Before we share our Twins Daily Minor League Top 5 Relievers for June, here are some terrific bullpen performances that just missed the cut.
HONORABLE MENTION
- Nick Anderson - Chattanooga - 7 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 12 K
- DJ Baxendale - Rochester - 6 G, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 12 H, 3 BB, 8 K
- Max Cordy - Cedar Rapids - 7 G, 2 GS, 1.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 9 H, 13 BB, 14 K
- Colton Davis - Cedar Rapids - 9 G, 1 GS, 2.57 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 14.0 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 13 K
- Tom Hackimer - Ft. Myers - 7 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 8 K
- Jake Reed - Chattanooga/Rochester - 8 G, 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 12 K
- Michael Tonkin - Rochester - 8 G, 3.18 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 11.1 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 18 K
- Todd Van Steensel - Chattanooga - 7 G, 1.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 8 H, 6 BB, 8 K
THE TOP FIVE RELIEF PITCHERS
#5 -
Sam Clay
- Ft. Myers - 8 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 10 K
This spring, much was made of the Twins decision to move lefties Randy Rosario and Tyler Jay to the bullpen. Clay made 24 starts a year ago between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He was the starting pitcher in the Midwest League All-Star Game last year. However, he has made the transition to the bullpen appear effortless.
Clay gave up six earned runs in ⅔ of an inning in his first appearance this year. Since then, he has given up just two runs over 39 innings. He went 24.1 innings without giving up a run. He gave up a single run in two straight games, and is now on a run of 13.2 innings without giving up a run. In June, opponents hit just .194/.293/.222 (.515) off of him.
#4 -
Hector Lujan
- Cedar Rapids - 8 G, 1.04 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 8.2 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Lujan was the Twins 35th-round pick in 2015 out of Westmost College. While he moved slowly initially, he has always had a big fastball. He now sits between 93 and 96 mph, and as his pitching coach JP Martinez told us last night, he has developed a cutter that is now a weapon.
This year, he joined the Kernels very early in the season. While they were looking for a guy to close games, Lujan just continued to get outs. He got an opportunity to be the closer, and he has taken advantage of it. In the month, batters hit just .172/.194/.276 (.469) off him. He had four saves in the month and now has eight since taking the job.
#3 -
Andrew Vasquez
- Ft. Myers - 6 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 18 K
Vasquez was the Twins 32nd-round draft pick in 2015 out of Westmont College (yes, the same small college that Lujan was selected from, three rounds later). The southpaw has some tremendous stuff. Vasquez throws hard and gets a lot of movement. He joined Cedar Rapids late last year and became a threat in the bullpen. That’s where he began this year, but after a strong first two months, he was moved up to Ft. Myers where he has continued to impress.
For the month, not only did he not give up runs (or many base runners), opponents hit just .152/.222/.182 (.404) off of him. He struck out nearly two batters per inning. He has yet to allow a run in 11.1 innings in Ft. Myers. It’s been a combined 18 innings since he’s given up a run.
#2 -
Luke Bard
- Chattanooga - 7 G, 0.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 15 K
Bard was a supplemental first-round pick for the Twins in 2012. He found himself on the disabled list a lot for the first four years of his career. 2016 was first healthy season, and he sat 93-96, touching 97. He’s been healthy again this year, and he’s been pitching really well. Overall, he has thrown 36 innings this season and has 59 strikeouts with just 13 walks.
In June, opponents have hit just .167/.268/.250 (.518). Again, nearly two strikeouts per innings pitched. Bard was touted last season for having a very high spin rate which helps make his fastball jump on hitters and his breaking pitches very sharp. At 26, he should move up to AAA soon.
And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is:
Chattanooga Lookouts and Rochester Red Wings – RHP John Curtiss - 8 G, 1.54 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 15 K
Through April and May John Curtiss gave up zero earned runs. Yet, for whatever reason, he was not the choice for Twins Daily relief pitcher of the month. In June, he finally gave up a run. In fact, he had one game in which he gave up two runs.
And yet, this month he is our choice for relief pitcher of the month. Why? Well, he didn’t give up hits. He didn’t issue walks. He continued striking out well over a batter per inning. Opponents hit just .054/.125/.081 (.206). While he had probably earned a promotion much earlier, he finally got that call in mid-June, and he’s been very good so far in Rochester. I mean, he’s given up one hit and one walk in 5.1 innings for the Red Wings.
Curtiss was the Twins 6th-round pick in 2014 out of Texas. He had already gone through thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and Tommy John surgery. He tried his luck as a starter in 2015, but he missed time with a concussion. In 2016, he moved to the bullpen, and has been dominant since. He was invited to the Arizona Fall League and pitched well. The 24-year-old could see time as early as this season in the Twins bullpen.
There were a lot of very strong relief pitcher performances in June throughout the Twins minor league system. It’s encouraging that several of them are in the upper levels as well. We’ve seen Alan Busenitz and Trevor Hildenberger already. My sense is that we will see several more before the season is over. Feel free to agree or disagree with the order, if you like, but congratulations to each of these individuals on an excellent first month to their seasons.
Congratulations to the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for June 2017, John Curtiss.
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