Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/6): Woodruff Has Fantastic Rehab Outing; Dorchies Debuts in the Desert

[Joseph Zarr]

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• RHP Brandon Woodruff was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds for his rehab outing (though, we all knew this dating to last week)
• C Victor Torres was placed on the Development List by the Biloxi Shuckers
• INF Mike Boeve was officially reinstated off the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers (he had been rehabbing in Arizona)
• LHP Aaron Ashby officially began his rehab assignment with the ACL Brewers
• RHP Josh Timmerman was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats (retroactive to 5/3)
• RHP John Holobetz (sadly) was officially added as the 'PTBNL' in the RHP Quinn Priester trade and was sent to the Boston Red Sox

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Final:  Nashville 5, Norfolk (Orioles) 3

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):

Four Run Eighth Lifts Sounds Over Tides - Woodruff Works Five Frames in Fifth Rehab Start

Game Notes

Box Score / Game Log 

The story of this game one home victory for the Nashville Sounds (20-14 - 3.0 GB 1st place) was not the late innings come back. Though that was sweet, in a DSL/ACL kind of way (we'll get to that later), the real story was rehabbing RHP Brandon Woodruff and 83 pitches thrown over five complete frames with 60 strikes. Efficient. And dialed in. It's fascinating watching this new version of the Big Woo. It really is. I've watched every one of his rehab stints to date. This was his best one and it's certainly happening at just the right time. I'm not going to get into the Savant/Statcast data tonight as my time is pressed and I'm busy on my own farm but I watched the majority of his outing. Here's what I can tell you in a CliffsNotes version:

• He was touching 94-95 all the way into the fifth frame
• His best strikeout pitch at present, as I see it, is his slider. He can still obviously grab a swinging K with the heater - even at 94-95 it plays quite well. The slider just dances beautifully off of his heater/sinker combination. It is a really tight look that adds a little sink as well as a classic gyro shape by my eyes. Sits 87-89 mph at present.
• The change-up is really coming along grabbing a couple swings and misses when I noticed the pitch amongst my multiple screens. It dips. It is a significant enough 10 mph or more dip off the heat to get the coveted swing and miss
• He looks more comfortable and confident in his new plan on the bump with each successive outing
• The sole meaningful contact allowed was the solo moon shot that somehow made its way over the left center field wall in the final fifth frame. By my eyes it was the shape of a 92 mph sinker tailing below the zone. It was a heck of a poke.

Will the Brewers brass ask for another outing? I'm unsure. Does he need it? I'm also unsure. BUT, if we're riding high off success as a platform to another test and another level I certainly wouldn't complain if he's added to the Brewers staff. It will all depend on how he feels in the days ahead and what exactly the finer details are for the ongoing rehab work. When all was said and done, Woodruff's final line read: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 ER, 1 HR. Many of those pokes were of the weak flare variety. I came away thrilled and you should too! ? For your viewing pleasure:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Quite simply, that was the best outing I've seen from RHP Easton McGee as a Brewer. Is he rounding into pre-TJ form before my eyes? 2 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3K with his squad trailing 2-1 was just what the doctor ordered for a comeback. 42 pitches and 27 strikes matched Woodruff's work with aplomb. Especially appealing was his tailing breaking ball. He grabbed several swings and misses by my eyes. When he's this accurate and this precise, he becomes a meaningful candidate to enter the call-up pool. Just a fantastic bit of middle relief work paving the way for the win.

2) A DSL/ACL comeback, you say? Let me reveal the tale: Monasterio led off with a walk. He was caught in a run down after he was caught off first base. The game of pickle became somewhat muddied, however, when the Tide had a man in the middle. Monasterio made his way around and the throw still beat him to 1B but the ball came out of the pitcher's glove on his slide - much to the home crowds pleasure. Safe. Oliva walked. Dunn sac bunted the men over. One down. Clarke walked. Bases juiced. Alfaro walked. Game tied 2-2. Pitchers were swapped. 2B Anthony Seigler continued his run of inspired play with this knock:

With the sudden 3-2 lead, the Sounds added two more via WP and PB. The Sounds led 5-2 and never looked back. The Ghost of DSL Summer's Past escaped with a sly grin.

3) RHP Jesús Liranzo continues to be the Swiss Army knife this Sounds bullpen needs. His biggest asset? He is unafraid to throw strikes and he can be used in any scenario. An imposing figure on the mound at all of 6'2" and 250 pounds, Liranzo sits comfortably flaming 96-97 mph of heat. He is primarily a two pitch guy but he lives and dies by the challenge of his heater. Tonight, with the bases juiced (RHP Vinny Nittoli continues to struggle putting together successive outings), and only one down Liranzo put the fire out with ease with a weak sac fly to left field. He then shut it down with a challenge K swinging on some pure heat at the top of the zone. 'The Sushi' has been one of the most consistent arms in the Nashville pen all season long and I would be entirely unsurprised if he becomes a fringe call-up candidate should the Brewers need innings or face injury in their bullpen. He could give productive journeyman innings much like RHP Enoli Paredes did last season. I continue to like what I see from both McGee and Liranzo - two surprise performers in a bullpen performing near the top of the International League.

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Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 6, Biloxi 1

Despite Pratt's Defensive Web Gem and Two Hits Shuckers Fall - Boeve's Return Highlights Game One Loss

Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

This just in: Pensacola has the Shuckers number in early 2025. The Blue Wahoos got ahead early and coasted from there out hitting the Shuckers 12-to-3 in the process. The big news on the Shuckers pitching front was the continued inconsistency and struggles of RHP KC Hunt. He continues to suffer through elevated pitch count innings while struggling with fine-tuned control. Just when I think he may be closing in on the shutdown form of 2024, he reverts and throws a 30 plus pitch first frame. If you recall, back on opening day at Pensacola Hunt only lasted 2/3 IP as his pitch count reached 34. He barely made it out of the first inning tonight and had a mini scare on his anchor leg early. It appeared to have been a minor tweak of his right ankle but that was unconfirmed and he avoided an early exit via injury. Regardless, the struggle is ongoing and real. - and, I say 'struggle' in this context because we are talking about the well-deserved co-pitcher of the year in 2024. I don't know what Hunt willl need moving forward but he is far too often missing too big when he's attempting to nibble the zone and induce swinging misses. For a more detailed look at his past twelve starts view THIS informative post by @Terry in our nightly game thread. All told, Hunt's night ended after 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 4 ER. Making it through five frames after his first inning is a real testament to his grit. We all know there's more talent and better production in his bag when he's right. It's fair to say: he just isn't as sharp as we've seen him at his best so far in 2025. 

A Quick Glance to First Base:

As alluded to in the post-game article, talented young shortstop Cooper Pratt did indeed make one of his patented web gem plays deep in the hole:

Take note, young Jesus Made. That is how you imprint a game defensively (more below in the Mudcats section). It's telling of the kind of game a team is collectively experiencing when that play is the headline. A fantastic play, no doubt. A snow cone grab, none the less. Pratt also collected two pokes including his sixth double. The Shuckers as a whole will obviously need a bit more offense to contend in the games ahead. Thankfully, DH Mike Boeve made it through game one healthy. He managed a 1-for-4, 1 K night at the dish. We know what Boeve's bat is capable of and it is mighty. We simply need to see the young man stay healthy. Let us pray to the baseball gods together. Kumbaya.

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Final: Wisconsin 14, Peoria (Cardinals) 9

 

Rattlers Rally from Five Run Deficit to Beat Peoria 14-9 - Offense Scores Seven Runs on Two Hits in Seventh Inning

Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

I'm going to be flat out honest right off the bat: I turned the Timber Rattlers game off in the early part of the second inning. I just don't do this all that often - this is a development arc, after all, in the Minor Leagues. BUT, when I consistently see routine plays botched by a collection of players and when I consistently see a consistent lack of execution over a period of time I just don't have the patience to continue giving my time and energy. I work long hard farm days this time of year so my patience may be a bit thin. It's quite simple, though, really: I switch to other affiliates in hopes of some form of reverse psychological magic. Tonight, that little magic trick certainly worked with a crazy bit of late offense. As a whole, I hope this young team can turn around their season - it certainly appears the Chiefs and their beleaguered pitching staff may be just what the doctor ordered. But, as I see it right now, these young Timber Rattlers are playing to their record. They are very much playing the part of a sub 0.500 ball club. Obviously, the addendum here is: plenty of season left and plenty of player shuffling to take place. Let's not belabor these points and discuss the game at hand.

Here's my silver lining: RHP Ryan Birchard did not walk a batter. I repeat, Ryan Birchard did not walk a batter. Some times these baby step development moments carry extra special meaning. 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 K, 0 BB. 84 pitches and 55 strikes. I've said it early and often: everything is trending in the right direction in 2025 for Birchard and it is just mastering the little things. After today's performance, Birchard sports a much healthier 25:11 K:BB ratio in 21 2/3 IP. Compare that to his struggle-filled debut season and you'll see what I'm talking about. Needless to say, this was a big step in the right direction for Birchard despite leaving the game after five complete and his squad trailing 5-0. There is always nuance beyond the box score. Birchard isn't blowing us away in 2025 but he is trending in the right direction. I'll take it. 

** PLEASE click the Timber Rattlers post-game article for the read and the collection of video links or give them a visit at their twitter page. They deserve our traffic considering how they gift us media buffets every home game **

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Early in the game, just as the Timber Rattlers nudged me to turn the game off and head to the Sounds tilt, SS Eduardo Garcia botched a routine double play chopper putting Birchard in a bases loaded no out jam. I lamented that here we were at this stage in Garcia's career and he was still botching routine plays with a lack of focus. Well, the reverse psychological jinx worked to full impact. Two long balls later in a 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 1 2B evening and very good defense in the late innings helped pave the way for the comeback and the comfortable win. Garcia may still frustrate us from time-to-time with his lackadaisical moments and his propensity to chase off-speed off the plate but it's also important to point out he has been a very important high-producing player for the 2025 Timber Rattlers. This is not the same High-A player of seasons past. This is an improved player who is validating his Winter League output.

2) 1B Blake Burke continues to showcase his gap power in early 2025. Another double (an oppo shot to the left center field wall) in a 3-for-6 night to go along with two singles, 1 R, 3 RBI, and a punch out. With each passing game he is looking more the part of why he was drafted by the Crew. He has the size, the frame, better than advertised defense, and he is beginning to find his High-A power stroke. He may not hit the ball as consistently hard as Ernesto Martinez Jr. but he certainly hits the ball hard often. We have to collectively be extremely pleased with the way Burke has come to play this season. It's night and day from his first dip in professional waters last season before he shut it down injured.

3) RHP Aaron Rund has now gone seven consecutive scoreless relief outings since his early hiccup at Quad Cities back on April 12th. He blew a Save in that outing but he's now closed games in  consecutive Save Opportunities - tonight included in the tally. One of the more glaring holes in the Timber Rattlers line up as a whole has been any form of consistent high leverage workhorse. Rund certainly seems to be stepping up to fill that void in the interim. He lowered his season ERA to 2.61 with a very impressive 0.87 WHIP. He's struck out 10 in 10 1/3 IP after tonight's 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 2 K work. This is the pitcher we thought we had in the T-Rats Pen in early 2025. This is the pitcher they do have. Rund is working himself toward a much deserved promotion. At 25 years of age until mid summer when he turns 26 years old, a move to Double-A will likely be on the docket should he keep this up. I see no reason why he won't while following in the footsteps of numerous other successful Brewers Indy ball signees.

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 Final: Carolina 6, Kannapolis (White Sox) 4

Mudcats Rally Past Kannapolis in Extra Innings -Bitonti Crushes First Long Ball of 2025 in Two Hit Night

Box Score / Game Log 

The Mudcats offense was once again without their star catcher in Marco Dinges and their star second baseman in Josh Adamczewski. We have yet to see any official injury designations here (both are currently listed 'Active') but we'll have to keep our eyes and ears open. That's some serious offense suddenly missing from the line up - nothing new for these young Mudcats who have been missing key players throughout their young season. 

LHP Wande Torres continued to do early season Wande Torres things. He gave us some of that really good. He gave us consistent looks at the growing edges. I continue to casually 'assert': the Brewers would do very well in the off-season to help Torres find some pitch or pitch combination that naturally sinks or tails away arm side. As it currently stands, everything Torres throws within his current arsenal naturally fades or carries across his body to the glove side. His four-seamer has a propensity to sail arm side but that has more to do with the mechanics of being as large a man as he is and his inability to consistently harness his tools. The rise and run he can get to with that same heater, given his mid-90's velocity, is a real weapon. If he controlled his heater with more consistency he could exploit that with ease. As it is, we are looking at a raw and imperfect ball of clay. Lots of upside. Lots of work to do. Torres gave us the ups and downs through 3 2/3 IP of 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 3 ER ball. One of the runs charged was most definitely a misplayed hard hit liner to Demetrio Nadal in left field. The Kannapolis scorer was very friendly to the Cannonballer bats throughout. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RF Reece Walling hit his first long ball - a towering hook shot that just snuck inside the right field foul pole. Walling continues to be a raw player but he also continues to have plenty of  tools with an intriguing swing path. He doesn't hit for average. But, Walling is also amidst a min run of late with a three game hit streak. He also took a free pass tonight in a 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR evening. The 32:24 K:BB ratio is an odd number in roughly 100 PA's. There is mystery here. The defense in right field is sound and he has a plus arm. The first base work is very much fill-in level at present. He is a worthy player with attributes at the bottom of the Mudcats line up.

2) 1B Eric Bitonti did indeed hit his first nuke of the 2025 season. Straight off the batter's eye, no less. Fitting:

3) If we're going to collectively praise the talent of young phenom Jesus Made (and, rightfully so), we're going to at least need to point to the defense as a work in progress. The defensive consistency and execution continues to be a youth-laden question mark. I'm unsure this is anything other than lack of focus, fundamentals, or execution during routine plays (or the fact he is a superstar caliber of prospect at age 17 playing full-season ball stateside for the first time). I continue to like the movement skills and very much see a high-level athlete in the way he moves. But, there are enough hiccups at shortstop in a month of baseball to at least give me pause. Tonight's mini meltdown with the Mudcats clinging to a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth nearly cost his team the lead and potentially the game. He committed two key gaffes in the frame - on a well hit ball up the middle and a weakly hit grounder to the third base side. Both plays need to be made by a professional everyday shortstop. Despite the hometown cooking in the scoring department (seriously, what gives Kannapolis?), these types of defensive lapses need to be shored up. What was more concerning is Made very nearly botched the opening routine grounder in the next and ninth inning. AND, his final snafu on a slowly hit weak grounder to the third base side ultimately led to the game-tying single the following AB. A game like this can snowball. I simply hope it was an anomalous game and not an early case of the fielding yips! He was miraculously credited with zero errors. Again, the box score very rarely tells the full tale in Minor League ball.

** Special shout out to one RHP Garrett Hodges who absolutely shut the door in extra innings. No run crossed home plate. No runner advanced a base. Just a crazily efficient and impactful 2.0 IP of 1 BB, 5K, 0 ER work. He picked up the win and moved to 1-1 on the season. He continues to be an arm to keep an eye on in the upcoming roster shuffles. There's more there than meets the eye. **

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Final: ACL Mariners 7, ACL Brewers 2

Box Score/Game Log

My main takeaways peripherally watching the ACL game feed and perusing the finer details of the Game Log:

• LHP Aaron Ashby certainly did not hit the ground running in his debut ACL rehab: 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 ER. Does any one else long for those incredibly inspiring late season Ashby relief outings for the 2024 Sounds? That time when it all miraculously came together post-shoulder. That seems like such an age ago. Man alive, I hope he is healthy and can find some semblance of that brief shut down form. I could live off that sudden hope.
• 2024 10th round draft pick 18-year-old RHP Ethan Dorchies did not disappoint in his professional debut. Shout out 'Poulson Clan' members. You know who you are. 4.0 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 1 ER. Aside from a brief bout of free passes in the sixth inning, from afar it looks like we had a heck of a debut. 
• C Eric Garcia was pulled for C Freider Rojas during that same sixth frame. This felt odd at the time. There was no posted injury delay. We may have to keep an eye on this in the days ahead. Speaking of this young catching duo, both back stops were charged with passed balls. Rojas also was charged with a dropped foul ball error. 
• RF Pedro Ibarguen's bounce back campaign continued. 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 SB, 1 CS. This is a heck of a start after the struggles in Arizona last season. We all know the DSL history. This is a fun early season development.
• 1 3B apiece for CF Engel Paulino and DH Jose Anderson. Don't blink but Engel Paulino is currently the hottest hitter in the ACL Brewers line-up. Let's all over react to seven at bats! 

The ACL Crew fell to 2-1 and they'll look to bounce back tomorrow night against these same Mariners.

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That's a wrap. The Brewers org as a whole went 4-2 if we include the Big Club. I'll take that any night of the week all things considered. We have three matinee tilts tomorrow - Carolina, Wisconsin, and Biloxi will all be playing mid day games. RHP's Bryce Meccage; Chandler Welch; and Coleman Crow will be taking the bump before nightfall. In the evening, the Sounds will try to open up a 2-0 series lead but their starter is still 'TBD'.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball.

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[Terry]

Aside from Hunt, I touched on a little bit on other prospects today if anyone's interested.