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Phil Miller of the Star Tribune reported (and Twins Daily can confirm) that left-handed pitching prospect Charlie Barnes will be in Detroit with the Minnesota Twins when they begin to play again on Friday. Let's take a look back at Barnes' path to the Twins. In the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes out of Clemson University. Before that, he was a three-time letter winner in baseball at Sumter (SC) High School. He was twice All-State. As a senior, he was named pitcher of the year in the state. Going to Clemson was an easy decision for him. It was something he had always wanted to do. He went to a lot of Tigers football games as a child. His brother spent a season as a quarterback at Clemson. Barnes worked primarily out of the bullpen as a freshman. As a sophomore, he became a weekend starter and went 6-4 with a 4.66 ERA. In his junior season, the southpaw became the team's Friday night starter. He went 5-5 with a 3.20 ERA. That year, in 101 1/3 innings, he struck out 113 batters and issued just 22 walks. He was drafted in 2017, but it is important and impressive to note that Barnes also graduated from college in just three years. He majored in Management with an emphasis on sports management. Season Stats 2017 Elizabethton - 6 G, 22.2 IP, 2-1, 1.19 ERA. 10 walks, 23 strikeouts 2017 Cedar Rapids - 6 G, 25.2 IP, 2-1, 3.86 ERA, 8 walks, 23 strikeouts 2018 Ft. Myers - 23 G, 118.1 IP, 6-6, 2.81 ERA, 44 walks, 84 strikeouts 2019 Ft. Myers - 8 G, 37.1 IP, 3-2, 6.51 ERA, 20 walks, 35 strikeouts 2019 Pensacola - 14 G, 13 GS, 75.0 IP, 3-4, 3.60 ERA, 24 walks, 73 strikeouts 2019 Rochester - 4 G, 18.2 IP, 1-2, 6.75 ERA, 11 walks, 16 strikeouts. Following the season, Barnes was invited to Twins' big-league spring training in 2020. He wasn't initially at the team's alternate site, though he did join the group in St. Paul later in the summer. This spring, he was again a non-roster invite to spring training and showed some good improvement. He began the 2021 season at Triple-A St. Paul. In 11 starts so far, he is 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA. In 58 innings, he has walked 19 and struck out 50 batters. As you would expect, it hasn't been all smooth throughout the season. In his first six starts, Barnes went 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA. On June 13th, in his third start against the Omaha Storm Chasers, Barnes gave up six earned runs in three innings. Six days later, in his third start against the Iowa Cubs, he tossed five no-hit innings and struck out seven. In his next start, he allowed six earned runs over five innings. In his two most recent starts, he has worked a combined 12 1/3 innings and is 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA. The scouting report on Charlie Barnes reads like that of a typical Twins starter. First, he is left-handed. Second, he relies on mixing his pitches and his pitch velocities to be successful. Of course, that is true of any pitcher, but when he generally sits 88 to 91 mph, it is essential. Barnes throws a lot of sinkers and changeups. The sinker tops out about 91. He was touted as having the best changeup in that 2017 draft, and it continues to be an important pitch for him. He also throws a four-seam fastball up in the zone with a lot of carry, making it a good pitch for him. He also throws both a slider and a curveball. Again, with a fastball around 90, he can't rely on it all the time. Mixing the velocity and the eye level for hitters is crucial. When he uses his slider and his changeup and is able to spot pitches, he can be successful. He will have his first opportunity to show that on Friday night in Detroit. View full article

Both the Lookouts and the Kernels found themselves in a do-or-die situation on Sunday. The Lookouts were attempting to become the co-champions of the Southern League after failing to clinch in Game 4 on Saturday. The Kernels lost Game 1 of their three game semifinal series on Saturday which lead to an all-important Game 2 on Sunday. With everything on the line, which players would shine? Could both teams find a way to win?CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 3, Montgomery 2 Box Score It didn't take long for the Lookouts to find themselves in a hole. Dietrich Enns allowed a solo home run to lead off the game and Chattanooga was down 1-0. The lead wouldn't last long as Andy Wilkins smashed a game-tying home run to lead off the second. Enns ran into some more trouble in the fourth. With two outs in the frame, he allowed three consecutive hits before Nick Gordon gunned down a man at the plate. The Lookouts bullpen was outstanding in relief. Randy LeBlanc, Todd Van Steensel, and Anthony McIver combined for five shutout frames to keep Chattanooga in the game. McIver didn't allow a base runner in the final two innings while striking out one. As the bottom of the ninth began, LaMonte Wade stepped to the plate with the Lookouts trailing by one. He had singled to start the frame and put the tying run on base. Jonathan Rodriguez stepped to the plate with a chance to cap off his tremendous season. He cracked a walk-off home run and Chattanooga was crowned co-champions of the Southern League. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, Quad Cities 4 Box Score The Kernels took a tough luck loss on Saturday as they fell 5-4 in extra innings to the River Bandits. Since the Midwest League semifinals are a best-of-three series, the Kernels found themselves with their backs against the wall on Sunday afternoon. It was win or go home. After a scoreless first frame, Lewin Diaz led off the second inning with a double. He moved to third on a Caleb Hamilton ground out and came in to score on a Jimmy Kerrigan sacrifice fly. Shane Kennedy kept the inning going with a two-out walk but the biggest hit of the frame came on a Shane Carrier two-run blast to put the Kernels up 3-0. Travis Blankenhorn kept things going in the third inning as he started the frame with a solo shot to right field. With the Kernels up 4-0, Blankenhorn led off the fifth inning with a walk. Aaron Whitefield and Diaz both singled to move Blankenhorn around the bases. Caleb Hamilton doubled to score Whitefield and Kerrington drove in Lewis with a ground out for a 7-0 advantage. Charles Barnes started for Cedar Rapids and pitched five shutout frames. He scattered five hits while striking out three and walking three. The bullpen ran into a little trouble in the sixth inning. Partrick McGuff and Randy Dobnak combined to allow four earned runs with each only collecting one out. Colton Davis picked up the bullpen as he went 2.1 frames and allowed only one hit. Hector Lujan earned his first save this postseason as he struck out one and allowed one hit in the ninth. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Charles Barnes, Cedar Rapids Kernels Hitter of the Day – Jonathan Rodriguez, Chattanooga Lookouts MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Cedar Rapids vs. Quad Cities (5:35 CST) - RHP Tyler Wells (5-3, 3.11 ERA) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games. Click here to view the article

It was a full day of game action throughout the Twins minor league system. Offense wasn’t real strong for many of the teams, but there were some really nice wins. There were a couple of strong pitching performances. There was also a position player who got to pitch, which is always fun. There were a few transactions including hearing part of a trade that will bring the Twins a left-handed starting pitcher. All that and more.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Monday. Let’s start with the transactions of the day: Rochester announced that Michael Kohn has been signed and placed on their disabled list. (Jeremy wrote this in yesterday’s report, but the Red Wings made it official on Thursday night.)The Red Wings also activated infielder Leonardo Reginnato from the DL, and Bengie Gonzalez was released.2016 supplemental second-round pick Akil Baddoo was promoted from the GCL to Elizabethton.Oh, there was also a report you may have read, that the Twins may be close to a deal with Atlanta which would bring lefty Jaime Garcia to Minnesota. Reportedly, it will cost the Twins a yet-to-be-determined prospect, and the Twins may or may not receive a low-level prospect as well.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 3, Toledo 6 Box Score After starting his Red Wings career with 15 scoreless innings, Gee was back on the mound on Thursday night. He gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out five. DJ Baxendale gave up a run on three hits in the seventh. Jake Reed pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Michael Tonkin struck out two in a scoreless ninth. JB Shuck led the offense. He went 3-4. Byungho Park stayed hot. He went 2-3 with a walk. Niko Goodrum went 2-5 with his fourth triple. Mitch Garver went 1-3 with a walk and he stole his first base of the season. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 4, Mobile 1 Box Score The Lookouts got another nice win and did something difficult. They scored four runs on just three hits. Ryan Walker hit his third home run of the season. Later, they scored on a bases-loaded walk from LaMonte Wade, followed shortly by a Jonathan Rodriguez sacrifice fly. Kohl Stewart started again and improved to 4-4. In five innings, he gave up one run on just one hit. He walked four and struck out three. Of his 70 pitches, only 36 were strikes. Randy Rosario came on and threw two scoreless innings. He gave up three hits. Paul Clemens gave up just one hit in a scoreless eighth inning. Luke Bard recorded his fifth save with a scoreless ninth inning. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 1, Bradenton 4 Box Score Cedar Rapids native Mitch Keller is a pitching prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. On this night, he shut down the Miracle offense. He was charged with an unearned run on one hit over six innings. He walked two and struck out four. The Miracle had just four total hits in the game. Jaylin Davis went 1-3 with a walk. Brent Rooker went 0-3 and is now 0-10 in three games since joining the Miracle. Cody Stashak started for the Miracle. He gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings.He walked two and struck out three. Alex Robinson came in for the final two innings. He gave up two hits, but no runs. He struck out four without issuing a walk. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 0, Great Lakes 10 Box Score It as a rough night for the Kernels which led to one of our favorite things in baseball… Position Player Pitching! Down 9-0 going into the ninth inning, infielder Joe Cronin was brought in to the game to pitch the ninth. How did he do? Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out. Let’s start at the top though. Tyler Beardsley started. He gave up four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out one. Max Cordy worked the next two innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits. He walked three and struck out five. Ryan Mason was charged with three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk. That brings us to Cronin. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in the ninth. He also struck out two. The Kernels offense managed just four hits. Aaron Whitefield went 1-3 with a walk. Caleb Hamilton walked twice. Christian Cavaness hit his tenth double. E-TWINS E-NOTES Elizabethton 7, Bristol 1 Box Score Lefty Charlie Barnes got the start for the E-Twins on Thursday night. He gave up only an unearned run on four hits over five innings to improve to 2-1 and drop his ERA to 1.31 He walked one and struck out four. Nick Brown came on and struck out eight over four, two-hit innings. He didn’t issue any walks and recorded the save. Wander Javier drove in runs early. He had two RBI doubles. He was 2-5 and now has six doubles. Rainis Silva went 3-4 with his first homer. TJ Dixon was also 3-4. Ariel Montesino went 2-4 with a walk. GCL TWINS TAKES GCL Twins 1, GCL Rays 5 Box Score Rains came which cut this game short after just five innings. The Twins had just three hits. Ben Rodriguez drove in Alex Robles with the team’s lone run. Petru Balan started and gave up five runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings. He walked three and struck out four. Juan Mojica came on and recorded the final out of the fifth inning on a strikeout. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Charlie Barnes, Elizabethton Twins Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Rainis Silva, Elizabethton Twins FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Toledo @ Rochester (5:05 CST) - RHP Tim Melville Chattanooga @ Mobile (7:05 CST) - RHP Dereck Rodriguez Tampa @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen Great Lakes @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - Evan Sanders Bluefield @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - TBD GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox (11:00am CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Thursday’s games. Click here to view the article