Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/12): Sounds Complete Another Epic Comeback Behind Brian Navarreto's Grand Slam

Joseph Zarr · April 13, 2023

It was an early start in a mid-week slate of affiliate games, and after two tough results in Carolina and Wisconsin, I was ready for a turning of the tide in the evening hours. Unfortunately, we had a rain out in Biloxi, where my Chourio fix went unfulfilled. But those Nashville Sounds completed another late-inning comeback showing their grit yet again. Let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Game Balls: We're going with INF Robert Moore and his hot bat for Wisconsin (2B and HR today); INF Eddy Alvarez gets a nod for his continued solid decision-making in the field (manning 3B tonight) and surprising pop at the dish, P Tyler Wehrle for a fantastic debut relief outing for Carolina versus Salem, C Brian Navarreto for his game-changing grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, and we'll close with LHP Robert Gasser for allowing his bullpen to recover - even though he struggled with control throughout he battled and persevered.

Transactions:

RHP James Meeker was activated by AA Biloxi from Development List
RHP Robbie Baker was activated by AA Biloxi from Development List
RHP Justin Yeager was placed on AA Biloxi's 7-day injured list
RHP Zach Vennaro was placed on AA Biloxi's 7-day injured list

Final: Nashville 8, Norfolk (Orioles) 6
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes
Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review:

Brian Navarreto's Grand Slam Launches Sounds Past Norfolk

It was LHP Robert Gasser's second outing for Rick Sweet and the Sounds in game two of a six-game series with the Orioles' Norfolk Tide. After a 10 2/3 inning buffet for the stalwart Sounds bullpen last night, I imagine the entire pitching staff was hoping Gasser could eat some meaningful innings. He came out attacking the entirety of the strike zone with fastballs and change-ups to good effect early, as his off-speed arsenal was causing a bevy of swings and misses. He did manage to go 5 1/3 IP with seven punch outs, but I imagine he will leave the outing a bit frustrated at his lack of consistent control - 2 WP, 2 HBP, and 3 BB are not a recipe for success at the MLB level. Control and consistent ability to hit the zone over prolonged stretches is his current Achilles heel. If he can get that dialed, all the stuff of a solid five-pitch blend becomes more tantalizing.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) It's early everywhere in baseball, but it's hard not to be pleased with the continued work of INF Eddie Alvarez. He has given solid innings at 2B, 3B, and even filled in at SS. He has made the smart and savvy plays when called upon - he's nabbed a lead runner at 3B on a sharp grounder when playing short and, tonight, he gunned down the lead runner at home on a sharp grounder to third base with the score knotted at zero. He's also been getting comfortable at the plate, where he's even beginning to show an unexpected bit of pop:

2) In an extremely uncharacteristically sloppy night early behind the dish (hey, we have high expectations for this uber-talented defensive dynamo), C Brian Navarreto more than made up for it with a mammoth moon shot grand slam over the left field fence to reclaim the Sounds lead. If you're somehow off in your area of expertise, it is nice to impact the game in another way. Take note, young players: there's always a way to impact a ball game. Check out this bomb from one of my favorite Sounds:

3) I continue to be mystified by LHP Ethan Small's early season (and I'm not the only one). One outing, he's electric with a fantastic blend leaning on his best pitch - the change-up. In the next outing, he's throwing primarily fastballs and walking batters again. It's hard to know what to make of it in this extremely small sample size, but given the mostly disappointing 2022, it is cause for continued concern. He was fantastic in his first outing. He was fantastic in his third outing. Outings two and four were filled with 'not so much.', Let's hope he can continue to grind and re-discover that consistency so elusive for the better part of 2022.

My personal Jackson Chourio fix went unfulfilled on this fine Wednesday evening. Inclement weather reared its head and pushed our Shuckers fandom into the shallow waters off the coast. Alas, we'll tune in another day:

Final: Peoria (Cardinals) 7, Wisconsin 6
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes
Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review:

Late Peoria Homer Hits Wisconsin Hard - Rattlers Fall 7-6 to Chiefs at Home

It was encouraging to see RHP Alexander Cornielle continue to put the walk woes of last year's early Low-A season behind him in his first start of 2023 at High-A Wisconsin. He finished with a line of 4 IP, 1 BB, 3 H, 2 ER, and 4 K. With some better luck and defensive execution in his fourth and final inning; he would have most likely gotten a chance to pitch the fifth frame. As he builds up for the long haul, we'll look for more outings like this, with higher pitch counts.

Full Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Sloppy decisions on routine plays and inopportune drops all throughout the diamond were the key issue in today's mid-day game. The T-Rats pitching staff deserved much better than the score indicates, believe me. Unfortunately, there are no asterisks in statistically compiled game logs. I saw a dropped routine shallow pop fly to center field when OF Terence Doston charged the ball and attempted to simultaneously avoid INF Eduardo García who didn't get a proper read in the mid day sun and swirling winds - the ball was dropped off Doston's glove. I saw C Alex Hall inexplicably throw to second base in a two-out two-strike count situation with Chiefs runners on first and third base. The Chiefs executed the double steal and a run crossed the plate. Later, I saw INF Ben Metzinger incapable of corralling a gorgeous one-hop throw from Joe Gray Jr. in right field that would have assuredly nabbed the runner tagging from second base. Ultimately, though credited with a single, the winning Chiefs runs came across after OF Je'Von Ward dropped a makable sliding play in the shallow left field grass on yet another weakly hit sky high shallow pop fly. One batter later, a two-run home run was rocketed over the right field wall and the T-Rats trailed 6-5. They never recovered. Hopefully, the defense sharpens up in the days and weeks ahead.

2) Just make contact. This certainly appeared to be the Peoria Chiefs modus operandi in today's matinee match-up. I don't know if I have seen more weakly hit pop-ups and ground balls weasel their ways into hits and rbi's in my time watching affiliated ball. It was uncanny. But, if you simply make contact anything can happen. Juxtapose this with the Timber Rattlers clinging to their one run lead in the bottom of the seventh frame: the young Rattlers had the bases loaded and not a single out tallied on the scoreboard. Neither Moore, Gray Jr., or García made an ounce of contact as all three struck out. The threat was ended and it proved quite costly to the overall result.

3) Though he struck out swinging on high heat with the bases juiced, INF Robert Moore also continues to swing one of the hottest and most impactful T-Rats bat overall. He hit a laser shot over the right field wall to pull the team within a run in the ninth inning. He scorched his second double of 2023 earlier in the game. And, he now leads the team with 6 RBI on the young season. He just continues to impress after a solid season of work in Australia's winter league. You couple his ascending output at the dish with his already extremely solid defense at second base and we are starting to get a glimpse at the future.

Final: Salem (Red Sox) 2, Carolina 0
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes
Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review:

Mudcats Held to One Hit in 2-0 Loss to Salem

The young Mudcats were looking to stop a two game skid for their second game at Five County Stadium in the early 2023 season. Unfortunately, that losing skid was extended as the young men were only able to muster a single hit - a Luke Adams double in his first live game action of 2023. Strikeouts throughout the latter part of the batting order continued to plague Victor Estevez's squad. The Mudcats will look to get their bats and their plate discipline improving as this series and the season progresses.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Even in a lackluster offensive outing, when the losing pitching staff only surrender two runs there are worthy pitching highlights. RHP Tyler Wehrle deserves special mention for his fantastic 2023 Low-A debut. The 6'3" 220 pound righty from Tiffin University in Ohio worked four complete innings of 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K ball. He showed a quick and effective approach from the mound keeping bats at bay with his slider and attacking all parts of the zone with his heater. He was touching 94-95 up in the zone when trying to get bats chasing. An intriguing debut and a pitcher worthy of tracking on the Mudcats staff.

2) The Mudcats did have one meaningful opportunity to make a game of their morning tilt. In the bottom of the fourth inning, after the aforementioned Adams double and an OF Hedbert Perez walk, Carolina had runners on the corners with one down. Adams again demonstrated his intriguing athletic ability when he swiped third base - runners at the corners. OF Jace Avina had the favorable 2-0 count, worked it to 3-2 and drew the walk. However, Perez had just been gunned down trying to take second base. With two down, OF Kaylan Nicasia struck out on three pitches. And, well, that was that.

3) It's important to remember this current Mudcats roster is extremely young across the board. This youth and inexperience is definitely showing at the plate - several of the young men currently look overmatched as they adjust to a higher level of baseball. This being said, Victor Estevez will definitely need more production from his outfield. Perez, Fernandez, Nicasia, and Avina are all struggling mightily to start 2023. If the offense is going to start producing beyond the inexperienced but tantalizing tools of INF Luke Adams, it will have to start here or they will most likely continue struggling to get runs across.

That's a wrap for my week of reports. I will keep tuning in and following the progress of each and every affiliate throughout the week - so, please, check in to our ongoing game threads and share some thoughts and observations. All are welcome. As of the time of submitting my repor, we know we'll see RHP Tobias Myers in Biloxi for one of their two games and we know we'll have an opportunity to see young RHP Joseph Hernandez at Fox Cities Stadium in Wisconsin. We're 'TBD' in Carolina, Biloxi Game 2, and Nashville.

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

View full article