Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/17): Rookie Complex League Week Rolls On

[Joseph Zarr]

As someone who has followed the Brewers DSL for quite some time, I can absolutely tell you: this international class has a completely different feeling. We might be in for something very very special, folks. Let's just be excited together and dream of what might be possible with no expectations beyond the pure appreciation. Both DSL squads managed to play in the morning Dominican sun. Both squads managed to pull out victories. In the evening hours, the ACL Crew were back swinging in the desert night. Unfortunately, their game got away from them early and they never quite recovered in a 10-7 loss. Let's get into the rookie ball report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

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• 19-year-old Dominican RHP Ever Urena was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and assigned to the DSL Brewers #1

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Final: DSL Brewers #1 9, DSL Reds 3
Box Score/Game Log

The DSL Brewers Uno managed a zesty 6-for-11 mark with RISP. The now 20-11 DSL Reds managed an 0-for-7 mark with RISP. It also helps the Brewers Uno pitching staff (and defense) managed to stifle the Reds' bats to a tune of only four hits with only one XBH. This was even more important considering the same Brewers Uno pitching staff gave out a charitable five free passes.

The Brewers bats took six free passes of their own but they also hammered out 11 total hits. This 11 hit benchmark included five XBH's - including recently returned from injury and recently christened lead-off CF Handelfry Encarcion's first long ball of his summer in his fantastic 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI showing. As mentioned in this report title above, INF Luis Pena simply continues to dazzle on a near daily basis. He hit his 9th double of his summer today in a 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB day at the dish. On the base paths, Pena continued to do serious damage with two more steals upping his season total to 30 while only being caught thrice. Just an unreal debut season with the Brewers for this young man!

Pena is highlighted, but the usual suspects (as I've come to call this uber-talented group) made their marks as well: 2B Jesus Made went 0-for-2 with 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, and 2 SB (16 on his season); DH Juan Ortuno went 2-for-4 with 1 R and 1 SB (his 17th of his season. The Brewers Uno also got a two-hit (2-for-4) performance from 16-year-old (until July 20th, at least 😁) C Kevin Garcia - he hit his first double and grabbed his third stolen base in a fantastic day for this young Venezuelan backstop.

17-year-old Dominican RHP Ayendy Bravo picked up the win moving to 2-2 on the season with his 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 K performance. His ERA sits at 3.86 overall with a 1.29 WHIP in 21 IP with 15 K and 7 BB. Mexican 17-year-old RHP Carlos Carra got things going in the right direction with his opening 2 1/3 IP of 0 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 4 K, 1 R (unearned) work.

The Brewers Uno trailed 1-0 until a seven run fifth inning outburst including the aforementioned Encarnacion's go-ahead two-run jack. The young squad moved to 20-9 overall and maintain a 1.0 G lead over the DSL Orioles Orange.

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Final: DSL Brewers #2 9, DSL Dodgers Mega 7
Box Score/Game Log

My what a find and sign we appear to have with CF Jose Anderson. It is not often at all when a young man in a Brewers uniform is doing what Anderson is doing in his first season at the Dominican Academy. Anderson's full baseball feathers were on display on the road at the Dodgers Complex today: 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB, and 1 OF Assist. He now has 7 OF assists in just 29 games in the outfield grass. He grabbed his 8th and 9th steals on his season. He's done all this, and more, while sporting an extremely impressive 21 K-to-20 BB. I can not profusely praise this young man enough. For the joy you have brought my watchful eyes this summer, Mr. Anderson: I thank you.

In a game where the DSL Brewers Dos went a woeful 4-for-20 with RISP, they still did manage to walk eight times while swiping nine bases. Those four opportunities capitalized proved to be just enough. The Crew actually carried a 7-5 lead into the ninth frame. But, with two down and a man on first RHP Emil Camilo gave up a game-tying two run blast to uber-talented Dodger DH Emil Morales (a consensus 17th ranked Dodgers prospect hitting 0.322 with a 1.060 OPS in 90 AB - with numbers like that, honestly, I'm surprised he isn't a Brewer. Hey now!). After going the entire month of June without surrendering a single earned run in eight relief appearances, Camilo has now allowed at least one earned run in two-of-three relief outings in July. It should be noted, however, as of his last outing in June it would appear the Brewers may be stretching him out. This was his fourth consecutive two inning appearance. Despite the blown Save, Camilo did earn the victory with a scoreless 10th frame - his first 'W' of his season.

Venezuelan 18-year-old RHP Argenis Aparicio gave his squad yet another solid start (his 4th GS in in seven appearances) with an opening 5 IP of 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 Balk, 3 R (2 earned) ball. He was in line for the victory before Camilo's ninth frame.

Elsewhere throughout the game log and box score, we see impressive performances from LF Pedro Tovar (2-for-5, 1 BB, 2 K); DH Frandy Lafond (1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB); RF Roderick Flores (1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 SB); and 1B Frederi Montero (1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB). The Cerveceros #2 won their third consecutive contest moving to 17-14 now 4.5 GB their division leading DSL Pirates Gold. 

 

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Final: ACL Cubs 10, ACL Brewers 7
Box Score/Game Log

Rehabbing RHP Jason Woodward continued working back from injury and we have some potent footage to share:

7 swings and misses off Woodward's arsenal and it is believed at least four came via that heater:

Noice! Don't think I didn't notice @Smichaelis9sudden cult following amongst the prospect circles. What a time to be alive. The prodigal Minor League sun shines brightly on our 'chiseled' Wisconsin Lutheran pitching/assistant coach. I absolutely love it. Check out the Prospects Worldwide 'X' feed for further highlights including a 102 mph Adamczewski (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) single to right field.

There was plenty of play-by-play saturation in our nightly game thread starting HERE. If you want to catch up to some deeper dive observations dive on in - there is casual discourse on Gery Holguin, Ramon Moreno, and the keen realization that INF Juan Baez was absolutely back. What do I mean by that? Well, for those of us who religiously watch the Mudcats games, we understand Baez is an uber-talented but also flawed young prospect. For all the improvements defensively at the hot corner and for all the advanced bat-to-ball skills, Baez is also a very over-aggressive player prone to mistakes. He is prone to outs on the base paths unlike any other Brewer prospect in the system. Tonight, even with the 1-for-1, 3 BB, 2 RBI line he also was caught stealing while committing two fielding errors. We can only hope he can mature as a player and recognize there is a need to harness aggression. I simply hope, as a cagey vet in the Brewers prospect obsessives, this isn't ultimately a case of 'If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.' thinking on my part. Perhaps that turn of phrase shows my age and anachronistic presence, none the less, the main point of all of this is we want what is best for the players.

So, when 3B Eric Bitonti (1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 3 K) strikes out three times for the fifth time in 45 games this season we root for him to continue fine-tuning that power bat.

When RHP Caden Vire struggles to find his footing after missing all of 2023 in a stuttering start to his Minor League career as a whole (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 ER), we root him on and send those positive thoughts his way. Stay patient and stay the course, young man. There are a smattering of intriguing offensive bylines in the Brewers box score, but, really, as several of us in the proverbial know opined in the MLB draft threads: if you want to know why the Brewers went so pitching heavy in this recent draft, just take a casual glance at tonight's box score. It truly is indicative of the greater season in the desert. The ACL Crew has given up the second most runs amongst the fifteen teams in the southwest - second last to the ACL Athletics.

As a whole, the ACL has played on average roughly four more games than their counterparts in Florida. Trust me, the Brewers would be in the cellar there where only two teams presently have conceded 302 runs (the Brewers have conceded 377 runs after tonight 😳). With the DSL Brewers Dos also showing young pitchers struggling in the ranks, this summer's recent draft strategy makes all too much sense. And, lastly, with a lack of live game action in the stateside summer leagues I wouldn't get your hopes up that will change any time soon. Did you know when one searches 'ACL Standings', initial hits lead you to the 'American Cornhole League', That's right, the American Cornhole League is first on the 'ACL Standings' SEO menu. 😅 Goodness, I wish I was kidding.

Toss a bean bag for me folks, my work is done for the week. The ACL Brewers lose 10-7 and fall back to six games under 0.500 at 24-30.

 

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The rookie clubs will be back at for one more showcase - the full-season clubs return Friday night. After the DSL Brewers #2 handled the Dodgers Mega in Extras, the DSL Brewers #1 will look to spank the Dodgers Mega (17-14) in the morning. The DSL Brewers #2 will look to go for their fourth consecutive victory as they take on the DSL Red Sox Blue (11-18). In the evening hours, the ACL Crew will try to bounce back with a win of their own.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting these young men chasing their professional baseball dreams.

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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[Playing Catch]

Following the AZ and DSL games is getting... boring? It's so predictable. Every day it's the same thing. Jose Anderson this, and Jesus Made that and whatnot. Throw in another couple of SBs from Pena. It's like clockwork.

[brewerralph]

It's good reading, keep it up. I like your style of writing.