TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
New Britain (AA – Eastern League) third baseman Miguel Sano is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In six games for the Rock Cats, Sano hit .333 (7-for-21) with four home runs, eight RBI, two doubles, seven walks and scored five runs. The 20-year old from San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic is in his fourth season of pro ball and has hit a combined 35 home runs and knocked in 103 runs between Single-A and Double-A this season. Baseball America has listed Sano the Twins top prospect each of the last two seasons.
Fans in Minnesota who are tired of watching the home team struggle to score runs are hoping that the Twins will make Miguel Sano a September call-up and allow him to win the third base job during spring training in 2014. I too would love to see what Sano can do against big league pitching this year at Target Field but I don’t see it happening no matter how much the Twins could use his bat.
New Britain (AA – Eastern League) shortstop Danny Santana is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In seven games for the Rock Cats, Santana hit .429 (8-for-23) with one home run, five RBI, one double, two triples, two stolen bases and four runs scored. The 22-year old from Monte Plata, Dominican Republic, is hitting .296 (150-for-506) this season, with 22 doubles, 10 triples, two home runs, 43 RBI, 26 stolen bases and 63 runs scored with a .331 OBP in 123 games for New Britain.
Although Santana is only 22, he is already in his sixth season in the Twins organization. The 5’11” switch-hitting Santana is a slick fielder and is well liked by many in the Twins organization. Since 2010 his OBP has gone from .285, to .289, to .298, to .329 and now to .331. Don’t be surprised is Santana makes a serious run at taking over the Twins shortstop job within the next year or two.
New Britain (AA – Eastern League) outfielder Daniel Ortiz is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In five games for the Rock Cats, the left-handed hitting Ortiz hit .350 (7-for-20) with two home runs, nine RBI’s and three runs scored. Ortiz is hitting .272 (108-for-397) with 24 doubles in 108 games for the Rock Cats this season.
Ortiz, 23, was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Benjamin Harrison High School in Puerto Rico Ortiz has progressed through the Twins minor league system playing primarily corner outfield but he has seen duty in center as well. Ortiz has hit 10 or more home runs each season he has played pro ball except for his first season in 2008. Ortiz did not play in 2009, not sure why.
New Britain (AA – Eastern League) right-handed pitcher Trevor May is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. The 23 year-old 6’5″ May tossed 7.2 scoreless innings allowing just four hits while striking out nine Erie batters on June 18. May has a 3.56 ERA over 14 starts and a 1.80 ERA (20.0 IP, 4 ER) over his last three starts for the Rock Cats. His fastball is in the 92-94 range with heavy sink, and his secondary pitches, curve and a straight change are almost ready. In his sixth season of pro ball, May already has over 600 innings of minor league ball under his belt. His career SO/9 rate is 10.8 but his BB/9 of 4.7 is what is holding him back from moving up the ladder. May was acquired by the Twins this past offseason from the Phillies along with Vance Worley for Ben Revere.
Previous winners this season include (in order): P Tyler Duffey, INF Miguel Sano, OF Adam Brett Walker, INF Jorge Polanco, P Kyle Gibson, INF Chris Colabello, P Logan Darnell, P Taylor Rogers, P Andrew Albers and OF Byron Buxton.
Cedar Rapids (Single-A – Midwest League) outfielder Byron Buxton is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In six games for the Kernels, he hit .370 (10-for-27) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBI, six runs scored and three walks. The 19-year old 2012 second overall pick is hitting .344 (85-for-247) with 15 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 51 RBI, 40 walks and 29 stolen bases in 63 games for the Kernels this season. How long can the Twins keep Buxton in Cedar Rapids? Ft. Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz must be licking his chops waiting for Buxton after three of his best position players got bumped up to New Britain in the past week.
Previous winners this season include (in order): P Tyler Duffey, 3B Miguel Sano, OF Adam Brett Walker, INF Jorge Polanco, P Kyle Gibson, 1B/OF Chris Colabello, P Logan Darnell, P Taylor Rogers and P Andrew Albers.
The records for the Twins minor league teams through yesterday are listed below.
AAA – Rochester Red Wings are 33-36 and 7 games behind
AA – New Britain Rock Cats are 32-35 and 9 games out
High A – Ft. Myers Miracle are 43-21 and in 1st place
Low A – Cedar Rapids Kernels are 40-27 and 1 game behind the leader
The DSL Twins are 6-5 and a half game out of first place
Kyle Gibson
The Twins 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson continues to toil in Rochester while Twins management keeps saying that Gibson must show more consistency before they will call him up to pitch at Target Field. Gibson’s numbers are pretty darn good considering he is playing for the sub .500 (33-36) Rochester Red Wings. Gibson is 6-5 with a 3-26 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 85.2 innings. Gibson has only given up 73 hits and he has struck out 73 batters. Not bad numbers for less than half a season of baseball. Gibson missed most of last year due to TJ surgery so the Twins have him on a pitch limit this year. The number of specific innings remains a Twins secret but you have to assume that it is probably about 160 innings so that means that Gibson is past the half way point. GM Terry Ryan has stated all along that Gibson will be pitching in a Twins uniform in 2013. You know the Twins want to give Gibson a taste of the big leagues this year and give him an opportunity to show what he can do against the big leaguers, but like sand through the hour-glass, time and innings are slipping by. I am thinking we will see Gibson in a Twins uniform shortly after the All-Star break.
In closing, I would like to wish all you fathers out there a very Happy Father’s Day!
New Britain (AA) left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell is this week’s Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In two starts for the Rock Cats, Darnell, 24 went 1-1, 0.60 ERA (15 IP, 1 ER) with nine hits allowed, one walk and 15 strikeouts. Darnell, a 6’2″ and 210 lb. lefty was selected by the Twins in the sixth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. This marks his first ever Twins minor league POW honor at this level. In four season of minor league baseball, Darnell is 28-24 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. In 403 innings he has given up 439 hits and struck out 269 batters.
Previous winners this season include pitcher Tyler Duffey, infielder Miguel Sano, outfielder Adam Walker, infielder Jorge Polanco, pitcher Kyle Gibson and infielder/outfielder Chris Colabello.
