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Minnesota Twins Minor League Stars of the Week

In this week's article, we take a look at the past week of minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization and name the Minor League Stars of the Week.

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This week we go into the Minnesota Twins minor league organization to find the shining talent that we name the Minor League Stars of the Week.  Read on to see who we have named for this week's stars and take a moment to answer the poll and comment on any other players you feel that should have been named.

  • Cedar Rapids (A - Low) - Zach Tillery (P) - Our star for the Kernels this week is Zach Tillery.  While not as heralded as some of the other pitching prospects from Cedar Rapids such as Felix Jorge or Trevor Hildenberger, Tillery is starting to show the makings of another solid pitcher to come from the Kernels.  Zach is now 4-1 in the 2015 season with a 2.13 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 42.1 IP.  Combine those numbers with a 39 SO/14 BB ratio and it seems that Jake Mauer and the coaching staff in Cedar Rapids keep cranking out solid pitching performers.  Zach Tillery looks early on to be another one of those solid arms.
  • Fort Myers (A - High) -  Chad Christensen (OF) - This week's star from the Fort Myers Miracle is outfielder Chad Christensen.  In his last 10 games, Christensen is hitting .382 (13-34) with 9 RBI, 4 R, and 3 SB.  For the 2015 season, Chad is hitting .283 with 12 2B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 9 SB, and 25 R.  Christensen looks to be the top outfield prospect in Fort Myers and with Byron Buxton being promoted from Chattanooga to Minnesota, this could be a opportunity for Chad to make his jump to AA ball in late 2015 or 2016.
  • Chattanooga (AA) - Max Kepler (OF) - Our star from the Chattanooga Lookouts this week could almost be named the star every week but it is definitely deserved this week, it's Max Kepler from the Lookouts.  Kepler has been on another tear over the past 10 games with a .387 average along with 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, and 2 SB.  Max continues to have a great 2015 season with a .310 average, 19 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 36 R, and 9 SB.  Kepler also has a .374 OBP, .490 SLG, and .864 OPS and continues to shine in all aspects of his game.  There is a strong chance that Max is promoted to Rochester by the end of 2015 if not a outside shot of being called up to the Twins in September when the rosters are expanded.
  • Rochester (AAA) - Eric Fryer (C) - This week's star from the Rochester Red Wings is catcher Eric Fryer.  Fryer has been on fire the past 10 games and with the Twins offensive struggles at the catcher position, the Twins may have to make a move to get Fryer on the 40-man roster sometime in 2015.  In his last 10 games, Eric is hitting .367 with 3 RBI, 5 R, and 1 SB.  For the 2015 season, Fryer is hitting .339 with 6 2B, 12 RBI, 1 SB, and 13 R.  His .408 OBP and .801 OPS are also numbers that stand out and Fryer has also shown to be a solid presence behind the plate, which should make him an attractive call-up to Minnesota soon.
There you have it for this week, our Minor League Stars of the Week.  Catch next week's article to see who cracks the list from Cedar Rapids to Rochester and shines from within the Minnesota Twins organization.  Check out the poll to vote for your favorite star and use the comments section to let us know who else you think has been deserving of being named a star!