Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/23): Black and Adams Blast Biloxi and Carolina to Three Sunday Wins

[Ro Mueller]

Tyler Black and Luke Adams once again carried the Biloxi and Carolina offenses, while Alexander Vallecillo had a dominant outing. Adrian Houser and Alexander Cornielle had solid starts for Nashville and Wisconsin, though the teams dropped their finales.

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

Carolina recorded its first series win of 2023, 5-1 over Down East. Biloxi took its second straight series, 4-2 over Rocket City. Defeats resulted in series losses for Nashville and Wisconsin at Jacksonville and Quad Cities.

Sunday’s Game Balls go to Luke Adams, Tyler Black, Adrian Houser, Alexander Cornielle and Alexander Vallecillo, with an honorable mention to Patricio Aquino.

Transactions:

• RHP Alexander Cornielle activated from High-A Wisconsin’s 7-day injured list
• OF Hendry Mendez placed on High-A Wisconsin's 7-day injured list
• C Jhonnys Cabrera activated by Low-A Carolina from Development List
• LHP Jakob Brustoski transferred to Development List from Low-A Carolina
• RHP JC Mejia transferred to Development List from AAA Nashville

Game Action:
Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Jacksonville 3, Nashville 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review the affiliate write-up as part of their Link Report routine: Miscues Cost Sounds in Series Finale at Jacksonville

The Sounds defense has been a noticeable weak spot through the season’s first 3.5 weeks and reared its head again on Sunday, as two errors led to two unearned runs, costing Nashville the series 3-2 in Jacksonville.

Things unravelled in the bottom of the 7th inning, as 1B Jon Singleton couldn’t make the play on grounder (ruled a hit), then right fielder Skye Bolt dropped a fly ball to put two men on with nobody out. Unnerved, normally reliable RHP Tyson Miller (1 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K) then walked two batters as Jacksonville took a 2-1 lead.

The Monte Harrison-Brewers reunion tour is off to a bad start. Along with doing nothing at the plate (0-for-4, 3 Ks; .133 AVG), the center fielder had a costly late inning error for the second time in just four games played. This time, a one-out single in the 8th inning advanced to second base on his throwing gaffe, later scoring on a sacrifice fly to give the Jumbo Shrimp their 3-2 final advantage. RHP Cam Robinson (2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks; 7.71 ERA) took the loss.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Rehabbing RHP Adrian Houser (4 2/3 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) was solid if not spectacular in throwing 69 pitches (46 strikes) over nearly five scoreless innings, yielding six singles and zero walks. I’d imagine the Brewers would like to give him one more AAA rehab outing, but Houser’s activation to the 26-man MLB roster may come sooner if there’s a pitching shakeup.
• 2B Cam Devanney (1-for-3, HR, walk, RBI), left fielder Keston Hiura (3-for-4) and C Payton Henry (2-for-3, walk) were bright spots for the offense, with Devanney smacking his first homer of 2023. Henry led off the 9th inning with a single, but the team was unable to bring the tying run home. On the down side, Hiura was also caught stealing and struck out with two-on, nobody out in the top of the 8th inning.
• Another positive sign was the season debut of 28-year old LHP Thomas Pannone (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks; 12 strikes in 15 pitches), who covered the middle innings in this game. He’ll likely serve as a lefty long man, giving the organization some depth in light of Aaron Ashby’s absence and Ethan Small’s move to the 'pen.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (10-10) returns home to face Royals’ affiliate Omaha (8-11). 23-year old LHP Robert Gasser (2.77 ERA in 13 IP) is scheduled to start the opener on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 7, Rocket City 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Chourio, Black Lead Shuckers to Series Win against Trash Pandas

Rocket City got off to a fast start in the series finale, but starting LHP Adam Seminaris (5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks) eventually settled down before 3B Tyler Black (1-for-3, HR, walk, HBP, 3 RBIs) turned the contest on its head with one big swing. 

 

In the top of the 9th inning, center fielder Jackson Chourio (2-for-5, double, 3 RBIs) broke open the tense 4-3 affair with a bases clearing double, pulling a 99mph pitch from the Trash Pandas wild reliever. Clutch Chourio now has 14 RBIs in just 15 games on the season, though his .250 AV, .732 OPS and 27.9% K-rate reveal some work to do. 

 

Three Quick Strikes:

• It took Seminaris 2.5 games to find some semblance of his quality form, but hopefully it’s fully clicked now for the 24-year old. Down 3-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning, he proceeded to retire eight straight batters before working around a full count walk and infield single in the bottom of the 5th inning.
• RHP Ryan Middendorf (2 IP, 3 Ks) and LHP Darrell Thompson (2 IP, 4 Ks) were also lock down in this game, eliminating all twelve batters they faced. These hurlers have proven to be some amazing signings from independent ball.
• The battle for Biloxi’s second base job is not exactly heating up: Felix Valerio (.143 AVG, .476 OPS), Isaac Collins (.160 AVG, .582 OPS), Ethan Murray (.177 AVG, .516 OPS). Valerio was hit by pitch and later scored as part of the 9th inning in this game, somehow leading to the ejection of Rocket City’s pitching coach.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (9-6) hosts the Mississippi Braves (5-10), with RHP 24-year old Tobias Myers (2.81 ERA in 16 IP with 24 Ks)  expected to start the first game of the series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 9, Wisconsin 2
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Bandits Bash Their Way Past Wisconsin

Wisconsin dropped back to a losing season record with Sunday’s pummelling, but don’t blame starting 21-year old RHP Alexander Cornielle (4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks) who exited with the score tied 1-1.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Two prior solid outings for 24-year old LHP Russell Smith (1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks; 4.32 ERA) fell by the wayside on Sunday, as 8 of 13 River Bandit hitters reached base and he took the loss.
• C/OF Alex Hall (2-for-4, double; 1.149 OPS) played left field in this game, continuing to hit and even gunning down a runner at home to keep it a 1-0 game in the 3rd inning.
• SS Eric Brown Jr. (0-for-3, walk, SB; .102 AVG, .287 OPS) can’t buy a hit at the moment (I’ll blame swing adjustments for the entire season if I have to), but one cannot fault his effort in other facets. He walked, stole second, advanced to third base on an error and scored on a wild pitch in a very active 4th inning before the game went awry.

Next week’s outlook: The Timber Rattlers (7-8) head home to face Marlins’ affiliate Beloit (10-5), seeking revenge after losing the season opening series on the road. RHP Joseph Hernandez (3.21 ERA in 14 IP) is scheduled to make his fourth start in the opener.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Carolina 3, Down East 2 (in eight innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Game Two Final: Carolina 4, Down East 3 (in seven innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Adams and Avina Homer as Mudcats Sweep Twin-Bill

After squandering a late lead in their last game, the Mudcats squeaked out two victories to impressively take the road series at Down East 5-1.

The teams combined for just seven hits over eight innings in the opening game, with Carolina registering none from the second through the sixth innings. However, 3B/1B Luke Adams (2-for-6, 2 HR, walk, 3 RBIs on the day; .207 AVG, 1.038 OPS) did the early damage with a 2-run, 1st inning blast.

19-year old RHP Patricio Aquino (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) didn’t get the strikeouts, but only needed 26 pitches to get through three innings in the opening game. C Blayberg Diaz came through late with an RBI single to score the ghost runner in the top of the 8th inning.

In the night cap, 20-year old RHP Alexander Vallecillo (4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 Ks) dominated and the team led comfortably 4-1 before hanging on for dear life in the 6th and 7th innings.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Hitting 10-for-52 would not get it done on most days, but Down East wasn’t any better in going 9-for-52. Up and down the lineup, many of the batting averages are unfortunately weak: Barrios .175, Perez .108, Fernandez .216, Avina .121, Parra .160, Areinamo .171, Nicasia .067, Diaz .182. OF Jace Avina (1-for-5, HR, walk, 2 RBIs, but with 4 Ks on the day) did manage to hit his first home run of 2023, however.
• RHPs Miguel Guerrero (1 IP, 2 Ks) and Jeison Pena (2 IP, 5 Ks) took care of the K department, striking out seven Wood Ducks over three hitless, scoreless innings to close it out, although Pena hit two batters to load the bases alongside the ghost runner. In a similarly stressful close to the second game, RHP Tyler Wehrle (2 IP, 2 ER, 2 Ks) stranded the tying run at second base in the penultimate inning, then RHP Tanner Shears (1 IP, 2 Ks) allowed a double and a walk before striking out the final batter to end the doubleheader sweep.
• RHP Aidan Maldonado (2 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K) had an uncharacteristically challenging day in the opening game, balking in a run and giving up an infield RBI single to tie it, though was helped out when a second runner tried and failed to score on that infield single.

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats (8-6) return home to take on White Sox affiliate Kannapolis (10-4). Tuesday’s starter is unclear, though RHPs Edwin Jimenez or Jacob Misiorowski look like the safest bets.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Enjoy the travel day before action heats up again on Tuesday.

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[Joseph Zarr]

I did not realize coming into the 2023 season I would be tracking Jace Avina's wild strikeout tendencies. I sincerely hope he can tone that down in the months ahead.

22 K in 41 PA is bananas

Given LHP Jakob Bristoski's continued struggles locating in early 2023, a move to the Development List would appear to make quite a bit of sense. One of my early season bummers has been the failed launch of his self-proclaimed "Year of Command". Perhaps, we'll be fortunate enough to look back and realize he simply discarded April?

[Playing Catch]

All of the minor league sticks are pretty cold to start the year

[wibadgers23]

23 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

All of the minor league sticks are pretty cold to start the year

Chourio had a good weekend so hopefully he's starting to heat up and Black has been good, but for the most part, there hasn't been a whole lot to get excited about.

[Ro Mueller]

35 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

All of the minor league sticks are pretty cold to start the year

If there’s a merit-based promotion chain, it’s probably Matt Wood -> Alex Hall -> Tyler Black. Maybe Dylan O’Rae is waiting in the wings of Extended Spring Training to take the league by storm like Jackson Chourio did last year. One can only hope!

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, damuelle said:

If there’s a merit-based promotion chain, it’s probably Matt Wood -> Alex Hall -> Tyler Black. Maybe Dylan O’Rae is waiting in the wings of Extended Spring Training to take the league by storm like Jackson Chourio did last year. One can only hope!

Given Alex Hall's incredible work since leaving for Australia, it makes one wonder:

Should every Timber Rattler be given a day with the Big Club as an 'Emergency Replacement'? Food for thought. I'm sure the brass is debating this very idea!