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  • Twins Minor League Report (6/23): Berrios Strikes Out Nine!


    Eric Pleiss

    With nearly a full complement of Twins Minor League affiliates in action (GCL Twins start their season on Friday), there was a lot happening down on the farm. Including the first game of the year for the Elizabethton Twins (E-Twins).

    Lots happening today in the transaction report as teams finalize their second half rosters and the Gulf Coast League and Appalachian League kick off play: Niko Goodrum assigned to Fort Myers from Chattanooga, LaMonte Wade (Fort Myers) placed on DL, Tom Hackimer and Lachlan Wells were assigned to Cedar Rapids, Rainis Silva assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Elizabethton Twins, Kevin Garcia (Cedar Rapids) placed on DL,

    Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan, USA Today

    Twins Video

    Continue reading to find out more detail about Thursday in the Twins farm system:

    RED WINGS REPORT

    Rochester @ Columbus Clippers

    Box Score

    Jose Berrios ripped off another spectacular start for the Red Wings, making it hard for the Twins to keep him in AAA. Berrios pitched eight innings, gave up just three hits (all singles), walked two, and struck out nine. Berrios turned things over to Marcus Walden for the ninth, who picked up his fourth save of the year, with a 1-2-3 ninth.

    The Wings had eight hits but scored just two runs, both in the second inning, to pick up the win. Leadoff man James Beresford was 2-5 with a pair of singles, and Adam Walker was 2-3 with a walk and a strike out. Eddio Rosario had another hit, an RBI, and a run scored. Catcher John Ryan Murphy (who is struggling with a .214/.285/.301 line in AAA) had the other RBI for Rochester as part of a 1-4 night.

    Final: Red Wings 2, Clippers 0

    LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

    Jackson Generals @ Chattanooga

    Box Score

    Lookouts starter David Hurlbut left the game after six strong innings, with a 5-2 lead. Hurlbut gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, a walk and six strike outs. He also gave up a home run. Jake Reed came in and pitched a uneventful seventh inning, but had to be lifted with two outs in the eighth with the bases loaded. Trevor Hildenberger plunked the next batter to score the game tying run before picking up a strikeout to end the inning. He then pitched a clean ninth inning.

    Tied 5-5 headed to the bottom of the eighth, the Lookouts used a hit-by-pitch to score the winning run. After a one-out walk to Zach Granite, Engelb Vielma bunted him over to second. Daniel Palka and Travis Harrison both walked to load the bases. After a pitching change Mitch Garver took one for the team, scoring Granite from third. On the night, the Lookouts had 14 hits, including a 3-3 night from Travis Harrison that included a pair of doubles, a pair of runs scored, and a pair of walks. Chattanooga was powered by the long ball on Thursday, with home runs from Zach Granite, Mitch Garver and Leonardo Reginatto.

    Final: Generals 5, Lookouts 6

    MIRACLE MATTERS

    Fort Myers @ Jupiter Hammerheads

    Box Score

    Tyler Jay had a clinker of a start thanks to some defensive miscues, pitching five innings, giving up only four hits, but three runs (two earned), two walks, and striking out five of the 23 hitters he faced. Luke Bard pitched two very good innings, holding the Hammerheads to just one hit. In the bottom of the eighth, with the game tied 3-3, Nick Anderson struggled to get outs, giving up a triple, a home run, and a single to the first three batters he faced. Anderson gave up one more run before being lifted for Michael Theofanopoulos who promptly induced an inning-ending grounder.

    Jupiter sent Miami Marlins reliever Nefi Ogando to the mound to start for the Hammerheads, and the Miracle showed themselves up to the challenge, scoring a pair of runs. Lead-off man T.J. White doubled, and two batters later Nick Gordon added a double of his own, to score White. Chris Paul added a two-out RBI single to score Gordon. After that first inning, the Miracle had just four hits the rest of the way, two in the eighth to tie the game up at three. T.J. White was the only hitter with more than one hit; he finished the night 2-4 with that double and a pair of runs scored. First baseman Chris Paul was just 1-2 but added a pair of walks. Former first-round draftee Nick Gordon was 1-4 with a double, RBI, run scored and a strikeout.

    Final: Miracle 3, Hammerheads 6

    KERNELS KORNER

    Beloit Snappers @ Cedar Rapids

    Box Score

    The Kernels scored five runs early and let their pitching staff carry them the rest of the way. The Kernels sent 11 men to the plate in the second and scored all five of their runs via singles, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Kernels struck out just once on Thursday night, lead-off man Sean Miller. Austin Diemer was 2-3 with a run scored and a walk, and Brad Harton was 2-3 with a double, run scored and an RBI.

    Miles Nordgren picked up his third win of the year to move to 3-3 with six innings of one-run baseball. Nordgren gave up just three hits, and struck out five, but he also walked three. He was lifted for Michael Cederoth who held the Snappers hitless for a pair of innings before Kuo Hua Lo finished the game with a perfect ninth inning.

    Final: Snappers 1, Kernels 5

    E-TWINS E-NOTES

    Elizabethton @ Kingsport Mets

    Box Score

    Despite (and perhaps in part thanks to) a late game rain storm that ended the game with two-out and one on in the top of the ninth inning, the Twins held on for a 4-3 victory in their first game of the year. The E-Twins were lead by lead-off man Ariel Montesino who was 3-5 with a run scored. Centerfielder Jaylin Davis added a pair of hits on a 2-4 night that included a solo home run.

    The Twins used four pitchers to get through eight innings as starter Jose Martinez lasted just just 1.1 innings, charged with 3 runs on three hits and a walk. Andrew Vasquez came in and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. He was lifted for Johan Quezada who was credited with the win with three innings of hitless baseball, that included three walks and three strikeouts. Hector Lujan pitched a scoreless eighth, but was not without trouble as he walked the bases loaded before inducing an inning-ending grounder to first base.

    Final: E-Twins 4, Mets 3

    DSL TWINS TAKES

    DSL Giants @ DSL Twins

    Box Score

    Edgar Herrera was 2-4 with a double and a run scored, the only Twins hitter with more than one hit. Jorge Parra picked up the Twins' lone RBI, an RBI groundout in the seventh. The Twins used three pitchers, with solid outings from Melvi Acosta and Amicar Crus sandwiching a poor game from Elivas Rivas. Acosta went 5.0 and gave up four hits and one run. Cruz pitched three scoreless innings to finish the game. In between, Elivas Rivas pitched one clunker of an inning, giving up a three-run homer after putting two men on via walks.

    Final: DSL Giants 4, DSL Twins 3

    TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

    Hitter of the Day - Travis Harrison, Chattanooga

    Pitcher of the Day - Jose Berrios, Rochester

    FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

    Louisville Bats @ Rochester (6:05pm) - LHP Logan Darnell (8-5, 3.09)

    Jackson Generals @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) - TBD

    Fort Myers @ Jupiter Hammerheads (5:30pm) - Felix Jorge (6-3, 1.59)

    Beloit Snappers @ Cedar Rapids (6:35pm) - Eduardo Del Rosario (0-1, 5.65)

    E-Twins @ Kingsport Mets (6:00pm) - TBD v. TBD

    GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox (11:00am) - Miguel De Jesus (0-0, 0.00)

    Please ask questions and discuss the Thursday games.

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    I listened to the Elizabethton game tonight while following all 5 games, and it was interesting.

     

    The starter for Kingsport was dominant. I think though 6 innings, he struck out 13. He gave up two hits and both were infield singles. The guy who pitched the 7th struck out three.

     

    But in the 8th, Blankenhorn crushed his homer over the CF wall, which has 410 written on it. Jaylin Davis followed it with an opposite field homer.

     

    I talked to someone who said that this roster has the ability to hit the ball a long way, and likely will... but they also have a lot of swing-and-miss too. 

     

    How about Travis Harrison... 3-3 with two walks, a HBP, and two doubles. Pretty solid. 

     

    And, good to see Nick Gordon back in the lineup after missing the first three post-All Star games. 

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    John Ryan Murphy was struggling, with a horrible May. In June, however, he's slashing .288/.350/.462. I wouldn't describe him as struggling.

    Hitting just .208 over his last eight games.  Might have started June RED HOT, but isn't necessarily staying hot.  

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    John Ryan Murphy was struggling, with a horrible May. In June, however, he's slashing .288/.350/.462. I wouldn't describe him as struggling.

     

    And horrible April and spring training. His May stat line is driven by a hot first 8 games of the month where he hit .370 and had an OBP of .452. The next 8 games (taking us to today) were .200 and .285, respectively. So he's shown signs of life but yes, he's still struggling.

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    Does anyone think Tyler Jay get promoted to New Britain this year?   

     

    0% chance since the Twins are no longer in New Britain (I've still done this a few times this year)... but I think when his SP innings limit comes to, he will move up to Chattanooga and work out of the bullpen. But that's just my opinion.

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    Great start by Berrios.  Hope he comes up soon.  Nice to see Blankenhorn hit that HR - I'm a huge Cabbage fan but Blankenhorn was a real nice pick, too.  Should be fun watching these younger bats develop.

     

    As for Harrison, I've always been a fan and he's still young but his ceiling still seems limited behind the guys that are ahead of him.  If he could put it together, he seems like the kind of guy you kick in on a trade but he has to get it together first.

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    Great start by Berrios.  Hope he comes up soon.  Nice to see Blankenhorn hit that HR - I'm a huge Cabbage fan but Blankenhorn was a real nice pick, too.  Should be fun watching these younger bats develop.

     

    As for Harrison, I've always been a fan and he's still young but his ceiling still seems limited behind the guys that are ahead of him.  If he could put it together, he seems like the kind of guy you kick in on a trade but he has to get it together first.

     

    I think we forget that Harrison was an HS pick who has been continually moved up and challenged... while not excelling, he's held his own while being younger than the league.  This is the first time in his career he's being asked to repeat, so I would like to see a nice bump in the numbers by the time the season ends (his OPS is about 50 points higher as of this post than his last season, but that's not enough in my opinion).  His real issue thus far is that his power really hasn't developed as hoped.  Hopefully that changes, and at his age it certainly could.

     

    He could be on the Trevor Plouffe or Denard Span development plan.  He is only 23 in his second stint in AA.  That alone is nothing to sneeze at.  Unfortunately, he just hasn't taken that step forward that we all want. 

     

    BTW, side note, but this is probably what to expect out of most HS guys drafted after the first round. 

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    Great start by Berrios.  Hope he comes up soon.  Nice to see Blankenhorn hit that HR - I'm a huge Cabbage fan but Blankenhorn was a real nice pick, too.  Should be fun watching these younger bats develop.

    I'm big Cabbage fan too.  Especially in Cole Slaw form. . . . . Sorry . . .

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    0% chance since the Twins are no longer in New Britain (I've still done this a few times this year)... but I think when his SP innings limit comes to, he will move up to Chattanooga and work out of the bullpen. But that's just my opinion.

     

    My mistake.  

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    Not mentioned in the post since he wasn't playing, but man, what a rough go of things Levi Michael is having at AA.  

     

    He'd been pretty good the last two years there, when healthy. He's actually been healthy for the most part this year, but he's frankly been way outplayed by Ryan Walker, who is a much better defensive player. Reginnato is good, and about the same age. Vielma's going to play. Michael's getting a couple of starts a week at second, and even then Walker is usually playing 3rd.

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    I think we forget that Harrison was an HS pick who has been continually moved up and challenged... while not excelling, he's held his own while being younger than the league.  This is the first time in his career he's being asked to repeat, so I would like to see a nice bump in the numbers by the time the season ends (his OPS is about 50 points higher as of this post than his last season, but that's not enough in my opinion).  His real issue thus far is that his power really hasn't developed as hoped.  Hopefully that changes, and at his age it certainly could.

     

    He could be on the Trevor Plouffe or Denard Span development plan.  He is only 23 in his second stint in AA.  That alone is nothing to sneeze at.  Unfortunately, he just hasn't taken that step forward that we all want. 

     

    BTW, side note, but this is probably what to expect out of most HS guys drafted after the first round. 

     

    I'd add that Harrison was the #35 overall pick, not a top ten type. I mean, in the draft, there are so few "sure things" at the top of the draft, and even most top draft picks never become what some people expect. So yeah, 23 in AA is pretty good. 

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    I think we forget that Harrison was an HS pick who has been continually moved up and challenged... while not excelling, he's held his own while being younger than the league.  This is the first time in his career he's being asked to repeat, so I would like to see a nice bump in the numbers by the time the season ends (his OPS is about 50 points higher as of this post than his last season, but that's not enough in my opinion).  His real issue thus far is that his power really hasn't developed as hoped.  Hopefully that changes, and at his age it certainly could.

     

    He could be on the Trevor Plouffe or Denard Span development plan.  He is only 23 in his second stint in AA.  That alone is nothing to sneeze at.  Unfortunately, he just hasn't taken that step forward that we all want. 

     

    BTW, side note, but this is probably what to expect out of most HS guys drafted after the first round. 

    With Harrison, the walks are nice, but the hitting ability, power, and fielding are not. I think his draft position is the only reason he still gets ranked on Twins prospect lists.

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    With Harrison, the walks are nice, but the hitting ability, power, and fielding are not. I think his draft position is the only reason he still gets ranked on Twins prospect lists.

     

    I'd be hard pressed to find Harrison higher than the 10-20 range on most lists.  He's there b/c he's been better than league average while being young for his age. They've been pretty aggressive with him in comparison to others, promoting him each year.  The main question with Harrison is whether or not his power will ever develop.

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    I'd be hard pressed to find Harrison higher than the 10-20 range on most lists. He's there b/c he's been better than league average while being young for his age. They've been pretty aggressive with him in comparison to others, promoting him each year. The main question with Harrison is whether or not his power will ever develop.

    I think we all strive to be young for our age.

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    He's there b/c he's been better than league average while being young for his age.

    Agreed. His stats are almost textbook, in showing steady learning and maturity and progress as he's moved up into higher leagues. Those stats profile as "potential useful major leaguer", even though his floor is still not major league to my eye. So it depends on how you slot low-ceiling major league prospects into your ranking; somewhere in the teens is not silly for him at all, IMO.

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