Twins Minor League Report (5/8): A Pair of Walkoffs, A Pair of Stones

Bigger than Baseball
The Twins, and many other organizations in sports and other walks of life, have done a really great job in recent years of opening up opportunities for conversations on Mental Health. On Wednesday, Twins players from the big leagues down to the Dominican Summery League wore "Powered by Mental Health" shirts. I have to think that it is such an important conversation, for everyone, but even for athletes. The pressure can get very high. Expectations can weigh very heavily. Fans and social media certainly aren't always a beacon of positivity. And the game itself is so often about failure. Very few players at any level get on base in more than 40% of their plate appearances. It can feel like a game of failure. Whatever the reasons, the individual stories and backgrounds, ending the stigma of mental health and simply being more and more aware of it, and how it may manifest itself in people differently. 

As an aside, I personally was struggling with major anxiety going back to 2018-2020. Finally on New Years Eve of 2020, I made an appointment to address it. It took awhile to adjust medication amounts and such, but things have improved tremendously. There are still tough days. The mind races from time to time. I can't even finish a thought in my head when I think about what could have or would have happened had I not addressed the issue almost three-and-a-half years ago.

Maybe someday I'll write a lot more about my personal mental health journey. Not today. My only purpose in adding this paragraph is just to let people know that a ton of people suffer from various forms of mental health. Most of them are really, really good at hiding what they're really going for. But know that it is important to accept and address. If the Twins having a special day where they talk about it, or if me typing this paragraph can help anyone, it is completely worthwhile. 

OK, to baseball! 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 21-15 
St. Paul Saints: 14-19 
Wichita Wind Surge: 11-17 
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 16-12
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 11-18
FCL Twins: 2-1  

Let’s get to the report. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions. 

TRANSACTIONS
The Twins optioned RHP Jorge Alcala and recalled RHP Josh Staumont. 

The Kernels finally placed OF Gabriel Gonzalez on the 7-Day IL on Wednesday, eight days after he left a game in the bottom of the first inning with back spasms. 

LHP Rafael Marcano, a minor-league Rule 5 pick in December, is being transferred from Wichita to Cedar Rapids. 

In addition, the Twins signed RHP Aaron Carranza and assigned him to the DSL Twins. Earlier, the Twins had released RHPs Reynel Garcia and Leonardo Lugo and outfielder Angel Trinidad from the DSL Twins roster. 

Twins Sign Two Stones with One Pen?
Finally, earlier this week, the Twins signed RHP Mitch Stone to a minor-league contract and assigned him to the FCL. He is a 23-year-old who played college at El Paso CC and Grayson College in Texas. He’s been working with Lincoln of the independent American Association. 

But then a day later, the Twins left LHP Mitchell Stone to a minor-league contract and assigned him to the FCL Twins. Duplication? A Correction? Data entry error? No. These are two separate people. Mitchell Stone is a 6-9 left-handed pitcher who spent his college years at Oklahoma State where, at times, he was a weekend starter. He will turn 26 later this month. 

Twins Sign Electric Eeles
Earlier this week, the Twins signed Payton Eeles out of the independent leagues. The second baseman had a terrific four years at Division II Cedarville University, he went to Coastal Carolina and was their leader, their instigator. Eeles stands just 5-7, but he has been an offensive instigator wherever he has played. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 11, Toledo 6
Box Score
The Saints jumped out to an early lead and added on late. St. Paul plated five runs in the second inning. A Yoyner Fajardo single put the team on the scoreboard as he drove in Chris Williams. DaShawn Keirsey followed with a two-run triple. Two batters later, Matt Wallner tripled to drive in Keirsey and Anthony Prato and make it 5-0. They added a sixth run in the third inning when Yunior Severino scored on a Diego Castillo season. 

Old Friend Akil Baddoo singled in Parker Meadows to put the Mudhens on the scoreboard. Then an RBI single from Keston Hiura was followed by a two-run single by Justice Bigby to make it 6-4. 

That’s when the Saints offense started to add on. In the seventh inning, Alex Isola hit a solo home run. In the eighth frame, Wallner drove in Keirsey with a single. Prato scored on a wild pitch, and then Wallner and Michael Helman scored on an Isola single to make it 11-4.  

Caleb Boushley was solid again. He gave up one run on five hits over five innings. He had three strikeouts with no free passes. He improved to 4-1 on the season. 

Josh Winder made his first Saints rehab appearance. In 1 2/3 innings, he gave up three runs (2 earned) on three hits, a walk,and a hit batter. Ryan Jensen came on and gave up one run on two hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. Ronny Henriquez came on for the ninth and gave up one run on two hits. 

Chris Williams went 3-for-4 with a walk and his fifth double. Matt Wallner was 3-for-6 with a triple and three RBI. After hitting two homers on Tuesday night, DaShawn Keirsey went 2-for-5 with a walk, his eighth double, and his fourth triple. He also stole his ninth base. Alex Isola went 2-for-5 with a walk, his third home run, and three RBI. Anthony Prato was 2-for-4, with a walk and his sixth double. He was hit by a pitch. Diego Castillo went 2-for-5 and stole his fourth bag.  

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 5, Arkansas 4                                                                                                                                                           Box Score
Down 4-3 going to the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Cossetti and Aaron Sabato started the inning with singles. Alerick Soularie pinch ran for Cossetti. Carson McCusker walked to load the bases. Ben Ross came up and dribbled a ball back to the pitch. He fielded it and threw home, but the ball clanked off of the catcher’s mitt and got away. Soularie scored, and Sabato scurried around third and scored the winning run on the same play. Not as pretty as a walkoff single, or a walkoff grand slam, but a win is a win.  

Pierson Ohl started for the Surge and went the first five innings. He gave up two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three batters. A.J. Alexy struck out two batters in a scoreless sixth frame. Nick Wittgren came in and was charged with two runs (1 earned) on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. Both runs scored after he left. Miguel Rodriguez gave up one hit and both runs scored. However, Rodriguez got the final out of the eighth and then worked a perfect ninth inning. 

Jeferson Morales went 3-for-4 with an RBI. He notched his fourth and fifth doubles of the season. Jorel Ortega was 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. After homering three times the night before, Carson McCusker walked twice and stole a bag. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 6, South Bend 7
Box Score
The Kernels fell behind early and their comeback attempt came up just short. Cedar Rapids actually took the first lead of the game as quickly as possible. Luke Keaschall led off the game with his third home run of the season.

However, South Bend responded in the bottom of the first when Felix Stevens hit a grand slam to put the team up 4-1. However, in the top of the third inning, Keoni Cavaco hit his third homer of the year, a solo shot that made the deficit two. Then the Cubs scored two more in the bottom of the third to make their lead 6-2. 

Miguelangel Boadas started for Cedar Rapids. He was charged with six runs on four hits and two walks. He walked two and hit three batters, and struck out three batters. The bullpen kept the Kernels in the game the rest of the way. Jacob Wosinski gave up one run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings. Gabriel Yanez gave up one hit (which allowed Wosinski’s runner to score) but nothing else over 1 1/3 innings. Kyle Bischoff struck out two batters in the eighth inning. 

In the top of the fourth, the Kernels loaded the bases. Willie Joe Garry grounded out to second, but all three runners moved up. Next, Cavaco grounded out to third base but that drove in a second run of the inning. The deficit was back down to two. 

Down 7-4 going to the ninth, the Kernels didn’t give up. Willie Joe Garry hit his second homer of the season, and later Danny De Andrade singled to score Cavaco and cut the deficit to one run, but a base running error ended the threat and the game. 

Cavaco went 2-for-4 with his fourth double and third home run. He scored and drove in two runs. Rubel Cespedes was 2-for-4 with a walk. 

Former Gophers outfielder Brett Bateman did not play. In 24 games for South Bend, the 22-year-old is hitting .361/.495/.465 (.961) with seven doubles, a triple, and nine stolen bases. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 5, Dunedin 4 (11 innings)
Box Score
There was a second walkoff in the organization on Wednesday night. The game was tied at four after nine innings. Neither team scored in the 10th inning, and the Blue Jays went scoreless in the 11th. Maddux Houghton started the 11th inning as the Manfred Man on second base. Rafael Cruz was hit by a pitch, and then Omari Daniel had a bunt single down the first base line. With the bases loaded, Byron Chourio flew out to center field, deep enough to score Houghton from third base with the winning run. 

Charlee Soto was on the mound to start this game. The youngster gave up two runs on just one hit over 3 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out four batters. Soto left the game with two outs in the fourth inning with two runners on base, and both runners came around to score after Jack Nobel came on in relief. He allowed both inherited runners to score and a third run that inning. Samuel Perez came in and tossed two scoreless innings. Julio Bonilla gave up one run on three hits and two walks over his two innings. Xander Hamilton came on for extra innings, and did a great job to work out of those situations. Two innings, no runs, no hits. He had one walk and three strikeouts.  

Rayne Doncon went 2-for-4 with a walk, his ninth double, and three RBI. Payton Eeles went 2-for-4 with his first double. He was also hit by a pitch. Houghton was 2-for-5. Along with the game-winning sacrifice fly, Chourio hit his fourth triple and drove in another run. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter of the Day – Keoni Cavaco (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, 2B(4), HR(3), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB(5).  
Pitcher of the Day – Xander Hamilton (Fort Myers) - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Wednesday. 

#3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) - 0-for-4, 2 K, OF Assist 
#9 - Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) - 3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 B, 4 K, WP, 68 pitches, 37 strikes (54.4%)
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-for-4, BB, 2B(8), K
#11 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, CS(1), 
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-5, HR(3), R, RBI, K
#13 - Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) - 1-for-4, K 
#15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, BB, RBI,
#16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 0-for-5, BB, R, 5 K.

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE AND PITCHING PROBABLES
St. Paul @ Toledo (5:35 PM CST) - RHP Louie Varland (1-0, 0.75 ERA)
Arkansas @ Wichita (7:05 PM CST) - RHP Zebby Matthews (first AA start)
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05 PM CST) - RHP Andrew Morris (1-1, 2.81 ERA)
Dunedin @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM CST) - RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto (0-2, 3.57 ERA)
FCL Orioles @ FCL Twins (11:00 AM CST) - TBD 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games or any other Twins minor league topics! 

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!