Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/21): Nashville Returns Home In Style

[Jim Goulart]

The Sounds found home cooking to their liking after a 12-game roadtrip. The bottom-line W-L results weren't pretty elsewhere, though as usual, we found positives to spotlight. The ultra-thin Maryvale lineup managed a victory to cap the night. We also detail two busy days' worth of transactions. It's a couple of rare weekday morning entries from yours truly this week, happy to be along for the ride!

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Let's catch up!

Transactions (Monday/Tuesday):

05/20/24    Milwaukee Brewers optioned CF Chris Roller to Nashville Sounds.
05/20/24    Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Bradley Blalock from Biloxi Shuckers.
05/20/24    Biloxi Shuckers released RF Justin Dirden (initial indication is that Dirden retired voluntarily).
05/20/24    Carolina Mudcats placed SS Kay-Lan Nicasia on the 7-day injured list.
05/20/24    ACL Brewers placed RHP Ismael Yanez on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 19, 2024.

05/21/24     Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Tobias Myers from Nashville Sounds.
05/21/24     Nashville Sounds transferred C Nick Kahle to the Development List.
05/21/24     Nashville Sounds activated LHP Nick Bennett.
05/21/24     3B Ben Metzinger assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Nashville Sounds.
05/21/24     RHP Dencer Geraldo assigned to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers 2.

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 10, Charlotte (White Sox) 3
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' Offense Explodes in Rout of Charlotte in Opener - Brewer Hicklen and Wes Clarke homer in Nashville’s 10-3 victory

The Nashville Sounds (23-23) scored in each of the first six innings.

Yeah, that's a nice way to kick off the first linked affiliate game summary of the day.

One does wonder what impact Brewer Hicklen (home run, triple walk, 18th steal in 21 tries) would have had on the big-league roster as the right-handed OF/pinch-hitter option vs. Joey Wiemer and the brief Chris Roller MLB stint. Dude has been incredible, and yet, the Brewers insist on infielder Vinny Capra maintaining his 40-man roster spot.

Tyler Black on base four times (single, walk, two HBP's). His own stolen base was his 7th in eight AAA tries this season. 

The Sounds were only 3-for-15 with RISP and stranded ten, so enjoy the crooked Oliver Dunn, Isaac Collins and Eric Haase numbers knowing the rout could have been even wider. For all we hear about the White Sox organization and their weak farm system, the Knights' 19-26 record is poor but not abominable. But yes, it's a homestand kickoff from which the Sounds can build some momentum.

You can find a bunch of Nashville video highlights here, but they are silent.

Either the Sounds are incredibly unlucky from a technology standpoint in 2024, or they are in need of a do-over on the season. These issues only seem to happen when Nashville's at home. But let's face it, compared to years gone by, we as fans are still blessed and lucky with what's available to us. First world problems, and the Sounds will figure it out.

Outside of Abner Uribe's difficult 9th inning (he's been spot-on otherwise since his demotion), pitching was very good here, and credit to LH starter Nick Bennett for the effort, needed after planned starter Tobias Myers' call-up.

 

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Biloxi Media Notes
Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 6, Biloxi 2  
Box Score and Game Log

Biloxi Falls to Birmingham on Tuesday Night, 6-2 - Boeve, Rodriguez reach base multiple times in series opener at Shuckers Ballpark

Voice of the Shuckers Javik Blake does his best as always to highlight the positives within his game summary, something we always strive for here as well. In that sense, the linked article above is worth your while.

But all five Biloxi hits were singles. They did reach via walk four times, but that overall lack of offensive production has been all-too-common, difficult Southern League environment noted, but that sidenote can only go so far in the long run.

Eric Brown, Jr. opened the game with a fly ball single to center, stole his 8th base, but after a Mike Boeve walk, made the first out at third base when he was caught stealing for the third time in 2024. Aggression encouraged, but perhaps greed is not?

While solid overall this season, this is the 3rd outing in six for LH reliever Russell Smith that has been uneven at best. Blake Holub stranded three of Smith's baserunners or Tuesday would have been uglier.

 

Shame on me, because I said I'd get off this train, but let's see what fellow southpaw Andrew Abbott, selected two picks after Smith in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft, did not just last night, but season-to-date. 

Note to self: Stop it, Jim. Get over it. Every MLB organization can look at similar close call draft-day misses.

You'll find a few clips via the Shuckers here. We don't want to be a pest, but for your behalf and because we haven't pestered in a while, we'll ask about the disabled center-field camera view one more time.

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: South Bend (Cubs) 7, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Rattlers Hit a Sour Note in Loss at South Bend - Cubs beat Wisconsin 7-1 to open series at Four Winds Field

Seems all that focus on the outstanding Timber Rattlers defense was going to jinx the club and level off at some point, and that linked game summary details the awkwardness of some of the goings-on Tuesday.

Should you be in the mood for rehabbing Drew Smyly and other video, the South Bend feed provides.

Gee, the Twins' Cedar Rapids club won their 8th in a row, and Wisconsin's division lead is down to one-half a game.

Among the nine in the lineup, take your guess as the current OPS leader on the club. Check out the box score link, I bet you're incorrect.

This was RHP Patricio Aquino's first relief appearance of 2024, though wouldn't read too much into that, as his prior two starts were very solid. Aquino has now allowed only three runs in 14 innings over his most recent three appearances, 11 H, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K. The Dominican native's 47 pro appearances include 43 starts.

Best part of this contest for the T-Rats:

Two hours, one minute.

 

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Final: Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 5, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Drop Opener to Myrtle Beach

Yophery Rodriguez doesn't turn 19 years old until December. Through 136 AB's, a .243/.340/.412 line (.752 OPS) works! The baserunning (4 SB, 3 CS) and the pickoff in this one is pending development, 

Thing of beauty:

Speaking of standings, the Muddies remain one game out - still a few weeks to go in the first half,

My goodness, despite the loss here, we should all be such Manuel Rodriguez fans. The 18-year-old (again, just 18 until August 8th) has walked TWO batters in his seven starts. Heck, he has three HBP's, including one on Tuesday. Rodriguez' WHIP is under 1.00 at 0.98, and he has fanned 33 in 35.2 innings. Stud.

Overall, the Mudcats' roster seems effective but not overly standout-ish (not a real word). At 23-15, they've earned our attention, we're just kind of waiting on the "we can't wait to see this player at upper levels in the future" wow factor pop.

 

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Final from Monday:

ACL Guardians 10, ACL Brewers 9, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Final from Tuesday:

ACL Brewers 7, ACL White Sox 4
Box Score and Game Log

Prior to Tuesday's game, 18-year-old switch-hitting 2B/SS/LF Luiyin Alastre's last nine plate appearances:

HR, 2B, 1B, 1B, BB, 1B (SB), 1B, 1B, 1B

 

On Tuesday, Alastre walked in five appearances, driving in a run on a groundout.

My fellow Link Reporter Daniel noted over on our forum:

I’m guessing Manager Rafael Neda is dealing with a thin bench in Arizona. INF Tyler Rodriguez and C Yannic Walthier haven’t played since May 10 and 13, respectively. OF Pedro Ibarguen left his last game (May 18) after the 1st inning.

So that may mean that only 10 position players are available at the moment. Time will tell.

NOTE: Actually, it may be nine only, as OF/DH Angel Pereira exited Monday's game early, and did not play Tuesday.

Welcome to the 165-man stateside MiLB roster limit, folks. It would normally be completely unfathomable to think that the Maryvale squad (remember when there were two just two years ago?), would be facing this crunch.

20-year-old LH catcher Edgardo Ordonez, a LH-swinging Venezuela native, homered in each of these games, and in a not-so-small Dominican Summer League and Arizona Complex League sample of 298 AB's, has an .840 OPS. Not shabby...

On the subject of 18-year-old Venezuelans, my goodness, shortstop Filippo Di Turi. Expanding his season-long highlight reel, Di Turi was 3-for-5 with an HBP and four walks in the two games. Through 64 plate appearances this season, his OBP is a mind-blowing .578. A .500 SLG is just fine also, thank you.

Kudos to 19-year-old Venezuelan southpaw Anthony Flores on placing a semblance of effectiveness among the ranks. He shone on Tuesday and earned his relief win - 4 scoreless IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K. 

 

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Catch Chris Mehring's radio call from South Bend here for a 10:05 AM Central first pitch. It's evening action for the other three affiliates, and the Maryvale kids are idle and hope to get healthier. Have a nice spring weekday, 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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[CheeseheadInQC]

Focusing on the positives, I really think Flores is going to be the equivalent of Galindez or Corniel last year. The results might be uneven but good enough to set him up for more success next year.

[Joseph Zarr]

Focusing on the positives, indeed!

From August 2nd of last season from yours truly (HERE):

Quote

The thing I first noticed about Alastre (these are in my notes from the few highlights I've gleaned across the interwebs):

• switch-hitter
• arm has reputation of needing move to 2B down the line (?)
• early word from @ARobsBrewCrew(early June - HERE) is (along with Lameda) he has impressed the Brewers early - keep an eye on
• different leg lifts right to left side of plate - interesting. More pronounced on left side. Subtle and subdued on right.
• lefty swing reminds me of Lara

Anywho, as to bonus pool money, I can't help you there. Either way, he has flashed several times this summer and I've mentioned him a couple times before this report but felt with the Brewers PD showcasing him it was time to bump his name. As to the early thoughts (again, online in a couple outlets) he may need a move to 2B due to his arm, he's actually played 12 games at 3B whereas he's played 8 at 2B and 6 at SS. They give him an 0.800 FP% at the hot corner - not so spicy. LOL. He's more than holding his own, statistically speaking, at 2B with a 0.950 FP%. 

That's all I have for now.

It would appear the trajectory is still quite byulllllish. Been a big fan. Still a big fan. I can not wait to watch he, Bitonti, and Di Turi in Carolina.