Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, December 16th, 2017
Welcome to the December 16th edition of the Daily Dip, your daily piece of news and notes here on Puckett’s Pond, offseason edition. You’ll find the most recent news of the Minnesota Twins organization, stories from around the game, and links to any information you may want to know about the Minnesota Twins or baseball as we work our way through the hot stove season!
Minnesota Twins Organizational Scores
Australian Baseball League Update
Aaron Whitefield had the day off in Brisbane’s game Friday. In 14 games, he is now hitting .321/.403/.472 with 5 doubles and a home runs, scoring 15 runs and driving in 6. He’s also stolen 6 bases in 9 attempts with a 8/14 BB/K ratio.
Dominican Winter League Update
On Tuesday, Rule 5 draftee Tyler Kinley threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings for Tigres del Licey, allowing one walk and striking out two. On Friday, Kinley gave up his first run of DWL season, allowing a run on 1 hit and 3 walks over 2/3 of an inning with 2 strikeouts.
Kinley has made 14 appearances on the offseason, all in relief, with a 2-1 record over 18 2/3 innings, with a 0.86 WHIP and a 11/31 BB/K ratio.
Kennys Vargas went 1-4 with a double, 2 runs, an RBI, a walk, and 3 strikeouts on Tuesday for Aguilas Cibaenas. Vargas went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts Wednesday.
On the season, Vargas has played 8 games, hitting .129/.229/.290 with 2 doubles and a home run, scoring 4 runs and driving in 3 while posting a 4/14 BB/K over 31 at bats.
Venezuelan Winter League Update
Willians Astudillo played left field Tuesday for Caribes de Anzoategui, going 1-5 with a run and an RBI. He was back in left field on Wednesday, going 1-4. Thursday, Astudillo played left field, going 2-3 with a run scored. Finally, on Friday, Astudillo went 1-4 with a run and an RBI.
Astudillo has played 48 games, going .312/.360/.410 with 8 doubles and 3 home runs, scoring 24 runs, driving in 26 runs with a steal and a 9/4 BB/K ratio.
For Leones del Caracas, Gregorio Petit was DH on Tuesday, going 0-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Petit was at shortstop on Wednesday, going 1-3 with a double, a run, and a walk. Friday, Petit was back at shortstop, going 2-4 with two strikeouts.
Petit has now played 28 winter league games, hitting .289/.359/.456 with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 13 runs, 14 RBI, 3 steals, and a 11/14 BB/K ratio.
Anderson Munoz had a rough outing on Wednesday, going 2/3 of an inning for Aguilas del Zulia, allowing 3 runs on 3 walks, allowing no hits and striking out none.
Munoz has made 11 winter league appearances, throwing 15 2/3 innings, posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 13/9 BB/K ratio.
Leonardo Reginatto has played 47 games for Bravos de Margarita, posting a .285/.326/.331 with a 5 doubles and a home run, scoring 19 runs, driving in 25, stealing 3 bases, and posting a 10/32 BB/K ratio.
Melvi Acosta has made two appearances for Bravos de Margarita, throwing 3 innings, with a 3.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, and a 1/1 BB/K ratio.
Edwar Colina has taken the mound 7 times for Navegantes del Magallanes, throwing 5 innings, allowing a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with a 3/2 BB/K ratio.
Minnesota Twins news and notes
Twins announce signing of Rodney
Rodney was officially announced by the Twins on Friday after Rodney passed his physical. Rodney’s average 95.4 MPH fastball velocity would have ranked 3rd in the Twins bullpen in 2017, behind Ryan Pressly (95.8) and Alan Busenitz (95.7). He also tried out his bow and arrow on a snowy Target Field.
More from Puckett's Pond
- Minnesota Twins: After signing with the Mets, Correa spurns Twins again
- Minnesota Twins: You Spin Me Right Round, Right Round
- Minnesota Twins: What happens next at Shortstop?
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins’ Joey Gallo signing
- Minnesota Twins: 4 Possible Trade Chips not named Kepler or Arraez
Not surprising news, but the Minnesota Twins are still actively seeking arms for 2018 after the winter meetings, both high-end and filler arms for the roster.
Notes from around baseball
- Phillies surprisingly sign Santana
- Angels sign Cozart
- Ozuna excited to join Cardinals
- Rangers trade for lefty Moore
- Eppler beginning to get due praise for his work with Angels
- Piscotty excited to join A’s
- Galvis headed to Padres in deal
- Dodgers add Koehler for bullpen role
- Yankees pushing for Cole
- Boston focuses on Martinez and Hosmer
- Mets get Swarzak
- Rockies pen adds Shaw, brings back McGee
- Signings drastically improve biggest need for WS champs
Next: After winter meetings, what's next for Twins?
One Last Thing
Today is historically a day of loss for the Twins franchise for fairly notable players. On this day in 2002, the Twins formally released David Ortiz rather than go to arbitration with him, where he was expected to make $2-3 million.
He signed for $1.25 million over a month later with the Red Sox as a platoon DH for the Red Sox for 2003 with Jeremy Giambi. Ortiz hit .290/.386/.570 with 483 home runs in 14 seasons with the Red Sox, making 10 All-Star games, winning 7 Silver Sluggers, and finishing in the top 5 of MVP voting 5 different times.
Other players that left the Twins on this day:
- 2010: Jesse Crain signs with White Sox. Crain went 12-9 over 156 relief appearances and 150 innings over 3 seasons with the White Sox, posting a 2.10 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 65/176 BB/K ratio before injuries ended his career prematurely.
- 2010: Matt Guerrier signs with Dodgers. Guerrier pitched two injury-riddled seasons with the Dodgers before being traded mid-season of 2013.
- 2011: Michael Cuddyer signs with Rockies. Cuddyer went on to win a batting title, make an All-Star game, and win a Silver Slugger with Colorado in 2013, hitting .307/.362/.525 over his 3 seasons in Colorado, though he was only able to play 280 total games.