Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/7): The Pitchers Say "Don't Forget About Us!"

[Jim Goulart]

Within the current Brewers MLB Pipeline Top 30, you'll find just ten pitchers, and only one, youngster Jacob
Misiorowski and his 1.2 IP as a pro thus far, among the top eight. Three of the ten Pipeline pitchers saw action on the Crew's farm Friday night, along with nine of their fellow hurlers, combining to toss 32 innings of three-run ball. That's a 0.84 ERA for those about to grab their calculators. Forty-five strikeouts vs. 13 walks is a ratio we can get used to.

So while the position players have been grabbing the bulk of the national headlines this past offseason, the first full Opening Night in the system reminds us that the pitching coaches have been hard at work as well!

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

The organization continues to give temporary placements to the "Development Squad" (sounds like a 70's-era TV police show) in order to get down to MILB's roster limits. That means, for the time being, these players are essentially on a taxi squad.

• Biloxi - RHP's James Meeker and Robbie Baker, C Jason Lopez
• Wisconsin - C Jose Sibrian
• Carolina - RHP's Jacob Misiorowski and Alexander Vallecillo

Keep in mind that only the Biloxi names above have been listed officially by MiLB. Other names were deduced by analyzing roster updates released by the respective affiliates.

It's going to be exceedingly rare that the Brewers provide injury updates, but occasionally a regular visitor to our Minor League Forum has provided news based on his own reach-outs with players. His latest post has news on 2022 10th round Rutgers LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and heralded 2021 4th round RHP Logan Henderson, currently #25 on the Pipeline list.
 

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Final: Nashville 3, Memphis (Cardinals) 0

Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine:

Sounds' Gloves Shine in Shutout Win - Defensive gems all around the diamond back a Colin Rea/Janson Junk combined shutout

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

Did we mention all four affiliates were on the road for their current Easter weekend series? Thankfully, the Brewers teams gave the opposition social media crews little reason to promote themselves. (Memphis' online presence, by the way, is nearly invisible, including their own site. Be thankful for the spectacular work done at the Crew's outposts!).

Not sure how one fumbles this play, but Sal Frelick sure did not, even if the Redbirds' announcer did:

Seems there's little doubt RHP Janson Junk would be Milwaukee's first reach for a starting pitcher. though he was the back half of a tandem here with veteran and former big-league Brewers RHP Colin Rea. Junk's 40-man spot (and effectiveness thus far) give him the edge over LHP Robert Gasser.

You truly can't have a more Keston Hiura early-season line: 6-for-19 with a HR, .316/.435/.474 (.909 OPS) yet with seven K's. The Phillies continue to get ravaged at first base, pick up the phone already, Dave Dombrowski.
 

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Final: Biloxi 3, Mississippi (Braves) 0

Via the Shuckers' site:

Myers Strikes Out 11, Chourio Tallies Multi-Hit Night in 3-0 Opening Day Win - Biloxi pitching strikes out 16 in shutout win over Mississippi

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

It's not easy to distract from and even upstage the 2-for-4 with two RBI performance of Baseball America's #1 MiLB prospect, but the Biloxi arms did so here.

RHP Tobias Myers won't even turn 25 until August, yet he saw time with five organizations prior to Milwaukee signing him last November. His 2022 included a series of trades and DFA's that was both dizzying and spoke to his potential. Check out his transactions journey at the bottom of his MiLB player page, but cover your eyes when you review his numbers last season. No sugarcoating, they're hideous, yet an outlier season within his career path as a 6th round pick by Baltimore out of a Florida high school. Intriguing after night one, to say the least.

We saw it this spring, and let's just hope the organization entrenches Tyler Black at third base and he thrives there. We know he can play elsewhere (we didn't say excel), but we know the bat is real and wow, would that fill a long-term void at the MLB level.

The RH reliever trio of Justin Yeager, Ryan Middendorf and Abner Uribe already gives us the googly-eyes. So sweet. There will be no shortage of legitimate bullpen arms in the next year or two, another reason to be optimistic for the Crew's sustainability hopes.

Oh yeah, the Chourio kid:

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Final: Wisconsin 4, Beloit (Marlins) 2

Via the Timber Rattlers' site:

Rattlers Win Season Opener with 4-2 Victory at Beloit - Four pitchers combine for 14Ks while holding Sky Carp to three hits

Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box 

Box Score / Game Log

2022 California League Pitcher of the Year Joe Hernandez was the return for RH reliever Justin Topa, who was assigned to AAA by the Mariners to begin this season. Getting the Opening Night honors is a promising sign about his work in spring camp.

Hernandez' effort was solid enough, but it was the non-drafted 2022 RHP Ryan Brady (Brigham Young University) who dazzled here. Brady only pitched four innings in Maryvale last summer, but his age (just turned 24) and collegiate background netted him the jump over the Carolina League. As usual, our @Joseph Zarr had his multi-screen MiLB.TV analysis at the ready for us last night (review our entire forum thread for insights throughout, but in particular here is the duo of his Brady first impression posts).

Hopefully 2022 first round SS Eric Brown, Jr.'s absence will be brief (did not play Friday). 

Thanks to the Rattlers drawing ten walks, six players reached more than once. Whenever you reach base four times, you should get a mention, and 3B Ben Metzinger did just that.

Wisconsin was 0-for-12 with RISP, stranded 12, yet fell on the right side of the win column.
 

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Suspended after five innings: Carolina 1, Fayetteville (Astros) 1

Via the Mudcats' site:

Mudcats Season Opener Suspended Due To Rain - The Mudcats and Woodpeckers were suspended due to rain on Opening Night

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score (thus far) / Game Log (thus Far)

Over 3,600 in Fayetteville under damp conditions, impressive.

Despite this being his age 21 season, RHP Edwin Jimenez is technically in his 5th campaign with the Crew (four minus 2020, which still counts for service time purposes). He will need to build on the 25 games (17 starts), 1.41 WHIP with the Mudcats last summer, so this was a solid start.

We'll highlight more in Sunday morning's report regarding this game, though Voice of the Mudcats Greg Young Jr. hit all the right topics and notes within the linked write-up above.
 

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This was fun. Week One with just the Sounds was fine, but this report really dusted off the cobwebs for this Minor League Link Reporter. Back with you early Sunday AM with just the yellow Peeps. Enjoy your Saturday, everyone!

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth 

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[Joseph Zarr]

I can confirm: the Redbirds are struggling in all facets of putting forth high end productions in the media realm. From the camera angles provided to the social media presence (not very 'classy'). Given they finally dealt with the drainage issues throughout the warning track at their giant concrete walls, I'll give them a small benefit of the doubt. 

Brewers fans: be thankful. We have top tier professionalism across all broadcasts and throughout all the affiliates. I, for one, do not take this for granted.

[edfunderburk]

I can’t describe how much I enjoy & appreciate these Minor League daily overviews & summaries! Thanks to all who invest their time & expertise in these posts. So insightful & helpful for those of us who love following the Brew Crew. 

I consider my annual financial donation to this website to be one of the best investments I make with my $$$. I’m here for the forums, but these daily MiLB summaries are priceless. 

Well done, friends! Thank you!