Twins minor league players of the week are Varland and Prato

The Minnesota Twins have named Triple-A St. Paul right-handed pitcher Louie Varland and Double-A Wichita infielder/outfielder Anthony Prato as their minor league Pitcher and Player of the Week.

Louie Varland was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from Concordia University (St. Paul, MN). Varland and this St. Paul native signed for a $115,000 signing bonus. Varland is a repeat winner this season having already won this award twice earlier this season. Varland is currently rated as the Twins 11th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Varland, who was promoted from Double-A Wichita on August 8, made his first AAA start for St. Paul on Friday night against Columbus, pitching 5.1innings, with one hit allowed, two walks and eight strikeouts, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. It will be interestig to see if this Minnesota native makes his MLB debut yet this season.

Twins minor league players of the week are Julien & Varland

The Minnesota Twins minor league players of the week are Double-A Wichita infielder Edouard Julien and right-handed pitcher Louie Varland.

Edouard Julien was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from Auburn University (Auburn, AL). Julien was born in Quebec, Canada and ended up playing college ball all the way down south at Auburn, a draft-eligible sophomore who signed with the parent Minnesota Twins in 2019 as an 18th-round draft pick for a $493,500 bonus, way over the slot dollar amount of $125,000 for every player picked after the 11th round.

Julien, 23, played in six games for the Wind Surge this week, hitting .348 (8-for-23) with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, five walks, and a .464 OBP, an .826 SLG and a 1.290 OPS. Even though Julien has visited the IL twice this season he has appeared in 53 games and is slashing .287/.429/.466. Drafted as a power hitting third baseman, Julien has been playing mainly second base at Wichita this season. Video clip of Julien having a 7 RBI game.

Twins minor league players of the week are Varland & Steer

The Minnesota Twins have named Double-A Wichita right-handed pitcher Louie Varland and Triple-A St. Paul infielder Spencer Steer as the Twins minor league Pitcher and Player of the Week. The Twins are lucky to have a number of their minor leaguers knocking on the Target Field door.

Louie Varland was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from Concordia University (St. Paul, MN). Varland, a St. Paul native signed for a $115,000 signing bonus.

Last season Varland was 10-4 with a nifty 2.10 ERA in 20 games and 103 innings. Varland gave up just 82 hits and struck out 142 and posted a 1.087 WHIP. The 6’1″ right-hander was rewarded by the Minnesota Twins by being named their Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2021 after splitting time between Fort Myers and and Cedar Rapids. This past week Varland, 24, made two starts (6/4 vs. Frisco and 6/10 at Arkansas) for the Wind Surge, going 1-0, 1.64 ERA (11.0 IP, 2 ER) with eight hits allowed, two walks and 18 strikeouts. In 2022 Varland is 5-1 with a SO/9 ration of 10.7 and a 1.200 WHIP. Looks like he will be able to come home to pitch soon.

Louie Varland makes himself next Twins pitching prospect to watch out for (Patrick Reusse)

Twins announce 2021 Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year

In a Press Release this morning the Minnesota Twins announced that infielder Jose Miranda has been named the 2021 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins Minor League Player of the Year and right-handed pitcher Louie Varland has been named the 2021 Jim Rantz Award winner as the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Twins Minor League POW are Aaron Sabato and Louie Varland

Week 20 has the Minnesota Twins naming High A Cedar Rapids Kernels first baseman Aaron Sabato and pitcher Louie Varland as the minor league players of the week.

Aaron Sabato was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (27th) of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sabato, a Rye, New York native started the season with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and was promoted to Cedar Rapids on August 23.

Sabato, 22, played in seven games for the Kernels, hitting .292 (7-for-24) with four home runs, six RBI, six walks, a .792 slugging percentage and a 1.211 OPS, including
two two-homer games. On the season between Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids Sabato is hitting .202 in 464 PA’s with 19 home runs and 57 RBI. He also has 149 strikeouts and 92 walks.

Twins Minor League POW are Trey Cabbage & Louie Varland

Week 12 finds AA Wichita Wind Surge outfielder Trey Cabbage and High A Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Louie Varland named as the Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the week.

Trey Cabbage was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft from Grainger HS in Rutledge, TN.

Cabbage started the season by playing 40 games in High A Cedar Rapids before being bumped up to AA Wichita on June 28th. This past week he played six games for the Wind Surge, hitting .300 (6-for-20) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, four walks and
seven strikeouts. You can follow him on Twitter at @Treycabz