Image courtesy of Linwood Ferguson
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There were many terrific bullpen performances in June. I’ve ranked the top five, but before getting to them, here are some pitchers who deserve honorable mention.
- RHP Cole Johnson – Chattanooga/Rochester – 8 G, 11.2 IP, 0-0, 2-Saves, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8 H, 2 BB, 8 K
- RHP JT Chargois – Chattanooga – 9 G, 8.2 IP, 1-0, 5-Saves, 2.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 6 H, 6 BB, 9 K
- RHP DJ Johnson – Ft. Myers – 10 G, 13.1 IP, 1-0, 3-Saves, 1.35 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10 H, 4 BB, 13 K
- RHP Brian Gilbert – Ft. Myers – 9 G, 13.1 IP, 1-0, 2.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 10 H, 5 BB, 13 K
- RHP Trevor Hildenberger – Cedar Rapids – 8 G, 9.2 IP, 0-0, 3 Saves, 2.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10 H, 2 BB, 13 K
- RHP Luke Bard – Cedar Rapids – 7 G, 13.1 IP, 3-0, 1.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 11 H, 3 BB, 8 K
The Top 5 Twins Relievers for June 2015
Number 5 – Rochester – AJ Achter – 11 G, 14.0 IP, 0-0, 6 Saves, 2.57 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 7 H, 2 BB, 14 K
Since moving to the bullpen in 2012, Achter has been one of the best – and certainly the most consistent – relief pitcher in the Twins minor league system. He has pitched in every role. He has been in long relief, used as a set up man and now he is succeeding as a closer this year. Overall this year, he is 3-2 with 13 saves. He has a 2.27 ERA and a miniscule 0.63 WHIP. He throws strikes (1.8 BB/9) and yet still doesn’t give up hits. He also has struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings the last two seasons in Rochester. With the issues we have witnessed in the Twins bullpen this year, it is surprising that we have not seen Achter yet this year.
Number 4 – Ft. Myers – Todd Van Steensel – 10 G, 16.1 IP, 0-0, 5 Saves, 1.10 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 7 H, 6 BB, 20 K
Since coming back to the Twins organization before the 2014 season, Van Steensel has turned himself into a big-time strikeout weapon out of the bullpen. He began this season in Ft. Myers after spending the final month of the 2014 season with the Miracle. Overall, he is 1-2 with a 1.97 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has nine saves already. He has been a workhorse for the Miracle. In 45.1 innings, he has given up 31 hits. He has walked 23 (4.5 BB/9) which is a bit high, though he improved on that in June. He has been able to get a lot of strikeouts, averaging 12.2 K/9 on the season. With recent bullpen issues in Chattanooga and already some transactions, Van Steensel could, or at least should, end the season with the Lookouts.
Number 3 – Ft. Myers – Alex Muren – 9 G, 16.2 IP, 1-0, 1 Save, 0.54 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 13 H, 2 BB, 20 K
Muren was the Twins 12
th
round pick in 2012 out of Cal State - Northridge. He spent the final two months last year with the Miracle and has been a workhorse with the team so far this year as well. In 26 games, he is 2-2 with a 1.60 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has good control (2.6 BB/9) and has been much-improved this year in terms of strikeout rate (8.4). But he is a
ground ball pitcher
. Managers often put him in with runners on base, needing a double play. His month culminated with a much-deserved promotion to AA Chattanooga.
Number 2 – Cedar Rapids – Randy LeBlanc – 7 G, 18.1 IP, 1-1, 0.49 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 10 H, 2 BB, 17 K
Recently, LeBlanc had a streak of 26 consecutive scoreless innings come to an end when he gave up one run. How did he respond? In his next outing, he threw three shutout innings. LeBlanc, a Tommy John survivor, has been a starter most of his life. The Twins 10
th
round pick in 2014 from Tulane has adjusted well to working out of the bullpen this year. Overall, in 20 games this season for the Kernels, he is 5-1 with one save. He has a 1.59 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 45.1 innings. He throws strikes and does have the ability to miss bats. Most months, LeBlanc would be an easy choice for this award, and if you were to tell me that he should be, I wouldn’t have much of an argument.
And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is:
Ft. Myers/Chattanooga – Brandon Peterson – 7 G, 11.2 IP, 1-0, 1 Save, 0.00 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, 3 H, 2 BB, 15 K
Peterson was the choice as
Twins Daily Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2014
. He had some lofty goals heading into the 2015 season. “My first goal was to be healthy to start the year. That's a huge aspect that can't go overlooked. Also, I wanted to start up in Chattanooga. Last, I wanted to have a better season than I did previously. That's always my goal”
Peterson grew up in and still lives in Savage, Minnesota and went to Burnsville High School. After two years at Des Moines Community College, he received a scholarship to Wichita State University. Following one season there, he was the Twins 13
th
round selection in 2013.
He began his 2014 season in Cedar Rapids, but after nine games, he moved up to Ft. Myers. Overall, he went 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. In 57.1 innings, he walked just 19 and struck out 84.
He began his 2015 season back with the Miracle. Peterson said, “I was slightly disappointed repeating A ball again, but I used it as motivation and worked on a few things that needed to be honed in before making the next step. I had a blast with those guys down there.”
He handled any disappointment very well, putting up strong numbers again. In 21 games and 31.2 innings with the Miracle, he posted a 0.85 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP. He also had 44 strikeouts (12.5 K/9). Finally in mid-June, he received that call to AA Chattanooga.
“I got the word when we were in Lakeland. It was pretty exciting, as well as seeing your friends happy for you too.”
He has begun his Lookouts career with seven shutout innings in four games. He has given up just two hits, walked two and struck out ten.
He has handled the success and taken things in stride. “I've been dealt a pretty good hand by God to do what I love and get paid to do it. I try and not take things for granted and see what happens.”
Peterson primarily uses a four-seam fastball and a slider to get outs. He is also working to improve a third pitch. “I need to work on the change a lot more. My pitching coaches and coordinator (Stu Cliburn, Ivan Arteaga, and Erik Rasmussen) all have helped work with me, whether it's throwing my slider better or working on a new change up grip.”
Now with the Lookouts, Peterson has a front-row seat to their remarkable offense. “It's unreal watching and pitching behind these guys. At any time, they can put up a five-spot like its nothing.”
Peterson’s goals for the remainder of the season are very team-oriented. “I want to win the Southern League Championship, to win the 2nd half, and to be a guy my team and staff can count on coming into pressure situations.”
After his tremendous 2014 season, Peterson has been in the top five relievers each month this season. He earned his promotion to AA and has started out very well there. As he continues to achieve great success at the higher levels, it becomes more and more likely that he will become a part of his hometown team’s bullpen at some point in the future.
So what do you think? I’ve ranked the top five bullpen arms in the Twins organization in June, along with a few more that deserve to be recognized for their great performance last month. Who would your choice be? How would you rank these guys (and feel free to include others)?
Be sure to check back later for the June Starting Pitcher and Hitter of the month.
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