Tue. 4/11: Home Openers Abound

[Ro Mueller]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Tuesday, lineup updates, etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[Ro Mueller]

The Low-A Mudcats have their home opener today, hosting Red Sox affiliate Salem for 6 games this week. 20-year old RHP Alexander Vallecillo (5.62 ERA last year in 57.2 IP) gets the start in his season debut, while Tayden Hall (3-for-7) and Jesus Parra (2-for-3 with 2 doubles) look to continue their strong starts. 

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville (5-4) faces a tough test against 7-1 Norfolk (Orioles affiliate) at home this week. RHP Caleb Boushley (1.42 ERA in 6.1 IP) makes his third start of the young season. C Alex Jackson is healthy and mashing thus far: 1.042 OPS with 2 HR in 24 plate appearances. 

[Ro Mueller]

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers also have their home opener tonight, hosting Cardinals' affiliate Peoria. The team welcomes 2022 first round pick SS Eric Brown Jr. (.838 OPS in 117 PAs in 2022) atop the lineup, along with 2022 sixth round selection RHP Tyler Woessner (1.17 ERA in 7.2 IP last year), both of whom are making their debut in High-A ball. 

[Ro Mueller]

Rounding out tonight's home openers is AA Biloxi, who welcome Marlins' affiliate Pensacola for a 6-game set. 23-year old RHP Justin Jarvis (3.83 ERA in 141 IP last year) makes his first start of 2023. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, damuelle said:

The Low-A Mudcats have their home opener today, hosting Red Sox affiliate Salem for 6 games this week. 20-year old RHP Alexander Vallecillo (5.62 ERA last year in 57.2 IP) gets the start in his season debut, while Tayden Hall (3-for-7) and Jesus Parra (2-for-3 with 2 doubles) look to continue their strong starts. 

Well, I somehow forgot it was an EST listed start to this one not CST. AND, it's 5-1 Salem here in the 3rd innings. Doesn't look like Vallecillo got that inaugural start he was looking for.

[Joseph Zarr]

Ohhhhhh it's my first look at LHP Jakob Brustoski and his self-proclaimed 'Year of Command' in 2023. Let's get it, Jakob! Here's hoping he finds that good stuff we've previously seen in small spurts.

[Joseph Zarr]

Andddddd, we're at five consecutive balls to start his inaugural outing. Let's go Jakob. Get your stuff.

[Joseph Zarr]

It would appear Olguin came on in the 3rd frame, walked the bases loaded, and gave up a grand slam. Hence, the 5-1 deficit.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh no, this looks all too familiar after a really good ST. Brustoski goes 4-pitch walk. Then on a 1-1 count throws a curve ball that completely loses its plane and plunks the batter on the back. It's a walk, and a HBP. Then a ball 1. 

[Joseph Zarr]

And, we're at 2 BB, and a HBP. And the bases are juiced with none down. Pitching coach Michael O'Neil is headed to the mound to try and calm this flamethrower down. He has to find the zone. So far, the 'Year of Command' has lost its bearings.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, the good thing about Brustoski's outing was he started finding the zone after it nearly fell apart. He gets out of the frame with 3 BB, 1 HBP, and 2 ER. It could have been much worse. Let's hope he can build from here. It would appear Salem has 7 runs so far on only 4 hits. Ah, yes, a Low-A opener.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, Vallecillo certainly did his part with a fine 2 IP: 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. Unfortunately, Olguin and Brustoski each offered 3 free passes. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Aidan Maldonado was hoping for Carolina's first 1-2-3 inning but he joined the walk train. But, he closes with a K and generally looked fantastic. He hit 95-96 mph on the radar gun and had signs of a tantalizing change-up and dangerous breaking ball when it could find the zone. Heck of a Low-A debut.

[Joseph Zarr]

So far in this extremely early part of the Low-A season, if I were a pitcher I would target Avina and Fernandez with off-speed stuff low and outside the zone. Both young outfielders have routinely struck out or swung at these pitches. Both have 2 K tonight and each of their last strikeouts were on sliders in the dirt. Pitch recognition and plate discipline such a challenge for young players. Hopefully, they can improve this part of their respective offensive games.

[Joseph Zarr]

I've gone back to watch Vallecillo's 2 IP. This young man has solid stuff out there. Really nice breaking ball mix. Has some tailing movement on his change-up to lefties. Really good tools to work with - definitely impressed with his first outing. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Zavier Warren just extended huis early season hitting streak to 3 games with a smooth swinging line drive single to right field in his switch hitting lefty stance. The young man continues to impress from, well, the summer of 2022. You love to see it. He proceeds to steal second and the Shuckers are no 8-for-8 in SB attempts while the Wahoos have allowed 13 runners to advance. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Little bit of baseball pinball action scored Warren from 2B. On a Lutz infield line drive that short-hopped the charging Wahoos 2B (Devers) sees the ball ricochet to the deep SS dirt. Devers throws it wildly over the 3B head to the dugout and Warren scores sliding under the throw then high and over the Catcher's mitt. Lutz advances to 2B. Quero at the dish.

[Joseph Zarr]

INF Ethan Murray follows suit (after the Quero K) on a smooth swinging line drive to right field sending Lutz across home plate and it's 2-0 Shuckers here in the bottom of the second inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Justin Jarvis has gone 9-up and 9-down on 22 pitches through 3 IP. I can tell you: this is the fastest pitcher I have seen in the Brewers system in 2023 with the widespread play clocks. He gets the ball and slings it in what seems like five seconds. Quite fun to watch. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Yeah, I know it's one outing but we definitely have something in RHP Aidan Maldonado. Not only does he have some 'stuff' but he knows how to pitch. This was a very fun outing to watch. Just fantastic work all around the dish. He saw a weakness from a batter in a single pitch and then exploited it the very next one. Highly impressive stuff for a Low-A debut.

[wibadgers23]

SMALL SAMPLE ALERT but I hope starting Chourio in AA wasn’t being too aggressive. Had a couple of hits his first game but the strikeouts have been piling up since. I was concerned starting him in AA as a newly turned 19-year old was a bit aggressive and was wondering if he should have started the first month or so in Appleton. Hope I’m way wrong!

[Joseph Zarr]

Scary moment here for Tyler Black as he runs full speed toward a foul line down the third base line and it looked like he lost sight of the railing and ran full bore into it. He looked shaken up. The trainer and Mike Guerrero both came out to see him and, it would appear, he's staying in the game. RHP Justin Jarvis fires a pitch shortly thereafter on the inside corner grabbing his 3rd K.

[Joseph Zarr]

And that's strikeout number four in rapid fashion. That's now 11 up and 11 down for Jarvis who likes incredibly sharp in his 2023 debut. He is ripping the ball and on fire getting to the next pitch. This is as entertaining as it gets. Excuse me, that's another K. He strikes out the side in the 4th. Through 4 IP: 32 PITCHES with now 5 K. This is the Justin Jarvis we've seen from time-to-time and boy is it nice to see in Double-A!

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

SMALL SAMPLE ALERT but I hope starting Chourio in AA wasn’t being too aggressive. Had a couple of hits his first game but the strikeouts have been piling up since. I was concerned starting him in AA as a newly turned 19-year old was a bit aggressive and was wondering if he should have started the first month or so in Appleton. Hope I’m way wrong!

He took a K looking on a nice heater on the outer stripe in his second AB. This is the Level he needs to work on next. He looks great in the field. His comfort and flow and consistency will come. Nothing has changed by my eyes. If anything, he looks like he added some muscle in the off-season - which is a good thing.