Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/23): Fischer, Fowler, Hardin and Boeve Shine in 2-Win Thursday

Transactions:

• RHP Craig Yoho completed rehab assignment and optioned to AAA Nashville
• RHP Kaleb Bowman placed on Development List retroactive to April 22

Although this wasn’t a transaction, it’s incredibly encouraging that High-A SS Luis Pena was released from the Fort Wayne hospital on Thursday morning and said to be “fine” after overheating and passing out in the 8th inning of Wednesday night’s game.

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Charlotte 3, Nashville 2 (in 10 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via extracts from the Sounds’ postgame notes which we’re able to share, plus some nuggets of our own: Sounds Walked Off in Extras in Charlotte - Tate Kuehner Strikes Out Eight Over 5.2 IP

Charlotte, NC  — Nashville dropped their second straight game with a 3-2 extra innings loss to the Charlotte Knights Thursday night at Truist Field. Left-hander Tate Kuehner was great on the mound for Nashville with a season-high eight strikeouts and one earned run allowed over 5.2 IP (1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 Ks).

The Knights struck first with the only run allowed by Kuehner coming via a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning by Jarred Kelenic. Nashville answered back with a run in the top of the second with Luis Lara drawing a walk before moving to third on a single off the bat of Eddys Leonard (2-for-3, walk). Ramon Rodriguez picked up the RBI with a productive groundout that allowed Lara to score and even the game at a run a piece.

The game would remain deadlocked at 1-1 over the next four innings. Kuehner worked a three-up, three-down second inning with a pair of strikeouts before stranding a pair of Knights on base after allowing consecutive two out singles in the third. The southpaw didn't allow a hit in the fourth or the fifth innings but pitched around a hit batter in the fourth and a Kelenic walk in the fifth as Kelenic reached base his first three times at the plate for Charlotte. Kuehner issued the third walk of his outing with two outs in the sixth before turning the ball over to Drew Rom to get the final out of the inning.

Lara and Leonard singled off Zach Franklin to start the top of the seventh ahead of a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. Ethan Murray delivered a go-ahead RBI single to score Lara, but Leonard was thrown out at the plate as the Sounds would have to settle for just a one-run advantage. The lead didn't last long with Ryan Galanie tying the game at 2-2 with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh. Rom finished his outing by retiring the next three in a row, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

Right-hander Easton McGee took over on the mound in the eighth after the Sounds were sent back to the dugout in order, and McGee posted a 1-2-3 inning of his own with three strikeouts.

Brock Wilken drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, and Lara collected his second hit of the night with a single to give the Sounds a prime scoring chance. That quickly went away with the Knights getting the force out at third on a bunt attempt aimed at moving the runners over followed by a strikeout and ground out that stranded two in the inning. Blake Holub allowed a single to start the bottom of the ninth but induced a double play and then worked around a two-out walk with a strikeout to send the game to extras.

Nashville let another scoring chance slip away with Ethan Murray starting the game at second base and moving into third with no outs after a wild pitch to start the top of the 10th. Two infield pop outs and a shallow fly ball into right field weren't enough to get the runner across as Nashville left the potential go-ahead run stranded at third base. The Knights played small ball to move the runner to third on a sac bunt. After intentionally walking Kelenic to set up a double play, the Knights got a single through the left side of the infield for the win and Nashville's fourth walk-off loss of the season.

CALL TO BLACK?: OF/1B Tyler Black was a late scratch from Nashville’s starting lineup, for reasons not yet known. @CurtHogg reported on April 19 that Pat Murphy had indicated that Black could be an option for the Brewers in the near future. Tyler has a 9-game hitting streak and is 4-for-13 with 2 doubles, a walk, 2 strikeouts and a stolen base since returning from a 2-week injury absence.

MULTIPLIED: Held hitless on Wednesday and hitless over four of his last five games entering Thursday night, Luis Lara was back in the hit column with his team-leading eighth multi-hit game of the season so far. Lara, the Brewers no. 12-rated prospect ended Thursday night 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. His eight multi-hit efforts in still just one ahead of Eddys Leonard who provided Nashville with the other multi-hit game on Thursday night (2-for-3, BB). With his pair of singles, Leonard extended his current hitting streak to seven games and is hitting .478 (11-for-23) with two doubles and two RBI since April 15th. Four of his seven total multi-hit games have come during his current seven-game hitting streak.

SLUG IT OUT: Despite just having nine hits on the season, Brewers no. 22-rated prospect Brock Wilken has made his hits count. Wilken added his fourth double of the season to go along with a home run to have 56% of his hits on the season go for extra-bases. Wilken also leads the team in walks (18) after another free pass on Thursday. Wilken is riding a 12-game on-base streak after Thursday and is tied for the second-longest on-base streak on the team among active players behind Eddys Leonard (16).

Friday’s outlook: Nashville aims to even the series up on Friday night with RHP Coleman Crow (2-0, 4.02 ERA) on the mound fresh off his Major League debut last week for Milwaukee. Former Sounds pitcher Shane Smith (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the start for Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 6:04 pm CT.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 9, Rocket City 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Tyson Hardin’s Career-High in K’s Secures Third Straight Shuckers Win

Starting RHP Tyson Hardin (4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 Ks) commenced his evening with 4 consecutive strikeouts and ended it by bearing down with the bases loaded to strike out the final 2 batters he faced, keeping the game tied 2-2 through 3 and a half innings.

That set the stage for Biloxi’s offense to erupt for 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, started by OF Mike Boeve’s second double of the game and capped off by SS Jesus Made’s 2-out RBI single.

The superlatives keep rolling in for the Brewers’ 18-year old super-prospect, who also stole 3 bases in this contest:

Boeve’s RBI single in the bottom of the 7th inning gave the team a 7-2 advantage which looked safe, but he exited for a pinch runner and Rocket City cut the gap to 7-4 in LHP Jesus Broca’s second inning of work, bringing the potential tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the 8th inning. Thankfully, Broca induced a pop out and retired the next batter looking on strikes.

That early exit for 3-hit, 3-run man Boeve might ordinarily turn our concern-o-meter on, but I thought he looked fine in the game video:

Shuckers’ Extras: 

• Kudos to RHP Stiven Cruz for his 2 shutout innings of work, with 2 strikeouts. He’s been stellar over his last 4 outings, picking up two Wins in the process.
• Three errors and 11 strikeouts thankfully didn’t hurt the Shuckers too badly, thanks to the team going 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stealing 5 bases.
• Regular contributors 2B Dylan O’Rae and 1B Blake Burke combined to go 0-for-7 this time out, snapping O’Rae’s 6-game hitting streak. But they both walked, stole a base (O’Rae’s 14th, Burke’s 9th on the young season) and O’Rae’s defense showed up amongst the numerous Shuckers’ ‘X’ video highlights.
• Two Trash Panda players managed to get ejected in the middle of the contest, including their starting first baseman and a reserve pitcher.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Jaron DeBerry (1.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.6 K/9 in 15.0 IP) is set for his 4th start of 2026, looking to lead Biloxi to a series-clinching win.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 9, Fort Wayne 7
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Holds On for Third Straight Win

What an exciting win and thorough game report by Wisconsin’s Director of Media Relations, Chris Mehring.

The shock and awe homers by 3B Andrew Fischer (2-for-5), OF Braylon Payne (1-for-3) and DH Marco Dinges certainly had the internet buzzing:

And let’s remember that family are following closely along as well. We thank Mr. Dinges for noting the exit velocity on Marco’s solo blast, which came one pitch after Payne’s smash:

Fischer’s second dinger of the game came just 4 pitches later for a 7-2 lead in the top of the 6th inning, but the buzz later shifted to RHP Michael’s Fowler’s impeccable work to close it out on the road:

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• This was a terrific bounce-back performance by starting LHP Wande Torres after walking 5 and allowing 3 earned runs in 3 innings on Saturday. Signed back in June 2022 and still just 21 years and 83 days old, Torres (5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) deservedly earned his first Win in High-A ball.
• We’re so accustomed to OF Josh Adamczewski’s dominance that a 2-for-4 outing with a double, a walk and an RBI barely registers a note. His 2026 OPS is now 1.259(!) in 59 plate appearances.
• C David Garcia, who missed most of the 2025 season with an injury and is more than 2 years older than any other active player on the Timber Rattlers’ roster, is an experienced, calming presence for the Wisconsin staff. He’s also a capable hitter, as evidenced by his 3-for-4 evening with 2 doubles, a walk and 2 RBIs.
• While LHP Bjorn Johnson and RHP Jesus Flores struggled, RHP Jack Seppings got the job done over 1 2/3 innings of relief: 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks.

Friday’s outlook: 20-year old RHP Bryce Meccage (2.61 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 in 10 1/3 IP) gets the chance to lead Wisconsin to a series-clinching victory in his 4th start of 2026.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Delmarva 7, Wilson 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Delmarva Scores Early En Route to Victory Over Wilson

Despite allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits, starting RHP Jarrette Bonet can still feel good about ending his 91-pitch evening with a 3-up, 3-down 6th inning of work, as well as his 6 strikeouts. He faced 26 batters, walking 2.

The team had some early opportunities they couldn’t quite capitalize on, including stranding 2 in the first inning, scoring none in the 3rd inning despite 2 singles and stranding a leadoff walk in the 4th frame, before Delmarva extended its advantage to 5-0 in the bottom half of the inning.

OF Pedro Ibarguen had a 2-for-3, 1 RBI evening after being out of the lineup the past 3 games. 

1B Frederi Montero’s RBI triple in the 9th inning was his first triple since June 2024 and also stands as the first triple in Wilson Warbirds’ franchise history, in their 18th game played. 

Warbirds’ Extras:

• 3B Filippo Di Turi and DH Handelfry Encarnacion both had 1-for-3 games with a walk, being amongst numerous Warbirds attempting to boost their batting average above .200 (team average .182, far below second last Kannapolis at .231 in the 12-team Carolina League).
• While RHP Joshua Quezada struggled in relief (1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks), RHP Ayendy Bravo faced the minimum 3 batters (BB, force out, ground ball double play).
• Two errors and two outs on the basepaths (pick off, caught stealing) didn’t help Wilson’s chances, though they exactly matched the Shorebirds in this regard.

Friday’s outlook: 19-year old RHP Carlos Carra (11.74 ERA, 3.13 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 in 7 2/3 IP) is scheduled for his 4th appearance (2nd start), with Wilson needing a victory to even their road series 2-2.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, the Sounds, Timber Rattlers and Warbirds kick off action simultaneously at 6:04 or 6:05pm CST, with the Shuckers following at 6:35pm. The Milwaukee Brewers commence their home series against Paul Skenes and the Pirates at 6:40pm.

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