Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/17): Burke Impacts Walk-Off Victory with Bat and Glove; Led by Quero, ACL Crew Continue Mashing

[Joseph Zarr]

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• RHP Dikember Sanchez was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• C Edgardo Ordonez was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• C Eric Martinez was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• RHP Jose Nova was assigned to the ACL Brewers from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• LHP Jose Quintana was sent to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a rehab assignment

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Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria (Cardinals) 4

Via the Rattlers 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):

Rattlers Grab Victory with Late Heroics - Burke Knocks in Game-Winner with Ninth-Inning Single

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

Firstly, be sure to check out Kyle Lobner's 'T-Rat Talk' this week featuring INF/OF Eduardo Garcia. Garcia isn't highlighted below but he continues to have a sneaky good season wearing many hats. His 107.8 mph long ball extended his hit streak to ten games and it also tied the game at hand 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. When it seemed as though the game may be heading toward a loss, Garcia stepped up in a major way like he has done throughout the first two months.

LHP Jose Quintana was rusty early - to be expected coming off his shoulder injury stint. However, once again, the box score doesn't really tell the tale. By my look, he gave up a one hard hit to right field but he also suffered some bad luck with his second baseman shading up the middle and with his young catcher (Blayberg Diaz) having a rough first frame as well. We can look at his first inning pitched of five hit and three run work and sigh or we can take the greater context of that inning and his outing at large and just toss it in the trash. Given Santana's career at large, we will absolutely do the latter. All told, he found his groove and consecutive 1-2-3 innings en route to a very effective 4.0 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 ER, 1 WP (I would casually opine a PB). More importantly he threw 71 pitches and 45 strikes in his first rehab outing. Coming into this one he was thinking around 63-65 pitches. He managed to gut out six more throws while getting out of a mini-jam in the process. Savvy veteran work. His off-speed was dancing by the end of his outing. All signs point up from here.

Full-Game Highlights:

Post-Game Podcast:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I didn't highlight this in the article title because, as a whole, the affiliated evening was a net positive. BUT, after extending his hitting streak to nine games (while also earning two free passes earlier in the game), and fresh off his Midwest League Player of the Week award, RF Hedbert Perez appeared to have suffered a potentially serious left shoulder injury sliding head first into second base during a successful stolen base attempt. It was a major gut punch at the time. It is a major gut punch here as I write this report. Perez has been legitimately just hitting his stride as a healthy player and he was earning back his prospect status as a result. Earlier in the contest, he showed off his arm throwing a dart for a would be OF assist had 3B Daniel Guilarte handled the ball cleanly - a truly wonderful throw from Perez who has an absolute cannon when he fully unleashes it. If you care to see the injury I am referencing simply go back to the MiLB.TV replay and go to the 3:32:00 on the replay. When a player reacts in the manner in which Perez reacted - immediately grabbing the shoulder and asking for help from the dugout - it just is rarely a good sign. AND, it appears the prospect prayers were answered. In that very post-game podcast linked above manager Victor Estevez stated it looks as though Perez avoided serious injury. He may even be back as soon as Thursday!

 

2) 1B Blake Burke hasn't truly found his power stroke or his consistent gap power in 2025. Yet, he is also consistently positively impacting baseball games. The power is absolutely in the bag; we know it is - we've seen him unleash some absolute easy swinging nukes even with the low long ball output. I continue to like the majority of his swings and his swing choices. This is a player who naturally trends up in the Brewers system. This being said, what I want to point you toward is: Blake Burke is more than a power hitter. He is a vastly underrated defensive first baseman. Tonight, in addition to the ground ball double to the right field corner and the walk-off 'single' (likely would-be double)...

3) LHP Anthony Flores picked up the Win but he wasn't particularly sharp even if he did gut out four  meaningful innings of work. LHP Jesus Broca, on the other hand, looked the best I've seen him in some time. When Broca can locate he is quite effective. Walks have been the biggest issue in his 2025 High-A stint. Tonight, I praise his ability to locate, mix and stay on the attack. He sits 92-93 mph on his heater when he let's it rip. More than enough heat in his bag for his deceptive release. He has a change-up and a swooping curve to throw in the mix. All was working tonight and it was pleasing to the eye. His clean inning in the fifth frame felt like a table setter for a comeback. This proved true when all was said and done. Here's to you, Mr. Broca. I noticed your up-level tonight.

With the win, the T-Rats moved back to four games under 0.500 at 21-25. They remain in fourth place in the Midwest League 8.0 GB the Quad City River Bandits.

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Final: ACL Brewers 18, ACL Reds 8
Game Log / Box Score

Well, I alluded to it last night. Heck, I allude to it every time I am covering the ACL Brewers: the young men just keep mashing and causing havoc. The young Brewers added 10 more runs to their differential jumping to a League-leading +49 through 19 games. The next closest Complex team is 24 runs away. What an early season these young men are having.

Let's start it off with some C Jeferson Quero shine:

"Oh me, Mama!" indeed. 4-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 HR for Quero who continues to mash in his rehab assignment. Speaking of mash, I'm not going to go into details here but I'm certainly going to screenshot some ACL Brewers eye candy:

Do I really need to go into more detail here? Yes, that is indeed correct. 13 free passes to just four punch outs. Not only do they mash but they continue to stay atop the leader boards in walk totals as well. These young men simply play beyond their years.

On the pitching side of things, RHP Miqueas Mercedes suffered his roughest outing of 2025 going 3.0 IP allowing 6 H, 2 BB, 1 WP and 5 ER while striking out three. He tossed 67 pitches with 40 strikes over the three innings. RHP Jayden Dubanewicz did the yeoman's work in the middle innings going five complete frame allowing 3 H, 3 R (1 earned), 3 BB with 6 K. Dubanewicz threw 81 pitches with 44 landing for strikes. This young man continues to pitch deep into his outings and certainly has the look (from afar) of a young man ramping up to join the Low-A Carolina League.

With the victory, the ACL Brewers improved to 14-5 on their young season. At time of publish they were 2.5 G ahead of the ACL Angels atop the ACL Central division. The Angels were in extra innings.

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The Mudcats will attempt to make-up tonight's postponement tomorrow in a double-header. RHP Jack Hostetler and RHP Travis Smith will start the two contests. RHP Brandon Woodruff will take the mound for Wisconsin for the T-Rats' second rehab start in two games. In Nashville, LHP Bruce Zimmerman will try to give the Sounds a meaningful outing to bounce back from Monday's Game One loss. And, finally, in Biloxi RHP Alexander Cornielle will try to get things going in the right direction at Rocket City.

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

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[Jim Goulart]

With the victory, the ACL Brewers improved to 14-5 on their young season. At time of publish they were 2.5 G ahead of the ACL Angels atop the ACL Central division. The Angels were in extra innings.

Angels won in 12 innings, the A-Crew's lead is two games.

[jay87shot]

It would seem Quero is ready for a more difficult placement. I like the idea of a week in Appleton and then up to AAA.

Juan Ortuno had a big game, his 3rd HR. He now has 14bb to 11k and his obp is over .450 even if his batting average isn't very sexy.

[Playing Catch]

I can't help but think of really athletic offensive tackles when I see Blake Burke. I think he's sneaky athletic.

[Joseph Zarr]

13 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I can't help but think of really athletic offensive tackles when I see Blake Burke. I think he's sneaky athletic.