Tue. 6/17 - Gold vs. Blue on the Island, So Six Games in All

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Tuesday. 

Organizational Scoreboard 

Audio Links

MiLB TV (Subscribers)

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

No subscription needed -

 

[Jake McKibbin]

Ernesto Martinez Jr was averaging a swing rate in and around 50% in the last two seasons (2023/24) but its dropped alarmingly to a very passive level of 37.6% so far in 2025. Is he not seeing the ball as well? Is it a change in approach to find balls he can elevate more effectively? Who knows at this point, but it is something to monitor

His eye has been far better at the plate over the last two seasons than it has any right to be with his frame/swing length, so I'm not sure it's related to taking more walks. 

Looking at his rolling swing rate (per 100 swings) it did drop as low as this once last year, admittedly during his hot second half, however he did recover to the more above average swing rates he's boasted throughout his career, and lay there for most of his hot run.

His chart for 2025 is below, and he's only sat above average for a short period this season. His current mark is in the Luke Adams realm

 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Need my Mudcats to win today!

[Ro Mueller]

I think this is worth sharing here, especially as Mercado is our youngest pitcher on the ACL Brewers (18 years + almost 3 months): 

 

[snoogans8056]

5 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

No subscription needed -

 

I wish they’d add some age context to this as our R, A, A+, and AA all seem to be the youngest teams in the leagues.

[sveumrules]

There are 577 players in the minors with at least 200 PA so far and only nine of those players have at least a 170 wRC+.

Three of them are Brewers…Luke Adams (179), Brock Wilken (173), and Marco Dinges (170).

Nine more hitters have a wRC+ in the 160’s with Anthony Seigler (161) representing.

[sveumrules]

There are 501 pitchers in the minors with at least 40 IP so far.

Tyson Hardin (1.90) and Coleman Crow (2.03) have the two lowest FIPs in the entire sample.

[wibadgers23]

 

[biedergb]

55 minutes ago, snoogans8056 said:

I wish they’d add some age context to this as our R, A, A+, and AA all seem to be the youngest teams in the leagues.

Or like a three year average or composite, as the Brewers clubs have been good (or really good in '24) for a few years top to bottom.

Still top 3 in overall records for the organization, and this year feels like a "down" year. Yeah I know expectations...

[Ro Mueller]

In today's DSL Blue vs. DSL Gold Civil War (2025 edition - round 1), 18-year old RHP Manuel Moreno is making a strong case to immediately follow Ayendy Bravo stateside.

[Joseph Zarr]

Looks like a beautiful night to be had in both Zebulon and @ West Michigan. I do believe I heard 1B Eric Bitonti is back in the line-up. 

[Ro Mueller]

Super slugging 1B Eric Bitonti is indeed back in the lineup (first action since Wednesday) and 19-year old RHP Jayden Dubanewicz makes his 2nd Low-A start (5 IP, 2 R, 2 Ks last week) as Carolina welcomes Royals’ affiliate Columbia to town: 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 up. 3 down for Dubanewicz. 2 ground outs. And a bunt attempt that Walther very easily handled down the 3B line. Nice efficient work.

[Joseph Zarr]

I do want to encourage anyone to check into the West Michigan telecast. I absolutely love their announcer duo and, hey, their team is fantastic. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The rehabbing RHP Alex Lange gets Blake Burke swinging and missing on an off-speed pitch in the dirt in a 3-2 count. Burke over-matched in that AB. Poor swing choice. Areinamo and Baez both grounded out to McGonigle at SS. 

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Timber Rattlers (33-30) remain in Michigan this week, taking on formidable Tigers’ affiliate West Michigan (43-20). RHP Jaron DeBerry is coming off 2 solid starts (combined 11 IP, 4 R, 11 Ks) though enters on 4 days’ rest. 1B Blake Burke has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Braylon Payne with a disciplined 3-2 walk. LOVE it. Keep it going, Braylon. Fouled off a couple - lefty on lefty. That is the type of AB I am personally looking for. 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, Braylon is picked off leaving 1B early. LOL. DeBerry just gave up a roaring double off the right CF wall. Man, McGonigle is so good. LOL. Crushed that ball. His bat speed is stupendous. His pitch recognition elite. Sweeper that came back over the outer black. He crushed it.

[Joseph Zarr]

Briceno snorts a bloop into left CF scoring McGonigle. Alastre with the heads up back up work grabs the ball past a sliding CF Eduardo Garcia; hits the relay man and they pick off Briceno late to get back to 1B with the wide turn. Love that. T-Rats trail 1-0. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Dinges BOMB. That's right. THAT'S RIGHT. Oppo. Not easy in this park. At all. Whoooo.

[Joseph Zarr]

If you've never seen baseball at West Michigan that is quite easily the hardest part of the park for a righty bat to hit oppo. NOT easy. Man, I'm going to say it again.

Dubanewicz works around a two out weakly hit grounder into RF. Got a K. A 1,2,3,4 inning two.

[Ro Mueller]

DH/1B Andrew Vaughn (.568 OPS in 260 MLB/AAA PAs with a .219 BABIP) makes his Brewers’ organizational debut and rehabbing CF Garrett Mitchell is atop the AAA Nashville lineup as they host Cubs’ affiliate Iowa City. Where’s RHP Tobias Myers’ mojo (5.32 ERA, 22 Ks in last 22 IP)? 

[Joseph Zarr]

101 mph fly out to deep left CF from Bitonti. Not a lot of carry in Zebulon. Very muggy.