Minnesota Twins Minor League Leaders and Standouts as of August 17, 2017
The Minnesota Twins minor league system is having some significant success on a team level with multiple teams headed to the playoffs. Numerous players are having big years as well.
The Minnesota Twins are making news fighting for a playoff spot at the major league level, but their minor league affiliates are all above .500 and many are in position to head to the playoffs. Individual players are having great seasons as well, and promotions are seemingly coming throughout the system at the end of the minor league season for players to get a month-long look at a higher level, perhaps preparing them for a new level in 2018 or even finding out that they can be passed by that level altogether.
We’ll look first at the overall leaders, then take a look at each level and the leaders there. Let’s start with the overall leaders in the Minnesota Twins system:
Minnesota Twins Overall Minor League Leaders Top 5 (175 PA and 50 IP for rate stats)
AVG: Chris Paul .341, Zack Granite .339, Jermaine Palacios .309, Jonathan Rodriguez .308, Shane Carrier .300
OBP: Jonathan Rodriguez .409, LaMonte Wade .396, Zack Granite .394, Royce Lewis .392, Chris Paul .391
SLG: Mitch Garver .541, Brent Rooker .525, Jonathan Rodriguez .508, Chris Paul .481, Andy Wilkins .479
2B: Mitch Garver and Lewin Diaz 29, Nick Gordon and Thomas Field 28, Jonathan Rodriguez 27
3B: Travis Blankenhorn 10, Jermaine Palacios 9, Nick Gordon 8, Christian Cavaness 7, Six with 6
HR: Mitch Garver and Jonathan Rodriguez 17; Jermaine Palacios, Jaylin Davis, and Brent Rooker 13
SB: Tanner English 33, Aaron Whitefield 29, Samuel Vasquez 22, Jermaine Palacios 19, Zack Granite 18
W: Aaron Slegers 13, Clark Beeker and Fernando Romero 11, Dereck Rodriguez 10, Felix Jorge and Stephen Gonsalves 9
SV: John Curtiss 19, Hector Lujan 13, Sam Clay and Thomas Hackimer 9, Nick Anderson 8
G: Thomas Hackimer, Nick Anderson, and Colton Davis; John Curtiss, Sam Clay, Mason Melotakis, and Alex Robinson 37
GS: Eduardo Del Rosario and Sean Poppen 22; Fernando Romero, Aaron Slegers, Felix Jorge 21
IP: Aaron Slegers 130 1/3, Clark Beeker 128 2/3, Sean Poppen 128 1/3, Felix Jorge 127 2/3, Dereck Rodriguez 122 1/3
K: Nik Turley 121, Fernando Romero 115, Sean Poppen 113, Stephen Gonsalves 111, Dereck Rodriguez 106
ERA: Sam Clay 1.37, Fredderi Soto and Todd Van Steensel 1.42, Andrew Vasquez 1.59, Thomas Hackimer 1.99
WHIP: Thomas Hackimer 0.88, Michael Montero 0.92, Clark Beeker 0.93, Stephen Gonsalves 1.00, Tyler Wells 1.02
Next: AAA Leaders
Rochester Red Wings
Record: 71-52, 6.5 games behind North division leader, 1st place in wild card
The Red Wings have seen the promotion of top pitching prospect Stephen Gonsalves to the Rochester rotation along with the promotion of reliever Luke Bard and the return from injury of Chris Heston to give Rochester an incredibly deep pitching staff.
The lineup has been energized by the return of Zack Granite from the big league club and Daniel Palka from early season injury, giving the lineup plenty of depth, and allowing manager Mike Quade to mix and match his lineup order due to a depth of player skills in the lineup.
It will be very interesting to see who ends up getting the call from Rochester in September to come up to the big league club for an audition!
Now to the leaders…
AVG: Zack Granite .337
OBP: Zack Granite .392
SLG: Mitch Garver .541
2B: Mitch Garver 29
3B: Zack Granite and Niko Goodrum 4
HR: Mitch Garver 17
SB: Zack Granite 15
W: Aaron Slegers 13
SV: John Curtiss, Trevor Hildenberger, Alex Wimmers 6
G: Drew Rucinski 32
GS: Aaron Slegers 21
IP: Aaron Slegers 130 1/3
K: Aaron Slegers 97
ERA: Tim Melville 2.70
WHIP: Drew Rucinski 1.05
Next: AA Leaders
Chattanooga Lookouts
Record: 78-43 overall, 36-15 second half, 1st place North, won North division first half
Arguably the best team in the entire farm system, the Lookouts have been playing tremendous ball all season, seemingly no matter who is on the squad. Certainly having three of the best prospects in the entire organization in Nick Gordon, Stephen Gonsalves, and Fernando Romero on the opening day roster was a big part of it, but even those three have not all spent the entire year with Chattanooga. The rotation is one of the best in the minor leagues, and seemingly has been no matter who fills into a rotation slot.
Long time minor leaguer Jonathan Rodriguez has been a revelation this year. The bullpen has been nearly as dominant as the rotation and has seen the opening day bullpen primarily move up to Rochester and be replaced by members from Fort Myers who are performing just as well.
Leaders:
AVG: Jonathan Rodriguez .308
OBP: Jonathan Rodriguez .409
SLG: Jonathan Rodriguez .508
2B: Nick Gordon 28
3B: Nick Gordon 8
HR: Jonathan Rodriguez 17
SB: Nick Gordon 13
W: Fernando Romero 11
SV: John Curtiss 13
G: Luke Bard 33
GS: Fernando Romero, Felix Jorge 21
IP: Felix Jorge 127 2/3
K: Fernando Romero 115
ERA: Todd Van Steensel 1.42
WHIP: Stephen Gonsalves 1.03
Next: A-ball Leaders
Fort Myers Miracle
Record: 68-53 overall, 35-18 second half, first in South division
Fort Myers has the best overall record in their division on the year, but they lost the first half to Palm Beach. Currently, the Miracle have a 4.5 game lead in their division. The team has been enjoying having the Twins’ second pick of the 2017 draft, Brent Rooker provide an exciting bat in the middle of the lineup that has really churned a lot of players over the year.
Leaders:
AVG: Chris Paul .352
OBP: Chris Paul .401
SLG: Chris Paul .495
2B: Zander Wiel 26
3B: Zander Wiel 6
HR: Zander Wiel 9
SB: Tanner English 27
W: Sam Clay 8
SV: Sam Clay 9
G: Sam Clay 36
GS: Cody Stashak 16
IP: Brady Anderson 101
K: Cody Stashak, Lewis Thorpe 72
ERA: Sam Clay 1.24
WHIP: Dereck Rodriguez 1.03
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Record: 63-59, 24-28 second half, clinched playoff spot with first half wild card spot
The Kernels have been sparked by the recent promotion of top draft pick Royce Lewis, but the team has enjoyed the tremendous talent of Lewin Diaz all season along with Jermaine Palacios and Jaylin Davis in the first half. The pitching has seen Tyler Wells throw very well for the Kernels this year, but he’s struggled in his return since going out in late June with an injury and was recently sent to GCL for extended rehab.
Leaders:
AVG: Jermaine Palacios .320
OBP: Jermaine Palacios .362
SLG: Jermaine Palacios .544
2B: Lewin Diaz 29
3B: Travis Blankenhorn 10
HR: Jaylin Davis 12
SB: Aaron Whitefield 29
W: Clark Beeker 11
SV: Hector Lujan 13
G: Colton Davis 38
GS: Clark Beeker 20
IP: Clark Beeker 128 2/3
K: Eduardo Del Rosario 91
ERA: Clark Beeker 2.03
WHIP: Clark Beeker 0.92
Next: Rookie Ball Leaders