Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/16): Letson and Patrick Lead Affiliates to Two Thursday Wins

[Ro Mueller]

Bishop Letson’s solid start enabled Carolina to split its doubleheader. Wes Clarke homered to help Chad Patrick and Nashville earn a win. Wisconsin went scoreless and Biloxi was rained out.

Transactions:

• LHP Nick Bennett transferred to Development List by AAA Nashville
• RHP Nolan Blackwood transferred to Development List by AAA Nashville
• LHP DL Hall sent on rehab assignment to High-A Wisconsin
• OF Joey Wiemer sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• LHP Osbriel Mogollon assigned to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers

Although not a transaction, we’re all eager to learn why 1B Tyler Black and OF Brewer Hicklen were late scratches from the Nashville lineup. Are they headed to join the Brewers in Houston?

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (not available at press time)
Final: Nashville 5, Jacksonville 2
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 Keep Rolling With Third Straight Triumph at Jacksonville

Yet another solid outing from 25-year old RHP Chad Patrick (6 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks) and one big inning by the offense were enough to push Nashville to a 3-0 series lead in Jacksonville.

Patrick was able to put up that fine line despite the first three batters of the game reaching base (HR, walk, single), bearing down to escape dangerous situations in each of the first three innings, including working around a triple to open the 3rd inning. His velocity peaked at 93.7mph, throwing 87 pitches (54 strikes).

Time will tell how many catching opportunities 1B Wes Clarke will get in AAA ball, but we were always confident he could hit at this level: 1-for-3, HR, sac fly, 2 RBIs. He had the game-tying, 425-foot solo homer in the 4th inning, then his sacrifice fly gave Nashville a 2-1 lead which it would not relinquish.

RHP Abner Uribe (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 0 Ks) earned the save and was consistently hitting 100mph, although we’d feel better if he didn’t open the 8th and 9th innings with a walk.

Sounds’ Extras:

• After spending the entirely of the 2023 season in AA ball (with Reading in the Phillies’ system), it’s a bit shocking that was 3B Oliver Dunn’s Nashville debut. Hopefully he’s able to improve his contact rate during his time in AAA. He swung at eight pitches in this game, whiffing on only two: 1-for-4, walk, SB, run scored.
• Left fielder Joey Wiemer (1-for-3, run scored) exited after 6 innings of defense, but early exits are relatively common for rehabbing players. What’s not common was his replacement Yonny Hernandez playing in the outfield for the first time since 2019.
• RHP Janson Junk is on the 40-man MLB roster and may very well be a relief pitcher now, throwing only 21 pitches in this game. He’s not exceeded 51 pitches in any outing since April 9th. In this game, it took him six batters to see his velocity exceed 94.1mph, peaking at 96.1 to the last hitter – a swinging strikeout to escape a first-and-third jam.
• I repeat: Black and Hicklen were both posted in the original Sounds’ lineup, then scratched. Let’s hope they’re being promoted to further boost the Brewers’ offense.

Friday’s outlook: 22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez, who is coming off two solid starts (2 ER with 15 Ks in 11 IP), is slated to make his 9th appearance (8th start) of 2024 as Nashville looks to clinch a series win.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Rained out: Biloxi at Mississippi

Via the Shuckers’ website, rainout details: Shuckers, M-Braves Postponed at Trustmark Park on Thursday

The Shuckers and Braves will try again in Pearl, Mississippi on Friday, this time with a doubleheader, with Biloxi needing to win both games to even this week’s series at two games apiece.

Friday’s outlook: RHPs Brett Wichrowski (3.57 ERA in 22 2/3 IP in High-A/AA ball) and Shane Smith (3.7a ERA with 28 Ks in 17 IP) are the scheduled starters. This will feel like Smith’s first real start since his 2021 Wake Forest days, even if he threw as a one-inning opener a few times in ACL ball in 2022.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Beloit 6, Wisconsin 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Win Streak Ends with Shutout Loss to Beloit

There aren’t many highlights to enjoy from this one, but we can still appreciate the video package (including solid bullpen work) put together by Wisconsin’s terrific media team:

 

Chris Mehring and Kyle Lobner also have a 12-minute podcast for us, with comments from Manager Victor Estevez, excitement about DL Hall’s upcoming rehab stint (on Sunday) and their theory about 3B Luke Adams’ early exit.

After 1B Tayden Hall grounded into a double play with 2-on, 1-out while trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd inning, starting RHP Will Rudy (4 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) thought he’d earned a strikeout for a 1-2-3 third inning, only to give up an infield single, outfield single, 3-run homer and solo homer as the game went sideways in a hurry.

The bullpen firm of RHPs Jake Polancic, Aaron Rund, Tyler Wehrle and Craig Yoho were exceptional: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 Ks. Yoho’s season numbers remain out of this world, as he continues in High-A ball due to some glitch in the matrix: 0.56 ERA with 31 Ks and 2 BBs in 16 IP.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• ·       Per the podcast commentary, Adams left mid at-bat in the 7th inning, which they think may be due to a jammed hand while stealing second base earlier in the game.
• ·       Credit the excellent pitching performance by the Sky Carp, who conceded just 5 singles, 2 walks and a hit-by-pitch.
• ·       SS Gregory Barrios just keeps humming along: 2-for-4, season AVG .319 and OPS .815.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (4.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 20 IP) is due to make his 7th appearance (2nd start) of 2024, as Wisconsin shoots for a 3-1 series lead at home against Beloit.

Game One Final: Carolina 3, Down East 1 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log
Game Two Final: Down East 5, Carolina 0 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Split Doubleheader with Down East

This was the fifth minor league start of 19-year old RHP Bishop Letson’s career and the first time he’s exceeded 3 innings, needing only 65 pitches to get through 4 1/3 IP: 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 Ks.

SS Cooper Pratt homered the other way to give Carolina an early 1-0 lead, then 1B Reece Walling connected on his first blast since being promoted to Low-A. Walling’s 2-run shot in the 5th inning came on the 7th pitch of a battling at-bat.

RHP Harrison Durow (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K) gave up a double to the first hitter he faced in the bottom of the 5th inning, escaping the tricky 2-on, 1-out situation via a pop out and ground out to preserve the 3-1 lead which would hold up.

In the 2nd game, an infield hit and 2-run homer on a 3-and-0 pitch put RHP Daniel Corniel (5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) and Carolina in an early 2-0 hole, with the offense unfortunately slumbering from there: 3 singles, 1 walk, 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Unfortunately, right fielder Kay-Lan Nicasia was injured on a line out in the bottom of the 6th inning of the first game, so we’ll need to monitor his status.
• Although the Mudcats have the top winning percentage in the 12-team Carolina League, they now find themselves tied for first with Fredericksburg in the North Division. Those two mid-June make-up games against Columbia loom large on the calendar.
• We may never know whether 20-year old LHP Osbriel Mogollon actually went to Arizona for the 3 days that he was re-assigned there. Thankfully, he got the ball over the plate in this appearance (23 pitches, 14 strikes; after a 19-pitch, 4-strike outing five days earlier), but unfortunately he conceded 2 runs and 3 hits in his sole inning of work. Keep your head up, young man!

Friday’s outlook: 18-year old RHP Josh Knoth (3.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 in 19 IP) gets the call to hopefully even this week’s series at Down East at two games apiece.

ACL Mariners 11, ACL Brewers 8 (in 12 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Our young men in Arizona let this one slip away after leading 4-1 after 7 innings, but did score 3 runs in the 10th inning to re-tie the game, then another in the 11th inning to push the game to a 12th frame.

RHP Logan Henderson (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) dominated again in his second rehab stint, while DH/C Eric Martinez and 3B Eric Bitonti (1-for-4, HR, 2 walks, RBI) each hit solo homers in the 3rd inning to give the crew an early 2-0 advantage. That’s Bitonti 3rd blast of 2024.

The team’s youngest player, 17-year old RHP Melvin Hernandez then covered a whopping 4 innings (trust me, it’s a lot for ACL ball – 1 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks) to keep the team in shape for a near-victory.

Unfortunately, the Mariners put across 3 runs in 2 innings off of LHP Caden Vire (3 IP, 7 R (5 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks) to send the game to extra innings, with Vire staying in for rough 10th inning and even the open batter of the 11th frame. Remember that this was only Vire’s 2nd appearance since missing essentially 2 seasons due to injuries.

18-year old SS Filippo Di Turi continues to be the most consistent bat in the lineup, contributing another three hits in this game to lift his season average to .394 and OPS to 1.090.

Amazingly, the Mariners intentionally walked the ever-dangerous Bitonti (.991 season OPS) and Di Turi to load the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, opting to face 1B Gery Holguin instead (whom they struck out) as they clearly prioritized winning on this night.

Right fielder Antony Gomez and left fielder Luiyin Alastre had clutch 2-out RBI hits in the bottom of the 10th inning to knot the game at 7-7, but were both left stranded.

RHP Samuel Valerio did well to escape a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the top of the 11th inning (fly out, K, pop out) to keep the Brewers within a run, with Di Turi then sending the game to a 12th inning with an RBI single. However, Valerio then conceded consecutive homers to open the next inning.

The ACL Brewers (3-6) will be back in action on Friday, hosting the ACL Padres (5-5).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Enjoy the system’s six MILB games scheduled for Friday, including the Shuckers’ twin-bill.

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[Joseph Zarr]

There is absolutely zero reasons Yoho should still be gifting T-Rats fans outings to showcase his skills. Zero reasons. Promote this man already. He is clearly outclassing High-A hitting every outing. Let's push the envelope here already. I personally believe his stuff plays at any level. And, let's just get Double-A out of the way next. Please and thanks.

[CheeseheadInQC]

13 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

There is absolutely zero reasons Yoho should still be gifting T-Rats fans outings to showcase his skills. Zero reasons. Promote this man already. He is clearly outclassing High-A hitting every outing. Let's push the envelope here already. I personally believe his stuff plays at any level. And, let's just get Double-A out of the way next. Please and thanks.

I thought after the 3-inning outing maybe they were keeping him in Wisconsin to stretch him out, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.