Minnesota Twins Minor League Month in Review, June Edition

The month of June was full of promotions and demotions throughout the Minnesota Twins' minor league organization. A handful of top-10 prospects were promoted this past month, as well as other key minor leaguers.

As a whole, the Minnesota affiliates went 50-56 in the month of June; not poor enough to statistically boot any team from its respective playoff races, but not good enough for any team to pull away, either.

Here is a team-by-team breakdown of the top four minor league affiliates of the Twins.

Rochester Red Wings, Fifth in the International League (Triple A)
(13-16), 7.5 games back

The Red Wings have certainly seen better months, but they owe most of their poor performance to their major-league affiliate, who tore the team apart with many transactions. The first move, however, was a promotion of reliever Rob Delaney, who many felt was long overdue.

In his first 10 games at the Triple-A level, Delaney has posted an ERA of 5.28 in 15.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 11 while walking just six. Clearly,  not the start that was expected of him, considering his absolute dominance of the Double-A level, but most assume that he will settle down and possibly be in a Twins' uniform in 2010.

Alexi Casilla, currently in the back of manager Ron Gardenhire's doghouse, was optioned to Rochester early this past month as well. Casilla has succeeded against other International League pitchers, batting .333/.378/.419 with an OPS of 797.

He has hit just five extra-base hits in his 30 games with Rochester this year, and has struck out 17 times. Although he is bursting with talent, Casilla has been involved with numerous trade rumors and may never sport a Twins' uniform again.

Jeff Manship was also promoted recently, but has just one start under his belt. He gave up four runs on 10 hits during six innings, walking two while striking out six. Say it together, "Small sample size!"

Perhaps the most documented promotion the Red Wings made was calling Danny Valencia up from Double-A. Valencia is a top-10 Twins prospect and regarded by many as Minnesota's third baseman of the future.

In just eight games so far this year Valencia is hitting .355/.375/.613 while making contact in all but three of his plate appearances—resulting in two strikeouts and one walk. The 24-year-old is estimated to be promoted to the Twins anytime next year.

The Twins stole both Jose Mijares and Bobby Keppel from the Red Wings this month, but replaced them with the erratic Jesse Crain. Jason Pridie enjoyed a brief stint in Minnesota as Denard Span recovered from his inner ear infection.