Twins Minor League Report (5/26): Stars Shine in St. Paul, Schmidt Goes Off in Florida

Kirilloff is hot and now is getting extra base hits. Twins need more of that. Let's call him up and give Miranda more time with the Saints. I would call up Lewis as well and that would mean the end for Gordon (unless Polanco's ankle is bad enough for the IL, which it doesn't sound like it is). Lewis looked good on the highlights defensively playing 3B tonight. 2022 MLB requires more speed and Lewis would give that at 3B (love Gio's D though). Sorry Saints, just when you start looking good, we want to poach your best guys.

Wichita is missing their Steer, but that "wind surge" blew him up to the Saints. And he is playing great there.

Gipson-Long and Haijar dominating their leagues.

Steven Hajjar ??

Nice to see the bats come out at the affiliate level at least.  Kirilloff continues to mash right along with Lewis at AAA and Steer appears to want to hang right with them.  That is a three headed monster right now in St Paul.  With pitchers expanded to 14 I don't think we will see either player with the Twins until that number moves to 13 or there is an injury.

After having one the worst starts to a season I can remember Wallner has moved his OPS to about 900.  That is quite the accomplishment.  I am going to try and ignore the 33% K rate for now as it was at nearly 50 % to start the season.  He can take walks as well so it looks like he is gaining on that plate discipline skill he will need to make it at the MLB level.

Gipson-Long pitched a shut out against a team that pounded our pitching on Wednesday and so that was big.  He is looking ready to move up a level,  Holland is slowly working his way up to being one of the better hitters on that team as well.  A nice 2 for 3 night with a walk.  He could be a valuable prospect if his bat comes around.  think Nick Gordon with HR power.  A guy who can probably play all the outfield and infield positions and who has speed.

Hajjar has brought the WHIP and ERA down and his K rate is reliever esque. It seems like a good time to move him up.  He is just dominating right now so not sure what more he can learn at low A.  Really nice to see those walks down.  Tough night for the bats with 13 K's and Miller and Rodriguez accounting for 5 of them.

All the affiliates won except the Steerless Windsurge.  Another good night of MiLB baseball for the Twins.  Hopefully some of these prospects can find their way to the top 100 list.

The biggest news of the night is Kirilloff driving the ball like he does when he is healthy.  The second biggest news of the night is Hajjar's performance.  It was great to see him limiting his walks. 

It's starting to look like Kirilloff is either getting healthier with that wrist, or figuring out how to swing through whatever ongoing issues he might be having (or both). If that's the case, then let's get him back up to MN to help the struggling offense. I've always been a Kirilloff fan, so I'm happy he's getting back on track.

Wallner is on a nice run again. I'm still a little nervous that he just isn't going to make enough contact to let his power play (or get him on base enough), but it's the only question he has to answer. The power is still massive, he's drawing walks, his arm plays well in the corners (and he's not a terrible OF). But it's been very encouraging how he's done after that rotten start.

When Kirilloff joined the Saints, he was in a total slump.  Then awhile back we began seeing him get a good number of hits, albeit mostly singles.  Beginning a few games ago we are seeing him driving the ball, the result more extra base hits.  Don't know if he is ready to return, but if he keeps this up for a few more games he certainly should.

The corresponding move will be to send Miranda back to St. Paul.  Unfortunately, Miranda appears to be making adjustments and is beginning to get some hits.  Still makes sense to get him back to AAA where he hopefully will hit like he did in 2021.  And Lewis just keeps whacking the ball and doing what he does.  I still believe it makes sense for him to stay in St. Paul for several more weeks or a month to get more comfortable at both third and left.  Then bring him back with Garlick returning to the Saints.  It is likely, however, that someone will be injured over the coming weeks, which would open a spot for either player.

Have never been a huge fan of Wallner.  Don't know why, other than he always appeared to be another power bat who couldn't play defense, ala, Rooker, Sabato, etc.  But I understand that he is adequate in the field with an excellent arm.  And his bat sure looks like it could play, so hopefully I will be proven wrong.  Unfortunately, don't know where playing time with the Twins could come from over the next few years.

Loved the Twins draft last summer when they took the two lefties in I recall the second and third rounds.  Fantastic seeing Hajjar have games like last night.  Povich also continues to seem like a very strong prospect.

It's getting harder and harder to justify Nick Gordon occupying Royce Lewis' roster spot. 

I am glad to see Kirilloff driving the ball.  I am not ready to bring him back up yet, but if he finishes out the week strong, and reports to be healthy, I am all for him coming up for Miranda, or if Polonco needs to go on DL for him. 

I am having the same thoughts about Steer that I remember having about Arraez five years ago. He's never been a top prospect with all the "tools," but his hitting has been elite at every level. Plus, he has power that Luis does not. I won't be surprised if he ends up getting called up after some infield injuries and making it impossible to send him back down.

Hajjar looks like he's ready to be challenged more.  He seems to have gotten his minor early season control issues out of the way and has been close to unhittable in his last 4 starts.

With Vallimont claimed by the Orioles I wonder if we'll see a couple of moves.  I'd guess Gipson-Long or Headrick to AA and hopeful Hajjar to A+.

49 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Will be very interesting to see what they do with Lewis and Kirilloff. What will it take for Kirilloff to convince the FO that he's healthy/ready? If they feel he's ready would he replace Miranda even though he's not a righty? What does it take for Lewis to supplant Gordon knowing Gordon is likely lost to a rebuilding team if they try to send him back down? Is the only hope for either of them an injury to a current big leaguer? Be interesting to follow for sure.

Hajjar looks like he's mastered A ball and is ready for a bump up to A+. As a 2nd round pick college arm I'd think they'd be willing to make that move pretty quick and challenge him a bit with relatively quick promotions as earned.

Has anyone been watching games and know what Martin has been looking like? Are there changes to his swing and/or approach? That'd make me less concerned with his overall numbers if he's trying to make adjustments on the fly.

Agree with you and Mike.  With that said, have no problem keeping him in St. Paul a few more weeks to get more reps at third and left.  If I didn't miss something, he has played two games at third and one in left.  Let him get five or six at each spot before the move up.  At two a week in each spot, that would be another three weeks.