Twins Minor League Report (5/12): Pair of Firsts on the Farm

TRANSACTIONS

• Pitcher Brandon Koch signed a minor league contract with the Twins and is assigned to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He was with the independent Milwaukee Milkmen this year. He was at Twins spring training in 2020 but ended up pitching for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Constellation Energy League. 
• According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Twins have signed infielder Sherman Johnson and assigned him to the Wichita Wind Surge. He had been working with the independent Kane County Cougars. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 6, Iowa 1
Box Score

After dropping the opener against Iowa the St. Paul Saints recorded their first home victory as an affiliated minor league ballclub. Griffin Jax made the start for the Saints and turned in five innings of one-run ball while striking out four. Lewis Thorpe (3.0 IP 2K) and Cody Stashak (1.0 IP 2 K) both worked scoreless outings in relief.

St. Paul jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when Brent Rooker sent a solo shot over the wall in left center. Ryan Jeffers followed his lead in the bottom of the 2nd to double the home tally. After giving one back the Saints went to work and grabbed some separation in the 5th. Jimmy Kerrigan hit the third solo shot of the game before Tomas Telis singled in Nick Gordon. Jeffers then continued his nice night with a double that plated Telis from second base. Rob Refsnyer added a 6th run for good measure in the 6th and Saint Paul closed it out.

Now 3-5 on the year, Toby Gardenhire’s squad will look to put more tallies in the win column after recording most of the more monumental firsts.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 1, Amarillo 0
Box Score

Looking for their first home win in organization history the Wind Surge turned to Austin Schulfer. He grabbed an out in the 6th inning allowing just a single hit while fanning and walking two each. Ryan Mason continued to be dominant in relief, and Tom Hackimer was credited with the victory as the good guys walked it off in the 9th.

Amarillo and Wichita combined for just five hits total in this one, and it wasn’t until Jose Miranda lifted a one-out sac fly in the final half of the 9th that the game’s first run came in. Andrew Bechtold singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a throwing error. Wichita made sure to capitalize and will take the walk off in any way they can get it.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Quad Cities 2, Cedar Rapids 1
Box Score

Heralded Twins pitching prospect Blayne Enlow was on the bump for this one and his start didn’t disappoint. Turning in five innings of one-run baseball, Enlow allowed just three hits while striking out seven and allowing just a single free pass.

Cedar Rapids spotted their starter a run in the first inning when Spencer Steer stole home, but that was wiped out in the 5th on a River Bandits solo blast. Returning the favor of a run crossing without a ball put in play, Melvi Acosta uncorked a wild pitch in the 7th and that allowed the decisive run to cross the plate for Quad Cities.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 6, Clearwater 5
Box Score

Opening Day starter Regi Grace was back on the bump for this one, but it was a shortened start as he allowed five earned runs on five hits and two longballs. Ultimately he came an out shy of making it through the third inning. Fort Myers was afforded the opportunity for a win thanks in part to a strong relief outing from Ryan Shreve, who went 2.2 innings and struck out five allowing just two hits.

After a solo shot put the Threshers in the lead, Fort Myers answered quickly. Singles from Edouard Julien, Anthony Prato, and Willie Joe Garry Jr. all drove in runs giving the Mighty Mussels a 3-1 lead after the first frame. Keoni Cavaco kept up his hot hitting with a double in the 2nd that plated another to put the Mussels back on top 4-3, and Julien drove in two on a 6th inning single that pushed the tally to a final score of 6-5.

The middle of the lineup did most of the heavy lifting for Fort Myers in this one. Despite each starter grabbing a hit, and their being 13 in total, seven came from Cavaco, Julien, and Aaron Sabato.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Hitter of the Day – Edouard Julien 2-for-4, R, 3 RBI

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Injured List (wrist)
#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)
#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 1-for-1, 2B (pinch hit, first MLB hit)
#4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR(2), BB
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch
#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back)
#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B
#8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 2-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch
#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-for-3, 2 K
#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR(2), BB, K
#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
#14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 1-for-3, R, BB
#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch
#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)
#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – Did not play
#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A
#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 0-for-3, RBI, K
#20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – Did not pitch

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Iowa @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Amarillo @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) – RHP Dakota Chalmers (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30PM CST) – LHP Tyler Watson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Miguel Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games!