Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/25): Misiorowski is Hitting a Dominant Stride; Pratt Leaves Game with Unknown Left Leg Injury

[Joseph Zarr]

The Full-Season ball clubs officially kicked off their collective second halves and we saw a 2-2 mark with Carolina and Biloxi earning victories. Nashville played to a 2-0 offensive snoozer. Wisconsin got off to a slow start and never recovered. The DSL Brewers clubs split. The ACL Crew contest was called early where surely they were robbed of an inevitable comeback. Let's get into the report!

Transactions:

• RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Joel Kuhnel's contract was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• LHP Dallas Kuechel was acquired via trade from the Seattle Mariners (cash) and assigned to the Nashville Sounds
• LHP Darrell Thompson asked for and was granted his release by the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Nolan Blackwood was activated by the Nashville Sounds from the Development List
• C Nick Kahle was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the Nashville Sounds
• C Andy Yerzy was assigned to the Nashville Sounds from the Biloxi Shuckers
• RHP Cristofher Carrasco was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats
• LHP Anferrny Reyes was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats
• DSL Brewers 1 activated RHP Gabriel Colmenarez from the 7-day injured list (debuted 6/24)

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Final:   Jacksonville (Marlins) 2, Nashville 0

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds Shut Out by Jacksonville in Series Opener  - Sounds Held to Two Hits in 2-0 Loss

Box Score / Game Log

Rehabbing LHP DL Hall pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of 4 H, 1 BB ball in his third consecutive scoreless outing for the Sounds. This is all fine and good, but, with Hall in particular I'm 'concerned' about one pitch and one pitch only as he continues to try and build strength: his four-seam fastball. And, I regret to inform you despite the slight uptick in velocity with the pitch I'm still not seeing nearly enough swing-and-miss. In 14 heaters, averaging 94.3 mph, we saw only one swing and miss to be exact. The pitch, by my eyes, is still arriving too flat - the hitters seem to be seeing it quite well. Actually, we saw only two swings and misses in 23 total swings over his forty pitch outing. I found his off-speed offerings garnering quite a bit of meaningless contact. To be fair, nothing was hit all that hard as a rule, but I personally have yet to believe I've seen the 'real' DL Hall in 2024 - if that makes sense. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) If ever there were a game at the dish to exemplify OF Joey Wiemer's 2024 struggles it was this one. A K flailing at an off-speed pitch early in the game. A K looking at a high inside heater for his final out before he was ejected while continuing to bark toward home plate from the dugout. You see, the International League is no longer an ABS League. It is a challenge League. Wiemer had a challenge. He chose to complain leaving home plate and continue complaining from the top rail as opposed to challenging the call itself. A frustrating season turned mildly ridiculous for a moment there. My how the once prized prospect has plummeted back to Earth since his first MLB action just last season. We can only hope he re-discovers his ability to impact ball games.

2) Let's give a nod to the scoreless bounce back outing from RHP James Meeker - 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Fine work. Let's also give a nod to recently activated RHP Nolan Blackwood for immediately facing the fire and coming away unscathed - 1 IP, 1 BB.

3) This one had every bit the look of a Sounds offense that struck out 16 times. It was ugly. The bats looked overmatched in nearly every AB. There's nothing more to say about this snoozer other than hit the showers and get back at it tomorrow mid-day.

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Final: Biloxi 5, Pensacola (Marlins) 4

Misiorowski Dazzles, Shuckers Open Half with Win against Pensacola - Martinez Jr. Records 3-Hit Night

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

Coming off his Southern League Pitcher of the Week honor, RHP Jacob Misiorowski pitched his most dominant outing in 2024. He touched 100 mph plus for the first time in 2024 (and he did so on several occasions in the first frame and a half) and he was in control throughout. If he can get that curveball to land more consistently, look out. All told, when his work was done, 'The Miz' finished 5 2/3 IP of 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K ball. Entering the sixth frame, Misiorowski had induced 12 swings and whiffs. He had gathered 29 whiffs in his last 137 pitches. A 21 % clip. Absurd production.

 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) SS Eric Brown Jr. wasn't credited with any errors on his evening, and he made a nice play or two for sure, but he also nearly botched a couple plays to boot. He'll want to tighten up his execution in the remaining games of this series. He did manage to extend his hit streak to seven games and his on base streak to 11 games. 

2) 1B Ernesto Martinez continues to hit the ball very hard. He drove a Wahoos reliever from the game with a 105 mph come backer off his, well, back. He made a very adept scoop at first base for a key out. He went 3-for-4 with his 16th double. I said it last week and I'll say it again here: I am so here for another Ernesto run alá last summer. Stay hot, young man. The Shuckers are going to need you for the second half playoff push.

3) With all the glowing reports on Misiorowski above, let us not miss a moment to shower continued praise on RHP Craig Yoho. 20-of-his 29 outs in Double-A have come via strikeout. In an evening where he honestly didn't even have his absolute sharpest stuff, we still saw 17" of run on the sinker, 19 " of run on the change-up sitting upper 70's low 80's and a slider giving 22" of run away from bats. He is just a dominant high-end MLB caliber arm.

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Final: South Bend (Cubs) 8, Wisconsin 4

Cubs Grab Early Lead and Don't Let Go - South Bend 8, Wisconsin 4

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

Full-Game Highlights:

In a four-inning surprisingly lackluster outing for the typically efficient and impactful LHP Mark Manfredi, he'll look to the hanging off-speed two-run triple to a lefty in the first frame. And, he'll look to another off-speed center cut hanger in the top of the third frame that was launched over the left field wall for a three-run jack. Sometimes mistake pitches hurt. All told Manfredi managed 4 IP of 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 6 ER, 1 HR ball. This was the most runs Manfredi had given up all season. His previous high for earned runs allowed was three on three separate outings in the first half. He'll definitely look to bounce back his next time on the bump. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) In a game where the T-Rats were only outhit 11-to-10, they will absolutely look to their lackluster 3-for-16 with RISP as a main culprit. Wisconsin's offense has been consistently opportunistic all season long. Tonight, they just lacked the big hit(s) in the right moment

2) LF Felix Valerio hit his first home run since being re-assigned to Wisconsin when he grabbed back two runs in the top of the ninth. It was too little too late for the Timber Rattlers as a team, but Valrio is more than acquitting himself quite well since his re-assignment. He is clearly comfortable at the dish in High-A. Let's hope he keeps this current offensive run up and he gets another opportunity to face Double-A pitching.

3) RHP Tyler Wehrle continues to put too many men on the base paths. This has bee a consistent issue throughout his 2024 season with the Rattlers. 3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K. He didn't allow a run to cross, thankfully, but he faced two separate bases loaded one out situations. He escaped unscathed - a credit to meeting the challenge. But, we all know that isn't a sustainable practice. In 23 1/3 High-A IP, Wehrle is sporting an unsightly 1.91 WHIP. That's a tough pill to swallow as a relief arm.

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Final: Carolina 5, Lynchburg (Guardians) 3

Box Score / Game Log 

Big Inning Lifts Mudcats Past Lynchburg - Five-Run Fifth Proves the Difference

RHP Manuel Rodriguez began his start with an uncharacteristic 3-1 hitters count. He proceeded to give up a next-pitch double to the left center field gap. A ground out to second base advanced the lead-off runner to third. And a sac fly later by Jackson Chourio's younger brother, Jaison, and it was an early 1-0 deficit.

Rodriguez was facing a Hillcats line-up that was entirely filled with lefties and switch-hitting bats - a formidable challenge for the 18-year-old. He struggled early hanging an uncharacteristic amount of pitches over the meat of the plate - something we definitively have not seen all that much of in 2024. Through two innings pitched, Rodriguez had given up four XBH's - three balls rocked off the right field wall in the second frame alone. It was 3-0 Lynchburg headed to the third frame. Facing the Guardians uber-talented 18-year-old lefty Alex Clemmey on a good night, this appeared like a losing proposition. However, like he has done all season long, Rodriguez dug deep and gave his team yet another Quality Start. He also picked up the 'W' in the process as the Mudcats bats feasted on the Hillcats first bullpen arm.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The Mudcats lost both RF Reece Walling and SS Cooper Pratt in the middle innings. Of the two, as alluded to in the title above, Pratt's certainly appeared the most precarious. I articulated it in-depth in the evening's game thread HERE.

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For those at Home. This is One we will absolutely want to keep an eye on. Play begins at 2:21:39. Clearly landed on by the catcher on what appeared to be his left knee. It happened very fast. A bang-bang play. Hopefully, he just got severely cleated and gashed/bruised. Let's put that energy out there.

Let's just hope it was a cleating - a bruise or soreness and nothing more. Walling had backed into the RF wall early in the first frame but appeared to be favoring his right shoulder/arm after a jam shot groundout toward 1B. We'll have to track both happenings and their aftermath in the games ahead. Coming into this contest the Mudcats were sitting at 27 active players with 7 players on the IL.

2) RHP Jeison Pena had his second impactful outing in three tries. His two innings of scoreless relief work were key in protecting the 5-3 lead. With Pena, everything comes down to command. When he's around the zone he can positively influence games. Batters are only hitting 0.214 against him in June but he has a 7:7 BB:K ratio. Tonight's 2 IP of 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 R ball demonstrates he has the tools. Can he have outings like this more consistently?

3) INF Filippo Di Turi is looking more comfortable with each passing game. Remember, this young man is a 18 years old until November of this year. He is making good swing choices for the most part. He is playing solid defense at second base. He is playing on time and unhurried as June progresses. Can we start seeing a modicum of more gap power? Can we continue to see the K:BB ratio flip? Tonight's 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB  showing in the lead-off spot was refreshing. Miles to go here but we are getting glimpses.

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Final: ACL Guardians 4, ACL Brewers 2
Box Score / Game Log

The ACL Crew fell to a rough 15-23 record when their game was seemingly called with runners on the corners and only one down in the top of the eighth. No fair! It had that sneaking feeling of an ACL Special. Bitonti alone had already taken two bases via wild pitch in that very inning. Alas, such is life in the desert. The Crew only managed four total hits in this one with 1B Johan Barrios collecting two of these in a 2-for-2, 1 BB effort. 18-year-old RF Luis Lameda grabbed both RBI when he hit his first double of his season. The biggest storyline in this one, however, comes from the 4 IP of 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 7 K, 1 R (unearned) ball coming from the hand of RHP Bryan Rivera. His two best starts of his season have both come in June. He has 15 K to 1 BB and 1 HB in those 9 IP. We can work with this trend. 

 

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Final: DSL Orioles Orange 6, DSL Brewers #1 1
Box Score / Game Log

The DSL Orioles Orange took revenge on the Brewers Uno victory last week with a six-run second frame. That was all the runs they would need to pull this one out. All six of these runs, and five of the 10 Orioles knocks, came in this same frame when 18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Carlos Canales came on in relief of 19-year-old Dominican LHP Wande Torres. Let's just say Canales had a rough frame. It's a testament to his resolve, however, that he went on to pitch four more managing a 5 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 HB, 2 HR, 1 E. It was a really rough first frame. But, beyond that, he gave his team five meaningful innings. 18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Luis Guevara closed the game with 2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 R ball. A fine effort. Offensively, the Brewers Uno will lament their 3-for-14 with RISP as the biggest difference between the two clubs in addition to being outhit 10-to-6. This being said, the Crew didn't manage a single XBH all game long. 17-year-old switch hitting INF Eric Martinez was the lone multi-hit performer with at 2-for-4 effort. The DSL Crew #1 fell to 10-7 on their season. They'll have the day off tomorrow - they will play the (9-7) DSL Reds on Thursday.

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Final: DSL Brewers #2 11, DSL Cleveland Goryl 5
Box Score / Game Log

Don't mind if I get you started here by pulling from my own post earlier this morning from the daily game thread:

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The DSL Brewers Dos are having perhaps their most impressive performance of their young season after winning yesterday's 2-1 nail biter vs their DSL Brewers Uno compadres. They just put up a four-spot in the bottom of the 8th and lead the (12-4) Cleveland Goryl 11-5 in the top of the 9th. Lotttttta spice in that DSL Brewers Dos Box. And, that game is now over - a 11-5 Brewers #2 victory. They move to 9-7 on the season. AND, what's more? We can highlight a Brewers Dos pitching performance from one 18-year-old Dominican RHP Wandy Cabrera for taking over in the 6th frame with a tight 5-5 ballgame on the scoreboard. He proceeded to fire his best work of his young season: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 0 R picking up the 'W' and moving to 2-0 on the summer.

And, what about that spice in the box score on the offensive side? How about 2 SB apiece for lead-off SS Kevin Ereu and DH Eduardo Charles. Ereu also crossed homeplate three times. Charles went 2-for-4 with 1 3B (his first of the summer), 2 RBI, 1 BB, and 1 K in addition to swiping the bags. 17-year-old Venezuelan C Yoneiker Lugo put forth a 2-for-4, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K performance - a heck of an effort for a young man who is in a clear catching platoon. There are many more tasty items to peruse in this DSL Brewers #2 menu. Take a look at the box and feast thine eyes. The Brewers Dos are trending in the absolute right direction. They moved to 9-7 overall on their young season. Like the Brewers Uno, they will not be taking to the diamond tomorrow. Rather, they will also return Thursday when they face the (6-9) DSL Royals Fortuna. 

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It is an homage to the early days of the 2024 season - no ACL and no DSL match-ups. Rather, we will see three matinee tilts with the Shuckers as our lone evening affiliate. As of now, we are looking at RHP Daniel Corniel; LHP Tate Kuehner; and RHP Evan McKendry in the mid-day games. BIloxi is 'TBD' at present.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

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