Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/20): L - L - L - L - Lousy Night to be a Brewers Fan

[Jim Goulart]

If you're settling in to relieve yourself from Brewer big-league woes by checking in on what happened Saturday down on the farm, then well, you can probably tell you're about to be disappointed via the subject line here. Apparently misery does love company. We strive to highlight the positive within each and every day's collection of games. Saturday's contests proved particularly challenging. That being said, don't give up now, it's still a worthwhile visit. So enjoy! (Not the right word choice...)

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

TRANSACTIONS: 

- RHP Colin Rea recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville (replacing injured JB Bukauskas)
- 1B Luke Voit sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
 

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Final: Durham (Rays) 5, Nashville 3 

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

Sounds Come Up Short in Durham - Despite Sounds comeback, Bulls walk off Nashville 5-3

Pre-Game Media Notes

Box Score / Game Log

Was able to watch LH reliever Darrell Thompson's performance live, he is incredible, doing this on just 20 pitches! (I realize there is no video included here, but it's posted to note that Devin Williams' Twitter handle is @DTrainn_23 - future bullpen mates.)

Then, for the just the 2nd time this year (once in Biloxi), Thompson was asked to pitch into a 3rd inning. So this was the result, on the very first pitch following a walk on a 3-2 count. Yeah, it was crushed, but the fact remains, Thompson is going to be a key member of this organization for some time to come.

Hey, Luke Voit is in Nashville within days of his, "clears throat", neck strain. So it becomes a work-out-the-kinks rehab assignment, and Voit reached base three times on two walks and a HBP. He only had one at-bat vs. a LHP, and sure enough, he K'd. The HBP occurred in the 9th, and Voit was pinch-run for, no indication of further injury.

You'll enjoy this interview with LHP Ethan Small. I did.

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Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 12, Biloxi 2

Via the Shuckers' site:

Lookouts Tally Six Extra-Base Hits, Defeat Shuckers 12-2 - Jason Lopez smashes his first home run of the year in the loss

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

7th consecutive loss.

SS Freddy Zamora's defensive struggles tend to come in bunches (three errors here). However, that only brings his total to seven on the season. Off night.

Speaking of errors, though the game summary indicates Jackson Chourio was charged with one in the 4th, the box score doesn't reflect that. The camera work disappoints on this throw, and thankfully Zavier Warren reconsidered cutting it off:

We have to refer to it at some point. The Shuckers struck out 20 times. 20! Sticky Southern League baseballs doing funky things or not, that's not good. We have notified the awesome authority on such madness, The Athletic's Jayson Stark. 

Just-turned 24-year-old RHP Christian Mejias' starting pitcher line is marred even further when you factor in the three HBP's embedded in the box score. Rough outing.

As promised yesterday, the pre-game audio with Manager Mike Guerrero is available, and by mid-day Sunday, look for RH reliever Cam Robinson's chat via the same link.
 

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Final:  Quad Cities (Royals) 5, Wisconsin 4

Via the Timber Rattlers' site:

Bandits Hold on to Beat Wisconsin - Rattlers fall just short in comeback attempt

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

Box Score / Game Log

6th consecutive loss, T-Rats now 11-26 despite a noble effort here.

Despite the loss, the always-worthwhile postgame podcast with Voice of the Rattlers Chris Mehring, Kyle Lobner, and Manager Joe Ayrault can be found here.

On the surface, LHP Russell Smith's one earned run allowed in three innings of relief looks fine, but there were five walks and three wild pitches within. I've personally been harsher than I usually comment on Smith, but we have yet to see anything in his pro career that gets us excited about being a 51st overall pick (Texas Christian, 2021). And sorry, 51st overall picks get less slack. WHIP is 1.85, Smith turns 25 in September, yet to sniff AA Biloxi.

But no cigar below...
 

 

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Final: Kannapolis (White Sox) 3, Carolina 2

Carolina Drops Second Straight 3-2 in Kannapolis - Logan Henderson struck out seven over three innings in Saturday’s loss

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

Let's not fret on the still-in-first-place Mudcats with their effort here.

Speaking of high 2021 draft picks (see Russell Smith, above), this is our best look yet at RHP Logan Henderson, the 4th round JUCO who has starred primarily in the glowing pre-draft reports but not on actual Milwaukee affiliate mounds. This was only the 9th appearance by Henderson, all short starts, spread between Maryvale and Carolina, and just the second this year.

Listed at 5'11" (maybe?), Henderson's lower base is notable, there is some heft to those thighs and backside. That's fine, we look forward to a healthy stretch-out and a bright future.

Congrats to 3B Jheremy Vargas on his 2nd inning RBI double. Across 29 at-bats with RISP across the entire night of MKE affiiate games, Vargas had the only base hit. Read that sobering last sentence again.

For the first time in 32 games of full-season ball, second baseman Daniel Guilarte failed to reach base. 
 

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This Link Reporter is heading out on a needed getaway (happy wife, happy life!), hoping the Shuckers and Timber Rattlers can snap their combined 0-for-13 losing ways Sunday, when all four contests have traditional afternoon start times. I'll be lurking, but until next time, thanks for visiting. Please spread the word among your baseball buddies about our efforts here.

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 needed ONE look at that Durham HR slo-mo replay to realize that was former Shucker killer OF Niko Hulsizer. Seriously, he is a Brewers destroyer. How many times did he steal games from the Shuckers in 2022? Keep your head up, Mr. Thompson. That was pre-destined.

[Joseph Zarr]

It may not be discernible to viewers who haven't watched every one of RHP Logan Henderson's starts. BUT, I want to point out what you will see on the latter part of that highlight reel: intensity and a demonstrable display of amped-upness (for lack of a better term). THIS is the Logan Henderson we saw last season before he was shelved in nearly every inning of work. THIS is who he is at his core when he is 'On'. This a very encouraging sign. His first outing, he really really had the rust and couldn't get any meaningful swings with his off-speed tools. This was an extremely encouraging outing and one we should be excited about and hang on to in the near term.