Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/1): Yet Another Winning Combo of Rattlers/Mudcats Action

[Jim Goulart]

My goodness, how many times over the first two months of the 2024 minor league campaign have we heralded the efforts and results of the two A-Ball level clubs in Appleton and Zebulon? The Timber Rattlers and Mudcats did not disappoint on Saturday, adding a victory each to their impressive records (combined 63-35!), while games at the other levels did not go nearly as well. 

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Here we go on our Saturday recap tour!

 

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Transactions:

• Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP Tobias Myers to Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Janson Junk from Nashville Sounds.
• Nashville Sounds activated RHP Nolan Blackwood from the Development List.
• Biloxi Shuckers sent LHP Brandon Knarr on a rehab assignment to ACL Brewers.
• RHP Logan Henderson assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
• Carolina Mudcats transferred RHP Ryan Birchard from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.

Birchard is the highly thought of but little-seen 5th round pick out of the 2023 draft. Birchard has only one pro appearance to his name, a four-inning start with Carolina on April 6th (one unearned run allowed). It's good news that he was not placed on the full-season IL here.

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 11, Nashville 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:

Zamora Homers Twice But Sounds Fall - Nashville Seeks Series Split on Sunday

Be sure you catch the extended video chat our own Seth Stohs conducts with Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem at some point.

In an encouraging note from Jeff within, we learn that Brewer Hicklen's IL stint is due to a sore back, and that it is not believed to be serious (though never take back injuries for granted). Hopefully we'll see Hicklen back in action (pun intended) in relatively short order.

The Redbirds posted several Sounds lowlights on their "X" feed should you dare. The Cardinals' Jordan Walker has a middling .699 OPS in 109 AAA at-bats, his home run in this game his first at AAA this season.

In his prior three starts, RHP Tyler Woessner had allowed only one earned run in each, though his prior two efforts included plenty of baserunners and unearned runs. So, Saturday's outing was a step back.

RHP Garrett Stalling's introductory appearance for the Brewers' organization did not go well, post-Thyago Vieira trade.

VIDEO: Both of Freddy Zamora's home runs

I'm pretty convinced the 25-year-old 2nd round pick in 2020 Zamora will see time in the show, likely as an emergency middle infield call-up in 2025. Does that mean he'll be added to the 40-man roster to protect him from Rule 5 this fall? Perhaps, but the Crew will probably roll the dice on exposing him. A big second half with Nashville could change their thinking.

Tyler Black singled, walked, and stole his 9th base.

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 8, Biloxi 7
Box Score and Game Log

Yoho Stars in Double-A Debut, Shuckers Fall to Pensacola - Righty strikes out five over two innings, Murray records multi-hit night

Before we shower reliever Craig Yoho with even more praise, we'll note how excruciating a defeat this was. Talk about deflating any momentum after a single win on Friday, ending a ten-game losing streak. Can't be up 6-1 after a single inning and see this result in the end.

Fielding: EBrown Jr. 3 (4, fielding, fielding, throw)

Today's miscues only led to one unearned run, but the one thing Biloxi could rely on from Eric Brown Jr. in 2024 was his defense heading into this game (only one error in 29 games at shortstop, three at second base).

Brown did contribute a sacrifice fly in four plate appearances, OPS is .433.

Ernesto Martinez sat out this one after his outburst Friday night, related absence or not.

RH starter Bradley Blaylock's four days in "The Show" despite no formal MLB debut did net him a sweet weekly paycheck (not to mention MLB health plan benefits for life), but apparently did him no favors in terms of his routine, as his two Biloxi starts since can best be listed as uneven.

OK, yes let's discuss Craig Yoho, his "Airbender" (screwball) and assorted pitch mix, because it was on display here (well, from the above home plate camera). We won't moan about that annoying view here, except to say that we have even reached out to Biloxi's video production manager on your behalf. Until a resolution, we can hope for relevant road game views soon.

If you have not done so yet, do check out the Journal-Sentinel podcast made available this week, in which the name "Yoho" is uttered eleventy-hundred times (only a slight exaggeration). It's at the 33:15 minute mark where the panel (Curt Hogg, JR Radcliffe and our own Spencer Michaelis) discuss Yoho in earnest.

 

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NOTE: You only have until very early this evening to bid on a sweet Timber Rattlers Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Jersey auction (sorry, no Yoho)

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 8, Fort Wayne (Padres) 1
Box Score and Game Log

Rattlers Roll Back into Win Column - Wisconsin beats Fort Wayne 8-1 behind pitching of Herrera and hitting of Areinamo

Show your big brothers in Biloxi how it's done, Timber Rattlers. Shake off a singular loss Friday and regain momentum the next evening.

 

It's a bit unfair that the only pitch we see from RH starter Yujanyer Herrera above is the solo home run he surrendered, one of only two hits allowed (four walks, one HBP).

The dynamic top three in the lineup (Dylan O'Rae, Gregory Barrios, Jadher Areinamo) pretty much guarantees some activity on the basepaths each game. When Luke Adams and Tayden Hall can contribute behind them, all the better.

Next postgame podcast will be after Sunday's contest.

 

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Final: Carolina 3, Delmarva (Orioles) 2
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Win Fifth Straight Over Shorebirds

Yee-hah!

Att: 4,594.
Venue: Five County Stadium.

I'm always impressed how the business side manages to bring in enough service staff (concessions, security, etc.) for a game where attendance pops so far above the norm. What spurred this turnout, beyond an exciting first-place team?

Nice!

As my co-worker Daniel pointed out in our forum as-it-happens thread, the Mudcats went with a bit of a Sunday lineup in front of the big crowd. And don't you know, that bottom three in the order (Blayberg Diaz, Reidy Mercado, Victor Torres) all were key contributors in the win. A bit of video via the team's "X" feed.

Oh, that vaunted Orioles farm system - not at this level, the Muddies are taking advantage, as Delmarva falls to 15-34. Three-game division lead for Carolina,

Especially at the lower levels, we sometimes forget how big a deal it is for families to make their way during these pleasant spring and summer travel months to catch their youngsters. Congratulations, Durow family!

 

 

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Final: ACL Rangers 10, ACL Brewers 2
Box Score and Game Log

Four errors by the A-Crew led to two unearned runs overall, one of those errors by rehabbing Biloxi LHP Brandon Knarr (Happy Sunday 26th Birthday, by the way, Brandon). The game summary will actually show three of those errors happened in Knarr's lone inning in the 1st, and he did well to limit the damage to one run.

20-year-old LHP Osbriel Mogollon's puzzling 2024 continues - demoted from Carolina, the southpaw has walked 28 and plunked seven in 21.1 innings. Ouch. Mogollon did not allow a hit in 2.1 frames here, fanned three, yet seven free baserunners of course burned him.

Twelve of LH-swinging 18-year-old third baseman Eric Bitonti's 23 hits have gone for extra bases. Can't wait for 2025 and beyond for him.

Also swinging with gusto - Gery Holguin, plating right field in this one, has ten extra-base knocks among his 18 hits.

 

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Heading to the local pond with the Mrs. and my beach chairs for some morning relaxation on a lovely Massachusetts morning. Hope your day begins as nicely. The Biloxi game is a 5:05 Central start should you wish to flip over for some farmhand activity after the Brewers complete the sweep of the White Sox. Enjoy!

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