Twins Minor League Report (7/12): Kernels Blowout Highlights Big Offensive Night

[Steve Lein]

The affiliates of the Minnesota Twins put up some impressive offensive numbers on Tuesday. But they also had a couple of their Top pitching prospects working. Find out how they did, and which teams were able to win. We'll give you one here. The Cedar Rapids Kernels became the first Midwest League team to win 50 games.

 

Minnesota Twins affiliates got a lot of hits on Tuesday night, and they went big with them as well. One of their opponents would have been happy if even half of the hits they allowed to the good guys went for singles, but instead, 80% of them went for extra bases in a blowout. Multiple hitters didn’t produce an out in their games, including one who collected four doubles in a breakout performance. There was even a walk-off home run, from a player who had done the same thing just days ago. This is all without even mentioning a pitcher by the name of Cade Povich, who would be the lead story for his performance on almost any other night... Heck, just keep reading, you’re not going to want to miss the action from Tuesday night!

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins send 3B Miguel Sano on a rehab assignment to the St. Paul Saints.
• The Wichita Wind Surge activated RHP Alex Phillips. Blayne Enlow and Jordan Gore placed on the Covid IL. 
• C Alex Rodriguez was assigned from the FCL Twins to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
• According to his twitter page, and some great artwork, RHP Ben Heller announced he had signed with the Twins. He pitched for the Yankees in 2020 and in 2021, he has a stress fracture in his elbow. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
Toledo 3, St. Paul 4 (suspended in the bottom of 2nd inning)
Box Score

While the Twins were able to keep their game going across the river in Minneapolis, the Saints didn’t have as much luck over in Lowertown St. Paul.

After taking a 4-3 lead on a two-RBI double from the rehabbing Miguel Sano, the game was delayed and not able to be resumed. It will be completed on Wednesday in full, and be followed by a regularly scheduled seven-inning contest.

Cole Sands made the start and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in his two innings, though he did strike out four.

Mark Contreras and John Andreoli had contributed doubles, and Michael Helman had slugged his fifth home run with the Saints before play was stopped.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Arkansas 8, Wichita 10
Box Score

After building a big lead early, the Wind Surge risked squandering a solid effort from right-hander Louie Varland late at home on Tuesday against the Travelers.

They built an 8-1 lead after four innings, largely behind the bat of outfielder DeShawn Keirsey Jr. His first double in the second inning got them on the board, and he would score their second run on an RBI single from Anthony Prato. His second double of the game in the third inning plated two more runs, and he’d eventually score from third when Matt Wallner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that made the score 7-1. They pushed it to 8-1 in the fourth after a single from Keirsey Jr. loaded the bases, and Prato followed up with another RBI single.

Varland was solid through his first five innings, scattering four hits and one walk, but finally got into trouble he couldn’t overcome in the sixth. Three consecutive singles and a walk put an end to his game after 5 1/3 innings pitched. His final line included three earned runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out four. 

Alex Scherff got the Wind Surge out of the sixth inning without allowing another run, but the Travelers jumped on him in the seventh. A pair of walks, two doubles, and a grand slam brought Bryan Sammons out from the bullpen, and he allowed a double of his own that ended up tying the game at eight. Sammons was able to pitch a one-two-three eighth inning to keep the game tied, but the offense had gone cold since the fourth. 

Besides Keirsey Jr., that is. He tacked on doubles in each of the sixth and eighth innings, giving him four on the game, but his teammates weren’t able to get on base in front of him or drive him in after.

Alex Phillips struck out two in a perfect ninth inning, and after the Wind Surge went down in similar fashion the game went to extras, where Osiris German was tabbed. He got a strikeout before allowing an infield single but was able to induce an unassisted double-play liner to first baseman Chris Williams to keep the game knotted at eight. 

In the bottom half, Andrew Bechtold wasted little time, taking the second pitch of his leadoff at-bat into the bullpen in right-center, for his 11th home run of the year, and the walk-off exclamation win. It was his second walk-off homer in less that a week.

The Wind Surge finished the game with fifteen hits, led by Keirsey Jr’s 5-for-5 game that included four doubles, two runs scored, three RBI, and his 24th stolen base of the season. Edouard Julien (2-for-5, R, BB, 2 K), Bechtold (2-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K), and Prato (3-for-5, 2 RBI) also had multiple hits in the win.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 11, Beloit 0
Box Score

Rather than ramble on-and-on about how thoroughly the Cedar Rapids Kernels took care of former Twins affiliate Beloit tonight, I’ll just give you my watching-the-game-Tweet-synopsis: 

The Kernels ended the game with 15 hits, and 12 were for extra-bases. 

Kyler Fedko and Jake Rucker each had two doubles. Jeferson Morales had a double and a triple. Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Wander Javier each had a double and a home run. In fact, the only hitters in the lineup to not collect an XBH, were third baseman Seth Gray and catcher Pat Winkel. 

Encarnacion-Strand and Javier each drove in three runs, and CES’s home run was remarked on the broadcast as being one of the longest balls hit in Beloit on the season as it exited the stadium over the bullpen in left field. 

While the offensive onslaught was more than impressive, it also shouldn’t overshadow the starting pitching effort from left-hander Cade Povich.

He picked up an easy win, his sixth of the season, by completing six scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits, walked one, and struck out 10 Sky Carp hitters on the night. He was in command all game, with 59 of his 88 pitches going for strikes (67%), including an eye-popping 18 swinging strikes. While his last outing wasn’t the greatest in the end result, combined with this one he has struck out 21 hitters in his last 11 innings pitched and has a K-rate of 12.5/9IP on the season.

Derek Molina was also impressive out of the bullpen for two innings, retiring every hitter he faced, including four strikeouts of his own. Matt Mullenbach finished the game for the Kernels with one-two-three ninth, making sure to end the pain as quickly as possible for the home team.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Clearwater 5, Fort Myers 9
Box Score

Both teams scored runs in each of the first three innings of this game, but the Mighty Mussels were the only ones to put up crooked numbers and jumped out to a big lead.

Starting pitcher Travis Adams worked hard to get through 4 2/3 innings, allowing four total runs working into the fifth inning. He allowed six hits, walked two, and struck out one. Samuel Perez got the final out of the fifth and worked a scoreless sixth, allowing a run of his own on a homer, and striking out one.

Despite that, Fort Myers was always out front thanks to their offense. Misael Urbina led off the game for the home team with a single, and would later score on an RBI groundout from Kala’i Rosario. Mikey Perez followed that with a double to score Noah Miller, who had drawn a walk, and it was 2-1 after one.

In the second frame, Nelson Roberto delivered an RBI triple and was followed by a sac fly from Urbina that made it 4-2. In the third Rosario led off the inning with a home run, then four consecutive hitters reached base, with Carlos Aguiar’s double driving in two more that made the score 7-3. Aguiar made it 8-5 with a home run of his own in the fifth, before Urbina reached on an error to lead off the sixth, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild-pitch to account for all the Mighty Mussels' scoring.

Jordan Carr finished off the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to be credited with the win.

Aguiar led the offense with his big 4-for-4 night. He scored two runs, stole a base, and drove in three. Miller (2-for-4, R, BB, K, SB) and Rosario (2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K) also joined him with multi-hit games. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 4, FCL Pirates 5
Box Score

Down in the Florida Complex League, the FCL Twins made a late rally and had the tying run just 90 feet away, but fell short on the road against the FCL Pirates.

Juan Rojas took the mound to start the game for the Twins and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in his four innings. Highly notable, however, was that of his 12 outs recorded, a whopping 10 of them came on strikeouts, including the first six hitters of the game, and eight of the first nine. He likely wore down a little, as both of his runs and three of his hits allowed, came in his final inning. But that’s a nice game to hold your hat on for the 18-year-old lefty from Venezuela who was a standout in the DSL last season.

Francis Peguero notched a scoreless inning in the fifth, allowing one hit and striking out one. He was followed by Develson Aria who went the final three innings, allowing three runs in the sixth, but recovered to throw scoreless frames in his final two. 

The Twins got on the board in the sixth inning thanks to an error after Danny De Andrade and Ricardo Olivar reached base by a hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively, to start it. Down 5-9 in the ninth, Fredy Michel got a one-out rally started by drawing a walk, and was followed by singles from Yonardy Soto and De Andrade to bring him home. Alexander Pena then drove them both in with a triple that made it 5-4, but Andres Centeno went down swinging to end the game.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Twins 7, DSL Angels 5
Box Score

The DSL Twins used two big innings, including a four-run ninth, to overcome the Angels and pick up the win on Tuesday.

In the fifth inning, they took advantage of poor defense and wild pitches to score their first runs of the game. After Anderson Nova led off the inning with a single, three consecutive errors and a pair of wild pitches led to three runs and the lead for the Twins.

Miguel Olivares made the start and went five strong innings. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk, while striking out five. In 21 1/3 innings on the year, Olivares owns a 2.11 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and has struck out 25.

Leonardo Lugo was charged with a blown save in his 2 1/3 innings, allowing the Angels to retake the lead with two runs allowed on three hits (including a home run) and three walks. He struck out one. Jose Brito picked up the win by finishing the final 1 2/3, allowing one run on two hits and a walk, while picking up two K’s.

Down 4-3 heading into the ninth, the Twins again took advantage of poor defense. Bryan Acuna led off with a single, then two more errors allowed him to score. A walk and a sac fly later, and the Twins had the lead again, but Luis Rodriguez also tacked on some insurance runs with a two-RBI single to close the scoring.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day - Cade Povich, Cedar Rapids Kernels (W, 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 10 K)
Hitter of the Day - Carlos Aguiar, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (4-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)
DeShawn Keirsey Jr, Wichita Wind Surge (5-for-5, 2 R, 4 2B, 3 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#8 - Noah Miller (Fort Myers) - 2-for-4, R, BB, K, SB (18)
#10 - Cade Povich (Cedar Rapids) - W, 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 10 K
#11 - Louie Varland (Wichita) - 5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
#12 - Matt Wallner (Wichita) - 0-for-4, RBI, BB, HBP, 3 K
#15 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 2-for-5, R, BB, 2 K
#16 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, R, 2B, HR (19), 3 RBI
#17 - Cole Sands (St. Paul) - 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (game suspended) 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Toledo @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CDT) - RHP Ronny Henriquez (1-3, 6.15 ERA)
Arkansas @ Wichita (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-4, 7.54 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:35 PM CDT) - TBD
Clearwater @ Fort Myers (11:00 AM CDT) - RHP Jaylen Nowlin (3-3, 4.78 ERA)
DSL Twins @ DSL Nationals (10:00 AM CDT) - TBD

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

 

 

 

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[Dman]

I just mentioned the other day that Povich needed to be more consistent.  Walk fewer guys and give up fewer hits.  I guess he must have read my post or maybe just wanted to shut me up.  At any rate that was a heck of a performance and I am back on the bandwagon again.  When he is on he is one awesome pitcher.

Too many good hitting performances to comment on all of them but wanted to say Carlos Aquiar had a big night for Fort Myers going 4 for 4 with a HR. He is listed as a center fielder but not sure what kind of speed he has. If he can stick in center he is one to watch as he has power and seems like he can hit.  He is aggressive at the plate right now and a very SSS but someone to dream on if he can stick in center as the Twins don't have a ton of depth there.

Also nice to see Urbina back and am hoping for good things with the bat from him as well.

A very good night on the farm for lot's of players hope these young guys can keep it going.

[roger]

Will second Dman's comment about seeing Urbina back on the field and hitting well.  With all the talk about catchers, or lack thereof in the organization, great seeing Olivar get another hit and a walk.  Kid seems like he could have a good bat, although he is a long ways off.

Will also second Dman's comment about Povich.  Expect nearly every team in baseball needs more pitching, hopefully, this kid will be part of a future Twins rotation.  Unfortunately, he can't get to Target Field soon enough.

Is Wander Javier hitting better of late?  Seem to see his name mentioned more often with multi-hit nights and/or a home run or some other good mention about his bat.  The little I have seen of him defensively, he looks solid at short.  Is there still a chance for this kid?

[Dman]

8 minutes ago, roger said:

Is Wander Javier hitting better of late?  Seem to see his name mentioned more often with multi-hit nights and/or a home run or some other good mention about his bat.  The little I have seen of him defensively, he looks solid at short.  Is there still a chance for this kid?

Have you looked at Wander Javier's splits for June and July?  June .278/.374/.506 so far in July .333/.447/.600.  I know you have always been a believer and right now he looks like the player everyone hoped he could be.  Good batting average. Very nice OBP.  Hitting for power and supposedly plays good defense.  He is slightly old for the level right now but if he keeps this up he still has a chance to be a difference maker type of player.  AA is the real test but those are very encouraging numbers the last two months.  He still needs to remain consistent and hold those numbers but maybe just maybe he is a late bloomer that eventually puts it all together.

[DJL44]

49 minutes ago, roger said:

Is Wander Javier hitting better of late?  

.966 OPS in his last 28 days. He might be ready for a new challenge after spending every summer since 2019 in Cedar Rapids.

[Major League Ready]

What do you think .... Does Cade Povich have the highest ceiling among our SP prospects? 

Will CES be able to stick at 3B? 

Is Javier breaking out or is this a 6 week hot streak?

[roger]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Have you looked at Wander Javier's splits for June and July?  June .278/.374/.506 so far in July .333/.447/.600.  I know you have always been a believer and right now he looks like the player everyone hoped he could be.  Good batting average. Very nice OBP.  Hitting for power and supposedly plays good defense.  He is slightly old for the level right now but if he keeps this up he still has a chance to be a difference maker type of player.  AA is the real test but those are very encouraging numbers the last two months.  He still needs to remain consistent and hold those numbers but maybe just maybe he is a late bloomer that eventually puts it all together.

I think to call me a believer may be a bit strong as my view has changed to more hope that he can still make it.  Has he been available for the Rule 5 draft the past two years?  Or is it three?  Expect he will be a minor league free agent at year's end, if not last year.  Would love to see the kid find some success and for the Twins to get something in return for their $4.1M investment.

[Steve Lein]

13 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

What do you think .... Does Cade Povich have the highest ceiling among our SP prospects? 

Will CES be able to stick at 3B? 

Is Javier breaking out or is this a 6 week hot streak?

Being a lefty is a big help for Povich, but I don't think I'd put his ceiling at the top of the Twins SP prospects. Doesn't mean he can't end up being the best of them, but the pure "stuff" isn't necessarily on the level of others. He's a good strike-thrower though, too, which can make lesser stuff play up.

For CES at 3B, I'd say his glove definitely needs to do some catching up to his bat to stick there.

I'd move Javier up soon and see what happens. He's been around forever and might as well find out which it is.

[DJL44]

I still think Canterino might be the highest ceiling but he's also a huge injury risk.

[puckstopper1]

GREAT outing for Povich!  Hope the kid can keep it up.

Sands on the other hand...  ☹️

[Seth Stohs]

2 hours ago, Dman said:

Too many good hitting performances to comment on all of them but wanted to say Carlos Aquiar had a big night for Fort Myers going 4 for 4 with a HR. He is listed as a center fielder but not sure what kind of speed he has. If he can stick in center he is one to watch as he has power and seems like he can hit.  He is aggressive at the plate right now and a very SSS but someone to dream on if he can stick in center as the Twins don't have a ton of depth there.

Also nice to see Urbina back and am hoping for good things with the bat from him as well.

Aguiar is a big dude... definitely a corner guy. 

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Seth Stohs said:

Aguiar is a big dude... definitely a corner guy. 

Bummer.  Thanks for the info!  Wonder why they have CF as his position on the MiLB page?

 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

What do you think .... Does Cade Povich have the highest ceiling among our SP prospects? 

Will CES be able to stick at 3B? 

Is Javier breaking out or is this a 6 week hot streak?

Povich's 'ceiling' is right there with Balazovic, Canterino, Raya, etc. Great stuff. Competitive. Lefthanded. 

CES - He'll have to put in some work to stick at third. If he does, he can. If he isn't able to improve, then nope. 

Probably a hot streak, but we can hope. 

[2wins87]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

What do you think .... Does Cade Povich have the highest ceiling among our SP prospects? 

Will CES be able to stick at 3B? 

Is Javier breaking out or is this a 6 week hot streak?

Povich doesn't have the highest ceiling.  He's got a solid floor though.  As a lefty that can get into the mid 90s, it seems like he ought to be valuable as a reliever at the very least, though it certainly looks like he could be a solid mid rotation starter too.

For highest ceiling I'd probably still go with Canterino, if he can ever stay healthy.  He has a great starter's mix, which makes it hard to give up on him potentially being a starter.  But since he hasn't stayed healthy, odds are he will end up in the bullpen.

I'd also take Festa for ceiling over Povich.  He's been sitting mid to upper 90's as a starter and easily puts away high A hitters with both his slider and change up.  I'm looking forward to seeing how those pitches hold up against AA hitters.

 

CES sticking at 3B is probably still doubtful, but that's no reason not to keep giving him reps there.

 

Javier has been hitting quite well for over a month now.  Given how long it's taken him to get here though, he's now older than his average competition and he still has a ways to go.  By all means give him a challenge at AA, but when the 40-man roster crunch comes at the end of the season, it still seems very unlikely he'll be among those that need to be protected.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Bummer.  Thanks for the info!  Wonder why they have CF as his position on the MiLB page?

Why is Sano listed as a 3B?

[Dman]

7 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Why is Sano listed as a 3B?

I don't believe he is.  His MiLB page is below.

 

[Rosterman]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

.966 OPS in his last 28 days. He might be ready for a new challenge after spending every summer since 2019 in Cedar Rapids.

Unfortunately, they DO have to find a 40-man roster spot for him as he can walk from the Twins as a minor league free agent. Is he an option in the shortstop situation? DO the Twins keep Palacios and Beckham if Corea is gone for sure?

[Rosterman]

BEN HELLER!?

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=heller000ben

Sometimes wish the Twins would actually spend more time trading pieces and working towards fixing any holes in the system (and major league roster) for real than signing cast-offs.

Yes, there is sometimes gold to be found, but still............

Hope BEN can comeback, stronger than ever. The Ft. Myers fountain of wonder waters may only be a myth, though.

[DJL44]

34 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Unfortunately, they DO have to find a 40-man roster spot for him as he can walk from the Twins as a minor league free agent. Is he an option in the shortstop situation? DO the Twins keep Palacios and Beckham if Corea is gone for sure?

There are 60 other shortstops in AA and AAA. Is Wander Javier the best one who won't be on a 40 man roster? Probably not.

[DocBauer]

Lots of great days in the system, but...

1] Povich. WOW!

2] Javier, wouldn't it be something after the injuries and the setbacks if his last 2 months are for real and he's actually turning a corner? I think he needs to finish 2022 a level up to see if the trend is real.