Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/4): Peña Keeps Coming; Birchard Sets Career-High K Mark; Wichrowski is Flashing Filth

[Joseph Zarr]

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• The Nashville Sounds have released RHP Deivi García (who had been on the 'Development List' since 5/23)

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Final: Nashville 6, Gwinnett (Braves) 2

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):

Eddie Rosario Extends Hitting Streak in Win - Zimmerman Earns Second Consecutive Win

Box Score/Game Log

LHP Bruce Zimmerman dealt his best start of the season. I would pair this work ahead of his May 11th start versus Norfolk and his 5.0 IP versus Memphis back on April 8th. In total, he threw 5 1/3 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 ER work - that type of output is going to help any team on any night. The savvy low velo lefty vet threw 78 pitches and 50 strikes and this was plainly as dialed as I've seen Zimmerman in a Sounds uniform.

He was on point with very few meaty pitches and he was mixing shapes and locations. More importantly, perhaps, he eliminated the long ball tonight (he has surrendered 12 long balls in 52.0 pitched on his season). With the victory, he improved to 4-3 on his season. The real question remains: can he stack outings like this? That has been elusive to date. Perhaps, we certainly hope, he is getting comfortable. With García's release earlier in the day, the Sounds will likely need Zimmerman to continue filling this role moving forward in the near term (at least).

Three Quick Strikes:

1) We saw 2B Anthony Seigler tonight. And, well, he did just plain ol' Anthony Seigler things: 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 SB (his 16th of the season). He has reached base safely in 28 straight games. He is back in a mini hitting streak at five straight games. There just isn't all that much more this young man needs to do to continue showcasing his versatility and worthiness for an MLB call-up. However, if there is more he can do it would certainly entail continued exposure at 3B. It isn't often you see a 2B/3B/C utility guy. But, I am certainly here for it should it happen in 2025. I love the player and the mentality. As Rick Sweet said in a recent Jeff Hem interview: "We call players like Seigler 'Outdoor Cats'." That phrase has stuck with me since. Frankly, I love it. And, if you don't get it I'm sorry you don't get it. 

2) RHP Joel Payamps did RHP Joel Payamps things. He got ahead of his first batter 0-2 and then proceeded to surrender a 3-2 double to the RF corner. The more things change. In a 3-1 game, that's the type of work that reflects a veteran reliever who was DFA'd and made it through waivers. I'm not being cruel here - that is just the honest Brewers truth and I think we all know it by now. A ground out advanced the runner and then old friend 3B Eddy Alvarez sac flied the run across. It was suddenly 3-2. Payamps has a long grind to get back to MLB consideration. He is going to have to do better than his debut 1.0 IP of 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K work.

3) On the flip side, RHP Elvis Peguero continues to look the best I've seen him since his earliest action as a Brewer every time I catch him of late. I know he gave up a solo jack at Indianapolis last week, but in the two outings I've watched him pitch he has slung 1 2/3 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K ball. Dominant. Can he stack these repeatedly? The jury is still out. I've loved what I've personally witnessed. He has to continue executing in this fashion to stay on the call-up card, but if he keeps pitching how he's pitching when my eyes are on the screen he's going to get that call.

Special Shout-Outs: RF Bobby Dalbec and LF Eddie Rosario continue to wreak havoc in Sounds game and I am absolutely all about it. I love savvy veteran players who know how to wreck Triple-A games. Dalbec (savvy vet 0-2 insurance run poke) and Rosario (nine game hitting streak) have quickly caught their groove in Nashville and they impact winning on a near nightly basis. They certainly did so tonight. These are two very solid veteran free agent signings that may bolster the Brewers yet this season should they need. Two very very talented baseball players despite what fans who only watch MLB players might think. 

With the victory the Sounds moved back to 12 games over 0.500 at 35-23. With the Lehigh Valley loss to Charlotte, the Sounds moved within 6.5 G of what is likely an unreachable first place position. Dreamers will dream, however, and I will certainly support their cause. 

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Final: Montgomery (Rays) 5, Biloxi 3

Wilken Extends League Lead with 13th Home Run in Loss - Shuckers Become First Southern League Team to 50 Long Balls

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

At first glance of RHP Brett Wichrowski's line of 5 1/3 IP of 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 3 ER ball a fan who didn't see the performance may question why he was an article headliner. Well, it's the flashes and sequences of brilliance in an outing that very well 'should' have ended at one run. In a day filled with questionable Minor League umpiring I very much felt Wichrowski was squeezed. None the less, that does not matter post-game. What matters is pitches sequenced like this:

 

His best pitch, by my eyes, was later in the game when he struck out a batter on a sweeper with 21" of break. It was an absurd pitch. He was working within an 80 mph-to-97 mph velocity mix with various rises and runs. Had he gotten a 3-2 strike three call en lieu of a walk? His final line looks better to the eyes. As is, we are working with development here. Wichrowski nearly reached 90 pitches and he pitched into the sixth inning this close to returning from the IL. A fantastic outing as this potential young Ace continues to look to fine tune his craft. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Yes, 3B Brock Wilken hit another bomb. It went like this:

104 mph off the lumber. However, I would like to shine a light on C Matthew Wood's third HR since joining Double-A. 108 mph off the bat and the top of the right field scoreboard. Where is this power surge coming from?!

Incredible. 

3) RHP Tyler Woessner could not hold the score close in a vintage Woessner experience: 1.0 IP of 3 H, 1 K, 2 ER ball. He had an opportunity to exit clean and he gave up the costly single to right field. However, RHP Kaleb 'Bo' Bowman was the real bullpen story tonight. He continues to come down from his early season woes (returning from last season's injury - he has earned our faith). He stranded Wichrowski's last inherited runner and he dealt 1 2/3 Ip of 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K work. That is what I'm talking about. Fantastic stuff from Bowman. He was a workhorse for last year's Shuckers bullpen. I continue to root for more shutdown outings like this. Kudos deserved.

Final Notes: CF Luis Lara was credited with his 7th OF assist - a fantastic decision on a charging scoop to fire a dart to his cut-off man en lieu of going for an unattainable play at the plate. Take note, young men. That is winning baseball. Regardless, he is now tied atop the Double-A leader boards. DH Mike Boeve continues to struggle to find his age old form in his return from his shoulder injury. I don't know if he's not seeing or he's not trusting what he's seeing but I've never seen Boeve strike out like this. 0-for-5, 2 K tonight. He now has 28 K in 94 PA since returning to the line-up. That is nearly a 30% K rate (29.79% to be more precise). Very clearly he is grinding his way back.

With the loss the Shuckers fall to 31-22 on their season. Montgomery (29-24) gains a game and are now just 2.0 GB.

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Final(s):

Game 1: Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 2
Box Score/Game Log

Birchard and Dinges Lead Rattlers Over Kernels - Birchard K's 10; Dinges Homers and Drives in Three

Game 2: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 15, Wisconsin 2
Box Score/Game Log

Kernels Earn Split - Cedar Rapids Smoke T-Rats in 15-2 Game Two Win

Game Notes

It was a tale of two completely different lopsided contests. The Timber Rattlers raced to their first 0.500 mark since they were 3-3 overall and then promptly lost that 0.500 mark within one game. This is the 2025 Timber Rattlers, after all - they have yet to achieve a record above 0.500 in the calendar year.

In game one, RHP Ryan Birchard set a career high in strikeouts with 10 total as he continues to demonstrate he is a starting pitcher on the rise. I took note in the game thread that it is nice to have a Minor League manager such as Victor Estevez who allowed his hurler the opportunity to come back out to start the sixth frame and chase that double digit mark. Birchard allowed two solo jacks (his third and fourth long balls allowed in his season in 42 1/3 total IP). When Birchard is locating, he is a very tough pitcher to face - he has a violent delivery and a varying blend of rising heat to dipping swooping and heavy-dipping off-speed. He grabbed several swings and misses with his curve ball throughout his outing and he kept things in check with a 5:1 K:BB ratio. He continues to evolve and it is a pleasure to witness. When all was said and done, his final line read: 5 2/3 IP of 5 H, 2 BB, 10 K, 2 HR, 2 HR work. He moved to 2-3 on his season throwing 92 pitches with 58 strikes. He also set a season-high with 20 whiffs (Thanks @Terry) When Birchard is given the starting nod, everything is trending up. Let’s just keep using him in that manner - cough.

In game two, well, let’s just say things didn’t go as planned. RHP Stiven Cruz followed Birchard, oddly, by also allowing a second pitch home run to the extremely tantalizing highly regarded Twins prospect, SS Kaelen Culpepper - seriously, after two AB’s in game two Culpepper was hitting 0.407 versus the T-Rats in 2025. Cruz carried over his recent Biloxi problems into his abbreviated work today: too many runners on base. In just 2.0 IP pitched, Cruz allowed 3 H, 2 BB, 1 HR, and 2 ER while striking out three. He is mired in an ongoing funk and we've seen it before. I just hope he can work his way out of it. April was not a mirage. But, in April he was crisper and he was hitting higher heat marks (touching 95 mph on the regular). He is back down to 91-92 mph and touching 93 mph. It makes a difference. He handed a 2-0 deficit to the bullpen and it clearly did not get better from there. It was a blow out.

Post-Game Podcast:

Full Game One Highlights: (I will do you a solid and spare you the Game Two 'Highlights)

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Post-TJ RHP Tanner Shears is currently a challenging experience. Shears previous pre-surgery pitching experience was a bit like lassoing a wild horse but with a splitter as beautiful as he threw and mid-90's high rising heat it was an incredibly worthwhile endeavor. At present, he is simply a post-injury bit of a mess. Today's line does not lie: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 5 BB, 1 WP, 1 HB, 7 ER. Ouch! 32 pitches thrown. Only nine strikes in that mix. Now, it is worth noting, RHP Jeferson Figeuroa helped clear the bases with a first pitch triple. So, every inherited runner crossed home base. A painful outing. Hopefully, it will be one to learn from and laugh at months down the line. This is likely going to take some time.

2) C Marco Dinges was a star yet again. Here is his game one long ball that gave early game one separation:

Dinges was somehow charged with a throwing error (my vendetta with ballpark scorers continues - what are these people actually watching?) when 1B Blake Burke failed to corral a back-pick bullet. He attempted to swipe the tag before he caught the ball. Regardless, Dinges continues to state his case as one of the high upside prospects in the entire system. With each passing game it feels like the shine grows brighter. Tune in to the podcast post-game interview above to hear what he changed in his approach coming into this game. 3-for-3, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR. Trending UP.

3) Let's end another positive note. An 0-for-0, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SB (20 on his season!) game one for CF Eduardo Garcia. What a sentence. Be still my heart. Garcia stole another base in game two, by the way. That's 21 SB on the season - off a walk, no less, and he scored. I spoke to Garcia's 22-year-old 2025 season a couple weeks back. He continues to re-establish his value in the organization. I'll go a step futher: Garcia's season has been a bit of a revelation. In a line-up that consistently is lacking in many spots in the order, Garcia has established himself as a reliable leader and veteran on the diamond and in the clubhouse. I don't know where his season ultimately takes him, but I'm along for the entire ride. I will absolutely remember Garcia's first half to 2025.

With the series split the Timber Rattlers fall back to a game below 0.500. They are 26-27. Hopefully, T-Rats Ace RHP Tyson Hardin can make it 27-27 tomorrow. The Rattlers are 7.5 GB first place Quad Cities.

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Final: Charleston (Rays) 8, Carolina 5 - Final/13 innings

Mudcats Blast Charleston in Series Opener - Mudcats Lose Despite Peñas Big Night and Hernandez's Bullpen Work

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

This game felt like a tough loss because Charleston gave the Mudcats several lives with their uncharacteristic errors - they have been a solid defensive team in the first half. Two Charleston throwing errors late got the Mudcats right back into the game. Unfortunately, with a very inconsistent strike zone from the home plate umpire (seriously, it was a problem throughout for both teams), and the inability to seize momentum late cost the Mudcats the game.

The real story in this one will likely be RHP Jack Hostetler leaving early. He left immediately after a change-up ran low and away arm side. He was seen flexing his hand and you could also tell it was a problem immediately. This is yet another tough injury pill to swallow for us Fanatics. We can hope for the best here. It just did not look like a good situation. He exited after 1 2/3 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 ER work. It stings in multiple ways. Hostetler just worked back from injury. He is an upside starter. He has a legitimate five pitch mix where he can attack every part of the zone in different ways. Baseball gods, I beg of you: Can we have nice things? Please? We soldier on. All the best Mr. Hostetler.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) SS Luis Peña is fast becoming my favorite player to watch on this Mudcats squad. I know all the hype coming into 2025 was focused heavily on the talented Jesus Made, but Peña continues to exhibit an incredibly advanced hitting approach that is a true joy to watch on a nightly basis. I would love to know the bat speed here because he has a propensity to get to most anything he swings at. 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB (his 24th of his season). He gets another nod at shortstop while Made played another game at 3B - both young men trend up defensively, by the way. Peña also tied the game in the tenth game giving the Mudcats life:

 

2) Another game. And, another experience where I consistently wonder what I'm witnessing with CF Braylon Payne. The swing continues to be giant mess of inconsistent swing decisions and swing paths. I feel for this young man who has fallen precipitously since returning from injury. 0-for-6, 3 K. He is fast approaching the Mendoza Line. I don't know what the Brewers and Payne decide to do from here. But, and I'm being serious here, I don't think a 'Development List' stint should be off the table. I know their propensity is to let highly coveted players figure things out. Maybe they cover for this with a sudden IL placement. But, as someone who watches the vast majority of Mudcats games I can just share: Payne is not right. The organization has to be asking: How do we get him back? 

3) RHP Melvin Hernandez bounced back in a massive way for a team suddenly thrust smack dab into a bullpen game after Hostetler's injury. 6.0 IP of 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K work is stunningly good for this young man. Frankly, had the bats woken up sooner you'd wish Hernandez was awarded with a victory. His change-up continues to show development well beyond his years. It is a legitimate string pull dime that grabs many man swings and misses. It was in glorious form tonight. Much like RHP Manuel Rodriguez, I see a young man who knows how to pitch and who certainly looks as though could add to the frame in years down the line. I did not get velocity readings during his work. I'd love to hear it in the comments below if anyone has a real understanding of where he sits and where he touches. I refuse to believe his listed weight of 139 pounds is even remotely accurate. Yes, he's lean. Yes, he's borderline 6'0". 139 pounds? Are we basing this on his middle school check-in when the Brewers first inquired on his desires to turn pro?

With the loss, the Mudcats fall to 24-17. With Lynchburg's (32-21) victory at Salem, the Mudcats lead narrows to 3.0 G. Remember, the Mudcats travel to Lynchburg next week. Every game in this series carries significant weight. Let's hope they return refreshed and ready to get at it tomorrow.

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Final: ACL Royals 3, ACL Brewers 1

Box Score/Game Log

It certainly isn't often when the ACL Brewers are held to a single run. RHP Miqueas Mercedes pitched 5.0 IP of 6 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 3 ER, 1 HR ball. This was a rare zero strikeout outing for this young man - who, despite the 0 K over 5 IP tonight, still has 21 K over 18 1/3 total IP on the season. It's also fair to opine: Mercedes has scuffled a bit of late after early season dominance. His ERA sits at 4.91. The WHIP is precariously sitting 1.42. Let's hope for a shutdown outing his next time out to shift the balance back to 'stud'. In a low-scoring affair, we still see multiple hit nights from RF Engel Paulino (2-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB); CF Handelfry Encarnacion (2-for-4, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 CS); and 3B Kevin Ereu (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 CS). Lovely to see the Ereu solo shot. Truly lovely. Let's hope he can get things rolling. Unfortunately, a night after showering some praise toward ascending SS Jorge Quintana he finished with an 0-for-4, 3 K evening. Does it always have to work this way?! I scream 'Injustice!' to the Field of Dreams. Sigh. It's hard to win when the middle of the order (3-through-6 for this exercise) manages a combined 0-for-14, 1 BB, 5 K output. If I drop one more spot in the order and add it in to this paltry mix, we achieve 0-for-17, 1 BB, 7 K. Yeah, that's not going to cut it on most nights. Lastly, special shout out to 19-year-old RHP Argenis Aparicio who gave his squad three scoreless innings to let the thought of a comeback linger into the final outs - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 R. 

The ACL Brewers fell to 17-7 with the loss. The lead the ACL Central by 3.0 G over the ACL Angels (14-10).

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It was a 2-4 organizational Wednesday. It could have gone the other way but such is sports and, most definitely, such is baseball. The DSL squads return tomorrow in the early hours. Let's hope they can find some good and victorious fortune. RHP Bryce Meccage will look to get the Mudcats back on track. RHP Tobias Myers will attempt to re-discover his 2024 form. LHP Tate Kuehner will look to continue his recent run of stellar starts. And, RHP Tyson Hardin will look to keep pouncing on Midwest League foes. The ACL Brewers will face the ACL White Sox (11-11) late.

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

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[Fullserve]

 Such great reports, @Joseph Zarr. I'm watching a ton of Mudcats games and I completely agree with your assessment of Luis Pena. That kid impresses me almost every day. 

🤞 for Hoss.