Brewer Minor League Link Report (6/24): Dinges and Made are Shining Defensively; Handelfry is Mashing in the Desert

Sounds Fall to Iowa on Wednesday Night - Garrett Stallings Tosses Quality Start

Box Score/Game Log

Hardin Stars as Shuckers Fall in Fastest Game in Franchise History - Shuckers Lose in Team Record 1 Hour and 49 Minutes

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

Quote

"Go big or go Home. Go small and you better go fast." - A fan heard whispering at the Columbus Clingstone game on Tuesday, June 24th 2025.

RHP Tyson Hardin continues to absolutely showcase he belongs in the Double-A Southern League. In control throughout, it's a shame his bats weren't there to back him up. 6.0 IP of 6 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 ER ball. He threw 54 strikes over 73 total pitches thrown. RHP Garrett Stallings looks at this box score and weeps in mutual admiration. Hardin did take the 'L' in his tally and is now 1-1 as a Shucker but it's hard to be more pleased with what we're seeing in his early work. The ability to fearlessly pound the zone demonstrates a young hurler completely confident he can attack hitters. This has shades of RHP K.C. Hunt's Biloxi work after being called up in the summer of 2024. We can only hope Hardin's poise and presence will continue to impact the greater pitching staff. These types of performances can be a boon for an entire club.

As a direct aside, @Jim Goulart, check out the 'shape' of these Hardin offerings - the arm slot; the release; and the vertical rise and run. This is what we're after:

Notice the arm slot and the release point are nearly identical when we juxtapose that 'shape' versus the 'shape' of this inside arms-side sinking pitch - you can freeze frame pause each clip here at the one second mark. This type of tunneling maximizes the impact of these pitch shapes - the hitters have less time to react. The movement is greatly enhanced.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) No lead-off Luke Adams. No slugging Brock Wilken. No Shuckers runs. Ouch. 1B Mike Boeve tried his hat at the lead-off spot: 0-for-4, 1 K on his evening. CF Luis Lara and SS Cooper Pratt went a combined 0-for-8 with 1 K in the two and three spots. Both 2B Ethan Murray and LF Bladimir Restituyo collected 2-for-3 nights, respectively, with a double apiece. Unfortunately, they were surrounded by 0-for-15 (!!). That is the very definition of 'sprinkled six hits as an offense'.

2) A benefit of pulling RHP Tyson Hardin early is we were privileged once again to see the dominant version of one RHP Tyler Bryant. It was a big breath of fresh air to see an immediate bounce back. Let's talk about shape yet again. His curveball remains a stunningly beautiful pitch:

3) I offer continued flowers for the Double-A version of C Matt Wood. You saw the beautiful CS throw to second base above (Wood has caught 12 of 28 SB attempts in the Southern League - WHAT?!?). How about the convincing frame on that Bryant curveball that certainly looked a shade outside the zone despite its flawless beauty in appearance. Wood continues to impress beyond my wildest dreams since his promotion. Despite tonight's 0-for-4 at the dish (hey, no strikeouts) his arrow continues to point straight up.

Comeback Rattlers Deliver at Home - T-Rats Storm Back 

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

LHP Anthony Flores worked in and out of a bevy of two out trouble in his 4 1/3 IP of 8 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HB 4 ER work. It seemed every time he got two down in an inning he either walked a batter aboard or gave up a hit. Flores has to work hard for what he gets given he is throwing upper 80's for the most part. He might touch 90-91 mph once in a blue moon. When he falls behind in counts, as he did tonight, he's simply going to give up contact. Sometimes that contact is going to land for knocks. All in all, Flores threw 75 pitches and landed 48 strikes. He ultimately did not factor in the final decision though it certainly looked as though he was heading toward a loss when he exited.

Post-Game Podcast:

Full-Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) No, 1B Blake Burke has not hit many long balls so far in 2025. Yes, 1B Blake Burke can still absolutely smoke a baseball:

Hopefully that rocket launch can kickstart Burke back into a hot streak after his recent mini-funk. He even grabbed a cheap single after that long ball in his 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR evening. Let's get hot, young man!

2) CF Yhoswar Garcia keeps coming and continues to impact the Timber Rattlers games in many positive ways. He laid down a masterful bunt down the third base line for an easy single. He then swiped second base. He also swiped third base in the game as well and now has 32 stolen bases on his High-A season after a double (his 11th 2B in 2025). He continues to excel in his work in center field - he had a beauty of a sliding grab in shallow left center field in the top of the eighth inning to end any further River Bandits threat (they had already scored two to pull within one). He's also bringing a very infectious positive attitude throughout the games as exhibited tonight on many instances. This is the most dialed in I've seen Garcia since roaming the left field grass in 2024 with Low-A Carolina. Here's hoping this young man has found another level for the remainder of 2025!

3) C Marco Dinges went 1-for-4 with 1 R, 1 RBI, and 1 K. BUT, it's the defense. We know (well, I certainly do) the bat is likely going to play at every level as he matures and advances in the system. Currently, for me, it's the defensive growth with Dinges that is really getting me excited. Everything continues to trend up as each outing passes. He brings an athleticism and a cannon arm to the position you just don't see that often and it is beginning to shine on a regular basis. He made several heads up plays throughout - whether it was catching a final out pop fly up the third base side when a runner grazed his face and his catching glove; whether it was pointing out an early departure toward second base to his relief pitcher ensuring the pick-off at second base. This throw to second base off a 79 mph slider in the dirt from RHP Tyler Woessner? This is the best I've seen so far:

Not a lot of catchers can make that throw at any level. It's important to remind you dear readers: we are just getting started here. Get excited.

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 13, Carolina 6

Mudcats Drop Series Opener at Delmarva - Mudcats Offense Fizzles Until the Ninth Inning

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

RHP Bryce Meccage continues to showcase his age and inexperience during his first season as a young professional. He is the very definition of a roller coaster ride. Some outings are quite good. Some outings are quite erratic. Tonight's outing was the latter. Given a quick 1-0 lead, Meccage proceeded to throw 33 pitches in his first frame giving up three runs. It was a sign of things to come as it never really settled down for the young right-hander. 4.0 IP of 11 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 Balk, 1 Disengagement Violation (yes, one of those), and 6 ER is not going to get it done in most nights. He continues to be a very unrefined ball of tools. Meccage also fell to 0-2 on his season over 12 starts. As I said, it's all a bit muddled and confused at present. The 2025/2026 off-season is going to be a massively important phase of his development.

A Quick Wrap:

SS Jesus Made is beginning to showcase elite defense at the shorstop position. Not good defense. Elite defense. I tip my cap to @wiguy94 who made it quite clear to me early in the season, when Made was mired in inconsistency and focus snafus, he needed time and maturation to showcase the prowess of his movement skills. He was young, essentially, playing at a level well beyond his years. I absolutely take the hit on my overstated POV at that time and have learned from his POV and what has taken place since then. What we are seeing now? It's electric. Made made two spectacular web gem plays in this one - one a sprinting lunging snare of a soft liner headed to the shallow left field grass (he doubled the runner at first base); the other a smooth as silk sliding stab of a ground ball head through the hole third base side. He backhanded it easily. He threw a one-hopper to first base. The runner just beat the throw as he sprinted down the line. The evolution I've personally witnessed in three months is a bit stunning. But, then again, everything about Made's game is a bit stunning. He is physically and mentally built to last in the professional ranks. The sky continues to be the limit here.  Oh, it should also be mentioned 2B Luis Peña went 3-for-5 with 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (off the base of the left field wall), and 1 CS. It's fair to ask what the Delmarva left fielder was doing on the two-base knock:

Regardless, we are incredibly blessed to watch these two young men work their ways through the Brewers full-season affiliates. There is zero need to rush their journeys.

Final: ACL Brewers 13, ACL Athletics 3

Box Score/Game Log

The ACL Brewers have won two in a row and they've improved to 20-18 in that mini-span. They remain 3.5 GB the first place ACL Angels (23-14) who have one-upped them, literally, as winners of three straight. What stands out abundantly, of late, is the sudden resurgence of the ACL Brewers offense - an offense that seems to have remembered those first few weeks. After last night's Jayden Fielder barrage, tonight it was lead-off RF Handelfry Encarnacion who stole the show with his 3-for-6, 3 R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, and HR performance. I don't know about you, but I am absolutely jonesing to see Encarnacion play on the Carolina outfield grass. Rehabbing CF Blake Perkins gave us a 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS game as he was pulled late (likely planned at this stage of his abbreviated late spring training). Encarnacion and Perkins were two of seven players with mulitple hits as the Crew pounded out 20 knocks. Go ahead and click that Box Score link - it is littered with '2's and '3's in the 'H' column. On the pitching side of the ledger, we see RHP Hayden Robinson pitching into the second inning in his 1 2/3 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K work. We tip our cap to the improving and trending RHP Griffin Tobias and his 5 1/3 IP of 3 H, 0 BB (again!), 5 K, 0 R work. The signs were all there early for Tobias - we can certainly hope he's starting to make some meaningful strides in his overall approach.

Final: DSL Red Sox Blue 7, DSL Brewers Blue 1

Box Score / Game Log

There is not a whole lot to highlight in this one. Outhit 10-to-1. Outscored 7-1. The lone poke was a single from Venezuelan 17-year-old 1B Jefer Lista. The bats as a whole struck out 10 times to just two walks. They were 0-for-4 with RISP leaving three runners on base. Meanwhile, the Red Sox were 4-for-13 leaving six on base. RF Frandy LaFond scored the lone run in vintage DSL fashion: a walk, a SB, advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch. Glorious. Done and Antunez also grabbed stolen bases - their sixth of their seasons, respectively. The lone pitcher to throw a scoreless outing was RHP Jhosep Ospino with his 1.0 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 R work. He has not allowed a single run in 7 2/3 IP on his season over six appearances.

With the loss the Brewers Blue fell to 7-9 overall. The Blue are fourth overall in the DSL Northwest division 6.5 GB the DSL League leading DSL Giants Black (14-3).

Final: DSL Brewers Gold 11, DSL Tampa Bay 5

Box Score / Game Log

To counter the Brewers Blue and their mere four opportunities with RISP, the Brewers Gold managed a 6-for-18 mark with RISP. They put up 13 hits with five XBH’s - four doubles and a DH Eryks Rivero home run (his first of his season - congratulations, Eryks!). As I mentioned in today's game thread, RF Pedro Tovar continued his impactful output in limited opportunity: 1-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (his third of his season in just 11 AB). Five Brewers Gold players had multi-hit performances - led, perhaps, by nine-hole hitter 2B Cristian Montilla and his 2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB outing. Feel free to peruse the box score linked above to see the other multi-hit outings. Flipping the script once again, the Gold managed a 15 walk-to-8 strikeout day as a lineup. 17-year-old Panamanian RHP Gustavo Garcia gave his teammates the early cushion needed to grab a 4-0 lead with his 3.0 IP of 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K work to open the game. Garcia is sporting a 3.46 ERA on his season over four appearances, 2 GS, and 13.0 IP. He has a 12 K-to-5 BB K:BB ratio over that span. He did not pick up the victory today, but Garcia is 1-1 overall with a 0.170 BAA and a 1.00 WHIP. He continues to be an arm to follow in the Brewers DSL as showcased in his five groundouts to one flout today. 19-year-old Venezuelan RHP Carlos Canales, in his second year at the Brewers Dominican Complex, did grab the win piggy-backing Garcia with 3.0 IP of 3 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 2 WP, 1 Balk, 1 ER work himself. He moved to 2-0 on his season. He also has 1 SV in 1 SVO. Canales has allowed a single run in 7 1/3 IP over three appearances. He sports a 6 K-to-2 BB K:BB ratio and has allowed a 0.207 BAA with a 1.09 WHIP. Definitely a second year hurler to keep a peripheral eye on in the Brewers DSL.

WIth the win, the DSL Brewers Gold are back to 0.500 at 8-8 overall. They are second place in the DSL Central division and remain 5.5 GB the DSL League leading DSL Giants Black (14-3).

The DSL Brewers squads are off yet again in the mid-week, but we do see a rare Wednesday evening ACL tilt. Glory be! The ACL Crew will take on the ACL White Sox (21-17). Nashville and RHP Logan Henderson will face the Jumbo Shrimp quite early (my time, at least) with a 12:05 EST scheduled first pitch. Wisconsin (TBD) will grace us with another matinee tilt at 12:10 CST. Carolina will look to try and recover as struggling LHP Wande Torres (0-5) will look to find his elusive first win of 2025. And, finally, in the evening hours we will also have RHP K.C. Hunt and the Shuckers offense looking to make amends for their game one loss.

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