Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/2): A 3-1 Evening Kicks Off the Weekend

[Jim Goulart]

Three wins among the Crew's four affiliate games Friday night, and where there wasn't a win, there was "big" transaction news (as in large LH slugger news). Let's get right to the proceedings!

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

TRANSACTIONS:

Really happy about this, both from Jon's personal perspective and the big league's offensive upgrade in the DH spot (will become official when the Brewers announce it today):

Might Singleton have a Nashville partner with him in Cincinnati this weekend?

As the Brewers begin to set up their Dominican and Maryvale rosters for Monday's respective Opening Day's, our season-long Minor League Transaction thread details a large number of moves in a series of five posts beginning here. Please review.
 

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Final: Charlotte (White Sox) 4, 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 Fall to Knights in Extras - Nashville Loses in Charlotte Despite Great Start by Pannone

Pre-Game Media Notes

Box Score / Game Log

Normally one wouldn't pull first baseman Jon Singleton in the 10th inning, but clearly, he was given good news (and airline instructions). Ironically, Singleton's last action on offense was getting caught stealing 3rd base for the final out in the 8th -- not sure if he was trying to advance on a ball that got away from the catcher.

Unfortunately, LHP Ethan Small's poor outing hovers over wonderful work from veteran southpaw starter Thomas Pannone. This Small pitch drifted back to the middle of the plate:

Tyler Naquin has a double, two singles and a walk in his first two games back from the IL, though he was ejected after being called out on strikes in the 9th. Somehow, RHP Tyson Miller's recent struggles extended into the dugout, as he was tossed at the same time though not appearing in this game.

The rust on Luis Urias is thick, thick, thick. He was 0-for-5 with three K's here, and his eight-game OPS is .383. Good to get it out of his system, we guess. In the meantime, yay Andruw Monasterio, who is knocking his own opportunity on its heels, looking all the bit a big leaguer with no worries.

Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem's visit on Nashville radio can be found at the 27:00-minute mark below. Plenty of specific player discussion within:

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Final: Biloxi 10, Pensacola (Marlins) 7

Via the Shuckers' site:

Five-Run Fifth Leads to 10-7 Shuckers Win over Pensacola - Biloxi comes back from down 6-1 to tie series with Blue Wahoos

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

Rickie Weeks is the the latest Biloxi pre-game guest, given his player development role in the organization.

One would figure that 17 total runs (thankfully ten on offense) would lead to multiple video highlights, so before we even dig into the game nuggets, feel free to gobble up the sights via the Shuckers Twitter Media feed.

Completely understand focusing on the positive, but unless you reviewed the box score, you wouldn't realize this was the roughest of RHP Carlos Rodriguez' ten starts in 2023 (kudos to recently turned 25-year-old RHP TJ Shook for the very well-earned win with his middle inning bravioso performance. We'll overlook there's no "J" in Franklin Todd Shook's name, but that's a question for Javik Blake to ask in a future pre-game interview.

Jackson Chourio got to face rehabbing Marlins LH closer AJ Puk (that's Andrew Jacob, by the way). Puk's inning started with a line drive single by Isaac Collins (kudos), and then Chourio grounded a single to left, scooting Collins to 3rd base. Puk then picked off Chourio who was caught stealing second base. A taste of the big-leagues, young Jackson...

Contributions from many within that box score, solid win minus Rodriguez' outlier start.
 

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Working out in Appleton before driving to Milwaukee for the Orioles' series this week - we don't have to explain why the mask is on, right?

Final:  Wisconsin 8, Peoria 2

Via the Timber Rattlers' site:

Rattlers Cruise to 8-2 Win over Chiefs - Wisconsin wins 4-2 over Kernels in ten innings for second straight win

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

Box Score / Game Log

A day and a half left in the T-Rats' Star Wars jersey auction!

See, that's the thing about leadoff hitters and box scores. Absolutely everyone on the field for the Rattlers on this day contributed nicely (sans one player), but when you're atop the page, at first glance and review, that 0-for-5 sticks out. Get 'em this weekend, Eric Brown Jr.

 

Agreed on the below, always worth your while. Chris and Kyle know that approx. 15 minutes works for you all. Glad to hear them give RH reliever Ryan Brady some love within, he's been solid.

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Final: Carolina 3, Lynchburg (Guardians) 2

Mudcats Win Sixth Straight 3-2 in Lynchburg - The first-place Mudcats won their sixth straight game while earning a series clinching victory

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

OK, you Down East (Kinston, NC) Wood Ducks. Stop it Just stop it.

Our first-place Mudcats, yearning to break the longest playoff drought in all of MiLB (sorry for another mention, Carolina fans), can't seem to extend their tiny half-game lead over the Rangers' affiliate in the standings, despite all the victories as of late. Let us breathe, please.

First baseman Jesus Chirino was idle after exiting Thursday's game.

By way of rout or nail-biter, these 'Cats are firing on all cylinders. Overall, the OPS figures you see in the box scores won't overwhelm, but the game experiences continue to build for these youngsters. 

And the not-so-young as well, as "older" relievers Tyler Wehrle (23) and Nick Merkel (25 next month) continue to shine. I promise you, Brewers brass won't elevate them until the results of the first-half standings (go to look up that end date, help in the comments, please?) comes. They clearly want the team they own to have playoff baseball in Zebulon this fall and end that playoff appearance gap.

And yes, Merkel, listed at 6'7", 255, goes by @largemammal41 on Twitter. Love it.

RH starter Logan Henderson with 65 effective pitches. Keep that dude healthy and watch out. 

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Saturday sees all evening action, even in Appleton. Enjoy, everyone!

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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[Ro Mueller]

Great write-up as always. I’m guessing the Low-A First Half will end on June 22nd, halfway through a home series against Lynchburg, though I’ve not seen anything official. That’d be halfway through the the season’s 132 scheduled games.

If I’m correct, then Carolina and Down East each have 18 games remaining in the First Half, which is sort of an eternity.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, damuelle said:

Great write-up as always. I’m guessing the Low-A First Half will end on June 22nd, halfway through a home series against Lynchburg, though I’ve not seen anything official. That’d be halfway through the the season’s 132 scheduled games.

If I’m correct, then Carolina and Down East each have 18 games remaining in the First Half, which is sort of an eternity.

Not to mention the Mudcats are barely clinging to a 1/2 game lead. I said it this past weekend and I'll say it again here: that completely canceled Down East doubleheader this past weekend could be the difference in the first half. It was a truly unfortunate weather bomb.

Why is this important? Well, beyond the obvious that we want our beloved Low-A affiliate to get into the playoffs the Mudcats also hold the current MILB worst 13-year playoff drought. They have to get that monkey off the back!

As to when the first half officially ends, Greg Young discussed it in one of the Down East broadcasts last week? I'll go back and find it. 😝 

[Joseph Zarr]

I see C Blayberg Diaz was behind the dish last night. One of my most recent up-and-coming catching stable favorites. Just for a bit of insight (in the linked Game Notes above):

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THE BLAYBERG BATTERY: The Mudcats are 10-6 with a staff ERA of 2.18 when Blayberg Diaz catches... Diaz has additionally been one of Carolina's top hitters of late as he has gone 13-for-38 over his last 10 games (.342/.342/.447, .789 OPS, 5 RBI, 8 K).

I can't overstate how incredibly impressive the duo of Diaz and Sibrian is for Carolina. I will put them against any catching duo in Low-A and High-A. They are that good.

[Joseph Zarr]

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Normally one wouldn't pull first baseman Jon Singleton in the 10th inning, but clearly, he was given good news (and airline instructions). Ironically, Singleton's last action on offense was getting caught stealing 3rd base for the final out in the 8th -- not sure if he was trying to advance on a ball that got away from the catcher.

@Mass Haas: Patrick Dorrian was caught off 1B and had to break for 2B where Big Jon was standing. Stuck suddenly in an 'Oh s#$%!' moment, Singleton being the teammate he is took off for 3B. Hence, he was picked off.

[Joseph Zarr]

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Tyler Naquin has a double, two singles and a walk in his first two games back from the IL, though he was ejected after being called out on strikes in the 9th. 

Very strange moment. I think Naquin wanted a challenge but the umpire doesn't have to grant a challenge (which is very odd) BUT in this case the Sounds didn't actually have any challenges left😅. So, they got into a minor war of words - it actually seemed fairly benign. And, then the ump just tossed him. Naquin was not pleased as you can imagine. In the ensuing hoolabaloo arranging the replacement player, a hoodie-wearing RHP Tyson Miller was tossed from the top rail - obviously, he was saying something the ump was not to pleased with. The count was 2-and-2 so he technically wasn't 'technically' called out on strikes but OF Noah Campbell was but the K goes to Naquin.

That's a lottta words for ya.😅

[USCBrewFan]

Hey guys,

I noticed in the 6/2 write up that you mentioned there was no "J" in Franklin Todd Shook for TJ.  His actual name is Franklin Todd Shook, Jr. Thus, TJ as in Todd Jr.  They didn't put the junior part on his MiLB page.  Just wanted to pass this along to help clear up any confusion.  Thanks and keep up the good work on the writeup!.