Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/4): Wilken’s Bomb and Wisconsin’s Defense Deliver Two Sunday Victories

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

Brock Wilken homered in support of Brett Wichrowski’s Biloxi return. Wisconsin’s defense and small ball paid off in a comeback win. Carlos Rodriguez went six strong innings, but Nashville fell short. Carolina's series finale was rained out.

For the week, Biloxi (5-1), Nashville (4-3) and Carolina (3-2) were all series winners, while Wisconsin (3-3) managed a series split.

Transactions:

• RHP Brett Wichrowski activated from AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list
• RHP Daniel Corniel placed on High-A Wisconsin’s full season injured list

Game Action:

Final: Gwinnett 5, Nashville 3
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: Sounds Drop Series Finale Despite Quality Start from Carlos Rodriguez

RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez and DH/INF Andruw Monasterio continue making cases for their next shot in the Show, even if their squad couldn’t quite pull out a Sunday victory.

The 23-year old Rodriguez, making his 3rd start in 11 days, managed to complete 6 innings in an efficient 67 pitches (45 strikes) – 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks. His AAA ERA remains a handsome 1.56, now through 34 2/3 innings pitched.

For his part, Monasterio (2-for-4, walk, 2 RBIs, SB) started the game with a double, but was unfortunately stranded, part of the day’s theme as Nashville stranded 10 baserunners to Gwinnett’s 6. He walked to load the bases in the 2nd inning, but they were all stranded. Andruw later drove home 2 runs with a 2-out single in the 6th inning to tie up the contest 2-2.

Credit Gwinnett with collecting 3 runs on 4 hits against LHP Bryan Hudson in the 7th inning (including 2-out RBI hits from old friends Carlos D. Rodriguez and Garrett Cooper) and managing to strike out Monasterio when he represented the potential game-tying run down 5-3 in the top of the 8th inning.

Sounds’ Extras:

• 2B Anthony Seigler continued his hitting surge with a 3-for-4 day, lifting his OPS to .835. It’s an impressive start for the 25-year old infielder/catcher in his first season of AAA baseball.
• Nashville did win the stolen base battle, going 4-for-4, vs. just 1 for Gwinnett, led by Jared Oliva, who’s now 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts this year (2nd overall in the 20-team International League).
• Hudson’s fellow 40-man MLB rosteree RHP Elvis Peguero pitched a clean 8th inning (2 ground outs and a fly out).

Next week’s outlook: The Sounds return home to take on Orioles’ affiliate Norfolk, with rehabbing RHP Brandon Woodruff expected to start Tuesday’s series opener.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 6, Columbus 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Wilken's Fifth Homer, Dominant Pitching Lead Shuckers to Win in Finale

A game day shift to 22-year old RHP Brett Wichrowski was a welcome sight for prospect watchers who’d not seen him in an official game since August 2024. Wichrowski started well (strike out swinging, fly out) before throwing 13 straight balls to load the bases and put him in danger of not completing an inning. But he rallied with another strike out swinging and ultimately covered 3 innings in his return (0 R, 1 H, 4 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks).

3B Brock Wilken is one of the most important and intriguing prospects in the system, going down looking at three called strikes in the 2nd inning, then making his first swing of the game count on this 2-run shot for a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning:

OF Luis Lara started a 3-run 5th inning with a single the other way, then later showed off his calling card defense:

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Wilken continues his offensive surge and now leads Biloxi in homers (5), doubles (6), walks (32) and OBP (.431), while his .874 OPS places him 7th overall in the 8-team Southern League (minimum 56 PAs).
• The bullpen of RHP Stiven Cruz, LHP Josh Maciejewski and Bo Bowman handled traffic well, allowing only 1 run despite allowing 7 hits over 6 innings (with 1 BB and 5 Ks).
• 3B Luke Adams was hit by pitches in the 3rd and 5th innings, staying in to score a 2nd run and play another inning of defense before exiting for a pinch hitter in the 6th inning.
• OF/2B Jheremy Vargas reached base 3 times (2-for-3, walk, RBI) and produced the first run of the game with this RBI single:

 

Next week’s outlook: Red hot Biloxi returns home to host Marlins affiliate Pensacola for six games, beginning on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 7, West Michigan 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Earns a Series Split with 7-3 Win over Whitecaps

Enjoy the video highlights of Wisconsin’s comeback Sunday victory, courtesy of Wisconsin’s amazing media team:

And don’t forget to listen to the 24-minute Mehring-Lobner post-game podcast, featuring Manager Victor Estevez and RHP Yerlin Rodriguez.

From the highlight video, you’ve seen Luiyin Alastre’s sweet inning-opening bunt which triggered the 4-run 7th inning, happening simultaneously to the Brewers’ similar 4-run inning a few miles south.

And you’ve also seen what a difference the stellar infield defense of Guilarte-Areinamo-Baez-Burke can make, each having terrific plays to showcase. West Michigan may have outpaced Wisconsin in terms of hard hit balls, but nothing was getting through the Timber Rattlers’ infield.

Starting LHP Anthony Flores, the 6th-youngest pitcher in the 12-team Midwest League, was throwing on 4 days’ rest, but managed to allow only 4 baserunners over 3 2/3 innings (3 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks). The 2 walks were to the final two batters he faced.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Despite no extra base hits, 11 singles did the trick for the Timber Rattlers on Sunday, including 4 in their 3-run fourth inning and 3 in their 4-run sixth frame. 3B Daniel Guilarte, SS Jadher Areinamo and newcomer OF Luiyin Alastre contributed 7 of those singles and 2 RBIs.
• The Wisconsin bullpen one-upped Biloxi by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Special kudos to RHP Zach Peek (11 pitches, 8 strikes) for quickly dispatching three Whitecap batters via groundout in the 9th inning.

Next week’s outlook: RHP Ryan Birchard is the scheduled starter for Tuesday, as Wisconsin drives 4.5 hours south to battle Cardinals’ affiliate Peoria in Illinois.

Canceled: Myrtle Beach at Carolina

Via the Mudcats’ website, rainout details: Series Finale Between Carolina and Myrtle Beach Canceled

Inclement weather may have canceled Sunday’s game (which won’t be made up), but Carolina did win the home series 3 games to 2.

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats head 2.5 hours east to Kannapolis, North Carolina to take on the White Sox’s affiliate, with the series commencing on Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Houston Astros at 7:40pm, while the sole Minor League affiliate in action is the ACL Brewers (hosting the ACL Cubs at 8:00pm CST). Tuesday will see a slate of five Minor League games.

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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