Let's Talk Twins

Twins: Minor League Monday (7/11)

The Minnesota Twins Triple-A and Double-A affiliate teams didn’t have their usual success, but the two lower clubs had some impressive performances.

Check to see who else made the list:

Top Performers:
AAA

Caleb Hamilton, C
5 Games, .316 BA (6/19), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 7 SO

  • Caleb Hamilton is a 27-year-old catcher who hasn’t shown off much offensive upside. However, this season he’s improved his game and is hitting for a much better average, as well as increasing his power.
AA

Matt Wallner, #8, RF
5 Games, .450 BA (9/20), 3 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 5 SO

  • What more is there to say; call him up to St. Paul.

Andrew Bechtold, C
6 Games, .500 BA (11/22), 5 RBI, 5 BB, 3 SO, 1 SB

  • This is the second straight week Andrew Bechtold has made the ‘Top Performers list.’ The 26-year-old isn’t having a good season, but these last two weeks are hopefully telling as to what the future might hold.
High-A

Seth Gray, 3B
5 Games, .389 BA (7/18), 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 4 SO

  • Seth Gray has been inconsistent this season, but when he’s on, he’s on. He’s having an excellent start to July, hitting .294.

Jake Rucker, 3B
5 Games, .333 BA (5/15), 1 HR 5 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SO

  • Jake Rucker was recently promoted to High-A ball, despite hitting .225 in Low-A. It’s only been nine games, but he’s improved his batting average by about 60 points. Rucker was a great hitter in college, so hopefully, it’s only a matter of time.

David Festa, #29, SP
1 Game, 1-0, 6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 SO

  • David Festa lowered his ERA under two after his July 8 performance. This season he’s posted a SO/9 of 10.58 and a BB/9 of just 2.58. The former 13th-round pick has continued to shine this season.
Low-A

Rubel Cespedes, IF
5 Games, .412 BA (7/17), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 7 SO

  • Rubel Cespedes has been excellent since joining the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. The 21-year-old has a career batting average of .251 and an OPS of .692. However, in 29 games in Single-A, Cespedes is hitting .333, with an OPS of .847.

Pierson Ohl, SP
1 Game, 1-0, 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 4 H, 1 BB, 10 SO

  • Pierson Ohl got off to a bad start but has been much better over the last two months. When he takes the mound, expect him to give up three earned runs, but have great a command of the ball.
Top Prospects

Jordan Balazovic, #3, SP
1 Game, 2.0 IP, 13.50 ERA, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR

Noah Miller, #6, SS
5 Games, .176 (3/17), 2 BB, 4 SO, 3 SB

Spencer Steer, #7, SS
4 Games, .286 (4/14), 4 BB, 3 SO

Misael Urbina, #9, CF
5 Games, .278 (5/18), 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB

Brayan Medina, #10, RHP
1 Game, 1.2 IP, 10.80 ERA, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 SO

Ronny Henriquez, #11, SP
1 Game, 1-0, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 SO

Louie Varland, #12, SP
1 Game, 0-1, 6.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 7 H, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR

Cole Sands, #14, SP
1 Game, 5.0 IP, 7.20 ERA, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR

Drew Strotman, #16, SP
2 Games, 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO

Blayne Enlow, #17, SP
1 Game, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 SO

Keoni Cavaco, #19, SS
5 Games, .211 BA (4/19), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SO, 1 SB

Alerick Soularie, #20, 2B
5 Games, .235 BA (4/17), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 5 SO

Marco Raya, #21, SP
1 Game, 4.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR

Cade Povich, #22, SP
1 Game, 0-1, 5.0 IP, 5.40 ERA, 7 H, 0 BB, 11 SO, 2 HR

Danny De Andrade, #23, SS
5 Games, .412 BA (7/17), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 1 SO

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, #24, SS
5 Games, .188 BA (3/16), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 5 SO

Jermaine Palacios, #26, SS
4 Games, .235 BA (4/17), 1 RBI, 6 SO

Edouard Julien, #27, SS
6 Games, .181 BA (4/22), 2 RBI, 7 BB, 12 SO, 1 SB

Yasser Mercedes, #28, OF
6 Games, .238 BA (5/21), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 7 SO, 6 SB

Sean Mooney, #30, SP
1 Game, 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 SO