Ted Schwerzler

I'm entertaining this one more time, but genuinely believe we've gotten off track here. I realize that was Twins only WAR. My comment is reflective of players only appearing in the Twins uniform. It's convenient to note that Puckett's career was cut short, while dismissing the fact that Mauer's prime (which was on a much higher trajectory) suffered the same fate. If you want to fault Joe for not being the vocal leader he never claimed to be, and never displayed intentions of being, I don't know what to tell you. In regards to his $184m, that figure never hampered the Twins front office from executing on supplementing talent. Their failure to do so, again, isn't a reflection of what Mauer brought to the table on his own. Again, love the discussion, just don't see it being the backbone of the discussion I was trying to have within the blog.

Assuming you started with the one of greatest debate, there isn much to go off of beyond that I'd imagine. Also, Carew, Kaat and Blyleven played for other organizations. Puckett is behind Mauer in career fWAR, and I'm willing to die on the hill that he wasn't the player Mauer was. That all said, it's really not the crux of the issue at hand.

I don't typically find myself sitting down to write on a Sunday evening, but with my foot in a cast, and a level of frustration in tow, here we are. The first part of that formula is thanks to my achilles deciding to part ways with my foot, the second half is the fault of none other than the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan. On Sunday night, the Tribune Twitter account sent out Souhan's latest with this attached to the piece, "Affordable contract would keep Mauer in good standing with #MNTwins." Prior to getting full blown defensive, I needed to dive in further. So, I hopped into an incognito window and got to reading. There were some quotes from Twins President Dave St. Peter defending the $184 million deal that any team would've jumped at the opportunity to ink. There was some talk with Molitor about wanting him back, and then there was what Souhan added on his own. The journalist quipped "Mauer’s desire to play probably will be based on his health. He has recovered from concussion-like symptoms to return to the everyday lineup, but is batting just .222 with a .556 OPS since his return. Before his injury, his on-base percentage was .404, ranking among the league leaders. His on-base percentage since is an uncharacteristically low .300." From Mauer, Souhan went on to talk about Dozier. A late-bloomer that has an impending pay day ahead. The Twins don't look like they'll pony up, and there's baseball reasons for that (even aside from his typical slow start). He could end the piece without returning to Mauer however, in which he offer "the best thing Mauer could do for his image is to sign an affordable contract, to give the hometown team a break, and finish his career as a bargain instead of a financial burden." Now that you've read as much as you need to, I'm sorry. Over recent seasons, Souhan has been raked himself by plenty a fan of his poorly written pieces. Whether suggesting Phil Hughes as soft for not pitching through injury requiring surgery, or calling Miguel Sano out prior to him having an All Star caliber season. In both of those occasions however, you could argue the pieces had a level of journalistic integrity. Here however, Souhan comes out looking like more of a clown than he ever has. In noting Mauer's production, Jim points to Joe's return from the disabled list. While noting his numbers, he fails to mention that's literally an eight game sample size (including Sunday). The .759 OPS and .404 OBP come in a 38 G span to open up the year. Had he been leading off during that stretch, the Twins offense may have benefitted even more (but that's another story). In a game that decides realities over the course of 162 games, cherry picking eight of them (and failing to mention it), is poor at best. Should the idea that noting statistical production in an lackluster manner not bother you, Souhan then doubled down with his final remarks. Noting that Mauer should give the Twins a break, and not be a financial burden. If the brigade wielding pitchforks at the notion of Mauer's previous contract didn't already have enough poorly derived information, they've just been handed a bit more fuel for the fire. The horse is so far dead, there's not even reason to beat it at this point. That being said, Mauer's $184 million deal was already a hometown discount. There isn't an organization in baseball that wouldn't have signed on that dotted line in a heartbeat. He was the best catcher in the game, and on pace to be among the best to ever play the position. He took less to stay home, and has been unappreciated by a fanbase that saw a living legend because a brain injury drastically altered his career. With baseball being an uncapped sport, and the Twins rarely being in a position to land big fish over the course of his deal, spending to supplement Mauer hardly seemed to be the right move. In 2018, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine executed a near flawless offseason to bring in talent while pushing the payroll to an organizational record. The reality is that even the most sensible dollars don't always come together at the right time in terms of the on field product. Given the current climate of free agents, and the new front office, I'd guess that Falvey and Levine would chuckle at the notion of giving Torii Hunter $10 million for a 2015 season at 39 years old. Veteran leadership is a great thing, but I'll be damned if suggesting it trumps performance on a good team makes any semblance of sense. Hunter was a defensive liability and on his last legs at the plate. It was a fine last hurrah, but the dollars didn't make sense. The beautiful part of it however, was that it didn't make a difference on the bottom line either. A season ago, Joe Mauer was robbed of a Gold Glove that would've made him the third player to ever win one at multiple positions (and first catcher). At the present time, he's the best defensive first basemen in baseball, and it doesn't really matter if opposing managers are blind to that because of his lack of power numbers. Should Mauer want to return next year, Minnesota should jump at the opportunity. He can help Miguel Sano make that defensive transition, and earning something like $10 million is peanuts for the benefit he'd bring on the diamond. When the dust settles on his career, Joe Mauer will go down as the best player to ever play in the Minnesota Twins organization not named Harmon Killebrew. Whether you can't come to grips with his contract, or the fact that a season of inflated home runs in the Metrodome didn't transform who he was doesn't really matter. Tonight Jim Souhan tried to summarize what Mauer has been, and can be going forward, while failing to do even a shred of journalistic justice. It's a sad look for the Star Tribune, it's an expected offering from Souhan, and it's a reminder that Mauer has deserved so much better than what Minnesota has given him for far too long. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

There’s no need to remind you of what Kyle Gibson was, we’re all aware. Early on in the 2017 season, the former first round pick looked like a good bet to be non-tendered this past winter; General Manager Thad Levine admitted as much. The turnaround made by the former Missouri Tiger has been noted plenty, but are we really aware of just how drastic it’s been?In watching Gibson compete against the Boston Red Sox today, I found myself wondering if even I’ve given him his due. As someone who writes about the team, and is in tune with statistical happenings, I found myself in awe of his transformation. For the Red Sox, Rick Porcello is hardly cut from the same cloth that Chris Sale is considered a part of. That being said, he’s an American League Cy Young winner pitching for one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Today, Kyle Gibson went out and had no problem going toe to toe with him. Then it happened, there was a defining moment during the contest that Gibson cemented himself as being the pitcher of new, and not the one of old. Allowing a solo home run to Mookie Betts leading off the fifth inning, Gibson would eventually find himself in a bases loaded, one out jam. With Rafael Devers up the Twins starter induced a pop up, and then a Brock Holt groundout to end the inning without further damage. He was at 99 pitches on the day. Expecting him to be done, Gibson came back out for the sixth inning. He had unfinished business. Porcello threw at Eduardo Escobar earlier in the game, going up at his head and hitting him in a flailing elbow. Even before the Twins utility man left the ballgame, you have to imagine that didn’t sit well with the hometown nine. In heading back out for the sixth, Gibson took the liberty of plunking Boston catcher Sandy Leon in retaliation. With a runner on first before recording an out, he got a ground ball double play and then retired Betts to end his day. Over the course of those two instances, Gibson displayed exactly what the numbers say. This man is not the same pitcher Minnesota fans saw being on the way out the door. He has begun to look every bit the pitcher who was selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. For a Derek Falvey and Thad Levine front office that is going to hang its hat on pitching, that emergence is absolutely what the organization needs. By the numbers, Gibson has only improved upon where he was a season ago. His 93.4 mph average fastball velocity is a career best, and sees inflation each time he rears back for 95 or 96 mph heat. He’s getting swinging strikes 11.2% of the time, while also allowing contact just 74.4% of the time; both of those numbers are career bests. He’s cut down on balls leaving the yard, and with an 8.8 K/9, he’s become a legitimate strikeout pitcher. A season ago, the Twins used a record number of different starting pitchers. This season, they’ve seen some of the future emerge in the form of Fernando Romero and Zack Littell. With Jose Berrios looking like an ace, the rotation in years to come should have more spots claimed than question marks. Knowing guys may be left out in the cold, Kyle Gibson has taken it upon himself to make sure he’s not a member of that group. For someone who had so much promise, went through so much adversity, and has overcome professional struggles, this is a redemption story of the greatest kind. Although he’s probably never going to get the All-Star level fanfare, or be noted among the greats across the league, Gibson has proved to be a legitimate weapon for the Twins. He’s a guy that the manager can trust to call his own number, will put up the best effort for his teammates, and is now competing at a level that seemed all but lost not too long ago. Click here to view the article

The Minnesota Twins find themselves scratching and clawing through games in order to get back to the .500 mark. This season opened with so much promise, and has taken turns that virtually no one expected. While Eddie Rosario and Eduardo Escobar pace the offense, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton have been non existent commodities. Somewhat of an afterthought at this point, Brian Dozier has given Paul Molitor nothing of substance in 2018. After garnering MVP votes for the third straight season last year, and winning a Gold Glove on the basis of his offensive performance, Dozier has been a black hole in the Twins lineup. In 2016 and 2017, the Minnesota second basemen posted .886 and .856 OPS totals respectively. As of June 20 this season, he's got a .682 mark. Slow starts aren't uncommon for the Mississippi native, but this level seems a bit unprecedented. On June 7, 2017 Dozier owned a .748 OPS along with 19 extra base hits (9 longballs). Going back to 2016, he posted just a .694 OPS across 62 games up until June 17. That year he once again had 19 extra base hits, but only seven were homers. Through 68 games in 2018, Dozier has tallied 24 extra base hits and 10 homers. Putting it into that sort of perspective, things feel a bit less bleak. If there's reason to be optimistic, it's that we've seen Brian make a habit of this. He's traditionally been a slow starter that goes on a tear at some point in the early summer. Right now, he owns a career best hard hit rate, and is spraying the ball consistent with career norms. His fly ball rate is where it has been and he's actually both chasing and whiffing less. If there's an area to point towards in relation to the slide, it's hit 6% dip in line drives, as well as the 6% falloff in HR/FB ratio. For the Twins, Dozier has been the same player for each of the past handful of seasons. He uses a dead pull approach that allows him to yank homers over the left field fence. There's solid bat speed and whip through the zone, but he's not the hulking power hitter one would stereotype. Despite seasons of 42 and 34 longballs the past two seasons, a projection in the upper 20's seems like a safe bet on an annual basis. You're also going to get that production in lopsided amounts over the course of the season. In short, I'm not certain Brian Dozier has gone anywhere. In fact, he probably is who he's always been. To generate a higher level of production, Dozier will absolutely need to get the ball off the ground a bit more. The drop in line drive rate is significant, and putting the baseball on the ground is never going to be his game. As the line drives increase, so too should the HR/FB ratio. The problem with streaky hitters is that you have to take your lumps through the down times, and unfortunately Dozier's is an annual occurrence. Despite the average being abnormally low, we aren't far off from what would be considered on par with previous outputs. If the Twins offense as a whole hadn't been such an abomination to this point, the second basemen would also have an easier time blending in. At some point, guys like Dozier fizzle out in extreme fashion. The dead pull power approach decreases in effectiveness as careers get long. I don't think we're there yet (although it's part of the reason I believe Minnesota is right to let him walk this winter), and that's a good thing for the outlook of this lineup going forward. I'd be relatively shocked to see Brian put up 30 homers the rest of the way, but a turnaround shouldn't be anything but expected at this point. Right now, the Twins need Dozier to start his surge. For the sake of his payday following the conclusion of the season, Brian could use that as well. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Thus far in 2018, there's been lots of talk surrounding the Minnesota Twins. Paul Molitor's club has provided talking points relating to everything from their up-and-down record, Miguel Sano's slide, and the emergence of guys like Eddie Rosario and Kyle Gibson. Virtually under the radar, Jose Berrios is beginning to round out into a bonafide ace. The crazy thing is, next to no one is talking about it. A year ago, Berrios owned a 3.89 ERA and put up a 14-8 record across 25 starts (26 games) for the Twins. In 2018, the young Puerto Rican would start on the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. He's made 14 starts on the season, and has quickly become must watch baseball. Whether going up against an ace or a 5th starter on the other side, the Twins hurler now has a brand of his own. Through just under 90 innings this season, Berrios has posted a 3.51 ERA. His 9.1 K/9 is indicative of the strikeout stuff that was always expected of him, and he's cut his walk rate down to a truly impressive 1.5 BB/9 mark. With two complete games, one being a shutout, under his belt already, it's hard to quantify this season as anything but his best yet. What's exciting for both Berrios and the Twins, is that we've likely only scratched the surface. Just recently turning 24 years old, Berrios has just under 300 big league innings to his credit. This season, he's posting career bests across the board, and his 3.33 FIP along with a 0.948 WHIP suggest that there's room for him to be even better. Efficiency has been something he's struggled with in the past, but working two complete tilts already has displayed a further amount of maturity. Walks have also been something Berrios has been plagued by in his early career, but they've become a point of emphasis in 2018, and an avenue of growth that's been significantly exploited. Diving into his arsenal and surrounding numbers, Berrios' output provides one of the biggest areas for excitement. He's still throwing with the same velocity, and his usage rates across all pitches remains nearly identical to career norms. The results have equated to a career best 11.8% swinging strike rate, and a 35.9% chase rate. His 76.4% contact rate is a career low, and he's still keeping hard hit rates in check. As a summary Berrios really isn't doing anything different with his offerings, but with everything being a bit sharper the results have only continued on an upward trajectory. The main knock on Jose has always been his stature. Whether or not he would have enough of a downward plane on his fastball to keep it in the park has been a realistic concern. The 1.1 HR/9 mark is a slight increase from a season ago, but it's hardly the 1.9 tally from his big league debut season. Even if there's not much movement made off of that mark, it's hardly a death sentence given the complete formula. Berrios never got the national love of being an ace, and most projected him as a solid #2 starter. Topping out at 17th on the Baseball Prospectus to prospect list, he saw plenty of fanfare, but not quite enough to put him in elite territory. We don't yet know how this will all play out, but there's little reason to put a ceiling on him anymore. You'll struggle to find anyone willing to outwork the young man, and his abilities are shooting upwards each time he toes the rubber. Forever, the Twins have needed to develop an impact arm that can shoulder the load of being the guy in the starting rotation. Right now, we're seeing Berrios become not just a premier pitcher for the Twins, but among the best in baseball. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The Minnesota Twins didn’t hold the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, but they made two very nice selections in the early going this year. After taking a college outfielder in the first round, they went back behind the plate in round two. After taking Ben Rortvedt in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft, Ryan Jeffers became the 2nd catcher Minnesota drafted that high in the past three years.Since Joe Mauer moved out from behind the plate for the Twins, the position has been in flux. From guys like Wilson Ramos to Kurt Suzuki, and Jason Castro to Mitch Garver, stability behind the plate hasn’t been something the Twins could hang their hat on. Recently named an honorable mention All American by Perfect Game, Jeffers hopes to offer some help in that category. The UNC-Wilmington product batted .315/.460/.635 last season, and Twins Scouting Director Deron Johnson thinks he’ll stick behind the dish. I recently had the opportunity to interview Jeffers, and it’s apparent he’s excited to get going with his pro career. Twins Daily: Catchers being taken early in the draft generally signifies a high ability to stick behind the plate. You were fourth off the board and the second college catcher taken. How would you describe your game? Did you call the action in college? What’s a separating ability of yours? Ryan Jeffers: I would describe my game and myself as a plus defender with the ability to learn and work hard to constantly improve every aspect of my game. I am looking forward to learning and growing and becoming an All-Star caliber backstop. I did call most of my game in college and I think that is something that really helped me maximize my ability. It helped me learn how to read hitters and swings and taught me different ways I can make my pitchers better. I think my receiving, mindset, and intelligence will separate me from others. TD: When the pick came in, MLB Network talked about your offensive ability and production at the plate. What is your approach like in the batters box? Your numbers suggest there’s lots of pop there, is that something you key in on? RJ: I have a patient approach in the box. I like to wait on a pitch I can really hit hard. Whether that pitch comes in the first two pitches or later in the at-bat, I will be ready to put my best swing on it. I always try to hit the ball as hard as I can. Solid contact and good exit velo leads to lots of extra base hits and home runs. So, I just try and key on hard contact and the rest will work itself out. TD: Both at the plate and behind it, development will obviously take place at the next level. What areas are you most looking forward to refining and advancing your game? RJ: For me I really am looking forward to refining every aspect of my game. There always is a need to get better. No matter how good you are you can always improve some aspect of your game. As I work through the minors and learn more and more about the game, I will continue to look to constantly improve. TD: Being from North Carolina and staying home for college, have you been to Minnesota before? What is your knowledge of Target Field and the Twins organization? RJ: I have never been to Minnesota before however I knew a little bit about the organization just from following baseball for so long. My trip to Minnesota and Target Field right after the draft really helped me get a better feel of the Twins and the area. What an awesome facility/field. TD: What was the draft process like for you? Did you have a feeling the Twins were keyed in on taking you in the 2nd round? Were you watching live with family or how did you take it all in? RJ: It was a pretty amazing feeling getting drafted by such a well-run organization. I was honored to have my name called by the twins. I knew the Twins liked me, but a lot of different things can happen on draft night, so you never know what will happen. I had just gotten back to Wilmington after playing in the regionals that Monday. I was unpacking and hanging with my girlfriend when I got the call. TD: You’ve got the floor here, what’s the message you want Twins Territory to know about Ryan Jeffers and how you’ll attack your pro career? RJ: I just want the Twins nation to know that I am ready to work and get after it. I am looking forward to playing in front of the amazing Twins fans and winning many games and championships in a Twins uniform. GO TWINS!! Click here to view the article

The Minnesota Twins were in the 9th inning of another lackluster offensive performance today against the Detroit Tigers. Despite a wonderful outing from starter Lance Lynn, Minnesota found themselves trailing 3-1 in the final frame. With 2 outs, a runner on, and Miguel Sano on the bench...Jake Cave hit for himself. It was at that moment the Twins had solidified their decision. Miguel Sano needed to go. Immediately following the game, it was announced that the slugging third basemen would be sent to High-A Fort Myers. He wasn't going to Triple-A Rochester, or Double-A Chattanooga. Instead, he was headed all the way down to Florida. Both the Red Wings and Lookouts have roster space for the Twins third basemen, so this move is no accident. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have sent the message to Sano that it's time to get right or get gone. In Fort Myers, Sano will be surrounded by the Twins complex, and monitored and a pretty small microscope. He's going to need to figure out how to ditch the terrible check swinging habit, learn to pick up pitches again, and decide that this shell of a player is not who he wants to be. While the former two issues are big ones, it's the latter that remains the most frustrating for me. Over the course of his career, Sano has relied on natural talent, casting aside an ability to work hard and elevate himself to heights that a player of his caliber should be reaching. As I've stated in this space before, weight has never been the issue for Sano, but instead the message in regards to what he expects from himself. At some point, and the Twins hope this is it, the Dominican native is going to have to push for more. There's a really, really good ballplayer in there, but he'll need to be the one to find it. The move surrounding Sano isn't unexpected, and it's likely the correct one. My estimation would be that recently acquired Taylor Motter will come up to take over as the bench utility player. Motter has done little-to-nothing at Triple-A for the Mariners and Twins this year, but with Robbie Grossman and Bobby Wilson on the pine, Paul Molitor needs an infielder. Motter can play all over the diamond, and should be plenty capable of spelling regulars over the next couple of weeks. If there's a less than ideal wrinkle to the whole situation, it's that Jake Cave was again sent back to Rochester. He's been better than Ryan LaMarre, there's reason to believe his ceiling presents a significantly more appealing skillset, and LaMarre has been relatively awful on his own accord. Minnesota has turned from a contender into a pretender. This team is scuffling at the very least, and keeping LaMarre around for the story he was during spring training is silly. There's no track record to suggest he's anything more than a quad-A type player, and Paul Molitor isn't doing this lackluster lineup any favors by running him out there. When the dust settles, Minnesota will welcome Mauer back with open arms. He isn't going to cure all the warts this team currently has, but it's definitely a positive to have him back in the fold. Negative as it may be right now, Sano deciding to invest in himself long term is the best development Minnesota could get out of this season. Hopefully Cave will get another shot to prove his worth soon. It was a busy day in Twins Territory to say the least. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

With the first half of the season quickly coming to a close for some of the Twins minor league affiliates, taking a couple extra victories before the second half remains the goal. In day matinee, Jose Miranda stole the show in a losing effort for the Kernels, while starting pitching was the focus for Rochester, Chattanooga, and Fort Myers. The Lookouts broke out the bats, and runs were put up in bunches. Read about the action below.TRANSACTIONS Fort Myers Miracle OF Jimmy Kerrigan promoted to Chattanooga RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3 Box Score Dietrich Enns was on the bump for this one, and he turned in a strong start coming up just short of seven full innings. He left the game with a one run lead, and despite being outhit 11 to 5, the Red Wings had the upper hand in the only category that matters. Rochester would get the scoring started in the top of the 2nd inning. Wynston Sawyer would double in Chris Carter, and he'd then come around to score on an errant pickoff throw. The only damage done against Enns would be in the form of a Billy McKinney solo shot in the 4th. From there, the two teams would remain quiet on the scoreboad until the 8th inning. With Alan Busenitz on the mound, Scranton would push across the tying run on a Brandon Drury single. Willians Astudillo made sure that the Red Wings would answer however, as he blasted a two run shot in the top half of the 9th inning. Trevor May was given the 9th inning and locked down his second save of the year for Rochester. One run would come across, though it was of the unearned variety. May would allows two hits and a walk through his one inning of work. A rehabbing Joe Mauer played all nine innings in the field tonight, going 0-4 with a strikeout at the dish. He's tentatively expected to rejoin the Twins on Friday. With the win, the Red Wings were able to able to put an end to the 10 game losing streak they were on. They'll head to Buffalo for a four game set beginning tomorrow night. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 14, Montgomery 4 Box Score With Lewis Thorpe on the mound, and giving the Lookouts six very strong innings tonight, Chattanooga did something the parent club could not. Throughout the lineup, this team hit and put runs up in bunches over the course of the game. Thorpe's nine strikeouts and only one walk helped to punctuate a start that was only blemished by some slight trouble in the 7th. Right away in the first, Chattanooga jumped out to a lead. First Edgar Corcino drove in Sean Miller, and then Andy Wilkins would ground a single to right driving in Chris Paul. Taking an inning off, more runs were added in the top of the third inning. Paul would drive in Miller on a single of his own, and then Wilkins would notch his first homer of the season on a three run blast. Up 6-0 already in the 4th inning, Brent Rooker would get in on the action. A liner would drive in a run, and Paul would continue his nice night at the dish. Tallying his 17th double on the season, Paul would drive in both Rooker and Corcino, putting the good guys up 9-0. Wilkins would then rip his second homer of the night (and season) to center, and Jimmy Kerrigan would go back-to-back grabbing his first longball in his first Double-A game. By the 8th, Birmingham had scratched away a bit, and pushed four runs of their own across. Adding a bid of insurance, Corcino would score Ryan Walker on a ground out, and Paul would drive in Miller on a sac fly. Up 14-4 by the 9th, Ryan Eades would come on to grab the final three outs. It was a great way for the Lookouts to start their final series of the first half. They'll match up with the Barons again tomorrow evening. With just four games left in the 1st half, Chattanooga will be looking to pile on wins and overtake Jackson (1.0 GB) in the Southern League's North Division. MIRACLE MATTERS Palm Beach 7, Fort Myers 6 Box Score The recently reinstated Griffin Jax was on the bump for the Miracle in this one, and he turned in a very nice outing. Going six innings, he allowed just three runs (two earned), on six hits. Jax tallied five strikeouts and walked just two. Leaving the game before the Miracle scoring started, he found himself at the mercy of his offense. As noted, the Miracle got off to a slow start in the run column for this one. They found themselves down 3-0 through six innings and needed to get something going. From there though, runs would come in three straight frames. Joe Cronin got the party going with a two run homer (his 5th of the year) in the 7th. Caleb Hamilton would then join in with a two run homer of his own, and his first of the season. After seven innings, the Miracle had erased the three run deficit, and found themselves clinging to a one run lead. In the 8th, Ryan Mason found himself in trouble, and Palm Beach would push across four runs of their own. Fort Myers was tasked with answering in the 9th, and nearly did enough to grab the W. Travis Blankenhorn drove in Brandon Lopez on a sacrifice fly, and a Jaylin Davis brought in Luis Arraez cutting the lead to one. Unfortunately that's where the rally would end, and they'd come up one run short. Fort Myers outhit Palm Beach 12 to 11, but they combined to go 3-13 with runners in scoring position, as well as leaving eight runners on base. The Miracle will look to take the series and end the first half with a win tomorrow. KERNELS NUGGETS Kane County 6, Cedar Rapids 2 Box Score Brusdar Graterol was on the bump for this one, and was looking to follow up his great performance from his last time out. While it wasn’t a blow up, the Kernels hurler surrendered three earned runs on five hits across four innings pitched. Despite coming out of the game with Cedar Rapids trailing just by two, the bats couldn’t turn hits into runs on the day. Right away in the first inning, the Kernels jumped out on top. Royce Lewis ripped his 14th double of the year, and Jose Miranda drove him in on an RBI single. That lead would hold until Graterol allowed a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. The Cougars would then add another in the 4th, and Cedar Rapids found themselves trailing 3-1 in the top half of the 5th. With the bases loaded, Andrew Bechtold would draw a walk and an RBI to bring Cedar Rapids back within one. Despite outhitting Kane County by a tally of 12 to 9, the two runs were all Toby Gardenhire’s squad could push across on the day. The Cougars would answer with a run of their own in the 5th, as well as two more in the 6th. That 6-2 total would hold through the last three innings, and push the two teams to a series split with a rubber match still to come. Miranda had a fine day at the plate going 3-4 with the RBI and a double of his own. Both Bechtold and Jean Carlos Arias would also record multi hit games, picking up two each. Seven of the Kernels nine hitters would tally a base hit, and all but one were able to reach base on the day. Jovani Moran did a great job in relief working three innings of no-hit, no-run ball. He struck out six and walked just two. The two clubs will meet tomorrow night to decide the series. Cedar Rapids will then head home for a three game set with Peoria to put a bow on the first half of the season. STARS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Lewis Thorpe 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Andy Wilkins 3-4, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR(1,2) TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY 1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – 1-5, R, 2B 3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 0-4, K 7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 1-5, R, RBI 9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K 10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, BB, K 12. Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) – 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K 13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-5, K 14. LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 0-4 17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 1-3, RBI THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6:05PM CST) – LHP Adalberto Mejia (1-2, 3.86 ERA) Chattanooga @ Birmingham (7:05PM CST) – TBD Fort Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (1-4, 4.14 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30PM CST) – RHP Bailey Ober (2-1, 6.21 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games! Click here to view the article

Prior to the news of the Minnesota Twins re-signing veteran reliever Matt Belisle, I had every intention of writing a piece on the curious usage of Matt Magill. Paul Molitor has routinely been lackluster when it comes to bullpen managment during his time as Twins skipper, but things got even more confusing today. After revamping the relief corps going into the season, Thad Levine, Derek Falvey, and Paul Molitor have found a way to make a relative strength into a revolving door. Needing a fresh arm at the tail end of April, the Twins turned to Matt Magill. Prior to that point, Magill last pitched in the big leagues during the 2016 season. He had just 32 innings under his belt, and at 28 years old, he was a relative flier. Now having been on the 25 man roster for 40 games, he's been used just 13 times in that stretch. Without knowing his numbers, it may not seem egregious given the lack of history to build off of. The numbers though, well they're very good. In 20.2 IP with Minnesota, Magill has posted a 1.31 ERA with a 7.4 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9. It wouldn't be a terrible thing to Magill to be largely unused if the Twins found themselves avoiding a need to go to their bullpen. However, in that 40 games timeframe he's been with the club, Ryan Pressly has been ran out to the mound 21 times, while Addison Reed has been called upon on 19 occasions. In the 21 games Pressly has appeared in, he has a 6.11 ERA and is allowing an .886 OPS to opposing hitters. Reed's 19 appearances have equaled out to a 3.38 ERA (compared to a 2.57 mark prior), and an .895 OPS against. To say they are running on fumes is an understatement. It being only June makes matters worse. Then comes the news of Matt Belisle. Not only is Paul Molitor not using his full relief corps currently, but he's now been given a veteran arm that the worst bullpen in the big leagues (Cleveland) decided to give up on even at Triple-A. Belisle filled in admirably as the Twins closer down the stretch last season, but his fastball velocity has declined to a career worst 90.9 mph. He's also ceded runs in three of eight appearances at the highest level this season. Molitor hasn't given Magill the opportunity to spell his horses despite Matt proving worthy of a chance, now he'll have an arm that should be utilized in a similar vein to Tyler Kinley or Phil Hughes before him. Sure, there's a value to clubhouse presence, and that will be a notion disseminated freely when referencing Belisle's signing. That's more a cop out than anything however. Addison Reed, Zach Duke, and Fernando Rodney were intended to be the veteran presence brought in over the offseason. All solid clubhouse guys, they effect Belisle has in the matter should be well represented in the doldrums of Target Field. By spinning an odd fit with the clubhouse tag, Minnesota should and does likely alienate more deserving players toiling away at Triple-A. Tyler Duffey noted frustration when he was recently optioned back to Triple-A. While he's had poor stints with the Twins this year, he was perfect in his recent opportunity and likely deserved better. Most egregious in all of this is none other than Alan Busenitz. Across 24 Triple-A innings thus far, Busenitz owns a 0.38 ERA, 10.5 K/9, and 1.9 BB/9. There's no other way to put it except that it's a massive mistake to have him be wasting bullets in Rochester. No longer a prospect at nearly 28 years old, Busenitz has proven he's well above the Triple-A level, and he should be working his way into a back-end role with the Twins. The signing of Matt Belisle on its own isn't some terrible decision. Given the factors at play however, it's one that Thad Levine, Derek Falvey, and Paul Molitor should all be questioned for. The bullpen is currently mismanaged, internal options likely provide a higher impact, and a negative message is sent throughout the organization. While the front office deserves to be commended for how they handled the offseason, the roster moves since the games began are puzzling at best. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

I think these couple of sentences highlight exactly the issue. He's guessing completely and has lost almost any ability to dictate ABs by knowing/seeing what's coming. He's reacting to what he believes could be coming, and is wrong more often than not right now.

I'd imagine he'll follow a similar path to Rooker. Brent played in just 22 G for E-Town before going to Fort Myers. Larnach should be on that same trajectory as long as the numbers follow.

For better or worse, Miguel Sano has been the same player for much of his big league career. On one hand, that's a hulking slugger that drives baseballs deep into the outer reaches of major league ballparks. On the other, it's a free swinging giant that frustrates both fans and coaches alike. Regardless of which side of the fence he finds himself on during a given day, he's remained largely the same player throughout his career. What's someone comforting is that 2018 is no outlier. Coming into the season, really at the beginning of spring training, I wrote about how Sano's weight itself isn't the issue. My problem with the big third basemen's size is more in relation to what it says about his level of commitment to both the Twins as well as his own ability to be great. By deciding not to adhere to guidelines suggested by his employer, and turning a bit of the extra baggage into muscle mass, there's a higher tier that goes from reachable to a distant memory. On the field, and even with as bad as he's been for the Twins in 2018, much of the underlying numbers suggest he's not far off from who he's always been. Sano's .859 OPS in 2017 earned him his first All Star trip, and was in line with the .916 OPS he produced as a rookie in his first 80 major league games. Last season, he posted a 29.1% chase rate, and just a 62% contact rate. He swung through pitches 18.3% of the time, and he made contact on strikes just 73.5% of the time. None of those numbers are great, and especially so combined with a 35.8% strikeout rate. That being said, they combined to provide more than welcomed results. This is where we get into some of the silver lining that Sano has left for 2018. On the season, he owns a 32.6% chase rate (3% worse), 64.9% contact rate (3% better), and a 16.5% swinging strike rate (2% better). The biggest dip is his 40.6% K rate (5% worse), and his 18.4% HR/FB ratio (9% worse). While the strikeouts and lack of home runs are certainly egregious, none of the other areas in which he's slipped up have been too drastic. On top of that, he's not being attacked in an entirely different fashion. Teams are throwing him nearly 40% fastballs, which is a career high, while it's changeups and curveballs that have been offered to him less. So where does that leave us? Well if you've observed Twins broadcasts or watched a game in the park, I'm sure you can figure it out. Right now, Miguel Sano's biggest failure is in pitch recognition. For one reason or another he's guessing entirely too often at the plate, and in doing so, he's seen check swinging a crazy amount, while watching otherwise perfect pitches go by. The dip in offspeed offerings may have Sano waiting on pitches that won't ever come, while he's then susceptible to the fastball being blown right by him. He's swinging and missing less, and he's not chasing all the much more. In fact, when he's making contact, it remains at a comparable clip in terms of hard hit rate. Simply put, he just doesn't know what he's swinging at. When taking a look at his pitch chart, we can see that Sano is being abused by the breaking ball low and away. Pitchers have gotten a ton of swings and misses from Sano on sliders and curveballs that are off the outside corner of the zone. Despite not being a dead pull hitter, those are the balls he's either check swinging on, or shouldn't be offering at whatsoever. Conversely, he's yet to swing through anything up and in, while six of his seven homers have come on pitches in the middle of the zone. If you've checked out Rob Friedman's GIFs on Twitter (under the handle @PitchingNinja), you'll see how difficult attacking pitches can be. Both sliders and fastballs can get to the zone on the same plane, before one drastically turns away from an opposing batter. With a lacking ability in pitch recognition, spin isn't something Sano is currently picking up, and it leaves him flailing through both types of offerings not fully knowing which is which. There's plenty of drills that can be executed to help with this sort of deficiency, and while they are simple in practice, application is hard. Big league pitchers are the best in the world for a reason, and even while Sano is always going to be a strikeout machine, the reality is that he can also hit very well. Until he can once again read offerings as opposed to guessing or reacting through them, he's going to struggle. James Rowson did an incredible job of breaking down Byron Buxton's swing to the bare minimum and rebuilding him at the highest level last season. Sano shouldn't need that level of an overhaul, but the Twins hitting coach has his next big challenge in front of him. Pitch recognition isn't something you can simply use your given ability to get through however, and that's where this could take a tough turn for Miguel. He;s going to need to rededicate himself at the plate, and put in the work to see a different set of results. There's been different times and instances where the Twins have hoped that blueprint would play out for their third basemen and it hasn't. Miguel Sano has the opportunity to be great, but he could choose to settle for being average. There's another crossroads in his path, and it'll be interesting to see how he attacks this one. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

In any given season, a major league fanbase is going to clamor for the emergence and promotion of their top prospects. If a team is bad, the desire is for a level of excitement. Should things be going well, the hope is that the youngster would help to stoke the already burning flame. The Minnesota Twins find themselves somewhere in the middle ground, and three of their top prospects are close, but they all have one area yet to hone in on.At the current juncture, it's too early to decide whether or not the Twins should be using the balance of the 2018 season for development or continuing to believe the Indians are a reachable distance away. The reality is that this current club is underperforming significantly, but the division isn't getting away from them either. At some point however, promotions for near-ready prospects will be come a reality. For three guys, there's one key piece to each of their games that could be holding them back. Stephen Gonsalves Now through seven Triple-A starts, Gonsalves has been passed over in favor of both Fernando Romero and Zack Littell when it comes to making a big league debut. Despite dominating Double-A Chattanooga to start the year, Gonsalves had put up a couple of clunkers with the Red Wings. Through his seven starts, three of them have seen one or less runs cross the plate, while a fourth saw three runners score in 5.2 IP. As a whole, opposing batters own just a .643 OPS against the talented lefty, and batters are hitting just .190 against him. Those numbers are all indicative of a guy who would be expected to be performing at a high level. If there's something that gives for Gonsalves, it's the same bugaboo that has plagued him in recent years: free passes. 2016 was when Gonsalves really started to gain steam, and the knock then was his walk rate. He posted a 3.7 BB/9 split between Fort Myers and Chattanooga. In his first turn at Double-A, he owned a 4.5 BB/9. 2017 saw that number drop all the way to 2.4 BB/9 in 87.1 IP. Fast forward to this season, and Gonsalves walked 4.4 per nine in 201. IP at Double-A, with 5.5 BB/9 through 32.2 Triple-A innings. Gonsalves has a very strong 1.189 WHIP, and he limited damage by allowing just 5.6 H/9 and 0.8 HR/9. For him to be successful at the next level, and keep himself out of precarious positions, keeping batters from getting free bases is a must. As the walk rate drops, his call up chances will rise dramatically. Nick Gordon As a guy who is going to play up the middle for the Twins, the last question remaining is where there's an avenue for time. In part, it's on Gordon to cement himself as a defender, and on the flip side, Minnesota must decide how they want to go about defensive positioning. Right now Ehire Adrianza leaves an immense amount to be desired at the plate, while Eduardo Escobar can't hack it there in the field. Brian Dozier is entrenched as the every day second basemen, but his time with the Twins could soon be coming to an end. With only short bursts of opportunity presenting themselves, it's hard to get real bent out of shape about Gordon being at Triple-A. Thus far in 2018, he's played eight games at second and 48 at short across two levels. He makes more than his fair share of errors, and that's continued to be an opportunity for improvement. Jorge Polanco may be better suited of the pair to hang on at short, but Gordon is also more than capable of making it a competition. Right now, Nick needs to continue honing in both his arm and glove, while biding his time until the iron is hot. Should the Twins fall out of it, he's going to get his chance. Miguel Sano hitting the DL provided an opportunity I feel the Twins missed on, but another injury could allow them a shot to right that wrong as well. Brent Rooker Drafted as a fast moving, bat first (only) prospect, Rooker touted some incredible numbers in the SEC. A Triple Crown winner, there were very few questions about his ability to hit the baseball. He's as decorated of a college athlete as they come, and getting him deep in the first round looked like an absolute steal for the Twins. So far during his pro career, things have gone as expected for Brent. He posted a .930 OPS between rookie ball and High-A last season, which led to starting 2018 at Chattanooga. While he got off to a slow start for the lookouts, Rooker owns an .890 OPS over his last 29 games. He's got 24 extra base hits on the season, and has launched eight longballs. In other words, the production off of his bat leaves little to question. Where things get a bit out of whack, are when Rooker swings and misses. Right now he owns a 66/14 K/BB through 55 games. For some context, that's a 160/41 K/BB ratio over 133 games, the same sample size that saw Adam Brett Walker post a 195/51 K/BB in his best Double-A season. Brent is a better pure hitter than Walker was, and ideally he's not destined to be a three true outcomes guy. That said, it's imperative that the discipline at the dish is honed in a bit more. There's reason to believe that a perfect storm could land Rooker in Minnesota by the end of 2018 for a cup of coffee. In order for that to happen though, he's going to need to drastically tighten things up when he steps into the batters box. Click here to view the article

With the 2018 Major League Baseball draft in the rearview mirror, the Minnesota Twins have now brought more young talent into the organization. Despite not having the first overall pick this season, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine were able to identify a handful of players that could be making an impact at Target Field in years to come. While this class seems catcher and college heavy, there's also a juggle of names already included in the Off The Baggy top 15 prospects. Before diving into an updated, post draft list, here's a few key areas to check out first: 2016 Top 15 Prospects 2017 Top 15 Prospects 2018 Top 15 Prospects 2018 Draft Picks Now that we have the foundation laid, here's who I have as the Midseason Top 15 Prospects for the Minnesota Twins: 15. Wander Javier SS Coming into the season, I found myself incredibly high on Javier, thinking he could end up being the Twins best positional prospect not named Royce Lewis. Unfortunately, he's been handed a season ending injury, and despite the surgery not being on his throwing arm, the biggest setback is missing out on a year of development at 19 years old. By the time he's back on the diamond, Javier will be 20. He's going to need to pick up and go right away to regain his prospect status. There's an incredible amount of talent there, and counting him out would be foolish. 14. Tyler Jay LHP The Twins 2015 1st round pick is now firmly entrenched as a reliever. After being bounced back and forth between starting and the pen, keeping him healthy has maybe been the largest challenge. In 2017, Jay pitched just 11.2 innings, a mark he's nearly doubled thus far in 2018. He's still at Double-A Chattanooga which is unfortunate, and the strikeouts have dipped to just 7.5 per nine innings. As a lefty, he can bring it, and profiles well in the late innings. He'll need to start putting up numbers indicative of that should he want to jump to Triple-A. At 24, it would be ideal to see him get time with the Twins this year, but that would require a significant breakout in short order. 13. Lewis Thorpe LHP Starting the season healthy for the first time in more than three years is huge for the Aussie. After a solid display at High-A Fort Myers last season, he was jumped to Chattanooga to begin 2018. The ERA sits at a respectable 3.74, while his 10.2 K/9 is something Minnesota would love to see carry forward. The 1.528 WHIP is a bit out of hand, and it's reflective of a guy that allows a handful of runners to reach base. Thorpe is still just 22, and already at Double-A. If he continues to refine his approach, he'll jump back into the national discussion. 12. Blayne Enlow RHP The Twins targeted Enlow with some of their early round savings in the 2017 MLB Draft. After appearing in 20.1 innings for the GCL Twins last year, he's spent 2018 with Low-A Cedar Rapids. The 4.46 ERA isn't ideal, but he's another guy giving up too much contact right now. A 1.718 WHIP is buoyed by an 11.5 H/9. He's only 19 and the stuff is still very raw. His bender is impressive, and the velocity probably has a bit of room to grow yet. If nothing else, this is a very good developmental year for the Louisiana native. 11. Akil Baddoo OF There wasn't a guy I was more impressed with during spring training 2017 than Baddoo when it came to physical body work. He looked as if he'd at half of his 2016 self, and put on a ton of muscle. At E-Town last season, Baddoo posted a great 1.057 OPS across 33 games. Batting as the leadoff guy for the Kernels this year, he owns a .788 OPS. The power continues to play, and while the average has sunk a bit lower than you'd like to see, his plate discipline hasn't fallen off much. He's got a chance to be the breakout type, much like the next guy on this list. 10. LaMonte Wade OF As a 9th round pick in 2015, Wade hasn't gotten the fanfare he's deserved until recently. Despite posting .840 + OPS numbers in each of his first two pro seasons, he really only began to be a name more commonly known. Now at Double-A Chattanooga, Wade owns an .837 OPS on the year, and has already hit seven longballs. If the Twins really wanted to test him, he could be up filling in for Byron Buxton right now. He's got a tremendous eye at the plate, and controls the zone well. There's a lot to like here, and the ceiling is higher than just a fourth outfielder. 9. Zack Littell RHP Acquired by the Twins in a shrewd exchange that involved Jaime Garcia, Littell has shown exactly why he was the apple of Falvey and Levine's eyes. He had a strong Twins organization debut at Double-A last year, and had been great in 28 innings with Triple-A Rochester this season. His major league debut didn't go smoothly, but there's little doubt that he'll be back, and that he's a capable arm to count on as a rotation mainstay. 8. Trevor Larnach OF The 20th overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, Larnach is of a similar mold to Twins prospect Brent Rooker. The power potential is massive, and he absolutely destroys the baseball when making contact. Swing and miss is a bit less of a worry here, although his position is certainly going to be limited to a corner outfield spot. He used all fields in college, but rarely pulled the ball. Ideally you'd like to see him shorten up a bit, and be able to get around on big league pitching to his drive side. This was a safe pick for Minnesota, and the bat should absolutely play. 7. Brent Rooker OF I still think Rooker ends up at first base long term, but he's not a liability in the Robbie Grossman sense when it comes to outfield play. After a slow start at Double-A, he's really come around of late. From May 7 through June 6 (29 G), he owns an .890 OPS with seven homers. Rooker's bat was always going to be what drove his promotions, and it's played as expected. The next piece of his game that has to be addressed is the plate discipline. A 66/14 K/BB at Double-A is only going to get wider as he moves upwards. 6. Alex Kirilloff OF Coming off of Tommy John surgery, it wasn't so much a worry that Kirilloff wouldn't rebound, as much as it was about how the time off would effect him. The short answer has been, not much. While Royce Lewis got the early fanfare as the latest first round pick, it's Kirilloff who's been shining of late as well. His .978 OPS is comprised of 11 homers and 17 doubles through 55 games. It's been a heck of a return to the diamond, and the bat first prospect has been nothing short of exciting. 5. Stephen Gonsalves LHP After dominating Double-A to the tune of a 1.77 ERA through four starts, Gonsalves was moved up to Triple-A. He owns a 4.13 ERA through seven starts, but the numbers are inflated by a few clunkers. His 10.5 K/9 is more than impressive, but it's the 5.5 BB/9 that still cause the Twins pause. Command has always been the last part of the puzzle for the crafty lefty, and it'll be the piece he needs to hone in before jumping to the big leagues. 4. Brusdar Graterol RHP Now completely healthy, the Twins next flamethrower has been must see baseball on the mound for the Kernels. His few DL stints this year seem much more roster manipulation than genuine cause for concern. He's gone six trips through the rotation, and owns a 1.95 ERA in 32.1 IP. With a triple-digit fastball in his arsenal, the 11.1 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 suggest he could probably use a new challenge sometime soon. 3. Nick Gordon SS While shortstop may not be Nick Gordon's longterm home, it probably works out better that way for the Twins roster construction. Yes, he faded down the stretch at Double-A last year, but he's been nothing short of exceptional in 2018. His .906 OPS across 42 games with Chattanooga earned him a bump to Triple-A Rochester. In 16 games since his promotion, he's hitting .350/.371/.467. The five home runs continue to drive home the notion that the nine in 2017 were real, and he could turn into a 15-20 longball guy at the next level. He should be the Twins Opening Day second basemen in 2019, and there's little reason to worry about it. 2. Fernando Romero RHP It took just 21 innings at Triple-A for the Twins to decide that Romero was ready for the big time. His 2.57 ERA with Rochester came with some walks (4.3 BB/9), but the stuff was absolutely going to play. Since being in the big leagues, he owns a 3.96 ERA over seven starts (36.1 IP). He was lights out against some good teams in the early going, and he's thrown in a clunker or two as well. Long term, he still profiles as an ace, and pairing him with Jose Berrios should give Minnesota a solid one-two punch for quite some time. 1. Royce Lewis SS After making it to Cedar Rapids to conclude his first season in pro ball, Lewis has torn up the Midwest League this season as well. Currently his OPS is down to .750, but it rested at .799 through 40 games just over a week ago. The power hasn't really shown up yet, but it should come in time. He has plenty of room to fill out and gain muscle, so there isn't much cause for concern. Expect him to hit High-A Fort Myers for the second half of the year, and tracking towards a 2020 MLB debut is very plausible. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Hey, this is a living document haha.

Believe the rankings come from consensus or Seth a bit down the line. I'll be redoing my prospect rankings at Off The Baggy tomorrow. Larnach is the only one I'll have in the top 15.

Half of the Minnesota Twins affiliates are in action this morning, with the Cedar Rapids Kernels playing a second straight doubleheader. On top of the big league action, and the final day of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, it's a busy day across the organization. Check back throughout the day as the action unfolds throughout the systemTRANSACTIONS AND NEWS Rochester Red Wings Add RHP Zack Littell Release INF Jermaine Curtis Fort Myers Miracle Taylor Grzelakowski was named to the Florida State League All Star Game today. Cedar Rapids Kernels Activated C David Banuelos off DL Activated RHP Brusdar Graterol off DL Placed C Ben Rodriguez on DL Brusdar Graterol, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, and Jared Finkel were named to the Midwest League All Star Game RED WINGS REPORT Indianapolis 7, Rochester 2 Box Score In just a three game set with Indianapolis, the Red Wings were looking to take tonight's game in order to knot up the series. Giving up seven runs on 12 hits and mustering just four of their own, the effort fell short. Aaron Slegers was on the bump, and he was staked to a 1-0 lead after Rochester's first at-bat. Jake Cave was able to drive a ball deep enough, allowing Zack Granite to score from third. The sac fly was Cave's 25th RBI on the year. After allowing the Indians to draw even, Chris Carter put the home team back on top with his 4th HR of the season. Leading 2-1 through the 5th inning, that's where things went downhill for Rochester. Slegers would be removed from the game shortly after allowing a third run to score on a solo shot. In the 6th, another would follow, and runs were posted in both the 8th and 9th innings as well. A final of 7-2 dropped Rochester in a 2-0 series hole, with an ability to get one back during tomorrow's day game. Cameron Rupp made his Twins organization debut in this one. He batted seventh and went 0-2 with two strikeouts and two walks. He has a July 15th opt out that can be exercised should he not be placed on the big league roster by that point. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Mobile 15, Chattanooga 4 Box Score Coming off an 11-6 loss yesterday, the Lookouts were trying to exact some revenge against Mobile today. Despite getting out to a 1-0 lead early in the first inning, it wouldn’t hold up and the BayBears piled on. After a LaMonte Wade walk to start off the home half of the first, Brent Rooker drove in the game’s first run on his 13th double. Starter Anthony Marzi was given a lead, but the third inning would spell danger for the Chattanooga hurler. Mobile answered the Lookouts run with eight of their own, and the deficit only grew from there. Not rolling over, the Chattanooga offense responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning. A Zander Wiel single drove in LaMonte Wade and put Brent Rooker at third base. Edgar Corcino then scored Rooker on a sac fly during the very next at-bat. Rooker, the lone Lookout hitter to have a strong day at the dish, hit his eighth home run of the season in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for Chattanooga, that tally was their last of the game. With Mobile scoring four in the fifth, three in the sixth, and two more in the ninth, the final rested at 17-4. Both Alex Perez and Tanner English worked as position players on in relief to round out the eighth and ninth innings in this one. Having taken the middle three games of the series, Mobile will win the five game set. Chattanooga can look to salvage an extra game as they square off one last time tomorrow evening. MIRACLE MATTERS Palm Beach 9, Fort Myers 5 (10 innings) Box Score This game saw 14 runners cross the plate, and there was a total of 22 hits recorded. Unfortunately for the Miracle, the majority in both categories were recorded by Palm Beach. Having dropped the first two in the series, an offensive outburst was the result this club was looking for. Early on, things were going well for Fort Myers. Putting up a crooked number in the second inning, Luis Arraez doubled and Mitchell Kranson singled to score three runners. The lead wouldn't hold up however, as all three were given back in the top half of the 4th. Palm Beach then took their first lead in the 5th, to the tune of a 4-3 tally. A Shane Carrier single for the Miracle knotted things up in the bottom half, and the roller coaster affair would continue. Fort Myers then jumped back out on top in the bottom of the sixth, this time with Arraez delivering again, on a sac fly. As had been the case throughout the entirety of the game, the lead would be short lived. A Palm Beach home run off of Ryan Mason would send the Miracle to bat in the seventh tied at five. Neither team could push anything across in the 8th or 9th, and this one would head to extras. The final blow on the evening came against Miracle All-Star Andrew Vasquez. With the bases loaded, Palm Beach's Dylan Carlson lifted a grand slam to right field. Down 9-5, Fort Myers wasn't able to pull even again and they fell to 0-3 in the series. Looking to salvage a game, they'll have one last opportunity tomorrow night. KERNELS NUGGETS Game 1: Beloit 4, Cedar Rapids 3 (8 innings) Box Score Brusdar Graterol returned from the disabled list (hand contusion) to start this one for Cedar Rapids. He was on cruise control most of the game, and allowing just two runs over six strong innings, his final line was another good one. Beloit got the scoring started in the top half of the fifth inning, tallying one against Graterol. Andrew Bechtold scored on a David Banuelos single in the bottom half, to knot the game up. Unfortunately the lead was short lived with the Snappers striking again in the top of the 6th. Down to their last raps in the bottom of the seventh inning, Bechtold led off with his second double of the game. After two quick outs, Jordan Gore found himself at the dish with the game on the line. The Kernels were down to their final strike when Gore ground a single through the infield to right, scoring Bechtold and forcing extras. In the extra frame, Calvin Faucher came on for Toby Gardenhire, and was tasked with holding the automatic runner at second. After a Beloit sac bunt, the runner came in to score on a wild pitch. The Snappers added an insurance tally before their half of the inning was over, and Cedar Rapids faced a 4-2 deficit. Royce Lewis was tabbed the automatic runner for the Kernels in the bottom of the 8th, and he scored on a Robby Rinn two-out single. Needing to push one more across, the rally fell short as Jacob Pearson was caught stealing with Bechtold at the plate. A split of their second straight doubleheader would again be the goal in game two. Game 2: Beloit 3, Cedar Rapids 0 (7 innings) Box Score Tanner Kiest was making his second start in the Twins organization, and this one would be of the abbreviated sort. Despite allowing just two runs in the first frame, he needed 36 pitches to get through the inning. With the new organizational rule limiting minor leaguers at 35 pitches, he was then removed from the game. Randy Dobnak came on in relief, and he gave the Kernels everything they could ask for. Throwing six innings of one-run baseball, the three-run deficit was a score that allowed the offense opportunity to rally. The bats went cold after the seven-hit performance in the first game, and two base knocks were all the squad could muster. Having played four games in two days, the Kernels (and Snappers) will welcome a one game affair to close out the series tomorrow night. With the Kernels trailing three games to one in this set, they'll look to draw closer to even as the end the three day homestand. STARS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Brent Rooker 2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR(8), 2 BB Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Brusdar Graterol 7.0 IP 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY 1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, R 3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 1-4 5. Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) – (2 Games) 1-5, 2 BB, K 7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR(8), 2 BB 9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – 7.0 IP 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K 10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – (2 Games) 1-5, 2 BB, 3 K 13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-5, 2 K 14. LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) – 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB 15. Mitch Garver (Minnesota) – 2-4, 2B 16. Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, K 17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 0-4, BB, K THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Indianapolis @ Rochester (11:35AM CST) – LHP Dietrich Enns (4-5, 4.81 ERA) Mobile @ Chattanooga (6:15PM CST) – TBD Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (0-0, 5.79 ERA) Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.86 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games! Click here to view the article

June 4, 2018 kicks off the Major League Baseball draft. With the Minnesota Twins making their first selection at 20th overall, the next crop of future faces to grace Target Field will fill out in the coming days. As players come off the board, the professional careers of hundreds will begin in earnest. Although their impact won't be felt at the highest level for quite some time, this is a big event for Twins fans, the organization, and those now joining it. Throughout the entirety of the 40 round process, you'll find players selected as well as their pertinent information updated below. Please take a look back at the 2017 class here. Let's get into it: Round 1, Pick 20- Trevor Larnach, OF Oregon State @trevorlarnach Round 2, Pick 59- Ryan Jeffers, C UNC Wilmington @Ryan_Jeffers8 Round 4, Pick 124- DaShawn Keirsey, CF Utah Round 5, Pick 154- Cole Sands, RHP Florida State @ColeSands Round 6, Pick 184- Charles Mack, SS Williamsville East HS (NY) Round 7, Pick 214- Josh Winder, RHP Virginia Military Institue Round 8, Pick 244- Chris Williams, C Clemson Round 9, Pick 274- Willie Joe Garry Jr., CF Pascagoula HS Round 10, Pick 304- Regi Grace, RHP Madison Central HS @rjgrace1 Round 11, Pick 334- Michael Helman, 2B Texas A&M @theHELM_ Round 12, Pick 364- Jon Olsen, RHP UCLA Round 13, Pick 394- Trevor Casanova, C CSU Northridge @TrevorCasanova Round 14, Pick 424- Erick Rivera, OF Escuela Superior Urbana Round 15, Pick 454- Kody Funderburk, LHP Dallas Baptist U @KodyFunderburk Round 16, Pick 484- Anthony Tuionetoa, RHS Baldwin HS Round 17, Pick 514- Erik Cha, LHS Cal St. Fullerton @_erikcha Round 18, Pick 544- Andrew Cabezas, RHP Miami @Andrew35Cabezas Round 19, Pick 574- Austin Schulfer, RHS UW Milwaukee @FollowSchulfer Round 20, Pick 604- Seth Pinkerton, RHS U Hartford @S_Pink8 Round 21, Pick 634- Gabe Snyder, 1B Wright State @Gabe_Snyder Round 22, Pick 674- Jacob Blank, RHS Augustana College @jacob_blank Round 23, Pick 694- Albee Weiss, C CSU Northridge Round 24, Pick 724- Michael Davis, 3B Texas Tech Round 25, Pick 754- Laron Smith, C Foothills Composite Round 26, Pick 784- Brian Rapp, RHP Boston College @Brapp1327 Round 27, Pick 814- Hunter Lee, RHR High Point @hunterthelee3 Round 28, Pick 844- Austin Hale, C Stetson @halea10 Round 29, Pick 874- J.T. Perez, LHS Cincinnati @JTPerez8 Round 30, Pick 904- Seth Halvorsen, RHP Heritage Christian Academy @HalvorsenSeth Round 31, Pick 934- Zach Neff P, Miss St. @neffsaid13 Round 32, Pick 964- Ryan Holgate, OF Davis Senior HS @HolgateRyan Round 33, Pick 994- Denny Bentley, LHP Howard College @denny_bentley33 Round 34, Pick 1024- Dylan Stowell, P California Baptist U @dylanstowell25 Round 35, Pick 1054- Tanner Howell, RHS Dixie St U @T_Howell329 Round 36, Pick 1084- Zac Taylor, CF Illinois @zactaylor15 Round 37, Pick 1114- Luke Ritter, RF Wichita St @RitterLuke Round 38, Pick 1144- Dylan Thomas, RHS Hawaii Round 39, Pick 1174- Bryce Collins, RHP Hart HS @Bryce_Collins21 Round 40, Pick 1204- Tyler Webb, SS Memphis @TWEBB8 For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Rooker has started to catch fire at AA, but needs to walk more. I like what Contreras, Barnes, and Simmons have done, but they're all a bit old for their current levels.