Minnesota Twins Minor League Weekly Transactions: 8/4-8/10

This is the second instalment of this series. You can find the older ones here (most recent on top.) Promotions and demotions are listed under the team where the player currently plays (this means promotions to the Minnesota Twins will not be listed here)

Here are the transactions in all levels in the Twins organization from August 4th until yesterday August 10th (it includes Trevor Plouffe's rehab assignment to AAA, which is not official yet) :

Rochester Redwings (International League, AAA):


8/11 - 3B Trevor Plouffe assigned to Rochester Red Wings. (rehab)
8/9 - Rochester Red Wings activated RHP Anthony Slama from the 7-Day disabled list.
8/6 - RHP Dave Bromberg assigned to Rochester Red Wings from New Britain Rock Cats.
8/4 - RHP P.J. Walters assigned to Rochester Red Wings.(rehab)


New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League, AA):

No Transactions this week

Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League, A+):


8/7 RHP Carl Pavano assigned to Fort Myers Miracle(rehab).


Beloit Snappers (Midwest League, A):

No Transactions this week

Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League, Rk+):

8/7 RHP Jose Orlando Berrios assigned to Elizabethton Twins.
8/7 OF Byron Buxton assigned to Elizabethton Twins.



GCL Twins (Gulf Coast League, Rk):


8/6 RHP Anthony Slama assigned to GCL Twins. (Rehab)
8/5 OF Jeremias Pineda assigned to GCL Twins.


DSL Twins (Dominican Summer League, Foreign Rk):


No Transactions this week

Game Video of Twins' Taiwanese Pitcher Chih-Wei Hu

Here is a video of the recent Twins' Taiwanese signee Chih-Wei Hu pitching in a game. He is 18 years listed at 184 cm (6'0.5") and 96 kg (211 lbs). 150 kph is close to 93 mph, which is pretty good for a high school age kid.   He was signed for $220, 000 bonus.

The Nishioka error or baseball size hail falling from the sky

Because there has been a lot of talk of the "The Nishioka error" today (Losing a ball in the overcast sky while wearing sunglasses) and it was a day game and a lot of people did not have a chance to see it happen, I am presenting a still picture of the fact in all its glory.

Here we go:

Random Tuesday Twins Thoughts and Tidbits

Here is this week's installment:

• The Danny Valencia trade to the Boston Red Sox last Sunday is old news, but if you have not checked it yet, here is a mini scouting report of Jeremias Pineda, the Dominican switch-hitting Center Fielder the Twins received in return.
• Speaking of the Danny Valencia trade, here. here are a couple of reactions on his trade by current Twins' players. Danny's reactions are here: part 1, part 2 and part 3.
• Here is an article by Tom Powels lamenting the Twins' inertia during the trade deadline and discussing Terry Ryan's stuck in the past methods.
• Can you believe that AJ Pierzunski did that and did not leave Target Field with a ball on the helmet? Reason is that he was too much of a coward to start in the Wednesday game. But the Twins are playing the White Sox again...
• The Twins have signed 18 year old Australian RHP Josh Guyer. He will join the team in Spring Training. This is what he looks like. Apparently he is pretty good with the bat also. This article is as close as it comes to talk about his skills. It is mentioned that he is throwing the ball at 150 kph (this is 93.2 mph), which is alright for a high school kid.
• On the organizational movement front: I decided that minor league transactions deserve their own space, so you can find them all here (most recent on top) on a weekly basis. I will be updating every Saturday.
• Listening to Bert Blyleven trying pronounce Samuel Deduno's last name, makes me think of this song
• If you wonder how glamorous team meals in the minors are, check this out
• RHP Lester Oliveros has been shut down and will have surgery to clear bone chips from his pitching elbow. And, speaking of MLB-ready relievers, Anthony Slama was assigned to the GCL yesterday for a rehab assignment.
• Chris Parmelee was named International League hitter of the week for last week. Here is an interesting article on him
• The Twins are about to be attacked (or at least some Twins' fans) by those of Leeds United a British Premier League Football (Soccer) Club
• Speaking of places that do not like the Twins, you might want to add Rochester, NY and Beloit, WI, which seem to have lost the priviledge to host a Twins' minor league affilate for 2013 and beyond. I expect announcements to this effect to come on September 1st (the first day franchises can announce new affiliations officially.) To add insult to injury, the Beloit Snappers were giving away bobbleheads of Price Fielder in a Milwaukee uniform. Last time I checked, the guy is playing for one of the major Twins' rivals. Not too good.
• Because I did not mention it before and I have not seen it mentioned widely: The Twins signed a 30-year committment to their Spring Training facilities at Lee County (Fort Myers) after the county voted to do the improments they required. On related news, Lee County is intensifying its efforts to get a third team in the area to occupy the old Red Sox' facilities.
• Another former Twins' player is reaching his potential. It is called entering his prime nad not giving up on players before their prime (something the Twins are not exactly great about.)
• Here is a contest where fans pick current AAA players who will have the most impact as September call ups. The Twins' AAA representative is Pedro Florimon. I think that speaks volumes
• The Twins' product of the week is the Minnesota Twins Slingback; hey it's back to school shopping time.

The parting shot today is of Tsuyoshi Nisioka (and his sidekick Ryo Shinkawa - never leaves home without it) who was recalled with the Twins Sunday, after Danny Valencia was traded to the Boston Red Sox and his made his MLB-debut for this season last night at Cleveland:

Mini-scouting report of Twins' Jeremias Pineda

Jeremias Pineda who the Twins recieved from the Boston Red Sox, in exchange of Danny Valencia, is a 21 Dominican OF playing in the Gulf Coast League. Even though he seems old for a league dominated by newly drafted or newcomers to the US from foreign leagues who are 18 and 19 years old, this is just his second season of professional baseball. He signed with the Red Sox on March of 2011 and started last season the the Dominican Summer League before coming to the GCL mid last August.  His singing bonus was just $10,000.

He was born on November 16, 1990 in Hormigo, Dominican Republic. This season he leads the GCL in batting with .421/.447/.534 slash line. In 51 plate appearances he has 3 triples and 9 doubles. He struck out 16 times and walked 5. He stole 14 bases and was caught 7 times.  He is a switch-hitter.

He is listed generously at 5'11" and 175 lbs. Primarily a Center Fielder, has played at the corners occasionally. Speed, a strong arm and good defense are his main assets. He is an outfield built in the mold of Ben Revere and Darin Mastroianni. His development with the bat will determine his future, but so far so good in a league comprised by younger players. He will probably be assigned in the Twins single A level team next season.