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  • Twins Minor League Report (7/18): Gonsalves Dazzles, Park Goes Yard


    Eric Pleiss

    In baseball, as in life, the only constant is change. The Terry Ryan Era has come to an end and with Rob Antony in charge, it will be an interesting couple of weeks until the trade deadline. In the short term, the change should not have any impact on the Twins Minor League organizations or day to day business with the affiliates, but when a new General Manager arrives later this year or during the offseason, expect to see a slew of changes.

    Twins Video

    Transaction Report: Brandon Peterson promoted to Chattanooga Lookouts from Fort Myers Miracle, Brian Olson promoted to Fort Myers Miracle from Cedar Rapids Kernels, Brian Navarreto placed on the disabled list for the Fort Myers Miracle.

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

    RED WINGS REPORT

    Durham Bulls @ Rochester

    Box Score

    The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 after an inning, but came back to tie the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on a two-run single from Jorge Polanco. With one out and a man on first, the Wings had Daniel Palka up to bat and Adam Walker II on deck. They both struck out and play continued into the tenth inning, when manager Mike Quade was ejected and new pitcher Buddy Boshers gave up five runs, including a grand slam.

    Byung Ho Park was 3-5 with a double, a solo home run and a walk. Wilfredo Tovar also had a three-hit game, going 3-5 with a double. Jorge Polanco was 2-5 with a run scored, a solo home run, and the previously mentioned two-RBI single. Adam Walker was 2-5 with a solo home run and a walk.

    Jason Wheeler gave up four runs (one earned) on just five hits. He walked one and struck out seven. The Red Wings bullpen then went to work as D.J. Baxendale, Ryan O'Rourke and Alex Wimmers combined for 4.0 innings of scoreless ball. The trio of relievers struck out eight and gave up just three hits. And then Buddy Boshers came in and gave up five runs (all unearned), and was tagged with the loss. In 10 innings the Rochester staff struck out 17 batters and walked just 5.

    Final: Bulls 9, Red Wings 5

    LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

    Mobile BayBears @ Chattanooga

    Box Score

    The Lookouts didn't score until the bottom of the eighth inning, but they put 3 runs on the board which was enough to earn the win. Starter Stephen Gonsalves did not factor in the decision, but pitched a great game. He went 7.0 innings, gave up just a pair of hits, one run, walked two and he stuck out nine. Zack Jones earned the victory, pitching a scoreless eighth inning, and Trevor Hildenberger earned his 16th save of the year with a perfect ninth inning.

    The Lookouts were shut out for the first seven innings, and recorded just a handful of hits before that 3-run eight. Mitch Garver was 2-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the team. Edgar Corcino was 2-3 with a double and an RBI is of his own. Ryan Walker had the remaining RBI as part of an 0-3 night with 2 strike outs.

    Final: BayBears 1, Lookouts 3

    MIRACLE MATTERS

    Lakeland Flying Tigers @ Fort Myers

    Box Score

    Down 5-2 after four innings of play, the Miracle made it as close as one run, but couldn't score late against the Flying Tigers' bullpen. Miracle Starter Miles Nordgren had a tough evening, giving up five runs (all earned) over 6.0 innings. He gave up eight hits, walked two, struck out three, and gave up a pair of home runs. Luke Westphal gave up an eighth inning run, and Todd Van Steensel finished the game with 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball, striking out a pair along the way.

    T.J. White had HALF of the Miracle hits on Thursday night, 3-5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and a pair of strike outs. Not much else going on for the Miracle, but Tanner Witt and Trey Vavra each picked up an RBI, and Chris Paul hit a double.

    Final: Flying Tigers 6, Miracle 4

    KERNELS KORNER

    Cedar Rapids @ Fort Wayne TinCaps

    Box Score

    In Fort Wayne the Kernels were tied 2-2 after six innings, and needed an extra frame of baseball to pick up the victory. In the top of the 10th, Luis Arraez circled the bases with a triple down the right field line, advancing home on a throwing error. Williams Ramirez locked things down in the bottom half of the inning to preserve the lead, earning his fourth save of the season.

    Miracle starter Cody Stashak gave the Kernels a quality start with 6.0 innings. He gave up 6 hits, two earned runs, walked one and struck out two. Andrew Vasquez was phenomenal in relief, earning the victory thanks to 3.0 innings of one-hit baseball. Vasquez gave up just one hit and struck out six, before turning things over to Ramirez in the 10th.

    The Kernels struck out 13 times on the night and we just 1-7 with runners in scoring position, but a win is a win. Luis Arraez led the team with three hits, 3-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and a walk. Casey Scoggins, J.J. Fernandez, and Chris Ibarra also added two hits apiece.

    Final: Kernels 3, TinCaps 2

    E-TWINS E-NOTES

    Elizabethton @ Princeton Rays

    Box Score

    In an absolute slug-fest at Hunnicutt Field in West Virginia, the Twins crawled their way back to a one-run deficit at 9-10 before giving up six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Despite scoring nine runs, the Twins had zero extra-base hits. Mitchell Kranson led the team with four hits, 4-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

    Twins pitching struggled throughout, as you might expect. Starter Jose Martinez gave up six runs over 3.0 innings. Relievers Austin Tribby and Hector Lujan each pitched 2.0 innings, giving up four runs and six runs, respectively. Alex Robinson was the only pitcher, on either team, to leave the game unscathed, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

    Final: E-Twins 9, Rays 16

    GCL TWINS TALK

    GCL Twins @ GCL Rays

    Box Score

    The Twins managed just six hits on the evening, two each from Jose Miranda (2-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk), and Gorge Munoz (2-2 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk). Starter Tyler Fox didn't make it out of the first inning, leaving the game after recording just one out. He was ultimately responsible for three runs, giving up four hits, walking one and striking out one. Taylor Clemensia came in and righted the ship, giving the Twins 3.2 innings of shutout baseball. He gave up no hits, walked one and struck out five. Clark Beeker gave up a pair of runs over 3.2 innings, and Onas Farfan recorded the final two outs of the game, one by strike out.

    Final: GCL Twins 2, GCL Rays 5

    DSL TWINS TAKES

    DSL Twins @ DSL Cubs2

    Box Score

    The Twins jumped out to an early lead and were up 5-0 before the Cubs2 were on the board. The Twins scored all five runs on just six hits. Edgar Herrera led the team with two hits, part of a 2-4 night that included an RBI. The Twins pitching staff did not allow a single earned run on the evening. Starter Juan Mojica earned his second win of the season with 5.0 scoreless innings. Amilcar Cruz pitched 3.0 innings of relief and was charged with a pair of unearned runs. Fredderi Soto earned the save with a quick 1-2-3 ninth.

    Final: DSL Twins 5, GCL Cubs2 2

    TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

    Hitter of the Day - Byung Ho Park, Rochester

    Pitcher of the Day - Stephen Gonsalves, Chattanooga

    TUESDAY'S PROBABLES

    Durham Bulls @ Rochester (6:05pm) - LHP Pat Dean

    Chattanooga - OFF

    Lakeland Flying Tigers @ Fort Myers (6:05pm) - Keaton Steele (4-8, 4.37)

    Cedar Rapids - OFF

    Kingsport Mets @ E-Twins (6:00pm) - Tyler Beardsley (0-0, 2.25)

    GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (11:00am) - TBD

    DSL Cubs 2 @ DSL Twins (9:30am) - TBD

    Please ask questions and discuss the Monday games.

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    Wow, Gonsalves just keeps on rolling. His ERA now is 2.97 (I think) in AA ball. That is very impressive considering this is only his 5th start in Chattanooga. And now he is really cutting down on his walks. It will be interesting to see where he starts next year, especially if he keeps pitching like this. To pitch this well so soon coming from advanced A ball AND increase the k/9 inning rate is certainly impressive. If he keeps this up, we may see him sooner than Kohl Stewart. And who would have thought that.

     

    Over his last 4 starts Gonsalves 13.1 K/9 (37.1%!) and a 2.31 FIP. 

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    Well, after the lead off batter got on base via an error, he imploded with two outs and 5 runs and a grand slam later his ERA is 0 for the game. Looks pretty good for this game on paper, too.Boshers is another of Ryan's off season bullpen fixes, 28 yrs old that nobody wanted, and a Rochester place holder. I have higher expectations for success I guess, and patience is frayed. Maybe things will change now that Ryan is gone, and guys like this won't be called up instead of prospects that are part of the future.

     

    He had a bad game... most were disappointed that he was optioned back to Rochester a couple of weeks ago because he was pitching so well in the big leagues. I don't see much ceiling there, but there's no reason to release him or say some sort of experiment is over with him. 

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    Cabbage has 15 strike outs in 10 games.  That can't be good.   

     

    But you know, he's aggressive! /sarcasm

     

    I hope to God that's one thing that changes with a new (hopefully!) FO. We can't be pushing our minor leaguers to be over aggressive at the plate. 

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    FWIW, after last night's game, Park is now hitting .286/.388/.476 at AAA with a 22.4% and 10.4% K and walk rates, respectively. 

     

    Then if you look at what he's done since July 9th (7 games), after taking a few days off for his hand injury he is hitting .333/.429/.667 with a 14.3 K% and a 10.7 BB%.

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    But you know, he's aggressive! /sarcasm

     

    I hope to God that's one thing that changes with a new (hopefully!) FO. We can't be pushing our minor leaguers to be over aggressive at the plate. 

     

    The Twins teaching over aggressiveness at the plate is one of the few things I never thought I would hear a complaint about (I'm not arguing with your point).

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    FWIW, after last night's game, Park is now hitting .286/.388/.476 at AAA with a 22.4% and 10.4% K and walk rates, respectively. 

     

    Then if you look at what he's done since July 9th (7 games), after taking a few days off for his hand injury he is hitting .333/.429/.667 with a 14.3 K% and a 10.7 BB%.

     

    Yeah, but what;s his slash line on 92+  MPH FBs? Park had an OPS+ of 56 and OPS of .528 vs. Power Pitchers when he was with the Twins. It's not clear how hitting against AAAA retreads every night is ever going to help him overcome his inability to turn on MLB hard stuff.

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    His (ABW II) peripherals have been slowly improving over the last year, though his production hasn't caught up. Hopefully this is a sign that the production is starting to be impacted by those peripherals.  I suspect he gets another season in AAA, which will be the real judge on whether or not Walker has figured it out.

    I agree.  I think Walker is taking necessary baby steps and that another year of AAA will answer a lot of questions.  I still love the fact that thru 5 grinding years, his numbers over a 162 game schedule are still phenomenally productive:

    162 game averages

    70 XBH

    73% of hits are XBH's

    120 RBI

    35 HRs

    96 Runs

    202 Strike Outs

    53 BB

    12 SB

    236 ISO

    801 OPS

     

    Just praying he can continue to grow.  He is still the 4th youngest player on AAA roster.  These averages have been reasonably consistent over the years as well.

    Edited by GMinTraining
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    Definitely a good time to feel some optimism in the Twins pitching ranks down in the Minor Leagues.  Only a matter of time before Berrios is back, and there is another wave of young talent right behind him.  Baseball America had the Twins 2019 rotation predicted to be:

    No. 1 Starter Jose Berrios
    No. 2 Starter Stephen Gonsalves
    No. 3 Starter Kohl Stewart
    No. 4 Starter Felix Jorge
    No. 5 Starter Fernando Romero

    Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-update-2016-minnesota-twins/#ybZoETQAHkHuAHSP.99

    IF that were to come to fruition, I'd say it would be one hell of a "plan,"  one that didn't have any shortcuts at all.  Hitters in their mid-twenties prime, pitchers a tick younger with lots of fresh bullets, all the dead weight contracts gone.  Hell, might even explain holding Berrios back, saving as much money for that prime run as possible.

     

     

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    Wow, Gonsalves just keeps on rolling. His ERA now is 2.97 (I think) in AA ball. That is very impressive considering this is only his 5th start in Chattanooga. And now he is really cutting down on his walks. It will be interesting to see where he starts next year, especially if he keeps pitching like this. To pitch this well so soon coming from advanced A ball AND increase the k/9 inning rate is certainly impressive. If he keeps this up, we may see him sooner than Kohl Stewart. And who would have thought that.

    ehhh, I have thought Gonsalves over Stewart since they finished 2013

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    Yeah, but what;s his slash line on 92+  MPH FBs? Park had an OPS+ of 56 and OPS of .528 vs. Power Pitchers when he was with the Twins. It's not clear how hitting against AAAA retreads every night is ever going to help him overcome his inability to turn on MLB hard

     

    Maybe not overcome his current problem; but maybe to build a little confidence that he's in the right place over here and he can hit in the US. Then attack the real problem.

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