Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/11): Chourio Blasts TWO Two-Run Laser Shots Including a Walk-Off in Extras in his Home Debut

Game Balls: We're going with the game winning walk-off and fine catching performance from C Alex Jackson, the incredible long ball output from phenom OF Jackson Chourio, the fantastic outing and first look at twice-drafted (by the Brewers, no less) RHP Aidan Maldonado, the admirable multiple innings inaugural bullpen effort from RHP TJ Shook (he deserved a better final line, I promise you), and the new fit and trim look of LHP Russ Smith who really dazzled in his extended relief role in the T-Rats victory.

Transactions: 

• C Jhonnys Cabrera has been moved to Carolina's Development List
• RHP Alexander Vallecillo has been moved to Carolina's active roster from the ACL Brewers 
• RHP Janson Junk was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers

Highlights from the Week that Was:

Thanks to Brewers Player Development twitter, we have a nice look at the Shuckers' dominant inaugural outing (and organizational debut) of RHP Tobias Myers. It was quite the debut - we certainly hope to see more of this dominance:

Not to be outdone, up-and-coming young Ace RHP Carlos Rodriguez also dazzled in his personal Double-A debut. Do we have dueling rotational aces in an 'iron sharpens iron' scenario in the Shuckers starting rotation? I'm here for it in 2023. Join me in the cheap seats as we root these young arms on in what could certainly be feel good bounce back campaign in Biloxi.

Random Fun from Way Out in Left Field:

This past weekend we saw the conclusion of the illustrious Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. What does this have to do with baseball you might ask? Well, let's take a look at some amazing work from the broadcast booth of the West Michigan Whitecaps. I hope we all aspire to enjoy this type of freedom and comfortability at our respective workplaces - this is truly a chef's kiss performance of, dare I say, genius from Dan Hasty Seriously, you do not want to miss this gem:

Final: Nashville 8, Norfolk (Orioles) 5
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review:

Sounds Erase Five Run Deficit, Walk Off Tides in 11 Inning Thriller

The Sounds were looking to slow the early season roll of the Orioles' Norfolk Tide and find some home field cooking after a series split in Memphis this past week. Unfortunately, early in the contest, it looked bleak. After 31 pitches, typically reliable RHP Caleb Boushley was pulled after a mere 1/3 IP and 4 ER. The Sounds trailed 5-0 entering the 7th frame and were being outhit 11-3 at the time. But, everything changed when the Tides bullpen relieved dominant starter and 2018 4th round pick 23-year-old LHP Drew Rom. The Sounds found their home run stroke and an epic comeback was underway.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) It started with the long ball:

It ended with the long ball:

Game Notes 

Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review:

Jackson Chourio's Two Home Run Game Leads Shuckers to Walk-Off Win

RHP Justin Jarvis took the mound for his 2023 debut. And, let me tell you: he was electric. He was maximizing the pitch clock presence with ridiculously quick deliveries in a performance to admire between he and phenom Jeferson Quero. He retired 13 straight batters in a perfect game no hit affair headed into the fifth inning. He ran into runners on the corner in the top of the fifth frame (BB and a seeing eye single to right field) but he shut the door facing his only threat with two straight punch outs. All in all, Jarvis saw his night end after 6 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 8 K. Unfortunately, the good fortunes of the Shuckers pitching staff ended quickly and unexpectedly in the seventh frame. This certainly didn't mean an unfortunate loss, however. After all, this team has a certain player manning the center field grass.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I was surprised to see RHP Ryan Middendorf hit so hard tonight. In his brief but highly successful tenure with the Brewers organization, one thing has been repeatedly clear: batters have struggled to make any contact when facing the young hurler. Tonight, that most definitely wasn't the case. He came aboard to protect a 4-0 lead to start the seventh frame and, well, he was unfortunately hit hard and often. He ended his outing with 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 HR, 3 ER. I will say, however, a small bit of bad luck, and (after he left the mound) some shoddy defense certainly didn't do him any favors in the ERA department. 

2) The defensive miscues continued when RHP Justin Yeager took the mound in relief of Middendorf. He was forced to face one too many batters, as a result of said miscues, and during the ensuing AB Yeager was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury. This is most definitely an unfortunate occurrence as Yeager appears to have a firm grasp of the set-up role for flame throwing RHP Abner Uribe. There was an extended discussion amongst the entire staff with Yeager on the mound so I am hoping this was precautionary and nothing prolonged. But, after seeing RHP Tyler Herb leave his most recent outing with an injury that landed him on the 7-Day IL I am at my early season limit. For interested MiLB.TV viewers: 2 hr 44 min 12 sec mark.

3) Oh, right. Jackson Chourio. That guy. Just look at these home run blasts in his first ever multi-HR game. 

It isn't just the bat speed (which is absolutely incredible for a 19-year-old). It isn't just the opposite field power (which is also incredible for a 19-year-old). It isn't the off-season regimen that clearly put some more muscle on his frame. It's now the big moments too. It's getting to the point where pitchers really really have to think twice about throwing their heat. These weren't 'bad' pitches, per se. But, they certainly might be bad pitches against Chourio. I, for one, would love to see pitchers start routinely challenging him with a bevy of off-speed offerings - for example, he struck out on a change-up to inside slider in his third AB. He needs the practice. And, knowing his arc and learning curve, he'll be mashing those in no time as well. He's just a generational talent the likes of which I personally thought I might never see in the Brewers system. Let's appreciate every single moment while we have it, folks. 

Final: Wisconsin 8, Peoria (Cardinals) 3
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review:

Timber Rattlers Take Home Opener for 2023 - Wisconsin Beats Peoria 8-3

The T-Rats have been chomping at the bit to reveal their off-season stadium renovations at Fox Cities Stadium and today was their day with their home opener. It was RHP Tyler Woessner taking the hill for his High-A and 2023 debut and, despite some defensive miscues in the fourth inning, he put forth a solid effort for his team. A 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 5 K line is going to give your team opportunities to win most nights. Hats off to the young man. Hopefully, we see continued success in 2023.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I gave him a game ball above, but it's worth diving a bit deeper here. LHP Russ Smith struggled with location for much of 2022. It was a recurring theme in most outings, actually. However, when I saw him warming up in the sixth inning it was as if I was looking at a different pitcher. He came into this season in fantastic shape having clearly dropped some pounds and his results were extremely favorable tonight. The fastball that was routinely losing its release point last year was on point and pummeling the zone. This could be a huge wild card development in the greater group of organizational pitching depth if we see repeat performances like tonight's: 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 ER. 

2) It has to be refreshing for fan favorite OF Joe Gray Jr. to be hitting the ball so cleanly to start his 2023 season. Two more well-hit singles tonight for Gray Jr. and he finds himself hitting .353 with an .833 OPS after the current small sample size of 17 AB. However, just last season, it started quite bleak for the young outfielder (he's still just 23 years old, after all). In the same sample size in 2022, he was scuffling to a .059 BA and a .276 OPS. He also swiped his second bag tonight. I'm pulling for a rebound season that reminds us all: there are still a lot of tools in his bag.

3) It's hard not to be excited about what we're seeing from the arm of LHP Karlos Morales in the early going. We already saw quite a bit of success in Low-A Carolina just last season. He was given brief exposure to High-A late in the 2022 season, but with last year's 1.55 WHIP with the T-Rats I was wondering how he'd fare to start 2023. His off-speed deliveries are producing good results in his 2 1/3 IP so far and he's getting more swings in general as he is closer to the zone as a whole. Here's a brief example in the pitch that closed out tonight's game and rewarded him with the save:

Final: Salem (Red Sox) 7, Carolina 2
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes 

It was the Mudcats home opener at Zebulon's Five County Stadium and RHP Alexander Vallecillo definitely did his part to hold the game close in his two innings of debut work. It didn't look great early as he conceded a double to straight away center on a 3-1 count - a one-hop off the wall - to the first batter he faced. However, he really dialed it in from there: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. It was an admirable and noteworthy performance for a young pitcher who struggled when he moved up to Low-A from the ACL in late 2022. Here's to more good things in 2023!

Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review:

Salem Spoils Home Opener 7-2

Three Quick Strikes:

1) It was supposed to be LHP Jakob Brustoski's self-proclaimed 'Year of Command'. Well, we're going to have to wait for outing number two - tonight's outing was not quite up to the snuff of a catchphrase. Actually, it was quite reminiscent of what we saw all throughout 2022: 1 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 ER. He was high and above the zone early. He was wild with his curveball. He was low. Thankfully, he found the zone late in his outing. We'll look for better accuracy moving forward so we can see him unleash his best stuff. It's in there. Hopefully, this outing won't shake his confidence. 

2) The Brewers have now drafted RHP Aidan Maldonado twice and, thankfully, he's finally in their stable of young arms. If tonight's 4 IP of 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K of baseball are any indication of what's to come, I am all aboard this bandwagon. The line is obviously impressive, but what I was witnessing was the icing on the cake. If you have a MiLB.TV subscription, I suggest you watch his work. He was attacking hitters with his mix. When he saw a mistake in an at bat, he pounced and maximized the error. It was truly delicious stuff. I'm jonesing for more. 

3) With OF Luis Castillo still mysteriously active but on the shelf, the Mudcats need more production from OF's Jace Avina and Eduarqui Fernandez. Five more strikeouts between the two tonight and that's now 13 K in 16 official AB's between the two. Thankfully we can sprinkle in six free passes but it's not pretty early - there's no beating around the bush here. We know the swing-and-miss was a thing in the ACL for the young Avina. I'll counter with we also know this is an extremely small sample size in an extremely early part of the season. But, well, I'll just leave it at that. I hope to see improvements in the weeks ahead.

What an epically fun night of Brewers Minor League baseball. I was lucky enough to watch the game-winner from Jackson Chourio in real time and my five-year-old daughter was just as excited as I was - what a moment. I was gifted a Sounds comeback walk-off winner to boot - though, admittedly, I had to go back and watch that one as I was too busy celebrating the Chourio walk-off. Nights like these are nights I will cherish and remember for the rest of my days - pinnacle sports moments, if you will.

Thank you to all the young men and coaching staffs for all their efforts this evening. Tune in tomorrow as Carolina kicks things off bright and early 11 am EST. The T-Rats will follow for their matinee at 12:10 CST. Biloxi and Nashville will give us evening tilts where LHP Adam Seminaris debuts for the Brewers organization and LHP Robert Gasser takes the hill for the second time this season, respectively. 

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

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!