Game Results:
Monday, 10/14 | Scottsdale 9, Peoria 5
Wednesday, 10/15 | Glendale 6, Peoria 4
Thursday, 10/16 | Peoria 6, Mesa 2
Friday, 10/17 | Peoria 11, Salt River 4
Saturday, 10/18 | Salt River 7, Peoria 5 (7 innings)
Sunday, 10/19 | Mesa 12, Peoria 6
After finishing week one with a 3-1 record, the Peoria Javelinas looked to continue their early success as a team in week two, but the wins were harder to come by.
They lost the first two games of the week to fall to .500, before bouncing back with a pair of convincing wins by a combined score of 17-6. But as is common out in the desert, that was followed by another two-game losing streak. They finished week two with an even 5-5 record. They’re now tied for third in the standings, first in ERA as a pitching staff (4.75), and fourth in OPS (.767) out of the six teams.
Before getting to the Twins prospects, take a look at the top performers of the week according to MLB.com and get to know a few of the standouts that are your favorite prospect’s competition out in Arizona.
While none of the Twins players show up on that list, one of them has collected at least one hit in each of his games so far; another came up with a timely knock in multiple clutch situations; and one pitcher put together a dominating multi-inning relief appearance.
OF Hendry Mendez
Week (2 games): 3-for-7, R, 2B (1), RBI, BB, K
Overall: .300/.391/.500
While Mendez only got action in two games during the week, he continued his successes of Week 1 by extending his AFL hitting streak to his first five games. He made one start in right field, and one in left.
In Wednesday’s loss to Glendale, Mendez batted third in the lineup. His single in the bottom of the third put a runner in scoring position who would later score to make it 3-1 in favor of Peoria. For unknown reasons, Mendez would end up being pinch-hit for in the bottom of the fifth, so he finished 1-for-2.
His only other action of the week came in Friday’s win over Salt River. Taking over the leadoff spot, Mendez picked up two hits and a walk in five plate appearances, including his first AFL double. His RBI single in the fifth made the score 8-3 Javelinas.
IF Billy Amick
Week (3 games): 0-for-9, BB, 3 K
Overall: .000/.300/.000
Amick is still looking for his first hit in AFL play and has continued to split his time at the infield corners, playing two games at first and one at third in Week 2. He batted at the bottom of the Peoria lineup.
In addition to the one walk he drew in Friday’s win, Amick was also hit by pitches multiple times. So despite the “0-fer” in his three games, he did reach base three times in 12 total plate appearances. While I’m sure this has been a frustrating first two weeks for the slugger, things can turn around quickly in this small-sample-size season. No reason to write anything off yet.
IF Brandon Winokur
Week (4 games): 3-for-16, R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K, SB (1)
Overall: .207/.281/.207
Winokur made the start in four of the Javelinas’ six games on the week, spending three of them at shortstop and one of them at third base. He’s been batting in the back half of the lineup, but finished the week hitting fifth on Sunday.
While the three hits in 16 at-bats on the week don’t scream greatness, Winokur did make them count in the clutch. He racked up four RBIs with them. In Tuesday’s loss against Scottsdale, his two-out single in the bottom of the first made the score 5-4 Scorpions. In Friday’s win over Salt River, another two-out single scored Mendez (who had led off with his double) and Cam Collier to put the Javelinas up 4-0.
In addition to those big hits, Winokur stole his first base of the season, but also committed three errors on defense during the week.
LHP Zander Sechrist
Week (2 appearances): 3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K
Overall: 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .143 BAA, 2 BB, 4 K (4 IP)
Sechrist pitched in two games last week, making his first appearance in the seventh inning on Wednesday with his team down 6-3. He held up his end of the bargain, pitching two scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 seventh. His two-out walk in the eighth was his only baserunner allowed, while 12 of his 21 pitches went for strikes (57%).
In Sunday’s loss to Mesa, Sechrist again came on for the seventh inning, with his team down 10-6. He got a pair of groundouts before a single and a walk got him into some trouble, but struck out the final hitter he faced to keep his week scoreless. Just like his first appearance, 12 of his 21 pitches in this one went for strikes (57%), while topping out at 87.6 MPH with the “unorthodox” pitching arsenal that made him a legend at Tennessee.
RHP Miguelangel Boadas
Week (1 appearance): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Overall: 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, .238 BAA, 5 BB, 5 K (6 IP)
Boadas again worked as the “bulk” reliever in his lone appearance on the week, which came in Saturday’s loss to the Salt River Rafters. With the game tied 1-1, Boadas came on in the top of the third and would finish the fifth. In addition to three walks in his three innings, he also hit a pair of batters and allowed lone runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but the score was 5-3 going into the sixth. On the bright side, he did strike out top prospect Charlie Condon and induced a pair of double-play balls. Of his 44 total pitches, 25 went for strikes (57%). He induced seven swings and misses, and topped out at 96 MPH with his fastball.
RHP Dylan Questad
Week (1 appearance): 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, K
Overall: 0-1, 16.20 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .167 BAA, 4 BB, K (1 2/3 IP)
Questad came on for the final inning of Peoria’s matchup with Salt River on Saturday, with his team up 5-3. He got the first two outs, including a strikeout, before catastrophe happened.
Twelve of his next 16 pitches went for balls, and the bases were suddenly loaded for the Rafters. With the game on the line, Questad was removed while responsible for all of them. They would all score, as two consecutive singles put the Rafters in front, and they’d add another insurance run to make the final in the game’s seven innings.
RHP Jakob Hall
Week (2 appearances): 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K
Overall: 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .364 BAA (2 2/3 IP)
Hall’s first appearance of the week came out of nowhere, as he was the reliever summoned after starting pitcher Luis De Leon suffered an injury in the fifth inning of Thursday’s win over Mesa. Coming on cold and with runners on first and second, Hall gave up a sac fly to score Mesa’s first run of the game, but then picked up a groundout to escape any other damage.
In Sunday’s blowout loss to Mesa, Hall came on for the fourth inning and worked around a one-out walk to deliver a scoreless frame. Back out for the fifth, it didn’t go nearly as well. Back-to-back singles to start it off were followed by a three-run home run to put the Javelinas down by five and end Hall’s outing. In an inning plus, he was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out one.
RHP Hunter Hoopes
Week (1 appearance): 2 IP, BB, 4 K
Overall: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, .000 BAA, 2 BB, 5 K (3 IP)
Hoopes was called upon for just one appearance on the week, but it was a multi-inning outing. With Peoria up 8-4 on Friday, Hoopes came on to begin the bottom of the seventh and capsized the Rafters for his two frames. He issued a one-out walk in the seventh, but followed it up by striking out the next two hitters to end his first inning. It was much of the same in the eighth, minus a free pass, as he retired all three hitters—including another two strikeouts—to punctuate his outing. Of his 31 pitches, 20 went for strikes (65%), with six of those being the swinging variety.
Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the Twins prospects playing in the AFL this 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!