Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/28): T-Rats Lose Matinee BUT Affiliates Close with a 3-0 Evening Mark

[Joseph Zarr]

The T-Rats opened the day's games with a matinee 3-1 loss. Carolina and Nashville once again played the early evening tilts and both grabbed 'W's - Nashville returned a trouncing to the Knights and the Mudcats pulled away late. Biloxi manage to ride a series of long balls for a hard-earned 4-2 win of their own behind LHP Tate Kuehner and late shutdown bullpen work. Let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• RHP Rafael Garcia was released by the ACL Brewers
• RHP Josh Timmerman was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

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Final: Nashville 12, Charlotte (White Sox) 2

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 Overcome Early Deficit and Pound Knights - Seven Sounds Tally RBI in 12-2 Win

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes     

RHP Carlos Rodriguez certainly didn't give the look of a 7.0 IP, 2 H, 5 BB, 6 K, 2 ER outing early. However, the walks speak to consistent 'issues' locating precisely early and often. Despite the free passes, it's a credit to the young man's continued improvements at the Triple-A level that he was able to work past a two-run first frame. He held serve from there and the offense poured fourth a four-run fourth inning and a six-run sixth. That was all she wrote. All in all, Rodriguez hit 101 pitches with 64 strikes. I look to the 19 whiffs on 50 swings as a mark of a pitcher who also didn't give in despite nibbling. He leaned heavily on his change-up, four-seamer, and curve ball and sprinkled in his sinker, slider, and cutter. More importantly, if we step back and look at the bird's eye view of Rodriguez's August we should all be extremely pleased: 5 GS, 30 1/3 IP, 13 H, 15 BB, 1 HB, 30 K, 1 HR, 8 ER, 0.129 BAA, 0.92 WHIP. That is what we've been hoping for. Let's hope this is the new floor!

Two Throws to First:

1) Speaking of heating up, I bring you 1B/DH Wes Clarke's August: 0.283 BA / 0.891 OPS. One night after smashing his 13th homer, Clarke managed a 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K evening. He is now up to a 0.247 BA / 0.787 mark in Triple-A. We haven't necessarily seen the power surge we've all been dreaming of but we are seeing an improved approach over the past month with results that have followed (and still plenty of power in the bat). In the very least, I can certainly see a floor of a future MLB platoon-worthy 1B who can mash lefties. Given his positive attitude and cheerful clubhouse demeanor, I am pulling for this baseline and more in the years ahead.

2) There is quite a bit to glean from a 16-hit offensive outburst (go ahead and take a look at the Sounds ledger) and I'll let you do so on your own accord,  Rather, I'll laud the late-inning clean-up work from LHP Tyler Jay and RHP Elvis Peguero. Leading 12-2 when Jay entered in the eighth inning, the two hurlers buckled down and never dealt with any real threats in a combined 2.0 IP of 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 R work. As we all know, it is a boon to the outlook of a series when you can preserve arms. Tonight's collective pitching effort laid the groundwork for better odds moving into games three-through-six. With Columbus having won their first two this week versus Gwinnett, the Sounds have fallen one more game in the standings and are now 6.0 GB.

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Final:  Biloxi 4, Montgomery (Rays) 2 

Shuckers Drop Opener to Biscuits  - Martinez Extends Hit Streak to Five Games

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes    

LHP Tate Kuehner worked through 5 IP of 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 ER ball despite a 29 pitch first inning in which he escaped a bases loaded jam. Tip of the cap to him for digging deep and giving his team much needed innings. Tip of the proverbial cap again for picking up the victory by getting through five complete. Kuehner hasn't looked as sharp as I've seen him with his best stuff, but you have to love the fact he still isn't giving into hitters. We can work with a harmless solo jack with a 3-0 lead. When the young lefty is cooking he is really able to lead with the slider and get the chase with the high heat. I only saw that a handful of times tonight. But, again, it's a credit to him he could still put forth a meaningful start and I'm here nitpicking over 1 ER through 5.0 IP. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) We got a taste last night from 3B Brock Wilken. Tonight, we got the full package of upper-echelon baseball from the talented third baseman. Patient AB's and solid pitch selectivity on his swing choices. He not only crushed one out of the ball park on a dipping inside slider:

 

BUT, more importantly for me, it was the process and then the fantastic defense at the hot corner. Snaring liners. Snaring deep hard hit grounders. Throwing darts. This was the Wilken I remembered from his early High-A appearances. We can only hope this is the young man we see throughout the Shuckers late playoff push.

2) Not only has RHP Blake Holub not allowed a single run as a Shucker bullpen Ace, but he's also only allowed one-of-nine inherited runners to cross home plate. He was masterful in his second inning of work striking out three and really working the slider and change-up with skill while threatening with that 95-97 mph heat. He also stranded three of RHP Shane Smith's base runners after he saw three men get aboard with two outs in the seventh inning. Holub certainly hasn't seen this work translate to Triple-A but it is very fair to say he's dominating the Southern League.

 

3) Pulling one out when outhit 7-to-4 with a measly 0-for-1 mark with RISP is a testament to the Shuckers long ball - three homers in the four hits. It's also a testament to the limits of this Shuckers offense. With INF/OF Dylan O'Rae currently on the shelf (unknown reasons), 2B Ethan Murray clearly wasn't up to the task as the fill-in lead-off (0-for-4, 3 K). Which brings me to batting RF Lamar Sparks ninth. What are we doing here? Sparks hit 0.373 in July in 75 AB. He's hitting 0.301 in August in 73 AB. This is definitively stacked success. Why are we not taking advantage of this bat in run-producing spots in the line-up? And, yet, we are still consistently seeing the season-long struggling bat of SS Eric Brown Jr. in the top of the batting order. I find myself often having more questions than answers when I consider the Shuckers batting line-up configurations. And, at the same time, if I'm being honest: given what I've seen from the offense as a whole in 2024 it may simply be a bit too much like throwing darts.

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Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 3, Wisconsin 1

Quad Cities Takes Game Two - Bandits Hold Rattlers to One Run

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Stiven Cruz is giving his team his all as the Timber Rattlers deal with injuries and illnesses amongst their team and pitching staff. Having started a mere four games in all of 2024, Cruz has now filled in and started three straight. He wasn't stellar today but he actually pitched better than the final line would indicate - 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 ER. 84 pitches and 50 strikes. His two run third was largely the product of a bloop Caglianone double that plopped into the left field corner given the outfield was shifted far to the right given the tendencies they'd seen. It was an unfortunate result. But, all things considered, Cruz certainly gave his team more than enough to make a game of it. Unfortunately, one run was all they'd muster despite knocking seven hits throughout the yard. 

Full-Game Highlights:

Post-Game Pod:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Just one game after I lauded 1B Jesus Chirinos for his improved play across the board, he steps up yet again. 2-for-4, 1 2B (the lone T-Rat XBH), 1 R, 1 K. He's just a solid under-the-radar player. I continue to be a fan given the transformation I've witnessed over the past year plus. I sincerely hope he continues getting opportunities.

2) This was about as vintage an 'Everything Yerlin Rodriguez' outing as we could get. It has the good and the bad. Rodriguez inherited RHP Stiven Cruz's two base runners with nobody out in the fifth frame. Not a spot he is accustomed to, he struck out the very dangerous Caglianone for the first out. He then threw a wild pitch advancing both runners but escaped via a strikeout swinging and a fly out to center field. A truly incredibly Houdini Act. However, he then opened his second inning of work with a HBP and a wild pitch. He escaped this frame with only one run of damage - single, ground out, K swinging, walk, K swinging - but, as a whole, it had the whole RHP Yerlin Rodriguez package. I will continue to ponder if he'll ever put it all together as he advances in age. So many tools. So little consistency.

3) With extremely little coming in the way of opportunistic or productive offense, I point you to the bullpen efforts of RHP's Bayden Root and Chase Costello. A combine 3.0 IP of 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K, and 0 R work was what the doctor ordered as I sat down for the finish of this matinee tilt. I've shared on many occasions how bullish I am on Costello's overall skills and make-up. Root badly needed a bounc eback outing after his recent 1 2/3 IP of 6 ER ball at Great Lakes. The transition to High-A has been anything but smooth for Root but he certainly has shown he can buckle down. The T-Rats bullpen badly needs his best version on a consistent basis given the bevy of injuries up and down the pitching staff. Today was a step in the right direction.

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Final: Carolina 7, Lynchburg (Guardians) 3

Box Score / Game Log

Mudcats Start Fast in Win at Lynchburg - Carolina Pulls Away Late Behind Four Late Runs

It was our first look at RHP's Tyson Hardin and Jack Seppings in the Brewers organization and it was a mixed bag. It seems quite clear both young men were being restricted to pitch counts in the mid 20's. Hardin struggled with control early and often and ultimately only lasted 1 1/3 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, ) K, 1 Balk, 2 ER ball. It was clear Hardin was amped up and over-throwing his pitches - 24 total pitches throw with 11 strikes. Seppings, on the other hand, very much came as advertised out of Brown University: controlled, poised, and accurate in and around the zone. He managed 25 pitches with 14 strikes over 1 2/3 IP of 1 BB, 1 K, 0 H, 0 R work. He also picked up his first professional win in the process! Congratulations, young man!

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Yes, 1B Eric Bitonti can still hit the long ball. 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR, 0 K. Love those nights when this powerhouse of a young man manages a clean slate in the strikeout department while grabbing a free pass and smashing a bomb over the fence. The batting average is quite a bit lower than one might expect but it's extremely important to remember this is a transition into the toughest pitching this young man has ever seen. He'll get there. I have zero doubts.

2)  Locked in a tight 3-2 battle in the top of the third, RF Luis Castillo rocked another two-run homer just inside the right field foul pole. The announcers knew it. The Mudcats knew it. Yet, the home plate umpire certainly didn't. He inexplicably ruled the ball hooked past the foul pole. It was quite a moment. Castillo ultimately grounded out to end the threat. However, he did not waste another opportunity as he smashed his 18th homer of his season in the eighth inning when he ripped a solo jack over the right center field fence. The announcers reference the earlier blown call here ("Castillo gets his home run..."):

2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI (his 73rd and 74th of his season), 1 BB, 1 HR. This has been a massive power surge for Castillo in 2024. It leaves one wondering, despite the limited defense, what more is in store for this young man who is in his 20-year-old season? Are we just getting started here with a true corner outfield power bat? Or, is this an anomaly? We'll simply have to stay tuned. We have to be very excited to have Castillo and Bitonti and their power bats in the Mudcats line-up, however, as they head to the playoffs. 

3) The Lynchburg announcers spoke to this in the broadcast (a very informed and enjoyable listen, btw), but what a luxury the Mudcats have in LF Yoshwar Garcia (2-for-5, 2 K, 2 SB) as a mainstay in the 7-through-9 spots in the Mudcats batting order. He covers quite a bit of range in left field and he uses that top end speed as a real weapon on the base paths. He swiped two more bags tonight and now has 58 steals on his season. CF Yophery Rodriguez continues to get lead-off opportunities (0-for-5, 3 K, 109 K on his season) but there is little doubt in my mind Garcia could fill that role and fill it quite well if he had the right mindset. 

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That's a wrap for my report writing duties this week. One more week of the four full-season squads remains and we start those Low-A and High-A playoffs. My, what a long road we've traveled in 2024. LHP Mason Molina will take the hill for his first start as a Brewer when the Mudcats face Lynchburg tomorrow - I imagine he'll also be on a limited pitch count. RHP Mitch White looks to continue his surge as an impact starter for the Sounds as Nashville looks to jump ahead in the third game of their series. RHP Nick Merkel will play the part of a starter for the ongoing shuffling going on for the Shuckers in what is surely a bullpen game. And, lastly, RHP Tyler Wehrle will do the same for the T-Rats and their pitching staff as he grabs the ball for his first start of his 2024 season. I hand the coverage throughout the rest of this last week of August to Daniel and Jim.

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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