This was one of the most impressive Minor League Mondays I’ve written so far. There were so many guys that performed at a high level that it actually left me with my mouth wide open. Spencer Steer and Alex Kirilloff both hit four home runs, and Aaron Sabato’s play has been encouraging as of late.

Top Performers:

AAA

Spencer Steer, #9, SS
6 Games, .233 (7/30), 4 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 8 SO

• Steer didn’t collect many base hits this week, but anytime you blast four home runs and drive in 11 RBIs, you’re going to get some love. This season he’s hit 14 home runs in only 48 games.

Alex Kirilloff, CF
4 Games, .471 BA (8/17), 4 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SO

• Kirilloff may not have played all week because he was on the Taxi Squad in Detroit, but in four games for the St. Paul Saints, he was simply incredible. AK has been really good since getting demoted to the Triple-A affiliate team, and hopefully, it’s only a matter of time before he returns to the Twins lineup.

Since May 26, Alex Kirilloff is hitting .438/.538/1031 at Triple-A St. Paul with four doubles, five homers, 13 RBIs, 14 runs and seven walks in 39 plate appearances. He was in Detroit on the Taxi Squad earlier this week for Tuesday only, was sent back. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 5, 2022

Jake Cave, CF
5 Games, .364 BA (8/22), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO

• At some point, Jake Cave will earn another start in the majors. Whether that’s with the Minnesota Twins is another question, but after a cold start to the season, Cave has started to heat up.
  • April: .239 BA, 0 HR, 7 RBI
  • May: .256 BA, 4 HR, 22 RBI
  • June: .313 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Tim Beckham, SS
4 Games, .471 BA (8/17), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SO

Tim Beckham was once one of the top prospects in baseball and a former No. 1 overall pick back in 2008. At 32, he’s not the same player he once was, but he’s looked impressive in just a short amount of time for the Saints.

AA

Matt Wallner, #10, RF
6 Games, .364 BA (8/22), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 7 SO, 2 SB

• We’re another week closer to Matt Wallner getting his opportunity to play for the Saints or Twins. He’s been one of the hottest hitters in the system right now – hitting for contact and power.

Louie Varland, #14, SP
1 Game, 5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR

• Louie Varland has surrendered two earned runs in four straight starts. In previous posts, we’ve talked about the long ball, and it looks like it’s still something he’s struggling with. He’s now given up a home run in six straight starts.

High-A

Aaron Sabato, #15, 1B
5 Games, .500 BA (8/16), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SO

• This is the second straight week Sabato has made the list and that is extremely encouraging. Best of all, he’s taking more walks and is collecting base hits. The former first-round pick has struggled in the past and has been labeled as just a home run-strikeout hitter.

Alerick Soularie, #23, 2B
5 Games, .353 BA (6/16), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 BB, 8 SO, 1 SB

• Alerick Soularie is another player who’s starting to turn it on a bit. This week he cranked two home runs and hit for the cycle on Saturday.

Alerick Soularie goes DEEP to seal the cycle!

The No. 23 @Twins prospect enjoys a historic day for the @CRKernels: pic.twitter.com/hDHscdTxmO

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 5, 2022

Brent Headrick, SP
1 Game, 1-0 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR

• Brent Headrick is a strikeout-heavy pitcher, who doesn’t give up many walks. In 42.2 innings this season, he’s recorded 56 Ks and only nine walks.

Low-A

Emmanuel Rodriguez, #17, OF
5 Games, .583 BA (7/12), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB

• Emmanuel Rodriguez has one of the best eyes at the plate in all of baseball. He rarely strikes out, and if he’s not collecting a base hit, then he’s probably getting walked. This season he’s hitting .280, with an on-base percentage of .495.

Travis Adams, SP
1 Game, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 SO

• Travis Adams is a pitcher who will on average give you five innings every fifth day. Lefties are having some success off of him, but right-handed hitters have had zero luck (.096 in 29.1 innings).

Hunter McMahon, RHP
2 Games, 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 SO

• Hunter McMahon was lights out on the mound this week. In two appearances, he recorded seven strikeouts in 3.0 innings. On May 31, he struck out the side in his one inning of work.

Top Prospects

Austin Martin, #2, SS
6 Games, .174 BA (4/23), 1 BB, 3 SO

Jordan Balazovic, #4, SP
1 Game, 3.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR

Simeon Woods-Richardson, #6, SP
2 Games, 6.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 8 H, 3 BB, 8 SO

Matt Canterino, #7, RHP
1 Game, 3.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 4 BB, 4 SO

Noah Miller, #8, SS
6 Games, .045 (1/22), 1 RBI, 3 BB, 7 SO

Ronny Henriquez, #13, SP
1 Game, 4.1 IP, 10.38 ERA, 10 H, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR

Drew Strotman, #18, SP
2 Games, 3.0 IP, 12.00 ERA, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR

Blayne Enlow, #19, SP
1 Game, 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 SO

Steve Hajjar, #20, SP
1 Game, 4.1 IP, 2.08 ERA, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 SO

Keoni Cavaco, #21, SS
6 Games, .273 BA (6/22), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1 SB

Marco Raya, #24, SP
1 Game, 3.2 IP, 9.82 ERA, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR

Cade Povich, #25, SP
1 Game, 4.1 IP, 4.15 ERA, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 SO

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, #27, SS
6 Games, .296 BA (8/27), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 7 SO

Casey Legumina, #28, SP
1 Game, 0-1, 5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR

Edouard Julien, #30, SS
5 Games, .263 BA (5/19), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1 SB