Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/23): Hicklen, Patrick, Di Turi Star in Three-Win Thursday

[Ro Mueller]

Brewer Hicklen cracked two homers and Chad Patrick K’d 12 batters as Nashville swept its doubleheader. Valiant comebacks by Biloxi and Wisconsin fell short, while Carolina was shut out.

Transactions:

• OF Ramon Moreno promoted to ACL Brewers from DSL-Brewers2
• LHP DL Hall's rehab assignment transferred to AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Nashville 6, Charlotte 2 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log
Game One Final: Nashville 2, Charlotte 1 (in 7 innings)
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 Sweep Charlotte in Doubleheader

As the Brewers were shutout 1-0 on Wednesday against the Marlins’ lefties, OF Brewer Hicklen was likely home (his AAA game was rained out) watching like the rest us, wondering whether he could have been a difference-maker. On Thursday, Hicklen further bolstered his case for selection to the MLB roster with a 2-homer, 5-RBI effort to power Nashville to a win in the opening game of their doubleheader.

LHP DL Hall (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) made his 2nd rehab start in that game, giving us some concern about a potential new injury, but we were thankfully later assured that he’s okay.

 

In the night cap, RHP Chad Patrick navigated through trouble in the 1st inning (one run, stranded bases loaded), then unleashed his venom over the next 4 frames. Patrick’s final line: 5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 12 Ks.

Per the game link above, DH Wes Clarke homered, then left fielder Chris Roller tripled home Hicklen (who’d walked) to give Mr. Patrick and the bullpen of RHP Harold Chirino and Rob Zastryzny the only 2 runs they required.

Readers can see some of Patrick’s Ks, Clarke’s homer and other highlights at the Sounds’ Twitter feed.

Sounds’ Extras:

• In the opening game, RHP Evan McKendry made his second appearance since a month-long injury, combining with RHPs Janson Junk and Ryan Middendorf on a solid 6 relief innings: 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks.
• Along with Hicklen, Left fielder Isaac Collins and center fielder Chavez Young both went 2-for-3 in the opening game win. Clarke went 2-for-3 in the second game.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez will look to continue his solid 3-game run (2.65 ERA with 21 Ks in his last 17 IP) and lead Nashville to a series-clinching fourth straight victory.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Birmingham 5, Biloxi 4 (in 10 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Miller Triple in Ninth Sends Game to Extras, Barons Take Game Three

Birmingham’s first hitter watched three consecutive strikes to open this game, setting a patient tone which would ultimately pay off against Biloxi starting RHP Brett Wichrowski, who wasn’t quite able to get through three innings on 66 pitches: 2 2/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 Ks.

Per the game summary, RHPs Bo Bowman and Sam Gardner were exceptional, combining on 6 1/3 IP hitless, scoreless innings with 6 Ks, with Bowman also stranding three baserunners for Wichrowski.

Down 4-1 and with only three hits to that point in the game, the Shuckers nearly pulled out a win with four consecutive hits to open the 9th inning and tie the game 4-4, only to fail to bring C Darrien Miller (1-for-3, triple, walk, 2 RBIs) home.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• By no coincidence at all, the it was our 7-8-9 hitters who were unable to bring Miller home, with 2B Ethan Murray, left fielder Zavier Warren and right fielder Lamar Sparks going a combined 0-for-11 in the game. 1B Mike Boeve also went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in a tough day at the plate.
• 3B Brock Wilken (2-for-5, HR, RBI) had a solid game, homering to tie the game in the 1st inning, then singling to open the 9th inning rally.
• It’s good to see SS Eric Brown Jr. come through with a 2-hit, 1-SB, zero-K game, as he tries to break out of his post-injury funk (season AVG .170).
• RHP Blake Holub took the tough luck loss, allowing only the (unearned) ghost runner to score in the top of the 10th inning.

 

Friday’s outlook: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (2.32 ERA in 31 IP) takes the mound against MLB.com’s #56 prospect RHP Drew Thorpe (1.50 ERA in 42 IP) of the White Sox farm system.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: South Bend 4, Wisconsin 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin’s Rally Falls Short in South Bend

Save for a Luke Adams single, Wisconsin wasn’t able to get anything going in five innings against South Bend’s recently-promoted starter Nick Dean. In fact, since Adams was caught stealing, Dean faced the minimum of 15 hitters.

Starting RHP Will Rudy (5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 Ks) and LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K) threw respectably to give the Timber Rattlers a chance.

SS Jadher Areinamo continued his recent run of solid form with a 2-for-4 day, including his 2-run, 2-out double to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the 8th inning.

For those who have the stomach for it, here are video highlights from South Bend’s perspective:

 

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Unfortunately for Adams, he was consistently on the wrong side of the highlights in this game, thrown out stealing in the 2nd inning, committing an error to lead to an unearned run in the 6th inning, thrown out going for 3rd base to help foil a major opportunity in the 7th inning and flying out to end the 8th inning.
• With C Matt Wood (2-for-4) representing the potential game-tying run on 2nd base in the top of the 9th inning, right fielder Terence Doston got ahead 3-0 in the count, then watched three consecutive called strike to end the game.

Friday’s outlook: Although no official transaction has been announced, key prospect RHP Logan Henderson is listed as Wisconsin’s scheduled starter after making two successful rehab starts in the ACL. This would be Henderson’s debut game at the High-A level, with Wisconsin needing a win to even the series 2-2. 

Final: Myrtle Beach 6, Carolina 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Myrtle Beach Shuts Down Mudcats

Somewhat similar to the Timber Rattlers’ defeat, Myrtle Beach’s starter Kenten Egbert dominated Carolina by no-hitting them for the first 4 1/3 innings. However, Egbert achieved this principally through ground ball outs, which may be a teachable moment for Mudcats’ hitters.

19-year old RHP Bishop Letson (3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 6 Ks) produced another respectable start, exiting at about the usual point for him: 62 pitches, 40 strikes.

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the 5th inning, the Mudcats’ best chance to get back into the game faded abruptly as left fielder Luis Castillo grounded into a double play on the first pitch he saw.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Maybe it was due the wet conditions (causing a 31-minute delayed start), but RHP Harrison Durow saw his season ERA more than double from 1.20 to 2.60 with a difficult appearance: 2 1/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2 Ks. He also had an error.
• RHP Blake Whiting bounced back from a tough outing his last time out, delivering two scoreless frames: 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K.­
• Carolina’s offense was limited to 5 singles, 0 walks and 1 hit-by-pitch, with center fielder Yhoswar Garcia (2-for-3) being the only hitter to reach base twice.

Friday’s outlook: 18-year old RHP Josh Knoth (4.50 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 in 22 IP) is expected to make his 8th start of 2024, with Carolina needing a victory to even the series at two games apiece.

ACL Brewers 6, ACL Reds 5
Box Score and Game Log

Clutch performances from SS Filippo Di Turi (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, walk) and LHP Anfernny Reyes (3 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks) led the Brewers to a well-earned victory.

But before all of that, the only pitcher in the Arizona Complex League during his age 17 season is RHP Melvin Hernandez, who threw respectably in his first start (third appearance) of 2024: 4 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 WP, 7 Ks.

Di Turi’s 3-run homer to turn the tide in the top of the 5th inning for a 4-3 lead was the first of minor league career and came with 2 outs. Will we see the 18-year old (1.127 season OPS in 68 PAs) at Low-A Carolina soon? Filippo also scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the 8th inning.

Other key offensive contributors included DH Eric Martinez (2-for-4), 2B Luis Lameda (1-for-1, 3 walks) and Eric Bitonti (1-for-5, triple), although Di Turi, Lameda and Bitonti also combined to commit 4 errors. RHP Dikember Sanchez (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) closed it out to earn his second save of the season.

The ACL Brewers (5-9) will be back in action on Friday, hosting the ACL Padres (10-5).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Enjoy the system’s five MILB games scheduled for Friday, as well as the Brewers being back in action at Boston.

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

[CheeseheadInQC]

I know he is still well short of 100 plate appearances, but Di Turi’s OBP still looks like a typo. He is having some season.

[Joseph Zarr]

9 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

I know he is still well short of 100 plate appearances, but Di Turi’s OBP still looks like a typo. He is having some season.

Well, when you are batting 0.383 and walking twice as much as you whiff that apparently is what happens. Even with only 48 AB's, it's extremely fun to watch his ascent (even if mainly in Game Logs at present). He's like a four years younger Boeve...which speaks to his already extremely advanced plate approach. At just 18, it's hard not to be excited.

[Ro Mueller]

Here’s a further update today on DL Hall: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Wisconsin put together some video highlights from yesterday’s defeat on the road: