The Twins have named AAA Rochester Red Wings first baseman/outfielder Zander Wiel and A+ Ft. Myers Miracle right-handed pitcher Cole Sands as Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.
In seven games for the Red Wings, the 26 year old Wiel hit .433 (13-for-30) with two home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, 24 total bases and five runs scored, including five multi-hit games. The Tennessee native was drafted by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2015 draft out of Vanderbilt University. This marks Wiels’ third career weekly honor, first since Sept. 4, 2016. Wiel is 6’3″ and goes about and hits and throws tight-handed. Wiel has advanced through the Twins organization and had a taste (15 games) of AAA ball last season and has spent all of this year in Rochester.
Sands made one start for the Miracle, throwing 5.0 no-hit inning with six strikeouts last Sunday against Jupiter. Sands, just 21 was a fifth-round selection in the 2018 MLB draft out of Florida State. Sands, a right-hander started his pro career this year in A ball with the Cedar Rapids Kernels and has advanced to A+ Ft. Myers. This is his first weekly honor. Sands signed for a reported (Twins Daily) $600,000 with the slot value being $330,400.