Twins Minor League Report (9/26): Woods-Richardson, Jeffers Carry Saints to Victory

[Theo Tollefson]

The Saints were the only Twins affiliate playing Monday night as they began the first of their final three games of the season. Simeon Woods Richardson was on the mound making his final start of the season while Ryan Jeffers continued his rehab assignment. 

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

TRANSACTIONS 
None

SAINTS SENTINEL 
St. Paul 10, Omaha 6 
Box score

Woods Richardson Dominates

Simeon Woods Richardson made his final start with the Saints Monday night, and he went all out with one of his best performances of the season. Woods Richardson dominated the Royals Triple-A hitters as he threw six innings of one-hit shutout baseball allowing only three walks and striking out seven on 91 pitches and 56 strikes. 

Having seven starts with the Saints for the season, Woods Richardson’s final numbers in Triple-A for the season include a 2.21 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 36 2/3 innings of work. In total, Woods-Richardson posted a 2.76 ERA and has thrown 107 1/3 innings of work in 21 starts and one relief appearance for the 2022 Minor League season at both Double-A and Triple-A.

Rehab Updates
Only one of the three Twins hitters on the Saints roster for rehab assignments was in the lineup Monday night, and that was Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers played well. He went 3-4 and hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat to put the Saints up 2-0 in the first inning. Jeffers's double in the bottom of the seventh put the Saints up 6-0. 

 

Jeffers’s only mistake in the game was a fielding error in the top of the seventh which allowed Storm Chasers designated hitter Jackson Reetz to reach first base. 

 

With a healthy game for Jeffers Monday night, it is very likely he could be returning to the Twins lineup as early as Tuesday night. 

Trevor Larnach and Jorge Polanco were both off Monday night. 

Saints Bats Keep Up with Woods Richardson
Jeffers was not the only hitter at the plate delivering for the Saints Monday night. Elliot Soto also went 2-for-3 with two doubles and drove in the Saints' fifth run of the game.

 

Runs three and four came courtesy of an Andrew Bechtold two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. Bechtold had just hit a homer in the Saints game on Friday night against Indianapolis, making it his second home run in just three games. 

Just when it looked as if the Saints were done scoring in the seventh, they put up five more runs on the Storm Chasers with Jeffers double and a grand slam from Cole Sturgeon to give the Saints a 10-0 lead. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Simeon Woods Richardson 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K (91 pitches, 56 strikes (61.5 strike %))
Hitter of the Day – Ryan Jeffers - 3-for-4, 2-Run HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI.

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

#6 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

What’s next?
The Saints play the second of their final three games on the season tomorrow against the Omaha Storm Chasers. First pitch is at 7:07 p.m. CT with Jordan Balazovic on the mound for the Saints against Angel Zerpa of the Storm Chasers.

 

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[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Do those MiLB highlight videos (in embedded tweets) freeze for anyone else right at the high point of the action? For example, the video goes still with a spinning wheel when the triple is about to bounce off the wall?

[Squirrel]

I hope SWR can make the jump to the majors ... certainly has shown promise

[weitz41]

7 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I hope SWR can make the jump to the majors ... certainly has shown promise

Same here. I'm starting to think this part of the Berrios trade may work out for the Twins. Just noticed that today is his bday. Happy birthday SWR

[Jeff D.]

At the Saints game last night and it was a pretty good game for them until Smeltzer came in and was CRUSHED. He looked as if there was zero interest in being there and the results showed that. 

Fun field to see a game with great views anywhere you are in the park. 

Ex-Twins Rooker played left for the Storm and hit one out and made one very poor throw from the field missing the cut-off. 

Saints won. Good defense for the most part and a heck of a lot of line drives last night!

Twins Geezer............out!

 

 

[DJL44]

I want to see Woods-Richardson pitching against Detroit on 10/1. No more starts from Bundy or Archer.

[TwinsDr2021]

8 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I hope SWR can make the jump to the majors ... certainly has shown promise

He should be pitching in Target field tonight and not in St. Paul yesterday. ?‍♂️

[Otaknam]

Given the team’s collapse I say it’s time to give SWR his last start this year at the big league level. That would help to calm the jitters to have SWR get a start this year in pace of Bundy. What’s the downside? 

[Squirrel]

26 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

He should be pitching in Target field tonight and not in St. Paul yesterday. ?‍♂️

I'm okay with that. He started in AA and he isn't on the roster, yet. So, I'm okay that he will get his debut sometime next year. I was actually more interested/excited in him in the Berrios trade than Martin. Just hope he keeps progressing. 

[stringer bell]

Noting the rehabbing major league players—Larnach is done for the year with a wrist injury and Polanco most likely also done due to his lingering knee injury. 
 

Along with the continuing hamstring issues for Arraez, it appears second base will continue to be manned by Gordon and Palacios for the remainder of the Twins season. 

[stringer bell]

Does Woods-Richardson have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter? If so, sure, bring him up for a start against Chicago. If not, I guess his debut will have to wait until 2023. He is finishing the season strong and healthy with the Saints. A reason for optimism in 2023 and beyond.

[DJL44]

25 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Noting the rehabbing major league players—Larnach is done for the year with a wrist injury and Polanco most likely also done due to his lingering knee injury. 

I thought it was a core muscle injury for Larnach. Kirilloff has the wrist injury.

We need a Twins "Operation" where you match the injured player with the body part.

[weitz41]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

I thought it was a core muscle injury for Larnach. Kirilloff has the wrist injury.

We need a Twins "Operation" where you match the injured player with the body part.

Something like this?

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, weitz41 said:

Something like this?

Yeah, but with Buxton as the patient

[weitz41]

The Saint's would have a lot better record if the Twins would stop hurting all the Saints players..

[roger]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

I thought it was a core muscle injury for Larnach. Kirilloff has the wrist injury.

We need a Twins "Operation" where you match the injured player with the body part.

It was.  But the paper said Larnach injured his wrist while swinging.  Was it Sunday?  Or maybe Saturday.

[umterp23]

On official twins mlb site in the section of injuries and transactions it reported Larnach now with sore wrist.  I would think he is now done for the year.

[RJA]

This game is a story of two guys going in opposite directions.  SWR continues to impress and seemingly gets better every time out.  I can't wait to see how he does at Target Field.  On the other hand, Smeltzer looks like he is self destructing.  His last 5 games have been brutal.  I know he was upset about being sent down, but he has done nothing to demonstrate that it was a mistake.  Hopefully, he can make a fresh start in the spring.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, RJA said:

This game is a story of two guys going in opposite directions.  SWR continues to impress and seemingly gets better every time out.  I can't wait to see how he does at Target Field.  On the other hand, Smeltzer looks like he is self destructing.  His last 5 games have been brutal.  I know he was upset about being sent down, but he has done nothing to demonstrate that it was a mistake.  Hopefully, he can make a fresh start in the spring.

I think there’s a real possibility that Smeltzer will be looking for work this offseason. 
 

Unless there is a medical explanation, he has fallen off dramatically and doesn’t look like he will get another chance with the Twins. 
 

If hard feelings exist, it is likely Smeltzer will elect to be a free agent if he is designated for assignment. 

[Doctor Gast]

15 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I hope SWR can make the jump to the majors ... certainly has shown promise

I was wondering if he could have the opportunity  pitch 1 game of MLB yet this season?

[Mike Sixel]

6 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Does Woods-Richardson have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter? If so, sure, bring him up for a start against Chicago. If not, I guess his debut will have to wait until 2023. He is finishing the season strong and healthy with the Saints. A reason for optimism in 2023 and beyond.

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/twins

I believe the answer is yes. So, sure, why not (other than ending on a high note)?

[gil4]

8 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Yeah, but with Buxton as the patient

You don't like he Sano version?

[mrtwinsfan]

21 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I hope SWR can make the jump to the majors ... certainly has shown promise

To cap off a good year, would be nice for the twins to give him a start ,  he   is done pitching in st paul for the year,  like to see it, 

[ashbury]

15 hours ago, weitz41 said:

Same here. I'm starting to think this part of the Berrios trade may work out for the Twins.

It needs to.  High end pitching needs to bring back high end prospect arms.  I've always viewed the trade as Berrios for SWR, with Martin as a very good sweetener.  I would have preferred one or two additional arms instead of Martin.

 

[FlyingFinn]

12 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Does Woods-Richardson have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter?

Yes.

SWR has looked great this year other than some starts around the time of his injury or covid, whatever it was. Martin has really played a lot better after the IL stint, including tonight in the playoffs.

[IndianaTwin]

3 hours ago, gil4 said:

You don't like he Sano version?

It would need a bigger box.