Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/31): More Transactions Than Hits?

[Seth Stohs]

It might be an exaggeration to say that there were more transactions on Wednesday throughout the Minnesota Twins system than hits in the Twins minor league system. The exaggeration would only be slight. The Twins recent bullpen struggles have forced GM Thad Levine and Twins Minor League Director Brad Steil to keep busy in recent days.On the field, there was a great pitching matchup in Birmingham that actually proved true. A pitching prospect to watch came back from a stint on the DL and impressed. Lewis Thorpe and Stephen Gonsalves both made their third starts since their returns.

 

Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Wednesday, starting with the transactions of the day.

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

 

Check out the transactions through the minor league system on Wednesday:

• Following another rough game for the Twins and specifically their bullpen, the Twins made a couple more moves. Ryan Pressly was optioned to Rochester, and Jason Wheeler was designated for assignment.
• Twins Daily has learned that Alex Wimmers will be joining the Twins in Anaheim on Thursday. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster, taking Wheeler’s spot.

• It also appears that lefty Randy Rosario will be promoted from Chattanooga. He’s in his second option year and this will be his first promotion. (You’ll see him mentioned in the Relief Pitcher of the Month article coming soon.)

• Chris Paul was placed on the disabled list with a wrist injury. Trey Vavra comes off the DL to take his place.
• Tyler Wells returned from the DL for the Kernels (and pitched well). To make room, Tom Hackimer was promoted to Ft. Myers. Cam Booser was sent back to extended spring training.

In addition, we also learned that Nick Burdi had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday:

 

 

And just one more transaction of sorts... Congratulations to Chattanooga outfielder Edgar Corcino who became an American citizen today.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Durham 5

Box Score

 

Blake Snell began the 2017 season with the Rays after a solid 19 starts in his rookie season. However, he’s back in the International League. He started against the Red Wings on Wednesday night. The lefty gave up just one run on five hits and two walks in 6.2 innings of work. He struck out eight.

 

Kennys Vargas had a double off of him. John Ryan Murphy went 1-2 with two walks in the game. Byungho Park went 1-3 with a walk.

 

Yohan Pino made his first start for the Red Wings in this, his third stint with the organization. He gave up three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk. Adam Wilk came on and got the final seven outs but not before giving up two runs on four hits and two walks.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 1, Montgomery 2

Box Score

 

It was billed as a strong pitching matchup. Michael Kopech was on the mound for the Barons while Stephen Gonsalves was making his third start of the season for the Lookouts. Neither pitcher disappointed. The White Sox hurler gave up only an unearned run on four hits in 5.2 innings. He walked four and struck out ten. Gonsalves was up for the challenge. He was charged with two runs on three hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

 

With one out in the fourth inning, Gonsalves gave up a solo home run to the Barons #3 hitter. The next batter hit a towering fly ball to right field, a ball that Ryan Strausborger never saw until it was about to hit the ground. It fell for a double. A single drove in their second run, a run that proved to be the game winner.

 

The Lookouts managed just four hits. They walked five times, but they struck 17 times in the game. Nick Gordon went 1-3 with a walk and drove in the lone Lookouts run of the game on a line drive single to left.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 0, Bradenton 1

Box Score

 

Lewis Thorpe was back on the mound for the Miracle, his third start since coming back. The left-hander was the tough-luck loser in this game. He gave up only an unearned run on one hit over the first five innings. He walked two and struck out seven. Just 49 of his 84 pitches were strikes. The one unearned run was of his own doing. In the 4th, he walked the first batter and then had a throwing error, trying to pick off the runner. It was followed by a run-scoring single.

 

Sam Clay came on and gave up two hits and two walks over two scoreless innings. He struck out four. Nick Anderson worked a perfect eighth inning.

 

The Miracle managed only two hits in the game. They walked once and struck out ten times. Nelson Molina had the lone extra-base hit, his third double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Quad Cities 0

Box Score

 

Tyler Wells returned to the Kernels after missing three weeks with biceps tendinitis. He came back strong. The right-hander threw four shutout innings. He gave up just one hit, walked two and struck out ten. 45 of his 74 pitches were strikes.

 

Colton Davis came on and gave up one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings. He was followed by Alex Robinson who walked one and struck out two in his inning. Andrew Vasquez gave up a hit and struck out two in the eighth inning. Hector Lujan recorded his second save with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth.

 

The Kernels had just four hits in the game. In fact, for the second straight game, they did not record their first hit until at least the sixth inning. Tonight, it was an infield single from Aaron Whitefield that broke up the no-hitter. He later scored on a Lewin Diaz sacrifice fly. Diaz added another RBI with his 20th double and scored on a wild pitch.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tyler Wells, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Lewin Diaz, Cedar Rapids

 

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Durham (6:05 CST) - LHP Nik Turley

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (7:05 CST) - LHP Matt Tracy

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) - RHP Brady Anderson

Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen

 

 

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

 

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[jsteve96]

Tyler Wells is interesting. 13K/9 in 38 innings and last year had 11.22K/9. If he keeps that up I expect him to make a big jump in the rankings at the end of the year

[108Stitches]

Missed three weeks and is back in the top 5 in the LEAGUE in strikeouts. So fluid and easy too. Hope he stays healthy

[clutterheart]

Tyler Wells is interesting. 13K/9 in 38 innings and last year had 11.22K/9. If he keeps that up I expect him to make a big jump in the rankings at the end of the year

Unless the Twins get aggressive with him he could be a 20 - 30 type prospect going into next year. - not bad for a 15th round pick. If he gets promoted and dominates High A at this level then he could be a 20 - 15 range guy.

But if he gets up to AA this year, then yeah he will jump up big time.

 

Remember he is a 4 year college senior striking out guys who are 2-4 years younger and are 2 - 4 years less experienced. So let's wait and see with Wells.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Wells is exactly league average for his league, at age 22 in the MWL.  He would certainly garner more notice if he was a year younger, but I also have to think he will be one of the first to get the call as we get closer to the all star break. 

[rdehring]

Interesting that Rosario is the first reliever called up from the group in Chattanooga.

 

And another very good outing from Thorpe is fantastic.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Interesting that Rosario is the first reliever called up from the group in Chattanooga.

And another very good outing from Thorpe is fantastic.

 

It's good to see Rosario come up. I think he can be part of the future. Incredible stuff. Not sure he's ready, but he's been pitching GREAT for the last month in Chattanooga. Melotakis was great in April, but he's struggled a bit in May. Had a stretch of three straight games in which he gave up 1-3 runs. He'll be up too at some point.

 

And yes, very nice to have Thorpe and Gonsalves (And Wells) back!

[SirLoin]

 

It's good to see Rosario come up. I think he can be part of the future. Incredible stuff. Not sure he's ready, but he's been pitching GREAT for the last month in Chattanooga. Melotakis was great in April, but he's struggled a bit in May. Had a stretch of three straight games in which he gave up 1-3 runs. He'll be up too at some point.

 

And yes, very nice to have Thorpe and Gonsalves (And Wells) back!

 

Please tell me we are one Matt Belisle shelling away from giving Hildenberger a shot....  

 

And it'll be interesting to see if Curtiss gets the promotion on AAA to take Wimmers spot....

[108Stitches]

Wells wasn't a senior in college. He was taken his junior year

[drjim]

 

Please tell me we are one Matt Belisle shelling away from giving Hildenberger a shot....  

 

And it'll be interesting to see if Curtiss gets the promotion on AAA to take Wimmers spot....

 

It's starting. I wouldn't say one more outing away, but a front office isn't going to bring multiple relievers up with no experience at the same time. But Rosario shows the process is starting, probably because he was on the 40 man.

[bbecker]

Great as always Seth.

 

I'm headed to the Chattanooga game tonight. Anything/one in particular to keep an eye out for?

[Steve Lein]

 

It's good to see Rosario come up. I think he can be part of the future. Incredible stuff. Not sure he's ready, but he's been pitching GREAT for the last month in Chattanooga. Melotakis was great in April, but he's struggled a bit in May. Had a stretch of three straight games in which he gave up 1-3 runs. He'll be up too at some point.

 

And yes, very nice to have Thorpe and Gonsalves (And Wells) back!

 

Also gives them another option who can throw multiple innings when needed.

[Mike Sixel]

Good deal on Rosario. It's a start, finally.

[Cap'n Piranha]

When can we see Busenitz? Great numbers in AAA, he deserves a shot.

[Seth Stohs]

So far today, we've learned that:

 

 

RHP Logan Lombana moved up from EST to CR.

LHP Andrew Vasquez moves up from CR to FM.

RHPs Nick Anderson and Randy LeBlanc moved up from FM to Chat.

 

With two players moving up to Chattanooga, it's most likely that two players are moving up from Chattanooga... One of them is Rosario moving up to the Twins... possible a reliever moving up to Rochester to fill Wimmers' spot.

[John Kelsey]

 

So far today, we've learned that:

 

 

RHP Logan Lombana moved up from EST to CR.

LHP Andrew Vasquez moves up from CR to FM.

RHPs Nick Anderson and Randy LeBlanc moved up from FM to Chat.

 

With two players moving up to Chattanooga, it's most likely that two players are moving up from Chattanooga... One of them is Rosario moving up to the Twins... possible a reliever moving up to Rochester to fill Wimmers' spot.

 

Hopefully Curtiss or Melo gets the bump to Rochester. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

So far today, we've learned that:

 

 

RHP Logan Lombana moved up from EST to CR.

LHP Andrew Vasquez moves up from CR to FM.

RHPs Nick Anderson and Randy LeBlanc moved up from FM to Chat.

 

With two players moving up to Chattanooga, it's most likely that two players are moving up from Chattanooga... One of them is Rosario moving up to the Twins... possible a reliever moving up to Rochester to fill Wimmers' spot.

 

cool we are seeing promotions. Thanks Seth.

[FormerMinnasotan]

So it has to be asked: how long will it be before Stephen Gonsalves is promoted to AAA? I know he has only 3 starts, but his numbers look just as good, plus his control/command seems to be improved (we also saw this in spring training as well). With Gonsalves already having 14 starts in AAA, how soon before he moves up?

 

Also, is there a chance Lewis Thorpe makes it to Chattanooga before he is shut down for the season? In 3 starts (albeit short starts due to pitch count reasons) he is already looking the part of Ft Myers ace.

Edited June 1, 2017 by FormerMinnasotan

[Mike Sixel]

 

So it has to be asked: how long will it be before Stephen Gonsalves is promoted to AAA? I know he has only 3 starts, but his numbers look just as good, plus his control/command seems to be improved (we also saw this in spring training as well). With Gonsalves already having 14 starts in AAA, how soon before he moves up?

Also, is there a chance Lewis Thorpe makes it to Chattanooga before he is shut down for the season? In 3 starts (albeit short starts due to pitch count reasons) he is already looking the part of Ft Myers ace.

 

Mid-July, after the draft.

[jsteve96]

 

Unless the Twins get aggressive with him he could be a 20 - 30 type prospect going into next year. - not bad for a 15th round pick. If he gets promoted and dominates High A at this level then he could be a 20 - 15 range guy.
But if he gets up to AA this year, then yeah he will jump up big time.

Remember he is a 4 year college senior striking out guys who are 2-4 years younger and are 2 - 4 years less experienced. So let's wait and see with Wells.

he's league average age actually according to BR