Brewers Minor League Link Report (3/31): Collins, Capra Lead Offensive Surge in Sounds’ First Victory

Despite the convincing Easter Sunday victory, the Sounds came up on the short end of the 3-game series, so will look for their first series win of 2024 back home in Nashville next week.

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Whether the Sounds officially or unofficially add a catcher before Tuesday’s home opener (e.g. Ramon Rodriguez is perhaps the logical promotion candidate, with 16 AAA games at catcher under his belt), the more important news we’re waiting to hear is the result of Jeferson Quero’s MRI:

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 12, Toledo 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Shutout Mud Hens For First Win of Season

Score first, score often and don’t let the other team score. Each of these strategies is quite effective in most sporting contests, but it’s when they all come together at once that domination ensues.

Facing their first left-handed starting pitcher of the year, Manager Rick Sweet went with a change at the top of the order and SS Vinny Capra (2-for-3, double, 3 walks, RBI, SB) delivered with flying colors. Capra walked, stole a base and scored on a ground ball out in the first inning, giving Nashville its first lead in three days in Toledo. He ultimately reached base five times.

As we closed the books on 2023, we weren’t certain whether RHP Tobias Myers would remain a starting pitcher (5.07 ERA in 136 2/3 IP as a starter in AA) or shift to relief (0.00 ERA with 8 Ks in 4 IP in AA/AAA), but there’s oftentimes value (and better job security) in sticking as a starter if you can.

Myers (4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 singles, 4 walks, 4 Ks) faced a good amount of traffic, but consistently got the ground balls (6 of his 12 outs) or strikeouts he needed to escape. His fastball reached as high as 95mph.

All nine Sounds reached base via hit or walk in this romp, with eight players driving in RBIs, seven drawing walks and six collecting hits. That, coupled with a 6-for-17 day with runners in scoring position, is how you score 12 runs without mashing any homers.

After striking out his in first at-bat, 2B Isaac Collins (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) made the most of his 2024 debut by contributing RBI doubles in each of the 4th and 6th innings to help blow the contest open. Take another gander at the box score to see how every Sound player contributed (e.g. batters 5 through 9 producing 8 RBIs on 8 hits).

Big kudos to the Sounds’ bullpen for not even yielding a hit in five innings of work, as mentioned in the affiliate write-up link above. That includes recently-signed 29-year old RHP Nolan Blackwood (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks) who made his Brewers’ organizational debut with a 1-2-3 fifth inning, stranding Myers’ last baserunner and earning a Win for his efforts.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Myers particularly bore down with a 2-0 lead, two-on and nobody out in the bottom of the second inning, getting the two ground outs and one strikeout he needed. The four walks may not look great, but Myers’ command was quite solid until he started waning with 2 outs in the 4th inning.
• The new Joey Wiemer (0-for-5, walk, but just one K) swing is evidently still a work in progress. While Nashville pounded out 28 hits over three days, Wiemer only managed to go 1-for-14 with a single.
• Tyler Black (0-for-2, 2 walks, RBI) was the designated hitter for the third straight game and I’m not going to pretend that this is a normal occurrence in the minor leagues. But let’s take it as a positive sign that he was healthy enough to attempt to steal a base, albeit unsuccessfully.
• RHP JB Bukauskas (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K) made his season debut by closing out the 12-0 victory, thus answering the question of whether the Brewers’ final camp pitching cut (technically optioned) had joined the AAA affiliate directly or was part of a “taxi squad” accompanying the MLB club to New York.

Next week’s outlook: The Sounds (1-2) return home to take on Twins’ affiliate St. Paul (2-0) for a 6-game set, with LHP Aaron Ashby expected to start the series opener on Tuesday. The Brewers’ other full season affiliates (AA Biloxi, High-A Wisconsin, Low-A Carolina) are scheduled to commence their 2024 campaigns on Friday, April 5.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Both the Brewers and Sounds are off on Monday before returning to action the following day.

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

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