Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/22): Luis Peña "Stable and Responsive" After Dugout Medical Emergency

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

As Nashville labored through another uneven night in Quinn Priester's season debut, Biloxi and Wisconsin continued to stack wins and standout performances. Will the AA and A+ squads begin to apply upward pressure on the organization? It's still early, but it's worth pondering.

 

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Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers sent RHP Quinn Priester on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent OF Mark Coley II to a minor league contract and assigned him to Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Nashville pre-game media notes
Charlotte (White Sox) 9, Nashville 4
Box Score

As always, you are encouraged to read the official round-up from the team’s site: Two Early Grand Slams by Charlotte Costs Sounds

Quinn Priester’s season debut at Nashville did not go to plan on Wednesday night. Slated for three innings and 45 pitches, the righthander did not finish the first inning after tossing just 12 of 29 pitches for strikes (3BB, HBP and 2K). Peter Strzelecki came on and allowed a grand slam on his second pitch, the first of two salamis Strzelecki would allow in his 1.1 IP of work.  After two innings it was 9-1 Charlotte and the Knights cruised to an easy victory.

The Sounds saved some face with four runs on eight hits, all singles. Tyler Black had his third consecutive multi-hit game and also stole a base. Black has positioned himself for a call-up to the big league club as soon as this weekend. Jeferson Quero and Eddys Leonard also had multi-hit efforts in the defeat.

It’s been a tough April for the Sounds’ offense overall. Through 22 games, the team ranks last in the 20-team International League in home runs (12), 19^th in runs (95), and 17^th in OPS (.695).  Cooper Pratt (.169/.290/.186) has struggled atop the Sounds’ lineup and while Jett Williams has gotten on base (.198/.337/.272) he hasn’t yet shown himself to be an option for the Brewers’ infield either. Brock Wilken (.118/.284/.206) has also labored early on. Certainly, the peaks and valleys will even out over the season, and it’s still very early. However, with so many other highly touted prospects raking to start the season at the lower levels, it will be interesting to see how the Brewers prioritize player development. When could the roster spots of players like Ethan Murray or Freddy Zamora become vulnerable in favor of someone with more upside?

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes
Biloxi 6, Rocket City (Angels) 5 Final/10
Box Score

Extra Innings Win Highlights Wild Afternoon for Shuckers

Speaking of Biloxi, one such player generating buzz for a promotion — or at least inclusion on Brewers’ prospect lists — is Dylan O’Rae. O’Rae continued his assault on AA pitching and catching batteries on Wednesday, with three more hits and a Biloxi team-record five stolen bases in the Shuckers’ win. The diminutive O’Rae (.387/.494/.532) has looked absolutely locked in to start the season, reaching base in every game he’s had a plate appearance in, while setting the table for Jesus Made and Blake Burke.

Jordyn Adams picked up right where he left off after yesterday’s three RBI performance, with a solo shot in the second inning to give the Shuckers the early 1-0 lead. It was the second homer in as many days for the 26 year-old right fielder, courtesy of Biloxi’s X account:

Unfortunately, Raudi Rodriguez (#15 Angels prospect and MLB Pipeline’s top-rated Rocket City prospect) struck again in the third inning, homering for the second time this series as part of a two-run rally off Shuckers starter Bishop Letson that put the Trash Pandas ahead.

For Letson (4IP 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 2K) there was at least some progress in the results, if not the process as he set a season-high in innings, with a season-low in runs allowed.

The Shuckers tied the game in the fifth when Eduardo Garcia legged out an infield single to score Jesus Made. The inning also featured the first caught stealing of the season for slugger Blake Burke, who had been a perfect 8/8 on the season. It looked like a potential missed double steal, as Burke didn’t bother to slide into second, but Made didn’t break for home.

The final few frames were a bit of a seesaw affair.  Solo tallies in the 8^th and 9^th gave Rocket City a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the Shuckers’ best hitters pulled off a two-out rally.  O’Rae singled up the middle, just out of Rodriquez’s reach to extend the game. Next, Made walked in front of Burke, who then smashed the game-tying double to right that handcuffed the fielder allowing both runners to score:

The knock gives Burke 16 RBI in 17 games this season, good for second-best in the Southern League. Burke was stranded at second, and after Rocket City took the lead in the 10^th inning, it looked like heartbreak might be in store for Biloxi. However, Adams drew a walk to put the winning run on and then Mark Coley II tapped one back to the mound that the pitcher threw away to bring in the winning two runs.  Coley was only announced as a signing earlier in the day and got the walk-off celebration in his first game of the season:

Additional Video:

Eduardo Garcia infield single for RBI to tie the game

O’Rae’s 5th SB of the game, a club record

Letson strikeout to retire the side in the 3rd

Tyson Hardin (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will take the mound on Thursday as the Shuckers look to take the first three games of the series.

 

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Wisconsin pre-game media notes
Wisconsin 9, Fort Wayne (Padres) 3, F/8
Box Score

Wednesday night’s game was called mid-action in the bottom of the 8^th, due to a medical emergency in the Rattlers dugout:

(h/t to @JH Lee for providing the update in the BF MiLB forum)

We hope it was precautionary and that everyone is ok.

EDIT and UPDATES as of Link Report Overnight Post Time: (You may refer to our forum thread at this link, but for now, the most recent update as shown below is relatively positive):

 

On to game action…

Right-hander Ethan Dorchies (5IP 2H 2R 1ER 0BB 4K) turned in his best outing of the season on Wednesday night. Dorchies, who is very young for the level (19 all season), was able to shake off an early unearned run as a result of an Andrew Fischer throwing error. Besides a solo home run allowed, Dorchies looked to be on cruise control, needing just 64 pitches (45 strikes, 8 whiffs, 8:2 GO:FO ratio) to get through his outing.

The Rattlers’ offense gave Dorchies all the offense he needed with a four-run rally in the second, and then added on two more in the third. Tayden Hall, Luis Pena and Josiah Ragsdale provided the run-scoring hits, which you can find below.  Pena also turned in this diving stab and wild looking throw:

Josh Adamczewski (.314/.478/.771), another player who may soon apply upward pressure in the organization, added another multi-hit day and scored three times. He’s looking better in the outfield too:

Braylon Payne had two hits and stole a base.

Lefty Wande Torres will take the mound on Thursday. On Friday, it will be an exciting matchup for the Rattlers’ offense versus Kash Mayfield (Padres #4 overall prospect and 25^th overall pick in the 2024 draft) who has allowed just one hit in 12 IP to start the season.

Additional Video:

Hall RBI single

Pena RBI Single

Ragsdale 2-run single

Eric Bitonti RBI Single

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Delmarva (Orioles) 11, Wilson 7
Box Score

Wilson Rally Falls Short at Delmarva

The Wilson Warbirds dropped an 11–7 decision to the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday night despite a strong late push. Wilson fell behind 7–0 through three innings before getting on the board in the fourth on Frederi Montero’s two‑run homer, his second of the season, via the Wilson X account:

The Warbirds made the game tight in the seventh, erupting for four runs to pull within one at 7–6, but Delmarva answered immediately with a decisive four‑run bottom half. Montero continued to lead the offense, finishing with three hits and four RBI. Jose Anderson chipped in with a double and a run scored, while catcher Luis Corobo reached base four times (three hits and a walk) and knocked in two. Wilson added a run in the eighth but couldn’t complete the comeback, ultimately settling for the four‑run loss.

Additional Video:

Corobo RBI single

Montero 2 RBI single

Luis Lameda RBI single

Enderson Mercado (3IP 6H 7R 5ER 3BB 6K) started and took the defeat for the Warbirds. RHP Jarrette Bonet (1-0, 3.18) will take the hill on Thursday.

 

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I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on how the Brewers prioritize their player development this season. Which top prospects will be the first to advance this season? What happens if its May or June and some of these players are still toiling away at Nashville? 

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Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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