Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/25): Daz Exits Nashville with (Another) Bang; Mudcats Suddenly Stumbling

[Jim Goulart]

The won-loss script has flipped a bit, as evidenced by the formerly 13-2 Carolina squad now sitting on a 13-6 record. It was an exciting Friday night elsewhere across the board, as victories for Nashville, Biloxi and Wisconsin were each well-earned and had a distinct flavor of their own. Let's see how, shall we?

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

• INF/OF Eric Brown Jr. placed on AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list, retroactive to April 24
• C David Garcia placed on High-A Wisconsin’s 7-day injured list, retroactive to April 24

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Final: Nashville 8, Durham (Rays) 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:

Nashville Powers Past Durham to Even Series 

It was a nice day of rest for the bullpen as RHP Deivi Garcia and LHP Bruce Zimmerman navigated through nine frames.

Andruw Monasterio was on base four times, there's no word that he was on the plane to St. Louis with Daz Cameron, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he joined the Crew in Chicago this coming week for the White Sox series. Monasterio doubled, singled twice, and stole two bases in this game.

Ernesto Martinez last played on Tuesday as he sits with his right thumb injury. 

Does catcher Jorge Alfaro have any kind of opt-out built into his minor league deal? For the Brewers sake, hopefully not (sorry, Jorge). The man has been a beast and would certainly catch the eye of any number of big-league clubs.

You'll find Daz Cameron's parting shot to Nashville (at least for now) and a nice grab by LF Adam Hall at the Sounds "X" feed.

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Final: Biloxi 8, Montgomery (Rays) 6
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers' website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Five-Run Eighth, Miller's 4-RBI Night Leads Shuckers to Comeback Win - Teams combine for 14 runs, 25 hits and seven extra-base hits

Latest Biloxi Pre-Game Interview Archives

Sometimes you see the linescore, box score, and game summary, view the various posted highlights, and realize this would have been one heck of a game to view in person. This is one of those games, though oddly, the box doesn't contain an attendance figure. 

I'm not sold on the RHP Abdiel Mendoza experience quite yet, as the former Athletic-Ranger-Blue Jay farmhand by way of a trade, minor league Rule 5, and then minor league free agency to Milwaukee this past January has a 2.23 WHIP in his four Shuckers starts, but it seems he'll continue to be plugged in to rotation work for now. Ten baserunners in five innings here actually dropped his WHIP, but only two runs allowed were a plus. Mendoza will be 27 in September.

With Eric Brown, Jr. landing on the IL with a for-now undisclosed injury, the Shuckers have a one-man bench (catcher Victor Torres has yet to play in 2025 although he's on the active roster). On Friday, struggling outfielder Bladimir Restituyo occupied the one bench spot as catcher Ramon Rodriguez was the designated hitter. Wonder if a certain Timber Rattlers second baseman who rightly earned a AA-level opportunity based on his work last summer might be up soon? What do you think, Jadher Areinamo?

The five-run Shuckers 8th alone would have been worth the price of admission. The Biloxi "X" feed, to borrow Voice of the Shuckers' Javik Blake's keyword, is "fun", be sure to check out that timeline. Javik's call and Ethan Murray's reaction to his triple got me fired up.

Maybe it's just the nature of the Southern League, but when an offense is clicking, entertainment is off the charts. When pitchers are rightly owed their due, that's fine, but it's a bit of a slog. It's nice for our eyes when a bit of AA Texas League pop makes its way to these humid outposts.

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 1, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 0
Box Score and Game Log

Letson & Three Relievers Shut Out Kernels for 1-0 Win - Rattler starter worked 5-1/3 scoreless for first Midwest League win

Given all the praise just heaped on an exciting Biloxi game above, one might think I'm sour on this contest overall, but gloriously, no way. 

Chris Mehring does a nice job of describing the pitching tension throughout in the linked summary, giving props to all four hurlers. In his age 20 season, RHP Bishop Letson has fanned 17 while walking only three over 16.1 innings. Get excited, folks.

The organization simply needs healthy position player bodies at this point. The Rattlers' lone non-catcher bench bat for this game, Daniel Guilarte, was called upon when shortstop Eduardo Garcia exited in the bottom of the 6th. I reviewed the MiLB TV archive - Manager Victor Estevez was discussing his lineup card with the home plate umpire as the swap took place but there was absolutely no evidence on that portion of the broadcast of what may have occurred with Garcia. If Eduardo is going to be absent for any length of time, that's going to be a problem. It certainly would add a layer of not-so-fast to the Areinamo promotion theory I floated above.

My prediction for May and June - once the various independent leagues begin play across the country in earnest, look for the Brewers to sign position players off to strong starts. This would be an alternative to jumping the gun on promotions, allowing for the teenage talent in the system to better percolate at appropriate levels while still in the season's first half.

The T-Rats won despite having only four hits, all singles, though five walks. Catcher Matt Wood had two of the base knocks and one of the free passes.

We love that Chris Mehring is providing Friday audio updates with Estevez, and Ryan Birchard does a wonderful job on this interview, be sure to check it out.

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Final, Game One: Columbia (Royals) 10, Carolina 4, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Final, Game Two: Columbia 3, Carolina 2, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Swept in Doubleheader at Columbia 

It was nice to see OF Demetrio Nadal return to action in the nightcap (last played on the 16th), though 0-for-3 with a K. That's because Game One saw yet another mid-game exit by a Mudcat position player, this time Luis Pena, who was the designated hitter. 

I was watching this late afternoon start live, and this is what I posted in our "as it happens" thread:

"Luis Pena reached on a fielder’s choice groundout in the final inning of the 10-4 Game One loss, The camera didn’t catch it well, but it’s leg related, it seems."

Our live threads have been a bit sparse this week - that'll happen when there's the NFL draft, NBA playoffs, and a warranted break for our Link Reporter Joseph. Look for the volume to spike there again starting Tuesday, although the Friday thread did contain some nuggets of interest, including catcher Marco Dinges' defensive successes and a rough night in left field for Luiyin Alastre. Do check it out.

Home runs for infielder Filippo Di Turi in 501 at-bats prior to 2025: 1.

Home runs for Di Turi in 63 at-bats this season: 3.

 

Dinges had a heck of a doubleheader. While his defense shined in the opener, he singled, walked, and did this in the nightcap, congrats on pro HR Uno:

Second baseman Josh Adamczewski reached base four times in seven plate appearances Friday, because he's freakin' Josh Adamczewski, now sporting a .375/.481/.594 line. He doesn't turn 20 until next month.

The 13-6 Mudcats remain in first place by a game, but men, we can end that four-game losing streak any time now, thanks.

How much would you have paid to have seen hulking Eric Bitonti behind the dish? Sadly, the listed Game Two lineup didn't exactly come to pass:

There are three Fireflies highlights on their "X' feed should you wish to see how some of the opponent efforts went.

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Exciting Wisconsin starting pitcher Tyson Hardin is in afternoon action today, opposite the parent club's game in St. Louis. Otherwise, the three other squads face off in Saturday evening action. Enjoy your Saturday, everyone!

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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[biedergb]

3 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

Maybe it's just the nature of the Southern League, but when an offense is clicking, entertainment is off the charts.

Biloxi has had a nice little run of late with the offense being not-anemic.  Garret Spain being a little spark, and the young kids (mostly Pratt, but also Adams, Lara) have had some success after very slow starts. 
 

 

3 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

Our live threads have been a bit sparse this week - that'll happen when there's the NFL draft, NBA playoffs, and a warranted break for our Link Reporter Joseph

Yowza - 42 posts total the past three nights total -. that’s a normal one night post total!

Definitely missing Joseph.  And a lot of other things going on.  And I know I’m far from a regular but I hadn’t been able to watch this week - work and travel. Hope to back to help get the minor league daily link back going next week

 

thanks for the great write up Jim!