Category: Twins Minor League Player of the Week

Twins minor league players of the week – Nick Gordon and Zack Littell

The Twins have named Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts infielder Nick Gordon and Triple-A Rochester right-handed pitcher Zack Littell Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Nick Gordon

In seven games this week, the 22-year-old left-handed hitting Gordon hit .400 (10-for-25) with four doubles, one home run, four RBI, four runs scored, four walks and a .484 on-base percentage. So far this season Gordon is hitting .346 in 34 games and has played shortstop in 27 games, 6 games at second base and 1 as the DH. Gordon was selected fifth overall by the Twins in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and is the son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon and younger brother of Mariners outfielder Dee Gordon.

You have to figure Gordon is ready to move up a notch to AAA and is likely to see some action for the Twins this season.

Looking at the 41 picks in the 2014 first round, 21 of the selections are position players and ten of the 21 were drafted out of high school like Gordon and none of them have yet advanced to the big leagues. Out of the 11 position players picked out of colleges, seven have or are playing in the majors.

20 of the 41 first round selections in 2014 were pitchers, 10 out of high school and just one of these picks, Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals has thrown off a big league mound. On the other hand, the other 10 pitcher selections were out of a college and only one of the 10 has not seen big league action.

So I have to wonder, why do you spend a first round pick on a high school player? You would think you would want a return on your money sooner than later.

Zack Littell

Littell, 22, who was just recently promoted from Double-A Chattanooga, started two games for the Red Wings this week, going 1-0 with one run allowed on four hits in 12.0 innings, six walks and 14 strikeouts. 

Littell was a Mariners 11th round selection in 2013 and was traded to the Yankees in a minor league transaction after the 2016 season. The 6’4″ Littell was then acquired by the Twins via trade with New York Yankees on July 30, 2017 along with left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaime Garcia. In 2017 between 3 different minor league teams, he put up a 19-1 record with a 2.12 ERA. He too should see at least a cup of coffee with the Twins this season.

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Twins Minor League Players of the Week – Alex Kirilloff, Edwar Colina & Jovani Moran

The Twins have named Single-A Cedar Rapids outfielder Alex Kirilloff ML Player of the Week and Single-A Cedar Rapids right-handed pitcher Edwar Colina and left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran Co-ML Pitchers of the Week.

Kirilloff

This past week the 20-year old Kirilloff who was the Twins first round pick in 2016 and 15th overall hit .333 (8-for-24) with 4 doubles, a home run had 6 RBI helping lead the Kernels to a 4-1 record. Season-to-date the lefty outfielder is hitting .278 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI. Kirilloff has struck out 19 times in 90 at bats.

Colina and Moran overcame six walks and two errors, combining for the Kernels’ first no-hitter in five years as Cedar Rapids beat South Bend, 10-0, on Tuesday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

Colina

The right-handed Colina earned his second win of the season when he tossed 6.0 innings with five walks and two strikeouts just two days before his 21st birthday. This season the Venezuela native has pitched 15 innings in his 3 starts and is 2-0 with a miniscule 0.60 ERA while striking out 7 and walking 11. Colina is in his third season of organized ball in the Twins system. 

Moran

Moran, a lefty, being used strictly as a relief pitcher finished the no-hitter game with 3.0 innings facing only 9 batters with a walk, HBP, and a strike-out in his longest outing of the season. Moran was the Twins seventh round selection in 2015 from Puerto Rico and is also in his third season working for the Twins.

 

 

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Twins minor league players of the week – Royce Lewis & Stephen Gonsalves

The Twins have named Single-A Cedar Rapids shortstop Royce Lewis ML Player of the Week and Triple-A Rochester left-handed pitcher Stephen Gonsalves ML Pitcher of the Week.

Royce Lewis

Royce Lewis hit .304 (7-for-23) with four runs and four RBI in four games for the Kernels (had 4-hit game previous week). For the season, Lewis is hitting .316 with one double, one home run and 10 RBI. 

Lewis, who was ranked Baseball America’s top prospect in the Twins system, was drafted by the Twins first overall in last June’s MLB Draft out of JSerra Catholic High School (San Juan Capistrano, CA). According to MLB.com (Jim Callis) Lewis signed a deal for $6.725 million, a record for a high school player. Lewis is represented by Scott Boras. The 6’2″ right-handed Lewis will turn 19 on June 5.

Gonsalves, a 6’5″ left-hander was promoted from Double-A Chattanooga this week to AAA Rochester, made one start for the Lookouts on Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits in 5.0 innings pitched with nine strikeouts. In Chattanooga, Gonsalves was 3-0 in 4 starts with a 1.77 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. 

Stephen Gonsalves

Gonsalves, Baseball America’s fourth best prospect in the Twins system,
was drafted in the fourth round in 2013 out of Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego, CA).

I think that Gonsalves will be a star sooner than later and I fully expect him to be a starter in the Twins rotation this season. He is going to be a “good” one, the only reason the Twins were able to get him in the fourth round was because of this issue.

 

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Twins Minor League Players of the Week – Zander Wiel and Tyler Duffey

This weeks Twins minor league players of the week are first baseman Zander Wiel of the Chattanooga Lookouts and Tyler Duffey.

Zander Wiel

This past week Zander Wiel appeared in six games and had 9 hits in 21 at bats with four doubles, two home runs, six RBI and scored five times posting a batting average of .429 and had a 1.405 OPS. For the season, the 25 year-old Weil is hitting .370 with 20 hits in 54 at bats.  Zander is about 6’3″ and goes about 232 and bats and throws right-handed. 

Weil, a Tennessee native is now in his fourth season of pro ball was drafted by Minnesota in the 12th round of the June 2015 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt University where he played on two CWS teams and has one championship on his resume. Weil is not currently rated as a Twins Top 30 prospect by  MLB.

Tyler Duffey

Tyler Duffey who has pitched for the Twins 2015-2017 and had a rough spring training started the season with the AAA Rochester Red Wings. This past week Duffey appeared in two games, pitched 6.2 innings and allowed no runs, just two hits, and struck out 10 while walking just one batter. Did I mention he is 3-1 this season with 14 strikeouts in 11 innings without allowing a single earned run? The Twins called Duffey up to the big club yesterday. Hopefully Duffey can keep it going with the Twins in the long relief role. 

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Twins minor league players of the week – Kerrigan & Stewart

Position player of the week

Jimmy Kerrigan

The Twins minor league position player of the week is Fort Myers Miracles outfielder Jimmy Kerrigan. From April 8-14, Kerrigan was 11 for 26 for a .423 average with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

Kerrigan was playing in the Independent Frontier League when the Twins signed Kerrigan to a minor league contract on July 27, 2017 , sending him to the low A Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League and in 31 games, he batted .250, with four triples, five home runs and 20 RBIs. The 24 year-old Kerrigan who bats and throws right-handed started the 2018 with the Fort Myers Miracle.

 

Pitcher of the week

Kohl Stewart

The Twins minor League pitcher of the week is Kohl Stewart. The Twins 2013 first round selection (fourth overall) started the 2018 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts. In his first start of the season Stewart went five innings, allowed just three hits, one run, struck out nine with zero walks and threw 75 pitches and claimed his first win of the year. The 23 year-old Stewart now is in his sixth season and the Twins have been waiting for the 6’3″ right-handed Texan to show the promise that the Twins saw in him when they drafted and signed him out of high school for $4.544 million. Stewart needs to have a strong breakout season this year.

Minnesota Twins, No. 1 draft pick Kohl Stewart agree to terms

 

Don’t forget to check out our new and updated This Day in Twins History on the right hand side of the page.

Twins Minor League Player of the Week – Leonardo Reginatto

Leonardo Reginatto

This weeks Twins Minor League Player of the Week is Rochester Red Wings (AAA) third baseman Leonardo Reginatto. In 7 games the 27 year-old Reginatto hit .391 (9 for 23), with 3 doubles and scored 4 runs. Reginatto has played 81 games for Rochester this season appearing at third base and second base and has hit .296 in 260 at bats with 3 home runs and 36 RBI. Reginatto was a non-roster Twins spring training invitee this year.

Reginatto, a Brazilian native was originally signed by the Tampa Rays as a non-drafted free agent in February 2009 and signed with the Twins as a minor league free agent in  December 2015. 

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Minor Matters

Double-A Chattanooga Manager Jake Mauer has been named the Southern League Manager of the Year. Mauer is the first Lookouts manager to win this award since Jayhawk Owens in 2004.

Southern League Postseason All-Stars have been announced and the Twins will be represented by four players from Double-A Chattanooga: infielder Nick Gordon, outfielder Edgar Corcino, designated hitter Jonathan Rodriguez and relief pitcher Gabriel Moya.

Rookie-Level Elizabethton recently clinched their Division Title and will open the playoffs on Saturday against Greenville or Johnson City. Elizabethton currently has a record of 41-26. This marks their 12th time in postseason play since 2003.

GCL Twins also recently clinched a playoff berth and will open their postseason play on Sunday (opponent TBD).

Twins Minor League Player of the Week – Hector Lujan

Hector Lujan

Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low A) right-handed pitcher Hector Lujan has been named Twins minor league Player of the Week. Lujan, 6’3″ and about 230 appeared in three games for the Kernels, pitching 3.0 shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks, six strikeouts and two saves. The 22-year-old has appeared in 38 games for the Kernels this season, going 3-1, 1.47 ERA (49.0 IP, 8 ER) with 15 saves (Midwest League leader), seven walks, 50 strikeouts and a 0.90 WHIP. Lujan has been strictly used in relief since he signed a professional contract.

The Corona, California native was drafted by the Twins in the 35th round of the
2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.

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Twins Minor League Player of the Week – Brent Rooker

Brent Rooker

Ft. Myers Miracle (High A) outfielder Brent Rooker has been named Twins minor league Player of the Week. Rooker appeared in six games for the Miracle, hitting .348 (8-for-23) with three home runs, 12 RBI and four runs scored. In 76 games between Rookie Elizabethton and Ft. Myers, Rooker has hit .262 (45-for-172) with seven doubles, 13 home runs, 38 RBI and taken 21 walks.

A 38th-round pick of the Twins last June (2016), Rooker had to give the Twins permission to select him again. Rooker, 22, the Southeastern Conference player of the year as a red shirt junior at Mississippi State, had the second-highest average exit velocity in Division 1 baseball last season, hitting .387 with 23 home runs in 67 games.

The Tennessee native was drafted by the Twins in the Competitive Balance Rd A (35th overall) in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State University. What the Twins saw from Terry Brent Rooker at the plate was enough to convince them to re-draft him at No. 35 overall on Monday. A right-handed hitter, he signed for the full slot figure of $1.935 million after a record-setting season at Mississippi State. 

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Twins Minor League Player of the Week – Clark Beeker

Clark Beeker  –  Credit: Dennis Hubbard/Sports Cards N More

Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low A) right-handed pitcher Clark Beeker has been named Twins minor league Player of the Week. Beeker made two starts for the Kernels, going 1-0, 0.00 ERA (17.2 IP) with no walks and 14 strikeouts. Before the season started, Class A Cedar Rapids pitching coach J.P. Martinez offered a steak dinner to anyone on the staff who could throw a shutout in 100 pitches or fewer. A hungry Clark Beeker made sure to cash in on the opportunity. 

In 19 starts for the Kernels this season, his first season as a full-time starter, he has gone 10-3, 2.15 ERA (121.2 IP, 29 ER) with two complete game shutouts, 14 walks and 84 strikeouts. The man has never had an ERA for any pro team he has pitched for higher than 2.51.The North Carolina native was selected by the Twins in the 33rd round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Davidson College (NC).

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Twins Minor League Player of the Week – Fernando Romero

Fernando Romero

Chattanooga Lookouts (AA) right-handed pitcher Fernando Romero has been named Twins minor league Player of the Week. Romero made two starts for the Lookouts, going 2-0, 0.90 ERA (10.0 IP, 1 ER) with seven hits, four walks and 15 strikeouts in starts against Mobile last Saturday and Birmingham on Friday. He has appeared in 20 games (19 starts)
for the Lookouts this season, going 10-6, 2.64 ERA (105.2 IP, 31 ER) with one complete game shutout, 41 walks and 112 strikeouts.

Romero was signed by the Twins out of the Dominican Republic on November 4, 2011 as a 16 year-old for a reported $260,000. Romero has TJ surgery in June 2014 and missed the entire 2015 season.