Minor League Recap (8/19): No-Hitter, No Problems

[Lucas Seehafer PT]

Wichita's Daniel Gossett tossed a no-no, while the Saints, Wind Surge, and Mighty Mussels all picked up wins.

TRANSACTIONS

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SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3
Box Score

Louie Varland had yet another solid outing for the Saints on Friday, striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Although he did surrender seven hits and three runs—only two earned—the RailRiders struggled to make consistent hard contact. 

Varland has now struck out 15 batters and walked two in 11 Triple-A innings. While two starts hardly provides definitive proof for upcoming sustained success, Varland’s immediate impact at the highest level of Minor League Baseball has to be appealing to the Minnesota Twins. He possesses a fastball that sits in the mid-90s with good ride and a slider with strong bite that would play well out of the Twins’ bullpen right now. His changeup remains a work in progress but when on, it has very similar shape to his fastball. 

He likely isn’t quite ready to make starts for the big-league club, but he could provide value out of the pen, particularly if Emilio Pagan continues to struggle or Trevor Megill turns into a pumpkin. 

Jermaine Palacios (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Chris Williams (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) led the Saints offensively.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 3, Tulsa 0
Box Score

The home crowd was witness to history on Friday evening as righty Daniel Gossett tossed the first no-hitter in Wind Surge history. He needed 120 pitches to do so, striking out 10 and walking three (two in the 9th inning). The only other Driller to reach base did so via error.

Gossett is a 29-year-old journeyman who was a second-round pick in 2014 out of Clemson and last appeared in the Majors in 2018 as a member of the Oakland Athletics; he started in 23 games across two seasons in the Bay and posted a 5.91 ERA. 

He entered the game with a 3.48 ERA and had not struck out more than seven batters in a game this season before shutting down Tulsa. Gossett was clearly fatigued in the final inning as he walked two straight batters with two outs before getting Andy Pages to bite on a curveball in the dirt. He was caught on camera shouting, “One more. One more.” into the Wind Surge dugout just prior to the strikeout, seemingly trying to convince manager Ramon Borrego to leave him in.

Gossett’s accomplishment won’t make headlines around the internet nor will it likely make SportsCenter, but throwing a no-hitter at any level is a monumental task and his effort should be recognized.

Anthony Prato (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Alex Isola (1-for-3, RBI) each hit home runs to lead Wichita’s offense.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids 0 (Suspended)
Box Score

The Timber Rattlers jumped out to an early lead on the Kernels before the game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning due to rain. The two will resume play on Saturday.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 3, Palm Beach 1
Box Score
Fort Myers 8, Palm Beach 1
Box Score

The Mighty Mussels offense could not be contained and their pitching staff was lights out on Friday evening against the Cardinals as they swept the double-header to improve their record to 61-47.

Pierson Ohl glimmered on the mound in Game 1, striking out seven and allowing only two Palm Beach batters to reach base across seven shutout innings. The game had been suspended after two innings on Thursday night, so Ohl started the third frame and finished the game In Game 2, Jonathan Lavallee was awarded the win with four shutout innings out of the pen. Overall, the Fort Myers pitching staff struck out 19 batters, walked one, and surrendered two runs in 18 innings.

Misael Urbina led the Mighty Mussels offensively, going 5-for-8 with a double and three RBI. Some of the former top prospect’s shine has faded this season, but the 20-year-old is suddenly hitting .301 with an .886 OPS in 31 games at Low-A. He hasn’t produced much in the way of home runs, but he has hit a whopping 14 doubles, suggesting a power boom is right around the corner. Mix in his defensive tools and it’s easy to see why many around baseball think highly of his long-term prospects. Unfortunately, visa issues meant that he was unable to come to the States until June. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 4, FCL Red Sox 3
Box Score

Old friend Randy Dobnak started on the bound for the FCL Twins, striking out three and allowing four hits across two innings of work. Dobnak has missed the entire 2022 season to date as he rehabs from a finger injury suffered last season.

Wilfri Castro had a great afternoon at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and two RBI.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Cubs Blue 3, DSL Twins 2
Box Score

Yasser Mercedes continued to rain terror on the DSL on Friday, going 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Mercedes—who is just 17 years old—is hitting .361 with a .990 OPS in 39 games. The Twins will keep their burgeoning prospect at the DSL level for the remainder of the season, but it will be interesting to see what they do with him next summer. He’s proven to be advanced for his age and could likely succeed at the FCL level right now.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Daniel Gossett (Wichita): 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Hitter of the Day – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers): 5-for-8, 2B, 3 RBI

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:

#4 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 0-for-3, BB, R, SB (25)
#7 - Noah Miller (Fort Myers) - 0-for-4, RBI
#9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 0-for-1, 2 BB, R
#12 - Louie Varland (Wichita) - 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
#14 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 0-for-2
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Fort Myers) - 1-for-7, RBI
#20 - Kala’i Rosario (Fort Myers) - 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (DH at 5:07 PM CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer, RHP Juan Minaya in Game 2 
Wichita vs. Tulsa (7:05 PM CST) - LHP Kody Funderburk 
Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin (DH at 5:15 PM CST) - Completion of Friday game, followed by regularly-scheduled game.  
Fort Myers @ Palm Beach (5:00 PM CST) - TBD

 

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[waltomeal]

I believe that's the rare, rocket-firing No-no Fett.

[mikelink45]

I know that Austin Martin came with high expectations and a high rating but somehow as I read through these daily reports I just don't understand how he ranks so high. I know that Noah Miller is ranked on his potential because he's so young but Martin has struggled with a position and I don't think he has played as well as should be expected.

Varland is really an exciting prospect and it would be amazing to see him move on up and make an impact on his home team. I'd also like to see  Wallner continue his rise, but I'm not sure where he will play

[FlyingFinn]

Great game for Gossett! Isola comes back from injury and continues hitting. If he projects at least average as a catcher, the Twins may have to pray that he isn't taken in the Rule 5 draft. I just don't see the Twins adding him to the 40 man roster. 

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

Isola comes back from injury and continues hitting. If he projects at least average as a catcher, the Twins may have to pray that he isn't taken in the Rule 5 draft. I just don't see the Twins adding him to the 40 man roster. 

It would be a tough add. Isola probably is not close to ready as a catcher. He has only caught 15 games this year and runners have been successful in 30 of 31 stolen base attempts. That is both high volume and a horrible rate. It would be really hard for a contending team to devote a 40 man roster spot to him. Those spots are starting valuable and he has no positional flexibility.

Would a tanking team stash him on the 26 man roster? It is hard to imagine as a catcher. They need to develop their pitchers also and I don’t think they would want him behind the plate for 60 or more games. Any team taking him would have to stash him for a year as a pinch hitter/1B/DH. In 2024  they could return him to the minors to try to develop him as a catcher with hopes he can help at catcher at some point in 2025.

[terrydactyls]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

 I'd also like to see longer continue his rise, but I'm not sure where he will play

What is this sentence supposed to say?

[mikelink45]

45 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

What is this sentence supposed to say?

Thanks - I corrected it to Wallner.  But I have learned my lesson - voice recognition does not like how I talk. 

[roger]

My question regarding Gossett, does he have any future with the Twins?

Great seeing a very solid outing from Varland.  But the real story for me out of St. Paul was Palacios getting three hits.  This kid is hitting better than many/most of us expected and really should be considered the leading candidate to start the year at short for the Twins should Correa opt out.  Would give him several months to prove he belongs before Lewis is ready.  Then may the best man win the spot for the balance of the season.

Great seeing the FCL Twins trot out a group of 2022 drafted pitchers for an inning.  Still anxious to see Prielipp get his first appearance.

[mikelink45]

I am always curious about outside perspectives on our prospects.  ESPN's top 50 does not include any Twins and ranks Rodriguez as our top prospect.  I do not know Kiley McDaniel's qualifications, but the fact that Austin Martin is not making these outside lists bolsters my feelings. 

s

[Rosterman]

For a 29-year-old, Gossett has been up and down between AAA and AA the past couple of seasons. He needs to find success at AAA.

Randy Dobnak is back. Sorry, when he is eligible to return, I would designate him for assignment to keep the 40-man spot. No team would pick up his remaining contract. After this season, he would probably be a minor league free agent, but again a team would have to make him a better offer to leave the Twins. 

Unless, of course, he works magic ball in the next 30 days or so.

[Dman]

Wasn't quite sure Gossett was going to get it done.  Two outs in the 9th, he walked two batters and had thrown 115 pitches or so.  Tying run was at the plate and he looked out of gas.  He pulled it off though against one of the best teams in the league so have to say that was impressive.

Palacios is still hitting and playing good defense he seems like a must add for next year.  Prato yet another utility guy playing very, very well.  Twins have lots of under the radar guys this year.

[bean5302]

Yep. All Palacios has done was put together a remarkably similar campaign in AAA as he had last year in AA.
2021 AA OPS = .779, wRC+ 109, 9.8% BB, 23.6% K
2022 AAA OPS = .796, wRC+ 111, 7.7% BB, 25.0% K

Unfortunately, his fielding at SS is pretty poor. He's got just about the lowest RF/9 in the league and his fielding percentage is rough as well. I really don't understand why the Twins struggle so greatly when it comes to getting their shortstops to stop booting balls, but it's become clear to me it's an organizational problem.

[stringer bell]

Regarding Palacios, his brief time with the Twins, his glove looked at least satisfactory. Good to see that he has sustained his production from AA to AAA and I do think that he could be the Opening Day shortstop in 2023. It seems to me that the Twins regard Palacios as a shortstop who could be a utility player while someone like Nick Gordon is a utility player who can fill in for a day or two at shortstop. 

 

[BH67]

A manager in the Twins farm system allowed a pitcher to throw a complete game and to face the top of the order of the Dodgers' AA team for the fourth time with the tying run at the plate in the 9th.

Are you sure this actually happened?

[Doctor Gast]

4 hours ago, roger said:

My question regarding Gossett, does he have any future with the Twins?

Great seeing a very solid outing from Varland.  But the real story for me out of St. Paul was Palacios getting three hits.  This kid is hitting better than many/most of us expected and really should be considered the leading candidate to start the year at short for the Twins should Correa opt out.  Would give him several months to prove he belongs before Lewis is ready.  Then may the best man win the spot for the balance of the season.

Great seeing the FCL Twins trot out a group of 2022 drafted pitchers for an inning.  Still anxious to see Prielipp get his first appearance.

I don't see Gossett having any future with the Twins, I believe he's 29. But he'll always remember that no hitter for the rest of his life, I'm happy for him.

Palacios needs to be called up yesterday, his glove has been MLB ready, believing his hitting will come around. He's our best sub for Correa, Polanco & Urshella but because of Miranda's hot bat, will be difficult to man 3B unless there's an injury. IMO Correa & Polanco could use a break before the big push & Palacios could learn a lot from Correa. He can take Beckman's place.