Minor League Report (7/10): Jordy Blaze Does it Again

TRANSACTIONS

C Nick Garland transferred from FCL Twins to Low-A Fort Myers

C Charles Mack placed on the temporary inactive list with Low-A Fort Myers. The Twins are allowing him to be with his family, specifically his brother Joe, for the MLB Draft on Sunday night. Joe Mack could go as early as the mid-first round. 

Saints Sentinel

The Saints were rained out on Saturday in Iowa. The game will be made up Sunday as part of a double-header against the Cubs. 

Wind Surge Wisdom

Wichita 5, NW Arkansas 4

Box Score

Jordan Balazovic: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

HR: B.J. Boyd (4), Andrew Bechtold (9)

Multi-hit games: B.J. Boyd (2-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI), Andrew Bechtold (2-for-4, HR, R, RBI)

Jordan Balazovic is everything that he has been promised to be.

The de-facto top active prospect in the Twins’ system was dominant in yet another start. He completely shut down the NW Arkansas lineup over six masterful innings in which he proved why he is held in such high regard as a prospect. This author specifically was impressed by his consistent ability to miss bats at the top of the strike zone with his fastball. Such a skill is crucial in today’s baseball landscape and Balazovic’s command over the pitch is pristine.

Alright, but what about the rest of the team?

The Wind Surge were in a 0-0 deadlock for the majority of the game before the levee finally broke in the 8th inning. Wichita loaded the bases for B.J. Boyd who promptly sent everyone home with a blast over the right-centerfield wall. 

Andrew Bechtold followed up Boyd’s grand slam with a solo shot of his own. Normally, this would be seen as showing off, but the run was actually crucial for Wichita. The Naturals thundered back in the ninth inning off of Alex Phillips with four runs of their own before finally retiring for the night. Had Bechtold been more modest with his 8th inning at-bat, this game may have ended in a completely different fashion. 

Kernels Nuggets

Cedar Rapids 8, Peoria 2

Box Score

Jon Olsen: 5 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

HR: Max Smith (3)

Multi-hit games: Alex Isola (2-for-5, R), Seth Gray (2-for-4, RBI, BB), Max Smith (2-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)

It was a late-bloomer of a game for the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday.

Jon Olsen made quick work of Peoria’s lineup in the second-longest start of the day by a Twins prospect. His ERA now sits at 3.59 on the season.

Most of the fun did not occur until later into the game, though. The Kernels headed into the 5th inning looking at a 2-0 deficit and tied the game with a Wander Javier sacrifice fly and a DaShawn Kiersey groundout. Who says that you need hits to score runs?

They were not yet finished scoring as the next inning saw a Gabriel Maciel triple that brought home a run and an Edouard Julien groundout that plated the fourth run of the game.

But they were still not done terrorizing Chiefs’ pitchers as Max Smith broke the game open in the 7th inning with a two-run bomb. This came after a run-scoring wild pitch earlier in the inning in what became a five-run lead for Cedar Rapids. 

BUT THEY WERE STILL NOT DONE as Seth Gray singled home one more run in the 8th frame. Ok, then they were done scoring.

Erik Manoah, Jr. tossed 2 1/3 scoreless, one-hit innings in relief of Olsen. He struck out three batters. Jordan Gore struck out three batters in the ninth inning to end the game. 

Mussel Matters

Fort Myers 1, St. Lucie 2

Box Score

Bobby Milacki: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Aaron Sabato (2-for-3, BB)

The Mighty Mussels lost an odd one on Saturday.

Teams often find themselves as the victors when they can limit the other team to just three hits, but that was not the case in this matchup. Bobby Milacki served honorably by allowing two runs over his five innings of work before Osiris German took the game to the finish line. Normally, just two runs would be good enough but Milacki got deGromed.

Fort Myers’ offense actually performed pretty well based on the box score. They knocked out seven hits and walked three times. What gives? Well, the "LOBsters" were out in full force as they grounded into two double plays while leaving entirely too many runners on base. Willie Joe Garry Jr. brought in the only run of the game for the Mighty Mussels with his 7th inning double.

Aaron Sabato reached base three times in the game. He has not yet flashed the power that the team was expecting when they drafted him in the 1st round in 2020, but his on-base ability has been a pleasant plus. Hopefully he can harness his power soon. 

Complex Chronicles

FCL Twins 3, FCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

Elpidio Perez: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Alexander Pena (3-for-4, 2B, R)

The FCL Twins lost a heart-breaker on Saturday.

Twins starter Elpidio Perez sailed through some rough waters in his start that proved to be too much to navigate through. Juan Mendez and John Wilson were able to right the boat as they combined for four shutout innings in relief of Perez. 

The Twins bats were dead silent to begin the game but were jolted to life thanks to a Breilin Ramirez double in the 5th inning. Kala’i Rosario added to the fun with a triple in the following inning, and he came around to score a few pitches later as the opposing Red Sox pitcher unleashed a pitch that was too wild to handle.

The Red Sox had the last laugh, though, as a clutch 9th inning double severed the tie and lead the Red Sox to victory. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jordan Balazovic

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – B.J. Boyd

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL)

#2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain)

#3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

#4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain)

#5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – Rained Out

#6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – 0-3, BB, 3 K

#7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – Did not play 

#8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – Traveled to Denver for the Futures Game.

#9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 2-3, BB, K

#10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (hamate bone surgery)

#11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery)

#12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

#13 – Cole Sands (Wichita) – Injured List 

#14 – Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – Rained Out

#15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 1-4, 2B, 2 K

#16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 0-3, BB, R

#17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 1-3, RBI, 2 K

#18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury)

#19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow)

#20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – Did not pitch

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Fort Myers @ St. Lucie (11:10 AM) - RHP Miguel Rodriguez 

St. Paul @ Iowa (12:08 PM) - RHP Beau Burrows

St. Paul @ Iowa (Game Two) - LHP Andrew Albers

NW Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 PM) - LHP Bryan Sammons

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 PM) - LHP Tyler Watson