Minor League Report (7/30): Edouard Julien Goes Nuclear

[Matt Braun]

The Twins received some outstanding hitting performances in the minors, Edouard Julien and Christian Encarnacion-Strand teamed up to do major damage, and Cole Sands overpowered his opponents. Read all about that and more in this edition of the minor league report.

TRANSACTIONS
OF Kennie Taylor placed on 7-day IL
INF Tim Beckham contract selected by Minnesota
OF Mark Contreras recalled by Minnesota  

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 7, Iowa 1
Box Score
Cole Sands: 5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Braden Bishop (2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI)

St. Paul smoked Iowa on Saturday.

Cole Sands did the darn thing, pitching five quality innings with a single earned run, and seven punched tickets; that’s the kind of effort that could earn him a promotion back to the majors. Until then, Sands can bask in a great start.

St. Paul’s bats only scored in one inning, but they made it count; a seven-run 2nd frame drowned Iowa for good. It was a classic gang-up; Braden Bishop, Jake Cave, Jermaine Palacios, and Roy Morales all obtained RBIs for their work in aiding the scoring. 

Old, uhhh, acquaintance Andrelton Simmons struck out three times in four tries for the Iowa Cubs.

Daniel Gossett, Brad Peacock, Evan Sisk, and Drew Strotman combined for four shutout innings with six strikeouts. At least one of those arms will probably be on the Twins soon.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 11, NW Arkansas 3
Box Score
Brent Headrick: 4 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
HR: Edouard Julien 2 (11, 12), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (5)
Multi-hit games: Edouard Julien (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI), Jair Camargo (2-for-4), Cole Sturgeon (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB)

The Wind Surge bludgeoned their opponent on Saturday.

It all began where you would expect: at the top of the lineup. Edouard Julien, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Jair Camargo all had multiple hits; Julien cleaned up four RBIs and scored three runs, charged largely by two home runs. Wichita did dabble in democracy, as every batter contributed at least one hit towards a 14-hit total.

The pitchers established order early; Brent Headrick allowed no hits but does have an earned run on his ledger as the scored run reached base off a walk. You don’t see that every day. Cody Laweryson was even more effective, punching our four batters over two clean innings of relief. 

Wichita netted seven extra-base hits; NW Arkansas had three hits total.

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 7
Box Score
Travis Adams: 3 1/3 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
HR: Yunior Severino (9), Aaron Sabato (14)
Multi-hit games: Alerick Soularie (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI)

Cedar Rapids lost a close game on Saturday.

Travis Adams couldn’t find a break; Wisconsin touched up the righty for seven runs, with four coming via the “earned” variety. A first-inning three-run homer following an error was the culprit.

Cedar Rapids struck early as well; their bats plated six runs across the first two frames in support of Adams. Yunior Severino continued a truly blistering July with a two-run homer; Alerick Soularie then doubled home another run in the following inning. Aaron Sabato, always sure to never miss out on the fun, blasted a two-run home run to conclude the Kernels’ onslaught.

While Cedar Rapids’ bats receded following their early-game attack, the arms established order; Ryan Shreve, Jon Olsen, and Hunter McMahon combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings with seven punch outs.

Mussel Matters
Game one: Fort Myers 2, Tampa 5 (7 innings)
Box Score
Steve Hajjar: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Mighty Mussels were quiet in game one on Saturday.

Steve Hajjar commanded the ball, striking out eight batters against no walks; two home runs proved to be his earned-run downfall. This was Hajjar’s second start since returning from the IL, and it was his longest; rain capped his previous outing to two outs.

Fort Myers’ offense struggled to match Tampa’s offense; just three batters gained a hit, and three other ones walked, but the team could only plate a pair of runs. Noah Miller slugged a double—a notable event given his recent power struggle—while Misael Urbina also doubles—a notable event as Urbina has smashed the ball since returning.

Game two: Fort Myers 4, Tampa 2
Box Score
Mike Paredes: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: Nelson Roberto (3), Mikey Perez (8)
Multi-hit games: Mikey Perez (2-for-3, HR, 2 R, RBI)

Fort Myers returned the gesture in game two.

Mike Paredes established the tone, allowing two measly runs over six efficient innings. Paredes is an easy name to overlook, but he holds a 2.19 ERA on the season; that has to count for something.

Mikey Perez lead the offensive in this effort; the speedy infielder blasted his eighth homer while also stealing his 32nd base. Outside of a Nelson Roberto homer, the offense remained quiet, but they could afford to; Perez’s outburst ensured they would not require more runs to win.

Juan Mendez struck out the side to end the game.

Complex Chronicles
FCL Twins 2, FCL Red Sox 3 (11 innings)
Box Score
Matt Canterino: 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The FCL Twins lost a slim affair.

Matt Canterino returned to the mound for the second time since his rehab assignment began earlier in the week. The righty worked five outs with three strikeouts and one run allowed.

Offense evaded the FCL Twins all day; the team netted two hits with a lone RBI and four walks in the game. Fredy Michel stole his 11th base on the season.

Dominican Dailies
DSL Twins 5, DSL Rockies 0
Box Score
Cesar Lares: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The DSL Twins shut out the DSL Rockies on Saturday.

The game was an example of poor defense dominating the lower minors; the DSL Rockies allowed two unearned runs off four misplays in nine innings. Yasser Mercedes stole his 17th base of the season; Yasser Mercedes has played 28 games.

Cesar Lares continued his impressive start to professional baseball; the lefty fanned four batters over four innings with no earned runs. Lares now owns a 2.43 ERA.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Cole Sands
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Edouard Julien, 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#5 - Matt Canterino (Rehab) - 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
#6 - Spencer Steer (St. Paul) - 0-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K
#8 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, K
#12 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 0-4, BB, 2 K
#15 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI
#16 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Wichita) - 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
#17 - Cole Sands (St. Paul) - 5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
#19 - Steve Hajjar (Ft. Myers) - 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Iowa @ St. Paul (2:07 PM) - RHP Ariel Jurado
NW Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 PM) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:10 PM) - TBD
Tampa @ Fort Myers (12:00 PM) - TBD

 

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[D.C Twins]

Sands up and into the MLB bullpen please!

[FlyingFinn]

Most guys seem to struggle for a while when they get moved up. Adams moved up and gets blasted. Headrick pitched well tonight but was hit hard in his first game. Gipson-Long, same thing. The bats are no different - Wallner off to a slow start the Saints. Being called up to the Twins can result in the same thing - Miranda, Kirilloff, Larnach all struggled (though Larnach had a short spurt of success first).

ECS and Steer seem to be the exceptions to struggling when moving up. 

Makes me wonder if the Twins have to be patient with guys like Cano and Moran. Tough to let them fail too much though with the playoff hopes we have.

[Seth Stohs]

29 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Most guys seem to struggle for a while when they get moved up. Adams moved up and gets blasted. Headrick pitched well tonight but was hit hard in his first game. Gipson-Long, same thing. The bats are no different - Wallner off to a slow start the Saints. Being called up to the Twins can result in the same thing - Miranda, Kirilloff, Larnach all struggled (though Larnach had a short spurt of success first).

ECS and Steer seem to be the exceptions to struggling when moving up. 

Makes me wonder if the Twins have to be patient with guys like Cano and Moran. Tough to let them fail too much though with the playoff hopes we have.

Every level is a step up, and adjustments need to be made. It's also good to see how a player responds to struggles. 

And they absolutely should be patient with Cano and especially Moran. Both can be 4-5 year relievers. 

[HrbieFan]

Beckham and Conteras to the big club? Did I miss an injury or do we have a trade in the works? Hopefully we DFA Sano soon 

[roger]

23 minutes ago, HrbieFan said:

Beckham and Conteras to the big club? Did I miss an injury or do we have a trade in the works? Hopefully we DFA Sano soon 

Yes, you missed an injury.  Sano’s knee is bad and Kep’s toe is broken.  Will we ever see Sano again?

[roger]

So good seeing Beckham rewarded for his hitting at St. Paul.

Is Severino hitting his way onto the Twins 40-man come November?  Or is he hitting his way to another team before Tuesday?

Amazing seeing five guys hitting over .300 in the DSL.  And a sixth at .299, with Acuna headed there with his hot bat in July.

[jmlease1]

10 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Sands up and into the MLB bullpen please!

eh. Sands was awful in his first stint with the Twins and hasn't exactly set the world on fire in AAA. I'm not all that excited by this latest start: he kept runs off the board, but still gave up too many baserunners (7 hits and a BB in 5 innings ain't great). He'll need to do better before I'm going to get excited about his return. He's got talent and can hunt Ks, but he can't have a WHIP like this and expect to have success.

Julien and CES are doing great. Have to wonder if one of them might get moved in a deadline deal, though.

How is Alex Isola doing? He's been hitting very well since joining Wichita but is he going to be able to stick at catcher? I'd be awfully happy if he can keep developing back there and be a real option next year as catching depth.

Sabato is going to need a lot more games like this before I start taking him seriously as a prospect again. He's been very disappointing.

Will Canterino ever stay healthy? So much talent. So few innings. Gotta make you wonder if you should ever draft a pitcher from Rice, seems like they always break down. 

[RJA]

I love Steer and Julien, but frankly, if I had to choose, I would prefer we trade Steer and hang on to Julien.  I think that kid is going to be special--OBP of .430, 12 homers, 62 walks versus 79 strikeouts.  He has improved every year and is having a breakout year this year.  With Kirilloff's continuing wrist issues, and Larnach and Lewis injured, I suspect one of these two, and maybe Wallner or CES, will be on the move if the Twins make a trade.  

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Anyone know what Lee and Prilipp's MiLB timelines are?

When might they make their debuts?

[se7799]

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