Twins AFL Report (Week 6): Julien and Martin Lead Glendale to Championship Game

[Steve Lein]

Edouard Julien and Austin Martin again had strong weeks to close out their AFL seasons. They even hit their team into the Championship Game. Were they able to win it? Keep reading to find out, and how all the Minnesota Twins prospects performed to finish up their AFL campaigns.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey (Wichita Wind Surge), Steve Buhr (Cedar Rapids Kernels)

 

Game Results:
Tuesday, 11/8 | Glendale 9, Peoria 3
Wednesday, 11/9 | Glendale 10, Mesa 4
Thursday, 11/10 | Salt River 2, Glendale 5

The Glendale Desert Dogs finished their season strong, going 3-0 in their final three games to secure the #2 spot in the standings. In the past, this meant they’d be playing in the AFL Championship game, but the league implemented a four-team playoff this season so they would have to win another game to make it that far.

IF Austin Martin
Week: 4-for-12, 4 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB (3 games)
Overall: .373/.454/.482 (.936 OPS)

Martin finished his AFL season with another solid week, batting .333 in three games and continuing to be a menace from the top of the order, scoring at least one run in each. He played center field in his first game of the week, then was back at shortstop for the last two.

In Tuesday’s win over Peoria, he helped key a six-run fifth inning with a single that loaded the bases. He’d later score on a bases-loaded single and finished 1-for-5. 

He was 2-for-4 and scored two runs in Wednesday’s 10-4 win over Mesa, leading off the game with a single, advancing to second base on a wild pitch, and scampering home on Edouard Julien’s single that followed for the game's first run. He’d cross the plate for the second time in the eighth to cap the Desert Dogs scoring on the game.

He did it a little differently in Thursday’s win over Salt River, finishing 1-for-3 but that lone hit, a single in the sixth inning, drove in two runners to tie the game at two, and Glendale went on to add three more runs in the frame to take the game and secure their playoff position. 

Martin was the epitome of your “prototypical leadoff hitter” in his time in the desert, getting on base at a .454 clip (ranking 6th in AFL play), stealing 10 bases (3rd), and scoring 23 runs in 21 games (2nd, to only Julien’s 24). His .936 OPS also ranked 11th in the circuit, while his 31 total hits were second to League MVP Heston Kjerstad’s 35, and his .373 batting average came in at third overall.

I’ve followed this league for a long time, and just like Royce Lewis’ MVP campaign of 2019 (where he had a .975 OPS after a .661 in the regular season), this performance absolutely should restore some prospect luster for Austin Martin. Now the Twins just need to find him a position, but I can see him functioning as a very athletic super-utility type when it comes to defense in the majors, much like how Luis Arraez got his start.

IF Edouard Julien
Week: 5-for-7, 3 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K (2 games)
Overall: .400/.563/.686 (1.249 OPS)

Julien saw action in two of their three wins on the week, batting second in each and serving as the second baseman in one and designated hitter in the other.

He got on base in four of his five trips to the plate against the Javelinas on Tuesday, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and two walks.

In Wednesday’s big win over Mesa, it was Julien driving the ship, as his three singles in four at-bats led to three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Two of his hits came in a seven-run eighth inning that the Desert Dogs used to blow the game open. He led off the inning with a single and trotted home on a home run to the next batter that gave Glendale the lead 5-4. After they had batted around, his two-RBI single made the score 9-4. He also drew a walk to reach base in four of five trips for the second time during the week.

While he didn’t take home the AFL MVP award (Heston Kjerstad is a top 100 prospect, which has always factored into this award’s voting), instead having to settle for the Breakout Player of the Year Award, Julien was the best hitter in the entire AFL this year by a decent margin.

He ranked first in runs scored (24), walks (23), batting average (.400), on-base percentage (.563), and OPS (1.249). He was also third in total hits (28), second in slugging percentage (.686), tied for second in home runs (5), tied for third in RBI (17), and also stole six bases which ranked top ten in his 21 games played.

If Julien wasn’t a top-ten Minnesota Twins prospect before this, he should be there firmly now. Just imagine the pitch counts a lineup starting with Martin, Julien, and Luis Arraez could run up on starters in the majors someday soon.

C/1B Alex Isola
Week: 2-for-6, 1 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB (2 games)
Overall: .228/.343/.316 (.659 OPS)

Like Julien, Isola made the start in two of the Desert Dogs' three games on the week, playing first base in the games on Tuesday and Thursday.

He scored a run and drew two walks in his first game of the week, finishing 1-for-3 out of the sixth spot in the lineup.

He moved up to the cleanup position in the batting order for Thursday’s win over Salt River, and his two-RBI double in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie and put the Desert Dogs out front for good.

While Isola didn’t see as much action at the catcher position as he may have liked, he did improve as a hitter as the season wore on, moving into the middle of Glendale’s batting order for the final few weeks of the season after beginning as their number nine hitter. He also displayed a strong eye at the plate, drawing 10 walks compared to just 11 strikeouts on the season in his 16 games. His five doubles also matched Julien’s total and were second on the Desert Dogs to just Austin Martin on the season.

RHP Jon Olsen
Week: Did not pitch
Overall: 2-1, 5.27 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, .288 BAA, 10 BB, 17 K (13 2/3 IP)

Olsen did not pitch in any of Glendale’s final regular season games, but that was because they had him slotted for something better, which we will recap further below.

Overall on the season, Olsen’s stats may not look that great in the above, but what was important for him was getting some innings against increased competition after missing multiple seasons of development time. He recovered from a poor first outing in the AFL to be solid down the stretch, getting the win and allowing just one earned run in his last two starts. Over those final seven innings, he gave up just four hits, walked two, and struck out eight.

LHP Denny Bentley
Week: Did not pitch
Overall: 1-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, .189 BAA, 14 BB, 9 K (11 1/3 IP)

The left-handed Bentley did not make any appearances in the final three games of the AFL regular season, but he did pitch in the playoffs.

He ends his regular season campaign with a solid ERA and batting average against numbers, but the walks remain worrisome as he issued them at a far higher rate than he piled up strikeouts. He has excelled particularly against same-sided hitters, but the command of his pitches will continue to be an area to work on for him. He ended his 2022 season in the bullpen of the Wichita Wind Surge, and I’d expect him to remain there to start the 2023 season.

RHP Ryan Shreve
Week: 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (1 appearance)
Overall: 1-0, 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .152 BAA, 8 BB, 12 K (14 2/3  IP)

Shreve was the only pitcher to make an appearance in any of the regular season games this week, and it came Wednesday’s win over Mesa. He was the first reliever summoned in the game, with one out in the bottom of the fourth after Glendale’s starter had given up the lead. He came in with a runner on third base and walked the first batter, but recovered to strike out the next two and keep the Solar Sox from expanding their lead. Back out for the fifth, he delivered a one-two-three inning, needing just five pitches to do so.

Shreve was one of the Desert Dogs' top performers out of their bullpen, ranking second on their team in ERA (1.84) and WHIP (1.02) while holding hitters to a team-best .152 batting average against. He gave up a few walks early in the campaign, but over his final three weeks struck out seven compared to just two walks allowed in his final 6 2/3 innings. 

RHP Francis Peguero
Week: Did not pitch
Overall: 1-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .227 BAA, 8 BB, 9 K (11 IP)

Like three of the other four pitchers on this list, Peguero did not make an appearance in any of Glendale’s final three regular-season games but did see action in the playoffs.

New to the Minnesota Twins organization for 2022 after being part of the Sonny Gray trade package from the Cincinnati Reds, there wasn’t a lot known about this pitcher. While he walked basically nobody during the season with Wichita, that number spiked significantly in AFL play. Despite that, he was still good at keeping runs off the scoreboard, finishing several of the games for the Desert Dogs.

AFL Playoffs
Friday, 11/11 - Semifinal | Peoria 3, Glendale 6

In the semifinal game against the Peoria Javelinas on Friday, the Twins' own Jon Olsen made the start for the home team. He went the first two innings, pitching a scoreless first before running into trouble in the second. He got two quick outs, but the next five hitters would reach base via walks or singles before they were able to escape by catching a runner trying to advance an extra base on the last of those hits. Before it was over he had allowed three runs, and the Javelinas had an early 3-0 lead.

After clawing back with a pair of runs of their own in the second, it was Alex Isola who tied the game for Glendale with his home run to left-center leading off the fourth.

Francis Peguero came out of the bullpen for the fifth and delivered a scoreless inning in his only appearance of the week. He allowed a single to the leadoff man but got outs from the next three hitters, including one strikeout to keep the game tied at the time.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was Austin Martin who gave the Desert Dogs their first lead with an RBI single, and they would hold on to win and advance to the championship game against the Surprise Saguaros. 

Martin was 1-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and walk in this one, playing centerfield while Edouard Julien finished 1-for-4 with three strikeouts. Isola finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk in addition to the big home run.

Saturday, 11/12 - Championship Game | Glendale 6, Surprise 7 (11 innings)

The title game against Surprise was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with either team never leading by more than two runs, and the game being tied on five separate occasions.

Martin was again the leadoff man playing center field to start, followed by Julien at his usual second base spot. Isola was also at first base, hitting sixth.

Julien drew a walk in the first but was thrown out trying to steal second base to end the inning. This would be a familiar theme on the night for him, as he drew a walk in four of his six plate appearances, finishing 0-for-2 with a run scored in the game. In the top of the sixth, his walk to lead off resulted in him scoring a run to give Glendale a 3-2 lead. He also made a play in the extra innings to keep it going:

Pitchers Denny Bentley and Ryan Shreve both made appearances in this one, being the first two relievers out of the bullpen after their starter was done. Bentley came on with one out in the third after a home run tied the game at one, and allowed a walk but otherwise got out of the inning. He also got two quick outs in the fourth before another walk brought on Shreve for the final out. Shreve then picked up a pair of strikeouts in the fifth, but an error led to a 2-2 tie after five.

Tied at four after nine innings, the game went to extras, where the teams again traded blows, each scoring one run in the tenth, but Martin did his best to win the game for Glendale in both the ninth and eleventh innings.

He was at the plate with the score 4-4 in the ninth, when his groundball to short ended with the runner coming home being thrown out. Then in the eleventh with two outs and runners on first and second, Martin delivered a single into right field to give the Desert Dogs a 6-5 lead.

It took only two batters with the runner starting on second base for Surprise to dash their hopes in the bottom half, as two consecutive RBI singles won the game for the team that ended the regular season with the best record.

Martin finished 1-for-6 with an RBI, and Isola was 0-for-4 with a walk in the championship game.

While they weren’t able to take it home, it was an exciting game and season for Twins prospects. Austin Martin and Edouard Julien were fantastic throughout, leading Glendale to the final game and coming as close as they possibly could to winning it for them. Congrats on all the players for a fun season, and I look forward to 2023!

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the prospects playing in the AFL this week!

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[Game7-91]

Just imagine the pitch counts a lineup starting with Martin, Julien, and Luis Arraez could run up on starters in the majors someday soon.

It is fun to imagine an offense that begins with table-setter types. Harder to imagine how all 3 would fit defensively in the same game.

But its great to see Martin step-up and Joulien emerge, Twins are developing legit options, and that is nothing but good news !!!

[Doctor Gast]

I really enjoyed this AFL season, Thanks Steve for reporting it to us. Just like to comment that even when Martin goes 1 for 6, that one hit usually impacts the team. He's turning into a true ramrod.

Julien got robbed of MVP but I'm looking forward to him debuting this coming season. A great duo.

[TopGunn#22]

It's time to move Martin and Julien up and continue to move them up if they merit it.  I see Martin as a LF'er who can spell Buxton in CF when he's hurt.  We can't count on Julien THIS season, at least at the beginning, but we may be looking at the final season of Polanco if he isn't traded this off season.  

[jun]

A lineup of Arraez (1B), Martin (LF), Buxton (CF), Lewis (SS), Julien (2B), Miranda (3B), Kirilloff (RF), Lee (DH) would be really impressive if they are all healthy and reach their potential . Now if they can get a good catcher...

[roger]

11 minutes ago, jun said:

A lineup of Arraez (1B), Martin (LF), Buxton (CF), Lewis (SS), Julien (2B), Miranda (3B), Kirilloff (RF), Lee (DH) would be really impressive if they are all healthy and reach their potential . Now if they can get a good catcher...

That sure looks exciting.  I would flip Miranda with Lee at third base.  Have the Twins had a good catcher since Mauer?

[Trov]

10 hours ago, Game7-91 said:

Just imagine the pitch counts a lineup starting with Martin, Julien, and Luis Arraez could run up on starters in the majors someday soon.

It is fun to imagine an offense that begins with table-setter types. Harder to imagine how all 3 would fit defensively in the same game.

But its great to see Martin step-up and Joulien emerge, Twins are developing legit options, and that is nothing but good news !!!

The way Julien is playing Polonco may be out of a job soon.  Martin can play OF, and Arraez can play DH or 1B, he was up for gold glove.  I am sure pitchers would not look forward to Martin lead off, Julien in the 2 or 3 with Luis the other.  The pitch counts could go up a ton, or you just throw it over and hope they hit it at someone.  

[DJL44]

4 hours ago, roger said:

Have the Twins had a good catcher since Mauer?

Mitch Garver hit 31 bombs and won the Silver Slugger in 2019

[DJL44]

Martin and Julien named to MLB's AFL team

2022 All-Arizona Fall League Team (mlb.com)

[roger]

52 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Martin and Julien named to MLB's AFL team

2022 All-Arizona Fall League Team (mlb.com)

Thanks so much for linking this, DJL44.  Doubt the Twins have ever had two AFL all-stars, especially both middle infielders.  I know the AFL isn't what it was awhile ago, but historically most of the stars of the league went on to have very good MLB careers.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

Exciting to see these two players do so well in the AFL.  Those line up projections are also exciting to look forward too.  Congrats to Julian and Martin.  Now, keep that going next season and you'll both be in a Twins uniform by late 2023 or early in the 2024 season.

[DJL44]

Athletic has a writeup on Julien. I'm not a subscriber so I can't see it.

Ten Arizona Fall League prospects scouts liked most, plus 5 who left mixed impressions - The Athletic