Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/19): Limping to the End of a Fairly Successful but Aesthetically Unsatisfying AAA Season

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

The role that AAA baseball holds in an organization's hierarchy has evolved over the decades, at least from a fan perspective. We dig into that a bit as Nashville is set to end its season Sunday.

 

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Transaction: 

• Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Rob Zastryzny outright to Nashville Sounds.

At this point purely a paper move, as Rob Z would likely reject the assignment to get an earlier start on minor league free agency, or the Brewers would release him to accommodate the same. Is it possible he accepts the assignment and then stays in the Brewers' "stay ready" camp they are maintaining during the postseason, perhaps. (Andrew Fischer mentioned he is among the invitees).

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (unavailable)
Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 9, Nashville 3
Box Score and Game Log

NOTE: The video feed was down for this game, so there are no highlights to view (or lowlights, for that matter) -

Via Cory Hilborne, Nashville's Communications Manager

Sounds Drop Fourth Straight to Redbirds

Jonathan Ornelas Records Second Straight Multi-Hit Game

 

NASHVILLE – Nashville dropped their fourth straight to the Memphis Redbirds with a 9-3 loss on Saturday night at First Horizon Park. After Nashville regained a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Redbirds scored seven unanswered to give Nashville its eighth series loss of the year. The four-game losing streak is tied for the longest of the year for Nashville and their first four-game slide since June 12-16. 

 

After Jonathan Ornelas led off the game with his fourth straight at-bat with a hit since the third inning on Friday night, Brandon Lockridge put the Sounds in front by a pair of runs with a two-run blast and his first home run since July 29 vs. Charlotte.

 

After that, Memphis' starter Josh Fleming retired 12 straight before Ramon Rodriguez reached first on the lone Redbirds error of the game. Three straight singles followed including an RBI single for Ornelas to give the Sounds a 3-2 lead after the Redbirds plated an unearned run off Nashville starter Bryse Wilson in the second inning and a Jimmy Crooks sac fly in the fifth off Kaleb Bowman.

 

The Redbirds answered the Nashville run in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff home run off Bowman in the top of the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh off four hits with Grant Anderson on the mound in his second rehab appearance of the week. They added three more runs in the eighth off Carlos Rodriguez on a pair of hits and ended the game with at least one run in five straight innings on a leadoff homer in the top of the ninth off Sounds reliever Blake Holub.

 

Akil Baddoo ended a run of nine straight Sounds batters retired with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth but saw each of the next two retired by Hancel Rincon. 

 

The final game of the 2026 season is on-deck tomorrow as the Sounds look to avoid ending the year on a season-long five-game losing streak while the first-half Champion Redbirds await their opponent in the International League Championship Series. Rochester, Syracuse, and Indianapolis are all still alive to secure the second half championship entering the final day of the regular season. First pitch of Sunday's season finale is scheduled for 5:05 pm at First Horizon Park.

 

POSTGAME NOTES: 

 

SOUNDS SO CRISP: Brandon Lockridge clubbed his second homer in two seasons for the Sounds with a two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the first inning, finishing the game with a 1-for-3 night and two RBI. His first homer of the season was on July 29 against the Charlotte Knights when he was on a Major League Rehab assignment. Lockridge is one homer shy of hitting the half-century mark (49) for his minor league career. Saturday night was his first multi-RBI game since September 3 against Louisville and third overall in 24 games with Nashville.

 

CONSISTENT: Jonathan Ornelas tallied his second consecutive multi-hit game, finishing Saturday night 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored. It's the seventh time Ornelas has collected two or more hits in at least two straight games this year. He collected his first double with the Sounds Saturday and was the 16th overall this season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Las Vegas and Nashville, which is the fifth-most in a season of his professional career. 

 

YOU AND THE 6: Eduardo Garcia extended his hit and on-base streak to six consecutive games, going 1-for-3 on Saturday night. His six-game hitting streak is the longest of his 2026 season after posting a five-game streak earlier this season with Double-A Biloxi. Over his last six games since September 11, he is hitting .316 (6-for-19) with a home run and two RBI. Over the final month of the regular season, Garcia leads the club in OBP (.340) and T-1st in HR (2). He ranks 2nd in SLG (.405) and OPS (.745) and 4th in AVG (.262) and hits (11).
 

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Yet another bullpen game, and there was really no choice in the matter. Refresh yourself with a review of the Nashville roster on the pitching side. There is not a semblance of a rotation available. I fear this is the new reality of baseball as a whole, but in particular AAA baseball, in future seasons. It's not aesthetically pleasing in the slightest, and it's not just a yearning for a more traditional landscape in this regard. 

Overall, the Sounds have been successful in 2026, tied for the 6th best record currently among twenty teams. But at any point, did the Nashville season generate true excitement? Here's the complete statistical position player page, and the pitcher page.

Personally, I found full enjoyment in detailing Luis Lara's exploits through 78 AAA games. Beyond that, it's very tough to say.

For other notes, the long-awaited return of Jeferson Quero to see action behind the plate regularly never developed. His continued biceps issue ramifications are certainly of concern long-term.

Bryse Wilson pitched well, Carlos Rodriguez was given another chance and did not. Neither did Grant Anderson, who missed out on the clinching celebration and now perhaps a postseason spot as well.

The Sounds' free agents to be entering Sunday's finale -

Nashville:

• UT Jihwan Bae
• RHP J.B. Bukauskas
• RHP Gerson Garabito
• INF/OF Eduardo Garcia
• OF Jacob Hurtubise
• RHP Reiss Knehr
• OF Luis Matos
• C Andrick Nava
• UT Jonathan Ornelas
• LHP Thomas Pannone
• RHP Lyon Richardson
• RHP Carlos Rodriguez
• C Ramon Rodriguez
• INF Freddy Zamora

 

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Game One of the Southern League Championship Series is at 6:35 Central and is free to watch here, audio-only version here. Go Shuckers! Coleman Crow gets the start for the Sounds in their finale (5:05 Central).

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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[ecjimg]

Can anyone explain the Ethan Murray Nashville MVP thing?  

[Jim Goulart]

10 hours ago, ecjimg said:

Can anyone explain the Ethan Murray Nashville MVP thing?  

That particular vote is by Sounds players. Given that Murray saw action at all four infield positions and was asked to help out on the mound eight times, the respectful vote among teammates is understandable.