Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/13): The Key to Recent T-Rats Success and Mudcats Struggles Revealed

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

• 1B Andrew Vaughn optioned to Nashville Sounds.
• OF Drew Avans recalled to Milwaukee from Nashville Sounds.
• RHP Grant Anderson recalled to Milwaukee from Nashville Sounds.
• RHP Derlin Garcia signed and assigned to DSL Brewers Gold.

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes

Final: Nashville 6, Norfolk (Orioles) 4

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 End Slide with 6-4 Win on Friday Night - Dunn Has Three Hits, Henderson Wins Seventh in a Row

I've seen multiple comments about the roster machinations via the arrival of newly acquired Andrew Vaughn on Nashville's Tyler Black and Ernesto Martinez, Jr. Another name sure to be impacted is Wes Clarke, already limited to 46 of the Sounds' 66 games thus far. Clarke and Black were idle for this one, and Vaughn has yet to suit up,  

There will need to be a roster move Saturday as there are 16 active pitchers currently, including Easton McGee, returning from his brief big-league stint. Even with Vaughn's imminent arrival, there will be 13 position players, which is likely ideal vs. the 15 pitchers that will take the roster to the 28-player AAA maximum.

Another player on the bench for this one was red-hot Anthony Seigler (when was he last not red-hot?). We need to remember that Seigler is also the #2 catcher on this team, and he can't be expected to play every day, as much as we'd like to see that.

Ten base hits from the bottom five in the order, led by Oliver Dunn's three singles. Recently dropped down in the lineup, one had to wonder just how tenuous Dunn's 40-man roster status had become given his sub-.600 OPS struggles. 

Two doubles were among the nine hits allowed by Logan Henderson in his 5.1 innings, though clearly, he limited the damage. Henderson threw 80 pitches (53 strikes). The Brewers are playing Henderson's development perfectly given his low inning counts in prior seasons. I listen to enough of the many archived audio links we point you to daily to hear folks clamoring for Logan's MLB return sooner rather than later. There was never a scenario where he'd become ensconced in the 2025 MLB rotation every five days. Now, come August / September? Sure, let's talk then.

Pretty easy to see Elvis Peguero having trade value as part of a larger deal with a contender come deadline time.

You'll find three video highlights this AM at the Sounds' "X" feed.

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Postponed, Biloxi at Chattanooga (Reds), rain

Doubleheader Saturday evening.

Catch up with the latest Biloxi pre-game audio interview archives

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 6, Great Lakes (Dodgers) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Emotions Run High in Rattlers Win at Great Lakes - Wisconsin frustrates Loons with 6-4 victory

Another fine write-up via Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring.

The visual of what Chris described, Spencer commented further within the thread here:

For every instance in which Yerlin Rodriguez flashes Abner Uribe promise, there are many more instances when we are left shaking our heads. 

Now three games over .500, remarkably if the T-Rats and Mudcats were magically placed in the same level/division, the Muddies (more on them below) would only hold a three-game lead over Manager Victor Estevez's squad. All four Brewers full-season affiliates are now over .500.

It sure seems like Marco Dinges is the magic elixir. Carolina was 26-12 after Dinges' final Carolina League game. Since Dinges joined Wisconsin, the Rattlers are 16-6. So, Marco and his 1.002 season-long OPS has enjoyed a 2025 42-18 record in uniform!

The Brewers placed 20-year-old LHP Anthony Flores in Wisconsin to start the season despite only seven appearances (three starts) with Carolina last season. Bingo! This organization hits so often on their projections. Flores trending very well to be sure.

Both the Victor Estevez and Blake Burke interviews within are worth your time:

Another three highlights at the "X" feed.

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final, Lynchburg (Guardians) 6, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Drop Series at Lynchburg

OK, so it's not a full-fledged panic button, but there's a need to stem the tide here.

Nine baserunners for Carolina, but this was the only XBH. Elaine Benes may like exclamation points, but when one is utilized when the deficit is cut to three in the 8th inning, that pretty much indicates how things have been going.

No Eric Bitonti for a consecutive game, he last played Wednesday. Braylon Payne, Luis Pena and Made each had one base hit, but with the lower half of the lineup as it's currently constructed, if the upper half isn't raking (as was seen for weeks on end in April and the first half of May - oh, that's right, the Dinges effect), then there's going to be an overall struggle.

Payne thrown out on a steal attempt for a 6th time, he's now exactly at a 75% success rate (18-for-24). Can't dip below that. Made, DH'ing here, is 25-for-29 after his successful swipe here.

By the way, Lynchburg is now 39-22. That factors into the equation.

The piggyback southpaw duo of Wande Torres and Bjorn Johnson combined to allow 11 baserunners in six innings, with each allowing a double. Johnson's line looks fine, but he allowed two of Torres' runners to score.

The only Carolina fielding error was late by yet another lefty, Anfernny Reyes, so it's not as if the lineup collapsed Friday night, just not getting it done overall.

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Final: ACL Rockies 4, ACL Brewers 3, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Yet another seven-inning Friday night affair. It's the weekend, the kids can stay up late!

102 degrees at first pitch, but still...

Oh, and this was a walkoff loss.

Second-year 18-year-old RHP Ayendy Bravo, who was promoted to Maryvale after one DSL appearance this season, allowed a single in the 5th and left the bases loaded in the 6th, but took the loss going for the save. There was a one-out double, then an infield single that did not advance the runner. Another infield single, deflected off Bravo, loaded the bases before a line drive single to right scored the tying and winning (losing) runs.

It wasn't his sharpest outing (hardly a poor one Friday), but a look at 18-year-old RHP Tyler Renz' game log shows just how consistent the 2025 18th rounder (significant $852,500 signing bonus) has been. 

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Final: DSL Padres Gold 5, DSL Brewers Blue 4
Box Score and Game Log

Another walkoff defeat.

It was a more classic complex league version of defeat here. Tied entering the 9th, The Blue Man Group went down meekly in the top of the frame. A one-out anti-rally consisting of a HBP, walk, wild pitch and a two-out ground ball single to right field ended things off second-year RHP Justin Lugo.

Still 16 years old until July 24th, Dominican native RHP Steven Duran pitched a perfect inning in his pro debut, hopefully family was among the packed house at the Padres' complex.

Likewise, 17-year-old Venezuelan RHP Merwin Manrique (18 next month) also tossed a scoreless frame in his pro debut, yet his was much more adventurous, as it included a two-out sequence that went walk - single - HBP before a fielder's choice ended the frame.

You'll see four doubles among the five Blue knocks in the box.

Still so early, but $900,000 signing Brailyn Antunez (DH'ing here) is only 4-for-8 in SB attempts to go along with his very-early .555 OPS (43 plate appearances).

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Final: DSL Brewers Gold 4, DSL Guardians "Goryl" 1 
Box Score and Game Log

It was all about the pitching here, as you don't want to stare too long at the not-so-golden batting averages in the box score, though kudos are rightly due for plating four runs.

Two 17-year-old arms did the heavy lifting, with both Raymond Sarmiento and Joan Pena each making their second pro appearances. We do have bonus info for Pena ($180,000), which is noteworthy as normally the Brewers don't splurge on international arms (actually that's the case through much of MLB).

Top signing Kenny Fenelon ($1.3M) singled, was plunked twice, and stole two bases. 

17-year-old Francis Sosa, a RH bat who signed for $200,000, has two solo home runs among his five base hits in 23 AB's. He's also walked four times, fanned on nine occasions, and is perfect in four stolen base attempts, adding up to a fun tiny-sample .901 OPS line of .217/.379/.522. 

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The Biloxi doubleheader means there's a second consecutive Saturday schedule of eight games on tap. I'll have it documented for your Sunday breakfast. The three complex games are daytime affairs for you early box score analyzers. Enjoy your Saturday, dear readers!

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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[sveumrules]

It sure seems like Marco Dinges is the magic elixir. Carolina was 26-12 after Dinges' final Carolina League game. Since Dinges joined Wisconsin, the Rattlers are 16-6. So, Marco and his 1.002 season-long OPS has enjoyed a 2025 42-18 record in uniform!

Awesome pull @Jim Goulart Definitely paid off the cliffhanger in the title.

[Joseph Zarr]

8 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

It sure seems like Marco Dinges is the magic elixir. Carolina was 26-12 after Dinges' final Carolina League game. Since Dinges joined Wisconsin, the Rattlers are 16-6. So, Marco and his 1.002 season-long OPS has enjoyed a 2025 42-18 record in uniform!

Awesome pull @Jim Goulart Definitely paid off the cliffhanger in the title.

He truly is SPECIAL.

Also, did anyone else get right to the transactions and quickly scan and then:

Quote

• RHP Derlin Garcia signed and assigned to DSL Brewers Gold.

And think..."Gee, that's an awful strange arrangement and demotion for Deivi!"