Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/18): Blalock Shines Again as Affiliates Score Three Thursday Victories

[Ro Mueller]

Bradley Blalock kept his season ERA spotless in Biloxi’s win, while Bishop Letson and Luis Castillo led Carolina to victory. It was truly a team effort for Nashville, while Wisconsin fell just short.

Transactions:

• RHP Kevin Herget cleared waivers and outrighted to AAA Nashville (which is the level he was already playing at when he was DFA'd)
• RHP Tobias Myers optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers
• RHP Vladimir Gutierrez traded to Boston Red Sox for cash (thus resolving his DFA status)
• INF Jhon Bencosme released by DSL-Brewers1
• 1B/C Roman De La Torre released by DSL-Brewers2
• INF Donis Rodriguez released by DSL-Brewers2
• OF/1B Smarlin Espinal released by DSL-Brewers2

Manager Rick Sweet will be thrilled to keep Herget and also get Myers back, even if Myers’ Major League debut will have to wait for now. We’ll share some notes on the time which the released players spent in the organization on the Minor League Transaction Thread in the coming days.

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 9, Memphis 1
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: Sounds Hurlers Dominate, Strike Out Baker's Dozen in Triumph Over Omaha

Starting LHP Aaron Ashby may have needed 93 pitches (47 strikes) to cover 3 1/3 innings, but we still need to hail his effort for making his third start in 11 days. I doubt anyone else in the organization has been pushed as hard as Ashby in this period and he was able to limit the damage despite issuing five walks (1 ER, 2 H, 2 WP, 4 Ks). 

Of particular importance were the swinging strikeouts of Omaha’s 5th and 6th hitters (including old friend INF Cam Devanney) with 2-on, 1-out in the top of the 3rd inning to keep the game close at 1-0.

From there it was domination-by-bullpen, with the Storm Chasers only collecting a single and a walk over the final 6 2/3 IP against LHP Rob Zastryzny and RHPs Tobias Myers, Nolan Blackwood and Enoli Paredes. And that single was promptly erased by C Eric Haase gunning down the attempted basestealer.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Offensively, Haase, left fielder Isaac Collins and SS Yonny Hernandez led the way, combining for a 5-for-11 day with 6 RBIs. If the organization had any thoughts about temporarily re-assigning Collins to AA to solve Biloxi’s player shortage, Collins’ .300 average and 1.020 OPS should negate that idea.
• Sending Myers (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) back to AAA was the best way to get him scheduled work (his last start with 6 days earlier) and also help a Nashville squad that’s been lacking long men due to injuries to Robert Gasser and Evan McKendry.
• As the game link indicated, INF Christian Arroyo (0-for-2, 2 walks, 2 runs) made his season debut after overcoming a spring training injury. He’s played in the majors for seven consecutive seasons and will certainly be trying to earn another trip to the Show.

Be sure to visit the Sounds’ Twitter feed for several video highlights. Collins is certainly swinging the bat confidently: 

Friday’s outlook: RHP Chad Patrick (5.14 ERA in 7 IP) will make his third start of the season as the Sounds aim to extend their series lead to 3-1. He threw 84 pitches in a start five days ago.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Chattanooga 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Blalock Extends Shutout Streak to 17 Innings, Shuckers Win Sixth Straight

Care of WLOX, we’re lucky to have video highlights of the Shuckers win, including an early web gem from OF Carlos D. Rodriguez and 1B Ernesto Martinez's moonshot homer to extend the lead.

Yes, starting RHP Bradley Blalock (6 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) is the big story, as well-told in the game link above. That’s 17(!!!) shutout innings to commence his 2024 campaign in his first taste of AA ball. We’ve won the Luis Urias trade hands-down. Thank you Boston.

But here’s what some of us are really thinking about this morning:

• If Biloxi can win with 13 healthy position players on the roster, why not 12 (after Brock Wilken’s scary injury)?
• And if they can win with 12, why not 11 (after Eric Brown’s apparently shoulder injury on Wednesday)?
• And if they can win with 11, why not 10 (given Wes Clarke’s multi-game absence)?
• And if they can win with 10, why not 9 (UT Eduardo Garcia exited this game after being hit-by-pitch (hand) in the 2nd inning)?

That’s six straight victories for Biloxi and their new manager Joe Ayrault, who may have to suit up himself tomorrow night if Brown, Clarke or Garcia aren’t healthy enough to give it a go.

We’re so fortunate that Martinez re-signed with the organization for an 8th minor league season, with his 2-run, 5th inning blast essentially putting this game away given the domination by Blalock and the bullpen.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Six players had to switch fielding positions in the wake of Garcia’s early exit in this game, including 6’6”, 250lb Martinez heading out to play center field for 7 innings, his first taste of the outfield since 4 games right before the 2021 trade deadline.
• About that bullpen: RHP Sam Gardner was looking like the stud we know he is: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks. Atta boy Gardner. And LHP Justin King needed just 10 pitches to shut down the Lookouts in the 9th inning.
• UT Noah Campbell (playing left field and second base in this game) continued his hot streak: 2-for-3, triple, walk (1.036 season OPS). INF Ethan Murray (SS, 3B) also reached base three times.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Tyler Woessner (0.90 ERA with 15 Ks in 10 IP) will be looking to keep Chattanooga down in his third start of 2024

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Rally Falls Short to Cedar Rapids

Despite the close loss, you can still enjoy the video highlight package put together by Wisconsin’s terrific media team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YA-7jOmtpk&t=2s

Readers are also encouraged to listen to the postgame podcast of Chris Mehring and Kyle Lobner for additional news and nuggets.

Starting RHP Will Rudy (4 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) was unable to replicate his terrific start from six days earlier (4 2/3 scoreless innings in that game), this time being hit hard for three consecutive innings. At least he pitched a scoreless fourth frame and ended his day with a strikeout, though the team trailed 6-2.

From there it was the LHP Mark Manfredi (4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 8 Ks) show, retiring 12 of 13 batters faced, eight via strikeout. Will we look back on this as THE breakout performance for the 24-year old, ninth round pick in the 2023 draft? This was only his second official game since being drafted.

3B Mike Boeve cannot be stopped: 3-for-3, double, walk, RBI, 2 runs scored. That lifts his season average and OPS to .528 and 1.231 respectively. Was he on the 5:00am American Airlines flight to Charlotte and onward to Biloxi this morning?

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Unfortunately Cedar Rapids’ relievers were able to retire Wisconsin’s final seven hitters to hold onto their lead and claim this win, giving them a 2-1 advantage in this week’s series.
• SS Gregory Barrios just turned 20 years old and it surprised some of us that he got the promotion to High-A ball after a .586 OPS at Low-A Carolina last year. But this is why it helps to get beyond the box score. In the daily forum, my Link Report colleague Joseph Zarr noted that Barrios looks heavier and even taller in this 2024 season, evolving from a glove and speed player to something much more: 2-for-4 (both doubles, giving him 6 two-baggers already on the young season) with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
• Dylan O’Rae (DHing in this game) also produced two doubles, RHP Craig Yoho pitched a 1-2-3 final inning and C Matt Wood threw out the Kernels’ only attempted basestealer as the squad fell just short.

Friday’s outlook: The team and fans will be thrilled to have RHP Brett Wichrowski (1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 11.6 K/9 in 7 IP thus far) on the mound for pivotal Game 4 of this week’s series.

Final: Carolina 4, Augusta 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Squash Augusta Rally to Take Series Lead

Left fielder Luis Castillo (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) continues to claw his way out of an early season slump, giving starting RHP Bishop Letson (3 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 2 Ks) a helpful 3-run cushion before he threw his first pitch. 

As the game link details, each of Letson and RHP Yujanyer Herrera (5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks) had solid outings, although the contest nearly got away from Herrera in a tricky 5th inning. In fact, six of the first nine batters (5 hits, 1 walk) reached base against Herrera in the 4th and 5th innings before he settled in.

This was 22-year old Yhoswar Garcia’s first game playing infield (second base) in his fourth season in the minors, so we can forgive the human-bundle-of-energy if the nerves were tingling. He stole two bases (giving him 11 SBs in 9 games this year), made two other outs on the bases (gunned down at home to end the 2nd inning, caught stealing), and doubled, stole third base and scored what proved to be the game-winning run on center fielder Yophery Rodriguez’s single in the 7th inning: 

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Critical moment: With the game tied 3-3 and Augusta having men on 1st and 3rd with one out in the bottom of the 5th inning, Herrera garnered three swings and misses from the GreenJackets number five hitter for the second out of that frame. Herrera also picked off two baserunners to help his cause.
• Despite a 2.80 ERA in 45 innings last year, this is RHP Jeferson Figueroa’s fourth season with the Mudcats. It’s nice to see him bounce back from a difficult first outing (2 ER in 1 2/3 IP eight days earlier) to grab the save here, which will hopefully lead to more opportunities.

Friday’s outlook: Exciting prospect RHP Josh Knoth (3.00 ERA with 7 Ks in 6 IP) is scheduled to take the mound for Game 4 of the Carolina-Augusta series.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck to all teams in Friday’s matchups! The Brewers are also back in action after a day off.

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

View full article

[Kripes - Brewers]

Boeve looks the part with a smooth, repeatable, easy swing. Looks like he won't be with the T-rats much longer! The 1st baseman, Luke Adams, uses a front leg lift and kinda circles it in the air. You can see it's his timing mechanism, but it puts all his weight on his back leg, so if he has to adjust to a changing speed, he's screwed. If he has to swing before the foot is down, he has no power. I hope the coaches try to get him to do a toe tap and quiet his approach - too much going on there, but he looks huge in the batters box!

$3 craft beers, $3 brats on Thursdays, truly a sweet deal in Appleton, and they keep it a fun atmosphere.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

Boeve looks the part with a smooth, repeatable, easy swing. Looks like he won't be with the T-rats much longer! The 1st baseman, Luke Adams, uses a front leg lift and kinda circles it in the air. You can see it's his timing mechanism, but it puts all his weight on his back leg, so if he has to adjust to a changing speed, he's screwed. If he has to swing before the foot is down, he has no power. I hope the coaches try to get him to do a toe tap and quiet his approach - too much going on there, but he looks huge in the batters box!

$3 craft beers, $3 brats on Thursdays, truly a sweet deal in Appleton, and they keep it a fun atmosphere.

With Adams, those are very adept points. He has quieted down his pre-swing hands movement - which is step one me thinks. That leg lift, as you allude to, is a wee large. It's almost a game in and of itself.

[Austin Tatious]

Bishop Letson, Bradley Blalock….very exciting on the pitching front.