Minor League Report (9/3): The Usual Suspects

TRANSACTIONS
OF Carlos Aguiar reinstated from 7-day IL at Ft. Myers
Cedar Rapids placed RHP Luis Rijo on 7-day IL 
LHP Jovani Moran optioned to St. Paul

Saints Sentinel 
St. Paul 9, Omaha 4 
Box Score
Jordan Balazovic: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
HR: Chris Williams (8)
Multi-hit games: Matt Wallner (3-for-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI, 1 BB), Cole Sturgeon (3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB)

St. Paul won decisively on Saturday.

It was an all-around offensive breakout; eight batters scored a run in an 11-hit, seven-walk effort. Matt Wallner may have collected the most RBIs, but this was a democratic affair; the lone hitter to not score a run drove one in. Chris Williams swatted a solo home run.

Jordan Balazovic pitched arguably his best outing on Saturday; the righty struck out six while allowing a lone run over his four innings of work. It may not be the most impressive start ever, but a step in the right direction is always welcome.

Michael Feliz netted four outs with one strikeout; Williams’ AAA OPS is now over 1.000.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 2, Springfield 8
Box Score
Brent Headrick: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Yunior Severino (2-for-4), Anthony Prato (2-for-4, 2B)

Wichita played a game to forget on Saturday.

The defense was the major bugaboo; the team committed five errors, with two blunders attributed to Yunior Severino and three stemming from Jair Camargo. It’s difficult to win many games with that sort of performance.

Brent Headrick worked around his fielders in admirable fashion, allowing two earned runs over five innings with seven strikeouts. The lefty has 42 strikeouts over 29 innings since the beginning of August.

Both runs scored late as Ernie Yake singled home a runner in the 7th, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. brought one in with a 9th inning sacrifice fly. Keirsey also sto le two bases, giving him 37 on the season.

Blayne Enlow struck out four over two innings; Anthony Prato’s double was the sole extra-base hit.

Kernels Nuggets 

The rain ended this game before it could start; the Kernels will play a doubleheader on Sunday.

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 3
Box Score
Tomas Cleto: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
HR: Nate Baez (1)
Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2 R), Nate Baez (2-for-4, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI)

The Mighty Mussels won a tame game on Saturday.

Nate Baez dominated the story; the catcher cracked a double and blasted a homer on his way to three RBIs. He hasn’t played much this year—the 2022 draft pick has just 47 at-bats—but more games like this could set the foundation for a phenomenal 2023 season.

Kala’i Rosario was the Robin to Baez’s Batman, drumming a double and scoring a pair of runs in Saturday’s effort.

Tomas Cleto was effectively wild. The starter allowed a single hit but walked four in his scoreless outing, perhaps even flummoxing himself regarding pitch location. It was no matter; Cleto walked away with a sparkling ERA, and that is all the Mighty Mussels could ask for.

Noah Miller tripled for the 4th time this season; Niklas Rimmel pitched two scoreless innings to end the game.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Brent Headrick
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Matt Wallner

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#4 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 1-4
#7 - Noah Miller (Ft. Myers) - 1-5, 3B, K
#9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 3-for-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI, 1 BB
#11 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
#14 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 0-3, BB, 2 K
#15 - Blayne Enlow (Wichita) - 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
#20 - Kala’i Rosario (Ft. Myers) - 2-for-4, 2 R

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Omaha @ St. Paul (5:07 PM) - RHP Josh Winder
Wichita @ Springfield (6:05 PM) - TBD
Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (12:09 PM) - TBD
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (11:00 AM) - LHP Jordan Carr