Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/23): Kranson Cranks, Beeker Deals

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota had stuck with their Opening Day roster through the team's first 17 games. That changed on Sunday as first baseman Kennys Vargas and left-handed reliever Buddy Boshers were recalled from Rochester. To make room for them on the roster, the Twins placed right-hander Justin Haley on the disabled list and optioned left-hander Adalberto Mejia to Triple-A.

 

Rain was the main headline on Sunday. Both the Red Wings and the Lookouts were washed out including a double-header in Chattanooga. This left the Kernels and the Miracle to carry the load. Who would shine? Who would struggle?RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester --, Charlotte --

Rochester and Charlotte were postponed on Sunday due to inclement weather. The game will be made-up as part of a doubleheader when the Knights play a three-game series in Rochester near the middle of July. Rochester has an off-day on Monday before starting a six-game homestand. With Sunday's game not being played, they went 2-3 on their six-game road trip. The Red Wings are tied for second place in the International League North as they trail first place Buffalo by 2.5 games.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga --, Tennessee --

Chattanooga was scheduled to play a double-header on Sunday to make-up for Saturday night's postponed game. However, the weather didn't cooperate again as inclement weather, unplayable field conditions and the forecast got in the way. The Lookouts will make up these games as part of two double-headers, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. With an 8-7 record, the Lookouts are tied with three other teams for second place in the Southern League North. Each team trails Jackson by two games.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 1, Dunedin 7

Box Score

Lachlan Wells ran into he buzz-saw that was the Dunedin offense. In three innings of work, he allowed five hits with four of those hits being home runs. He walked two and struck out three. Williams Ramirez took over in the fourth and pitched two shutout innings. He limited the Blue Jays to two hits. Anthony McIver pitched two frames and struck out two. Brady Anderson pitched the eighth and allowed one run, a solo home run.

 

There wasn't much excitement on the offensive side of the ball. Fort Myers went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Chris Paul went 2-for-4 and Casey Scoggins reached base three times including a multi-hit game. Alex Perez scored the team's lone run.

 

With the loss, Fort Myers drops two games under .500 on the season (8-10 record). The Miracle had won four straight games before Sunday's loss. They currently sit two games out of first place in the Florida State League South.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 11, Kane County 2

Box Score

While the Miracle lacked some offensive pop there was plenty of action in the Kernels line-up. Mitchell Kranson went 4-for-5 including a solo home run and Jermaine Palacios drove in five runs as the Kernels routed the Cougars. Kanson finished a triple shy of the cycle. Cedar Rapids tied their season high with four home runs.

 

Besides Kranson and Palacios, Jaylin Davis and Caleb Hamilton each had a homer. Hamilton scored twice and drove in a pair as part of a multi-hit day. Aaron Whitefield went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Ariel Montesino and Lewin Diaz were the lone batters not to reach base for the Kernels.

 

Not to be outdone by the hitters, Clark Beeker put together a very strong performance on the mound. He pitched seven strong innings by allowing one earned run on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks. It marks the first time in his career that he has won back-to-back starts and it was his third straight quality start. Hector Lujan didn't allow a runner in the final two frames while striking out three.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Clark Beeker, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Hitter of the Day – Mitchell Kranson, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester - Scheduled Off-Day

Chattanooga vs. Tennessee (4:15 CST) - TBD

Chattanooga vs. Tennessee (Game 2) - TBD

Fort Myers - Scheduled Off-Day

Cedar Rapids vs. Burlington (6:35 CST) - RHP Tyler Beardsley (2-0, 0.82 ERA)

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

 

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[clutterheart]

The average age of Cedar Rapid's starting rotation is 23??

 

Am I reading that right? Yow

Edited April 24, 2017 by clutterheart

[Seth Stohs]

 

The average age of Cedar Rapid's starting rotation is 23??

Am I reading that right? Yow

 

Yup, and they're all (except Del Rosario) in their first full professional season). 

[Guest]

Kinda what happens when you focus on drafting college pitchers, isn't it?.

 

Going to be 21-22 when you draft them and 22-23 in their first full season of MiLB.

 

Beeker is the only pitcher on the Kernels' active roster who has turned 24. Almost all of them were drafted in 15 or 16 and Del Rosario is the only international signee.

 

I really don't remember a ton of HS draftee pitchers, outside of the guys who were drafted in the top few rounds, filling out the CR pitching staff the past few years. A handful of foreign pitchers have been younger, too, I guess.

 

I'm nowhere near a draft expert, but it just seems like HS arms who don't get drafted high enough to cash a big paycheck probably elect to go to college, don't they?.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Kinda what happens when you focus on drafting college pitchers, isn't it?.

 

Going to be 21-22 when you draft them and 22-23 in their first full season of MiLB.

 

Beeker is the only pitcher on the Kernels' active roster who has turned 24. Almost all of them were drafted in 15 or 16 and Del Rosario is the only international signee.

 

I really don't remember a ton of HS draftee pitchers, outside of the guys who were drafted in the top few rounds, filling out the CR pitching staff the past few years. A handful of foreign pitchers have been younger, too, I guess.

 

I'm nowhere near a draft expert, but it just seems like HS arms who don't get drafted high enough to cash a big paycheck probably elect to go to college, don't they?.

 

Yes, a lot of those guys will have a certain $ value in mind to sign, so unless they have a deal in place for that number, once they fall past the 2nd or 3rd round, they're going to college for 3 years. Someone may take a flyer on them in the last 10-15 rounds, like the Twins did with Logan Shore out of high school, but they might as well go to school.