Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/14): Lee, Walker Propel Kernels

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1715-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-14)-Lee-Walker-Propel-Kernels

[jun]

Whoever thinks Kyle Gibson is ready for the major should be hit on the head.

[Steven Buhr]

In the interest of full disclosure, I believe the tweet concerning Walker's amazing productivity with bases loaded this season originated from the official Kernels Twitter account, which I retweeted. By the time of Walker's grand slam, I was working on my 3rd margarita of the night (since I wasn't actually working the game, just enjoying it from my seat behind the Kernels dugout), so I wouldn't have been able to put together those numbers so quickly!

 

Walker's home run was the first of the "I can't believe what I just saw" moments. Those of us in the general area of where I was sitting all just kept asking one another if we really just saw the ball go over the batters eye in CF. The ball was not hit way up in the air, but more of a line drive that just kept rising, so it was a little hard to believe it carried over the batters eye.

 

I've never seen a four-base error before. Bees CF (and 2012 Kernel) Chevy Clarke drifted back and appeared to simply misjudge Buxton's deep fly ball. It hit off his glove and ended up rolling to Clarke's left a ways. Buxton did have considerable elevation on the ball and it would have been out of the park anywhere but CF, but obviously Buxton didn't just stand in the batters box and admire his work. He was near 2B when Clarke muffed the catch and by the time Clarke chased the ball down and got it to the relay man, Buxton was coming around 3B. The relay throw to home was way wide up the 3B line and never had a chance.

 

I do think a guy really needs to just get in the habit of recording Buxton's and Walker's ABs on his phone every time they come up to the plate.

[Seth Stohs]

I do think a guy really needs to just get in the habit of recording Buxton's and Walker's ABs on his phone every time they come up to the plate.

 

I know a guy who goes to a lot of the Kernels games... that guy really should do that!

[cmathewson]

Walker and Buxton are both pushing to get promoted. When will Keplar be ready? With Pasada, that's two outfielders who can replace them.

[Steven Buhr]

I know a guy who goes to a lot of the Kernels games... that guy really should do that!

 

Yeah, but he'd have to put down his beer or margarita long enough to point his phone/camera at the field and the guy you're talking about could find that to be problematic.

[tjsyam921]

Who is starting game two in CR today?

[roger]

Good morning Seth, and thanks for these reports. Do you know if Jiminez is battling an injury or any other reason for his poor performance at the plate in Cedar Rapids? Or is this a first sign of the end of the road for a player who just turned 22 and is already a bit old for his first attempt at Low-A ball?

[chuchadoro]

Whoever thinks Kyle Gibson is ready for the major should be hit on the head.

 

Luckily for Gibson, he'd be joining a AAAA staff.

[lightfoot789]

Good morning Seth, and thanks for these reports. Do you know if Jiminez is battling an injury or any other reason for his poor performance at the plate in Cedar Rapids? Or is this a first sign of the end of the road for a player who just turned 22 and is already a bit old for his first attempt at Low-A ball?

 

Romy was lights out last year in ETown. He was hands down the leading MVP candidate for the league before his injury in July. He has the "it" for sure and just needs to find it. I wouldn't give up on him so quickly. He was leading the Appy league in almost every offensive category last year on a very talented ETown team. He just needs some one on one help with his mechanics or something.

[Seth Stohs]

Good morning Seth, and thanks for these reports. Do you know if Jiminez is battling an injury or any other reason for his poor performance at the plate in Cedar Rapids? Or is this a first sign of the end of the road for a player who just turned 22 and is already a bit old for his first attempt at Low-A ball?

 

Jimenez did spend the entire offseason rehabbing from a knee surgery, so that could factor in, though I think he's at 100%

[Jeff A]

Assuming DeVries is ready to come back to Minnesota, who goes out? Would they make any kind of move with Pelfrey or Vanimal, or would they just make the easy move and ship out Hernandez?

[Steven Buhr]

Walker and Buxton are both pushing to get promoted. When will Keplar be ready? With Pasada, that's two outfielders who can replace them.

 

We were told by a source in the organization about a week ago that Kepler was "not close" to being ready. He apparently saw game action in EST today as a DH, but it doesn't sound like he's being allowed to throw yet.

[Steven Buhr]

Who is starting game two in CR today?

 

Looks like they're going with Steve Gruver.

[Brodin4Calder]

Whoever thinks Kyle Gibson is ready for the major should be hit on the head.

 

Hes deserves to be on the team more than atleast 3 of the Twins starters. Arent you sick of seeing 88mph slowballs crushed? I know I am, so is the rest of MN.

[mlhouse]

Went to the Miracle game Tuesday night. Here are some observations: 1. Matt Summers has a nice lively fastball that sits between 91-93, touched 94 by the Hammonds field radar gun. His secondary pitches are average. But, his consistency melted in five innings and he certainly projects as a reliever and the Twins would be smart to move him to the bullpen fulltime as soon as possible. And, from there he should be rushed to the major league level to either swim, or sink and make way for some of the arms following him. 2. Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano need to work on patience at the plate. Rosario in particular I was disappointed in because he swung at some bad pitches early in the count (twice on the first pitch) and made easy outs. 3. On the other hand, I was impressed with Rosario in the field. He made an amazing running catch in short right field, handled a couple of pretty good plays at second, and made two very strong pivots on double plays. 4. Matt Koch had a decent looking swing. He made good contact in every at bat. 5. Was not impressed with Levi Michael, even though I think he ended up with 2 hits. The boot he made in the field was a routine ground ball and was a very costly error. 5. Of the players I saw, only Sano, Rosario, Vargas, Koch, and Summers warrant advancement to AA. But they are all young guys and I hope the best for all of them. The weather was beautiful, as perfect of a night as you can have, and it was Tuesday 2-1......and it was cool to see Molitor in the Miracle dougout wearing #4. My guess is he could have been put in the lineup and been the best player on the field.

[troyhobbs]

Whoever thinks Kyle Gibson is ready for the major should be hit on the head.

 

Never seen him pitch but he can't be any less ready than Hicks, Hernandez, Parmelee, Hendricks, etc. He deserves a shot at some point this year, I hope it's soon.

[jun]

Luckily for Gibson, he'd be joining a AAAA staff.

 

Deduno deserves the chance first and then De Vries. Gibson should be joining the rotation later this season.

[jun]

Never seen him pitch but he can't be any less ready than Hicks, Hernandez, Parmelee, Hendricks, etc. He deserves a shot at some point this year, I hope it's soon.

I think he is definitely better than Hendriks, Hernandez is really not that bad though (if we have enough quality arms in the rotation, he should be moved to the bullpen as a lefty specialist along with Duensing), Deduno should be the first to be promoted and then De Dries, Gibson should be right after De Vries.

[joeboo_22]

The problem with Duduno other then him not being on the 40 man roster, is that he is not very efficient even when he is pitching well. He hasn't shown anything on being anything more then a 5th starter. The difference with him and Gibson is Gibson has talent to be a #2-#3 starter, add in the innings limit and I want to see what he can do at the major league level.