Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/27): T-Rats Split Their Doubleheader - Everyone Else Lost - Including Biloxi Twice, on a 1-for-6 day for Brewers affiliates

[Telemachus Rafaelidys]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions:

• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers activated SS Luis Pena from the 7-day injured list.
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers transferred RHP Jose Nova to the Development List.
• OF Jesus Mancera assigned to DSL Brewers Gold
• RHP Manuel Davila assigned to DSL Brewers Blue

 

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Nashville pre-game media notes
Final: Gwinnett (Braves) 5, Nashville 3
Box Score & Game Log

Quinn Priester’s outing included 38 pitches, only 18 for strikes, five base runners and only two outs recorded. Priester’s ERA in Nashville now sits at 17.65 as memories of the pitcher who won 12 straight decisions for the Brewers last season seem very distant.

Video highlights available via the Sounds game writeup include Jefferson Quero hitting his sixth home run of the year. Quero added a single as well, on the downside, all four Stripers that attempted to steal against him were successful.

After beginning his season with ten scoreless outings and then hitting the injured list, Will Childers got back to putting up zeros in his second outing since returning to active duty. Childers will need to be added to the 40-man roster this coming winter, and his continued development could add yet more depth to the Brewers playoff push this season.

Cooper Pratt and Jett Williams each had two strikeouts today and have slowed down a little of late, perhaps cooling talk of imminent callups to Milwaukee for the duo.

Tyson Hardin will look for a third straight strong outing with the Sounds on Thursday, as he’s made the jump from AA look easy so far.

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes
Final, Game 1: Columbus (Braves) 2, Biloxi 1
Box Score & Game Log 1
Final, Game 2: Columbus 4, Biloxi 1
Box Score & Game Log 2

Two runs in two games. Not great. With Jesus Made out with an illness (not pulled for promotion) the Shuckers went a combined 0-15 with runners in scoring position across the two games.

Dylan O’Rae managed two singles in each game raising his batting average to .319 with the 4-hit day, while building a five-game hit streak with four multi-hit games and 11 hits in his last 20 at-bats.

After throwing 100 MPH on Saturday, Cameron Wagoner pitched two clean innings in the opener, striking out three without allowing a baserunner. In 10.1 innings pitched this season he has 14 strikeouts and one walk, albeit with four HBP.

Darien Miller provided the other offensive bright spot on the day, hitting his eighth home run with a moonshot to right-center in the opener and drawing two walks in the second game.

Brett Wichrowski will make the start for the Shuckers on Thursday.

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final, Game One: Peoria (Cardinals) 6, Wisconsin 0, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: 

Chiefs Shut out Rattlers in Game One - Van Dyke and Sparks combine on two-hit shutout

GIDP: Baez, J; Bitonti; Castillo, L; Peña; Ragsdale.

Wow, as the game summary noted, five GIDP's in just seven innings. That's one way to limit the men left on base (official number was three). Note the media team did not include any of them in their highlight package, blessedly brief at just under two minutes:

OF Braylon Payne has now missed a week's worth of action, having last played on Thursday the 21st. We await formal word on his absence. Payne was the lone position player to not see action in either game.

Luis Pena returned to the Timber Rattlers lineup as the designated hitter after a scorching three-game stint in Maryvale. He walked once, in the first of his three plate appearances. After being a GIDP victim, he lined out to short in his final at-bat. Pena would not play in Game Two, understandably.

Eric Bitonti's missed catch was his first error of the season in 38 games (36 at first base, two at third base). 

Andrew Fischer reached base twice (BB, HBP), as did Daniel Dickinson (double, BB), though Dickinson was immediately thrown out attempting to steal third base after his leadoff two-bagger in the 2nd. That broke the don't make the first out at third base rule. That became painful when Luis Castillo lined a single as the next batter, and yes, those two back-to-back knocks represented the entirety of Wisconsin base hits in this opener.

After his rude three-run 5th inning introduction to the Midwest League, just-promoted RHP Tanner Perry settled in for two additional innings in which only one man reached (HBP).

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Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 12, Peoria 7, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: 

Rattlers Score Twelve to Earn Split in Doubleheader - Wisconsin scores six in first to bounce back from game one loss

The nearly 5,000 in attendance (4,864) were rewarded for their patience, and as the game summary title notes, didn't have to wait long.

As you'd imagine, the 19 combined runs produced a much lengthier highlight package:

It's been a minute since we got to enjoy a Postgame Podcast, so the combined video and pod give you a nearly 30-minute feast of catching up with this club.

Postgame Podcast with Manager Nick Stanley, infielder Juan Baez and RHP Garrett Hodges

Yes, Marco Dinges has not seen action behind the plate in two and a half weeks, as he singled and walked in the designated hitter spot here after sitting out Game One. We now know what Dinges has been dealing with, but it's promising that the injury has not fully sidelined him and allowed him to swing the bat.

Within your box score review, you'll see that all nine T-Rats reached base, and that the one player not to have a base hit, SS Luiyin Alastre, contributed with a walk and sacrifice fly.

Left fielder Josh Adamczewski (double, single, walk) and first baseman Tayden Hall (two singles, walk) led the way among the seven Wisconsin batters to reach base multiple times, impressive when one considers that the team only had six innings as the home team to put together their stat lines.

Be sure to review that Game Two summary for a more thorough breakdown of the game log.

The mound efforts in the nightcap (afternooncap?) were a mixed bag - starter Braylon Owens did not issue a free pass over four innings but surrendered five runs. Fellow righty Quinton Low struck out three in his lone inning and was credited with the win, even though his elevated ERA took another hit with two runs allowed. Garrett Hodges earned the save despite the five-run final margin because his effort in the 6th inning came when the lead was only two runs.

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Final: Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 6, Wilson 2
Box Score & Game Log

Jayden Dubanewicz had an uneven but successful start. In his fifth outing of the season Dubanewicz pitched three innings, surrendering only two hits, while striking out three and not giving up any runs, however, he did walk four batters. Prior to this game he had 3 total walks in his first 4 games.

Last week’s Carolina League Player of the week, Brady Ebel, went 1-4 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Leading off Handelfry Encarnacion went 2-4 with a walk and his ninth steal of the season.

Venezuelan 2024 international signee, Enderson Mercado will make his sixth start of the season on Thursday.

 

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Final: ACL Royals 6, ACL Brewers 2
Box Score & Game Log

Alexander Frias had three more hits raising his average to an Arizona Complex League leading .434. The 18-year-old supreme athlete had singles of 103.2 and 99.9 MPH in the game.

2025 19th round draft pick and $750K overslot bonus signee, Chase Bentley, struck out five over four innings, but gave up two home runs in his fourth professional outing.

Rehabbing Luke Adams was hitless in three at-bats. Also rehabbing, Griffin Tobias threw 32 pitches, 23 for strikes, giving up two runs (1 ER), three hits allowed and one strikeout.

Kenny Fenelon and Brailyn Antunez each had a hit, with Antunez’s hit a triple.

 

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Preview Thursday's action, five games in all, below.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Arizona Complex League Scoreboard 
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

View full article

[Jim Goulart]

Adding the various game summaries (Wisconsin's had been included above):

Sounds Late Rally Falls Short on Wednesday Night - Quero Tallies Two Hits including Sixth Home Run 

Shuckers Drop Both Contests of Doubleheader with Clingstones 

Pelicans Outlast Warbirds, Even Series - Ebel Extends Hit Streak to 11

[Jim Goulart]

Here's the comebacker that had JB Bukauskas exit the Nashville game, although he also was at 27 pitches for the inning at this point.

[eklinka]

With pretty much all the OFs struggling in Low A minus Ibarguen, you wonder how much longer they're gonna keep Frias in the ACL. Also, this Timber Rattlers pitching staff is starting to get concerning... they have the highest team ERA and WHIP in the midwest league and its not even close... 👀

[BarremlensTSSC]

The Brewers ongoing commitment to keep Dinges at catcher has always surprised me a little.  He certainly has the arm for it.  I'm no scout but I've watched him behind the plate several times since he's hit High A and while his situational awareness has improved there are noticeable lapses at times.  He also seems to take a lot of physical punishment at the position.  That's not unusual for a catcher obviously but I've thought for a while that he might be destined for a DH/corner OF spot.  Obviously since he's in High A there's still plenty of time for that to happen.  Every player wants to win but they aren't all as demonstrative as Dinges is.  Fun player to watch.  While he's still developing as a catcher and I'm not saying he can't play the position at the upper levels, I'd be inclined to move him off the position to save some wear and tear on his body and keep that bat in the lineup day to day.

[cragi]

20 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

he might be destined for a DH/corner OF spot

With his size (his listed height of 5'11 might be generous) and speed (no steals), im not sure what position he is supposed to play at other than C. We've already moved Adamczewski to OF. Lara and Payne. One of Williams/Pena/Made/Fischer will need an OF spot.  Chourio is a lock, Frelick & Lockridge are pre-arb.

DH can always wait and we have a bunch of first/second round guys who are pulling the ball at the corners. We already have a platoon going with Vaughn/Bauers and the occasional aging vet (Yelich).  Not like you plan for grooming a DH.

Brewers are most susceptible at C of any position. Contreras might be gone soon. Quero still has questions, and not much else going on.

[BarremlensTSSC]

11 minutes ago, cragi said:

With his size (his listed height of 5'11 might be generous) and speed (no steals), im not sure what position he is supposed to play at other than C. We've already moved Adamczewski to OF. Lara and Payne. One of Williams/Pena/Made/Fischer will need an OF spot.  Chourio is a lock, Frelick & Lockridge are pre-arb.

DH can always wait and we have a bunch of first/second round guys who are pulling the ball at the corners. We already have a platoon going with Vaughn/Bauers and the occasional aging vet (Yelich).  Not like you plan for grooming a DH.

Brewers are most susceptible at C of any position. Contreras might be gone soon. Quero still has questions, and not much else going on.

I get that they need depth at the catcher position organizationally and that there isn't an obvious positional alternative other than corner OF where there's less of a need.  I just think there are plenty of signs that he's not going to hold up at catcher even if his development at the position continues, and that at some point the desire to have the bat play results in a move.   The awareness lapses I mentioned above are certainly a product of the fact that he was mostly a DH/OF in college.

We'll see obviously.  Just a thought I keep having when I watch him play  I'm certainly not calling on them to decide he's a DH only at High A.  I do think that if a move happens the sooner he starts playing a corner OF spot professionally the better.  Obviously they don't see that as inevitable and he's got more value if his bat plays at the higher levels and he develops into an MLB level catcher which obviously is what they're hoping for.

 

[eklinka]

14 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

I get that they need depth at the catcher position organizationally and that there isn't an obvious positional alternative other than corner OF where there's less of a need.  I just think there are plenty of signs that he's not going to hold up at catcher even if his development at the position continues, and that at some point the desire to have the bat play results in a move.   The awareness lapses I mentioned above are certainly a product of the fact that he was mostly a DH/OF in college.

We'll see obviously.  Just a thought I keep having when I watch him play  I'm certainly not calling on them to decide he's a DH only at High A.  I do think that if a move happens the sooner he starts playing a corner OF spot professionally the better.  Obviously they don't see that as inevitable and he's got more value if his bat plays at the higher levels and he develops into an MLB level catcher which obviously is what they're hoping for.

 

I tend to trust the organization when it comes to catchers. They turned Yasmani Grandal and Omar Narvaez into good defensive catchers. I got high hopes for Dinges. Plus, OF is overly saturated with talent up and down the system. Dinges moving to Corner OF doesnt seem like the right move when you consider org depth and his skillset. He's got all the physical tools and now it just takes refining them.  

[wiguy94]

I think Dinges needs to fix his demeanor more than anything if he wants to stay at catcher. Watching him he seems to be very demonstrative and emotional behind home plate. Kind of PCA-esque in that regard. That stuff just can't fly at C. C need to be very even keeled handling a pitching staff.

[BarremlensTSSC]

34 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

I think Dinges needs to fix his demeanor more than anything if he wants to stay at catcher. Watching him he seems to be very demonstrative and emotional behind home plate. Kind of PCA-esque in that regard. That stuff just can't fly at C. C need to be very even keeled handling a pitching staff.

There are certainly signs of that.  He snaps his glove down at times instead of framing when the pitch isn't where he wants it and it's easy to tell when he's frustrated behind the plate.  There was a game I attended in April where he caught some negative responses from the home crowd on one of those moments where his awareness lapsed that I mentioned above and he didn't engage, although his body language afterwards revealed his frustration with himself.  So I likely wouldn't put it at a PCA level but I agree it needs work.

[BarremlensTSSC]

43 minutes ago, eklinka said:

I tend to trust the organization when it comes to catchers. They turned Yasmani Grandal and Omar Narvaez into good defensive catchers. I got high hopes for Dinges. Plus, OF is overly saturated with talent up and down the system. Dinges moving to Corner OF doesnt seem like the right move when you consider org depth and his skillset. He's got all the physical tools and now it just takes refining them.  

That's fine.  Never said they should move him to corner OF because of organizational need though.  Primarily I just think it's becoming clear that staying healthy is going to be a challenge for him behind the plate.  As for his physical tools to catch, he's got the arm that's for sure.