MONDAY’S TRANSACTIONS
TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE CONTENT
–Top 20 Twins Prospects, May 2025 Update: Two New Names to Know
–Twins Daily Minor League Report (5/11): Carson McCusker Crushes Again, Jay Thomason Comes Through
–The Minnesota Twins Have a New Top 100 Prospect
–Twins Daily Minor League Report (5/10): Emmanuel Rodriguez Plays Late-Inning Hero in St. Paul
–Twins Minor League Report (5/9): Wichita Surges Back; Rotations Get Rocked
–Twins Minor League Report (5/8): Wild Game in St. Paul Ends with a Walk-Off Win
–Twins Minor League Report (5/7): Mike Ford Sends Everyone Home Happy
–Is Billy Amick the Minnesota Twins’ Long-Term Solution at First Base?
–Twins Minor League Report (5/6): We’re Making “Carson McCrusher” Happen…
–Twins Minor League Week in Review (4/29-5/5): April Showers Bring May Power
WEEK IN REVIEW
Triple-A: St. Paul Saints
Overall: 20-15 (5.0 Games Out of First)
Last Week: 5-1
On Monday, Mickey Gasper is the Triple-A International League’s Player of the Week after a red-hot series in which he hit .478 (11-for-23) with two doubles, four home runs, and six RBI. Gasper’s four homers and his 11 total hits are both tied for the most in minor league baseball. His .571 on-base percentage, 1.087 slugging-mark, and 1.658 OPS are all the highest in the minors over the last six days among hitters with at least 20 at-bats.
St. Paul capped off a tremendous week on Sunday. With the win the Saints have won 10 of their last 12, won their last three series, and are a season-high five games over .500 at 20-15.
The Saints have homered in eight consecutive games thanks to a Mickey Gasper solo homer on Sunday. Two batters later Carson McCusker crushed the fifth hardest hit in franchise history, a 115.0 mph laser over the left field wall, his 10th of the season.
Travis Adams started and went four innings allowing two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out one.
Emmanuel Rodriguez drove a first-pitch fastball out to left field for his second home run in as many days to flip a one-run deficit into a one-run lead late. Earlier in the game, threw out a runner at third that was trying to go first to third on a single.
For Rodriguez, it was the sixth time that he has homered in back-to-back games in his professional career. It was also his first two home runs in 2025.
Zebby Matthews started on Saturday and finished with 5 1/3 innings in his seventh start of the season. He struck out four and issued no walks on five hits. His season ERA dipped to 1.93 after allowing just one unearned run.
In Friday’s blowout loss, Gasper finished with a career high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a double, home run, RBI, and a run scored.
On back-to-back nights, Mike Ford and Mickey Gasper hit three-run walk-off homers. It was just the second time in franchise history the Saints have won back-to-back games in walk-off fashion and the first with walk-off homers.
Jair Camargo added a three-hit game on Thursday with a double and two runs scored.
Ryan Fitzgerald homered in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday.
On Wednesday, Carson McCusker hit two more home runs with one leaving the bat at 114.7 mph. He is nearly halfway to the Saints single season home run record (21).
David Festa continued to perform well after returning to Triple-A. He went 5 2/3 innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven. He threw 72 pitches (50 strikes) and got 16 swings and misses.
What’s Next: The Saints are off on Monday and return to action in game one of a six-game road series against the Iowa Cubs at 6:38 p.m. CST.
Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge
Overall: 19-14 (1.0 Game Up)
Last Week: 4-2
With their series victory, Wichita moved into first place in the Texas League North Division.
Noah Cardenas smashed a lead-off home run in the ninth to lead the Wichita Wind Surge to a Sunday victory. The team ended the week with four straight victories.
John Klein threw three innings of scoreless relief as part of Sunday’s win as he gave up just two hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.
On Saturday, the Wind Surge scored three runs in the eighth and ninth innings to cap a late rally. It was the seventh come-from-behind win for Wichita and second when trailing after seven innings. Every Wind Surge batter had a hit in the game.
Christian MacLeod started Saturday’s game. He threw his longest appearance of the season, striking out three over four innings.
Pierson Ohl, Jarret Whorff, and John Stankiewicz combined to retire 11 of the final 12 hitters in the comeback win.
On Friday, the Wind Surge trailed 3-0 entering the seventh inning and pushed across five unanswered runs. Kala’i Rosario connected on a two run homer in the seventh. Andrew Cossetti hit a three-run later in the same inning.
Aaron Rozek retired 15 straight hitters from the last out of the bottom of the first and the opening out in the last of the sixth. He pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. It was the first quality start of the year for Wichita.
Ricky Castro and Jaylen Nowlin allowed just two baserunners over the final three innings. Nowlin earned his first professional save after striking out two in the ninth.
Aaron Sabato had a three hit game on Thursday. It was his first three-hit performance of the season and fifth overall multi-hit game.
Connor Prielipp threw his longest outing of the season, four frames of three-hit baseball with a career-high tying six strikeouts.
Trent Baker threw five innings of one-hit baseball with three walks and six strikeouts, one shy of his season-high.
On Thursday, Tanner Schobel had his first four-hit performance of the season, and ninth overall multi-hit game in 2025.
Rubel Cespedes records his team-leading fifth multi-RBI performance.
The six doubles Wichita hit on Tuesday were the most in a game this season.
What’s Next: Wichita returns to home on Tuesday, May 13 to begin a series with the Arkansas Travelers at 6:05 p.m. CST.
High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels
Overall: 20-12 (1.0 Game Out of First)
Last Week: 3-3
Khadim Diaw crushed a three-run homer to put Cedar Rapids up 4-0 on Sunday. Later in the game, Gabriel Gonzalez smacked a solo shot that turned out to be the difference in the game.
Caden Kendle hit his second home run of the season on Friday. It was a two-run shot.
Tanner Hall started on Thursday and did not allow an earned run in 4 2/3 innings on three hits with two strikeouts.
Danny De Andrade came up with multiple big hits on Wednesday. In the first, he cracked an RBI double to plate the game’s first run. In a tied game with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, he produced a go-ahead RBI single that was the game winner.
Cole Percival kept the Kernels in the game on Wednesday by pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Chase Chaney did not allow a run across six innings of work, striking out six while not issuing a walk en route to his second consecutive quality start and his first Cedar Rapids win.
Behind Chaney, Samuel Perez did not allow a run in two innings out of the bullpen, and Jacob Wosinski pitched a perfect ninth to cap off the victory.
What’s Next: The Kernels return home for a six-game series against Peoria next week. Game one is set for Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. CST.
Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
Overall: 15-18 (5.0 Games Back)
Last Week: 1-5
Sunday’s starter was Eli Jones, who pitched five innings and allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out three.
Ivran Romero was strong in relief on Sunday with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
Ruddy Gomez made his FSL debut on Saturday out of the Fort Myers bullpen. He pitched two scoreless frames and only allowed one hit.
Jacob Kistin entered Friday’s game in a tough spot when the starter threw 35 innings in the first. He threw a season high 4 1/3 innings by allowing two runs on four hits.
Zander Sechrist took the loss on Thursday but still had a strong performance. In a career-high five innings, he allowed one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts. The lefty threw just 47 pitches while collecting 15 outs.
On Wednesday, Yasser Mercedes hit a game-tying two-run homer. It was his first home run at Hammond Stadium this season.
Cole Peschl was charged with two runs which were the first earned runs he has allowed on the season. It ended a streak of 21 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to begin his professional career.
Fort Myers started the week with an exciting game as they recorded a season-high 16 hits enroute to a walk-off win. Jefferson Valladares capped off the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the eleventh inning.
Earlier in the game, Byron Chourio hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot.
Michael Ross went three innings by allowing one run on one hit and striking out four.
What’s Next: After an off day on Monday, Fort Myers will travel to Jupiter to take on the Hammerheads on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m CST.
Rookie: FCL Twins
Overall: 5-1
Last Week: 4-0
Bryan Acuna reached base three times on Saturday including a home run. He drove in three runs and scored three runs.
Luis Fragoza matched Acuna by reaching base three times in the same game. He had a double, two RBI, and a stolen base.
Will Armbruester finished off two games during the week with a combined four scoreless innings.
FCL Twins pitchers combined to hold the FCL Red Sox to two hits on Friday.
Mitch Mueller earned a three-inning save as he allowed one hit and struck out five. Hendry Chivilli earned his first professional win after his two shutout innings.
Melvin Rodriguez pitched four shutout innings in his first appearance of the season. He allowed two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Murphy Hernandez reached base four times on Thursday with two hits and two walks. He also scored two runs and drove in two runs.
Ariel Castro had a big four RBI game including his first triple of the year.
Ruddy Gomez earned his first professional win after coming into a jam on Tuesday. He combined for four outs and got them all via strikeout.
What’s Next: The Twins will see the FCL Rays, Orioles, and Red Sox during the coming week.
PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects. And, be sure to note the new, updated Top 20 rankings.
Walker Jenkins (Wichita): On injured list
Luke Keaschall (Minnesota): On injured list
Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul): 4-16, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K
Charlee Soto (Cedar Rapids): On injured list
Connor Prielipp (Wichita): 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids): 4-26, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, 8 K
Marco Raya (St. Paul): 1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Andrew Morris (St. Paul): 5 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 8-26, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 SB
Dasan Hill (Fort Myers): Did not pitch
Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids): 2-10, 4 R, 4 BB,33 K, 3 SB
Cory Lewis (St. Paul): 4 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids): On injured list
Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids): 6-18, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K
C.J. Culpepper (Wichita): On injured list
Eduardo Beltre (FCL Twins): 0-11, 4 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 3 SB
Tanner Schobel (Wichita): 9-27, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers): 3-24, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, 11 K, 1 SB
Carson McCusker (St. Paul): 9-23, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 SB
Ricardo Olivar (Wichita): 4-15, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Hitter of the Week: Mickey Gasper, St. Paul Saints
11-for-23, .478/.571/1.087 (1.658), 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
Pitcher of the Week: Connor Prielipp (Wichita Wind Surge)
4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 0 BB, 46 pitches (37 strikes), 9 swinging strikes
Feel free to ask questions about any of this week’s action. What streaks will continue in the new week?
Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!