Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/6): Long Ball Highs and Bullpen Blues

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

Nashville Sounds transferred C Andrick Nava to the Development List.

 

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Game Action:

Nashville pre-game media notes
Louisville (Reds) 6, Nashville 4
Box Score

As always, you are encouraged to read the official round-up from the team’s site: Quero, Lara Home Runs Not Enough in 6-4 Loss to Louisville

The Sounds dropped their Wednesday morning affair at Louisville after an eighth inning rally by the home team.

Jeferson Quero paced the Sounds with three hits, including his fourth home run of the season to open the scoring in the second inning. Highlight courtesy of the Sounds X account:

In the bottom half of the inning, the Bats sandwiched two singles around a triple to tie the game off of Robert Gasser (4IP 4H 2R 2ER 0BB 3K). Gasser’s four innings of work were his most since throwing 5.2 shutout innings on Opening Day.  He also looked to have more control, as this was his first outing of the season without a walk while tossing 35 of 53 pitches for strikes.

After Louisville pushed across the go-ahead run against Easton McGee (2IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 2K) in the bottom of the fifth, Luis Lara responded in the sixth with a solo shot:

Lara’s .980 OPS is good for seventh in the International League this season. We are running out of superlatives for the young outfielder. If he keeps performing at this level into summer, the Brewers may have no choice but to find a spot for him in the majors.

The remained tied until the bottom of the eighth, when the Bats roughed up journeyman reliver Junior Fernandez for two home runs and three runs. The Sounds mounted a rally in the ninth but ultimately left the bases loaded when Cooper Pratt (0 for 5) grounded out to end the threat.

Other notes

• Jett Williams had two singles and now sports an OPS over .700.  It feels like he is inching his way toward the big leagues. A few more weeks of steady progress and he could put his name in the conversation for a call-up.
• Brock Wilken extended his on-base streak to 23 games with a double. However, Wilken was subbed out after fouling a ball off his leg later in the game, so we will await word on his status. 
• Reiss Knehr chipped in with a scoreless inning and now has a tidy 1.35 ERA in 6.2IP this season.

RHP Coleman Crow (3-1, 5.40 ERA) is slated to take the mound in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday.

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes
Columbus (Braves) 8, Biloxi 7
Box Score

O'Rae Continues Peachy Performance, Shuckers Fall to Clingstones

The Shuckers are finding new, frustrating ways to lose during their seven-game losing streak. After surrendering Tuesday’s game with late multi-run rallies in the final two frames, Biloxi looked to have recovered early in Wednesday’s tilt.

The first three men of the game reached base with a walk to Dylan O’Rae, single from Jesus Made and then Blake Burke’s RBI single. After the next two men went down in order, Darrien Miller continued his early season surge with an RBI double. Miller now has a team-best 1.168 OPS on the season. After a walk to Dasan Brown, Matthew Wood crushed a grand slam to center, courtesy of the Biloxi X account:

In a bullpen game for the Clingstones, the first man to step into the breach could not finish the first inning. However, not even a six-run lead would be enough for the Shuckers to get off their slide. Columbus responded with two runs in the top of the second to cut the lead 6-2.  Blake Burke responded with a long opposite field blast to restore the lead to five:

Things fell apart for Biloxi starter Jaron DeBerry in the third. After a two out solo home run cut the lead to 7-3, DeBerry got a shallow pop fly that should have got him out of the inning. Unfortunately, Brown called off O’Rae on the can of corn and it ended up dropping in between them for a two-out “single.” The flood gates opened after that gaffe. DeBerry loaded the bases and then got hit by a comebacker that also could have been out three. That ricochet infield single made it 7-4. Then a bases-clearing double brought in three runs and the six-run lead had evaporated. DeBerry (3IP 8H 7R 7ER 4BB 1K) did himself no favors with the lack of control, but some tighter defense could have spared him a lot of extra work in that third frame.

With the lead gone, so went the Shuckers’ offense, as they managed just three walks and only one hit after the third inning.

The Shuckers did admirable work to keep the game tied once DeBerry exited. Four different relivers worked one or more scoreless innings.

In the top of the eighth, Columbus took an 8-7 lead on a solo home run of Cameron Wagoner, who was making just his second appearance of the season after missing all of 2024-2025.  What first looked impossible, now seemed probable as the Shuckers seemed destined to once again feel the agony of defeat.

The Shuckers had one last gasp in the bottom of the 8^th. In that inning, Mark Coley walked and O’Rae singled, but both Made and Burke came up empty with the tying run in scoring position.

RHP Manuel Rodriguez (1-2, 5.64 ERA) will look to turn the tide on Thursday.

 

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Wisconsin pre-game media notes
Wisconsin 8, Peoria (Cardinals) 5
Box Score

Wisconsin Blasts Four Homers in 8-5 Win at Peoria

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Peoria Chiefs 8-5 at Dozer Park on Wednesday night, powered by a dominant display from some of their sluggers.

Wisconsin, the Midwest League leader in home runs, got solo shots from Tayden Hall, Andrew Fischer, Josh Adamczewski and Josiah Ragdsale.

Behold their majesty below, courtesy of the Wisconsin X account:

 

 

 

Earlier in the game Fischer just missed another homerun when he opened the scoring with a two-run double of the rightfield wall. 

Ragsdale was one base four times, scored three runs, and stole two bases. Over the last 15 days, Ragsdale has been the Rattlers best player, leading the team with 14 hits, a 1.165 OPS, five doubles, and five steals.

Braylon Payne also had an RBI single for Wisconsin.

Jack Seppings earned the rare three inning save by working scoreless in relief of starter Wande Torres.

RHP Braylon Owens (1-0, 3.38 ERA), who gave everyone free Frosties with his 11K performance last Friday, will take the mound on Thursday.

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Wilson 5, Fayetteville (Astros) 3
Box Score

Warbirds Bounce Back with Win at Fayetteville

Wilson rebounded from their flaccid offensive performance on Monday with a complete team victory on Wednesday.

Handelfry Encarnacion homered for the fourth time in five games to give the Warbirds an early 1-0 lead.

Starter Carlos Carra looked like the pitcher we saw in the final week of the 2025 Carolina League season on the mound Wednesday.  Carra (6IP 2H 1R 1ER 2BB 6K) made the Encarnacion homer and a steal of home hold up in his best start of the season.

@Spencer Michaelis captured all the Ks for your viewing pleasure on his X account:

Kevin Garcia added a late two-run home run for some insurance. It was Garcia’s first hit of the season (16 at-bats) and first homer in full-season ball after hitting five in Complex League play in 2025. Here’s the home run courtesy of the Wilson X account:

Everyone chipped in for the Warbirds offense, as they pounded out eight hits and also drew eight walks. Brady Ebel was on base twice, scored twice, and stole two bases. Frederi Montero reached base five times (single, double, three walks) and scored two runs.

Can a Low A team have an ace? Well, if so, RHP Tyler Renz (1-1, 2.78 ERA) is your man.  In a season with a lot of bloated ERAs among the system's top pitching prospects, Renz has been one of few bright spots so far. He’ll to get the ball in game three of the series on Thursday.  

 

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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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