Twins Flex Depth Muscles in Latest ‘Intrasquad’ Matchup
We were treated to another Minnesota Twins intrasquad scrimmage Friday afternoon, and it was a perfect day for baseball! From getting to see our favorite players to the prospects continuing to impress, there is a lot to dissect.
Time for more #MNTwins baseball!
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 17, 2020
Watch today's Instrasquad Scrimmage LIVE on https://t.co/PvtA6Cr3p3 & https://t.co/jRPhwwESuB at 1pm CT. @CoryProvus & Dan Gladden are on the mic! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/F7hQ8xaBZ1
CHACIN STRUGGLES
With Jhoulys Chacin getting the nod to start for the Minnesota Twins in blue, it was supposed to be an opportunity for him to prove himself as a starting option. Unfortunately it was beyond a rough outing for Chacin. After Jake Cave singled in the first run of the game, it became a mess.
.@JakeCave8 puts the @Twins white squad on the board with a single to center field!
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) July 17, 2020
Tune in to the scrimmage live stream at https://t.co/BEst9RjcOu or https://t.co/Ego4269jDD pic.twitter.com/Yj72MwuBgb
Chacin finished with 2 earned runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts while only throwing 50 pitches. This isn’t a good sign for the veteran pitcher’s chances of making the team. After signing a minor-league deal with the Twins this offseason, the hope was for him to perform well enough to be a starting alternative.
Chacin has an opt-out clause that allows him to leave the team five days prior to Opening Day (which is on Sunday), and he may decide to leave the team after struggling to perform.
Unofficial final line on Jhoulys Chacรญn:
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 17, 2020
3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
51 pitches, 30 strikes
BAILEY DAZZLES…THEN FIZZLES
As for the white wearing Minnesota Twins team, Homer Bailey got the start and initially played well. He began the game with three innings of no-hit baseball. But it went south relatively quickly after that, as Mitch Garver led off with a double in the third followed by a two-run double by Ehire Adrianza.
No-hitter alert: #MNTwins RHP Homer Bailey hasn't yielded a hit through 3 innings against the #MNTwins.
— danhayesmlb (@DanHayesMLB) July 17, 2020
It didn’t get better when prospect Brent Rooker took him deep to tie the game 3-3. Bailey finished his outing with four earned runs in only 4.2 innings. The early positive signs were there as seen by his no-hitter through the first few innings.
Brent Rooker hit a bomba off Homer Bailey this afternoon.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/V6OCn8SWyT
— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 17, 2020
Unofficial final line on Homer Bailey:
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 17, 2020
4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
78 pitches, 46 strikes
PROSPECTS CONTINUE TO MASH
While pitching wasn’t elite for most of the game, the prospects continued to build their hype. Not only did Rooker homer, but Alex Kirilloff also went deep to the opposite field. Kirilloff’s home run came off Michael Pineda, who saw some time even while preparing to serve the rest of his suspension.
With Rooker and Kirilloff homering, they have shown that the Bomba Squad is built for the long-term. This also includes Trevor Larnach reaching base in five of his last six plate appearances and Travis Blankenhorn reaching in his last four.
This is especially impressive when considering both are drawing walks and showing signs of what their patience could be at the next level.
Alex Kirilloff hit a bomba off Michael Pineda this afternoon.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/WL6PkYudip
— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 17, 2020
Trevor Larnach has reached in 5 of his last 6 plate appearances: single, single, strikeout, walk, single, hit-by-pitch
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 17, 2020
Travis Blankenhorn has reached in each of his last 4 PAs: double, walk, walk, walk
ARRAEZ INJURED
As for the rest of the club, Adrianza registered 4 RBI while Jorge Polanco also went deep later in the game. Even LaMonte Wade Jr. drove in two with a double. But the biggest story outside of the prospect performances was Luis Arraez.
The potential-.400 hitter came up limping after sliding into second. Initially, Twins Twitter freaked out…and rightfully so. But thankfully the Twins released a statement saying he is day-to-day with right knee soreness.
Hopefully he is ready to go for Opening Day, which is only a week away, but that week should provide enough time to rest and be ready.
DON'T PANIC, but Luis Arraez appeared to have suffered a minor leg injury and was removed from today's #MNTwins scrimmage. He finished this half inning and did not appear to have any trouble getting off the field. pic.twitter.com/lFVv8asYTL
— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 17, 2020
Luis Arraez left today's intrasquad game with right knee soreness and is considered day-to-day, the Twins announce.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 17, 2020
The Blue team eventually won 8-6. The early signs from this intrasquad game is that the organization is deep from top to bottom. With prospects continuing to impress and the veteran hitters looking in mid-season form, the Twins can easily make it back to the postseason.
Rocco Baldelli: "Our lineup does seem like they're in a really good spot right now across the board, probably even ahead of where I thought we might be at this point." #MNTwins
— danhayesmlb (@DanHayesMLB) July 17, 2020
Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan
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