SethSpeaks.net Twins Minor League
June Pitchers of the Month
Yesterday, we looked at some of the top hitters in the Twins
minor league system in June and named Aaron
Hicks of the Ft. Myers Miracle as the hitter of the month. Today, I want to share with you some
of the top pitchers in the Twins minor league system in the month of June. We
have a new name at the top of the list this month. Steve Hirschfeld
was my choice for Twins minor league pitcher of the month in both April and
May. He had a very solid June too, but was just honorable mention. There are a
couple of the same names in the Top 5 again, but the top three are new names.
I'll name the top 3 relievers and the
top 5 pitchers, but I'll start with just a few honorable mentions:
Let's start with the Top 3 Relief Pitchers:
Number 3 - Rochester Anthony
Slama - 10 G, 1-1, 1 save, 1.54 ERA, 1.11
WHIP, 11.2 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 17 K
For the second straight month, Slama is the #3 reliever in the organization. He actually
spent about a week with the Twins and pitched on the last day of May and June 4.
Combined, he threw 2.1 scoreless innings for the Twins. He returned to
Rochester and was again very good. Although one of the two runs (and three of
the five walks) he gave up came on the final day or June, he has been pitching
very well. In his previous four outings, he struckout 13 in 5.2 innings. Anthony Slama deserves to be in the big leagues, for someone.
Number 2 Beloit Clinton
Dempster - 8 G, 1-0, 2 saves, 0.77 ERA, 0.69
WHIP, 11.2 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 14 K
Dempster
was the #2 choice for reliever of the month in May too. It was another
tremendous month for him. The lefty gave up just one run in the entire month.
He was incredibly dominant. The 16th round pick in 2010 continues to
beg the question, Why is he still in Beloit? However, pitching has been the
story for the 2011 Snappers, and with such strong starting pitching, it has
been great to have someone so dominant at the backend of games.
And the SethSpeaks.net Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the
Month of June is:
Rochester Red Wings Andrew Albers - 9 G, 1-0, 1 saves, 1.04 ERA, 1.15
WHIP, 17.1 IP, 18 H, 2 BB, 19 K
Albers asked for an
received a tryout, and it is fair to say it went well as he signed with the
Twins shortly before spring training. Although he began the year at Extended
Spring Training, the already-25-year-old lefty first pitched for the Miracle on
April 13. Since then, he has really been terrific. On the year, he is 4-1 with
a 1.68 ERA and seven walks and 41 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. Albers was the 10th
round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2008. He missed all of 2009 with injury,
was released, and last year pitched in 40 games for Quebec in the independent Can
Am League. The Canadian, who went to college at Kentucky, is definitely taking
advantage of this new opportunity.
With that, let's jump to the
starting pitchers. Here are the Top 5 Starting Pitchers for June:
Number 5 - Beloit Adrian
Salcedo - 4 GS, 1-0, 2.30 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 24 K
Salcedo is
just 20 years old, but he has been terrific for the Snappers in 2011. He is 5-3
with a 2.88 ERA. He was even better in June. In fact, his worst outing may have
been his 0.2 inning stint in the Midwest League All-Star game in which he gave
up two runs. Typically, Salcedo doesnt walk many,
but it was also good to see him get more strikeouts in June. He was #4 on this
list last month. Although he falls to #5, he actually pitched much better.
Number 4 New Britain Liam
Hendriks - 5 GS, 3-0, 2.03 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 31 IP, 36 H, 4 BB, 23 K
Hendriks is
in the Top 5 for the third straight month. The 22-year-old Australian continues
to get better with each start. With a win on July 3, he is now 8-2 with a 2.70
ERA on the season. Like most on this list, Hendriks
does not hurt himself with walks. He will give up some hits, but he is able to
work out of situations. He began June with seven shutout innings. He had a
hiccup and gave up four runs in five innings in mid-June. He gave up one earned
run in his other three starts in the month. He jumped from 5 to 4 on this list
since last month. In my Top Twins prospects list, he jumped from #6 to #4 since
the beginning of the season.
Number 3 - Beloit Pat
Dean - 4 GS, 2-0, 1.46 ERA, 0.85 WHIP,
24.2 IP, 17 H, 4 BB, 27 K
Dean was my choice during the offseason
as the breakout pitching prospect for 2011 in the Twins minor league system.
Unfortunately, his season did not start on time due to some shoulder concerns.
He made his 2011 debut with the Snappers on May 15th. He was at full
strength for June and to no surprise, he was very good. So good, in fact, that
his final start of June was supposed to be with the Ft. Myers Miracle. However,
he did make one last start in Beloit knowing he would be promoted following the
game. On June 11, Dean threw 6.2 scoreless innings, walking two and striking
out nine. He was removed from the game having not allowed a hit. In his start
before that, he threw six shutout innings and gave up six hits, a walk and
struck out nine. It was a great month for Dean.
Number 2 Beloit Ryan
ORourke 7 G, 4 GS, 2-0, 1.59 ERA, 0.79 WHIP,
22.2 IP, 16 H, 2 BB, 29 K
Last month, ORourke was an honorable
mention selection as a relief pitcher. He began June with two relief outings, then made two starts. Then he made one more relief
appearance before the All Star break. He came back from the break as the
second-half opening night starter for the Snappers. As you can see, he has
transitioned to the rotation well. The key stat from his June stat line has to
be the two walks and 29 strikeouts. The left was the Twins 12th
round pick a year ago. By the way, be sure to check out his blog, The Daily ScoreBored.
And the Twins Minor League
Starting Pitcher of the Month is:
Ft. Myers Tom Stuifbergen - 5
GS, 3-0, 0.87 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 25 H,
7 BB, 16 K
I mentioned several times that Stuifbergen ended June having allowed just four earned runs
over his previous 43+ innings. Obviously that streak began in mid-May when he
was back at full strength from a sore shoulder. Stuifbergen
has taken large strides forward in 2011. His fastball velocity has increased
from the 88-91 range to the 90-93 range and has even touched 95 at times. He
has one of the best changeups in the organization. He has a slider and
continues to work on a curve ball. Although his first July start did not go as
he would hope, Stuifbergen is definitely making a
name for himself.
Congratulations to the three choices for
players of the month, all from the Ft. Myers Miracle, OF Aaron Hicks,
LHP Andrew Albers and RHP Tom Stuifbergen.
But Congratulations to all of those players mentioned in these two articles on
a great month of June. We saw many transactions in June, and I would anticipate
a few more in July.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
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