In week 10 we have High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Michael Helman winning this weeks Minnesota Twins minor league position player of the week. Helman was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft from Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). Helman reportedly signed for a $220,000 signing bonus.
The 25-year-old Helman played in six games for the Kernels, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with one double, two home runs, four RBI, one walk, a .458 on-base percentage and a 1.186 OPS. The right-handed hitting Helman started his career as a second baseman and had appeared there in a few games but is primarily being used in the outfield in 2021. On the season Helman has an average slash line of .217/.310/.411.
This weeks Minnesota Twins minor league pitcher of the week is Jovani Moran who is pitching for the AA Wichita Wind Surge. Moran was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft from Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy (Florida, Puerto Rico and signed on the dotted line for a signing bonus of $275,000.
Moran, a 24-year-old lefty made two relief appearances for the Wind Surge, allowing one run on two hits in
5 innings pitched with two hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts. Moran pitched in the AZFL in 2019 and was not impressive there but this season he is pitching lights out relief for the Wind Surge and some say he might be the best suited Twins minor league pitcher to move up to Target Field. Moran is currently number 30 on the Twins MLB minor league pipeline. This year he is 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 36 inning pitched over 19 appearances. You have to love his 0.667 WHIP in 2021. A nice article on Moran here.