Wed. 4/26: Only Nashville Under the Lights; Matinee Brigade Begins at 10:00 AM Central

[Jim Goulart]

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

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

[Ro Mueller]

Carolina gets us started today, aiming for a 2-0 lead over Kannapolis. 19-year old RHP Yujanyer Herrera (2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 8.5 K/9 in 12.2 IP) makes his 4th start of 2023. CF Jace Avina started slowly, but has homered in consecutive games. 

[Ro Mueller]

The AA Shuckers, winners of 4 straight games, host Mississippi mid-day for Game 2 of this week’s series. RHP Christian Mejias (3.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 12.7 K/9 in 11.1 IP) gets the start. The team welcomes DH/C Jeferson Quero back for his first game in 8 days. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's a look at that Avina blast from yesterday. Muscled this one just over that LF wall and just inside that foul pole:

OF Kaylan Nicasia also had his most productive game as a Mudcat last night with his 3-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 SB evening. Lotta good Mudcats storylines going on in this current run of play. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Two Brewers PD clips today of two of our more intriguing early 2023 storylines - INF/OF Luke Adams and LHP Darrell Thompson. Both have been very impressive to start their campaigns:

Thompson:

Adams:

I spoke to it in yesterday's report, Adams' athleticism is already on full display. He already is showing plate discipline beyond his years generally refusing to chase those high four-seamers. But, it's his athleticism and agility in the field that isn't really discussed at all - it's upper echelon. This is a truly special young baseball player.

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin needs a win at home today over Beloit to tie their series 1-1. 21-year old RHP Cameron Wagoner (7.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 in 13.1 IP) makes his 4th start of the year. 

[Jake McKibbin]

Tyler Black's arm looks very far from reliable. A couple of hops before a routine play from third, and miles off target. First base did well to block it

[wiguy94]

41 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Tyler Black's arm looks very far from reliable. A couple of hops before a routine play from third, and miles off target. First base did well to block it

Big reason I think he's bound for 1B eventually. Doesn't have the arm to play 3B and doesn't have the range to play 2B. I actually thought he has looked best defensively in the OF but we have a lot of OF prospects above him on the pecking order. 

[Joseph Zarr]

21 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Big reason I think he's bound for 1B eventually. Doesn't have the arm to play 3B and doesn't have the range to play 2B. I actually thought he has looked best defensively in the OF but we have a lot of OF prospects above him on the pecking order. 

This. And, if we're being honest, with his bat he's quite easily the best candidate for that position in Biloxi. Tho, obviously Mike Guerrero will want to ensure Noah Campbell and Wes Clarke get burn and AB's there as primary options. It's pretty ugly early, however. In limited opportunities to date, well, he's butchered most plays.

[Joseph Zarr]

It looks like RHP Chase Costello gave up two runs in the 7th. Mudcats now trail 4-2 and are 1-for-7 on the day with RISP. RHP Yujanyer Herrera with another very solid effort - one of the more pleasant storylines in Carolina's early season.

[Joseph Zarr]

I see the Cannon Baller's 1B Tim Elko hit another homer? That's 2 in 2 nights. Six on the season. He also has a sac fly rbi and another run-scoring single. The White Sox's 2022 10th round pick out of the U of Mississippi. He's not going to be in Low-A much longer. Tools for days and 24 years old already with a frame that looks like it plays at Triple-A. Really nice prospect.

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Kaylan Nicasia follow his 3-for-3 evening with a 2-for-3 day? 1 R, 1 BB, 1 3B. Heck of a start to this series! The Mudcats grabbed a run back on ye ol' wold pitch. It's now a 3-4 deficit and onto the 9th.

[Joseph Zarr]

INF Daniel Guillarte opens the 9th (lead-off spot again) with a free pass. He and Gregory Barrios have really come alive of late. A wonderful development as they adjust to the higher level.

[wiguy94]

Eric Brown Jr hit in the face with a pitch in the 1st inning and was removed from the game. Very scary moment. 

[Joseph Zarr]

8 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Eric Brown Jr hit in the face with a pitch in the 1st inning and was removed from the game. Very scary moment. 

Oh no! That's awful. Right on the heels of his best game in High-A. Any word, yet, as to if he is Ok? UGH. Looking through the Game Log - Wagoner had also hit a batter in the 1st. I sincerely hope both were accidents.

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Oh no! That's awful. Right on the heels of his best game in High-A. Any word, yet, as to if he is Ok? UGH. Looking through the Game Log - Wagoner had also hit a batter in the 1st. I sincerely hope both were accidents.

Both were accidents. I don't think it looked that terrible in terms of getting hit in the face so fingers crossed he won't miss more than a couple of days.

[wiguy94]

Someone at the game said EBJ is sitting on the top rail of the dugout with no ice on his face. Seems like a good sign it was just precautionary to take him out of the game!

[Joseph Zarr]

Really nice to see LHP Nick Bennett have a fine bounceback two innings. Shuckers tacked on 2 with a OF Lamar Sparks single in the 8th to make it interesting but ultimately fall 4-2.

Sidebar:

RHP Harold Chirino is now scoreless through 8IP. Including today, he also sports a 15:1 K:BB ratio. Ummmm, yessssss! A great step in 2023. In his April comparisons (from 2022): BAA is down 50 points. WHIP is down 50 points. ERA is down 0.93 points. K's are up. Walks are down. THIS is what you call: taking your off-season work and running into success. You just love to see it.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Cameron Wagoner is still fighting his way through High-A outings - it will be interesting to watch his season as it progresses. In total, 4 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 ER, 3 K. It hasn't been easy, by any measure, for Wagoner early in 2023. 

T-Rats are in another close one - they trail 5-4 here in the bottom of the 5th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

The cumulative body language of the T-Rats roster is just not a good look right now. Another very weak effort to corral a relay throw by 1B Jesus Chirinos nearly allowing the one-out double to stretch to three bags, sends a bevy of heads peering downward to the grass and dirt. I said it yesterday, and it's apparent today as well: it's a struggle all around for the Timber Rattlers at present. They are battling themselves, honestly, more than anything else.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Michele Vassalotti gives up his first runs of 2023 with a two-run blast well over the wall in deep left field. The already extremely sparse and quiet crowd became deafening. The young Beloit 2B turned and ripped an inside heater (it was a really nice aggressive swing) and that was a no-doubter. The struggling T-Rats now trail 7-4 as we head to the bottom half of the 9th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

And, just like that, three-up and three-down. Three pedestrian AB's closing with a swinging INF Bob Moore strikeout on four pitches. The T-Rats lose their third straight and their second in a row at home 7-4. This team has a lot of work to do to find some swagger and an edge - they really just look entirely lifeless right now. Hopefully, manager Joe Ayrault can motivate the troops. 

[Ro Mueller]

The AAA Sounds look to go up 2-0 in their home series against Omaha. After some struggles, RHP Caleb Boushley was solid in his last outing (5.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks). 1B Keston Hiura (.294 AVG, 1.032 OPS in 76 PAs) is tied for 2nd in the International League with 8 homers (after Yankee Jake Bauers - 1.364 OPS for Scranton-WB?!). 

[Joseph Zarr]

@wiguy94: I just listened to the post-game T-Rats podcast. Eric Brown Jr. has no fractures, no concussions, and is generally doing really well. Apparently, his parents are in town to watch him play too. So, he may sit out a game or two but, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. He dodged a bullet today.

[TURBO]

I was at T-Rats game today.  It didn't appear in either case like batters were being thrown at.  Just playing the game.

Brown's HBP looked pretty bad, but it looked to me like the pitch went off the brim of his helmet before hitting him in the face.  That is how it sounded too.  I could be wrong, but I had a pretty good view of the play.

He was able to make it mostly to 1B after being hit before taking a knee, then he got up and touched 1B and was lead off the field.

Let's hope it looked a lot worse than it was.

I didn't see Brown again after he got hit, and did look for him in the dug out a few times.  I could have missed it though.

Acosta came in for him and had a triple, double and single, so that was pretty cool.

I like seeing Joe Gray do well.  That guy needs to take the next step and get out of Appleton.

Lazar looked pretty sharp today as well.  He's another one I am rooting for so he can move up the ladder.