Twins minor league players of the week are Jair Camargo & Cory Lewis

The Minnesota Twins have announced that Triple-A Saint Paul catcher Jair Camargo and High-A Cedar Rapids right-handed pitcher Cory Lewis as their minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week for week ten. Twins Rookie and DSL leagues began play on June 5.

Jair Camargo was acquired by Minnesota from Dodgers via trade with right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda and cash, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and Competitive Balance B Pick in 2020 Draft on February 10, 2020.

Camargo, 23, hit .375 (6-for-16) with four home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.537 OPS in four games for the Saints this week. On the season the 5’10” (210) Barranquilla, Colombia native has 9 home runs and 25 RBI while hitting .228 but there are also those 54 strikeouts in 148 PA’s.

Deal or No Deal?

Late on February 4th rumors started swirling that the Boston Red Sox had finally moved Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal supposedly also involved the Twins and in the deal Minnesota traded arguably their top pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol to the Dodgers who then flipped him to the Red Sox.

Brusdar Graterol

Twins minor league players of the week – Blankenhorn & Smeltzer

Travis Blankenhorn

The first 2019 Twins position player of the week is A+ Fort Myers Miracles infielder Travis Blankenhorn. Blankenhorn who is playing his fifth season of pro ball appeared in six games this past week hitting .300 with 6 hits in 24 PA’s including a double, a home run and 2 RBI. Blankenhorn also walked four times.  The 22-year-old Blankenhorn has already played second and third base as well as the left field this season.

Travis Blankenhorn was the Minnesota Twins third round draft choice in the 2015 June amateur draft. So far the only Twins draft choice to reach the big leagues from that draft is 32nd round selection LHP  Andrew Vasquez.

Devin Smeltzer

The first 2019 Twins pitcher of the week is LHP Devin Smeltzer of the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In his second start of the 2019 season Smeltzer threw 8.1 shutout innings allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 8 and earning the win on just 85 pitches (65 strikes). So far this season Smeltzer is 2-0 in 3 starts and has allowed just one earned run in 18 innings on 9 hits, 3 walks, and 21 strikeouts.

Devin Smeltzer was a Los Angeles Dodgers 5th round pick in the 2016 June Amateur draft and traded to Minnesota along with outfielder Luke Raley, second baseman Logan Forsythe in the Brian Dozier deal on July 31, 2018. The Twins used Smeltzer in relief last season at Chattanooga after acquiring him from the Dodgers but this season he is doing what he likes best and that is starting.

Twins Minor League Report, 4-14-19

Arizona Fall League just around the corner

2018 Arizona Fall League rosters were announced August 30th and the Minnesota Twins players will make-up part of the Salt River Rafters along with players from the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Marlins and Nationals.  The club’s manager will be Tommy Watkins and strength and conditioning will be handled by Jacob Dean.

Players representing the Twins will be right-handed pitchers Griffin Jax and Hector Lujan, left-handed pitchers Alex Robinson and Devin Smeltzer, infielder Travis Blankenhorn, and outfielders Jaylin Davis, Luke Raley and Brent Rooker.

Griffin Jax

Hector Lujan

Alex Robinson

Devin Smeltzer

Travis Blankenhorn

Jaylin Davis

Luke Raley

Brent Rooker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Entering its 27th year, the AFL features six teams that are composed of players from all 30 Major League organizations. It offers the unique opportunity to gauge young talent against competition that usually is superior to what they experienced during the Minor League season. The rosters for this year’s AFL, are loaded with future stars. The group features 18 players ranked on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 100 Prospects.

Although I have not been to any AFL games the last few seasons I have attended a number of them in the past and it is a special treat to watch these young up and coming stars play ball. The price is right and often you will see more scouts than you will see paying fans. It is indeed a unique experience that I would recommend you partake in, if the opportunity presents itself.

 2018 AFL Schedule