Tag: Fort Myers Mighty Mussles

Twins minor league players of the week

The Minnesota Twins announced that High-A Cedar Rapids infielder Kyle DeBarge and Low-A Fort Myers left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Kyle DeBarge

DeBarge, 21, played in six games for the Kernels, hitting .304 (7-for-23) with one double, two home runs, eight RBI, five walks and a 1.037 OPS. The Lake Charles, Louisiana native was selected by the Twins in the Compensatory Round (loss of Sonny Gray), 33rd overall, in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. The Twins agreed to a slightly below-slot signing bonus of $2.4 million with the right-handed hitting Kyle DeBarge. The 21-year-old is an elite contact hitter and just the second Ragin Cajun ever drafted in the first round.

Dasan Hill

Hill, 19, made the start with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on April 26, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings, with one hit allowed two walks, striking out eight of his 14 batters faced. The Grapevine, Texas native was selected by the Twins in the second round (69th overall) of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Grapevine High School. Hill, a lefty is the club’s 13th-best prospect according to MLB.com Pipeline.

Twins Minor League Report, 5-1-2025.PDF

Twins minor league players of the week

The Minnesota Twins have named Double-A Wichita catcher/outfielder Ricardo Olivar and Low-A Fort Myers right-handed pitcher Cole Peschl as Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Ricardo Olivar

Ricardo Olivar, 23, played in four games for the Wichita Wind Surge this week, going 8-for-17 (.471) with two doubles, one home run, four RBI and a 1.265 OPS. Olivar, a right-handed batter who splits his time catching and playing the outfield is ranked as the club’s 16th-best prospect, per MLB.com.

Cole Peschl

Cole Peschl, 22, made the start on Friday at Clearwater, pitching 5 shutout innings, with three hits allowed, two walks and nine strikeouts. The Fairmont, West Virginia native was selected by the Twins in the 15th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.

Twins Minor League Report, 4-25-2025.PDF

Twins minor league players of the week

The Minnesota Twins have named Low-A Fort Myers right-handed pitcher Jason Doktorczyk and Double-A Wichita outfielder Kyler Fedko as Twins minor league Pitcher and Player of the Week.

Jason Doktorczyk

Jason Doktorczyk, 22, started for the Mighty Mussels on Friday vs. Bradenton, allowing three unearned runs on four hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with no walks and 10 strikeouts. The Long Beach, CA native was selected by the Twins in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Nevada, Reno.

Kyler Fedko

Kyler Fedko, 25, played in five games for the Wind Surge, hitting .333 (6-for-18) with two home runs, five RBI, four walks, a .455 on-base percentage and a 1.121 OPS. The Gibsonia, PA native was selected by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Connecticut.

Twins Minor League Report, 4-19-2025.PDF

Twins cut minor league catcher Derek Bender for tipping pitches

The Twins released their sixth-round draft pick from July after they learned he informed opposing hitters what pitches were coming as his minor league team competed for a playoff berth, the Minnesota Star Tribune confirmed. Derek Bender, a catcher from Coastal Carolina, lasted less than two months in the Twins organization after he received a $297,500 signing bonus. Sources indicate that Bender will get to keep the money.

After Fort Myers dropped the first three games, ESPN first reported Bender tipped off pitches to Lakeland Tigers hitters in the second game of a doubleheader on Sept. 6. Lakeland scored four runs in the second inning against lefty pitcher Ross Dunn, and Fort Myers was eliminated with a 6-0 loss. Fort Myers won its final two games.

Fort Myers coaches were notified by Lakeland coaches about Bender’s pitch tipping after the game, sources said. Bender’s willingness to tip pitches surprised Lakeland players, and there were no indications of wrongdoing from the Flying Tigers, sources said. Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over, according to sources. You have to wonder why the home plate umpire said nothing.

Bender spent the final two games of the season, which the Mussels won, in the team’s bullpen instead of his typical place in the dugout, sources said. Bender batted .200 in 19 games with two homers, two doubles and eight RBI.

UPDATE on 2/27/2025

Winokur & Soto named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

The Twins announced that Low-A Fort Myers infielder/outfielder Brandon Winokur and right-handed pitcher Charlee Soto have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Brandon Winokur was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft from Edison HS (Huntington Beach, CA). The Southern California native is described as a potential five-tool talent and signed for $1.5 million. Winokur is a 6’6″ right-handed batter who is playing shortstop, center field, third base and right field. MLB Pipeline currently has him rated as the Twins 12th best prospect. The is the second week in a row that Winokur has won this honor. Winokur, 19, posted a 1.042 OPS with five RBI in six games for the Mighty Mussels, including a three-homer game against Lakeland on Friday. Winokur three home run game video

Charlee Soto was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (34th) of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft from Reborn Christian Academy (Kissimmee, FL). MLB Pipeline has Soto rated as the Twins 11th best prospect. For additional info on Soto please go here. Soto, 18, made the start on Wednesday vs. Lakeland, pitching 5.0 scoreless innings, with four hits allowed, two walks and four strikeouts.

Twins Minor League Report, 8-23-2024

Winokur & Morris named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

The Minnesota Twins have named Low-A Fort Myers infielder/outfielder Brandon Winokur and Double-A Wichita right-handed pitcher Andrew Morris as Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Brandon Winokur was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft from Edison HS (Huntington Beach, CA). The Southern California native is described as a potential five-tool talent and signed for $1.5 million. Winokur is a 6’6″ right-handed batter who is playing shortstop, center field, third base and right field. MLB Pipeline currently has him rated as the Twins 12th best prospect. Winokur, 19, played in four games for the Mighty Mussels, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with two home runs, three RBI and a 1.145 OPS. Short video clip of Winokur.

Andrew Morris was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft from Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX). Morris signed with Minnesota for a reported signing bonus of $500K and is no stranger to this list. MLB Pipeline has him rated as the Twins 18th best prospect with an expected MLB debut in 2025. Morris, 22, made the start on Wednesday at Corpus Christi, pitching 7 shutout innings, with two hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts.

Twins Minor League Report, 8-14-2024

Keirsey Jr. & Hall named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

The Twins announced that triple-A St. Paul outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Low-A Fort Myers right-handed pitcher Tanner Hall have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of Week.

Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT). Keirsey signed for $600,000, way over the assigned slot value. MLB has Keirsey rated as the Twins 29th best prospect. For additional info on Keirsey please go here. Keirsey, 27, a San Diego, CA native played in six games for the Saints, hitting .320 (8-for-25) with one double, one home run, three RBI, six runs scored and an .850 OPS.

Tanner Hall was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS). Hall signed with Minnesota for a reported $510,000. Hall, 22, started on Thursday, August 1 vs. St. Lucie, allowing two runs on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with one walk and nine strikeouts. Hall has already had an exciting start to his career, striking out 4 in one inning on July 6 and then on August 1 threw an immaculate inning.

Wallner & Olivares named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

Triple-A St. Paul outfielder Matt Wallner and Low-A Fort Myers right-handed pitcher Jose Olivares have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week. I apologize for getting this out so late, it was announced on June 9.

Minnesota native Matt Wallner was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 32nd round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from Forest Lake HS (Forest Lake, MN) and the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (39th) of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS). Wallner debuted with the Twins on September 17, 2022. Started the season with the Twins but struggled and was sent to AAA. This past week Wallner, 26, played in six games for the Saints, hitting .364 (8-for-22) with one double, four home runs, eight RBI, three walks, seven runs scored, a .462 on-base percentage, a .955 slugging percentage and a 1.416 OPS. The man is on a tear.

Jose Oliveras the Altagracia de Orituco, Venezuela native was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an international free agent in January of 2021. Olivares, 21, made the start on Tuesday at Tampa, pitching 5.0 shutout innings, with four hits allowed, no walks and a season-high six strikeouts.

Twins-Minor-League-Report-6-16-2024-1

Olivar & Langenberg named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

High-A Cedar Rapids catcher/outfielder Ricardo Olivar and Low-A Fort Myers right-handed pitcher Ty Langenberg have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week. I apologize for getting this out so late, it was announced on June 2. My reason for posting even if it is late is that the players deserve the recognition and fans get to see what the up and coming future Twins players are doing.

Ricardo Olivar, the Barquisimeto, Venezuela native was signed by the Twins in July of 2019 for a bonus of $20K. Olivar is currently rated as the Twins 20th best prospect and catching as well as playing in the outfield. Olivar, 22, played in five games for the Kernels, hitting .364 (8-for-22) with three home runs, five RBI and a 1.136 OPS. See more about Olivar here and here.

Ty Langenberg was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA). Langenberg was promoted to Cedar Rapids on June 11. Langenberg, 22, made the start for the Mighty Mussels on Tuesday vs. Bradenton, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings pitched, with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Twins-Minor-League-Report-6-13-2024.pdf

Doncon & Raya named as the Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week

The Minnesota Twins have announced that Low-A Fort Myers infielder Rayne Doncon and Double-A Wichita right-handed pitcher Marco Raya have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent SS Rayne Doncon to a minor league contract for a signing bonus of $497,500 in January of 2021. Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with Manuel Margot and cash to the Minnesota Twins for Noah Miller (minors) on February 26, 2024. This past week Doncon, 20, played in six games for the Mighty Mussels, hitting .304 (7-for-23) with four doubles, two RBI, five walks, a .414 on-base percentage and an .892 OPS. Doncon is a San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic native. Doncon hit 14 home runs in 2023 but struck out 103 times and hit just .213 in 473 PA’s. Photo credit to William Parmeter.

Marco Raya was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft from United South HS (Laredo, TX). Raya had committed to Texas Tech but signed with the Twins instead for a bonus of $410,000. Raya, 21, made the start on Friday versus Tulsa, pitching 3 scoreless innings in a start, with two hits allowed, no walks and four strike-outs. He has now posted a 2.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 2 ER) with no walks and 11 strikeouts in three starts for the Wind Surge this season. The Laredo, Texas native is ranked as the club’s sixth-best prospect by MLB.com and fifth-best by Baseball America. For more info on Raya please go here. I think Raya could have an exciting future if he can stay healthy.

Twins-Minor-League-Report-4-19-2024