Cedar Rapids (Single-A – Midwest League) outfielder Byron Buxton is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In six games for the Kernels, he hit .370 (10-for-27) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBI, six runs scored and three walks. The 19-year old 2012 second overall pick is hitting .344 (85-for-247) with 15 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 51 RBI, 40 walks and 29 stolen bases in 63 games for the Kernels this season. How long can the Twins keep Buxton in Cedar Rapids? Ft. Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz must be licking his chops waiting for Buxton after three of his best position players got bumped up to New Britain in the past week.
Previous winners this season include (in order): P Tyler Duffey, 3B Miguel Sano, OF Adam Brett Walker, INF Jorge Polanco, P Kyle Gibson, 1B/OF Chris Colabello, P Logan Darnell, P Taylor Rogers and P Andrew Albers.
The records for the Twins minor league teams through yesterday are listed below.
AAA – Rochester Red Wings are 33-36 and 7 games behind
AA – New Britain Rock Cats are 32-35 and 9 games out
High A – Ft. Myers Miracle are 43-21 and in 1st place
Low A – Cedar Rapids Kernels are 40-27 and 1 game behind the leader
The DSL Twins are 6-5 and a half game out of first place
The Twins 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson continues to toil in Rochester while Twins management keeps saying that Gibson must show more consistency before they will call him up to pitch at Target Field. Gibson’s numbers are pretty darn good considering he is playing for the sub .500 (33-36) Rochester Red Wings. Gibson is 6-5 with a 3-26 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 85.2 innings. Gibson has only given up 73 hits and he has struck out 73 batters. Not bad numbers for less than half a season of baseball. Gibson missed most of last year due to TJ surgery so the Twins have him on a pitch limit this year. The number of specific innings remains a Twins secret but you have to assume that it is probably about 160 innings so that means that Gibson is past the half way point. GM Terry Ryan has stated all along that Gibson will be pitching in a Twins uniform in 2013. You know the Twins want to give Gibson a taste of the big leagues this year and give him an opportunity to show what he can do against the big leaguers, but like sand through the hour-glass, time and innings are slipping by. I am thinking we will see Gibson in a Twins uniform shortly after the All-Star break.
In closing, I would like to wish all you fathers out there a very Happy Father’s Day!