Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/14): Adams, Haase, Hicklen and Castillo Power Sunday Sweep

[Ro Mueller]

Luke Adams, Eric Haase and Luis Castillo homered early in wins for Wisconsin, Nashville and Carolina, while Carlos D. Rodriguez knocked in three runs in Biloxi’s comeback.

The four-win Sunday means that the Sounds and Shuckers salvaged 3-3 series ties and ensured that the Timber Rattlers grabbed a 4-2 series win in South Bend. Of course, the amazing story is that the young Mudcats defeated perennial nemesis Down East in five straight games for a 5-1 series victory.

Transactions:

• OF Joey Wiemer recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• LHP Jared Koenig’s contract selected by MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville (replacing injured RHP JB Bukauskas)
• RHP Corbin Martin claimed from Diamondbacks and assigned to AAA Nashville
• INF Andruw Monasterio optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers
• RHP Kevin Herget (on AAA Nashville’s roster prior to this move) designated for assignment

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 8, Memphis 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Haase, Hicklen Homer as Sounds Earn Series Split in Memphis

It’s fair to wonder whether MLB brass get buyer’s remorse like the rest of us. Are the Marlins, whose catchers have been woeful offensively but didn’t put in a waiver claim on C Eric Haase (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs), checking the Nashville boxscore with pangs of regret?

And as he watched Joey Wiemer struggle in key at-bats against the Orioles, was Matt Arnold checking to see whether hot-hitting OF Brewer Hicklen (1-for-3, HR, 2 walks, 2 RBIs) might have fared better?

Haase’s 2nd inning 3-run blast reversed an early 1-0 deficit, while Hicklen’s 2-run shot provided helpful breathing room to cap off a big 5th inning for the Sounds.

Of course, the biggest hit was left fielder Isaac Collins’ (1-for-3, triple, walk, 2 RBIs) fifth inning, 2-run triple which gave Nashville a 5-4 lead – registering as a 25.7% win probability change. This came on a poorly placed 0-2 changeup from Memphis’ fading starting pitcher.

A day after LHP Aaron Ashby pitched on 5 days’ rest, RHP Janson Junk (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks) came in to do the same, but only needed to deliver 51 pitches in providing 3 innings of solid relief. However, 31 of Junk’s pitches came in the 8th inning, when Memphis loaded the bases to bring the potential game-tying run to the plate with one out. Junk came through with a swinging K (floating in two high strike curveballs to get ahead 0-and-2) and a groundout.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Starting RHP Chad Patrick (4 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 3 Ks) covered 3 innings in 35 pitches in his first start, but labored in this game: 84 pitches in 4 innings. Big kudos to the offense and LHP Rob Zastryzny (didn’t allow the inherited runner from Patrick to score in the 5th inning) for picking him up.
• Every position player contributed in this entertaining game: 7 players registering hits, while Yonny Hernandez walked twice and Francisco Mejia delivered a sacrifice fly.
• Zastryzny and RHP Enoli Paredes both kept their season ERAs at 0.00. I’d imagine that Manager Rick Sweet is encouraging Paredes (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K), the team’s most dominant reliever who’s watched two teammates be promoted to MLB instead, to keep the faith in an eventual upcoming promotion.
• The defenses combined on six double plays to help pitchers escape several jams.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (7-8) returns home and will host Royals’ affiliate Omaha (10-5) in a 6-game series. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K last week) is scheduled to make his first start of 2024 as he eyes a possible future recall to the Brewers.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Mississippi 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Bullpen Dominates in Shuckers 4-3, Comeback Win, Over M-Braves

The Shuckers didn’t have as many opportunities as the Braves (2-for-5 with RISP vs. 1-for-12 with RISP), but got the clutch hits to come back from a 3-0 deficit in this competitive series finale.

The game really swung in the bottom of the 4th inning and top of the 5th inning. Starting RHP TJ Shook (4 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks bore down to strand a baserunner at third base via consecutive strikeouts, thus keeping the Shuckers only down 3-0, then Biloxi getting three consecutive 2-out hits to claw back to within 3-2. 

As the game link indicated, the last of those hits was a 2-run single into center field by right fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez (1-for-3, SF, 3 RBIs, SB), who also knocked in what proved to be the winning run with a 7th inning sacrifice fly.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• After RHP Sam Gardner scuffled badly in his second inning of relief three days earlier, he was understandably limited to one inning this time out. As such, the Shuckers got the customary Gardner dominance (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) and RHP James Meeker was tasked with delivering two relief innings, which Meeker handled with aplomb (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks).
• Left fielder Noah Campbell (2-for-4, triple, 2 runs) played a significant role in the comeback, starting the 5th inning rally, then tripling and scoring to take the lead in the 7th inning. 2B Freddy Zamora (2-for-3, walk, RBI) also had a productive day.
• RHP Justin Yeager (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) collected his second save, but not before walking the leadoff batter and going to a 3-and-0 count to the next hitter. Thankfully he came back to get a swinging strikeout, ultimately escaping with the potential game-tying runner on 3rd base.
• C Wes Clarke (1-for-3, walk), who is presumably repeating AA ball in order to get in more catching work, wasn’t able to throw out any of three attempted basestealers. However, he did pivotally block Shook’s third strike and throw to first base for the second out of the 4th inning, keeping a Mississippi baserunner at 3rd base to keep the score 3-0.

Next week’s outlook: The Shuckers (5-4) head home to battle Reds’ affiliate Chattanooga (3-5), with LHP Nate Peterson seeking a terrific follow-up outing to his first start (4 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks).

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 9, South Bend 6
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Adams and Areinamo Pace Rattlers Past Cubs

Opportunities abounded in this well-attended (crowd of 4,712) Sunday contest, with each club nearly knocking the opposing starting pitcher out of the game in an 8-run first inning (tied 4-4).

While 3B Luke Adams (2-for-4, HR, 2 walks, 4 RBIs, SB, no Ks) and SS Jadher Areinamo (4-for-5, double, RBI, 3 SBs) had the biggest games, eight Timber Rattlers collected at least one hit in the team effort. Adams’ 1st inning homer gave Wisconsin a 3-0 lead and Areinamo 2-out RBI double in the 4th inning pushed the advantage to 6-4.

It’s unclear whether Milwaukee was seriously considering a promotion of DH/INF Mike Boeve to Biloxi to fill Brock Wilken’s big shoes, but Boeve is doing everything in his power to force them to consider it: 2-for-3, walk, SF, RBI – season OPS 1.109). His 4th inning sacrifice fly put Wisconsin back in front at 5-4.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Wisconsin’s RHP Edwin Jimenez (5 IP, 5 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) was able to recover from a rough 4-run, 5-hit opening inning to deliver five innings and 81 pitches, while his teammates came through with five more runs for a relatively commanding 9-4 advantage.
• Although the Cubs put the first two batters on base in each of the 7th and 8th innings, Wisconsin’s bullpen was sound overall: 4 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 6 Ks. RHP Craig Yoho (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) collected his second save with a 1-2-3 final half-inning.
• Apparently the Brewers and Cubs gave their managers different directives in terms of baserunning approach, with exciting Wisconsin making 8 steal attempts (6 successful) while boring South Bend was too scared to even make one attempt against Timber Ratter catcher Ramon Rodriguez. Rodriguez even stole a base himself, as if to emphasize the point.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (6-3) returns home to take on Twins’ affiliate Cedar Rapids (4-4), with 20-year RHP Patricio Aquino aiming for a repeat of his dominant first start (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) on Tuesday.

Final: Carolina 6, Down East 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Monster Fourth Inning Powers Mudcats to Fourth Straight Win

If you thought that the youngest team in Low-A ball (don’t quote me; I’ll prove it another day) would take it easy after clinching a series victory on Saturday, you were thankfully mistaken.

“All Gas” right fielder Yhoswar Garcia set the tone with his 2nd inning infield single and stolen base, taking 3rd base on an error and home on a groundout. He already has seven stolen bases in this young 2024 campaign, seemingly taking a page out of the books of Garrett Mitchell and Eric Brown Jr. every time he reaches base.

Starting RHP Yorman Galindez (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks) danced around heavy traffic, getting a helpful assist from LHP Osbriel Mogollon (3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K) to strand two baserunners in the 3rd inning to maintain that 1-0 advantage.

Center fielder Yophery Rodriguez (3-for-4, walk, RBI) started Carolina’s big 3rd inning with a single before three consecutive extra-base hits made it a 4-0 ballgame.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• In the consistent theme of the day, eight Carolina players produced at least one hit. Left fielder Luis Castillo (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs) will be especially pleased to break out of his early season funk. 
• It may be his 4th year in the organization, but this was UT Kay-Lan Nicasia’s (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs) first start at first base, which he evidently handled well (no errors). However, time will tell whether his 7th inning exit was due to an injury or simply a defensive change to bring in experienced first baseman Tayden Hall.
• RHPs Aidan Maldonado and Blake Whiting are not off to great starts statistically, allowing 4 earned runs over the final 3 innings of this game, but at least they added some late suspense for any fans which craved it. That said, Down East never brought the potential game-tying run to the plate, as Whiting ended the game with a strikeout and line out.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina (8-1) heads to South Carolina to face Braves’ affiliate Augusta (5-4), with RHP Ryan Birchard (4 IP, 1 ER (0 ER), 1 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks last week), newly added to the Brewers’ top 30 prospect list at MLB.com, the most likely Tuesday starter.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. The minor league squads are off on Monday, so I guess we’ll all have to watch the Brewers defeat the Padres instead.

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]

Shuckers interview with C Darrien Miller on the art of catching and getting hit by pitches.