Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/2): Henderson, Cornielle, Letson Shine in Starting Mound Efforts

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:
- LHP DL Hall sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers
- 3B Mike Boeve sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers
- RHP Tanner Shears sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers
- LHP Russell Smith placed on the ACL Brewers 7-day injured list.

We also learned, via Curt Hogg of the Journal-Sentinel, that Carolina Mudcats infielder Luis Pena's 7-day IL stint is for a mild right hamstring strain.

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Final: Nashville 4, Gwinnett (Braves) 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:

Logan Henderson Spins Another Quality Start in Sounds Win over Gwinnett - Second Straight Quality Start with Nashville, Third Consecutive Overall

Do you think Henderson's one big league start - six glorious innings, one run allowed, one BB, nine K, has given him supreme confidence since despite the quick demotion back to Nashville? Two starts - 12 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 14 K. Let's say what seems obvious - a swap for Quinn Priester seems like a prudent move at this point.

Bryan Hudson has not walked a batter in his three one-inning scoreless outings since his arrival in Nashville, more good news to help sweeten a sour evening on the MLB front.

Dunn has five hits in his last three games, and he walked twice in the game prior to that. Baby steps.

Andruw Monasterio doubled, walked and stole a base. He'd be no godsend by any means, but the Vinny Capra saga has been difficult to watch despite some better (yet still fruitless) at-bats on that MLB front.

Maybe we should all learn about fruit bats instead.

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Final: Biloxi 7, Columbus (Braves) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Catch up on Biloxi Pre-Game Audio Interviews

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

Rodríguez's 3 RBI Night, Fitzpatrick's Dominant Outing Leads Shuckers to Wild Win - Rodríguez smashes second home run of the year, Fitzpatrick lowers ERA to 0.69 through 13.0 innings

There's a contest we haven't fully followed - and that's the nightly mentions of any of the Rodriguez' in the Brewers system (there are seven of them) vs. the Garcia's (a whopping nine). At the minimum, we're suggesting a big Family Feud matchup in Maryvale next spring training.

In his second season in the Brewers system, 26-year-old Ramon Rodriguez is an interesting cat. The proud father of three, and a pro since age 17 (Dodgers draft pick, subsequent time in the Orioles' chain), he can be heard in a wonderful interview with Javik Blake via the link above. He's enjoying a hot stretch at the moment, and you can add his sacrifice fly to your box score perusal this morning.

Speaking of sacrifice flies:

SF: Pratt; Rodríguez, R; Vargas; Warren.

The most sacrifice flies by a team in one game in Major League Baseball (MLB) is five; the record was established by the Seattle Mariners in 1988, tied by the Colorado Rockies in 2006, and tied again by the Mariners in 2008.

Back to Rodriguez, and you can find a couple of additional video highlights for the Shuckers on their "X" feed here:

There weren't enough prospect rankers among you to place RHP Alexander Cornielle on BrewerFanatic's Top 20, but I know I did my part (several others voted for him as well). The flashes of brilliance we saw at Wisconsin have turned into a beacon of brightness (and a spiffy 0.42 ERA) through his first five starts at the AA level. 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 6, West Michigan (Tigers) 1
Box Score and Game Log

Letson Ks Nine as Wisconsin Beats West Michigan - Rattlers jump to early lead with four runs in first inning

Enjoy reading the summary, watching the highlights (see the "frosty" fans huddle in their coats as we hear Chris Mehring mention "Frosty K's" often - I'm sure we won't tire of that by season's end, good job by the Wendy's name brand placement team), and then listen to the podcast.

Importantly, we learn that Juan Baez's HBP exit - hit his helmet - was precautionary in nature. The Timber Rattlers have only one bench body who is a non-catcher, as the organization continues to skate on thin roster ice at various levels from time to time.

Going into the evening, we saw a sterling list of planned starters in Henderson, Cornielle, Letson, and we didn't sleep on 18-year-old Melvin Hernandez in Carolina. No one disappointed and just add Letson to the list of upper-Midwest Ginger Poulson draft finds.

Blake Burke trips around the bases after a home run are just mesmerizing. It's just a body type that is so unlike 99% (unscientific estimate) of those we see on a daily basis. It works for him, and we're all here for it.

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Final: Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 7, Carolina 6
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Rally Comes Up Short 

Oh, those Cubs on this Friday night.

It's a shame that the 9th inning went awry for 19-year-old RHP Bryan Rivera, because the Nicaraguan native had tossed three innings of one-run ball prior. That led to the Mudcats being down 7-2 entering the bottom of the frame, and the rally fell one Eric Bitonti fly ball to center field short.

Three hits including a double and a sacrifice fly here, so May is off to a fine start for Adam as well (oh hi, Ginger!).

18-year-old Braylon Payne was on base three times and is now 14-for-16 in SB attempts. That "surprise" draft pick status continues to reflect very well on Brewers brass.

The previously alluded to Melvin Hernandez did not walk a batter in his 4.2 innings, and the youngest pitcher in all of full-season ball continues to acquit himself well.

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What's that, you say? You'll be able to see a box score and game log from Maryvale today starting at 1:00 Central? Darn right, and best wishes to the Arizona Complex League kids (roster and staff listed here).

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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[Austin Tatious]

Lot of pitching kudos.  

Henderson and Letson - looking great.  Letson is as exciting as some of our young hitters and looks very projectable.

Cornielle has always been solid but he’s been lights out.  Anyone know if he’s made any kind of change? More velo?  New pitch?  Adjustment?

Lefty Bryan Fitzpatrick, the 10th round pick from a couple of years ago, has also been showing eye popping numbers.  

Melvin Hernandez.  Tiny guy IIRC (140 lb) but all he does is produce at age 18.  

[Terry]

Always thought it would be nice to see how players performed against same-handed or opposite-handed opponents, but data is kinda limited so far. Here's something I'm working on. This is Letson's stats per game so far this season.

[biedergb]

2 hours ago, Austin Tatious said:

Cornielle has always been solid but he’s been lights out.  Anyone know if he’s made any kind of change? More velo?  New pitch?  Adjustment?

Can’t answer completely, but he has had a good arsenal I think low 90s and a couple of off speed stuff. His command will be his main issue. It was not there last night but his composure was as he still made it through 4 innings without much damage. But if he can command he can move up. His ERa is sparkling, and as one of his biggest fans I will admit it is not as accurate- he has been lucky although pitching well but not ERA < 1.00 well.  I hope his next start will show improved command.  His best starts his command was great and that is better than last year. I will defer to others on changes in pitches or other things compared to last season but he looks similar to last year.

[Terry]

Underlying stats for him are not shiny unfortunately.

[sveumrules]

Only 22 pitchers in the Southern League with at least 20 IP so far, but Cornielle’s 2.54 FIP is tops on that short list.

Of course he won’t go the whole year giving up zero home runs, so his 3.44 xFIP isn’t quite as shiny.

Also has a .128 batting average against (second lowest is .152, league average is .223) which is due for regression as the innings add up.

Not quite as many IP (12.2) but fellow Shuckers international signee Stiven Cruz is off to a nice start too with a 1.46 FIP / 2.42 xFIP in the early going.

[Terry]

35 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Only 22 pitchers in the Southern League with at least 20 IP so far, but Cornielle’s 2.54 FIP is tops on that short list.

Of course he won’t go the whole year giving up zero home runs, so his 3.44 xFIP isn’t quite as shiny.

Also has a .128 batting average against (second lowest is .152, league average is .223) which is due for regression as the innings add up.

Not quite as many IP (12.2) but fellow international signee Stiven Cruz is off to a nice start too with a 1.46 FIP / 2.42 xFIP in the early going.

I think it was kind of deflated(?) by that great game on 4/15 and as you mentioned the fact that he hasn't give up homers yet. But from long term perspective that control is not a good recipe for success.

[biedergb]

Cornielle has the stuff, not elite, but good stuff. I’ve been a big fan. But his command is not great. It’s not just control, as he isn’t “wild” (ie like Yerlin for example), but if he misses the zone he will get a lot of balls called, and that leads to walks or longer at bats. And he doesn’t have that elite out pitch which is why he has risen steady, a lot to like, but still more work to do. Maybe the pitching sides EMJ?

[biedergb]

I now watched the TRats game. 

First of all one of the posters ( @Playing Catch ) asked about Areinamo's defense. And I can defer to Spencer, Joseph, etc, but last night's game did highlight his ability. In the second, there was a well hit ball to the hole into left and Areinamo ranged to get it and made a good play to field it, and a good throw, but because of where it was hit he did not get the runner nor make it look close, but that was not on Jadher. Later in the game he made a play on a ground in the 5th right to him as he was "in perfect position" as Chris Mehring stated. He is athletic, smart and fundamentally sound. He can play SS, but I still think he is a 2B/SS/UT player in the future particularly in an organization that has a guy like Turang and another highly touted IF in Pratt.

Bishop Letson was great in this game. He was in command. He hit 95-96 in the first, and was 92-94mph in the 2-5th innings, but did hit 95mph once in the fourth. He appears to have 2 or 3 other pitches, one 80 mph that I thought was a curve but a similar pitch was called a change up by Mehring. Maybe he has two in the low 80s?? And another 87 off speed pitch that I thought was a change, but was called an "off speed" and he may have a second FB possibly as there were some that were 91-92, even when he was still hitting 93 typically. He was efficient except for that 2nd inning. Where a chopper to the left and the above stated hit that Areinamo got to put runners on. He battled through with a 34 pitch inning, but 3rd (7), 4th (12) and 5th (13) were all so efficient in pitches. He looked sharp.  Very projectible and I imagine he could add a tick to the velo, or at least maintain 95 throughout the game and that could make him a pick for the top pitcher in the system if/when Mis graduates. Health will be his main key, as he hasn't logged a ton of innings, so here's hoping he can stay on the field for the long run.

Finally Areinamo and Burke each smoked HR. Burke in particular was launched to deep center showing his power potential. His first coupe at bats he was not a locked in, but made up for. Areinamo on the other hand is always in his at bats, and if he can find some power he will be a future pro in my mind.

Baez was hit in the head with a pitch and went down. Hoping he goes through some checks and protocols and will be alright - I suspect he will be out until next series - although I have not checked today's game thread to see if he was surprisingly in the line-up.

[Joseph Zarr]

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Maybe we should all learn about fruit bats instead