Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/24): Burke and Spain Blast 4 Homers, Though Biloxi is Sole Sunday Winner

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For the week, Nashville (4-2) and Biloxi (4-2) were series winners, while Wisconsin (2-4) and Carolina (2-4) came up short.

Transactions:

• RHP Chad Patrick promoted to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• RHP Carlos Rodriguez optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers

Game Action:

Final: Louisville 5, Nashville 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via a Sounds’ press release, game details: Oliva Clobbers Solo Homer, Sounds Lose Series Finale to Bats 5-2

LHP Robert Gasser’s 8th rehab start was encouraging, conceding 2 runs on a homer, triple and infield single over 4 2/3 innings (2 BB, 4 Ks). Throwing on 4 days’ rest, he tossed 64 pitches (41 strikes) and had a peak velocity of 93.7mph, exiting with the Sounds down 2-1 thanks to a 3B Oliver Dunn (1-for-4) RBI double.

The Sounds’ offense struggled a bit against soft-tossing Adam Plutko, though he conceded an early single to rehabbing DH Rhys Hoskins (1-for-4) and eventually threw a pitch on the inner half that rehabbing OF Jackson Chourio (1-for-4) was looking for (104.7mph double):

RHP Will Childers (1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 Ks) stranded a baserunner for Gasser, but back-to-back doubles and a wild pitch helped Louisville double their run total in the 6th inning.

OF Jared Oliva cut the deficit to 2 runs with his solo homer in the 7th inning, but the next batter (SS Raynel Delgado) was thrown out trying to extend a single and the following 8 Sounds were retired in order.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Nashville only had 2 at-bats with runners in scoring position (0-for-2) and 1B Tyler Black was the only Sounds’ player to reach base twice: single, walk.
• I assume the Brewers need to make an Activation/Option decision on Robert Gasser quite soon, as he’s been making rehab appearances since as far back as July 19.
• In addition to his 10th homer of 2025 (going along with his 41 stolen bases), Oliva had a nice catch of a 103.8mph laser to help rehabbing LHP Rob Zastryzny throw a clean 8th inning.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville remains home, this time welcoming White Sox affiliate Charlotte for six games commencing on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 9, Chattanooga 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Pair of Multi-Homer Games Lead Shuckers to Series Win over Lookouts

While most hitters have found the Southern League particularly challenging in 2025 (league average .662 OPS), it’s been something of a paradise for Shuckers’ bombers:

• Brock Wilken – 18 homers before injury
• OF Garrett Spain (2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBIs) – career high 15 homers
• Luke Adams – 11 homers before injury
• Blake Burke (3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 SB) – 6 homers in just 20 games, after recording 5 homers in 95 games at High-A Wisconsin in 2025.

Burke’s first inning opposite field shot opened the scoring and he essentially put the game away with a no doubt grand slam in the 3rd inning:

Coming off two rough outings, 24-year old starting RHP Alexander Cornielle had no difficulty pitching on 4 days’ rest on Sunday, conceding five singles and no walks in 5 scoreless innings (2 Ks).

After conceding singles to the first 2 Lookouts he faced, LHP Nate Peterson (2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks) buckled down to retire the next 6 batters in order, before Spain got to work:

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Every Biloxi position player reached base via hit or walk, including 3B Zavier Warren putting up a 2-for-4 day.
• RHP Austin Roberts (1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks) struggled a bit at the end, allowing 6 of 11 batters faced to reach base before inducing a pop out to end the home contest.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi takes their act three hours northeast to Montgomery, Alabama to battle old friend Jadher Areinamo and the Tampa Bay Rays’ affiliate for 6 games.

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

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Beloit Beats Wisconsin with Ninth Inning Homer

Strong pitching-by-committee and 2-out hitting appeared set to give Wisconsin the road win it required to even the week’s series at 3 games apiece, but things fell apart in the final 2 frames and Beloit’s #9 hitter (now batting .185 on the year) delivered the walk-off 2-run shot against RHP Aaron Rund (1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks).

In better times, 1B Tayden Hall delivered a full count, 2-out solo homer (video included in the linked game report above) in the 6th inning, while DH Josh Adamczewski (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) and SS Luis Pena (1-for-4, RBI, SB) added 2-out, run-scoring hits in the 7th inning to build a 4-0 lead.

Starting RHP Travis Smith was limited to 2 2/3 highly effective innings on 4 days’ rest (0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K on 30 pitches), so RHP Stiven Cruz (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks), LHP Anthony Flores (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K) and RHP Yerlin Rodriguez kept that shutout plan going through 7 innings.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s (1 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks) second inning of work went Walk, Single, 2-Run Double, before Rund helped him escape that 8th inning, only to fall short in the 9th inning.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• After Pena’s RBI single extended Wisconsin’s lead to 4-0 in the 7th inning, the final seven Timber Rattlers were retired in order.
• 3B Juan Baez (2-for-4) had a productive day, while 2B Jesus Made (0-for-4, walk) notched a stolen base.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin returns to Grand Chute for their final homestand of the 2025 season, hosting Royals’ affiliate Quad Cities for six games. 20-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez (2.97 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 66 2/3 IP) is the scheduled starter for the series opener on Tuesday.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Salem 3, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Late Rally Sends Salem Past Carolina

At any level, committing 6 errors will usually cost you the ballgame and it did just that for Carolina on Sunday, dropping the road series 4 games to 2 and keeping them one-half game behind Fredericksburg in the second half standings (with Fayetteville close behind).

Terrific pitching from starting 18-year old RHP Tyler Renz (4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K), RHP Bryan Rivera (3 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks) and RHP Michael Fowler saw them allow only 1 earned run over 8 innings of work. Renz threw 56 pitches (37 strikes) and exited after a 38-minute rain delay.

Opposing 18-year old starter Yhoiker Fajardo was even more dominant, striking out 7 of the first 9 Mudcats’ hitters as he blew through 6 scoreless frames (0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 Ks).

A 7th inning pitching change gave Carolina new life and they took advantage via RBI singles from C Kevin Garcia and 3B Gery Holguin (2-for-4) to tie the game 2-2.

However, they stranded 2 baserunners in that 7th frame, allowed a run on 2 errors (by Holguin and Garcia, as coincidence would have it) and an infield single in the 8th inning, then left 2 men on base in the 9th inning.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• DH Brady Ebel came to the plate in 2 big spots (2-on, 1-out in 6th inning; bases loaded, 2 outs in 7th inning), but he grounded out and flew out on an 0-for-4 afternoon. However, at least he didn’t commit any errors.
• Apart from the 2 mentioned above, the other errors were committed by SS Filippo Di Turi, Garcia, OF Braylon Payne (who made up for it with a late assist) and 1B Eric Bitonti.
• OF Josiah Ragsdale may have a 9-game on-base streak, but he sat out 2 of the final 3 games of the series, both close losses. Hopefully the 2025 7th round pick is fully healthy and we’ll be able to see more of him over the Mudcats’ final 13 regular season contests.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina also returns home, in their case for the last series of Major League-affiliated baseball that Zebulon may see for some time, as the Brewers’ Low-A affiliate is moving to nearby Wilson, North Carolina in 2026. They’ll be hosting a massive series against Orioles’ affiliate Delmarva for 6 games from Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the sole focus is on the Milwaukee Brewers as they host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:40pm CST with Brandon Woodruff leading the way.

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[Joseph Zarr]

This is my second honorary Kevin Martir post. When the Brewers hire a Yankees hitting coach away from the Bombers and his respective team starts, well, hitting bombs...it's worth dreaming on what would happen if we lured more Yankees hitting coaches into the org. ☺️

[Ro Mueller]

 

[jay87shot]

With the injuries to Adams and Wilken is there a chance Burke could get a week or two in AAA at the end of the year. Vaughn has been great but having a lefty option close to ready would be big for next year. I said this when we drafted him, but he and Nick Kurtz are really similar and Kurtz has been amazing for the A's.

[Ro Mueller]

4 hours ago, jay87shot said:

With the injuries to Adams and Wilken is there a chance Burke could get a week or two in AAA at the end of the year. Vaughn has been great but having a lefty option close to ready would be big for next year. I said this when we drafted him, but he and Nick Kurtz are really similar and Kurtz has been amazing for the A's.

It’s a nice thought, but Nashville presently has 17 position players (13 active, 2 rehabbing, 2 on Dev List), so we might be content to leave the AA guys down for now, with Wilken (returns from injury today), Pratt, Burke, Lara, Adams (if he returns this year), Boeve, Wood, Spain and Warren hopefully rocking the Southern League playoffs.