Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/10): Wake up, Brewers Fans. C Marco Dinges is Capital SPECIAL.

[Joseph Zarr]

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

Get ready, this is extensive. I’m updating the Link Report bookkeeping - a backlog dating to this past Sunday. And, remember, you can always stay current by visiting our Minor League Transactions thread in the Minor League Forums HERE

• RHP Easton McGee was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Grant Anderson was optioned to Nashville from the Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Jacob Misiorowski will have (or has had) his contract selected by the Milwaukee Brewers

• RHP Aaron Rund was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (retroactive to 6/8)
• RHP Tanner Gillis was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (retroactive to 6/8)
• RHP Sam McWilliams was reinstated from the Development List by the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Hayden Robinson was officially activated from the 7-Day IL by the ACL Brewers (more below)
• RHP Jayden Dubanewicz was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Miles Langhorne was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• INF Juan Ortuño was placed on the 7-Day IL by the ACL Brewers (retroactive to 6/9)
• RHP Ismael Yanez was placed on the 7-Day IL by the ACL Brewers (retroactive to 6/9)

---

Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 9, Nashville 5

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):

Sounds Fall in Opener to Norfolk

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

In last week Tuesday's report, after what I opined was LHP Bruce Zimmerman's best start of his Sounds tenure, I asked: "Can he stack outings like this?" The answer remains: I do not know. To date, he quite simply has not. Zimmerman did manage to give his squad a chance to come back late by tossing a 'quality start' - ie he did complete six frames. BUT, he also gave up seven runs in the process (six earned). His nemesis was old Brewers friend C Gary Sánchez who is absolutely scorching the International League as he continues his rehab efforts. Sánchez ripped a two-run double and a two-run home run off Zimmerman. The balls were absolutely scorched as one might expect from 'The Scary One'.

When Zimmerman handed the ball to his bullpen, the Sounds trailed 7-5. All in all, his final line reads: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 7 R (6 ER), 1 HR. He threw 89 total pitches with 59 strikes. He fell to 4-4 on his season. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 3B Anthony Seigler did not quite impress tonight at the hot corner. I'm going to call it like I see it. He airmailed a throw into the dugout on a grabbing spinning toss to 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. - not easy to do. He failed to catch a ball in the netting down the third base line with a mistimed jump and a short armed attempt - this play also showed how his size can impact these infield fly balls. Seigler also fell short on a diving attempt on a grounder through the hole - backed up by the equally short-armed SS Oliver Dunn. The hot corner is not an easy position to simply jump into. Tonight's performance is one Seigler will want to learn from but hope to move past in the games ahead. He finished with a 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 K effort at the dish thus extending his on base streak to 32 games. Quite impressive!

2) CF Drew Avans debuted with a solid 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 2 K line at the dish. He looked more than capable in center field catching anything within his radius. The Avans pick-up and signing is likely insurance for that coveted AAAA depth - Cameron may ultimately be a DFA candidate when Mitchell or Perkins returns; OF Jared Oliva may have a more serious injury than we know of. Either way, his pick up meant the re-assignment of one OF Adam Hall. I think it's fair to say, Avans will fill in quite nicely in a platoon outfield role. This is very much a capable Triple-A vet.

3) C Jeferson Quero had two seeing-eye oppo ground ball pokes in his 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB evening.

I have yet to see Quero fully unleash a throw to any base. Or, if the throws I have seen are current Quero unleashing a throw...well, let's just say he is on the road to recovery. I see a player a step slower than in his previous pre-injury time as a Brewer. I see a slower pop time and I see slower movement behind the dish. This is obviously extremely early in his return from a year on the shelf with a major shoulder injury. I am merely sharing what I am seeing. We are early in the process but we are definitely watching a player returning from injury and doing so in live Triple-A game action. Let's just hope he can stay healthy and finish the season strong. 

With the loss the Sounds fell to 38-25 on their season. They remain 4.5 GB but missed another golden opportunity to gain a game on Lehigh Valley who lost 8-1 to the Red Sox's Worcester Triple-A affiliate.

---

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 10, Biloxi 9

Shuckers Fall to Lookouts as Warren is Crowned New Home Run King - Mr. Utility Sets Franchise Record with 37th HR as Shucker

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

I tip my cap to the Lookouts - they absolutely took advantage of some moments of imprecision and capitalized ensuring a well-earned victory. This was a hard fought back-and-forth affair. Ultimately a costly fielding error by 3B Brock Wilken early and a rough outing from RHP Justin Yeager were the biggest difference in this final result. 

RHP Brett Wichrowski was cruising early and then Wilken botched a routine slow chopper to the hole between third base and short stop. He had a slow runner moving down the first base line. He simply botched the gather - the ball popped out of his glove and died with a thud in the dirt creeping toward shallow left field. This led to a bevy of seeing eye singles and finally a game-tying triple to the right center field gap. A 5-0 lead had vanished. The ball game was tied 5-5. Wichrowski's final line matches the eye test - he was not sharp after the rare Wilken snafu. 4.0 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HB, 6 R (1 Earned). Wichrowski, as a whole, continues to be an absurdly talented young pitcher who lacks the finer points of consistent dominance. He can absolutely wow us with absurd off-speed pitches and sequencing. But, he lacks that often elusive consistency. Man, I sure as heck watch enough Minor League baseball to know this drill. Thus is the season-long game of 'development'. We'll talk about another absurdly talented but even more erratic young arm when we discuss the Timber Rattlers in the next section.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 1B Luke Adams hit his 13th double and was plunked yet again. He also took two more pitches up and in that flirted with his head and neck region - I am not a fan of this recent development! He also struck out four times in a 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 4 K day at the dish. This is most definitely the exception, not the norm. Adams is only punching at at a 21.52% clip on his Double-A season. His K:BB ratio remains quite healthy at 48:36, respectively. I expect this young man to bounce back and put a more resounding mark on this series as it progresses.

2) What a season for the new Shuckers Home Run king. Let's all take a moment to appreciate what this young man is doing here in his fifth season as a Brewer:

 

Seemingly always available. Ready to play pretty much anywhere but SS and CF. This switch-hitting veteran of the Brewers ranks reminds us: it is never too late to continue getting better in whatever it is we do. What sticks out even more, to my well-traveled Brewers Farm eyes, is the defensive consistency in 2025. Warren has committed a mere two errors across over 450 innings shared between 2B, 1B, and LF in 2025. His fielding percentage ranges a robust 97.4%-to-1.000% across the three positions. In years past, Warren's defense left a bit to be desired. It's all coming together in 2025 and I am the better for it as a regular watcher of these games.

3) Is SS Cooper Pratt breaking out of his prolonged slump? It's too early to tell. BUT, June is certainly trending in the right direction. Another double tonight - an opposite field rip to the right field corner plating one.

Pratt finished 1-for-2 with 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (his third in June), and 3 BB. The three free passes obviously stick out. When you have a player mashing long balls the way 3B Brock Wilken is mashing long balls (oh, hey, another Brocket tonight!), he needs as many runners on base ahead of him as the Shuckers can muster. Pratt has a really good 15% K rate in his first Double-A season. It has been an erratic beginning, most definitely, but I trust this young man's talent. 

Special Shout-Out: CF Luis Lara had the hit of the evening with a bases clearing 1-2 count two-run double to the right field wall. It was a huge hit given the moment. It gave the Shuckers the brief 9-8 lead. Unfortunately, it was not RHP Justin Yeager's night.

With the loss, the Shuckers fell to 35-23. They remain in 5.0 G ahead of Pensacola with 11 game remaining in the first half.

---

Final: Wisconsin 10, Great Lakes (Dodgers) 3

Rattlers Blitz Loons Early to Win Fourth Straight - Dinges Homers, Doubles, and Drives in Three with Two 108 mph Knocks

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

So moved am I by what I am seeing from C Marco Dinges well into our third month of the 2025 season, I am leading this segment with a catcher. That's right. I am turning the dial up a notch. It's time to increase the shine and exposure on this young phenom. I will not tread lightly. I could see the talent in the bat from his first early limited action with Low-A Carolina post-draft in 2024. The bat speed and line drive power was eminently obvious - this bat speed has since been confirmed as upper 70's to mid-80's mph by one Assistant Director of Brewers Player Development Brenton Del Chiaro. Now that I'm seeing Dinges' work behind the dish? I'm moving the prospect hype to 'Ludicrous Speed

Folks, we have an unexpected superstar emerging before our eyes. We don't need our training wheels anymore. This young man has it all. The throw to second base will come with reps and improved foot work. Everything else is glaringly there. Throws to the corner bases? Check. Ability to drive with power to all fields? Check. Disciplined approach? Check. Improved defense and framing? Check. Upper-echelon athlete? Check. Plate discipline? Check. He has a 13.7 K% with an even 25:25 K:BB ratio in 182 PA's. This ball didn't leave the yard tonight? But, I can tell you, I had an out of body experience watching it hit the bat:

Goodness gracious. Apparently that ball bounced off the ball. I'm unconvinced it didn't return from another dimension. Dinges has now reached 'must watch' territory on the prospect nightly viewing channels. Tune in. Tune in often.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Back to pitching. And, well, back to erratic top-shelf talent. Much like Wichrowski (whom I discussed at length above), but even more so, RHP Ryan Birchard has yet to string it all together. Coming off his career-best 10 K outing his last time atop the bump, Birchard was unfortunately back to his walking woes. He played to an even 6 K, 6 BB split in his scoreless work. 4.0 IP, 2 H, 6 BB, 6 K, 0 R. 84 pitches with 41 strikes. If you've never seen Birchard pitch, he has a very violent and demanding delivery. It requires an immense amount of strength, agility and athleticism. You can see it all here:

Now, I'm obviously not a pitching coach but Birchard's problems seem to routinely stem from a lack of control arm side up and in and then over-compensation with off-speed in an almost failed course correct. If I were to hazard a guess, and I certainly am going to do so here, I would imagine the violence of his delivery requires an immense amount of fine-tuned muscle control. All the way into those fingertips. His body is violently coming off the mound first base side. His ball is most-often running away up and in. Something isn't lining up appropriately in all that movement. I will be entirely unsurprised if that delivery begins being tinkered with in the higher levels to maximize the filth of his full arsenal - and, believe me, Birchard has quite a bit of filth in that bag. 59 K-to-30 BB is not going to cut it in Double-A. That's a recipe for blow-ups. Miles to go.

2) Oh hey, SS Jadher Areinamo. Remember him? With his 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B (13th on the season) evening, he moved back to a 0.797 OPS on his High-A first half. Areinamo just continues to do what he does; fly under the radar. I said it recently and I'll say it again: at just 21 years of age repeating a High-A season with a specific organizational and player development goal in mind is just not a big deal. This is too talented a young player to worry about linear paths. With Areinamo, all will fall into place in right timing. And, along the way, this young man is going to continue fine-tuning his already elevated craft. 

3) If I were to target an unsung hero in this recent run of productive Timber Rattlers play, I might just wind up on one LHP Jesus Broca. The 21-year-old Mexican lefty has earned three wins in June. He has only walked one batter (9 K: 0 BB) in 8 2/3 IP. While Broca is prone to giving up base hits, as demonstrated by his 0.281 BAA in June, he has held damage to a bare minimum by eliminating the long ball and vastly reducing the walk rate. The Timber Rattlers have suffered injuries and performance issues across the pitching ranks (just like Carolina). Broca has done his part to plug those holes.

With their fourth consecutive win, the Timber Rattlers improved to 30-28 on their season. They now remain just 3.5 GB the newly minted first place Cedar Rapids Kernels. The Rattlers have 11 games remaining to attempt the improbable. 

---

Final: Lynchburg (Guardians) 5, Carolina 1

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

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

 

After a recent spate of injuries, a depleted pitching staff, and a relatively quiet Home series at the dish, the first place Carolina Mudcats headed to second place Lynchburg. Their division lead whittled down to a single game heading into game one. And, after tonight's loss, it's a brand new season with 11 games remaining.

I can tell you one thing: if tonight was any indication of the series ahead, the Lynchburg broadcast is a truly rough experience. The camera inconsistently changes angles after contact. The viewer is often left watching from directly behind home plate. And, tonight at least, there was no audio - but by the third inning there was static. How lovely. Oh, and by the bottom of the third I saw my first out caught in the outfield. God bless the Minor Leagues. I show up as everyone tries to figure it out. 

RHP Melvin Hernandez deserved better than his solid line indicates: 5 2/3 IP of 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 R (2 ER) ball. 3B Filippo Di Turi botched a routine two out grounder glove side that cost Hernandez a run (and far too many additional pitches) in the first frame. RF José Anderson botched a diving catch in shallow right field that led to a second run. In my world, Anderson's gaffe was a catchable ball. In my world, I quite often disagree with Minor League scorers. None the less, the over arching point being made here is: RHP Melvin Hernandez continues to be quite good for the Mudcats. Unfortunately, his offense is mired in a bit of a sudden and prolonged slump.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) You thought I was kidding about the audio static? Oh contrary, my friends!

Feast your ears upon the deafening scratchy silence. This is no first place product! I'm aghast. I am happy to see CF Braylon Payne hit a long ball. However, I continue to see highly erratic swing decisions and inconsistent AB's at large. 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 3 K. Payne has a 30% K rate on his season. He hit 0.178 in May. He is hitting 0.219 in June. Are we trending up? It's much too early to tell. This is a premium straight-line athlete. I continue to see lots to fix in his game post-injury return.

2) Oh where for art though, INF/OF Luis Lameda? It appears to be a seasonal tradition whereby I question why the Brewers and Mudcats manager Nick Stanely aren't prioritizing their hottest bats in playoff pushes. Last season it was INF/OF Miguel Briceno's absences in September amidst his scorching hot stretch. Tonight, protecting the Mudcats precarious 1.0 G lead (now vanished), one of the hottest Mudcats bats was riding the pines. Lameda played in four games at Charleston. He poked three doubles, walked three times, scored two runs, and plated three more. With all due respect to recently called up Gery Holguin, one might surmise that type of production merits the DH spot in this pivotal series. /End rant.

3) If the Mudcats are going to reclaim their divisional lead, they are going to need to begin playing the inspired brand of baseball we all witnessed back in April. Those days feel long gone amidst this recent run of up-and-down erratic play. They've lost the electric bat of C Marco Dinges to High-A. They've lost RHP Jack Hostetler to the IL. They've now lost a dependable bullpen arm in RHP Miles Langhorne to High-A. They've lost electric 2B Josh Admaczewski for over a month to a mysterious back ailment. Now is not the time for panic. Now is the time for the young talent remaining to shine. Their destiny is truly in their hands. Can these extremely young and talented young men step up and shine when the lights are brightest? We'll all be tuning in to find out. 

WIth the loss tonight, the Mudcats fell to 35-21 overall. They are now tied with fellow first-placers Lynchburg (36-22). With 11 games remaining it is literally anyone's division.

---

Final: ACL White Sox 3, ACL Brewers 2 - Final/7 innings
Box Score/Game Log

The ACL Brewers led 2-1. RHP Griffin Tobias had been pitching his best outing as a young Brewers (hey, Tobias has yet to concede a free pass in 21 1/3 IP!) and then, just like that the Brewers lost 3-2. Consecutive doubles. A throwing error from 3B Demetrio Nadal. Alas, not all is lost in this hoopla. As I said, Tobias had pitched his best outing as a young Brewers. This remains true: 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 HR, 3 R (2 ER). And, the villain in this story, 3B Demetrio Nadal, was also the hero: he cracked the two-run shot in the top of the fifth frame to give the Brewers the late lead. And, when all was said and done, the biggest takeaway in this entire game was the successful debut of one RHP Hayden Robinson. 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Let me give all ye faithful readers a quick refresher of why so many of us Fanatics have been craving Robinsons unlikely but savory early return form Tommy John surgery:

It's as beautiful today as it was last early summer. 

With the loss, the ACL Brewers fell to 18-11 overall. They remain 1.0 G ahead of the ACL Angels in their division. They fell to 3.5 GB of the League leading ACL Giants.

---

Final: DSL Astros Blue 14, DSL Brewers Blue 8
Box Score/Game Log

The DSL Brewers Blue fell to 3-4 on their season. They trailed by 10 runs headed into the bottom of the ninth yet they led 4-0 heading into the fifth inning.  The Astros Blue scored 14 runs in the fifth through eighth frames - bookended by four and six spots. RHP Josue Toledo - as alluded to above was just assigned to the Blue - will look back at the fifth inning and ponder what might have been. It was a bit of a hot mess. He opened with consecutive singles, advanced the runners with a wild pitch, struck out his next batter and then walked the bases full. Toledo then walked in the first run, struck out the next batter, but in so doing also threw his second wild pitch of the inning. Compounding matters, C Johanderson Tarazona added a throwing error to the play. Two runs crossed and it was suddenly a 4-3 game. Toledo hit the next batter. With runners on the corners and two down, Toledo gave up the game-tying single to right field before ending the inning on a ground out.

So, how did the Brewers Blue jump ahead 4-0? In vintage Summer League style. Our very own @sveumrules had the call:

Quote

DSL Blue up 4-0 with a very On The Island first inning...Brailyn Antunez single (wild pitch), Gerlyn Payano walk, double steal, Leonard Rijo two RBI single, stolen base (throwing error), Carlos Done walk and steal second, wild pitch scored Rijo, passed ball scored Done.

Manuel Moreno scoreless through four with 3 H | 1 BB | 1 HBP | 3 K.

Moreno was indeed scoreless through 3.0 IP. And, he ultimately completed 4.0 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 3K, 1 HB and 0 R ball before handing it over to the bullpen. While Toledo and Mendez struggled mightily, RHP Justin Lugo continued his fine early efforts with another scoreless outing: 1 1/3 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K ball. He was also the only Brewers pitcher on the day who did not plunk a batter - quite the feat!

The Blue did manage to make the final score more palatable with a four-run ninth inning that started with nothing other than a HBP. Ahhhhh, yes, the days of summer. All Brewers Blue runs scored with two outs on he ledger - perhaps, they will build on this. The big hit of the frame was a PH two-run homer from Kegnnalex Seijas. Boy, that name just rolls of the tongue, does it not?

With the loss the DSL Brewers Blue fell below 0.500 to 3-4 on their season.

---

Final: DSL Brewers Gold 6, DSL Pirates Gold 1
Box Score/Game Log

Despite their now 2-5 record, it’s worth noting the DSL Brewers Gold have lost four of their five games by a combined five runs. One would tend to think better luck is due in the weeks ahead. Here’s hoping!

The Gold led 1-0 after three frames. They were tied 1-1 after five frames. After six innings, they led 6-1 and they closed the game with that tally. They can thank their five run outburst in the sixth frame. The big knock came from DSL Brewers veteran OF Pedro Tovar. His bases clearing double plated four when a catcher throwing error allowed Tovar to cross home plate. Tovar has been a Brewers DSL’er for three seasons now and yet he is still 18 years old (he’ll turn 19 at the end of June). Likely, the Brewers are wanting to see if he can develop any semblance of power (0 HR to date) and work on cutting down his penchant for the swing and miss - he came into 2025 with a 27 % K rate. He’s appeared in four games in 2025 with just 8 PA, but he is definitely making the most of his opportunities: 2 XBH (both doubles today), 1 BB, and another  single. These types of performances will hopefully lead to more playing time in the weeks ahead.

In a game otherwise lacking in meaningful offensive production, the real thing that sticks out in this one is the combine one-run pitching efforts from RHP’s Aldrin Gonzalez (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 R), Gustavo Garcia (3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1 ER), and Ruben Saldana (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K).

---

We are back to a four-game all evening slate tomorrow. The ACL Brewers and the DSL Brewers will all be taking a mid-week rest. RHP's Tobias Myers and Tyson Hardin will look to dominate for Nashville and Wisconsin, respectively. LHP Tate Kuehner will look to help the Shuckers rebound from their game one loss. And, we are 'TBD' in Carolina as they look to make do with their make-shift pitching staff at present. 

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

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
MiLB Audio Links
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

View full article

[Ben Lepak]

[Jim French Stepstool]

Dinges DOES seem special. Matthew Woods' first foray into AA is going well so far so I hope Dinges sticks in Appleton for most, if not all, of 2025. Continue to polish up the defensive game.

If he sticks at C they're really sitting pretty between him & Quero.