Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/20): Combined Affiliate Record Now 20 Games Over .500

Nashville dropped to .500 Saturday but those boys are just pacing themselves. Let's visit another exciting slate of results, with unfortunately more Top 30 prospect injury intrigue.

Transactions:

• Nashville Sounds placed LHP Darrell Thompson on the 7-day injured list (as of April 18th).
• Biloxi Shuckers placed SS Eduardo Garcia on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 19, 2024.
• Biloxi Shuckers placed C Wes Clarke on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 19, 2024.
• 3B Mike Boeve assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
• 2B Jose Acosta assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Carolina Mudcats.

While we don't have direct information as to the nature of nor the extent of the Garcia and Clarke injuries, it's a potential positive that both IL stints are backdated.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Omaha (Royals) 8, Nashville 2
Box Score and 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 Drop Game Five of Series in Front of Sellout Crowd - Position player turned pitcher Nick Kahle pitches 1-2-3 ninth inning in 8-2 defeat

Nothing against noted future ace Nick Kahle, but it's not a great sign when a position player mop-up headlines the game summary.

In his second start of the season on April 9th, RHP Janson Junk stretched out to 5.2 innings (two earned runs). Five days later on the 14th, he pitched three shutout one-hit innings in a middle relief role. There doesn't appear to be a logical reason Junk exited after just three effective frames and 45 pitches (no walks, four K's, one HBP). The short outing led to a list of reliever entries, and while the Sounds' bullpen has been other-worldly thus far, the appearances Saturday night were middling, except for Nick Kahle's, of course. Was Junk limited because the parent club has their eye on bringing him up soon as their next bulk reliever? We'll find out later this week.

Junk's HBP was vs. old friend Cam Devanney, who has been solid in his Kansas City organizational tenure thus far. Do you all remember who joined Devanney in the Taylor Clarke trade? RH reliever Ryan Brady has been fine in his four AA outings.

FYI - I'm working on a project that will make things easy for everyone to check on the status of recently-traded Milwaukee farmhands. Keep an eye out later this week.

Brewer Hicklen doubled and walked, was 1-for-2 in SB attempts (now 10-for-12 in that regard). In other words, positive Hicklen commentary from yesterday's report is sustained. 

Tyler Black was idle for only the second time in 20 games, while OF Chris Roller's non-injured-list absence marches on.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 10, Chattanooga (Reds) 0
Box Score and Game Log

Pitching, Lineup Dominate in 10-0 Shuckers Win to Extend Win Streak to Eight - Shuckers set season-high with 10 runs, toss fourth shutout to continue historic start from staff

Let's revisit my signoff from Saturday morning:

We'll see if Biloxi's TJ Shook shakes Chattanooga all night long.

78 pitches, 50 for strikes, wonderfully effective. Could Shook have been extended into the 6th? More likely in May and beyond. Still early, folks.

Nobody gave LHP Russell Smith a tougher time than me, particularly in the first half of 2023, and you know I am better accentuating positive developments. But the simultaneous big-league success of Cincinnati's fellow southpaw Andrew Abbott, in particular vs. Milwaukee, was nagging at me, considering the draft selection order of 2021's 2nd round. Abbott went two picks after the Crew tabbed Smith. Smith's rather lengthy stretch of being very effective in a bulk inning bullpen role was discussed in last evening's as-it-happens Minor League Forum thread.

Shortstop Eric Brown Jr. remains absent since exiting early on Wednesday, based on the after-effects of, you guessed it, diving back into first base.

Contributions were numerous, as Ethan Murray reached four times, including a double, and Darrien Miller also doubled among his three knocks. Each player taking advantage of playing time prominence in the absence of Brown and Wes Clarke, respectively.

Carlos Rodriguez, playing right field, also reached four times (thrice via base on balls).

Newly-promoted Mike Boeve 0-for-3, but walked and was plunked, AA OBP .400.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 14, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 8
Box Score and Game Log

Wisconsin Pops Kernels 14-8 - Barrios bangs out four hits and drives in five for Rattlers

Twenty-seven Wisconsin runs scored in victories Friday & Saturday, sweet. Mix in eight Kernels runs Saturday, and because the T-Rats staff provides a very courteous tool to all visiting clubs by including their highlights as well, the latest video package extends nearly six minutes. Roll the footage!

My goodness, Gregory Barrios. Talk about stepping up to kick off 2024. 

Corner infielder and MLB Pipeline Top 15 Brewers prospect (playing third base here) Luke Adams (2-for-3) exited in the 4th. He successfully stole second base, remained in the game, and scored moments later when Jadher Areinamo singled. Jheremy Vargas replaced Adams at the half-inning break. Did the Crew just lose yet another Top 30 prospect to injury, and again via a baserunning incident? We'll hold our breath.

Wisconsin had 24 baserunners via base hit, walks and HBP's. 

Weather: 39 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 15 mph, L To R.

Yeah, that's cold, as the video above attests. They did manage to complete in under three hours at 2:53.

Final: Carolina 9, Augusta (Braves) 7
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Complete Another Comeback, Win Fourth Straight 

Is a 12-2 record good? Asking for a bunch of Brewer fans...

Nearly 4,800 fans in Augusta for the Braves affiliate. Always good for the A-Ballers to play before such crowds, and clearly this group of Mudcats is not fazed by the opponent support.

Among those Mudcats is the wonderkid Yophery Rodriguez, who had a partial rest day as the DH. Three hits including his 2nd blast in as many days - the camera work via the Augusta feed is still shoddy, but this particular clip is unintentionally hilarious in that it misses the swing entirely and barely shows us the destination. We just have to share here while we await the next Carolina homestand for better looks:

Man, infielder Juan Baez is an interesting cat (pun intended). Three hits here, including a double, now .339/.413/.446 through 13 games. Reminder - won't turn 19 until June. And in a wild tidbit gleaned from Saturday's forum discourse, Baez is just 3-for-9 in SB attempts in 2024 after being 19-for-21 in 2023. 

Many of us realize that Baez was a threadbare $10,000 signing. Another of the 10K contract holders is impressive southpaw Osbriel Mogollon. Just realized that Mogollon hasn't pitched since last Sunday the 14th. Hopefully we see him on the mound today.

The Mudcats are currently going with just a two-man bench, and one of those spots will always be the backup catcher. We just love playing farm director, don't we? One would think there is a player or two currently in Maryvale that could join this squad on Tuesday.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. Each affiliate plays a traditional afternoon affair. Until next time...

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!