Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/24): The Two Youngest Squads Light Up the Scoreboard

[Jim Goulart]

Random thoughts last night after driving home from the Brewers - Red Sox William Contreras / Tim Dillard "Popcorn Game" (video):

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Did Bradley Blalock's family follow him from Houston to Miami, and perhaps even Boston, hoping to catch his MLB debut? They must have. Hopefully it will be even sweeter when the now-optioned-back-to-Biloxi 23-year-old eventually makes his formal debut down the road. Looking forward to Blalock's next pre-game interview with Javik Blake to hear about his somewhat phantom big-league stint.

When versatile David Fry (catcher, corner infielder and outfielder) was traded to Cleveland as the PTBNL in March of 2022 by the Brewers for subsequently PED-disgraced reliever JC Mejia, it was more a fan sense of being happy for Fry among the minor league fandom, rather than lamenting his loss. The dude and his current 1.128 OPS (114 plate appearances) has him the toast of the town.

 

---

Transactions:

• Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of RHP Enoli Paredes from Nashville Sounds
• Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP Bradley Blalock to Biloxi Shuckers
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers activated RHP Logan Henderson from the 7-day injured list

 

---

 

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 4, 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 Erase Early Deficit, Take Fourth Straight Win - Chris Roller knocks go-ahead RBI double in Nashville’s 4-3 triumph over Charlotte

A reminder that Carlos F. Rodriguez is 22 years old for all of this season (November 27th birthday), In his first six starts through the end of April, CFR walked 16 and struck out 19 in 24.2 innings. In four starts since the calendar turned to May, he has walked only five while racking up 29 K's in 23 innings. Ah yes, the sweet smell of development.

RHP Taylor Clarke has just under five years of service time, and because he's under that cutoff, the Brewers were able to option him to AAA once his recent injury rehab stint (knee) concluded. He can't be thrilled with the current placement but pitched like he needed to here with two scoreless. Clarke was acquired from the Royals for INF Cam Devanney and RH reliever Ryan Brady, each are off to respectable but not gaudy starts with their new organization, as those player page links will attest.

Several additional video clips (with sound, yay!) are available at the club's "X" feed.

All nine players in the Sounds lineup reached base at least once, with sizzling Isaac Collins (back in a more customary left field with Chris Roller back on the AAA roster) leading the way, on base thrice.

 

---

 

Biloxi Media Notes
Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 7, Biloxi 2
Box Score and Game Log

Barons Get Edge in Top-Flight Pitching Matchup, Shuckers Drop Game Four of Series - Wilken extends hit streak to five straight in loss, Miller makes history

The Shuckers fall to 18-25, and we say thanks for the split minor league seasons. Biloxi managed just five hits, though at least three were for extra bases - as detailed at the link above, the Eric Brown, Jr. and Brock Wilken doubles and this:

Three Shuckers errors didn't impress the impressive (for Biloxi) crowd of 3.356 (thank you, fireworks).

In seven starts prior to Friday's Jacob Misiorowski had not allowed more than three hits in any outing (his game log). He was touched for eight hits and three walks in 4.1 here. The 1.39 WHIP on the season reflects the Mis' work, and sorry, I'm just not enthused as much as I probably should be. We allow ourselves to be dazzled by the video bytes.

Mike Boeve is hitless in ten at-bats, and for a mere mortal, that wouldn't even have us blink twice.

 

---

 

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: South Bend (Cubs) 6, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Two-Out Rally Sinks Wisconsin in South Bend - Cubs plate five in third inning to beat Rattlers 6-1

RHP Logan Henderson is only 22 for all of 2024's season but based on how long we've been clamoring for his High-A debut, one could imagine that he's much older. After toying with Arizona rookie-level opponents in two tune-up outings (ten K's and no walks in 4.2 scoreless), Henderson's oblique is fine, and he was able to face ten batters Friday night. Commence our future excitement:

Luke Adams had his say after being called out on strikes in the 6th - unfortunately, that got him an early shower.

All six T-Rat hits were singles, and they were squeezed into the top four of the lineup, which did not include Luis Lara, still sidelined, but not on the IL, with his lacerated finger.

KC Hunt's second Wisconsin appearance was fire! He now sports a 45-to-5 K-to-BB ratio in 26 innings. At least he's at a more appropriate level now, as Hunt was a man among boys with Carolina. This four-inning outing was his longest of the season, and he's gone three innings twice. Will we see another reliever moved to the rotation, a la Shane Smith in Biloxi?

 

---

 

Final: Carolina 12, Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Big Inning Lifts Mudcats Past Pelicans

Seventeen Muddies reached via hit, walk, and HBP. Carolina scored 12 runs on nine hits thanks to the Pelicans' generosity on defense. 

Though he was 0-for-2 on Friday (two walks and an HBP, however), corner outfielder and Phillies castoff Yhoswar Garcia is 2nd in batting average in the Carolina League,

Cooper Pratt singled twice and added a sacrifice fly in a stint as the designated hitter. 

Yophery Rodriguez singled three times in what was his third multi-hit effort in the last four games.

Clubbing five home runs on the season-to-date is cool, but this wasn't RF Luis Castillo's first extended admiration trot. When you're batting .180 with a sub-.600 OPS, one may wish to tone that down a bit. But glad you enjoyed it, Luis. Sorry for the old man "get off my lawn" comment.

Among my fellow Link Reporters, we tend to be locked into specific days of the week to hone our craft (this week's overtime by yours truly an outlier), so we get to type about the same starting pitchers quite often, and I feel as though I've been locked into RHP Josh Knoth coverage all season. As the game logs show, 13 K's vs. two walks over seven innings in his most recent two outings are a positive, for sure. Eighteen years old until August, folks.

Kudos to 23-year-old Mayor of Zebulon Jeferson Figueroa - yes, his 4th season with the Mudcats - on a super-pretty pitching line, as the box score indicated for you.

 

---

 

ACL Brewers 15, ACL Padres 4, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

The A-Crew was the home team here, so the boys pumped 15 runs, 14 hits and six walks into just six turns at bat, all while hit machine Luiyin Alastre enjoyed a night off.

The nice thing about this one was we had five video entries available, so get your fill of Eric Bitonti and Filippo Di Turi here. The amazing Di Turi was a home run shy of a cycle.

Jackson walked the bases loaded but escaped with a scoreless final inning.

2023 14th round Louisiana high school pick RHP Hayden Robinson has been pretty solid in his four starts as his game log attests. Isn't it nice we're getting deep enough into the season, even the rookie-level season, that the game logs have a bit of relevance.

$1,385,000. That was Johan Barrios' January 2022 signing bonus. No longer a shortstop but a corner infielder (and primarily a first baseman, it seems), this two home-run, six-RBI game was certainly a career highlight. The RH Venezuelan bat is just 19 years old for all of this season, but if limited to the cold corner, that bat is going to have to be very potent. 

Congrats to second-year pro (first year stateside) CF Antony Gomez on the occasion of his first professional home run. The recently-turned 18-year-old left-handed stick pulled it to right field.

 

---

 

All five affiliates see action Saturday. Hope it's nice where you are, wish my Fenway weekend wasn't limited to just last night, but I'll be watching via the telly this afternoon.

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

[Jim Goulart]

VIDEO: Josh Knoth strikes out the side for Carolina