Twins Minor League Report (8/31): A Twins Promotion and Rosario Rakes

[Ted Schwerzler]

There wasn't a ton of big offensive performances tonight on the farm for the Minnesota Twins affiliates, but Kala'i Rosario stole the show this afternoon in a Mighty Mussels loss. Cody Laweryson was dominant for the Wichita Wind Surge, and Cole Sands made a rehab appearance for the St. Paul Saints.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• Pitcher Cole Sands began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul

SAINTS SENTINEL 
Omaha 5, St. Paul 1
Box Score

Louie Varland has been among the best pitchers in the Twins system this season and was on the bump for St. Paul tonight. He worked 4 1/3 innings giving up two runs on four hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out three.

Matt Wallner has drawn plenty of excitement with his bat this year, but it was a sliding catch in the second inning that saved extra bases. The Storm Chasers got a run in the 4th inning on a sacrifice fly before a 5th inning solo shot ended Varland’s night.

St. Paul found themselves halving the lead in the 6th inning when a passed ball allowed him to scamper home. Omaha added one in the 7th inning and two in the 8th inning to pull away, however, and the Saints never had a rally in them.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 5, Springfield 4
Box Score

The Wind Surge gave the pill to Cody Laweryson tonight in Springfield. Wichita’s starter went 4 2/3 allowing just a single run on five hits. Laweryson punched out six and didn’t surrender a walk. His ERA is now down to 1.03.

Bryan Sammons took over in the 5th inning, and after recording the final out of that frame, he gave up a three-run dinger in the 6th inning. The Cardinals found themselves with breathing room up 4-0.

In the 7th inning, it became time for the Wind Surge to answer. Leobaldo Cabrera stepped in and singled home Yunior Severino. Star prospect Austin Martin then roped his third triple of the season to bring home both Anthony Prato and Cabrera. All of a sudden it was a one-run game.

The Wind Surge weren’t going to go out quietly, and walks from Prato and Will Holland to start the 9th inning gave them a chance. Edouard Julien then stepped up and ripped a line drive single to score both runners and take the lead. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Dayton 9, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score

Cedar Rapids turned to Luis Rijo in this one and it was an outing he’d rather forget. Rijo didn’t record an out and gave up five runs on just one hit. The bugaboo was three walks in the inning. Two of the runs against Rijo came on bases-loaded walks.

Down 6-0 by the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Kernels got on the board when Dylan Neuse singled in Seth Gray during the 4th inning. In the 6th inning, Cedar Rapids continued to claw away. A balk brought in Gray before Jake Rucker singled to score Jeferson Morales and Willie Joe Garry Jr.

Unfortunately for the Kernels, Dayton plated three more runs to pull away, and that was where this one ended.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Bradenton 8, Fort Myers 7
Box Score

Pierson Ohl took the ball this afternoon for the Mighty Mussels and turned in five solid innings while working around seven hits. He did give up three runs, but limited additional damage allowing just one walk and striking out two.

Fort Myers scored first, right in the opening salvo, when Kala’i Rosario singled to drive in Tanner Schobel. Unfortunately, that was the only lead they’d have in this one. By the time the Mighty Mussels came up in the top of the 6th inning they trailed 3-1.

Rosario once again was ready to do damage and launched a homer, his 11th of the year, to score Ben Ross and tie things up. The Marauders wound up adding in the 6th and 7th innings to jump ahead 8-3.

Heading into the 9th inning, Fort Myers saw an uphill battle, but they were ready to work. Luis Baez triples to drive in Keoni Cavaco and Alec Sayre. He then came home during the next at-bat on a passed ball. Down just two, Rosario continued his good day with another single, scoring Ross and bringing the good guys within one.

That’s where the rally ended, however, and this was a tough one-run defeat. Fort Myers managed just five hits on the day but definitely made this one interesting.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Cody Laweryson (Wichita) - 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Hitter of the Day – Kala’i Rosario (Fort Myers) - 3-5, R, 4 RBI, HR(11)

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. 

#2 - Brooks Lee (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, BB
#4 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 1-5, 2 RBI, 3B, 2 K
#9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-4, R, 2B, 2 BB
#12 - Louie Varland (St. Paul) - 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
#14 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, K
#17 - Cole Sands (St. Paul) - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Fort Myers) - 1-4, R, BB, 2 K, 2B
#20 - Kala'i Rosario (Fort Myers) - 3-5, R, 4 RBI, HR(11)

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Omaha @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - RHP Ronny Henriquez
Wichita @ Springfield (6:35PM CST) - RHP Kody Funderburk
Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (6:05PM CST) - RHP David Festa
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30PM CST) - TBD

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

 

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[AceWrigley]

Cavaco with a tough August.

[annismark]

Laweryson

 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, annismark said:

Laweryson

Corrected... I can't believe I missed that. Thank You! 

[terrydactyls]

I have a request that I have been meaning to submit but I keep forgetting to do so (I'm old dammit).  The pictures at the beginning of each recap never identify the player.  Could you add a name, please?

Also, I have a nitpick (another thing I have been meaning to mention but forgot).  In the Wind Surge recap, it says "walks from Prato and Will Holland."  That makes it appear as if Prato and Holland were pitching instead of hitting.  A few days ago, the phrase used was "walks from" which also sounds like it's referring to a pitcher.  Although both might be technically grammatically correct, I think the phrase "walks to" provides more clarity.

Regardless, the minor league recap is still my favorite article to read each day.  Every morning, I always make it the last thing I read so I can end on a high note.

[jmlease1]

I really thought Laweryson was going to be rising up as a reliever, and they seem to have turned him into a starter mid-season? Would love to know more about what the plan is with him. he's gone from looking like just another guy to someone who is really impressing, but I'll admit I thought some of his success this season might have been due to a shift full tie into the 'pen, and now he's back in the rotation. And he's still doing a great job, but I'm really curious if this was a necessity move or if they really think his future is as a starter or what?

[TwinsDr2021]

It is good to see they got 9 innings from the AA and AAA starters. (Combined that is)

[puckstopper1]

Brutal start from Rijo.  He certainly has struggled at Cedar Rapids ☹️.

[FlyingFinn]

And the Peacock returns! Must have been a contract thing. Brad Peacock is listed as a roster move, added to the Saints roster today.

[jkcarew]

23 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Cavaco with a tough August.

He’s had a tendency to struggle mightily in August’s. Struggles moderately in all other months.