Twins Minor League Report (7/14): Wallner and Encarnacion-Strand Earn Promotions

Congrats to Wallner and Christian Encarnation-Strand!!  They are both well earned promotions.  Hoping they both don't skip a beat and keep on performing at a high level.  The more hitters ready to go the better.

I would really have been surprised if Wallner didn't get bumped up to AAA. I mean... there's not much else you can ask the guy to do, haha.

Encarnation-Strand earned his jump up as well. It'll be interesting to see how his game plays at AA. The BB vs. K ratio is okay and he's been destroying the baseball this year in high A. Hopefully, he's able to maintain the fairly aggressive plate approach against much tougher competition.

What is the point right now with Balazovic pitching (attempting) at AAA? Every start is the same…50 pitches over 2 innings, a ton of baserunners, and a home run. If he’s hurt, shelf him. If he’s not, why not get him back to AA? It’s not like he had AA figured out last year. The decision to start him at the AAA level this year is looking bad, given the IL stint to start the year, and a very short (and rough) rehab assignment at Fort Myers.

I don’t understand Balazovic.  His stuff appeared to be too good for these results.  Is he dealing with an injury?  Is it mental?  Many of us were hopeful he would pitch for the Twins later this summer.  Now have to wonder if he ever will pitch for the Twins.  Has to be the biggest disappointment this year.

Balazovic has been somebody I have been really high on and the last few years somebody I didn't want the Twins to trade away, but this is how the world MLB prospects work. Balazovic is still pretty young by Twins standards he won't turn 24 until September, but IMO the days of thinking he could be a top of the rotation starter are pretty much over, my hopes now dropped to a role similiar to Josh Winder (that isn't meant as a bad thing for either guy but more of just a MLB pitcher, not a star)

Congrats to the promoted guys, good Luck!

I went to the Kernals game in Beloit last night to watch David Festa pitch and he pitched well only giving up one run through 6 innings.  I have to say I knew he was a skinny\lanky guy but I still was surprised at just how thin he is.  Still at the start of the game he was really popping the catchers glove with the fastball.  I guess with the slight frame I can see why some think he is likely more destined for the pen than starter.  Last night I wouldn't say his stuff looked  overly impressive to be honest and yet he was very effective.  The Beloit hitters really had a hard time getting solid contact so he must be doing something right.  All in all it was a joy to watch him pitch.

I watched Javier a few years back and he looks different now.  Looks more confident and I felt he had a good eye at the plate.  He didn't get a hit last night but I still think that he can become a solid hitter.  Looking at him I don't see the elite player we might have been hoping he would become but he still could be a valuable utility player and if the bat heats up then a solid regular.  He has a ways to go but this is the best he has looked in a long time to me.

While I was hoping to see Christian Encarnation-Strand they promoted him one game before I got the chance.  At any rate to me the most impressive hitter last night was Kyler Fedko.  This guy has legs like tree trunks and looks like he could deadlift a bus with good speed as well.  Maybe he just had a good night as he started the game with what looked like a double but just cleared the fence for a home run and went 2 for 5 with no K's. His stance is odd as his crouch is low and he sticks his butt out but he puts the bat through the zone well and made good contact all night.  I know he was a lower pick but he kind of reminds me of Spencer Steer somewhat in that he has good plate discipline, makes solid contact and just looks good in the box.  I think the Twins might have something in Fedko.  

While I wasn't impressed with Winkel's defense as he looked slow trying to throw runners out he was making good contact at the plate.  I think his bat might play and guessing the D will improve.  He looked like the second best hitter on the team to me.  Granted based on just one night just a few at bats.

Soularie has a slighter build than I thought he would have but he was making good contact last night as well.  I guess I can see why other scouts thought the Twins picked him too high.  He looks OK just not sure about him though.

Was a great night for baseball and the Kernals had some clutch hits and defensive plays to round out the win.  They look like a pretty solid team even without CES.

10 hours ago, jkcarew said:

What is the point right now with Balazovic pitching (attempting) at AAA? Every start is the same…50 pitches over 2 innings, a ton of baserunners, and a home run. If he’s hurt, shelf him. If he’s not, why not get him back to AA? It’s not like he had AA figured out last year. The decision to start him at the AAA level this year is looking bad, given the IL stint to start the year, and a very short (and rough) rehab assignment at Fort Myers.

 

Yeah I don't get it either.  I really don't understand how he could be this bad.  I mean crazy bad.  At this point I am hoping this is something similar to Gore last year where he couldn't find the plate and was horrible and then ends up fine the next year.

Covid really messed things up as guys couldn't get promoted fast enough or pitch enough innings to see where they were at, at the highest levels.  Now we have Balazovich, Sands and Strotman taking up valuable 40 man space and they shouldn't even need to be on the 40 man as no team would want any of those three on their roster for the year.  Their poor performance is killing this team in more way than one

32 minutes ago, Dman said:

I went to the Kernals game in Beloit last night to watch David Festa pitch and he pitched well only giving up one run through 6 innings.  I have to say I knew he was a skinny\lanky guy but I still was surprised at just how thin he is.  Still at the start of the game he was really popping the catchers glove with the fastball.  I guess with the slight frame I can see why some think he is likely more destined for the pen than starter.  Last night I wouldn't say his stuff looked  overly impressive to be honest and yet he was very effective.  The Beloit hitters really had a hard time getting solid contact so he must be doing something right.  All in all it was a joy to watch him pitch.

I watched Javier a few years back and he looks different now.  Looks more confident and I felt he had a good eye at the plate.  He didn't get a hit last night but I still think that he can become a solid hitter.  Looking at him I don't see the elite player we might have been hoping he would become but he still could be a valuable utility player and if the bat heats up then a solid regular.  He has a ways to go but this is the best he has looked in a long time to me.

While I was hoping to see Christian Encarnation-Strand they promoted him one game before I got the chance.  At any rate to me the most impressive hitter last night was Kyler Fedko.  This guy has legs like tree trunks and looks like he could deadlift a bus with good speed as well.  Maybe he just had a good night as he started the game with what looked like a double but just cleared the fence for a home run and went 2 for 5 with no K's. His stance is odd as his crouch is low and he sticks his butt out but he puts the bat through the zone well and made good contact all night.  I know he was a lower pick but he kind of reminds me of Spencer Steer somewhat in that he has good plate discipline, makes solid contact and just looks good in the box.  I think the Twins might have something in Fedko.  

While I wasn't impressed with Winkel's defense as he looked slow trying to throw runners out he was making good contact at the plate.  I think his bat might play and guessing the D will improve.  He looked like the second best hitter on the team to me.  Granted based on just one night just a few at bats.

Soularie has a slighter build than I thought he would have but he was making good contact last night as well.  I guess I can see why other scouts thought the Twins picked him too high.  He looks OK just not sure about him though.

Was a great night for baseball and the Kernals had some clutch hits and defensive plays to round out the win.  They look like a pretty solid team even without CES.

Cedar Rapids has our best minor league pitching staff. I wish we had some help in St. Paul. 

If Balozovic's struggles have anything to do with his knee, this is bordering on negligent treatment of him. 

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Now we have Balazovich, Sands and Strotman taking up valuable 40 man space and they shouldn't even need to be on the 40 man as no team would want any of those three on their roster for the year.  Their poor performance is killing this team in more way than one

You left out Henriquez and Enlow.

12 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

You left out Henriquez and Enlow.

Good point they are un-usable as well essentially making it a 35 man instead of 40.

12 hours ago, jkcarew said:

What is the point right now with Balazovic pitching (attempting) at AAA? Every start is the same…50 pitches over 2 innings, a ton of baserunners, and a home run. If he’s hurt, shelf him. If he’s not, why not get him back to AA? It’s not like he had AA figured out last year. The decision to start him at the AAA level this year is looking bad, given the IL stint to start the year, and a very short (and rough) rehab assignment at Fort Myers.

 

Balozovic is a great example of why you shouldn't overvalue prospects. Over the past couple of years, Twins fans would have rioted with torches and pitchforks if Balazovic would have been involved in a trade. People were penciling him in as Berrios' replacement, putting him as a sure thing for the 2022 or 2023 starting rotation. You think I'm exaggerating, go ahead and look up the comments.

From this article: "Even with the time missed due to the pandemic, the Canadian is knocking on the door to the big leagues.....If he can be a staff ace, the organization will have its next piece to build around. "

And from this one: "A strong finish could help Balazovic reach St. Paul before the season’s end, with a call-up to the Twins looming in 2022"

Lesson: never be too attached to a prospect before they actually prove they can play in The Show. Minor league numbers mean nothing if you can't repeat them in Target Field.

12 hours ago, jkcarew said:

What is the point right now with Balazovic pitching (attempting) at AAA? Every start is the same…50 pitches over 2 innings, a ton of baserunners, and a home run. If he’s hurt, shelf him. If he’s not, why not get him back to AA? It’s not like he had AA figured out last year. The decision to start him at the AAA level this year is looking bad, given the IL stint to start the year, and a very short (and rough) rehab assignment at Fort Myers.

 

How will AA help him or the Twins in your opinion?

Here's what I recall. Balazovic was making a mockery of AA hitters last year until Wes Johnson challenged him to use the changeup in any count against lefties and righties. After that point, Balazovic was pretty inconsistent and suddenly started walking a ton of guys. Johnson was not nearly as  bullish on Balazovic as Twins fans were with the coach suggesting Balazovic might have a ceiling of middle of the rotation. 

Is the problem AAA hitters or is the problem Balazovic's changeup just doesn't work against high level competition? 

Balazovic 
AA <7/25/2021 - 31.3 K%, 5.5 BB%, 1.04 WHIP, 2.44 ERA, 2.73 FIP
AA >7/25/2021 - 18.2 K%, 11.3 BB%, 1.71 WHIP, 4.61 ERA, 4.90 FIP
AAA >5/07/2022 - 17.6 K%, 9.8 BB%, 2.32 WHIP, 10.12 ERA, 7.70 FIP

Balazovic doesn't really look much different in AAA this year than he did to finish AA last year. He's giving up a ton of hits, being hit hard, walking a ton of guys and not striking many out. Maybe there's an underlying injury or maybe he's just destined to be a 2 pitch guy working out of the bullpen. I don't see how AA will help him. At least he's super close to the Twins' staff right now. Putting him in Wichita (the middle of nowhere) doesn't feel like an advantage to me.

I understand all the Balazovic comments, I was really expecting him to rise to MLB this year, but now I wonder where he will drop to in the prospect rankings?  Will there be new rankings at the All star break?

Our AAA staff really does not seem ready to step up to help the Twins on the mound.  A lot of disappointing arms like others have pointed out.