Sat. 8/9 - Just-Turned 19-year-old RHP Miqueas Mercedes Set to Make Mudcat Debut

[Jim Goulart]

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

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[Ro Mueller]

The DSL playoff push is fizzling, unfortunately.

Blue scored 7 runs in the 4th inning to grab a 9-6 lead, but conceded 7 over the final 3 innings to fall 13-9 to Tampa Bay.

C Yoneiker Lugo (3-for-5, double, 3 RBIs; .791 OPS), CF Brailyn Antunez (3-for-5, HBP) and 1B/LF Angel Gonzalez (1-for-2, double, walk, HBP; .802 OPS) had solid days at the plate.

The Gold squad were 3-hit in a 5-3 defeat to Orioles Orange, but they did draw 15 walks. SS Cristopher Acosta (1-for-2, 3 walks, SB) was their top performer.

Gold’s spark-plug leadoff INF Juan Martinez (.977 OPS) has missed the last 2.5 games. And the Jonathan Rangel (.939 OPS) catching experiment seems muted (caught 2 of his last 11 games played; sat today).

[biedergb]

23 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

CF Brailyn Antunez (3-for-5, HBP)

Seems like he is starting to heat up a little.

24 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

Gold’s spark-plug leadoff INF Juan Martinez (.977 OPS) has missed the last 2.5 games. And the Jonathan Rangel (.939 OPS) catching experiment seems muted (caught 2 of his last 11 games played; sat today).

Hopeful Juan can get back in the line up soon. Expect him stateside next year. And Rangel - as long as he can hit we will find a home for him in the Brewers philosophy of have bat will find a roster spot.

[Jim Goulart]

I knew this was the situation in Knoxville for the completion of the suspended game Friday, but the Knoxville News is behind a paywall. MSN picked up their article today:

No Fans in Stadium

Video evidence:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

7 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

I knew this was the situation in Knoxville for the completion of the suspended game Friday, but the Knoxville News is behind a paywall. MSN picked up their article today:

No Fans in Stadium

Video evidence:

 

That 'No Fans in Stadium' link goes to a MSN Feed of videos for me. Is it trying to go to an article?

[Jim Goulart]

Sorry, link works for me. Other folks?

[biedergb]

4 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Sorry, link works for me. Other folks?

Worked for me.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/smokies-seeking-doubleheader-sweep-after-2-0-win-over-shuckers-with-no-fans-at-stadium/ar-AA1KbE9t

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Worked for me.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/smokies-seeking-doubleheader-sweep-after-2-0-win-over-shuckers-with-no-fans-at-stadium/ar-AA1KbE9t

Weird. Yeah, none of those work for my browser. Lol. No worries. I trust what my eyes saw regardless.😅

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

43 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Sorry, link works for me. Other folks?

Worked for me!

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Doubleheader coming up in 35 from Z Toown!

[Ro Mueller]

The Low-A Mudcats host Lynchburg for 2 games today, with Game 1 starting LHP Wande Torres looking to continue his recent strong run of form (3.42 ERA with 29 Ks in last 26.1 IP). 1B Eric Bitonti leads the Carolina League in homers (16) and is 2nd in RBIs (63).

[biedergb]

Wande dealing early

Handelfry legs out an infield hit - but I think they called it an E6, meh

Anderson rockets it to deep left and it’s a 2-run HR

Torres goes 1-2-3 in the top of 2.

[biedergb]

And a clock violation on the batter for strike 3 after a great catch on the prior batter by Tyler Rodriguez, and it’s 9 up, 9 down for Wande thru 3. 4 K, the last via that automatic pitch clock violation.  Nice

[biedergb]

The Hillcats pitcher has settled in and is shutting down the Muddies now. But Torres is matching it. Another 1-2-3 inning notching his 5th K. 50 pitches only to get thru 4 innings of this 7 inning affair.

Would be nice to get some insurance runs. Get a few more hits.

[wiguy94]

Today is the Wande Torres we were hoping we would see more of this year. FB is moving today. Just very dominant through 4 innings. Got a full count strikeout to end the 4th on a 96mph FB.

[biedergb]

Torres gives up a hit in the 5th.  Perfect game over after 4.2 IP. Comes back to strike out the next batter for his 6th K. I would imagine he is out of the game in the 6th, but he has only thrown 68 pitches.

Mudcats offense has gone to sleep. Last 4 at bats were Ks.  New pitcher in for Hillcats maybe that will wake up the offense.  Doughty (Hillcats starter) was impressive. One mistake that Anderson deposited over the left field fence.

[Joseph Zarr]

Incredible one-hit 5-inning outing with 6K. He gets the K swinging to likely end his work at 68 pitches. I don't believe the Brewers have allowed Torres to eclipse 75 pitches in any outing in 2025? Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. They pulled him at 67 pitches his last time out - a one run 5.0 IP affair. Torres is absolutely trending up. You love to see it. He's given up plenty of hits in 2025, but as @wiguy94 states above, the heater was moving different today. Only one late knock conceded (a single) and more importantly no free passes, no HB, and no WP. 48 strikes of 68 thrown is absurdly good at any level when the surrounding results look like this. 

 

[biedergb]

This is what we have dreamed on for Wande. Let him watch video of this game and try to keep doing it. Command was there. Mixed up pitches. And had some very nice defensive help when needed.

Looks like Reyes is in to try to keep the lead. 6 outs to go. They could use an insurance run or two when they get up to bat again.

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Incredible one-hit 5-inning outing with 6K. He gets the K swinging to likely end his work at 68 pitches. I don't believe the Brewers have allowed Torres to eclipse 75 pitches in any outing in 2025? Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. They pulled him at 67 pitches his last time out - a one run 5.0 IP affair. Torres is absolutely trending up. You love to see it. He's given up plenty of huts in 2025, but as @wiguy94 states above, the heater was moving different today.

Yeah he hadn't exceeded 75 pitches on the season and looks like Anfernny Reyes is warming for the 6th.

Honestly Wande has been pitching much better for a while now even if it hasn't exactly translated to him having a good ERA. In his last 11 starts coming into today he has a 2.78 FIP with a 26% K-rate and 8% BB-rate.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Yeah he hadn't exceeded 75 pitches on the season and looks like Anfernny Reyes is warming for the 6th.

Honestly Wande has been pitching much better for a while now even if it hasn't exactly translated to him having a good ERA. In his last 11 starts coming into today he has a 2.78 FIP with a 26% K-rate and 8% BB-rate.

Yup. Earlier in the season we only got an inning here and there. He has been trending in this direction most of the summer. Today's outing, tho, we haven't seen the heater that good for an entire outing. Really awesome to witness.

[Ro Mueller]

RHP KC Hunt aims to shake off a rough last outing (3 IP, 5 R, 3 Ks) to lead AA Biloxi to a 3-2 series lead at Knoxville. DH/OF Luis Lara leads the Southern League in doubles (26), is 2nd in runs (60), and is 4th in hits (103) and SBs (31).

[Joseph Zarr]

Reyes just walked his second batter of his inning on four pitches. Runners on 1st and 2nd. Two outs. 2-0 Muddies lead. 

[Joseph Zarr]

He falls behind 2-1 to the next batter but luckily gets the sharp line out to CF. Reyes has now walked 30 batters in 36 1/3 IP on his season. When you are holding opponents to a 0.220 BAA but are sporting a 1.61 WHIP this just might be the reason.

[biedergb]

Reyes was not in command. But gets the fly out to center. 2-0 still

May need to get the offense going in the bottom of 6 to give more breathing room.

[Joseph Zarr]

Di Turi with two more K in game 1 here. 0-for-2. Let's hope he or Bitonti can bring home Handelfry (line drive single to CF). Man, Di Turi's late slump has me in pain. He is such a nice player but this ongoing woe is eerily reminiscent of last summer's late fade. If the Mudcats want to get to the post-season and find success they'll need Di Turi to rediscover his stroke.