Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/1): Pitchers Struggling Across MiLB? Not so, says Josh Knoth and Hayden Robinson

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Are games in Biloxi now equivalent to the peak Coors Field experience? It wasn't pretty Saturday. Elsewhere, two young hurlers reminded us that prime pitching performances aren't going away completely in today's MiLB environment.

 

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Transactions:

• Cleveland Guardians traded C Bo Naylor and RHP Codi Heuer to Milwaukee Brewers for CF Blake Perkins and RHP Craig Yoho (both Naylor and Heuer assigned to Nashville)
• OF Brandon Lockridge returned to Milwaukee Brewers from MLB Rehab
• Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Garrett Stallings from Nashville Sounds
• RHP Reiss Knehr placed on the AAA Nashville Injured List (retroactive to July 31)
• RHP Will Childers promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi
• RHP Jack Seppings promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi
• RHP Chandler Welch promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 6, Charlotte (White Sox) 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Five Run First Carries Sounds to Second Straight Win - Career Win Number 2,496 for Rick Sweet; Tied for Second-Most All-Time by Minor League Manager

Defense gets the video nod (twice!) within that summary.

Serves me right that the three extra base hits by the Sounds in this game came from players that I suggested yesterday as among those that could be impacted by promotions for Biloxi players. All came in the big opening inning you just read about:

• 2B: Matos (10, Gilbert, T); Black (10, Gilbert, T).
• 3B: Zamora (1, Gilbert, T).
   

Brewers still being cautious with 40-man RHP Carlos Rodriguez, though know that he only had three days off after pitching 3.2 innings on Tuesday, and a 31-pitch first inning (though scoreless) did him no favors here. This made the superlative effort within the AAA debut of recently turned 24-year-old RHP Jack Seppings all the more appreciated by the organization. Like Rodriguez, Seppings was also on just three days' rest since his own three-inning outing for Biloxi in which he threw 63 pitches. Seppings' effort, along with that of RHP Kaleb Bowman, really saved a super-taxed staff.

Luke Adams had only been plunked once in his last dozen games but got back on the bruise train Saturday.

We learned from The Athletic's Will Sammon:

"Jeferson Quero is battling some biceps soreness, which restricts him to DH duties for a couple of weeks. The Brewers’ tentative plan is for Quero to resume catching around Aug. 15. They don’t view the issue as anything major, but they’re proceeding cautiously given his injury history."

Well, we here at BrewerFanatic know those DH-only duties date back to June 27th, so the "couple of weeks" aspect of the update doesn't fully cover the defensive absence thus far.

As for the actual catcher Saturday, here's some love for Andrick Nava, who now sees Bo Naylor arriving to impact his playing time. Nava singled twice including this two-RBI knock, threw out the lone attempting basestealer, picked off old friend Eric Haase at first base, and stole his 5th career base. Go Andrick! 

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery (Rays) 17, Biloxi 8
Box Score and Game Log

Shuckers Fall to Biscuits on Saturday Night - Ragsdale slams 12th Double-A home run in loss

Sure, the Biloxi offense has been fun to watch, but the environment for pitching across MiLB seems to be in tatters (whether the baseballs themselves or not), and if we readily admit it, it does diminish at least to some extent everything that hitting coordinators can currently take credit for.

I strongly suggest you listen to Dom Cotroneo from last night's Brewers postgame show at the 8:00 minute mark, the 17-8 score comes up and he gets it!

So yes, you may visit the Shuckers' 'X' feed for more video fireworks, but in context, it may be more about the glorious Beach Chickens" uniforms:

While you're taking in video, you want to balance things by checking out the Biscuits' side of things, six homers and a season high 22 hits. Even more with a dozen videos total at their MiLB site.

How does it reach blowout status? Well, one blowout appearance contributes. Remarkably, one night after recent call-up from Wisconsin Garrett Hodges allowed six earned runs in relief while retiring just one batter, recent call-up from Wisconsin Peyton Niksch allowed six earned runs in relief while retiring just one batter,

Hopefully utilityman Jheremy Vargas saved a ball from his first-ever mound appearance. He ended a scoreless (!) top of the 9th with a GIDP after surrendering three hits prior.

Catch up on KC Hunt's season in the Rays' system after his second appearance this series.

 

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NOTE: Each game seven innings as scheduled.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final, Game One: Wisconsin 9, Lansing (Athletics) 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: 

Knoth and the Rattlers Knock Out Lansing in Game One - Payne hits 21st home run of season in 9-0 victory

Fantastic details within each write-up (and how many affiliates across all of MiLB would go to the trouble to prepare two write-ups?) Thank you, Chris Mehring! Individual video highlights are always included for a specific focus, or you can do like I did and curl up with your breakfast of choice and enjoy a combined nine minutes of doubleheader YouTube package highlights.

Josh Knoth says, what was that about pitching being down across all of MiLB? What a glorious outing.

All position players on the roster saw action at some point in the twinbill.

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 6, Lansing (Athletics) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: 

Lameda’s Late Hit Leads Wisconsin to Twinbill Sweep - Two-out, two-run double breaks 4-4 tie in sixth inning

Luis Pena (2-for-7, double) was the DH for both games but at least did not exit.

Luis Castillo (no, not the Mariner, but now White Sox pitcher) was 1-for-3 with three RBI in each game, double and home run, as you likely just watched. Solid age 22 season, see you in Biloxi next spring.

The T-Rats are in a tie for 3rd place but only two games out of first in the tight second-half standings.

 

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Recently posted by the Warbirds:

Pregame Audio Tuesday 7/28 - Manager Eddy Morgan

Pregame Audio Friday 7/31 - LHP Andrew Healy

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 3, Fredericksburg (Nationals) 1
Box Score and Game Log

Warbirds, Robinson Win Pitching Duel - Three-Run Seventh Powers Wilson

Wilson summaries are brief, but succinctly helpful.

At 16-17, Wilson sits in 3rd place, 2.5 games out of first.

Very good to see Rylan Mills back in action after we detailed a play in which a ball nailed him on the forearm while behind the plate, causing him to exit on Saturday the 25th. Last night was his 2nd game back.

The game summary mentions the only Nationals run scored on a passed ball charged to Mills.

Mills was also robbed of a base hit later in the game:

Brailyn Antunez' 7th inning RBI single knotting the game at 1-1

The wild pitch that allowed Wilson to grab the lead

Ball four for insurance

Much like Josh Knoth in Wisconsin, RHP's Miqueas Mercedes and Hayden Robinson scoffed at the notion one can't find great pitching these days. Robinson faced one over the minimum (a single) in four terrific innings.

Through six games with Wilson, Brailyn Antunez: .450/.593/.800. That'll play.

 

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Final: DSL Brewers Blue 13, DSL Cle Mendoza 7, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

19-year-old OF Frandy Lafond, in his 3rd season on the island, was not getting regular playing time to begin the season, but his recent play has been stellar, plus his strikeout rate has dropped from 26.1% to 16.8% vs. 2025. It's not going to get the attention Jesús Made's seven-RBI game did this week, but Lafond's seven-RBI, two-HR game (three-run shot, grand slam, both pulled to left field) made for a career highlight day to be sure.

17-year-old monster $1.5M bonus baby shortstop Jose Rodriguez was perfect at the plate (three singles and a walk), perfect on the bases (13th stolen base in his 16th attempt), but not perfect in the field (error #18).

 

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Final: DSL Brewers Gold 6, DSL Padres Gold 2, eight innings (scheduled for seven)
Box Score and Game Log

Walk off grand slam for DSL Gold switch-hitter INF/OF Josue Rodriguez, playing LF today.

Not to be confused with Jose Rodriguez mentioned just above. Josue was not a high-end signing.

Even so, the game MVP goes to RHP Wandy Cabrera, who has been trusted with Gold's most critical late innings this season. Cabrera got an out to strand three runners upon entering in the bottom of the 6th, then pitched a scoreless 7th plus a scoreless 8th, striking out the last two men he faced to strand the Manfred Man at third base. Cabrera the well-earned beneficiary of Josue's blast.

 

18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Raymond Sarmiento was outstanding again (his beauteous game log since one blow-up outing way back on June 13th).

 

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Once again, Biloxi is MiLB's Free Game of the Day, enjoy that 5:05 Central start time. Looking forward to another fine outing from Wilson's impressive RHP Diustin Mayorquin as of 12:05 Central. The day's schedule is laid out below. 

As always, thanks for making us part of your day!

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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[biedergb]

25 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

superlative effort within the AAA debut of recently turned 24-year-old RHP Jack Seppings

And Robinson (as you mentioned) plus Jacob Morrison making his high-A debut with 3 scoreless innings.

So while Dubanewicz and especially Manuel and Carlos Rodriguez struggled, we did have a few bright spots.