Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/21): Dinges, Ortuno, Antunez Lead Affiliates to 3 Thursday Wins

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

• RHP Josh Knoth promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Wilson (and activated from Maryvale rehab)
• OF Luis Matos activated from AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list
• RHP Griffin Tobias sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers
• RHP Quinn Priester sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• RHP Gerson Garabito sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers
• LHP Tate Kuehner placed on AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham (Rays) 6, Nashville 0 (in 5 innings)
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: Rain-Shortened Shutout Loss Snaps Nashville's Nine Game Win Streak

We thank the Sounds’ media team for the detailed game report, which is remarkable considering the team didn’t score and the game was ended after just 4 ½ innings.

Rehabbing Major League RHP Quinn Priester (3 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 2 Ks) started well by retiring the first 4 batters, including 2 via strikeout. However, he didn’t fool any of the remaining 11 hitters, topping out at 93.9 mph and throwing 34 balls amongst his 68 pitches.

Nashville hitters had their opportunities, putting 2 runners aboard in each of the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings, but unfortunately stranded 6 baserunners in the 5 innings.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Credit to Sounds’ OF Greg Jones for his 2 outfield assists and to the Bulls for not issuing any walks.
• All 5 Sounds’ hits were singles, as they’re evidently saving up their extra-base hits for the remaining games of the series.

Friday’s outlook: Nashville will look to start the next winning streak and push their series lead to 3-1.

 

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Suspended: Birmingham (White Sox) 6, Biloxi 4 (1 out in top of 11th inning)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers and Barons Suspended in 11th Inning

C Darrien Miller (2-for-5, 2 homers), who re-signed with the Brewers in the offseason for his 8th minor league campaign, continued his terrific 2026 season with solo shots in the 2nd inning for a 2-0 lead and 7th inning to knot the game 3-3.

Starting RHP Brett Wichrowski made strong strides in his 9th appearance, striking out 7 and only allowing 6 baserunners in 5 1/3 innings, though he conceded 3 solo homers.

After RHP Edwin Jimenez navigated traffic (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks), RHPs Cameron Wagoner (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) and Nick Merkel made quick work of the 8th and 9th innings. Merkel then allowed the first 3 batters to reach in the 10th inning (intentional walk, 2 singles) before escaping via a home force out, K and ground out to keep the game close at 4-3.

SS Jesus Made then re-tied the game with a 1-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th, followed by an international walk of 1B Blake Burke (1-for-4, double, walk, HBP) and singles by OF Mike Boeve (1-for-4, walk) and 3B Eduardo Garcia. Unfortunately, Made was thrown out at home on the Boeve single and the game remained 4-4, forcing an 11th frame.

RHP Stiven Cruz has been lights out thus far in 2026, but he allowed a bunt single (run scored on a Burke error) and homer in the 11th inning before play was suspended. We’ll blame the rain and hope the Shuckers can turn around this deficit when play resumes on Friday evening.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Eight Shuckers collected hits, with 2B Dylan O’Rae (2-for-4, walk, SB) and DH Matt Wood grabbing two each, though the teams combined to strand 20 baserunners.
• OF Mark Coley exited in the 4th inning after fielding a double in right field, so we’ll have to monitor his availability.

Friday’s outlook: Biloxi and Birmingham are set to resume play in the 11th inning at 6:00pm CST, before playing a 9-inning game subsequently.

 

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 14, Great Lakes (Dodgers) 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Slams Great Lakes

The detailed game report covers the rout which saw Wisconsin score 9 runs in the middle innings, including videos of the grand slams by DH Marco Dinges (2-for-5, HR, walk, 4 RBIs, SB) and C Andrick Nava.

The slams more than adequately compensated for the Timber Rattlers going 3-for-23 with runners in scoring position, while the team impressively drew 14 walks, 2 hit-by-pitches and stole 8 bases.

OF Josiah Ragsdale (1-for-3, 3 walks, SB) and 2B Daniel Dickinson (1-for-2, 3 walks, 3 SBs) each reached base 4 times, with their 2026 theft totals now at 17 and 10, respectively.

RHP Chandler Welch was the standout performer on the mound (0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks), tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings after stranding 2 inherited runners from starting LHP JD Thompson (3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks).

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• OF Josh Adamczewski’s bat (1-for-5) may not be as hot as it was in April, but he still produced an RBI double, an HBP, stolen base and added 2 outfield assists, the first of which kept the deficit at only 2-0 to end the first inning.
• Typically the team’s #1 catcher, Dinges instead manned the designated hitter spot for the 9th consecutive time since exiting a game early on May 5.

Friday’s outlook: 2024 #33 overall draft pick RHP Josh Knoth makes his High-A debut after missing the 2025 season due to injury and recently rehabbing with the ACL Brewers. Wisconsin aims for a 3-1 series lead.

 

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 13, Delmarva (Orioles) 11
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Wilson Mounts Monster Comeback in Win Over Delmarva

Wilson put their early-season hitting struggles further behind them with their 13-run, 13-hit effort in Thursday’s victory, led by 2B Juan Ortuno’s 1st inning solo homer to cut the deficit to 2-1 and his game-winning 3-run homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning.

All nine position players collected at least one hit in the Warbirds’ relentless comeback from deficits of 8-2, 9-4 and 11-10.

After OF Pedro Ibarguen threw out a baserunner at home to end the top of the 5th inning and keep the deficit at 9-4, C Kevin Garcia started the critical 6-run, 6-hit fifth inning with a leadoff single that included OF Nick Monile’s 2nd hit of 2026 and 3B Luis Lameda’s 2-out, 2-run double for a 10-9 advantage.

The lines for starting LHP Andrew Healy (3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 6 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) and bulk lefty reliever Enderson Mercado (5 1/3 IP, 7 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 1 K) were less favorable. However, Mercado got better the longer he threw (88 pitches, 47 strikes), allowing only 2 hits and no walks to the final 11 batters he faced, before giving way to RHP Jose Meneses for the Save.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• Veterans of the Low-A level, DH Tyler Rodriguez (3-for-5, 2 SBs) and Lameda (2-for-5, 3 RBIs, SB) had solid offensive days, while Monile (1-for-2, 2 walks, HBP, RBI, SB) also reached base 4 times.
• Wilson hitters went 7-for-20 with runners in scoring position vs. 3-for-11 for Delmarva.
• Despite 3 errors, the defense did come through for the Warbirds, including 3 double plays, a caught stealing, pick-off and the outfield assist.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Jarrette Bonet is the scheduled starter aiming to push Wilson’s series advantage to 3 games to 1.

Final: ACL Brewers 13, ACL Cubs 12
Box Score and Game Log

The Zona Crew turned around an early 5-2 deficit with a 5-run fourth inning, highlighted by OF Kenny Fenelon’s RBI triple and OF Brailyn Antunez’s 2-out RBI double. Antunez (3-for-4) reached base 4 times (2 doubles, 1 single, HBP) to pace the offense, with C Malachai Halterman also going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Seven batters contributed the 13 hits.

The Brewers also ran the opposition ragged by stealing 8 bases without being caught, led by 2B Juan Martinez (2-for-4, walk, 2 SBs), 3B Moises Polanco (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI, 2 SBs) and OF Engel Paulino (walk, 2 SBs). Our young players also won the defensive battle, with Halterman throwing out 2 baserunners in the 4th inning and the Brewers benefitting from 6 Cubs’ errors.

Four 2-out runs scored in the top of the 6th inning pushed the lead to 13-7 as valuable insurance, as the Cubs rallied against RHP Chase Bentley (2 IP, 5 R, 4 Ks) with 5 consecutive hits with 1 out in the final inning to narrow the advantage to 13-12 with the potential tying runner on base. Thankfully, Bentley rallied to end the game with a strikeout and fly out to center field.

Rehabbing RHPs Gerson Garabito (1 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 1 K) and Griffin Tobias (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) made their first appearances of 2026, while RHP Bryan Regalado (3 IP, 4 R, 1 K) covered the middle innings and earned his first career Win.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, six minor league games are scheduled for completion, starting with Wisconsin at 5:05pm and ending with the ACL Brewers (start time: 8:00pm CST). The Milwaukee Brewers also commence their home series against the Dodgers at 6:40pm.

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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[snoogans8056]

Juan Ortuno:

April: .222 / .349 / .264

May: .321 / .463 / .547

Brady Ebel:

April: .167 / .340 / .218

May: .302 / .430 / .460

Handelfry Encarnacion:

April: .198 / .330 / .326

May: .231 / .398 / .523

All have at least 1:1 BB:K in May.

Oh boy.

Get Frias in there (after adding Mills), and that team is fun as hell after looking dreadful