Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/5): The Shuckers Keep Shucking, and It's So Darn Impressive

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers sent RF Daz Cameron outright to Nashville Sounds.
• Biloxi Shuckers activated RHP Nick Merkel from the 7-day injured list.
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers activated RHP Aaron Rund from the 7-day injured list.
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers activated RHP Tanner Gillis from the 7-day injured list.
• RHP Gabriel Colmenarez assigned to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers Gold.
• DSL Brewers Blue activated 3B Sharlisson De La Rosa from the 7-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Blue activated OF Gerlyn Payano from the 7-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Blue activated RHP Brailin Aguirrez from the 7-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Gold activated LHP Daniel Garcia from the 7-day injured list.

Congrats to the 19-year-old Venezuelan native Colmenarez, the 3rd year pro has shined in his five 2025 starts, 2.14 ERA, 0.90 WHIP.

Payano, a $350,000 bonus signing, had only played in three games before landing on the IL, in this, his debut season.

When De La Rosa ($200,000), Aguirrez, and Garcia first play, they will be making their professional debuts.

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 9, Memphis (Cardinals) 8
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Alfaro Lifts Sounds to Win with Late Home Run 

Place this one in the "much tougher than it should have been" category.

27-year-old RHP Garrett Stallings - never spectacular, never a blow-up outing. Through 17 games (six starts in his last seven appearances). the swingman has only allowed three runs once, exactly that in a 4.2 inning start on June 18th. His game log reflects the valuable consistency that has led to a 2.90 ERA for Manager Rick Sweet.

Stallings was solid again Saturday - your review of the box score and game log will tell you that LHP Tyler Jay and recently-touted-here RHP Joel Payamps were not. On the back side, RHP's Elvin Rodriguez and Blake Holub were money.

We're spoiled with highlights. Why is that? Because it's really noticeable when somehow there's no video for Jorge Alfaro's go-ahead one-out blast in the top of the 9th.

We did get this from earlier in the game. The Sounds' Social Admin person is really big into word play this season, and more often than not I've had to re-read their posts before I "get it".

OK, "take care of that". My brain needs more exercise.

Speaking of Quero, he caught this game, and no Redbirds baserunner attempted a steal.

Andrew Vaughn drove in three with a pair of singles, and Rhys Hoskins injury watch is on in the big-league clubhouse. I know there's a lot of Ernesto Martinez fans out there, but he was on the bench again in this game, and it's becoming clear his playing time is not an emphasis.

Bobby Dalbec walked three times and remains an ideal bench option for a big-league club. However, the Brewers don't have a gaping hole at the positions Dalbec could best assist with. So much goes into where in-season minor league free agents choose to sign, who knows what other offers Dalbec was weighing back on May 10th.

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 6, Pensacola (Marlins) 4
Box Score and Game Log

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

Bryant Records First Double-A Save, Miller Hits Go-Ahead Homer in Shuckers Win - Shuckers earn sixth straight home series win, extend Double-A best record at home

The Shuckers are now 48-24 after their 1-7 start to the season. Winning twice as many games as you lose over a 72-game stretch seems very good, yes?

Hardin would throw 91 pitches before being lifted at 5.2 innings, with nary a free pass and six strikeouts (four swinging, including the final batter he faced). His opposing pitcher, Marlins 20-year-old 2023 1st round southpaw Thomas White was not as sharp, walking three, hitting Ethan Murray with a pitch, and throwing a wild pitch as well. So, give Hardin a TKO victory in the primetime matchup.

Rough season at the plate for 24-year-old Minor League Phase Rule 5 pickup Garrett Spain, but this was a fun play to watch on repeat:

Was this a big home run after the 7th inning stretch? Raised Win Probability by 35.6% to 89.3%. We vote yes, it was a big home run.

The Biloxi "X" feed has a bit more for you.

Appears to have been a simple rest day for Cooper Pratt. Luis Lara received partial rest as the DH which allowed for the Garrett Spain play above to happen. The Shuckers have only one non-catcher bench player, so Manager Joe Ayrault will cycle respites as creatively as he can.

Nice work by RH relievers Ryan Middendorf and Tyler Bryant to close things out.

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As posted Saturday night -

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fayetteville (Astros) 10, Carolina 2 
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Fall to Fayetteville

Speaking of Social Admins, this is how one may choose to compose a game summary for a post-holiday drubbing on the road, ha.

We do have to temper expectations for high school picks debuting in full-season ball. Josh Knoth was fine in 2024. Bryce Meccage has been fine in 2025 (.226 BAA, 1.31 WHIP). We're seeing what Ethan Dorchies and Jayden Dubanewicz can do. Manuel Rodriguez and Melvin Hernandez got the benefit of two seasons of complex ball, although each was exceedingly young during those stints, essentially high-school juniors. You'll see Meccage's line within this box score.

Jesus Made now 37-for-43 in SB attempts, Braylon Payne 21-for-28.

Made and Bitonti with late-game clips via the Carolina "X" feed.

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Final: ACL Guardians 8, ACL Brewers 7
Box Score and Game Log

Word-for-word (thanks!) from a very helpful co-Link Reporter @Ro Mueller

That's a tough loss for the ACL Brewers, falling 8-7 to ACL Guardians after blowing leads of 5-2 and 7-5.

C Kevin Garcia (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) did his best to be the hero, delivering a 2-out, 2-run single to re-take the lead 7-5 in the 7th inning, then coming through again with 1-on, 2-out single in the top of the 9th inning.

But all Garcia's last hit did was move LF Roderick Flores (leadoff walk that inning; 2-for-4 game) over to 3rd base, with me wondering why there was no steal attempt for Flores (26-for-31 on SBs in his career) as Fielder flew out and Ereu K'd for the first 2 outs. A Paulino infield pop-out ended it.

Rehabbing DH Josh Adamczewski went 0-for-4 with a K but walked and scored the game's first run on a wild pitch. 2B Jadyn Fielder (1-for-3, 2 walks, 2 RBIs) followed with a 2-out, 2-run single in that same 3rd inning.

Starting RHP Carlos Carra was effective (4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks), but RHPs Aldrin Gonzalez (1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 0 Ks) and Joshua Quezada (3 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks) were not. Quezada gave up a 2-run homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning which gave the ACL Guardians the only lead they required in the game.

That homer was the sole extra base hit for either team in the contest. CF Handelfry Encarnacion reached base 4 times (1-for-2, 3 walks, SB), threw out a baserunner at home and had an error. 1B Kevin Ereu went 1-for-5 with 4 Ks.

The ACL Brewers went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 baserunners as they fall to 24-23.

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Final: DSL Brewers Blue 9, DSL Brewers Gold 7
Box Score and Game Log

Once again via Daniel "Ro" and our daily "live" thread --

In the latest DSL Blue vs. Gold Civil War, the Blue squad built a seemingly unassailable 9-1 lead before allowing 11 Gold batters to hit in the final half-inning. Blue still prevailed 9-7, with a game-ending groundout stranding the potential game-tying runners at 2nd and 3rd.

18-year old LF Angel Gonzalez (3-for-4, triple, double, RBI) and 17-year-old RHP Luis Velasquez (3.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 6 BB, 3 Ks) led the Blue Men to the 7-inning victory, with the Blue team also out-hitting Gold 12-4. 2B Joan Gutierrez (2-for-3, double, walk) and RF Frandy Lafond (1-for-2, walk, HBP, SB, 2 RBIs) each reached base 3 times, while 1B Kegnnalex Seijas (1-for-3, walk) had a 2-run double to blow the game open at 7-1 in the 6th inning.

Three errors (including 2 by converted C Jonathan Rangel) and 3 unearned runs hurt Gold's cause. Their top performers were 2B Juan Martinez (1-for-3, triple, walk), Rangel (1-for-3, walk, RBI) and RHP Saul Sanchez (1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 0 Ks; 2 stranded inherited runners.

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It's a five-game Sunday with the Wisconsin double-dip. Very exciting arms on the rubber as the scoreboard link will show you below.

Continue to be safe as you wrap up the holiday weekend, everyone! Go Big Woo!

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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1 hour ago, Jim Goulart said:

The Shuckers are now 48-24 after their 1-7 start to the season. Winning twice as many games as you lose over a 72-game stretch seems very good, yes?

Absolutely amazing.  Considering the season last year where runs and hits were at a premium. The Joe Ayrault effect maybe?

pitching was good last year and seems even better this season. But the offense. You had three young 20 year old prospects who did struggle some to start the year, who have been so key in this turnaround (from last season and the beginning of this season).  Matt Wood has been a great addition too. And despite losing Adams and Wilken to fluke injuries in consecutive weeks, the offense is still rolling.  Look what happened to the Mudcats when two big bats departed (Dinges promotion, and Adamczewski injury), they haven’t been the same relentless team. 

Watch and marvel at the Shuckers this year, currently the best team in the system in talent from top to bottom, particularly if they can ever get all healthy-  you have Wilken (who may not have any more meaningful at bats this regular season but we will see), Adams, Pratt, Lara, Wood, Murray, Boeve as guys who can suit up in the majors someday. Plus “Mayor” Zavier Warren, who could make it to the bigs as a super utility player. Pitching wise we have seen Crow and Childers already move up, and Hardin is having a great first full professional season, add Wichrowski, Kuehner, Cornielle along with bullpen pieces like Yeager, Manfredi and don’t sleep on minor league rule 5 Zack Peek. Not the high end talent of Carolina, but a very very solid roster.