Minor League Recap (9/16): Jeffers Goes Boom

[Lucas Seehafer PT]

The Wind Surge won and Ryan Jeffers late inning heroics helped push the Saints over Louisville.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

 

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

• OF Matt Wallner was assigned to the Minnesota Twins Taxi Squad
• C Ryan Jeffers assigned to the St. Paul Saints on Major League rehab
• INF Jorge Polanco assigned to the St. Paul Saints on Major League rehab
• RHP Randy Dobnak cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to the St. Paul Saints
• RHP Bailey Ober has completed his Major League rehab and returned to Minnesota Twins
• OF Mark Contreras recalled by Minnesota Twins
• Austin Martin, Edouard Julien Alex Isola, Denny Bentley, Francis Peguero, Jon Olsen, and Ryan Shreve to participate in Arizona Fall League

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 7, Louisville 6, F/10
Box Score

The Saints took down the Bats in dramatic fashion Friday evening after trailing for the vast majority of the game.

Down 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Ryan Jeffers three-run home run tied the game up at 5-5. After failing to score with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and surrendering a run in the top of the 10th, St. Paul filled the bags again following a Dalton Shuffield (2-for-3, 2B, BB) double and a Chris Williams (0-for-2, 3 BB, HBP) hit by pitch. Andrew Bechtold (0-for-4, RBI, 2 BB) tied the game with a walk and Nash Knight (3-for-3, RBI, 3 BB) brought home the winning run on a walk-off single.

In less fun news, Jorge Polanco exited the game after five innings. He was originally slated to play seven innings. 

 

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WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 2, Midland 1
Box Score

Daniel Gossett continued his strong season for the Wind Surge, shutting down the RockHounds to help his team pull off a close victory. He threw five innings and struck out seven while surrendering a single run. His ERA dropped to 2.26 on the year. Denny Bentley, Jordan Gore, Francis Peguero, and Alex Phillips pitched lights out from the pen, striking out two and allowing only a single Midland batter to reach base in four innings of work.

Edouard Julien led the Wichita charge offensively, going 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a walk. Austin Martin (2-for-4) was the only Wind Surge batter to register multiple hits.

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KERNELS NUGGETS
South Bend 9, Cedar Rapids 3
Box Score

The Kernels’ season came to a close Friday night as they fell to the Cubs, dropping the Division Series contest, 2-1.

South Bend touched starter Orlando Rodriguez for four runs in the top of the first, a total that was ultimately enough to secure the win. Rodriguez recorded just one out in the game. He was followed by six more Kernels pitchers. 

Cedar Rapids managed only four hits on the night, all of them singles. Mikey Perez (1-for-3, 2 RBI) and Willie Joe Garry Jr. (1-for-3, RBI) plated the Kernels’ runs. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Game 3: Fort Myers vs. Dunedin, PPD
Series tied 1-1

Darn rain. They plan to try to get it in on Saturday. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Daniel Gossett (Wichita): 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Hitter of the Day – Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul): 2-for-6, HR, 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:

#2 - Brooks Lee (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, K 
#4 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 2-for-4, R
#14 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs. Louisville (7:07 CST) - RHP Dereck Rodriguez (7-4, 5.02 ERA)
Wichita @ Midland (5:00 CST) - RHP Cody Laweryson (5-0, 0.82 ERA)
Wichita @ Midland (TBD CST) - TBD
Fort Myers vs. Dunedin (11:00 am CST) - TBD

 

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[bean5302]

Sounds like Polanco won't be coming back in the near future. I'd think he's still at least a week out now. The good news is Buxton and Polanco won't have to push themselves to get back if the Twins lose a couple more to Cleveland. White Sox need the Twins to win a couple against the Guardians or the White Sox's season is probably over as well. 

A Cleveland & Detroit sweep probably just about locks up the division for the Guardians.

[h2oface]

No other team wanted Dobnak and his bargain long term contract? Lucky for us! How many options does he have left? I guess none of he had to be passed through waivers. It may be a spell if he ever sees the Show as a player again, if ever. He won’t be paid as well as Rusney Castillo by a ton, but mighty handsomely for the minors. 

[tony&rodney]

Good home run for Jeffers and he had a great swing on a single in the 1st inning.  There was more though. Jeffers had a very, very poor at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning. He looked overmatched in that at bat, slow.

[Bill Tanner]

4 hours ago, h2oface said:

No other team wanted Dobnak and his bargain long term contract? Lucky for us! How many options does he have left? I guess none of he had to be passed through waivers. It may be a spell if he ever sees the Show as a player again, if ever. He won’t be paid as well as Rusney Castillo by a ton, but mighty handsomely for the minors. 

The issue was not related to available options.  Twins needed to remove him from the 40-man roster (DFA), something that was inevitable this fall anyways.  You are right, though, that it does seem unlikely the Twins will be looking to find him a roster spot in the near future. 

[RpR]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Good home run for Jeffers and he had a great swing on a single in the 1st inning.  There was more though. Jeffers had a very, very poor at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning. He looked overmatched in that at bat, slow.

I watched the end of that game on MilB's version of Gamecast; bases loaded , all he had to do was hit a fly ball or a grounder any where to right and game over but it was zip, zip, zip.

[ashbury]

9 hours ago, h2oface said:

No other team wanted Dobnak and his bargain long term contract? Lucky for us! How many options does he have left? I guess none of he had to be passed through waivers.

Checking at FangRaph's roster page for the Twins, Dobnak has sufficient minor league options if all they wanted to do was keep him at AAA.  Apparently 40-man roster slots were at a premium.  His slot was more valuable than him.

Quite the bargain long-term contract, indeed.  No other team snapped up the opportunity.