Brewers Minor League Link Report (3/31): Drohan and Henderson Prop Up Early Black Blast to Win Home Opener

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

Milwaukee Brewers optioned C Jeferson Quero to Nashville Sounds Milwaukee Brewers sent RF Steward Berroa on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds. Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Rob Zastryzny on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.

The Brewers’ other minor league affiliates announced their Opening Day rosters, which you can find here:

• Biloxi Shuckers (AA)
• Wisconsin Timer Rattlers (High A)
• Wilson Warbirds (Low A)

---

Game Action:
Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Nashville 7, Charlotte (White Sox) 3
Box Score

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

Sounds win second straight with 7-3 victory over Charlotte

Charlotte and Nashville started with some early offense from both teams in the first inning in the Sounds' home opener, the first of 24 matchups between these International League foes.

Under-the-radar offseason acquisition Shane Drohan had a bumpy start in his Brewers' organization debut. After a walk, steal, and double, Drohan and the Sounds found themselves in a 1-0 hole just two batters into the game. Drohan also issued a walk and hit-by-pitch in the first frame but was able to escape a bases loaded jam by striking out Waukesha native Jarred Kelenic to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first, Knights’ starter Jonathan Cannon (81 ERA+ in 228 MLB innings with the White Sox) took the hill to take on a Sounds' lineup that was missing Cooper Pratt as the organization and player finish negotiating his “shocking” extension.  

With Pratt out, Jett Williams was playing short and leading off.  Williams led off the game with a strike out, part of a tough night that saw him go 0 for 5 with three strikeouts and some shaky defense. Steward Berroa, in his season debut, followed Williams with a single, before Tyler Black launched his first homer of the season to quickly give the Sounds the lead:

It will be interesting to see if Black can justify a call-up at any point this season, after Andrew Vaughn’s injury and the recent acquisitions of Luis Matos and Damon Keith have cleared and then muddied the path forward for Black.

After the Sounds took the lead on Black’s bomb, Drohan was aided by a double play in the second inning, as Williams snagged a ground ball, stepped on second in one motion, but then misfired in the dirt to first baseman Luke Adams. However. Adams was able to secure the out with a scoop to bail Williams out.

In the third, Drohan walked two and hit another batter, but was once again able to strike out Kelenic with the bases loaded to escape the inning unscathed. Drohan would pitch into the fourth inning with a final line of 3.1 IP 3 H 2 ER 4 BB 6 K and 2 HBP. In 2025, Drohan only extended himself to 4+ innings six times in his 15 appearances, so it’s worth monitoring whether the Brewers will attempt to stretch Drohan out or use him as a reliever as the season goes on.

In the bottom of the third, the Sounds manufactured two runs on some small ball. After singles by Black and Luis Lara, Brock Wilken collected his first AAA RBI with a single. With runners on the corners, Wilken then broke for second in a double steal that saw Lara score on an error by the Charlotte shortstop William Bergolla Jr.

In the top of the fourth. The Knights turned the tables on the Sounds' suspect defense. Wilken bobbled what could have been an inning-ending double play on a 105 MPH ground ball, which gave the Knights a run. The Knights then pulled off their own double steal of home to close it to 4-3.

Logan Henderson made his season debut in the Sounds’ defensive half of the fifth inning. Henderson looked dominant in his three scoreless innings of work, allowing just a hit and a walk, while striking out five. Henderson threw 28 of 45 pitches for strikes and got 13 whiffs.

The Sounds broke the game open in the fifth with a two-run triple off the bat of Greg Jones to make it 6-3.

Luke Adams would follow Jones with Adams’ first AAA RBI - a sac fly to close the scoring at 7-3 in the Sounds’ home opener.

Sounds Extras

• If the 28-year-old Jones never makes it back to The Show, his career 1/7 with a HR, SB and .821 OPS is the kind of cup of coffee that gets you written into Field of Dreams. 
• Infielder Eddys Leonard was rung up on an automatic strike for a pitch clock violation in his first at-bat.
• Former Brewer Oliver Dunn struck out in each of his first three ABs, before singling in his final two at-bats
• Former Brewer Tyson Miller pitched a scoreless ninth for Charlotte

---

Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound for the Sounds on Wednesday, completing our first cycle through the deep rotation at AAA Nashville.

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

View full article

[Jim Goulart]

Pregame Video via 102.5 The Game in Nashville:

Manager Rick Sweet at the 29:30 minute mark

Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem at the 02:01:00 hour/minute mark

[jay87shot]

If Henderson throw 40+ pitches would it stand to reason he will need 2 more outings in AAA to be fully stretched out and be able to help the big league team?

 

[Ben Lepak]

10 hours ago, jay87shot said:

If Henderson throw 40+ pitches would it stand to reason he will need 2 more outings in AAA to be fully stretched out and be able to help the big league team?

 

Depends on what the big league team needs. Is the plan to insert him into the rotation?  Who comes out? How much taxiing of starters are we gonna see this season? To be determined.  I think in 2 more appearances, he'd be up to 60-70 pitches. He only threw 6 IP in spring, so they may take it slow with him