Twins Minor League Report (4/28): Mack Attack Keeps Kernels Rolling

[Ted Schwerzler]

Tonight didn't have a ton of offense on the Minnesota Twins farm, but Simeon Wood-Richardson shut things down as much as Charles Mack opened them up. There was still three winning affiliates and that's a good night any day of the week.

 

SAINTS SENTINEL 
Nashville 6, St. Paul 2
Box Score

Minnesota acquired Ronny Henriquez in the Mitch Garver trade with the Texas Rangers and tonight he worked as the St. Paul Saints starter. Lasting just 2 2/3 innings, Henriquez gave up four earned runs on three hits and four walks. Two big flies were sent out of the park against him.

Brewers star prospect Brice Turang opened the scoring with a first-inning bomb before Nashville extended things to a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Jake Cave put the Saints on the board with an RBI single scoring Royce Lewis in the bottom half but the three-run deficit is as close as they’d cut it.

After giving up another Sounds run on a Jon Singleton homer in the 5th inning, St. Paul drew within three again on a Derek Fisher 6th inning double. Jose Miranda scored but Curtis Terry was thrown out at third base on the play.

The deficit was pushed back to four after the second Weston Wilson home run of the game in the 8th inning and that’s where things wound up.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, Arkansas 0
Box Score

Stud pitching prospect Simeon Woods-Richardson was on the bump tonight for the Wind Surge. Working five scoreless innings, he’s now recorded 21 2/3 scoreless innings to start the season. He punched out four while walking three and owns an 18/7 K/BB thus far. After a weird season with an Olympics break thrown in, he looks like an incredible addition from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Arkansas stifled the Wind Surge offense for the most part as well. Only four Wichita hits were recorded and single runs came in the 4th and 8th innings. Cole Sturgeon scored the first run on an Andrew Bechtold ground out while Spencer Steer was plated on a Michael Helman single.

In a game that was largely devoid of offense, Wichita produced when needed.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 0
Box Score

Looking for continued dominance the Cedar Rapids Kernels gave the ball to Brent Headrick tonight and he handled business. Working five scoreless innings, Headrick allowed just three hits while punching out seven and giving up no free passes. The bullpen came on to shut it down and preserve a shutout as the Kernels improved to a staggering 15-3 on the year.

On the offensive side of things, the Kernels were largely held in check. Only two batters recorded base hits prior to the final frame. In the 9th inning Jeferson Morales started things off with a single before advancing to 2nd base on a wild pitch. Wander Javier then drew a walk before a Charles Mack double drove in two.

The Kernels closed things out in the bottom half and it’s been nothing short of an amazing start to the season.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 3, Clearwater 2
Box Score

John Stankiewicz has been nothing short of dominant to start 2022 for the Mighty Mussels and he continued that streak tonight. Working 5 2/3 innings, the Fort Myers hurler gave up just a single unearned run on five hits. Stankiewicz also added three strikeouts with just one walk while lowering his season ERA to 0.83.

After getting behind in the first inning, Fort Myers remained resilient and broke through in the 5th inning. A Jesus Feliz double drove in Noah Cardenas before Kala’i Rosario left the building for his second big fly of the season.

Although Clearwater came within on during the bottom of the 7th inning, that’s as close as they’d get in this one.

Cardenas was the lone Mighty Mussels batter to record a two-hit night, and he’s pushed his season OPS to .843. Mike Paredes worked 2 1/3 innings of relief for Stankiewicz allowing just a single run on four hits while recording five strikeouts and allowing no free passes. Matthew Swain then came on to close it out in the 9th inning.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Simeon Woods-Richardson (Wichita) 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Hitter of the Day – Charles Mack (Cedar Rapids) 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B

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:

#2 - Royce Lewis (St. Paul) - 1-4, R, K
#3 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - 1-4, R
#4 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - IL
#8 - Simeon Woods Richardson (Wichita) - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
#10 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - 1-3, BB, K
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) - 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B
#12 - Matt Wallner (Wichita) - 0-2, 2 BB, K
#15 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, 2 K
#16 - Ronny Hendriquez (St. Paul) - 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, K
#18 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 1-3, R, 2B
#19 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 0-5, 3 K
 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Nashville @ St. Paul (6:37PM CST) - RHP Chi-Chi Gonzalez
Wichita @ Arkansas (7:05PM CST) - RHP Matt Canterino
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35PM CST) - RHP Sean Mooney
Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - RHP David Festa

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! It sure is exciting to have all four Twins full-season affiliates back and playing.

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[Dman]

OK so a while back I pointed out that Christian Encarnation-Strand didn't seem able to take a walk and he walked 3 times tonight.  If he combines plate discipline plus his amazing contact rate this guy just might be a super star.  I don't know how teams will keep him off the bases.  This guy is amazing for a 4th round pick.  I know I was down on the pick when the Twins made it but holy cow this guy is good.

SWR still not getting as many K's but a 0.0 ERA this late in the season.  I don't think I have ever seen that before.  21 at AA this guy is going to need to move up.  It just doesn't make sense how he could improve this much from last year to this year.  He couldn't throw a strike at the end of last year.  Now he doesn't give up any runs.  I don't get it.

I  kind of hope they move Stankewicz up early.  He is older for A ball and dominating.  Would be nice to see them move him a little faster.

Oh can't forget Headrick. Only 3 hits, no walks and 7 K's in 5 innings.  If he can keep that up I see lefty reliever in his future.

Mack continues to mash.  He seems to have found his stroke.  He could be a riser in the system will just have to wait and see.

 

[AKTwins]

My question on Encarnacion-Strand is whether the walks are plate discipline or high A pitchers won’t pitch to him any more.  Regardless I think he needs to be promoted.  Steer can go to Saint Paul.  With Miranda in the wings I don’t Steer will be an everyday 3B.  I thought he was looked at as more of a utility type.  In Saint Paul he could play 2B and maybe some LF.  He could play 3B when Miranda plays another spot, DHs or is called up.

Edited April 29, 2022 by AKTwins
Typo

[wsnydes]

Great to see SWR continue to roll.  That's quite the streak he's got going.

[RJA]

I agree with Dman about Encarnacion-Strand.  If he improves his plate discipline, he will see a lot more good pitches to hit and could do some real damage.  I think I would move him up once he shows that his plate discipline is for real.  He has 5 walks in the past two games with no strikeouts.  If this continues, move him up as he has killed pitching at Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids.  As a former college player, I think you can push him a little faster.

I have been a fan of Contreras, but boy has he fallen off the log.  I am not sure what the issue is but he has not looked comfortable at the plate.  

[roger]

With the Twins rather thin behind the plate, what are reports about Mack's catching abilities?  Sure seems like his bat is coming around.  Interesting move from third base, had he done some catching while in high school?

Love the start SWR is having this spring, but is anyone else concerned with the number of walks and less than 60% strikes?

Thanks for the report, Ted.

[Seth Stohs]

36 minutes ago, roger said:

With the Twins rather thin behind the plate, what are reports about Mack's catching abilities?  Sure seems like his bat is coming around.  Interesting move from third base, had he done some catching while in high school?

Love the start SWR is having this spring, but is anyone else concerned with the number of walks and less than 60% strikes?

Thanks for the report, Ted.

Yeah, Mack played 3B and 2B his first two seasons. Obviously he hasn't been catching for long, but this is his second season of catching. I've heard good things, but I don't know what the numbers would indicate. He's a good athlete for a catcher, strong arm. Obviously his brother has been catching all along. That's part of why he was a 1st round pick last year. But Charles is a good athlete. And, his bat has always been intriguing. Always interesting to see how guys from northern state develop. I think it's fair to assume it might just take a little longer, and that's OK. 

[Steve Lein]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Love the start SWR is having this spring, but is anyone else concerned with the number of walks and less than 60% strikes?

His starts have been:

79 pitches/49 strikes, 62% (5 IP, 3 BB, 4 K)
64/45, 70% (6 IP, 0 BB, 6 K)
81/50, 62% (5 IP, 2 BB, 3 K)
65/46, 71% (5.2 IP, 2 BB, 5 K)

So no, I am not at all concerned about this idea as he hasn't had a single game under 60% yet and has actually been very efficient with his pitches, overall. I've watched a few of these games as well, and he's rising on my own prospect list because of that, to the point he's going to be my top rated pitcher as soon as someone graduates from said list during his next MLB start...

[Trov]

Woods-Richardson could work on that K-walk ratio, but you cannot argue with the fact he has not give up a run this year.  If he can continue this he should be up to St. Paul later this year and if needed make a start or two for big club.  Hopefully he will not be needed, unless he just forces the hand.  With how our rotation is looking and how both guys we got for Berrios, I am saying the trade is a win for us so far.  Still very early to tell, but Berrios is not doing anything too amazing that you would say he should be starting over any of our current starters. 

[jmlease1]

19 hours ago, Dman said:

SWR still not getting as many K's but a 0.0 ERA this late in the season.  I don't think I have ever seen that before.  21 at AA this guy is going to need to move up.  It just doesn't make sense how he could improve this much from last year to this year.  He couldn't throw a strike at the end of last year.  Now he doesn't give up any runs.  I don't get it.

 

I really think the way he's gotten bounced around and missed so much time to factors other than injury screwed up his development badly. (no games to pitch in 2020, Olympics in 2021 where he didn't get to pitch, traded again) He'd shown the talent in his one season in A-ball, but when the Jays bumped him up to AA-ball after the year layoff I'm betting it messed with him. Twins have played it smart with SWR, focusing on getting him right last year rather than rush him back with a bunch of innings, and letting him repeat the level this year. Now he's pitching with confidence and letting his talent and skill shine.

Just keep getting the starts, SWR. Midseason promotion to AAA, maybe, and line him up to compete for a rotation slot in 2023. I really think the Jays sold low on him, and I'm really happy he didn't get dropped into a package this offseason. I think he's a winner.