Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/29): Hardin Dominated and Bitonti Blasted, but Dinges Went Down in Sunday Action

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

For the week, Biloxi and Carolina both won their series 4 games to 2, while Nashville and Wisconsin dropped theirs by the same 4-2 margin.

Transactions:

• RHP Brandon Woodruff sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• RHP Fausto Barreras activated by DSL Brewers Blue from restricted list

Though not official yet, it appears that INF/C Anthony Seigler (.881 OPS in 267 PAs with 20 SBs) is also getting his first-ever call to the Show, which is quite impressive after the 26-year old has only spent 3 career months in AAA ball:

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Jacksonville 6, Nashville 5
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 Fall in Finale in Jacksonville

All eyes were on starting RHP Brandon Woodruff (3 2/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K – 82 pitches), as he made his first rehab start since June 3, thankfully flashing a velocity level (peak 95.4mph in the 4th inning) which was lacking in late May / early June:

Of course, similar to the activation decision on Aaron Civale about 7 weeks ago (effected too soon, in my opinion, stretching the MLB bullpen), it’s fair to ask whether Woodruff would benefit from another Minor League tune-up or two. He struck out one of 19 batters, with Jacksonville hitters fouling off 20 pitches, exiting down 4-2.

On the 3rd pitch of the game, OF Blake Perkins notched his first extra-base hit in his 10th rehab outing, part of a highly productive evening for him (2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 SBs):

With a 6-2 lead after a quick 2 runs against RHP Garrett Stallings (2 IP, 2 R, 1 K) in the 6th inning, the Jumbo Shrimp apparently felt comfortable to leave Adam Mazur in for 91 pitches (despite throwing 75 pitches on Tuesday), so DH Andrew Vaughn made them pay with a 3-run homer on his final pitch:

Per the linked game report, OF Bobby Dalbec came through with three doubles, including one immediately following Vaughn’s blast, but a line drive double play ended that 7th inning with runners on 1st and 3rd.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Nashville outhit its opponent 11-to-9 and out-stole them 4-to-2, but a 2-for-14 evening with runners in scoring position stifled their comeback attempt. The team stranded runners at 2nd and 3rd in the 8th inning and Dalbec unfortunately hit into a ground ball double play in the 9th inning.
• Well done to LHP Tyler Jay and RHP Craig Yoho for combining on 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Yoho allowed hard hit balls (fly out, double) to his first two batters faced, before registering a strikeout and weak grounder.

Next week’s outlook: The Sounds (46-33) return home to host Cardinals’ affiliate Memphis (43-36), with RHP Logan Henderson (2.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 in 74 2/3 AAA/MLB IP) most likely to start the series opener on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Columbus 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Earn Series Win Behind Hardin's Five Shutout Innings

Starting RHP Tyson Hardin was undaunted throwing on 4 days’ rest (6 IP, 73 pitches on Tuesday), matching his counterpart with 4 shutout innings before OF Bladimir Restituyo opened the scoring on the 9th pitch of his 5th inning at-bat with his 3rd homer of 2025:

An Ethan Murray (2-for-4, walk) single, favorable pitching change, 3 walks and a Zavier Warren infield single followed for a 3-0 advantage, which was plenty of support for Hardin (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks):

Biloxi stranded 2 baserunners in the top of the 8th inning and nearly immediately regretted it, as LHP Brian Fitzpatrick conceded an infield single, walk and another single to load the bases with 1 out and dangerous OF Ethan Workinger (12 homers) at the plate. To his immense credit, Fitzpatrick dug in to strike out Workinger and his teammate swinging on 7 pitches total. 

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Every Shucker position player reached base via hit or walk in a solid team effort, with Warren delivering 2 RBIs  and each of OF Luis Lara, DH Cooper Pratt and 1B Mike Boeve reaching base twice.
• In the bullpen, RHP Ryan Middendorf (1 BB, 1 K) and LHP Mark Manfredi (0 BB, 1 K) each covered a scoreless, hitless inning, while RHP Bo Bowman allowed a solo homer in 9th inning (0 BB, 0 Ks).
• The teams combined to go 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, stranding 18 baserunners.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (46-29) heads 1-hour, 45 minutes east to visit Marlins’ affiliate Pensacola (38-36) for 6 games, with RHP KC Hunt (4.68 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 59 2/3 IP) most likely to start on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 5, Wisconsin 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: River Bandits Outlast Wisconsin 5-4

This was one of the most painful losses of the years, literally, although we’re still fortunate to have video highlights from the terrific Wisconsin media team:

We’ve also got the 15-minute Mehring-Lobner postgame podcast, featuring Manager Victor Estevez.

To be fair, Quad Cities was in reasonable control of the game, grabbing a 3-0 lead on 2 homers in the first three innings against starting LHP Anthony Flores (2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks – in 63 pitches), briefly interrupted by 1B Blake Burke’s 2-out, 2-run blast in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

After 2 runs from 3 singles off RHP Miles Langhorne (2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K) in the top of the 5th inning, the teams combined to send only 19 hitters to the plate over the next 6 half-innings, setting the stage for what appeared to be Wisconsin’s last best comeback chance in the bottom of the 8th inning, down 5-2 with SS Jadher Areinamo, C Marco Dinges, Burke and OF Eduardo Garcia due up.

As you’ve seen and heard, that formidable quartet did their part to nearly tie the game via a catcher’s interference, walk and 2 doubles, only to be undone in unfair fashion by Dinges’ injury (and out) rounding 3rd base. 2B Juan Baez then struck out on 3 pitches and OF Kay-Lan Nicasia lined out to center field to strand potential game-tying runner Garcia at 2nd base.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Big credit to RHPs Jack Seppings (0 BB, 2 Ks) and Bayden Root (0 BB, 1 K) on 2 scoreless innings each to give the Wisconsin offense a chance to pull out the win.
• Burke’s 3-for-3 day with a walk and 3 RBIs lifted his season average to .310 and OPS to .849, as he sets his sights firmly on a potential promotion to AA Biloxi.
• Unless David Garcia (injured since April 23) or Yannic Walther (exited Carolina’s game early in Thursday) is available, don’t be surprised if Victor Torres is re-assigned from AA Biloxi to fill in while Dinges makes a full recovery.

Next week’s outlook: The Timber Rattlers (36-38) will drive 2 hours, 15 minutes south to battle Marlin’s affiliate Beloit (35-40), with intriguing 19-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez (1.67 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 in 27 IP) scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 4, Delmarva 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Claim Series from Delmarva

Talented 19-year old RHP Bryce Meccage set aside a difficult few weeks (8.27 ERA in previous 20 2/3 IP) to deliver 3 scoreless innings (1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) in his second start of the week (69 pitches on Tuesday; understandably limited to 44 pitches in this game).

After the team failed to cash in with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 1st inning, 1B Eric Bitonti (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs, SB) ensured no room for doubt on his 0-1, 2-out, 3-run blast in the top of the 2nd inning:

After stranding SS Luis Pena and Bitonti in the top of the 7th inning despite their inning-opening walk and infield single, Delmarva cut the deficit to 3-2 with a 2-out double and RBI single in the bottom of the 7th inning off of RHP Bryan Rivera (3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks), who induced a fly out to keep the lead.

RHP Garrett Hodges had completed a 2-inning save earlier in the week and was called upon to do so again here, retiring 6 straight batters (4 Ks) without difficulty to clinch the series.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Every Carolina position player reached base via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch, including 2 HBPs for OF Tyler Rodriguez (.196 season AVG, .385 season OBP with 13 HBPs in 208 PAs).
• The team was undoubtedly happy to have C Eric Martinez available (assigned from High-A Wisconsin) after Walther’s Thursday exit forced Edgardo Ordonez to catch 4 consecutive games. Martinez went 1-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch (stop injuring our catchers!) and threw out 1-of-4 basestealers.
• In his full season affiliate debut, 23-year old RHP Nick DeCarlo allowed a single and walk in the 4th inning, before getting Ks swinging and looking to deliver a scoreless frame.
• While Jesus Made had a rest day, he got to watch Pena tie him for the team’s stolen base lead (33) and Bitonti become the first Mudcats’ player this year to join the 10-10 club (12 homers, 10 stolen bases).

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats (43-30) return to Zebulon to host Astros’ affiliate Fayetteville (40-35), with LHP Wande Torres the most likely starter for Tuesday’s series opener (6.07 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 43 IP).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the Rookie squads are the only teams in action, commencing with DSL Brewers Blue (9-10) hosting DSL Red Sox Red and DSL Brewers Gold (8-11) playing at DSL Rojos at 10:00am CST. The ACL Brewers (22-20) host the ACL Royals at 8:00pm CST, while the Milwaukee Brewers are idle.

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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