Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/29): White and Rivera Deliver Solid Outings in 2-2 Thursday

[Ro Mueller]

Mitch White’s start and Bryan Rivera’s middle relief work propelled Nashville and Carolina to victories. Biloxi and Wisconsin battled hard but couldn’t complete their comebacks.

Transactions:

• RHP Garrett Stallings activated by AAA Nashville from Development List
• RHP Isaiah Jackson released by ACL Brewers
• RHP Brett Wichrowski placed on AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list, retroactive to 8/28
• 3B Ben Metzinger activated by AA Biloxi from Development List

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 5, Charlotte 1
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: White, Collins Help Sounds Conquer Knights

With Friday doubleheaders looming for both the Brewers and the Sounds, Nashville was counting on starting RHP Mitch White to provide extended innings and boy did he deliver.

White’s 85 pitches over six innings (1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks) topped his previous season high of 69, keeping the Knights principally on the ground (peak line drive or fly out exit velocity of 91mph) and exiting with a 3-1 lead.

Per the linked game report, 3B Isaac Collins (2-for-4, HR, walk, RBI, 2 runs) led off the contest with a solo homer, while C Francisco Mejia (3-for-4, walk) and DH Christian Arroyo (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) rounded out a solid top three of the order.

After struggling to record strikes in his last outing, RHP Craig Yoho had no difficulty this time in a 3-up, 3-down 7th inning: 9 pitches (8 strikes) – soft liner, weak fly out, routine ground out.

Sounds’ Extras:

• MLB roster expansion watch: 1B Tyler Black 0-for-4, right fielder Brewer Hicklen 0-for-3, walk, SB, run
• Well done to RHP Ryan Middendorf to keep the Knights off the board in the final two frames, inducing two ground ball double plays to help overcome two singles and two walks.
• After spending most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons in the Majors, then struggling with injuries in 2023 but ending that season strong enough in AAA to get the Blue Jays to re-select his contract in November to keep him off the market, White is now making the case to potentially earn a Major League contract this winter.

Friday’s outlook: RHPs Evan McKendry and Taylor Clarke are the scheduled starters for Nashville’s pivotal doubleheader. They really need a sweep in order to start making up ground on red-hot Columbus (6 games ahead of the Sounds).

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery 7, Biloxi 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Biscuits Pull Away with Late Homer, Shuckers Fall 7-4

With Wichrowski placed on the injured list, the call went to middle reliever Nick Merkel (3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) to make his first start since his 2022 independent league days, despite throwing on 3 days’ rest.

Unsurprisingly, the result was the end of Merkel’s 12 inning scoreless streak, but he did well enough to keep Biloxi in the game against a solid Montgomery squad (season record now 71-52), exiting after three innings and a season-high 59 pitches down 2-1.

A 1-for-10 effort with runners in scoring position with 15 strikeouts isn’t going to win many games, but 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, run) and right fielder Connor Scott (2-for-4, double, run) continue to be dependable bats

 

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Biloxi also lost the battle of roster attrition in this one, ending up with Ben Metzinger and Nick Kahle getting rare key at-bats following the 5th inning ejection of center fielder Adam Hall (arguing his caught stealing to end the 4th inning with Martinez on 3rd base) and somewhat surprising late exit of DH Brock Wilken 0-for-4, 4 Ks).
• In his first game action since June 11, Metzinger K’d twice to help strand three baserunners, while Kahle flew out to end the game with two baserunners on.
• Normally-reliable RHP Bo Bowman (3 IP, 3 R, 5 Ks) and LHP Russell Smith (3 IP, 2 R, 3 Ks) were unfortunately done in by a 3-run homer and 2-run shot, respectively, though still boast sub-3.00 season ERAs.

Friday’s outlook: Biloxi remains in playoff position, but needs to start winning again. RHP KC Hunt is due to make his fourth start at the AA level (3.31 ERA with 23 Ks in 16 1/3 IP thus far), with the Shuckers needing a win to even the series 2-2.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 4, Wisconsin 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: River Bandits Slam Wisconsin

Despite the loss, we’re still blessed with video highlights from the Wisconsin media team:

Continuing the Thursday theme of relievers thrust into starting roles, RHP Tyler Wehrle made his first start of the 2024 season, giving Wisconsin 4 2/3 innings and a season-high 76 pitches.

The grand slam immediately followed an infield error which loaded the bases with one out, after which Wehrle retired 10 of the next 12 hitters.

After narrowing the deficit to 4-2 by the 4th inning, Wisconsin had two baserunners on in the 5th inning and the leadoff man aboard in the 6th inning (C Ramon Rodriguez – 2-for-4) before their final 12 batters went down in order.

As mentioned in the game report, the night’s highlight was really the terrific High-A debuts of relief pitchers Brailin Rodriguez and Dikember Sanchez: combined 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks. Both are excellent stories, with 22-year old Rodriguez successfully making a long road back from injuries and 20-year old Sanchez casting aside middling results over three DSL seasons to impress throughout 2024.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Well done to right fielder Eduarqui Fernandez to collect two hits and two stolen bases (19 thus far in 2024) as he attempts to dig out of a long funk at the plate (.190 season average, .606 OPS).
• Although Wehrle only allowed runs in one inning, it was a serious effort as he worked around the leadoff batter reaching base in the 1st, 3rd and 4th frames.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Ryan Birchard is scheduled to make his fourth start, with Wisconsin needing a victory to even the series 2-2.

Final: Carolina 7, Lynchburg 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Race Past Lynchburg

2024 seventh round pick LHP Mason Molina (2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) made a successful Brewers’ organizational debut by starting and throwing two scoreless innings, but the real game story was 19-year RHP Bryan Rivera dominating over 6 frames and 81 pitches: 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks.

Carolina’s 4-run fourth inning opened the scoring and basically put the game away, though the runs came home in unorthodox fashion (DH Marco Dinges infield RBI single, RBI ground out, 2-run “double” for 3B Miguel Briceno after a fly ball fell in between two conflicted outfielders).

1B Eric Bitonti had another solid game, reaching base four times (2-for-3, walk, HBP, RBI), while each of Dinges (3-for-5, double, RBI) and Briceno (3-for-3, double, SF, 3 RBIs) came aboard three times.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Center fielder Yhoswar Garcia stole three more bases to bring his total to 61 on the year, though he was also picked off in what was technically his 11th caught stealing.
• Carolina dominated in most respects, outhitting Lynchburg 11-3 while also taking advantage of three errors, 4 wild pitches and a balk by the Hillcats.
• RHP Gerson Calzadilla impressed in 2023 but missed most of the 2024 season with an injury, so the 1-2-3 ninth inning (2 ground outs, 1 fly out) had to feel nice.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Jason Woodward is set to make his 3rd start in Low-A ball, as Carolina can clinch a series win with a victory.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. The Milwaukee Brewers will kick off our Friday with their doubleheader in Cincinnati commencing at 11:40am CST, while the Sounds will get the 5-game MILB slate going at 4:30pm CST.

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

View full article

[Joseph Zarr]

Quote

• Center fielder Yhoswar Garcia stole three more bases to bring his total to 61 on the year, though he was also picked off in what was technically his 11th caught stealing.

Garcia trails only the Biscuits' Chandler Simpson (63 SB) who is absolutely running roughshod on the Shuckers pitching staff and C's Darrien Miller and Nick Kahle. Simpson swiped 4 bags on Miller last night.

I continue to be mildly surprised by the overall lack of excitement for Garcia's season. He absolutely has true lead-off hitter upside. I also continue to be surprised he isn't used there, really, in any fashion by manager Nick Stanley. The Brewers agenda in Carolina is clearly giving 18-year-old blue chipper Yophery Rodriguez the vast majority of those lead-off AB's. 

[biedergb]

Yoswar will be an interesting player next year. He will be 23 in a month, and has play parts of 3 seasons in low A.

He has speed but as a 23 year old next year he should need to be in AA at some point. After a hot first half with no promotion. He has cooled quite a bit the past 2-3 months

 He can still be a late bloomer and a serious OF prospect but next year will be critical.

[Ro Mueller]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I continue to be mildly surprised by the overall lack of excitement for Garcia's season.

With the reduced level of Mudcat media in 2024 vs. 2023 (remember the Manager Estevez interviews?), I think it’s more difficult to get the pulse of what’s going on.

Is it possible that Yhoswar was only signed for one season (like Dylan Moore some years ago)?

Garcia’s production dropped in the second half of the season, but I couldn’t help but wonder if that was tied to disappointment at the lack of a promotion (ditto Alexander Cornielle one level up).

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, biedergb said:

Yoswar will be an interesting player next year. He will be 23 in a month, and has play parts of 3 seasons in low A.

He has speed but as a 23 year old next year he should need to be in AA at some point. After a hot first half with no promotion. He has cooled quite a bit the past 2-3 months

 He can still be a late bloomer and a serious OF prospect but next year will be critical.

I mean, he's really a luxury. Especially at the bottom of the order. They Lynchburg announcers have spoken to it on a couple occasions. You make it through the power bats etc and then suddenly you are facing a 7 hitter who is extremely adept at getting on base and then causing havoc. A 0.291 hitter with 61 SB in the seven spot is a really challenging obstacle for opposing pitching staffs. In the very least, he'll start next year at High-A Wisconsin I would imagine. When he is not in that Mudcats line-up his absence is absolutely felt. He's just entirely underrated in terms of how he impacts the overall end result. He also has very good range in the OF grass. Anywho, I continue to appreciate what he brings.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

With the reduced level of Mudcat media in 2024 vs. 2023 (remember the Manager Estevez interviews?), I think it’s more difficult to get the pulse of what’s going on.

Is it possible that Yhoswar was only signed for one season (like Dylan Moore some years ago)?

Garcia’s production dropped in the second half of the season, but I couldn’t help but wonder if that was tied to disappointment at the lack of a promotion (ditto Alexander Cornielle one level up).

I wondered the same. Tho, Jim doesn't have him listed HERE.  I am wondering aloud if he doesn't have a bit of a braggadocio, so to speak, that rubs the coaching staff the wrong way from time to time. He has been pulled a couple times in games this season after what appeared to be possible lazy efforts out of the batters box. This is complete speculation on my part.  

[Austin Tatious]

Wilken 0-4 with four strikeouts.  He sounds like he’s pressing and in a funk.  The mental side of baseball can get you.  The pitch to the face may have wrecked his season.  We will know a lot more next year IMO.