Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/20): Some of the Youngest Complex Leaguers Continue to Shine

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

We spotlight a 16-year-old and a barely 17-year-old this morning. The 2032 Brewers are looking good! Actually, this system has the organization projected to shine for at least that long. Heady times...

 

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• ACL Brewers activated SS Cristopher Acosta from the 7-day injured list.

Acosta, 18, last played on June 8th. The SS/3B has struggled to a .167/.330/.251 line in 330 plate appearances since debuting in the Dominican League in 2025. That's not meeting the expectations of a $1.1 million signing bonus.

 

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Final: ACL White Sox 8, ACL Brewers 7, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

The A-Crew kicked of their final week of action (season ends Thursday) with a tough loss,

A five-run third inning for Maryvale turned a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 lead., but the Brewers didn't cross the plate in the final four innings to fall to 25-33.

Each Brewer reached base at least once, with cleanup RF Gerlyn Payano on thrice via two walks and a plunking to lift his season long OBP to .390, split between the DSL and ACL. Payano's 2026 has been very reliant on free passes and he's struggled otherwise.

The previously mentioned Cristopher Acosta singled in four at-bats in his return to action. The other two big bonus signings from the January 2025 class each had an extra-base hit - CF Brailyn Antunez' solid season continued with his 14th double. For Antunez (.902 OPS), 27 of his 62 hits have gone for extra bases.

LF Kenny Fenelon pulled a two-run home run to left field at 105.3 MPH for his 7th blast of the season. Fenelon and Antunez have both made significant strides coming off what had to be considered disappointing DSL debut campaigns last summer.

The pitching lines will show that the efforts were rather uneven, though 18-year-old RHP Joan Pena fared OK despite allowing one inherited runner to score. Pena received a deserved bump to Arizona following his rookie DSL season but has a 1.74 WHIP over 39 desert innings (47 K's, 29 BB's, lots of pitches). Lots of unearned runs allowed by Pena this season (31 R, 21 ER), an underrated stat to review - young arms need to pick up teammates at times.

 

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Final: DSL Brewers Gold 8, DSL CLE Mendoza (Guardians) 5
Box Score and Game Log

Gold moves to 19-14 with the win, having righted its ship after a bit of a recent slide.

On the flip side from Joan Pena's 2026 season, we present 19-year-old 2nd year pro RHP Derlin Garcia, who has now posted wonderful raw and peripheral numbers in his two seasons (a combined 3.05 ERA, only five unearned runs, a 1.13 WHIP, 62K's in 56 IP). Garcia rocked his six-inning start here, keeping Cleveland bats off the ledger after a two-run initial frame.

It is a legal requirement that we continue to mention catcher Moises Salazar is 16 years old. Plugged into the three-hole, the switch-hitting Salazar (.887 OPS) popped his 3rd home run and his HBP brought his OBP to .444. He guided Garcia's mound effort, the team played error-free on the day, and even with many spectacular Dominican League efforts among the Blue & Gold squads this season, I'd have to list the Venezuelan backstop as my personal favorite.

The only bummer here?

• Ricki Moneys grounds into a force out, shortstop Karel Naranjo to second baseman Luis Garcia. Jefer Lista scores. Santiago Garcia out at 2nd. Ricki Moneys to 1st. Throwing error by second baseman Luis Garcia.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Romano Donato replaces Ricki Moneys.

Hopefully just a minor tweak for Mr. Moneys-in-the-Bank. (WWE reference).

 

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Final: DSL Cubs Blue 8, DSL Brewers Blue 7
Box Score and Game Log

Blue now 20-14.

Trailing 8-4 after six innings, Blue scored once in the 7th and twice in the 9th, stranding runners on 2nd and 3rd when 19-year-old 3rd year catcher Yoneiker Lugo (DH'ing here) was called out on strikes to end the game. Lugo has a .577 OPS, only 53 plate appearances in 2026. Five players appeared to be available on the bench, but the extent go-for-it managerial moves are made at this level is somewhat muted. Let each player get their chance to produce, big moment or not.

Oh, Leanders Matos, don't worry about the Moises Salazar love, you're still prime in our eyes as well. Three singles, a walk and a 13th stolen base in 14 tries for the young man who was 16 years old himself a bit over two weeks ago. We'll overlook the 8th error in 35 games (5th miscue in 20 games at third base).

One more 16-year-old to mention, as RHP Jordy Brache got the start. As you read the line below, keep in mind that RHP Lonell Downs inherited three runners and stranded them all by ending the "rally" below with a GIDP.

• Walk
• Walk
• Walk
• Strike out swinging
• Walk
• Run-scoring wild pitch
• Walk
• Run-scoring wild pitch
• HBP

 

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It's a traditional six-game schedule Tuesday, although Nashville's visit to Sugarland, Texas (to play a Pacific Coast League team is not traditional). Manager Rick Sweet is mildly bothered by it all.

Have a great summer Tuesday, all.

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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