In week 15 the Minnesota Twins have selected High-A Cedar Rapids infielder Yunior Severino and right-handed pitcher Ben Gross as their Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.
Yunior Severino was a player that the Twins wanted to sign during the 2017 international signing period but he chose to sign with the Braves instead. Then in November of 2017 MLB ruled that the Braves had circumvented international spending rules and Severino, who by then had played in 48 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, was among 13 Atlanta prospects whose contracts were voided. The Twins moved quickly, committing $2.5 million to sign the 18-year-old.
Severino, 21, started the season in Fort Myers and was bumped up to Cedar Rapids on July 26. Severino a switch-hitter played in six games for the Kernels, hitting .560 (14-for-25) with three doubles, one home run, two RBI, three walks, six runs scored and a 1.421 OPS. He recorded two four-hit games this week. Severino was signed an a middle infielder but might outgrow that position although he is currently playing second base. On the season Severino is .285/.379/.437 .
Ben Gross was drafted by the Twins in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from Duke University and is a repeat winner of this award this season.
Gross, 24, made one start for the Kernels on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings pitched with one walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts, earning the win. The New Jersey native is 5-1 on the season with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.208 WHIP in 14 starts and 72 innings.