Unfiltered Access will be highlighting the stories of the Rochester Red Wings and their opponents on their journey this season. Unfiltered Access will be providing exclusive interviews, prospect updates, and a breakdown of the triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.

Overview

The dog days of summer are often a measuring point in baseball for contenders and ultimately pretenders. The Minnesota Twins organization is appearing to be the latter, at least is the case for the Twins and their triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings. The Wings have been tailing off as they sit second to last in the International League North, 11.5 games back of first with a record of 44-48.

While the Wings have lacked momentum in the win column they certainly have not had a lack of roster movement. The addition of outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker on July 19 marked a record for the Red Wings organization. The 30-year-old was the 31st position player to take the field for Rochester in the 2018 season, a record for the Wings under the Twins affiliate.

OF Jeremy Hazelbaker has been acquired by #MNTwins from Tampa Bay for cash considerations. He’s been assigned to @RocRedWings and is active today. — Nate Rowan (@njrowan) July 19, 2018

Hazelbaker looks to get a steady stream of at-bats in Rochester as Byron Buxton and Zack Granite are both on the disabled list. The 2009 draft pick has 110 home runs in his career between the majors and minors, including stops in St. Louis and Arizona.

Hazelbaker will be looking to pick up some of the slack on offense, an area needing a great deal of improvement. There has been little the pitching staff has not been able to do, however. Ace of the staff and top-prospect, Stephen Gonsalves, has been playing like a man on a mission. The crafty left-hander has given up 45 hits in 70 innings this season, good for a .187 batting average against him.

Stephen Gonsalves is done tonight after allowing 1 run on 2 hits over 5.2 innings for @RocRedWings. In his last 5 starts spanning 27.1 innings, he’s surrendered two runs on 11 hits and 16 walks with 24 strikeouts. None of those hits have gone for extra bases. #MNTwins — Nate Rowan (@njrowan) July 14, 2018

Looking to the Majors

Making the most of an opportunity, former Wing Jake Cave is cementing his spot with the Twins. In 26 games in the majors this season he is hitting .265 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI’s. While his offense has been respectable it has been his work with the glove that has made him a fixture in the lineup.

Jake Cave will become a household name if he keeps making grabs like this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/z6UuuiYG2b — Stadium (@WatchStadium) July 7, 2018

Prospect Watch

(Stats as of 7/19/18)

Nick Gordon, SS, Prospect Ranking: 2

.241 Avg., 2 HR, 16 RBI

Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Prospect Ranking: 4

(6-3), 3.34 ERA, 70.0 IP, 68 SO

Lamonte Wade, OF, Prospect Ranking: 12

.259 Avg, 3 HR, 13 RBI

Zack Littell, RHP, Prospect Ranking: 14

(1-3), 3.38 ERA, 61.1 IP, 57 SO

John Curtiss, RHP, Prospect Ranking: 18

(2-2), 3.65 ERA, 37. IP, 45 SO

Jake Cave, OF, Prospect Ranking: 23

.265 Avg., 5 HR, 27 RBI

Zack Granite, CF, Prospect Ranking: 24

.212 Avg., 0 HR, 4 RBI

Unfiltered Access will continue to update information on the Red Wings as information emerges.

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