Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/3): A Very Eventful Night for Biloxi's "Beach Chickens"

[Jim Goulart]

The finest alternate identity in all of MiLB hit all the right heights on Saturday night in Biloxi. Otherwise, it was an uneven day on the schedule, with a mixed bag of low-scoring results in Appleton, yet another rain-interrupted day in Carolina, varied hits-and-misses in the Dominican, and as far as Nashville goes, well, my take below is by no means overly pessimistic but is hopefully dishing a dose of realistic. We'll see.

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Kicking off our Sunday AM breakfast menu -

 

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Transactions:

 

Misiorowski / Kuehner moves became official on Saturday.

• RHP Jacob Misiorowski assigned to Nashville Sounds from Biloxi Shuckers.
• Nashville Sounds transferred LHP Nick Bennett to the Development List.
• Nashville Sounds transferred RHP Nolan Blackwood to the Development List.
• LHP Tate Kuehner assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes 
Final: Gwinnett (Braves) 8, Nashville 5
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:

Early Deficit Dooms Sounds in Gwinnett - Tyler Black and Brian Navarreto Each Plate Two in Defeat

The various items the Sounds place in the "Postgame Notes" section of their game summaries - I always learn something beyond the box score, and you will as well for this latest linked summary above.

This may sound blasphemous as a Brewers fan, but I'm just very, very "meh" over the whole Jacob Misiorowski experience, duly noting I'd love to see true sustained improvement in command take place. But are we really banking on Misiorowski enhancing the big-league bullpen down the stretch or even in the postseason?

As someone who dutifully watches every big-league game of the Crew (whether live or on a few hours DVR delay), what's more frustrating than free passes in the forms of walks and HBP's, with wild pitches mixed in? Has there really been that big a jump from 2023 to 2024?

2023 - 71.1 IP, 42 BB, 18 HBP, 13 WP
2024 - 80.2 IP, 53 BB, 11 HBP, 13 WP

But Jim, you're not including the remarkable H/IP and K/IP figures! Well, sure, and fawn over those numbers at Misiorowski's MiLB Player Page now if it helps you feel better. For me, it doesn't, and I fully acknowledge the young man won't turn 23 years old until next April. Sometimes I think we just can't get this event out of our heads, and it clouds perception otherwise. There is so much work to be done. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Tyler Black played third base for the 5th time with the Sounds this season. As Joey Ortiz struggles with the parent club, Black's opportunity for MLB at-bats soon may best reside there.

RHP Harold Chirino was brought back for a remarkable 9th year in the system (that counts the 2020 mess), and had his first big-league camp invite as well. He struggled (to say the least, 34.71 ERA in three spring games), and this outing was reminiscent of that, unfortunately. Chirino will be entering his age 27 season in 2025, scheduled for free agency this October.

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 13, Rocket City (Angels) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Rodriguez's Two-Homer Night Leads Shuckers to Blowout Win - Kuehner ties career-high with 6.0 innings in Double-A debut, O’Rae records first professional home run

This legitimately may have been "the most things going on" game of the Brewers' farm system in 2024. Find out why Javik Blake included a reference to the beloved Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League in the linked game summary.

But before we review all things Shuckers, excuse me while I scan eBay to find me one of these:

Yeah, in terms of alternate identities, Beach Chickens trumps King Cakes by a mile and a half. As a native New Englander, I'm all about the seagulls, baby...

The Shuckers posted a wonderful ten videos for you to devour on their "X' feed Saturday night, but there's only one that must be preserved in Link Report history:

On at-bat 610 of his fun career (OBP .426), the (generously listed?) 5'7" 20-year-old did that. Brock Wilken had fun with that poke after the game. Not every player O'Rae's size is Jose Altuve in the power department, in fact of course the future Hall of Famer is singular. Genuinely happy for the talented (in other ways) O'Rae.

How many of you parlayed that O'Rae blast with two home runs for Carlos D. Rodriguez in your online betting app? That's what I thought. For a 23-year-old set to become a minor league free agent, it's about time the Brewers see what Carlos can do at the AAA level, and heck, it's time to get Carlos F. and Carlos D. back together.

Mike Boeve is indeed ridiculous. Tate Kuehner had a solid AA debut. Darrien Miller's Southern League-leading OBP is .416 despite his .211 batting average. He was plunked twice, lifting his 2024 figure to 23, just one behind his then-Timbers Rattlers record total of 24 in 2022 (since blown away this year by magnetized Luke Adams). Did I mention this game had a bunch of things going on? Enjoy those X videos linked above.

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final, Game One: South Bend (Cubs) 4, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Cubs Take Game One from Rattlers - South Bend breaks 1-1 with two runs in the fifth

 

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 1, South Bend 0
Box Score and Game Log

Rattlers Earn Doubleheader Split with 1-0 Win in Nightcap - Acosta homers, Fitzpatrick and Bryant combine on shutout

 

 

Luke Adams had a single and walk in Game One (each game was a scheduled seven innings), and then sat idle in the nightcap. I love tweets that provide cool insights:

 

Jadher Areinamo missed both games, one day after coming off the injured list. That makes some sense, you sit on Day Two regardless if it's a doubleheader day or not. Now, if he's not playing on Sunday...

"Veteran" 24-year-old Jose Acosta's 2024 season - Wisconsin on Opening Day, then to Carolina (April 13), Biloxi (April 20th), back to Carolina (May 31st), back to Wisconsin (July 27th). That was a fun home run call by Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring, for the lone run in the nightcap. Not a surprise Acosta is a respected member of these teams. Trivia - Acosta was acquired via trade from what organization in May of 2022? Answer below.

Eduardo Garcia played third base in the nightcap, CF in the opener.

LHP Brian Fitzpatrick has totally found it as of late (check out game logs going back to June 29th) and Tyler Bryant is just the latest Brewers' "older" indy ball signing making the most of his opportunity. They combined to walk zero and fan ten in the shutout effort and deserve more words than I just gave them.

 

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Suspended, bottom of the 4th at home: Charleston (Rays) 2, Carolina 1
Box Score and Game Log (So Far)

 

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Final: DSL Rojos 8, DSL Brewers #1 Squad 7, nine innings (scheduled for seven)
Box Score and Game Log

Manfred Man mayhem as this game was tied at 3-3 after seven innings. Team Uno tied the game with two runs in the 6th, although Luis Pena was thrown out from right field at a play at the plate with only one out. Pena is 36-for-39 in SB attempts, so unless he ran through a stop sign, we'll just say it was a heck of a throw from the Reds' farmhand.

Each team scored four runs in the first extra frame. The Rojos inning included a triple and a double, while the Crew kids utilized four singles and other happenstance to rally to tie again.

Then came the unfortunate final extra inning, where a Pena error (preceded by a wild pitch) gifted the go-ahead run. It was a futile last gasp by the good guys as Pena, in an eventful game for he of the 1.047 OPS, grounded out to end things. 

All those events are best reviewed in the linked game log.

 

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Final: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 15, DSL Astros Orange 4
Box Score and Game Log

Team Dos smacked 13 hits including three doubles and two triples. Big bonus shortstop Jorge Quintana had a second consecutive plus-sized game as he had one of each variety (triple, double, plus a walk). 

On top of the 13 hits, these Cerveceros reached base 14 additional times via walk or HBP - oh and the Astros committed five errors (to Team Dos' two). So of course, we expected a big number here:

Team RISP: 8-for-22.
Team LOB: 10.

While you try and make the most of all the offensive contributions, the three pitchers were solid, including Freddy's 17-year-old cousin Christopher Peralta (3 ER in 4 IP, but zero walks, though he HBP'd two Astros).

 

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Meanwhile, in the desert -

 

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Trivia answer: Jose Acosta was acquired from the Texas Rangers organization in a small cash transaction.

The scheduled completion of Saturday's suspended Carolina game turns Sunday's slate from a four-pack to a five-pack. Biloxi caps the day with a 5:05 Central Time start. Enjoy a safe and fun Sunday, everyone! I'm taking a cue from the Beach Chickens and am heading to the sand!

P.S. Brewers, please take the series in Washington today.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
MiLB Audio Links
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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[James Zumstein]

Thanks for the great write-up, Jim, and thank you for saying what I've been thinking about Misiorowski for a while.  I'm also failing to see any conceivable way people think he could help the big league club in any way this year.  He still has a long way to go, IMO.  Great to see O'Rae get off the schneid.  After that shot, MLB.com may have to bump his power on the 20-80 scale to 20.5 😉.

[biedergb]

First off. Wow to Adams. He and Letson are two great 11th round picks in back to back years.

And congrats to Dylan O’Rae - hopefully a few more young man. You don’t need to hit many, but gotta get a few HRs and a bunch of 2B/3Bs to move up and take advantage of that incredible speed and great eye at the plate that you have.

Finally, 100% on Misiorowski. If not for that Future Games performance I don’t know if he would have had as much helium last year as a prospect.  I was for him staying at AA to hone in his control and learn to pitch deeper into games.  He has as much talent as any pitcher but lacks control, consistency and command.  He is still most likely a reliever (yes Keith Law is nodding), unless he can go games (not just 1-2 but stretches over a month or more) of getting to the 5th/6th inning.  His pitch counts and wildness limit that. Maybe AAA will teach it to him since he can’t just overpower these high end prospects and AAAA hitters.