Twins Minor League Report (6/18): Arraez, Sano Lead Miracle Win

Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Saturday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

But first, be sure to check out the 2018 Elizabethton Twins Roster Preview.

TRANSACTIONS

• Rochester announced that infielder Taylor Featherston has been released. They also announced that catcher Jordan Pacheco has begun his rehab in the GCL.
  
• Ft. Myers officially added Miguel Sano to their roster.
  
• While you would notice it in the GCL Twins Roster Preview and the Elizabethton Twins Roster Preview, Baseball America noted that the Twins released several players from extended spring training as the short-season leagues get started. They are catchers Kerby Camacho and Darling Cuestro, 1B Kolton Kendrick, 2B Carson Crites, and outfielders TJ Dixon and Humberto Maldonado.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score

The Red Wings have a scheduled off day.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

The Lookouts began their All-Star break on Monday. OFs LaMonte Wade and Zander Wiel were named to the All-Star team. Wade has since been promoted to AAA. Wiel is currently on the disabled list. So is RH SP Randy LeBlanc who was named to the roster. Representing the Lookouts will be RHPs Omar Bencomo, Williams Ramirez and Todd Van Steensel, and LHP Ryne Harper.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 6, Tampa 5

Box Score

The big story in this game was the return of Miguel Sano to the Miracle lineup. The Miracle returned to the diamond on Thursday night, their first game back from their All-Star break. Sano batted third and played third base. His inclusion in the lineup pushed Travis Blankenhorn out to left field. Sano would factor into the end of this game.

The story early in the game was the pitching performance of Andro Cutura. He gave up just one run and struck out eight over the first five innings. He struggled in the sixth inning and ended up giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out nine. Hector Lujan got the next four outs and was charged with an unearned run. He struck out two. Alex Robinson got all six batters that he faced out, including two on strikeouts.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Miguel Sano came to the plate with one out. Sano drilled a double down the left field line. Taylor Grzelakowski walked. Then Jaylin Davis played hero, driving in Sano with a single.

Sano went 2-for-4 on the night. He walked in his first plate appearance. That was followed by a single, a double play grounder, a ground out and then the double.

Luis Arraez remains on fire. He went 4-for-5 in this game. In his past 11 games, he has hit .500 (24-28) with five doubles and three triples. It took him awhile to get going after missing all but the first three games of the 2017 season with knee surgery.

Lewin Diaz went 2-for-4 with his ninth double. Taylor Grzelakowski went 1-for-3 with two walks.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids

Box Score

The Kernels began their All Star break on Monday. OF Alex Kirilloff, SS Royce Lewis, and RHPs Brusdar Graterol and Jared Finkel are the representatives. Although…

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GCL TWINS TALK

GCL Twins 7, GCL Orioles 5

Box Score

Congratulations to manager Dan Ramsey, hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Luis Rodriguez, and pitching coaches Richard Salazar and Frank Jagoda on their first wins as coaches in the Twins organization.

Shortstop Yeltsin Encarnacion led off and led the way for the Twins. He went 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple. He scored three runs. DH Kidany Salva went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the game. Center fielder Alberoni Nunez also went 2-for-4. Catcher Jordan Pacheco was making his first rehab appearance. He went 0-for-2 with two RBI. He was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and also had a sacrifice fly.

Andriu Marin was tasked with starting the opener. He gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out three. Amilcar Cruz came on and threw three shutout innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. 35th- round pick (from Dixie State) Tanner Howell picked up his first career save in his first pro outing. He worked two perfect inning and struck out three.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Luis Arraez, Ft. Myers Miracle (4-5)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Howell, GCL Twins (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, first career appearance, first career save)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - All-Star break

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - Did not pitch

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - No game scheduled

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - No game scheduled

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - All-Star break

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - All-Star break

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - All-Star break

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) - All-Star break

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - All-Star break

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - No game scheduled

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - All-Star break

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, 2B(9)

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - No game scheduled

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, 2 K

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, BB, R, K

#18 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) - Did not play

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - All-Star break

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - Disabled list, still no official timetable for return.

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Dietrich Enns (4-6, 5.30 ERA)

Chattanooga - Southern League All Star Game

Tampa @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (0-0, 1.98 ERA)

Cedar Rapids - Midwest League All Star Game

Burlington @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00 am CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have.