It seems strange, but the Twins’ minor league teams begin play before the big club does. Here are the games being played today.
1:00—Rochester at Syracuse. P. J. Walters v. Mitch Atkins
5:05—New Britain at Richmond. Justin Fitzgerald v. Luke French
5:30—Ft. Myers at Charlotte. Scott Baker v. Grayson Garvin
6:30—Peoria at Beloit. Michael Jensen v. Madison Boer
Your handy guide to the Florida State League. Players listed are those found on rosters at milb.com today. Such rosters are subject to change.
Your handy guide to the Eastern League. Players listed are those on rosters found at milb.com today. Those rosters are, of course, subject to change.
Your handy guide to the International League. Players listed are players who were listed on rosters at milb.com this morning. Such rosters are obviously subject to change.
Kid Nichols (1869)
Jerry Doggett (1916)
Jerry Coleman (1924)
Jim Fanning (1927)
Stan Williams (1936)
Jerry Don Gleaton (1957)
Tim Wallach (1957)
Mike Durant (1969)
David Bell (1972)
Chad Bradford (1974)
Delmon Young (1985)
This is just kind of a wrap-up post of various thoughts on the Twins minor league teams and players. I claim no particular credentials as either an analyst or a scout, so feel free to disagree with anything that follows.
--You can understand why Rochester management is getting upset with the Twins. I know the minors are about player development, but you'd still like to be able to field a competitive team. Given how bad they've been the last two years, attendance hasn't suffered as much as you might think--the Red Wings were ninth out of fourteen teams, with an average of 6493 fans. All the injuries to the major league club obviously played a part in how bad the team was, but a failure to develop players has also played a part.
Minnesota is 59-84, fifth in the AL Central, 22 games behind Detroit. The Twins are on a one game winning streak and are 3-7 in their last ten games.
Rochester finished 53-91, sixth in the IL North, 29 games behind Pawtucket. The Red Wings finished on a two game losing streak and were 4-6 in their last ten games.
New Britain finished 72-70, third in the EL East, 5 games behind New Hampshire. The Rock Cats finished on a one game losing streak and were 5-5 in their last ten games.
Ft. Myers overall was 63-76, fifth in the FSL South, 12 games behind Bradenton. In the first half, the Miracle was 34-36, second in the FSL South, 4 games behind St. Lucie. In the second half, the Miracle was 29-40, fifth in the FSL South, 16 games behind Bradenton. The Miracle finished on a one game losing streak and was 6-4 in its last ten games.
Beloit overall was 69-69, third in the ML West, 12.5 games behind Quad Cities. In the first half, the Snappers were 38-32, tied for third in the ML West, 7 games behind Burlington. In the second half, the Snappers were 31-37, tied for fourth in the ML West, 10 games behind Quad Cities. The Snappers finished on a one game losing streak and were 5-5 in their last ten games.
Elizabethton finished 42-46, second in the AL West, 3 games behind Johnson City. The Twins finished on an eight game winning streak and were 9-1 in their last ten games. They qualified for the playoffs, losing two games to one to Bluefield in the first round.
The GCL Twins finished 31-29, second in the GCL South, 7 games behind the Orioles. The Twins finished on a one game winning streak and were 8-2 in their last ten games.
The DSL Twins finished 42-26, second in the B. C. B. C., 3.5 games behind the Orioles. The Twins finished on a three game losing streak and were 6-4 in their last ten games.
Jim Hoey was recalled from Rochester to Minnesota.
Brian Dinkelman had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Kyle Waldrop had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Nick Blackburn was transferred from the fifteen day disabled list to the sixty day disabled list.
Liam Hendriks had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Joe Benson was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Chris Parmelee was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Matt Tolbert was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Bruce Pugh was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Deolis Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with a right bicep injury.
Matthew Hauser was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Steve Hirschfeld was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with tendonitis in his right shoulder.
Sam Spangler was activated from the disabled list by Beloit.
Pedro Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by Beloit.
Note: this is players of the year for each individual minor league team. Thus, a player needs to have been with one team for a significant portion of the year to be that team's player of the year. What consitutes a "significant portion of the year" is somewhat subjective.
ROCHESTER
Position Player: Aaron Bates hit .316/.408/.439, leading the team in OPS among players with at least 200 at-bats. Honorable mention: Jeff Bailey hit .252/.357/.442 with 15 home runs.
Pitcher: Chuck James was 3-2, 1 save, 2.30, 1.21 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 62.2 innings (38 appearances). Honorable mention: Kyle Waldrop was 5-5, 3 saves, 3.87, 1.29 WHIP.
NEW BRITAIN
Position Player: Brian Dozier hit .318/.384/.502. He led the team in OPS and slugging and was second in batting average and OBP. Honorable mention: Joe Benson hit .285/.388/.495. He led the team in OBP, was tied for the team lead in home runs (16) and was second in slugging.
Pitcher: Liam Hendriks was 8-2, 2.70, 1.14 WHIP in 16 appearances (15 starts). He struck out 81 in 90 innings. Honorable mention: Tyler Robertson was 10-3, 16 saves, 3.61, 1.29 WHIP in 55 appearances. He struck out 88 in 89.2 innings.
FT. MYERS
Position Player: No one did all that well after Brian Dozier was promoted to New Britain, but we'll give it to Oswaldo Arcia, who hit .263/.300/.460, leading the team in OPS and slugging among players with at least 200 at-bats. Honorable mention: Aaron Hicks hit .242/.354/.368, leading the team in OBP.
Pitcher: Andrew Albers was 4-1, 4 saves, 1.55, 1.05 WHIP in 22 appearances (2 starts). He struck out 46 in 52.1 innings. Honorable mention: Matt Schuld was 4-1, 3.99, 1.30 WHIP in 70 innings. He appeared in 15 games, 11 of them starts.
BELOIT
Position Player: Jairo Perez hit .337/.413/.580 with 20 doubles and 15 home runs in just 276 at-bats. He also stole 11 bases. Honorable mention: Michael Gonzales hit .289/.371/.468 with 27 doubles and 15 home runs.
Pitcher: Jose Gonzalez was 5-3, 13 saves, 2.47, 1.16 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 62 innings (48 apperances). Honorable mention: Adrian Salcedo was 6-6, 2.93, 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 92 in 135 innings (29 appearances, 20 starts).
ELIZABETHTON
Position Player: Eddie Rosario hit .337/.397/.670. He led the team in slugging, batting average, OPS, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, and stolen bases (17 of 23). Honorable mention: Miguel Sano hit .292/.352/.637. He led the team in doubles and was second in most of the categories Rosario led.
Pitcher: Matthew Summers was 1-1, 6 saves, 0.87, 0.77 WHIP in 20 appearances. He struck out 36 in 20.2 innings. Honorable mention: Tim Shibuya was 8-2, 3.30, 1.10 WHIP in 13 starts. He struck out 70 in 73.2 innings.
GCL TWINS
Position Player: Phillip Chapman hit .308/.392/.442, leading the team in all three of those categories for players with over 100 at-bats. He also led the team in doubles and RBIs. Honorable mention: Stephen Wickens hit .245/.370/.340.
Pitcher: Angel Mata was 0-1, 1.46, 1.14 WHIP in 12 appearances (11 starts). He struck out 30 in 37 innings. Honorable mention: Luis Nunez was 5-0, 5 saves, 1.67, 0.90 in 16 appearances. He struck out 37 in 32.1 innings.
DSL TWINS
Position Player: Erick Gonzalez hit .286/.445/.392. He led the team in all three of those categories, plus runs, hits, doubles, total bases, and walks. Honorable mention: Adonis Pacheco hit .285/.364/.398, leading the team in triples.
Pitcher: Junior Subero was 3-4, 0.77, 0.96 WHIP in 12 appearances (10 starts). He struck out 49 in 46.2 innings. Honorable mention: Francisco Nunez was 9-1, 5 saves, 1.47, 0.76 WHIP in 20 appearances (1 start). He struck out 61 in 49 innings.
ROCHESTER
Position Player: Aaron Bates hit .295/.398/.438 in 107 at-bats. For the season, he was .316/.408/.439. Honorable mention: Dustin Martin hit .266/.319/.469 in 128 at-bats. For the season, he was .265/.341/.431.
Pitcher: Cole DeVries was 1-0, 2.25, 1.08 WHIP in 24 innings. For the season, he was 4-2, 3.90, 1.48 in 62.1 innings. Honorable mention: Chuck James was 2-1, 2.57, 1.29 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 21 innings. For the season, he was 3-2, 2.30, 1.21 with 67 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.
NEW BRITAIN
Position Player: Brian Dozier hit .341/.393/.565 in 138 at-bats. For the season, he was .318/.384/.502. Honorable mention: Yangervis Solarte hit .340/.371/.510 in 100 at-bats. For the season, he was .329/.367/.466.
Pitcher: Deolis Guerra was 2-0, 1.28, 0.62 WHIP in 21 innings. For the season, he was 8-7, 5.59, 1.37 WHIP in 95 innings. Honorable mention: Tyler Robertson was 3-0, 5 saves, 1.54, 0.99 WHIP in 23.1 innings. For the season, he was 10-3, 16 saves, 3.16, 1.29 in 89.2 innings.
FT. MYERS
Position Player: Oswaldo Arcia hit .260/.293/.500 in 104 at-bats. For the season, he was .263/.300/.460. Honorable mention: Angel Morales hit .274/.355/.389 in 95 at-bats. For the season, he was .264./.326/.388.
Pitcher: Matthew Tomshaw was 0-0, 0.86, 0.86 WHIP in 21 innings. For the season, he was 0-0, 2.13, 1.11 in 25.1 innings. Honorable mention: Edgar Ibarra was 3-3, 1.86, 1.34 WHIP in 29 innings. For the season, he was 5-10, 5.16, 1.71 WHIP in 106.1 innings
BELOIT
Position player: Jairo Perez hit .315/.388/.528 in 108 at-bats. For the season, he was .337/.413/.580. Honorable mention: Michael Gonzales hit .265/.315/.441 in 68 at-bats. For the season, he was .289/.371/.468.
Pitcher: Adrian Salcedo was 0-0, 0.66, 1.10 WHIP in 13.2 innings. For the season, he was 6-6, 2.93, 1.17 in 135 innings. Honorable mention: Jose Gonzalez was 1-0, 3 saves, 1.17, 1.17 WHIP in 15.1 innings. For the season, he was 5-3, 13 saves, 2.47, 1.16 in 62 innings.
ELIZABETHTON
Position player: Miguel Sano hit .378/.446/.944 in 90 at-bats. For the season, he was .292/.352/.637. Honorable mention: Eddie Rosario hit .368/.433/.728 in 114 at-bats. For the season, he was .337/.397/.670.
Pitcher: Tim Atherton was 3-0, 1.50, 0.79 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings. Those are also his season numbers. Honorable mention: Matthew Summers was 0-0, 3 saves, 0.00, 0.58 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 8.2 innings. For the season, he was 1-1, 6 saves, 0.87, 0.77 WHIP in 20.2 innings.
GCL TWINS
Position player: Phillip Chapman hit ,327/.389/.429 in 49 at-bats. For the season, he was .308/.392/.442. Honorable mention: Joshua Hendricks hit .315/.351/.407 in 54 at-bats. For the season, he was .275/.316/.350.
Pitcher: Kyle Wahl was 3-0, 0.95, 0.95 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings. For the season, he was 5-1, 2.23, 1.05 with 35 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. Honorable mention: Nick Cicio was 2-0, 0.00, 0.25 WHIP with 7 strikeouts in 8 innings. For the season, he was 2-0, 2 saves, 1.74, 0.87 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.
DSL TWINS
Position player: Adonis Pacheco hit .365/.450/.462 in 52 at-bats. For the season, he was .285/.364/.398. Honorable mention: Ronald Jimenez hit .405/.468/.405 in 42 at-bats. For the season, he was .266/.332/.305.
Pitcher: Junior Subero was 2-0, 0.00, 0.95 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. For the season, he was 3-4, 0.77, 0.96 with 49 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. Honorable mention: Francisco Nunez was 2-0, 1 save, 0.66, 0.73 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. For the season, he was 9-1, 5 saves, 1.47, o.76 with 61 strikeouts in 49 innings.