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  • Twins Minor League Report (9/5): The Wiel Deal

    Jeremy Nygaard

    By Jeremy Nygaard

    It wasn’t that many years ago we were writing about Brian Dozier in these minor league reports. Now, as he’s creeping up home run leaderboards and dropping three-bomb games on opponents, we get to read about him nationally.

    If only the Twins weren’t playing so lousy.

    I first saw Brian Dozier in Beloit in 2010. Next to him in the infield was James Beresford. (I’m not making that up. I actually got Dan Osterbrock to sign my ticket stub. Click the link. You’ll see why.)

    As you’ve probably heard by now, Beresford is heading to Minnesota, officially becoming a major league baseball player. It can never be taken away from him. In 2010, I didn’t know if James Beresford would be a major league baseball player. Heck, I didn’t know if Brian Dozier would be a major league baseball player. But here we are, in September of 2016, and he’s finally made it. It’s way cool. And a huge congratulations to him!

    Now, onto the games.

    Image courtesy of Jeremy Nygaard

    Twins Video

    RED WINGS REPORT

    Rochester 0, Lehigh Valley 7

    Box Score

    The Red Wings season ended on a low note, getting shut out by Lehigh Valley. They ended up falling four games short in their playoff quest.

    Of the four hits collected today, only Wilfredo Tovar’s double was an extra-base hit. Tanner English, Daniel Palka and Tommy Field added singles. Tovar was later caught attempting to steal third base.

    The pitching wasn’t much better. David Hurlbut got roughed up for 12 hits and seven runs in five innings. He struck out four. Neil Ramirez and Jake Reed both turned in scoreless efforts.

    Rochester ends the season 81-63.

    After the game, along with Beresford, Kennys Vargas and Tyler Duffey were added back to the Twins roster.

    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

    Chattanooga 2, Jackson 1

    Box Score

    Though the season ended today, the Lookouts finished on an exciting note.

    After giving up a first-inning run, Felix Jorge battled back and pitched a one-run complete game. He scattered seven hits and two walks. He struck out three and improved to 3-5 in AA.

    Niko Goodrum tied the game up with a solo home run in the sixth and would come around to scored the game-winner in the eighth inning on a D.J. Hicks RBI single.

    Zach Granite got a hit, finished the season batting .295, and stole his 56th base.

    The Lookouts finish the season 75-65 and on the outside looking in. The Southern League playoffs start Wednesday, without the defending champions.

    Additionally, Seth Stohs reported on Twitter that Stephen Gonsalves will be heading to the Arizona Fall League.

    KERNELS NUGGETS

    Cedar Rapids 12, Clinton 2

    Box Score

    The Kernels ended their regular season with another victory, their 78th of the year, while gearing up for a (hopefully) long playoff run.

    Zander Wiel was the story of the day, as he went 3-4 with two home runs and seven RBI. Wiel’s seven RBIs put him atop the MWL League RBI leaderboard at the conclusion of the regular season with 86. Wiel ended his 2016 campaign with 19 hone runs.

    Jaylin Davis hit his ninth MWL home run. J.J. Fernandez and Rainis Silva each had two-hit days.

    Eduardo Del Rosario was relieved after giving up a run in two innings. It appears he’ll be a part of the team’s playoff rotation. Sean Poppen picked up a win with three innings of scoreless relief. Colton Davis (two walks, two strikeouts), Max Cordy (walk), Michael Cederoth (two hits, unearned run, strikeout), and Tom Hackimer (hit, two walks, three strikeouts) each pitched an inning of relief.

    The Kernels will open the MWL League Playoffs against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers before heading back to Cedar Rapids.

    E-TOWN E-NOTES

    Elizabethton 6, Johnson City 8 (Appalachian League Semifinals, Game 3)

    Box Score

    A lot of back-and-forth early as E-Town jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Caleb Hamilton triple and a Mitchell Kranson RBI groundout.

    But Johnson City came back with two of their own in the bottom half of the first inning to take a lead.

    In the third inning, E-town strung together five straight singles. Amaurys Minier drove in Kranson and Andre Jernigan drove in Lewin Diaz to give the E-Twins a 3-2 lead.

    But Johnson City scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to even the score again.

    The E-Twins had a chance to blow it wide open in the fifth inning. The first five batters reached base. But former Gopher Matt Fielder threw Diaz out at home and with one out and the bases loaded, both Luis Martinez and Ariel Montesino struck out. Only one runner crossed the plate. That gave the E-Twins a 4-3 lead.

    It didn’t last.

    The first two Johnson City batters in the bottom of the fifth doubled, again evening the score.

    E-town took the lead again in the sixth when Diaz homered. And gave it back in the bottom of the inning.

    And took the lead yet again in the seventh inning when Shane Carrier scored on a Martinez RBI groundout. And, again, failed to hold the lead in the bottom half of the inning.

    Only this time it wasn’t just one run they gave up. It was three. And they’d never recover, losing 8-6.

    Lewin Diaz was great, collecting four hits (two doubles and a home run). Carrier had three hits and Ben Rortvedt, Amaurys Minier and Caleb Hamilton all had two hits. Trey Cabbage added a pinch-hit triple in the ninth inning. But it was all too little, too late.

    Clark Beeker gave up four runs on 11 hits in four innings. He struck out four. Austin Tribby took the loss allowing three runs in 2.1 innings. Johan Quezada allowed all three batters he faced to reach base. Quin Grogan got out of Quezada’s mess, and recorded five outs, while only allowing one hit.

    Elizabethton’s season is officially over. But it was quite a run.

    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

    Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Chattanooga

    Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Cedar Rapids

    NEXT GAME

    Cedar Rapids at Wisconsin, Game One (6:35 CST) - Wednesday, 9/7.

    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Monday’s games.

    Jeremy Nygaard has been a season ticket holder since the Metrodome days, loves the draft and lives on the other side of the river.
    Follow Jeremy Nygaard on Twitter: jeremynygaard

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    Featured Comments

    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Lewin Diaz capped off a breakout season quite nicely. Any chance he gets a call-up to Cedar Rapids for the playoffs?

     

    Zach Granite finished the season leading all minor leaguers at all levels in Stolen Bases (actually tied for 1st). He also led the Southern League in BB/K rate by a wide margin (1.00).

     

    I get that English needs more reps, but is he more deserving than Granite to get the chance to play in the AFL?

     

    Are there too many holes in Wiel's game offensively and defensively to consider him as a viable prospect- or does he possess a legitimate enough high ceiling as a power hitter worth waiting and watching for?

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    GMinTraining

    GMinTraining 166

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Adam Brett Walker II ‏@walkoff28  6h6 hours ago Pennsylvania, USA

    Glad I had some good teammates to make these trips a lot easier! #LastTrip #MiLBLife #RoadTrippin

     

     

    Arcia was said to have quit in AAA last year and was not promoted at end of season (Call up).  Walker is said to be an extremely hard worker and gets similar treatment.   Only 40 man guy in AAA not promoted.  Good season team MVP.  

     

    Still happy for Berresford

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    roger

    roger 3,369

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Great season for Elizabethton, especially after that slow start. Also, great seeing Vielma take another step forward with an average above .270.

     

    Question for you Jeremy. Considering you are the TD draft expert and the Twins are in great shape to get the #1 overall pick, is there a can't miss star waiting for them next June? Someone like Strasburg or Bryant that can help by the end of 2017?

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

    I remember the Osterbrock no-hitter. In fact, I had him on the SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast the next day or so. 

     

    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sethspeaks/2010/05/03/sethspeaksnet-weekly-minnesota-twins-podcast

     

    Podcast also includes talk of debuts of Luke Hughes and Wilson Ramos as well as an interview with Kyle Gibson. Fun to listen back to some of them.

     

     

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    Lewin Diaz capped off a breakout season quite nicely. Any chance he gets a call-up to Cedar Rapids for the playoffs?

     

    Zach Granite finished the season leading all minor leaguers at all levels in Stolen Bases (actually tied for 1st). He also led the Southern League in BB/K rate by a wide margin (1.00).

     

    I get that English needs more reps, but is he more deserving than Granite to get the chance to play in the AFL?

     

    Are there too many holes in Wiel's game offensively and defensively to consider him as a viable prospect- or does he possess a legitimate enough high ceiling as a power hitter worth waiting and watching for?

     

    I'd think there's a decent chance that Diaz moves up for the MWL playoffs. 

     

    Granite had a great year, but remember that the AFL isn't always about the better prospects (Though I don't know which of the two is a better prospect). 

     

    Wiel's bat is going to be his calling card. Defense, we'll see. He has a ton of errors for a first baseman this year. He isn't speedy. But he can hit and hit for some power.

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    Arcia was said to have quit in AAA last year and was not promoted at end of season (Call up).  Walker is said to be an extremely hard worker and gets similar treatment.   Only 40 man guy in AAA not promoted.  Good season team MVP.  

     

    Still happy for Berresford

     

    I'm a little surprised that Walker isn't coming up. In fact, I personally am disappointed. But at the same time, they can't (or teams don't) call up everyone. The Twins aren't sending Walker any kind of message in not calling him up. 

     

    And, Landa, Rosario and Melotakis weren't called up either. Being on the 40 man doesn't guarantee anything. 

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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I'd think there's a decent chance that Diaz moves up for the MWL playoffs. 

     

    Granite had a great year, but remember that the AFL isn't always about the better prospects (Though I don't know which of the two is a better prospect). 

     

    Wiel's bat is going to be his calling card. Defense, we'll see. He has a ton of errors for a first baseman this year. He isn't speedy. But he can hit and hit for some power.

     

    I haven't seen either player in the OF, they're close to the same age, but Granite is 6' tall versus 5'7" for English. And don't those 56 SBs earn him the AFL gig just in the dozens of slide-induced strawberry bruises alone? AmIRight?

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    TRex

    TRex 264

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    I haven't seen either player in the OF, they're close to the same age, but Granite is 6' tall versus 5'7" for English. And don't those 56 SBs earn him the AFL gig just in the dozens of slide-induced strawberry bruises alone? AmIRight?

    Maybe we can see if Granite plays in one of the Caribbean Winter Leagues (where you can actually make some REAL money) before we infer some clandestine slight the Twins have imposed on Granite? (or please at least acknowledge the possibility?)

     

    --just meant to remind everyone that there is more than one winter league...

    Edited by TRex
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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Maybe we can see if Granite plays in one of the Caribbean Winter Leagues (where you can actually make some REAL money) before we infer some clandestine slight the Twins have imposed on Granite? (or please at least acknowledge the possibility?)

     

    --just meant to remind everyone that there is more than one winter league...

     

    I'm not suggesting anything clandestine.  There are certainly reasons why the Twins made this decision, I'm just wondering why they did what they did- very little is written about either prospect- they aren't guys that everyone is expecting big things from- and the stat lines only tell the casual observer so much.

     

    English was injured much of the season, Granite unquestionably had a great year at a higher level- and those 56 stolen bases that led every single minor league certainly stands out- and a stat like that is something that the AFL loves to promote to add some more sizzle to their "Stars of Tomorrow" marketing approach. The AFL was created and is controlled by MLB for the express purpose of each club having increased direct control of the development of their most valued prospects as opposed to them playing far off in the Caribbean Leagues.

     

    The only things I can read into the decision that was made is that English needed the reps and it didn't really make a difference to the Twins if Granite was selected to play in Arizona or not.

     

     

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