Twins Minor League Report (AFL Week 5): Rogers Returns

Let’s check out what happened in week 5!

Byron Buxton – Did not play.

Buxton had surgery on his fractured finger two weeks ago, and is expected to be ready to go for spring training.

Eddie Rosario – 5 games, 4-19 (.211), 1 R, 2 2B’s, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K’s.

Rosario appeared to endure his first struggles in the AFL, but was still productive on the week as he picked up a pair of doubles, a triple and five RBI. He drove in at least one run in four of the five games.

With Buxton being out, I thought Rosario might get some time in center field, but that was not the case as he remained in left for all five games. He also picked up an outfield assist in Friday’s loss.

His average fell to a still fantastic .356 as of Sunday.

Max Kepler – 4 games, 3-16 (.188), 1 R, 2B, 3 K’s.

Kepler played in four games, playing right field in each.

He went 2-4 in Monday’s 1-0 Rafters win to raise his average to .306 in league play, but managed just one more hit on the week and finished at .262.

Taylor Rogers – 1 game, 1 IP, 0 H’s, 0 BB, 0 K’s.

Rogers made his return to AFL play after taking a line drive to his shoulder in his first start for the Rafters back in week 1, pitching an inning of relief in Saturday’s 7-4 loss.

It was a quick inning as he needed just eight pitches to induce two ground balls and an infield pop out.

Taylor’s twin brother, Tyler, is also pitching in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions, and after they took different path’s after high school, have been able to reconnect on baseball fields in the AFL.

Jason Adam – 2 games, 3.1 IP, 0 R’s, 3 H’s, 2 BB’s, 3 K’s. 0.00 ERA.

Adam made two appearances, pitching more than an inning in each game.

In Tuesday’s 3-1 loss, Adam replaced starter Vincent Velasquez after just two outs in the first inning. Adam finished the first and walked two batters in the second inning before recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

In Friday’s 5-4 loss, Adam pitched the fifth and sixth innings, surrendering two hits but no damage on the scoreboard.

He lowered his ERA on the AFL season to 4.38 at the end of the week.

Zack Jones – 2 games, 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H’s, 1 BB, 3 K’s, 1 Hold (5). 0.00 ERA.

Jones made appearances in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss, and Thursday’s 4-2 loss.

On Tuesday, Jones pitched the ninth inning, striking out two in a scoreless inning around a throwing error that allowed the leadoff man to reach base.

He picked up his fifth hold in Thursday’s loss, pitching the sixth inning to relieve Mark Appel. He walked the first batter he faced, but he was erased on a steal attempt and he retired the next two hitters, one with a strikeout.

Jake Reed – 2 games, 2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H’s, 0 BB, 1 K. 0.00 ERA.

Reed also pitched two games on the week, picking up his third AFL hold with two innings in Wednesday’s 8-4 win, and finishing the eighth inning in Friday’s 7-4 loss.

In his two innings on Wednesday, Reed surrendered a double to the first man he faced in the sixth inning, Dante Bichette, Jr, but retired the next six in a row. Twenty-two of his thirty pitches went for strikes.

On Friday, things didn’t go as well, but Reed maintained his 0.00 ERA in league play as he was not responsible for any of the runners who scored. He entered the game with the bases loaded, and Hunter Dozier and Justin O’Connor singled to score the first two inherited runners. The third scored on a fielder’s choice groundout before Reed escaped with Dozier on third.

Notes

-Rosario and Kepler combined to bat .200 with 2 2B’s, 2 3B’s, 2 R’s, 5 RBI, 1 BB, and 8 K’s during the week.

-Twins pitchers compiled a 0.00 ERA in 9.0 IP, allowing 0 R’s on 6 H’s and 3 BBs, while striking out 7 on the week.