Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/23): Misiorowski Bounces Back, Carlos F. Rodriguez Continues to Scuffle while Affiliates go 1-3

[Joseph Zarr]

It was certainly a breath of fresh air to see RHP Jacob Misiorowski dealing in his 4 1/3 IP. The Mudcats managed to comeback and improve to 4-0 on the season versus Salem. The T-Rats saw RHP Patricio Aquino scuffle as their offense learned life without Mike Boeve is not as pleasant on the scoreboard. The Shuckers blew a 4-3 lead in the ninth frame after they failed to score a single run with the bases juiced and nobody out in their half. And, Nashville not only suffered a 14-9 loss but they also lost their most consistent bat when OF Brewer Hicklen (who also leads the International League in stolen bases) was plunked in the kneecap. Begrudgingly, let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• RHP Tobias Myers was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• INF Andruw Monasterio was optioned to Triple-A Nashville from the Milwaukee Brewers
• INF/OF Noah Campbell was promoted to Triple-A Nashville from Biloxi
• RHP Miguel Guerrero was released by High-A Wisconsin
• RHP Ryan Birchard was placed on Carolina's 7-Day IL
• C Victor Torres was transferred to Carolina from the ACL Brewers

Please visit our ongoing 'Minor League Transactions' page to read more details on the above - including very kind parting words for those recently released by our very own @damuelle

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Final: Louisville (Reds) 14, Sounds 9

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds Drop High Scoring Affair at Louisville - Tyler Black Homers for the Second Straight Game in 14-9 Loss

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez is not the same pitcher in early 2024 as we saw routinely at Double-A Biloxi in 2023. Granted, he is a 22-year-old playing well above his age bracket. What I am seeing in nearly every outing so far in 2024 is a young arm who has simply consistently struggled to locate his stuff. This was certainly no different tonight in his very rough 4 IP - 6 H, 3 BB, 1 HB, 4 K, 7 ER. One can point to some bad luck in the first frame when he conceded one run - a seeing eye double to the furthest part of the LF line when Isaac Collins was shaded toward CF and then a chopper off the first base bag that caromed over Black's head and into right field. However, that won't match your eye test in the six runs that followed over the next three frames. In his ill-fated five-run second frame, Rodriguez simply saw entirely too many hangers sitting dead center. Louisville took advantage and opened a 6-2 lead from a 2-1 deficit.

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Three Quick Strikes:

1) If RHP Blake Holub wants to stick with Triple-A Nashville, he is absolutely going to have to start finding ways stay near or over the plate. I see an uncanny right-hand resemblance to old left-hand hopeful LHP Ethan Small in Holub's game. And, I don't mean this in the good Ethan Small way. By my naked eye, I see entirely too much lack of control in nearly every facet of his current pitching motion and release. It's no wonder those balls are sailing all over the place. A 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 1 H, 5 ER bit of work did his team (and his place in the bullpen) no favors. After tonight's work, Holub is sporting an unsightly 2.22 WHIP over 7 2/3 IP with an equally unsightly 10.57 ERA. I will be entirely unsurprised if he finds himself on the not so coveted 'Developmental List' or down with Biloxi in the near future. Lots of work to do here to turn his season around.

2) It certainly wasn't all 'doom and gloom' in a game the Sounds scored in every inning but two. Let's celebrate INF Tyler Black carrying over that hot bat from 2023. Maybe, just maybe, this young man is an insanely gifted offensive player. Take a load of this rocket:

3) In a game we saw talented 2B/LF Isaac Collins go deep in a big way to right field for the early 2-1 Sounds lead, we were also reminded of the ongoing propensity for prolonged droughts we see in talented INF Patrick Dorrian's bat. I witnessed Dorrian's strikeout buffet mega-drought of the 2023 summer. It was really tough to watch him fight himself in the batters box. I've also seen him go on line drive and home run tears - again, the talent is undeniable. So, it pains me to tell you after an 0-for-5 evening with 3 K, Dorrian is now mired in an 0-for-23 slump at the dish. He is maintaining a solid respectability in the K:BB ratio, however - 6:6 in the mini funk and 15:13 on the season - we can take some positives away from this. But, make no mistake, hitting 0.118 with a 0.514 OPS was not in his hopes and aspirations through 50 plus AB's early in 2024. Keep grinding, Mr. Dorrian. The tables can turn fast.

** Special shout-out to one OF Brewer Hicklen who took a dangerous pitch directly off his lead left knee cap in his AB in the top of the fifth inning. It was not a good looking scene as he was helped off by a training staff member and possibly the strength coach. Given the ongoing spate of injuries across the organization, we can only hope he's avoided anything seriousl. I covered this in detail in our game thread HERE **

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Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 5, Biloxi 4

Shuckers Drop Back-and-Forth Battle with Blue Wahoos to Open Series -  Misiorowski Ties Season High Seven Strikeouts

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log  

RHP Jacob Misiorowski was back to dominant 2023 Jacob Misiorowski tonight. Let's all breathe a sigh of relief. More importantly, perhaps, he was sitting 95-97 mph throughout and touching 99 mph. I haven't seen that zesty 99 mph heat in quite awhile and I may have breathed a sigh of relief. 

This is the version of Misiorowski we all envision when we dream of an Ace. By my count, through the first 3 IP, we saw 6 K on 5 heaters and 1 slider. We also saw 10 whiffs. It was a much needed outing for me and I can only imagine the young hurler and the greater Brewers organization. Let's just hope we can build upward from here!

Three Quick Strikes:

1) And, it's just a shame the team couldn't in the least pull out a 'W' in the end. The inability to tack on more runs with the bases juiced and nobody out in the top of the ninth frame clinging to a 4-3 lead was the ultimate end for the Shuckers. Sure, RHP Justin Yeager blew his first Save opportunity in 2024 but you just have to relieve some of that pressure when you have such a golden opportunity. 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. grounded out weakly in a short-hop chopper directly to the Wahoos' first baseman for the 3-2-4 double play for the first two outs. OF Justin Dirden then struck out on a high heater in a 2-2 count. That was a huge missed opportunity.

2) Speaking of the bases loaded, this was before a walk made the bags full. INF Ethan Murray with an absolutely clutch opposite field double to the right field wall. I thought it was Shuckers destiny from here:

Unfortunately, all the momentum in the world fizzled with a thud. 

3) The LHP Adam Seminaris bullpen breakout tour continued with more stellar work from the young hurler. Three more scoreless innings of work on the evening (2 H, 2 BB, 2 K) brought him within an out of picking up the 'W'. Having watched Seminaris scuffle routinely as a starter for the Shuckers and Mike Guerrero's staff last season, I can not describe how happy I am to see him grab a new role and run with it. His ERA dropped to 1.64 after tonight's work and his WHIP sits at 1.00 while batters are hitting a measly 0.158 BAA. This is a very underrated early 2024 storyline.

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Final: Peoria (Cardinals) 6, Wisconsin 2

Peoria Takes Series Opener 6-2 Over Wisconsin - Rattlers Held to Four Hits and Fall to Chiefs

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

In a road game where the offense was napping throughout, it feels appropriate we are greeted with a sudden lack of video and post-game pods. This is the road we are traveling in Peoria - literally. In what will be a season filled with challenge and, hopefully, growth young 20-year-old RHP Patricio Aquino faced his first real rough outing. 3 Ip, 7 H, 4 BB, 1 HR, 3 K, 6 ER is going to balloon that ERA after only 13 IP and 3 GS overall. Simply put, he was not sharp. I've seen Aquino pitch regularly now for over a year so this start doesn't concern me. What matters, now, are the next several games ahead. He can't let these types of outings spiral into a bad habit. So, I will keep my eyes and ears at the ready for his next start. Hopefully, I'll be able to report back with good news.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RHP Yerlin Rodriguez is a flat out stud and the Peoria Chief's announcer let you know it. I've been discussing this man's prowess for over a year plus and it was very refreshing to hear the opponent's announcer shower glowing remarks throughout his 1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K work. I'm going to let you know once again right here: Rodriguez is an inevitable MLB arm. He may not be anywhere in the collective and meaningless Top 30 lists. He may suffer the bias of what I call 'Reliever Irrelevance' in these inexplicably imbalanced lists. But, make no mistake about it: his three pitch mix is as impactful as any mix in the system. I look forward to his inevitable promotion to the Southern League. 

2) One has to wonder what exactly is going on with one INF Ben Metzinger to be introduced into game day lineups so slowly. Since being activated from the Development List back on April 13th, he has appeared in exactly two contests. With INF Mike Boeve having earned his promotion to the Southern League, it's hard to fathom Metzinger can't steal more AB's and playing time from 1B Jesus Chirinos or 3B Jheremy Vargas (and his 0.176 BA in 24 AB's). This isn't a sky is falling comment in any way as players travel very different paths, but it's hard to feel rosy about Metzinger's future in the organization after a 119K:55BB 2024; questions about his arm and bat; and the early season Developmental List placement and now very infrequent playing time. Hopefully, this is simply a matter of a minor health thing and he recovers and takes his game to new heights.

3) With so little to glean from the game itself (yes, I viewed this snoozer) and a box score that marries this observation to reality, let's simply celebrate RHP Jack Polancic's clean inning of relief work. Zeroes across the board. Sometimes that's all a new face in an organization needs to get the needle moving in a more positive direction. He's certainly had some jitters in his workload to date and who can blame him. Hopefully, this helps settle things down and he starts making his mark on games in the ensuing weeks ahead.

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Final: Carolina 4, Salem (Red Sox) 2

Seventh-Inning Rally Gives Mudcats Thrilling Win in Series Opener - Two-Run Triple from Juan Baez Powers Carolina to Comeback Victory

Box Score / Game Log

Our lone Home series affiliate in Carolina still leaves us with a dearth of highlights to share with you. Suffice it to say, regardless, both starters in this contest impressed throughout. RHP Manuel Rodriguez plays a calm and composed attacking style on the mound well beyond his mere 18 years of age. He is cool as a cucumber out there. This was his most advanced array of pitches and mix we've seen yet so, as a fan, you love to see that arrow pointing up - he carried a no hitter into the fourth inning afterall! Nothing was hung over the heart of the plate. Rodriguez was challenging hitters up in the zone and he was locating his slider absolutely expertly on the outer half and off the plate. It was a sublime outing to watch for a baseball aficionado such as myself. He didn't have the strikeout numbers to back it up, but, I believe those will come in time - as he matures and hones his craft. This was a momentum-building outing and I certainly hope it sticks. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) In a game filled with comparable stats throughout, it was the Mudcats ability to tally more with RISP that was the ultimate difference. Oh, and the fact the Mudcats have 3B Juan Baez in their lineup who continues to come up clutch. That certainly helps. Baez's go-ahead triple to right field in the top of the seventh frame was the big difference in this one. After vocalizing concerns about his defense after his time in the ACL, I've seen more than enough of Baez since his late-season call-up in 2023 to profess to you dear readers: he is clearly one of the best overall players wearing a Mudcats uniform. He is a much better defender than advertised. We are lucky to have him in the fold. 

2) Speaking of call-ups, @Jim French Stepstool and I briefly discussed this in the evening's game thread HERE, but one has to think RHP KC Hunt's days in Carolina gray and red are numbered. He has been efficient and largely untouchable in every outing to date - tonight certainly no different in 2 2/3 IP of 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 ER ball. He hasn't conceded a run in 9 2/3 IP on the season with 15 K to a mere 2 BB to show for it and Low-A hitters squeaking out a measly 0.139 BAA. When I first saw this back in February, I was certainly piqued:

Having watched every one of Hunt's innings, I can avow: High-A is likely in his near future. I also will be entirely unsurprised if the Brewers consider trying to stretch him out into some starter innings. He has an immense set of tools to pick from. If you get a chance, make a point to watch some of his innings - his work on this evening begins at the 2:17:40 mark where he inherits Rodriguez's runner at 1B and proceeds to get a pop fly to LF and then strike out the final batter on a filthy change-up down below the zone. Ridiculous pitch that was.

3) OF Luis Castillo has some pop in his bat - all us Brewers Minor League followers know this by now. But, Castillo is still a very rough sketch of the player he hopes to become. I continue to look for other facets of his game to come forward and I remain befuddled. He is not a defensive specialist by any stretch - and he seems to be adding more density to his frame so that defesne doesn't appear likely to improve by any discernible amount. He doesn't appear to have a plus arm. He doesn't steal bases. He isn't walking in any eye-catching way. Ultimately, Castillo is simply going to need to wake up his bat and his impact in the batters box to make a name for himself as he strives to move up levels. There's a long way to go for any young player, but given his relatively all-or-nothing start to 2024, Castillo's feels a bit longer.

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We have a very rare mid-week matinee buffet tomorrow. All four teams will be playing in the early morning or very early afternoon depending on your time zone. We know we're seeing RHP Daniel Corniel looking for a bounce back outing; LHP Mark Manfredi looking to continue his recent spate of fantastic innings for the Timber Rattlers; and RHP Bradley Blalock looking to stay unscored upon while also helping Biloxi get back in the winning column.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. I now pass the baton to Daniel and Jim for the remainder of these ongoing series.

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Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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[Kripes - Brewers]

Hey Mr. Zarr, nice work as always! Looking ahead to the big league club pitching needs, who are your likely top 3 targets for rotation callups as well as top 3 potential relievers? We've seen them dip down into AA at times in the recent past, so anyone just screaming "ready" yet?

[Joseph Zarr]

52 minutes ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

Hey Mr. Zarr, nice work as always! Looking ahead to the big league club pitching needs, who are your likely top 3 targets for rotation callups as well as top 3 potential relievers? We've seen them dip down into AA at times in the recent past, so anyone just screaming "ready" yet?

Prepare for a long complicated answer 😅

The obvious low-hanging fruit is LHP Robert Gasser. He will be called up as he establishes himself. First rehab outing today was highly successful. He looked like he didn't miss a beat. Beyond that, the best pure talent has big question marks and would be major gambles given lack of experience and polish. 

The real unfortunate part of early 2024 is alluded to above: the lack of a step from RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez. He is getting hit nearly every outing for an inning or two because he is inconsistent. It is just an unfortunate fact.

In terms of starting depth beyond Myers (who, as you know, is already up and who I've been saying is MLB-caliber since last September) it just really is not there. SO, we desperately need Junis back and we need Myers to stick and we need Gasser to stay healthy and pray Miley isn't seriously injured.

You can try to force some innings out of Ashby or Junk but neither guy is appropriate for that role and it would be a big risk. We can fool ourselves into thinking they are but that isn't using good judgment. Ashby is likely a year out and I implore the Brewers to let him figure his mix out and work his way back into health and effectiveness instead of insisting he get thrown to the wolves at the MLB level. He needs time. I just haven't seen enough from Junk to merit consideration beyond eating innings in lopsided affairs. He can give you meaningful innings but, again, he's inconsistent.

NOW, if that health ship rights itself, there are certainly a number of Sounds relievers who likely deserve opportunities to eat some innings up North (outside, of course, of my guy J.B Bukauskas coming back healthy and Koenig continuing to stick):

Paredes, Blackwood, Middendorf, Herget, Zastryzny likely all deserve a shot and come to mind. Possibly even Chirino if he's right.

Beyond that, there's a big bunch of talent that needs more experience and more innings. I'd opine to you, today, RHP Craig Yoho could pitch MLB innings. BUT, he's in High-A Wisconsin making hitters look ridiculous. He's not getting that call. I'd also opine to you: RHP Yerlin Rodriguez is in the Uribe pantheon of impact and 'stuff' but he's in High-A, also making hitters look overmatched, and also prone to Uribe control issues. Not ready. AND, obviously RHP Jacob Misiorowski is the elite arm higher up in the pecking order but he desperately needs innings; exposure; and polish. 

SO, either they get healthy by my estimates. Myers and Gasser stick and impart impact. They call up a mix of Sounds relievers. They stay afloat and relevant gluing the greater staff together. AND then acquire arms at the Deadline. OR they start experimenting with high end inexperienced talent. That's how I see it. I personally don't see the current fringe 40-Man arms in Junk, Blalock, Ashby or Martin as the best options. I am disagreement with the Brewers there. And, that's just the way it is.

[biedergb]

16 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Metzinger's future in the organization after a 119K:55BB 2024; questions about his arm and bat; and the early season Developmental List placement

Can anyone give me a quick refresher on what the Development List is about/for??

Sorry, I remember reading about it, but I can't recall why some players are placed on this and what it means for them in the big picture.

[Ro Mueller]

7 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Can anyone give me a quick refresher on what the Development List is about/for??

Sorry, I remember reading about it, but I can't recall why some players are placed on this and what it means for them in the big picture.

Putting a player on the Development List keeps them with their team (e.g. AAA Nashville), but they’re ineligible to play in games. While on the Development List, they don’t count against the capped 28-man (AAA, AA) or 30-man (High-A, Low-A) club rosters.

It can be thought of as a period to work through new pitches, swing changes, etc. or simply a way to carry some extra bodies (often catchers). They DO count against the aggregate 165-player in-season stateside MILB roster limit, but that’s not likely to seriously pinch rosters until after the MLB draft.

[Kripes - Brewers]

17 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

SO, either they get healthy by my estimates. Myers and Gasser stick and impart impact. They call up a mix of Sounds relievers. They stay afloat and relevant gluing the greater staff together. AND then acquire arms at the Deadline. OR they start experimenting with high end inexperienced talent. That's how I see it. I personally don't see the current fringe 40-Man arms in Junk, Blalock, Ashby or Martin as the best options. I am disagreement with the Brewers there. And, that's just the way it is.

I knew I'd get a great answer! It looked like Myers is ready to stick around. I liked his command and his stuff was locking knees the other day against the Bucs. I just haven't seen Gasser with my own eyes, so beyond salivating over that important piece of the Hader trade, we're all just hoping he gets to the bigs and shows he can make quality starts.

What is the deal with Ashby anyway? The club sure seems to think they have something in him - is it his pedigree? That he's a lefty? Just having trouble completely understanding the extension... I watched the game he started earlier in the season. The defense let him down in that one, specifically Hoskins. Without those errors he allows four runs. That's no worse than a typical Houser performance. His command was a bit sketchy, but otherwise he showed he's a gamer and has the mentality you need to be up there. I wouldn't be afraid to get him back out there (as opposed to straight up bullpen games).

The rest of your comments sums up what I was afraid of - there really aren't a lot of guys "ready" other than some potential bullpen arms. Thanks again!

[BlazingGunz]

23 minutes ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

I knew I'd get a great answer! It looked like Myers is ready to stick around. I liked his command and his stuff was locking knees the other day against the Bucs. I just haven't seen Gasser with my own eyes, so beyond salivating over that important piece of the Hader trade, we're all just hoping he gets to the bigs and shows he can make quality starts.

What is the deal with Ashby anyway? The club sure seems to think they have something in him - is it his pedigree? That he's a lefty? Just having trouble completely understanding the extension... I watched the game he started earlier in the season. The defense let him down in that one, specifically Hoskins. Without those errors he allows four runs. That's no worse than a typical Houser performance. His command was a bit sketchy, but otherwise he showed he's a gamer and has the mentality you need to be up there. I wouldn't be afraid to get him back out there (as opposed to straight up bullpen games).

The rest of your comments sums up what I was afraid of - there really aren't a lot of guys "ready" other than some potential bullpen arms. Thanks again!

Ashby is coming back from serious shoulder surgery (they signed him to that contract before the injury).    It's going to probably take 2 years after surgery to see what he actually is or can be.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

I knew I'd get a great answer! It looked like Myers is ready to stick around. I liked his command and his stuff was locking knees the other day against the Bucs. I just haven't seen Gasser with my own eyes, so beyond salivating over that important piece of the Hader trade, we're all just hoping he gets to the bigs and shows he can make quality starts.

** Agree with @BlazingGunz here: Ashby needs time and patience. That's a serious possibly career-altering injury. It is going to take TIME. And, as I say above, I implore the Brewers to allow it. I personally wasn't even considering him as an MLB option until possibly 2025. And, I should also add: I have generally disagreed with how the Brewers have approached his usage since coming back. Last summer's usage, in particular, where they were injecting Ashby into meaningful Minor League playoff-pursuit games was just silly by my eyes - I said it then and I still believe it: he should have been in the Complex...they promoted him from Wisconsin twice and he was getting shellacked by High-A hitters. And, none of that was on Ashby - he was a soldier and showed up. He wasn't ready then. He's in a battle now to find how he can pitch now and where he is headed, hopefully, in the next two years. I don't wish a shoulder injury on any pitcher. It's just unfair. **

Gasser looked lights out yesterday. I've watched nearly every start since he's been a Brewer. He is different in 2024. I am officially excited. He is stronger. He definitely appears to have added say 5-10 lbs of chiseled mass. His first outing proved it: hitting 95 mph on the gun multiple times was just not a thing before 2024. Lots to look forward to here.