Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/12): Luis Pena Helps Deliver Sole Win in 5-Game Sunday MILB Slate

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

For the week, Biloxi (4-2) and Wisconsin (4-2) were series winners, while Nashville (1-5) and Wilson (1-5) came up short.

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Gwinnett 5, Nashville 1
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: Sounds Drop Series Finale to Gwinnett

Although they lost the game and it took starting RHP Carlos Rodriguez 82 pitches to cover 3 2/3 IP (1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks), it’s progress that he only conceded a leadoff homer after allowing 9 earned runs over his prior 2 starts. Rodriguez was throwing on 4 days’ rest after tossing 76 pitches in Tuesday’s contest.

If the Brewers need a position player to replace Yelich (hamstring concern), the healthy 40-man MLB roster options are SS Cooper Pratt (0-for-3, walk; .452 OPS) and C Jeferson Quero (0-for-3, walk; .550 OPS). The non-MLB roster outfielders have been putting up better numbers: Luis Lara (1-for-3, triple, walk, SB; 1.007 OPS), Eddys Leonard (1-for-4, SB; .854 OPS), Greg Jones (1-for-3, walk, SB; .852 OPS).

Despite being out-hit 10-4, the Sounds still had 2-on, nobody out opportunities in the 2nd, 7th and 8th innings, ultimately going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Sounds’ Extras:

• After RHP Kaleb Bowman (1/3 IP) stranded one baserunner for Rodriguez, the remaining bullpen of RHP Garrett Stallings, LHP Drew Rom, RHP Blake Holub and LHP Joe Corbett allowed one earned run each in from the 5th through the 8th innings.
• The 5’10” Leonard started at first base in this game, but that might have been out of necessity more than anything else (Tyler Black is injured; Luke Adams rested after being substituted in the 10th inning on Saturday).
• After Gwinnett ran ragged on Rodriguez and Quero in Tuesday’s contest (7 stolen bases in 3 1/3 IP), it’s also progress that they only stole one base in Sunday’s game.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (6-8) host Red Sox affiliate Worcester (10-4) for six games commencing on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola 4, Biloxi 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: O'Rae Extends Hit Streak to Eight, Shuckers Drop Series Finale to Blue Wahoos

Also pitching on 4 days’ rest, starting RHP Jaron DeBerry was respectable over 5 innings (2 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks; 74 pitches), with the runs allowed benefiting from an infield single (first inning) and balk (5th inning).

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the 7th inning, Biloxi nearly had big inning, with all five batters reaching: OF Dasan Brown walk, OF Kay-Lan Nicasia walk, 2B Dylan O’Rae single, SS Jesus Made single, DH Blake Burke single. Unfortunately, they ran themselves out of the inning via a caught stealing, pick off and out at home.

The Shuckers’ main highlights were on the defensive side of the ball:

Shuckers’ Extras: 

• O’Rae (2-for-4, HBP, SB), Burke (1-for-2, walk, HBP) and Brown (1-for-2, 2 walks, SB) reached base 3 times, but the team had no extra-base hits.
• The 2-out, 9th inning single allowed by LHP Mark Manfredi Sr. was his first hit allowed of 2026, though his numbers remain exceptional (0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 18.0 K/9 in 5 IP this season).
• After allowing 2 runs in the 6th inning, RHP Patricio Aquino (3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) escaped that frame with a pickoff before adding 2 scoreless innings.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (5-4) head 4.5 hours northeast to battle Braves’ affiliate Columbus (4-4) for 6 games, beginning on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Wisconsin 5, Quad Cities 3 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log
Game Two Final: Quad Cities 7, Wisconsin 6 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website:

• Game 1 details: Rattlers Take the Opener at Quad Cities
• Game 2 details: Bandits Steal Game Two From Wisconsin

21-year-old, 6’3” LHP Wande Torres’ first career High-A start (2nd appearance) was a success, garnering 5 strikeouts and 14 whiffs over 3 2/3 IP (2 R, 1 H, 3 BB).

Torres exited with his team ahead 4-2 thanks to the homers by OF Tayden Hall and C David Garcia (videos are available within the linked Game 1 report) and an RBI double by 1B Eric Bitonti. Eight of the nine Timber Rattlers’ starters collected at least one hit in the win, with the middle infield of SS Luis Pena and 2B Daniel Dickinson collecting 2 hits each.

Always-exciting RHP Yerlin Rodriguez walked 3 of 7 batters faced and added a throwing error and a wild pitch but did not allow a relief run in 1 1/3 IP (3 Ks), while RHP Yorman Galindez earned his first career Minor League save.

After out-hitting the River Bandits 10-3 in the Game 1 victory, it looked like Pena would lead them to a doubleheader sweep with his 3-for-3, 3 RBI effort in Game 2, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it.

RHP Braylon Owens first career Minor League start (after an impressive Tuesday debut: 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 8 Ks) was an up-and-down one, covering 3 innings in 66 pitches: 3 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks. He’ll likely rue the run-scoring wild pitch which allowed Quad Cities to cut the deficit to 4-3 on his last batter.

Pena pushed the lead back to 6-3 with his 5th inning RBI double (videos available in the linked Game 2 report) and got himself to 3rd base on a 1-out wild pitch but was stranded due to 2 strikeouts.

Two 2-out runs for the River Bandits off RHP Jose Nova in the bottom of the 5th inning tightened the contest, before Quad Cities won the game on 3 consecutive singles off of LHP Bjorn Johnson (1 IP, 2 R, 0 Ks) in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Absent from both games were key prospects Josh Adamczewski and Braylon Payne, who both last played on Thursday. As they’re not on the injured list, we hope that they’ll be back in action shortly.
• Though the team seemed intent on giving Pena one game off (excluded from Saturday’s starting lineup before the game was rained out; on the bench to start the 2nd game of Sunday’s doubleheader), he ended up playing 13 of the 14 innings on Sunday when SS Daniel Guilarte exited in the 2nd inning of Game 2. Hopefully Guilarte does not miss any time.
• 22-year-old OF Josiah Ragsdale (a 7th round draft pick in 2025) has 6 stolen bases, 3 RBIs, 3 runs and 7 walks through 7 games of the 2026 season, but a 1-for-19 output with 9 Ks is not what anyone is expecting after hitting .300 in the Carolina League (70 at-bats) in 2025.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (5-3) returns home for a six-game series against Cardinals’ affiliate Peoria (3-6), with RHP Travis Smith (5 IP, 1 R, 4 Ks in his last outing) scheduled to start the opening game of the series on Tuesday.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Salem 16, Wilson 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Warbirds Fall in Series Finale to Salem

If Wilson players are saving up their best baseball for their first-ever home series next week, perhaps that’s a good call. The home crowd probably won’t want to see their squad no-hit for 6 innings and commit 5 errors while being drubbed.

Trailing 14-0, number 8 hitting DH Pedro Ibarguen and number 9 hitting OF Luiyin Alastre delivered the team’s first hits and runs on 2-out RBI hits in the 7th inning.

19-year-old starting RHP Carlos Carra bounced back from his 9-run (5 earned), 1 2/3 IP Tuesday outing, but was still touched for 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, 3 walks and 1 hit-by-pitch in this contest.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• Carra also generated no strikeouts, but the next 3 Wilson pitchers (LHP Andrew Healy, RHP Ayendy Bravo, RHP Eric Prado) didn’t fare much better (combined 4 IP, 12 R (all earned), 9 H, 5 BB, 2 Ks).
• At least RHP Joshua Quezada put in a solid final shift (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K).

Next week’s outlook: The new Wilson franchise (3-6) is ready for its first-ever home game, scheduled for Tuesday at Wilson Sports and Entertainment Complex (aka “Wilson Stadium”, seating 4,500) against the Hill City Howlers (6-3), the Guardians’ Low-A affiliate.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the Minor League affiliates have a travel day, and the Milwaukee Brewers are also off before they host the Blue Jays on Tuesday evening.

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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[jay87shot]

Anyone else worried by just how bad that Wilson team is right now? I understand how some players here and there throughout the system get of to bad starts however that entire team looks really rough right now (maybe a couple pitchers of to decent starts).

[Ro Mueller]

33 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

Anyone else worried by just how bad that Wilson team is right now? I understand how some players here and there throughout the system get of to bad starts however that entire team looks really rough right now (maybe a couple pitchers of to decent starts).

Yeah, the .158 team batting average is killing them, unfortunately.

I believe the pitching will be okay (Mercedes, Bonet, Renz, Mercado, Hodges, Perry, etc.), but I'm less confident in the offense pushing 5-6 runs across. Maybe Di Turi and others can turn it around soon though.

[Tedaldtada]

Get the Wilson boys back home. Plenty of acceptable K:BB. Play Luis Corobo and Luis Lameda more. They’ve both looked more comfortable in the box, especially in the swing decision department.

Ebel’s timing is out of whack to my eye. 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[eklinka]

Curious to see how long Pena stays in High A (hoping to see 1 more T-Rats game before he leaves), he seems to have figured it out after a rough sampling last year.

 

Also interesting to see if Lara gets a shot at MLB this season if his hot offense keeps going in AAA. Could the brewers afford to keep someone like that off the 40-man if there's ever an opening? 🤔