Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/16): Aidan Maldonado and Tyler Woessner Lead Carolina and Wisconsin to Victories

Wisconsin won their first series, 4-2 over Peoria, while Carolina’s victory salvaged a 2-4 series loss. Biloxi will rue their missed chances, as their close defeat left them with a 3-3 tie against Pensacola. Nashville dropped its third straight game, also ending up level 3-3 against Norfolk for the week.

Game Balls go to Aidan Maldonado, Alex Hall, Tyler Woessner, Tyler Black and Jesus Chirinos. Let’s also give a shout out to Carolina’s 19-year old SS Gregory Barrios, who ended his season-opening 0-for-27 skid with a single to center field, then followed it up with a triple for good measure.

Transactions:

• RHP Elvis Peguero recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville (replacing injured RHP Gus Varland)

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Norfolk 7, Nashville 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review the affiliate write-up as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Sunk by Tides on Sunday

The final score doesn’t do this game justice, as Nashville was one good swing from turning the tables over the first six innings. But give credit to Norfolk for scratching and clawing their way to runs until the Red Sea parted.

The tight 2-0 game went sideways when the Tides’ catcher battled RHP Cam Robinson for a 12-pitch walk with one out in the top of the 7th inning. Another walk, a wild pitch, then an “everybody safe” fielder’s choice (take the out next time Eddy Alvarez) brought LHP Bennett Sousa into the game. Sousa conceded a little league 3-run homer (single, Blake Perkins error), then an actual blast to put the Sounds in a 7-0 hole.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHP Pedro Fernandez (3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) deserved better than to be tagged with a loss, starting his second game in four days after exiting Thursday’s game early with a hand issue. He and RHP Tyson Miller (3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K) were both solid in keeping their team close over six innings.
• OF Sal Frelick walked, singled and flied out twice, but his average is just .196 (OPS .548) as he waits for more balls to land for hits. At the other end of the spectrum, INF/OF Keston Hiura lowered his K rate with a GIDP, two fly outs and then his 6th homer of 2023. Hiura’s OPS is an amazing 1.065 through 49 plate appearances.
• Three more errors (Miller, Perkins, Andruw Monasterio) won’t make Brewers’ brass or Manager Rick Sweet happy. The 7,106 Nashville fans in attendance deserve better baseball!

Next week’s outlook: RHP Adrian Houser is expected to make his second rehab appearance, having thrown 30 pitches in his first outing, as Nashville (8-7) travels to Marlins’ affiliate Jacksonville (7-7) for the week.
 

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola 4, Biloxi 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Tyler Black Homers in Three-Hit Day, Shuckers fall to Blue Wahoos in Series Finale

Chalk this up as a game which got away. An early 2-0 lead ended up being a 4-2 defeat, in part due to three runners getting caught on the basepaths and an error which led to an unearned run.

Starting 23-year old RHP Justin Jarvis (5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 5 Ks) took the loss, but was solid for his second consecutive start.

2B Ethan Murray (0-for-4) may be struggling a bit early with the bat (.200 AVG, .400 OPS), but this is a heck of a defensive play: 

Three Quick Strikes:

• The error and unearned run both went to LHP Darrell Thompson (2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks), though he still retains his early season 0.00 ERA.
• 22-year old 3B Tyler Black (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) is a real pro, putting early season bad luck (0-for-10 with 3 Ks and 4 walks) behind him. His first inning homer was his second of the year and his season OPS is now 1.102 through 29 plate appearances.
• Development is a huge part of minor league decision making, with winning seeming secondary at times. But that doesn’t explain sending a runner to his demise at home when trailing 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. INF/OF Isaac Collins had drawn his second walk of the game, then OF Jackson Chourio (1-for-4, double; .189 AVG; .690 OPS) came through with a 2-out double to center field which would have brought up the aforementioned Black. Instead, Collins was a dead duck at home and Biloxi never threatened again.

Here's Black’s impressive power: 

Weekend Pregame Audio Interviews: Tyler Black and Bullpen Coach Josh Spence

Next week’s outlook: The Shuckers (5-4) travel to Angels’ affiliate Rocket City (6-3), with 24-year old LHP Adam Seminaris (4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks in his first game) scheduled to start the opener.
 

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Pops Peoria 5-1 to Win Series

Also find Youtube highlights from Wisconsin’s exceptional media team here: 

The Timber Rattlers bounced back exceptionally well from consecutive one-run losses earlier in the week, winning three games in a row for a 4-2 home series victory. The team only managed four hits today, but three of them were home runs (C/OF Alex Hall x 2, DH/1B Jesus Chirinos x 1), with four out of five runs coming home via long balls. 

Winning 23-year old RHP Tyler Woessner (5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 8 Ks) was hit around a bit in the first two innings (two singles, double), but got stronger as the game progressed, striking out six of the final seven batters he faced.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Have the Brewers unearthed something special in 2022 undrafted 24-year old RHP Ryan Brady (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks – 1.13 ERA through 8 IP), similar to Peter Strzelecki a few years back? Skipping the Low-A level after just 4 innings pitched at Arizona Brewers Blue in 2022 looked like an aggressive placement, but he’s quickly rewarding the Brewers faith and turning heads.
• Having 22-year old C Darrien Miller (0-for-2, 2 walks, SB) repeat High-A ball was likely a difficult off-season decision, but his 12% caught stealing rate in 2022 and 13% in 2021 likely factored heavily. That’s why it’s so uplifting to see Miller throw out all three attempted basestealers on Sunday, lifting his early season rate to 33%. Keep it up!
• SS Eric Brown Jr. (0-for-4) had looked like the missing ingredient in the Timber Rattlers’ season-opening 2-1 series loss last week, but he wasn’t able to contribute much in his first week of action either (.115 AVG, .294 OPS through 28 PAs). We look forward to seeing Mr. Brown turn it around soon.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (5-4) goes on the road to take on Royals’ affiliate Quad Cities (3-5), with 24-year old LHP Russell Smith (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks in his first game) expected to start the series opener.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 7, Salem 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Ride Early Rally to 7-0 Finale Shutout

The expected pitchers’ duel never materialized, as the Mudcats erupted for seven runs on seven hits in the first inning. All of the runs were unearned(!), as the frame had opened with back-to-back errors and a groundout. 

All nine Carolina batters reached base in this game, as the squad coasted to a shutout victory.

Three Quick Strikes:

• While the spotlight is rightfully on 22-year old RHP Aidan Maldonado (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) for a stellar second outing, every Mudcats pitcher is feeling good after this game: RHP Jeison Pena (1 IP, 0 R), RHP Alexander Vallecillo (3 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks), RHP Tanner Shears (1 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks), RHP Shane Smith (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K).
• In a recent interview, Maldonado mentioned that the Brewers had spoken to him in the 12th round about likely selecting him, ultimately picking him in the 14th round. Well, the team must be ecstatic about grabbing 3B Luke Adams (1-for-4, double, walk, RBI, SB) in that 12th round ($282,500 signing bonus), then still getting Maldonado thereafter. 18-year old Adams’ athleticism has me thinking of Joey Wiemer – 6’4” specimens who can launch balls into orbit and cover ground too. After swiping his third stolen base of 2023 today, Adams now has 12 stolen bases in just 16 career games played.
• SS Gregory Barrios (2-for-5, triple, RBI, SB) batted twice in the first inning, reaching on an error and grounding into an RBI force out, thus extending his hitless streak to start to the season to 0-for-27. Undeterred, the 19-year old lined a first pitch single into center field in the 3rd inning, then tripled to center in the 5th inning. He’s now up to a .067 AVG and .227 OPS, but the former $1 million signing (in Chourio’s January 2021 international class) is undoubtedly breathing a sigh of relief.

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats (3-5) travel to Rangers’ affiliate Down East (5-3) for the week. The Game One starter is not yet listed, though any of RHPs Jeferson Figueroa, Patricio Aquino or Tyler Wehrle could get the call.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Relax on the Monday travel day before action resumes on Tuesday.

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