Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/24): Ethan Murray and Travis Smith Come Through in Thursday Affiliate Action

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

Transactions:

• RHP Tyler Renz promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers
• LHP Robert Gasser sent on rehab assignment to High-A Wisconsin
• OF Steward Berroa sent on rehab assignment to High-A Wisconsin
• C Ty Duvall released by AAA Nashville
• Recent draft picks (3B Andrew Fischer, RHP Jacob Morrison, RHP Joshua Flores, LHP Andrew Healy) and non-drafted free agent OF Malachai Halterman assigned to ACL Brewers

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Charlotte 2, Nashville 0
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: Nestor Cortes' Nine Punchouts Not Enough in Sounds Shutout Loss to Knights

LHP Nestor Cortes was solid in his 4th rehab start (5 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER)), striking out 9 of 23 batters faced (vs. 1 walk) in 93 pitches to give him a 1.00 ERA through 18 rehab innings. The maximum number of rehab days pitchers is 30, so Cortes likely needs to be activated by the Major League club by August 1, while also keeping in mind that the MLB trade deadline is July 31.

 

After a wild 14-13 victory on Wednesday, the Sounds’ offense produced 10 outs from its first 10 batters on Thursday, collecting their first hit on an OF Jared Oliva double in the bottom of the 4th inning (stranded via ground out and strikeout).

That said, Nashville still had 5 of the 6 hardest hit balls in the game, keeping the Knights’ defense on their toes. SS Freddy Zamora’s 8th inning single gave the team its best scoring chance with 2-on, 1-out, but a pop out and strikeout followed, so Nashville’s series lead was reduced to 2 games to 1.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Solid relief work from the trio of RHP Easton McGee, LHP Josh Maciejewski and RHP Craig Yoho (combined 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) gave the offense a chance to turn things around.
• DH Ernesto Martinez Jr. was the only Nashville player to reach base more than once (counting only hits, walks and HBPs), coming aboard 3 times – 2 walks, 1 HBP.
• Defense certainly played a role in this outcome, with Charlotte converting two clutch double plays and committing no errors, vs. 0 GIDPs and 1 error (of the 3-bases and unearned run variety) for the Sounds.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Chad Patrick (3.49 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 105 2/3 MLB/AAA IP) is scheduled to make his 3rd AAA start of the year, with Nashville shooting for a 3-1 series advantage.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Rocket City 5, Biloxi 1 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Game Two Final: Biloxi 3, Rocket City 1 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Murray's Late Homer Gives Shuckers Doubleheader Split Against Trash Pandas

The Shuckers were down 3-0 before collecting their first hit of the opening game, ultimately being out-hit 10-4 in the contest. Still, the team pushed one run across in the bottom of the 4th inning and stranded the bases loaded in that key frame, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the contest.

 

RHP Brett Wichrowski (4 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and middle reliever RHP Bayden Root (2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 K) navigated heavy traffic in the opening-game defeat, while 3B Ethan Murray (1-for-3, walk) and 2B Jheremy Vargas (1-for-2, walk) each reached base twice.

The nightcap saw a great bounceback performance from RHP KC Hunt (6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 Ks; lowering season ERA to 5.11), supported by terrific defense in the 3rd inning in particular:

 

However, the game was still knotted 1-1 until Murray’s terrific at-bat with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th inning, coming back from an 0-2 count to run it full before blasting his 8th homer of 2025:

 

6’7” LHP Brian Fitzpatrick’s transition to full time bullpen work in 2025 has been quite the success (2.23 season ERA with 37 Ks in 32 1/3 IP), working around a leadoff single to notch the save:

 

Shuckers’ Extras:

• “Biloxi Mayor” 1B Zavier Warren continued his steady contributions, going 2-for-6 on the evening with a triple, stolen base and run scored.
• We can also laud LHP Mark Manfredi for his 3-up, 3-down inning of work (3.22 season ERA) in the first contest.

Friday’s outlook: 24-year old LHP Tate Kuehner, who’s on quite the 5-game run (1.08 ERA with 31 Ks in last 25 IP; season ERA 2.45) aims to lead Biloxi to a 3-1 home series lead.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 7, Wisconsin 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, more game details: River Bandits Pull Away From Rattlers

After throwing just 9 pitches in his first rehab appearance last week, it was no surprise that LHP Robert Gasser was limited to one inning and 16 pitches (2 R, 1 H, 1 BB – 10 strikes) in this contest.

The linked game report details the offensive contributions of OF Luiyin Alastre (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs), SS Jadher Areinamo (1-for-4, double, HBP, 2 SBs) and 3B Juan Baez (1-for-3, walk), as the squad tied the game up 3-3 by the 4th inning.

Although RHP Jaron DeBerry pitched respectably through 5 innings of long relief, the team unfortunately stranded runners in scoring position in each of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th innings.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Quad Cities erupted for 3 runs on 4 hits (including a triple and single against DeBerry before his exit) in the 7th frame, helping to mar DeBerry’s final line (5 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks).
• Wisconsin was out-hit 13-5 and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, with 1B Blake Burke, C Andrick Nava, OF Kay-Lan Nicasia and 2B Daniel Guilarte combining on an 0-for-14 evening.

Friday’s outlook: 19-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez (1.99 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 in 40 2/3 IP) is set for his 6th start since returning from injury, having ramped up to 63 pitches last week (5 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks). Wisconsin needs a victory to even this week’s road series at 2 games apiece.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 2, Kannapolis 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Shutout Kannapolis

After starting RHP Travis Smith silenced the Cannon Ballers for 5 innings (0 R, 3 H – all singles, 2 BB, 3 Ks), 18-year old, 5’11” LHP Enderson Mercado put himself firmly on the prospect radar with 4 innings of scoreless relief (3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) in his Low-A debut.

Smith and his counterpart tossed 4 ½ scoreless innings until Carolina’s #8 (OF Luis Lameda) and #9 (C Yannic Walther) batters reached base via a hit-by-pitch and 4-pitch walk with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning, with 2B Josh Adamczewski following with a 5-pitch walk before SS Jesus Made (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs, stole his 40th base) delivered the key blow:

Back to Enderson Mercado, who displaced terrific Ethan Dorchies as the youngest pitcher in the 12-team Carolina League. Displaced? Mercado is an entire 5 months younger than Dorchies, entering this level after just 18 years, 123 days on this Earth. Of course, his Arizona Complex League statistics should perhaps temper our enthusiasm a little bit (5.05 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 in 46 1/3 IP at that level).

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Lameda (1-for-2, run scored) and Adamczewski (1-for-3, walk) had productive days, while OF Reece Walling added an outfield assist in the 2nd inning.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Wande Torres (5.69 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 in 55 1/3 IP) gets the start, with Carolina aiming to extend its winning streak to 8 games.

Final: DSL CLE Mendoza 14, DSL Brewers Blue 13 (in 11 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

You’d hope that a 7-2 lead in the 7th inning would be safe, but that’s not always the case, especially in the Dominican Summer League.

18-year old OF Carlos Done (3-for-5, walk, 2 RBIs; .262 AVG, .832 OPS) continued his offensive outbreak as the top performer in this game, doubling and scoring to lead off the game, jacking his 4th homer of 2025 to extend the lead to 7-2 and doubling in a run for a 13-12 advantage in the top of the 11th inning.

17-year old starting RHP Carlos Galindo (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) nearly extended his season record to 5-0, before the disastrous 8-run inning against RHP Brailin Aguirrez (1 1/3 IP, 5 ER) and RHP Merwin Manrique (1/3 IP, 3 ER).

The Blue Crew were 1 out away from clinching victory in the bottom of the 9th inning (BB, WP, game-tying single off of RHP Justin Lugo) and bottom of the 11th inning (HBP, BB, walk-off 2-run double against RHP Jhosep Ospino). Instead, they fall to a record of 20-16.

C Yoneiker Lugo (2-for-2, double, 2 walks, RBI; .284 AVG, .748 OPS) reached base in all 4 plate appearances, but was lifted in the bottom of the 7th inning, so we’ll need to monitor his status.

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

Similar to their Blue brethren, the Golden Men allowed a 7-3 lead to slip away to fall to 17-20 on the season.

Every position player reached base via hit or walk in the game, including 8 of them within the first 3 innings as the team built its 7-3 advantage, highlighted by 2-run doubles from OFs Alexander Frias and Nicolas Barrios.

17-year old starting RHP Enrique Velasquez completed two rough innings (2 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 BB, 2 WP, 0 Ks), while RHP Carlos Canales fared better (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H – infield single, 0 BB, 2 Ks). However, 17-year old RHP Gustavo Garcia (3 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 WP, 3 Ks) conceded 2 runs in the 5th inning and another 3 runs in the 6th inning to cough up the lead.

The Gold squad drew back-to-back walks to start the 7th inning and added 2 more walks in the 8th inning, but didn’t push any runs across. For the game, 3B Cristian Montilla went 2-for-4, while each of SS Cristopher Acosta, OF Kenny Fenelon and 2B Juan Martinez went 1-for-3 with 2 walks.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, the DSL squads kick off action at 10:00am CST (Brewers Blue hosting Red Sox Red; Brewers Gold playing at CLE Goryl) before the Milwaukee Brewers host the Marlins at 3:10pm CST. Start times for the full season affiliates range from 5:30pm CST (Carolina) to 6:35 pm CST.

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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[Joseph Zarr]

What an impressive AB by Murray there in Game Two. Showcasing everything we've been celebrating in a massive bounce back campaign. Patience. Discipline. Improved bat speed and pop with a stronger more resilient body. That was a 97 mph high heater he turned on in a blink and sent rifling over that wall. Absolutely love  it for the player. I'll say it for what feels like the 3rd or 4th time in the past few weeks: do not sleep on INF Ethan Murray.