Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/27): Carolina Moves Back into First Place Tie; Fischer Launches First High-A Homer

[Joseph Zarr]

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• C Nick Kahle (who was warming up in the depleted Sounds bullpen in the 10th inning) was activated by the Nashville Sounds

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Final: Charlotte (White Sox) 11, Nashville 10

Via the Sounds website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds Rally Twice, Fall in Extras to Charlotte - Delgado and Black Each Have Three Hit Games

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

The early LHP Tucker Davidson experience has been, shall we say, unkind. 2 2/3 IP of 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 5 R (4 ER) work tonight. This is on the heels of his 1 2/3 IP of 5 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K work just five days prior. Are we really ramping up here? Is this a stateside jet lag hangover? It certainly could have something to do with it. A new League. A new organization. Things can come at you fast when you are a veteran Minor League free agent pitching in Korea. Regardless, we'll obviously hope for more positive impact in outings ahead as the Sounds head into their home stretch.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I just love it when umpires confidently blow calls. Strikes and balls. Outs on the base paths. I swear we live in the baseball era where ties go to the defense. It's a "Prove you're safe!" baseball world in 2025. In the 10th inning, the Sounds amidst their second comeback rally in consecutive innings, DH Tyler Black (3-for-6, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B - he's heating up!) hit the potential game-tying single through the left-hand side. LF Drew Avans (on in relief of Jackson Chourio) sprinted on contact and was given the go signal.

Now, credit is absolutely due to LF Corey Julks who makes an incredible throw. BUT, I hate to break it to you: when you slow this play down Avans absolutely beat the throw. It was bang-bang, yes. BUT, there is a rule that clearly states the tie goes to the runner. The problem here is: there wasn't a tie. Avans beat the tag by a half step. The proof is in the Slo-Mo. None the less, that was ball game. I'm adding my own asterisk. So there! 😯

2) 1B Rhys Hoskins and LF Jackson Chourio played defense into the 10th inning. 1B Rhys Hoskins hit a sac fly to deep right field in the 10th. LF Jackson Chourio did not take his AB as he was pinch hit for one LF Drew Avans (seen above - worked a walk). Chourio gave us an 0-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K line - the rehab stint has not been all that kind to us Chourio dreamers. Hoskins, on the other hand, continues to put forth professional AB after professional AB. 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB. Hoskins is very clearly ready to get back with the Big Club Brewers. Chourio ran down a fly ball in the ninth inning down the left field line - physically, he looks ready. Seeing today's presser with manager Pat Murphy, the Brewers clearly don't care about Chourio's current results. They simply want him to believe in a healthy body again. 

3) 3B Raynel Delgado stayed scorching hot with a 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB night at the dish. He worked a pivotal 0-2 count to a free pass in the game-tying ninth-inning Sounds rally. He is truly seeing the ball incredibly well and is clearly oozing confidence at present. At the same time, who sent him on the shallow sac fly to end the ninth inning? Was it David Tufo? Was it Delgado's own decision. On one hand, I get it: try to walk it off and steal a victory. The right fielder caught it a bit flat footed. But, on the other hand, your pitching staff is absurdly depleted. Why not try for another chance at the dish? The Knight's had been walking batters left and right. Go at their bullpen some more. Either way, it did not work out and Delgado was thrown out by a good several feet. Regardless of the out at home plate, it's nice seeing Delgado get action back at third base. He very clearly has the arm for it and has very clearly played the position in the past. He continues to state his case as this season progresses. 

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Final:  Montgomery (Rays) 3, Biloxi 2

Box Score/Game Log

Broca Turns in Strong Double-A Debut, Shuckers Fall in Extras - Wood, Vargas Provide Multi-Hit Efforts

Game Notes

Consecutive one run road losses hurts just a little bit.

The second loss coming in extras hurts just a little bit more. RHP Tyson Hardin is slowly working himself into game shape and into form as the post-season lingers around the corner. Tonight, he completed two frames after his debut one frame outing. 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2K, 0 R. The storyline of the night, however, was the immaculate debut of one LHP Jesus Broca. I've told you for quite awhile now: Broca had figured some things out. He was pitching more efficiently and with more attack than he had his entire career as a Brewer over the past two plus months. Well, tonight, he put that evolution all on display with a masterful and controlled 3.0 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 R work. Sublime stuff. Absolutely sublime. He needed just 31 pitches and threw 21 strikes. More of this, please!

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 3B Brock Wilken's return to the line up has not been all that smooth if we're being honest. We've seen this before with his return from injury - a slow sluggish start. 0-for-5, 5 K is about as bad a night as a man can have at the dish. There's not that much more to say than let's hope he is shaking the cobwebs off. Yeeeeesh!

2) I have a request for 1B Blake Burke that he harness his defense. He's been a bit of a wild horse since he charged a bunt in Knoxville and made an incredible play throwing the lead runner out at third base. Since that time, his glove hasn't felt pure on the gather and catch and he's leaned slightly over-aggressive. I still contend Burke is an underrated defenseman - I've seen him make plenty of solid plays and I do believe he can be a solid glove and arm at the bag. However, I've seen one too many hiccups already early in Montgomery. It's time to up the focus and dial it in for the first round of the post-season. I contend the throwing error charged to SS Cooper Pratt was simply a complete whiff by Burke when he lunged for the ball. 

3) The story of tonight's game was the Shuckers bullpen effort. I highlighted Broca's sublime debut above. Just take a look at the box score and get a feel for the zeroes being put down across the board. Why have I been so passionate about LHP Mark Manfredi's season? Well, because he is a legitimate lefty in the mold of one time Brewer fan favorite LHP Brent Suter. Manfredi has some deception in the delivery and most definitely a bit more gas in the tank:

It's a matter of continuing to grind. There is an MLB reliever in his tools.

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Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 9, Wisconsin 5

Box Score/Game Log

Rattlers Fall as Bandits Break Tie with Five-Run Ninth - Made & Fischer Headline with Big Nights

Game Notes

RHP Tanner Gillis left the game early after a lead-off double and walk to start his fourth inning of work. His night ended at 56 pitches on what pretty clearly looked like a case of a blister or blisters on his throwing hand. He was seen showing his throwing hand and fingers to the trainer and he was repeatedly looking at the fingers in the dugout. I do wonder if this issue hadn't popped up in the third frame. Gillis was absolutely dialed in through the first and second frames. His ball was moving in all directions and the Quad Cities bats clearly were uncomfortable. When all was said and done, he left with the score at a 3-1 Timber Rattlers lead and his two runners aboard in the fourth. His final line reads: 3.0 IP of 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 3 ER. Both runners he left aboard would score and another one would cross - all two out runs off reliever RHP Jack Seppings. 

 

Full-Game Highlights:

 

Post-Game Podcast:

 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 3B Andrew Fischer is very clearly getting more and more comfortable with High-A pitching. This is a beautiful thing. 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR tonight. That's his fifth multi-hit game in just 11 total games played with Wisconsin to date. His 106 mph nuke over the right field wall was also his first long ball as a professional.

2)  Jesus Made continues to get more and more comfortable in High-A. 4-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 2B on the evening. He made numerous athletic plays at shortstop throughout (though, this is still a work in progress - the reps are invaluable given the raw tools). His wrists and lower body strength are just absurdly potent. He can turn on a ball in the blink of an eye and send it to all fields. There just isn't all that much we can't dream on here.

3) The Timber Rattlers bullpen continues to be its kryptonite. When you pair that with a young team, a thin bench, and blow-up innings filled with gaffes it's a recipe for a second half 19 games under 0.500. RHP Aaron Rund certainly didn't concede all that much hard contact in his ninth inning of work in a 4-4 game the River Bandits broke open. Honestly, you'd be hard pressed to convince me Quad Cities hit anything harder than 85-86 mph. And, Rund certainly suffered some truly bad luck via calls on the base paths and his defense behind him. But, it's also fair to say as a 26-year-old veteran arm in High-A in a regression year he's likely on thin ice. This is just the nature of the professional baseball ranks. Outings like today certainly don't help his cause. It's an unfair game, baseball, much of the time. Seppings gave up both inherited runners. He then walked five batters in 3.0 IP. Yet, he was charged with a single run on his ledger. Rund was poked around by a bevy of seeing-eye goose snorts and bunt singles with his defense dropping the ball (literally and figuratively) all around him. He was charged with six hits and three earned runs. It may be unfair, yes, but the Timber Rattlers' ninth inning mini meltdown was emblematic of their entire second half. 

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Final: Carolina 7, Delmarva (Orioles) 5

Box Score/Game Log
 

Mudcats Down Delmarva to Level Series - Fowler Picks up First Save as a Mudcat

Game Notes

LHP Enderson Mercado didn't look particularly sharp in the early going - a rare occurrence given how consistent he has been as a general rule. But, when you glance at the box score and see 1.0 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 ER work and a mere 26 pitches thrown that's because he took a 100 + mph line drive directly off the interior of his left ankle to start his second inning. It was one of those improbable one-hop bounces that just happened to hit its mark. Are we surprised at this point? This season has been brutal on the injury front. He was helped off the field and was later seen carted past the outfield wall where, at Five County Stadium, the ambulances typically arrive to look at players to determine if they need to be taken for further evaluation. A truly unfortunate development in what was a meaningful victory for the young Muddies. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) SS Brady Ebel managed a 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K night at the dish and bumped his early average all the way to 0.276. Ahhh, yes, the glory of small samples and one good night at the dish! I still don't presently see all that much power coming off Ebel's bat. But, his swing path remains pure and quite beautiful to the eyes. He can hit it to all fields. He has a frame where we can envision that pretty swing finding gap-to-gap power down the line. This just turned 18 years old Leo has all the traits and the baseline of a baseball lifer. I remain steadfastly curious what one off-season might do.

2) CF Josiah Ragsdale and DH Braylon Payne are beginning to from quite the formidable duo atop the Mudcats line-up. It's been really fun to watch the two bat in proximity. Ragsdale is the consummate patient slap hitter with a keen eye for balls and strikes and the ability to deftly knock it onto the outfield grass. Payne, on the other hand, has a legitimate axe in his hands. He has line drive power and the ability to barrel balls. The two combined for a 3-for-6, 3 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 2B evening atop the batting order.

3) It was a rare Mudcats evening where the bottom of the order carried its weight and then some! Glorious! C Yannic Walther was truly impressive behind the dish and with his game-tying RBI knock early.

3B Gery Holguin added a little more than defense with his 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K effort. 2B Luis Lameda played feisty impactful defense and added a 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K line himself. It's nights like these that give me that small bit of confidence these young Mudcats may pull out a playoff berth afterall. Let's keep it going!

This just also in: The Mudcats lead the Carolina League in walks. They also are third in all of Minor League baseball. That's just a bit bananas considering the youth that has permeated that clubhouse since game one. With tonight's victory, the Mudcats moved into a tie with Fredericksburg atop their division. Fayetteville is nipping at their heels a mere 1.5 GB.

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We are heading down the Minor League report home stretch. RHP Ethan Dorchies brings his talented wares to the bump tomorrow in Zebulon. Let's get another 'W', Ethan! LHP Robert Gasser continues his rehab with the Sounds and if I'm not mistaken the goal may be to shoot for five innings. At this point, given the nature of the Brewers pitching maladies, they may just need to stay on that exact path. RHP Brett Wichrowski will look to find that elusive purely dominant outing. Maybe RHP KC Hunt's game one will inspire. And, with the latest start the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will be led by the roller coaster ride that is RHP Ryan Birchard.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. 

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[sveumrules]

Luis Pena outproduced Jesus Made in the DSL (173 to 167 wRC+) and with Carolina (139 to 122 wRC+), but Made's blazing 81 PA of 175 wRC+ with Wisco (compared to only a 71 wRC+ over 74 PA for Pena) has inched Jesus just ahead in their respective career lines...

297/406/462 (143 wRC+)
14.8 BB% | 18.1 K%
70 SB / 15 CS

318/386/491 (141 wRC+)
8.6 BB% | 13.2 K%
82 SB / 11 CS

Just for fun, here is Chourio over his first two years, with the caveat that his overall numbers are dragged down a bit by his six games at AA to end 2022 where he put up a -30 wRC+ and 42.3 K% over those 26 PA...

290/355/512 (131 wRC+)
8.8 BB% | 23.2 K%
24 SB / 7 CS

[Joseph Zarr]

15 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

 

Just for fun, here is Chourio over his first two years, with the caveat that his overall numbers are dragged down a bit by his six games at AA to end 2022 where he put up a -30 wRC+ and 42.3 K% over those 26 PA...

 

Must have been rehabbing. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

In a more serious tone, riffing off Sveumsy...

Watching Peña and Made at High-A is really a reminder, in my humble opinion, that Made is in a different tier. Granted, we all know this sample size is negligible. One two game '0-for' stretch and Made suddenly looks very human again. BUT, different movement skills. A different type of hand-eye coordination and short space athleticism. Made's defensive upside and switch-hitting abilities just really drive it home for me. And, as a direct aside, can we please start giving Adamczewski some reps ar 2B again? Peña, by my eyes, just is not a good enough defender to merit siloing Josh as a DH-Only player.  He just isn't. The Brewers - organizationally at large - stubborn insistence on giving the prospects they have higher on their internal rankings totem pile all the innings continues to be my biggest (in a very short list) grievance as an org philosophy.