Twins Minor League Report (4/24): Kernels and Surge Strike Large in Series Finales on Sunday

[Theo Tollefson]

The Twins had an exciting victory Sunday afternoon thanks to a Byron Buxton walk-off home run. The Twins minor-league affiliates did not have as exciting of wins but still provided entertaining baseball throughout the day. 

 

 TRANSACTIONS 

There were no transactions in the Twins minor leagues on Sunday. 

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 3, Toledo 8
Box Score
SP: Daniel Gossett - 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
HR: None
Multi hit games: Curtis Terry (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (9))

The Saints played their final game of a week-long series against the Toledo Mud Hens and came up short on a chance to split the six-game series Sunday losing 8-3 to the Mud Huns

The offense performed a bit better than they did in their 5-2 loss to the Mud Hens on Saturday. Curtis Terry led the Saints in hitting going two for four with four runs batted in Sunday, but only three other Saints hitters managed to get hits against the Mud Hens pitching. 

Daniel Gossett did not have the start he was hoping for on Sunday. Gossett made his shortest start of the season on Sunday only going two and a third innings but gave up a minimum number of runs for the season so far with only two. Cole Sands relieved Gossett but had his worst outing of the season so far. In one inning of relief, Sands gave up four hits, five earned runs and two walks which put the Mud Hens up 7-2 after four innings. 

The Saints will return home Tuesday for a two-week stretch playing their first series against the Milwaukee Brewers Triple AAA affiliate the Nashville Sounds for their next six games. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 10, Midland 7
Box Score
SP: Matt Canterino - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: Kevin Merrell (3)
Multi hit games: Kevin Merrell (2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI (8)), Michael Helman (3-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B (2), 2 RBI (11), SB (4), BB, K), Matt Wallner (2-4, R, 3 RBI (7), BB, K), Cole Sturgeon (2-4, RBI (13), K)

The Wind Surge faced tough back-to-back losses against the RockHounds Friday and Saturday and got revenge against them with a 10-7 win on Sunday.

The hitters came alive on Sunday, combining for 11 hits, nine walks, and two triples from Michael Helman and Edouard Julien. Helman was the hitter of the game for the Wind Surge on Sunday as he came a home run short of the cycle and did everything else a hitter could. Forest Lake native Matt Wallner saw his hitting game recover after struggling at the plate over the last week as well, going 2-for-4 and driving in three runs in the Wind Surge victory. 

Matt Canterino made his fourth start of the season for the Wind Surge and although he only faced the RockHounds lineup all the way through once, he was perfect in all three innings. Canterino made his second consecutive start of three-inning, perfect pitching Sunday and showed great resurgence with the Wind Surge. 

The Wind Surge will be making their second road trip of the season this week facing the Arkansas Travelers who currently hold a 8-7 record on the season. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 6, Peoria 4
Box Score
SP: Aaron Rozek 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: Anthony Prato (2)
Multi hit games: Anthony Prato (2-4, 2 R, HR, RBI (13)), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B (1), RBI (23) 2 K), Willie Joe Garry Jr. (2-4, R, 2 2B, RBI (3))

The Kernels finished up their first full homestand of the season against the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday taking five out of six games against the Chiefs. The Kernels stand at a High-A Midwest Division best record 12-3 now thanks to their hot bats

Christian Encarnacion-Strand led the lineup once again, nailing his first triple of the season and adding to his league-high runs batted in total which now stands at 23. Anthony Prato had another impressive game on Sunday as well going two for four with a home run and a couple of runs. Kernels left fielder Willie Joe Garry Jr. had his first offensive breakout for the season going two for four with a couple of doubles and an RBI. 

Aaron Rozek threw another impressive game on Sunday going five full innings and allowing only five base runners. Rozek did give up three runs in his start but still maintained the lead for the Kernels through five. 

The Kernels next series is on the road against the Beloit Sky Carp for another six-game stand and will be their second series against the Sky Carp for the season. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 2, Dunedin 3
Box Score
SP: Travis Adams 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR:  None
Multi hit games: Jesus Feliz (2-3, R, BB)

The Mighty Mussels completed their six game road trip to Dunedin with a 3-2 loss and series split against the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Mussels starter Travis Adams made another dominant five-inning start for his teammates going five innings, allowing only two base runners, both in the bottom of the first. After the rocky first inning, Adams kept the Blue Jays off the bases for the rest of his start. 

The Mussels offense was able to tie the game in the top of the third thanks to a Kyler Fedko sacrifice fly. The game remained scoreless thereafter until the top of the sixth when the Mussels took a two to one lead following a Daniel Ozoria single that scored Jake Rucker. 

Going into the ninth the Mussels held their 2-1 lead but Mussels reliever Samuel Perez was only able to record one out before giving up a ground-rule double to Blue Jays Angel Del Rosario that tied the game. Perez then gave up a single to Adriel Sotolongo that gave the Blue Jays the game-winning run and put the Mussels overall record to 10-5 on the season.

The Mussels will begin their next series on Tuesday night at home against the Phillies Single-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day –  Travis Adams (Ft. Myers) - 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Hitter of the Day – Michael Helman (Wichita) - 3-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B (2), 2 RBI (11), SB (4), BB, K

PROSPECT SUMMARY
We will again keep tabs on the Twins' top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. 

Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed:

#1 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 0-4, R, BB 
#2 - Royce Lewis (St. Paul) - 0-4, 2 K
#3 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - 1-3, 2 R, 2B, BB
#6 - Matt Canterino (Wichita) - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
#7 - Jhoan Duran (Minnesota) - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
#9 - Josh Winder (Minnesota) - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
#10 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - 1-3, R, BB, 2 K, 2 SB (5) 
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) - 0-1
#12 - Matt Wallner (Wichita) - 2-4, R, 3 RBI (7), BB, K
#13 - Cole Sands (St. Paul) - IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
#18 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 1-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 BB, K 
#19 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 1-4, 2 R, 3B (1), RBI (3), BB, 2 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
All Twins Minor League Affiliates are off on Monday and will resume their games on Tuesday, April 26. The only Monday in which there will be minor-league games is July 4th (and some for the Saints in September). 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s games as the second weekend of the Minor and Major League seasons has concluded.

 

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[PDX Twin]

I've seen a couple of Kernels' games this spring and have been very impressed by Prato. He seems to have a good bat and even memorably stole home once. I don't remember seeing a lot written about his as a prospect. Can Seth or someone else fill me in?

[Seth Stohs]

37 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

I've seen a couple of Kernels' games this spring and have been very impressed by Prato. He seems to have a good bat and even memorably stole home once. I don't remember seeing a lot written about his as a prospect. Can Seth or someone else fill me in?

7th round pick from UConn. Tools are not great, but he's got a solid all-around game. Few weaknesses. He started last year in Ft. Myers, but then he broke his hamate bone and missed 2+ months. When he came back, they sent him to Cedar Rapids. He can play around the field, three infield positions and some in the outfield too. 

[h2oface]

Wander Javier hitting .142 again in only High A still. Now 23. But he got 4 million in 2015. I don't think he is gonna make it. The class of 2015 is fun to look at now....

https://www.mlb.com/news/clubs-sign-top-july-2-international-prospects/c-134058394

[mikelink45]

Is there a reason that Canterino is only going three innings? Are they preparing them to be a relief pitcher or is something else going on

[2wins87]

36 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Is there a reason that Cantering is only going three innings? Are they preparing them to be a relief pitcher or is something else going on

Not sure how much work he got in during the 2020 covid year, but he only got 25 innings in 2019 and 23 innings last year.

He therefore has a pretty short innings limit this year and they are being very careful building him up slowly in the hopes of keeping him healthy.

[Bickle19]

15 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

7th round pick from UConn. Tools are not great, but he's got a solid all-around game. Few weaknesses. He started last year in Ft. Myers, but then he broke his hamate bone and missed 2+ months. When he came back, they sent him to Cedar Rapids. He can play around the field, three infield positions and some in the outfield too. 

Sounds like someone we traded away to San Francisco.

[jmlease1]

11 hours ago, h2oface said:

Wander Javier hitting .142 again in only High A still. Now 23. But he got 4 million in 2015. I don't think he is gonna make it. The class of 2015 is fun to look at now....

https://www.mlb.com/news/clubs-sign-top-july-2-international-prospects/c-134058394

He's not the only one. International draft can be a lottery.

Of the top 10 by signing bonus, only 4 have made the majors at all, and only one is on a star path (Vlad Guerrero Jr.). Three of them appear to be out of baseball. The next best two from that top 30 signing bonuses list are Juan Soto & Fernando Tatis Jr...and Tatis isn't with his original team. (Pretty sure the White Sox would like a do-over on THAT trade)

Celestino still looks like he can have a nice career as a 4th OF or maybe even a starting CF, so he's done ok.

[h2oface]

58 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

He's not the only one. International draft can be a lottery.

Of the top 10 by signing bonus, only 4 have made the majors at all, and only one is on a star path (Vlad Guerrero Jr.). Three of them appear to be out of baseball. The next best two from that top 30 signing bonuses list are Juan Soto & Fernando Tatis Jr...and Tatis isn't with his original team. (Pretty sure the White Sox would like a do-over on THAT trade)

Celestino still looks like he can have a nice career as a 4th OF or maybe even a starting CF, so he's done ok.

Celestino and Pache (who got some MLB time even in the 2020 playoffs) isn't with their original team either, which doesn't really matter - probably a lot more on that list aren't. I look at the class with awe, not that only 4 5 "made the majors at all" (I will go with that, as I am not going to check. I trust you did?) But I see Guerrero ($3.9 million), Tatis ($.7 million), and Soto ($1.5 million)..... that is a wow for me, and was fun to look at and share.

[cheeseheadgophfan]

20 hours ago, h2oface said:

Wander Javier hitting .142 again in only High A still. Now 23. But he got 4 million in 2015. I don't think he is gonna make it. The class of 2015 is fun to look at now....

https://www.mlb.com/news/clubs-sign-top-july-2-international-prospects/c-134058394

Just goes to show what a crap-shoot the draft/international signings are......Javier got more money than Vlad, Soto and Tatis.......oh what might have been!!!!!