Some familiar faces made this week's Twins minor-league stars of the week, while a few newcomers also found their way into the latest edition. One of those names Twins fans surely will recognize is pitcher Tommy Milone, who is currently with Triple-A Rochester. Milone's shutout earlier this week helped earn him the FOXSportsNorth.com Minor League Player of the Week. Here's a look at the rest of the Twins' minor leaguers who stood out over the last week.
TRIPLE-A ROCHESTER
Player of the Week: 2B James Beresford
2015 stats: .331/.369/.380
Recent highlights: Beresford has been the Red Wings' everyday second baseman this year, though he's versatile enough to play multiple infield positions. In the last week (seven games), Beresford hit .400/.444/.480 with five RBI, two doubles and two runs. The 26-year-old Australia native is in his ninth season in the Twins' minor-league system but has yet to break through to the major leagues. He's been one of Rochester's most consistent hitters so far this season.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Tommy Milone
2015 stats: 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 33 K, 2 BB in 23 1/3 IP
Recent highlights: Milone began the year in the Twins' starting rotation but was eventually sent to Triple-A Rochester as the odd man out in early May. Since his demotion, Milone has been lights out. He has yet to allow a run in three starts and has walked just two batters over that stretch. Although not usually a strikeout pitcher in the majors, Milone has fanned eight or more batters in each of his three starts. Milone's best outing -- perhaps one of the best of his career -- came Monday when he pitched a shutout against Durham, racking up 13 strikeouts. That equals the most strikeouts Milone has had at any level, as he also struck out 13 in 2010 with Double-A Harrisburg.
DOUBLE-A CHATTANOOGA
Player of the Week: OF Byron Buxton
2015 stats: .247/.303/.481, 9 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI in 39 games
Recent highlights: Though Buxton's batting average for the season might not stand out, he's doing plenty else to spark the Lookouts -- especially in the last week. In Buxton's last seven games (not counting Thursday's postponed game), he has three triples, a home run, two stolen bases, six RBI and eight runs. Buxton's nine triples this season are more than any player in the majors, and his 29 RBI are more than any player on the Twins' roster. Buxton has had his ups and downs this year after missing most of last season, but the past week was a good one for Minnesota's top prospect.
Pitcher of the Week: RHP Tyler Duffey
2015 stats: 2-2, 2.56 ERA, 54 K, 12 BB in 52 2/3 IP
Recent highlights: Duffey's most recent outing with Chattanooga came Sunday against Montgomery in which he racked up a season-high 12 strikeouts while allowing just one run over seven innings. It was the fourth straight quality start for Duffey, Minnesota's fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft. In fact, Duffey has pitched so well for the Lookouts that he was recently promoted to Triple-A Rochester, where he'll try to carry over the success he had at Double-A.
HIGH-A FORT MYERS
Player of the Week: OF Chad Christensen
2015 stats: .293/.362/.391, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R
Recent highlights: Two games after having a seven-game hitting streak snapped, Christensen reeled off a six-game hitting streak before it finally ended Thursday. Over the course of the last week Christensen was 11-for-25 (.440) with three RBI, four runs and a stolen base. Christensen still hasn't hit for much power as he has just one home run this season, but the former Nebraska Cornhusker been a steady bat in Fort Myers' lineup all season.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Brett Lee
2015 stats: 1-2, 2.14 ERA, 19 K, 8 BB in 33 2/3 IP
Recent highlights: Lee has made just five starts so far this year, but two of them came in the past week -- and both resulted in quality starts. On Thursday, Lee tossed eight scoreless innings and struck out six to earn the win against Brevard County. One outing earlier Lee allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings but was hit with the loss against Jupiter. Lee was taken by Minnesota in the 10th round of the 2011 major-league draft and is currently in his second season with Fort Myers.
LOW-A CEDAR RAPIDS
Player of the Week: 1B/LF Trey Vavra
2015 stats: .343/.401/.550, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 24 runs in 38 games
Recent highlights: Vavra, the son of Twins bench coach Joe Vavra, has yet to have back-to-back games this season in which he hasn't reached base. His .401 on-base percentage is second on the Kernels, while his .550 slugging percentage leads all Cedar Rapids batters. Over the last week, Vavra batted .379 with two homers, five RBI and four runs to pace the Kernels' offense.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Stephen Gonsalves
2015 stats: 4-1, 1.50 ERA, 54 K, 10 BB in 42 IP
Recent highlights: The 20-year-oold Gonsalves continues to thrive in Cedar Rapids. His latest start Wednesday against Peoria resulted in six shutout innings, as well as seven strikeouts and just one hit. The scoreless outing lowered Gonsalves' ERA on the season to 1.50, while his WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) is now a razor-thin 0.81. If he continues to pitch well, a promotion to High-A Fort Myers might not be too far away.
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