweryson went the next 1 1/3, allowing one run on one walk while striking out two. Osiris German finished off the eighth then came back out for the ninth and got into some trouble. A leadoff single was followed by a sac bunt and an error to put the tying run 90-feet away with two outs. But Seth Gray made a diving play to his left at first base, knocking down a screaming grounder, and was able to flip it to German at first base to secure the win. It was German’s third save of the young season and he struck out two in his 1 2/3 innings.

Encarnacion-Strand (2-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K) and Camargo (2-for-4, RBI) had multiple hits and Aaron Sabato drew two walks in the game. As a team, they collected eight hits, were 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base in improving to 8-2 on the season.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 4, Dunedin 2
Box Score

Before he had even made a professional appearance, starting pitcher Marco Raya was heading into the 2022 season with some major helium as a prospect. After a solid debut last week, you could say Raya officially provided evidence for that helium on this night. He was lights out for six innings, allowing just a single in the first inning, and went on to retire every hitter he faced after that (16 in a row). He had multiple strikeouts in four of his six innings and punched out the last five hitters he faced to reach double-digit strikeouts with 10 on the game. Hopefully, that’s the first of many times moving forward for the 19-year-old phenom. Even more impressive may be that he did this all on just 68 pitches, with 49 of them going for strikes (72%), and 17 of them swinging.

The Mighty Mussels lineup gave him all the support he and the bullpen would need in the fifth inning, scoring all four of their runs thanks to some wildness from the pitcher and RBI singles from Kyler Fedko and Noah Cardenas. Jake Rucker and Dillon Tatum provided the other two hits in the game, and Noah Miller drew two walks.

Malik Barrington allowed two runs on two hits in two innings of relief, striking out one. Hunter Mcmahon picked up his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Marco Raya, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (W, 6 IP, H, 10 K)
Hitter of the Day - Wander Javier, Cedar Rapids Kernels (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, K, SB (7)
#2 - Royce Lewis (St. Paul) - 0-for-4, K
#3 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, 2B, K
#6 - Matt Canterino (Wichita) - 3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 6 K
#10 - Noah Miller (Fort Myers) - 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) - Pinch runner in the ninth
#12 - Matt Wallner (Wichita) - 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, SB (1)
#13 - Cole Sands (St. Paul) - L, 1 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, BB
#15 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Fort Myers) - 0-for-3, R, 3 K
#18 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

St. Paul @ Toledo (5:35 PM CDT) - RHP Mario Sanchez (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Midland @ Wichita (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CDT) - RHP Sean Mooney (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Dunedin (6:00 PM CDT) - LHP Steve Hajjar (0-0, 12.00 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

 

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[wsnydes]

Nice to see Canterino have a better outing this trip.  Early season starts are always interesting to see how a guy bounces back.

I had completely forgotten about Raya.  I don't think the name even registered in my brain last week when I saw it.  Time to pay more attention, I guess!

[Dman]

Sands with one of those games that make me worried about him staying a starter.  I wonder if he is going to show up on the injured list as usually when he has one of these games something isn't quite right.  St. Paul was brutal in pretty much every way possible last night.  Pretty much total system failure.

Nice to see Canterino get some of his groove back but his control problems continue.  He has been less than efficient on the mound.  Hoping this is where he gets things going again.  The bats were better for Wichita but still several hitters struggling there namely Wallner.  Martin knows how to steal bases and seems to be back to his OnBase ways with little to no power.  Looking fairly Arraez like with speed right now.

Povich wasn't as efficient as he has been but still K'ing nearly two guys per inning.  He has been pretty dominant for a level that should be challenging him.  If he can stay healthy looks like he will move up to AA mid season.  CES with 2 more hits and 2 more Strike outs.  That K rate is starting to climb and I always say his .500 BABIP has to come down but it didn't last year.  Will just have to wait and see what that looks like through a full season but right now he looks like the best hitter on the Cedar Rapids squad.  Camargo has had a hot bat to start the season as well.  He generally is a K machine with good power will have to see if he can keep things going and find better plate discipline.

Raya looked shaky his first time out to me and then he goes out and nearly throws 6 perfect innings with 10 K's.  He had a lot of hype coming into the season and I wasn't so sure he would stand up to it, but he has me believing now.  1 hit and no walks through 6 is really hard to do unless you are throwing really, really well.  A dominant performance like that puts him on the must watch list.  Fedko came through the big hit and 2 RBI's but it was a tough night for the bats on both sides.  The walks were the difference in the game IMO.

Lot's of really good starting pitching with the exception of Sands. Keep that pipeline coming.  We are going to need the arms.

[mikelink45]

Thanks for the relief from the Twins story. Except for St Paul, this was great reading. 

[roger]

Loved the pick when the Twins drafted Raya.  Then disappointed when we didn't see him pitch last summer.  But the wait sure as heck looks worth it.  Kid is still what, 19?  If he keeps pitching like this he could end up being special when he reaches the Twins.

Another sad start to his season for Javier, so it is good to see him with a blast last night.  But he needs to start getting on base more if he is ever going to make it.  Kid was such a great signing a long time ago.  Still hopeful, but hope is waning.

Also good seeing Povich follow up his great first start with a very solid outing.  Really believe that the pitching pipeline is solid with the first guys just beginning to arrive.  The staff should be so much better in 2023 and moreso in 2024.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Canterino has always seemed like a clear bullpen candidate, and outings like this one, where his control deserts him after the first inning, certainly reinforce that notion.

That Raya outing is seriously impressive. A few more of those and they'll have to send him to Cedar Rapids to see what he can do in a more hitter friendly league.

[Tibs]

Why was Canterino taken out of the game after the 3rd inning? Did he throw a lot of pitches that inning?

[DJL44]

Quote

Sands with one of those games that make me worried about him staying a starter

Quote

Canterino has always seemed like a clear bullpen candidate

We should expect roughly 1/3 of the starting pitcher prospects to make their impact in the bullpen. I think the organization was probably keeping players in a starting role for too long because they had so few pitching prospects. That's not necessarily a bad thing - pitchers will generally develop faster with more innings in the minors. 

[Steve Lein]

7 minutes ago, Tibs said:

Why was Canterino taken out of the game after the 3rd inning? Did he throw a lot of pitches that inning?

I think they are taking it easy with him in the early going as he simply hasn't thrown many innings as a pro yet, but it could be an efficiency thing as well. After 11 pitches and 3 K's in the first, he threw 40 over the next two. He's thrown 45 (2 IP), 51 (1.2 IP), and 51 (3 IP) pitches in his outings thus far. 

[jmlease1]

Nice outing from Raya. He's got talent, and it's nice to see him go 6 and dominate so well. I think the key for him is going to be how he holds up going every 5th day or so and seeing where he's at in June. but hard not to get a little excited about his upside.

[puckstopper1]

I had to do a double take of the photo of Raya. 

Lets hope he is as successful as the guy his photo reminds me of...

[Steve Lein]

14 minutes ago, puckstopper1 said:

I had to do a double take of the photo of Raya. 

That's a great comparison! Hopefully I can add something like this to my collection in the future!

[Mike Sixel]

Can we add the position played for some of the prospects that move around a lot (I'm thinking Lewis, Miranda, and Martin specifically)? thanks,

[Seth Stohs]

3 hours ago, puckstopper1 said:

I had to do a double take of the photo of Raya. 

Lets hope he is as successful as the guy his photo reminds me of...

Fair or not... the comparisons between Raya and Berrios have been evident. Not too tall. Thin. Throws low-90s, but he knows how to pitch, with multiple good pitches. Solid work ethic. All those things. 

Of course, now Raya hits 97 and even 98 with the fastball sometimes, so there is a lot to be excited about. 

[Seth Stohs]

32 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Can we add the position played for some of the prospects that move around a lot (I'm thinking Lewis, Miranda, and Martin specifically)? thanks,

This is a fair request... I'll send it to our minor league writers to watch for. 

Lewis has only played SS (and a game or two at DH). 
Miranda's played mostly 3B (maybe a game or two at DH and 1B)
Martin sure looks like a 2B now. Man, he just looks so much more natural, more comfortable playing there. Another diving play today. He turned a really nice double play. Looked really good. I don't think he's played SS since the first 4-5 games of the season. 

[Mike Sixel]

32 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

This is a fair request... I'll send it to our minor league writers to watch for. 

Lewis has only played SS (and a game or two at DH). 
Miranda's played mostly 3B (maybe a game or two at DH and 1B)
Martin sure looks like a 2B now. Man, he just looks so much more natural, more comfortable playing there. Another diving play today. He turned a really nice double play. Looked really good. I don't think he's played SS since the first 4-5 games of the season. 

Thanks! I wish Martin was in left field..... They have Polanco and Arraez....

I would have Miranda getting time at first, apparently, also.....

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Thanks! I wish Martin was in left field..... They have Polanco and Arraez....

I would have Miranda getting time at first, apparently, also.....

Let's hope Kirilloff is a middle of the order bat at 1B for the next several years.  If not,  1B is easy to fill. I am really hoping Miranda can play an average 3B.   We don't have any 3B prospects with Miranda's offensive ceiling.  Perhaps CES but he is starting his 1st season at high A so he has a long way to go.   Miranda and Lewis taking over the left side of the IF and playing to level we all hope for would be huge for the future of this team.  I am hoping for Lewis/Miranda holding down those spots by the start of next season.

[MN_ExPat]

On 4/20/2022 at 9:23 AM, Dman said:

Sands with one of those games that make me worried about him staying a starter.  I wonder if he is going to show up on the injured list as usually when he has one of these games something isn't quite right.  

You could say that about any starter who has a bad game ?‍♂️.  Sands has the prospect pedigree and body of work from the last couple of years to indicate that he should be totally fine going forward.

I was also watching the game on MiLB (at least the start... oi vey!) and while Sands looked like he was just "off" that night, I saw nothing to indicate that there was a problem going forward.

So we shall see I guess... Unfortunately I have to save the Magic 8 Ball mojo for my son's HS team (the first round of the playoffs start next week and this Friday's conference game will determine the conference champion).