The 2022 MLB minor league season is underway and the Minnesota Twins have selected their first minor league players of the week and they are both from the High A Cedar Rapids Kernels and were both drafted in 2021. Congratulations to infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand and left-handed pitcher Cade Povich.
Cade Povich was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE). The 6’3″ lefty was born in Reno, Nevada in 2000, that should make some of us feel old. According to Jim Callis, Povich “signed for $500k, throws strikes, keeps 88-90 mph fastball off barrels, mid-70s downer curveball.” MLB Pipeline has Cade Povich rated as the Twins 27th best prospect.
Povich is just in his second year of pro ball and pitched in just his fifth professional baseball game. On his 22nd birthday Povich started and pitched five shutout innings (69 pitches) for the Kernels allowing just one hit while striking out eight including the final six batters he faced. Povich walked just one notching his first pro ball win. Povich’s birthday brilliance, clutch hitting leads Kernels to 8-1 win at Quad Cities
Christian Encarnacion-Strand was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK). Encarnacion-Strand bats and throws right-handed. Reports had him signing for the exact slot bonus of $442,000. MLB Pipeline has Christian Encarnacion-Strand rated as the Twins 29th best prospect.
Christian was blistering hot out of the gate this season, just his second in pro ball. Cedar Rapids Kernels third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a franchise Opening Day record nine RBI to lead the Kernels to a 12-5 win in Friday’s opener against the Beloit Sky Carp. Encarnacion-Strand, 22, played in seven games for the Kernels to start the season, hitting .467 (14-for-30) with two doubles, five home runs, 20 RBI, seven runs scored and a 1.033 OPS making him the only player in minor league or major league baseball to reach the 20-RBI plateau so far this season. Christian Encarnacion-Strand Drives in Nine, Homers Twice in 12-5 Kernels Win