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Minnesota Twins prospects had a good and bad day in the Futures All-Star Game

By Nate Palmer |
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team hits a single in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team hits a single in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins had both Lewis Thorpe and Alex Kirilloff represent them in the Futures All-Star game but it wasn’t all good for one player.

The Minnesota Twins were represented by two players in the MLB Futures All-Star Game. It was a game highlighted by plenty of home runs as Team USA won the game 10-6. That certainly made former Twins center fielder Torii Hunter a happy manager as we was able to also take down former teammate and Team World manager David Ortiz.

While Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Yusniel Diaz may have stolen the show with his two home runs the Twins prospects still had some outings worth noting. Unfortunately it wasn’t all good for the Twins farm hands but we will start with a look at the good that happened during Sunday’s game.

Alex Kirilloff collects a pair of hits

Alex Kirilloff earned the start in right field for Team USA. He went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a run scored. While batting out of the sixth spot in the lineup, it didn’t take long for Kirilloff to find a pitch to his liking. In his first at-bat facing Jesus Luzardo he took a fastball for a ball and took the second fastball he saw and hit it for his first single.

That set up an interesting match up for Twins fans as in Kirilloff’s second at-bat he faced off against organizational teammate Lewis Thorpe. Thorpe put himself in danger of walking Kirilloff falling behind 3-0. Kirilloff would foul off a fastball before getting a hold of a second one for his second single of the day.

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Thorpe’s bad got worse

Unfortunately, the embarrassment of allowing a hit to a player within his same organization wasn’t the end for Thorpe. After striking out Keston Hiura, and allowing the single to Kirilloff, Thorpe left a change-up where Danny Jansen could drive it for a two-run home run.

Trying to reset and finish strong Thorpe came back from the home run to walk Kyle Lewis. He then threw a fastball that Ke’Bryan Hayes was also able to launch for a second two-run home run off of Thorpe. Thorpe’s line finished as an ugly 0.2 innings pitched, three hits, four runs, a walk, strikeout, and the two home runs.

Next: Brian Dozier had a doubly grand day

Both players have been having great seasons. It was great to see Kirilloff who continues to get praise for being a very good hitter be able to do that on a competitive stage like this. On the flip side it is never fun to see a player like Thorpe struggle like he did. While he may have had the worst line on the day, Thorpe wasn’t the only pitcher to get roughed up against lineups that were full of many of the best young hitters in the game.

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