Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/29): Made, Adams, and Burke Impress with Big Nights

Transactions:

• INF/OF Luiyin Alastre was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• C Blaberg Diaz was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• C Eric Martinez was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• INF Luis Lameda was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Jaron DeBerry was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• INF Luis Pena was placed on the 7-Day IL (retroactive to 4/26)
• INF/OF Jheremy Vargas was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Final: Nashville 3, Gwinnett (Braves) 1

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds Bullpen Stymies Stripers on Tuesday Night - Nashville Turns Four Double Plays in 3-1 Win

Box Score / Game Log

Fresh off an impressive run of recent starts, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez was certainly not as sharp on the road tonight. It's a testament to the young man, however, he kept the tally on the scoreboard to a minimum. Working around seven hits and two free passes, Cargo ultimately only managed to complete four frames. He needed 85 pitches to do so throwing fifty strikes. His sole run came on a no doubt solo jack over the left field wall on a hanging belt high off-speed pitch. The ball was absolutely drilled.

All told, even without his best stuff, Rodriguez did his team a solid managing to keep the damage at a minimum: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1 ER. He did not factor in the decision. With the victory, the Sounds moved to 16-11 on their season. They remain 4.5 GB the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the International East division.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Why are we always driving the point home to read the Sounds post-game articles? Well, they always have those tasty cumulative statistical nuggets. As I was watching the Sounds on my second screen, I wondered to myself when the last time the bullpen had allowed a run to the Stripers. It felt like a spell given I'd watched their last four tilts (the Sounds have won two straight and the clubs currently hold a season split at 3-3). Well, the article above shares the Sounds bullpen has not allowed a single earned run in the six games played between the two clubs. After tonight's five scoreless frames, that brings the ongoing bullpen shutout to 29 2/3 IP! ? Shout out to RHP Jesús Liranzo who continues to impress with each successive outing. He's essentially a two pitch guy but he's ripping some heavy and imposing 97-98 mph gas with a 87-88 mph cutter to great impact. 

2) It won't show up in any box score, but I'm shouting out 1B Wes Clarke for the yeoman's effort at the first base bag. He was diving plenty and making solid scoops and stretches. It obviously isn't going to get to Ernesto Martinez levels of defensive output for Clarke but it is worth noting he's continued to work on his physique and is moving better than he ever has as a Brewer. Is this saying a lot? I don't think so. But, it is noticeable to my eyes. With a 2-for-4 night, he's also bringing his season tallies into a much more respectable domain. He's also only struck out once in his past seven games. His season K:BB ratio of 24:13 is trending in the right direction. Clarke's arrow is pointing up.

3)  Beyond the bullpen and the numerous double plays turned by the Sounds infield, this game was a classic tight duel with woeful opportunistic hitting: the teams combined for a 1-for-17 with RISP. None the less, this doesn't take away from INF Oliver Dunn's triple-turned-E4 homer:

Final: Biloxi 9, Columbus (Braves) 2

Adams 4 RBI Night Leads to Shuckers 9-2 Win over Clingstones - Shuckers Have Won 10-of-14

Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

The Shuckers are back to a 0.500 mark at 11-11. This is simply sweet music to my ears. RHP KC Hunt kept the Shuckers within striking distance with a respectable 5.0 IP of 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 ER work. I have yet to see the shut down Ace of 2024 in the early going of 2025, but I do get the distinct sense Hunt is getting closer and closer to reclaiming that previous form - form that earned him 'Pitcher of the Year' honors just a year ago. A false step off the mound here or there causing an uneasy landing on the bump. Execution just a little off on the margins of the zone with the off-speed arsenal. It's truly fine-tuned precision issues with Hunt at present. His arrow isn't pointing due North but it is certainly heading in a northerly direction - a mildly comical remark considering he's punched out five in four straight starts:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 1B Luke Adams got on base three times in his 2-for-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 2 K evening. The fifth trip was awarded via a catcher's interference. More importantly, he's tapping into his Double-A power stroke smoking his third long ball of his season breaking open a tight 3-2 game late:

He has so much innate power in his build. We long-time fans and followers will keep rooting for his increasing comfort in the Southern League. Let's all not forget: this is still very much a just turned 21-year-old talent.

2) CF Luis Lara continues to showcase his defensive prowess ranging to make several long haul catches in deep center field. He makes it look much too easy out there - let me tell you he was plucking deep gappers with ease tonight but these were just not easy catches. He also ripped two doubles (five two-baggers on the seaosn). His early adjustment struggles are feeling like a distant memory. Each at bat feels a little more composed and a little more comfy for this talented young outfielder. Don't sleep on Lara. I see a player relaxing into his Southern League fit. 

3) Major kudos are due to the combined scoreless bullpen work from LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and RHP Will Childers. They held it down while paving the way for the bats to send this one into the victory column. Impressive performances from both. Which, well, it leads me to a very random question: did we ever even hear what's going on with LHP Russell Smith and INF/OF Dylan O'Rae? This is a strange tangent to end with here but I can't help but hear the crickets when it comes to both players standing on the Shuckers (though both listed as 'Active' on their MiLB playe pages they are both very much absent on the Shuckers Roster page) and within the Brewers organization at present. I'm not trying to be remotely conspiratorial here, I'm just baffled we've heard so little considering their previous draft status and standing within the organization. If anyone wants to chime in below please do so.

Final: West Michigan (Tigers) 7, Wisconsin 4

Ninth Inning Unkind to Wisconsin - West Michigan Scores Four Runs in Final Frame 

Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes

The Timber Rattlers clung to a 4-3 lead headed to the Whitecaps half of the ninth and, unfortunately, RHP Yerlin Rodriguez had a blow up outing. We've seen it all too many times. He giveth and he taketh away. That truly feel good 2024 Timber Rattlers post-season run feels like a very very distant memory. We'll get to Rodriguez's struggles more below.

RHP Ryan Birchard continued his run of using 80 or more pitches to complete four frames. Birchard certainly doesn't make quick work of his innings even though he absolutely has the stuff to do so. None the less, it's good to see the K:BB ratio sitting at a more favorable 7-to-3. Unlike with Rodriguez, with Birchard I continue to believe it's literally just a game of inches and a matter of repetition and fine-tuning. Tonight's outing was another small step in the right direction. He continues to strike out over a batter an inning. He continues to give up precious few hits (0.169 BAA on the season). It's all a matter of fine-tuning and further dialing in his tools and his delivery. When he's missing, he's typically missing arm side slightly up and in. He has a fairly violent (in a good way) delivery requiring quite a bit of physical force and follow-through. Moving forward, my ask to the baseball gods is to see Birchard start flirting with five inning outings on a semi-consistent basis. All told, Birchard's work ended after 4.0 IP of 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 1 ER work. He threw 81 pitches with 51 strikes. He has yet to factor into a final decision.

Post-Game Podcast:

Full-Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The Timber Rattlers have now blown 8-of-12 Save Opportunities as a ball club. Yikes. Just one year ago April, we were watching one RHP Craig Yoho gracing our late innings in Wisconsin. In 2025, Houston we have a problem. RHP Yerlin Rodriguez came into tonight's tilt having walked a mere single batter to 15 punch outs over 7 1/3 innings of relief work.  Well, he walked five tonight and tossed a couple wild pitches to the back stop. You can almost tell instantly with Rodriguez whether he has his stuff or he does not. Tonight, he was wild from the jump. And, yet, he inexplicably dialed it in for a filthy first out strikeout on a gorgeous slider on the inner black. There were two men on at the time. He threw his first wild pitch. The runners advanced. They intentionally walked the bases full. A blown check call strike by both umpires gave the Whitecaps all the edge they needed as it fell apart from there. This is the charnal ground of Rodriguez's development path. He has high-leverage high-upside tools. However, he must learn to master the moments. The kryptonite in his career-arc is most definitely zonal consistency. He will live and die by this development as his career progresses. Where will he go from here?

2) When your ball club is struggling to find footing at the 0.500 mark there are typically a bounty of reasons. I briefly touched upon the bullpen above. Let's briefly discuss the bottom of the order and sloppy defense. The bottom of the T-Rats order continues to be a production sink. We have seen far too little production from INF's Juan Baez and Daniel Guilarte and, despite his strong start, DH/1B Tayden Hall is mired in a 4-for-34 slump. Guilarte had a truly costly and unnecessary error in the ninth on a throw home and RF Hedbert Perez had two costly errors on the right field grass. The Timber Rattlers continue to be inconsistent with the little things needed to win ball games. If they want to turn their season around they're going to need more inspired and fundamentally sound play.

3) Let's end on a positive note. You heard me rave about 1B Blake Burke's vastly underrated defense earlier in April. You likely read my comments in the game threads he was unlucky to start the year barreling several balls right to opponents. Well, he's starting to get on a heater. And, when Burke is on a heater he is ripping scorching 111 mph line drives like this over the center field wall and into the opponent's bullpen:

Burke also knocked in another RBI later via a seeing-eye inside-out grounder into left field. With a 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 K evening Burke is now hitting 0.288 with an 0.824 OPS on the season. The arrow is most definitely pointing up.

Final: Carolina 8, Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 6

Mudcats Take Series Opener from Myrtle Beach - Made's Big Night Paces Young Mudcats

Box Score / Game Log 

LHP Wande Torres' second inning was, by my scrutinizing eyes, his best in full-season affiliated ball to date. It was all working and I started to see the future horizons open up just a little more clearly. Torres grabbed a strikeout looking. He grabbed a strikeout swinging. He was causing swings and misses on his zesty change-up as well as his breaking ball. The heater mixed in to great impact from there. Can we build from here? He has come leaps and bounds from start one where he was leaning heavy on a two-pitch primary mix. Maybe he can pull a Misiorowski and pull a new plus plus pitch out of thin air in his next start. Whoa now. Let's not get greedy - you spoil us young Misiorowski. The young lefty, Torres, also pitched into the 50's for the first time in Low-A ball. He is slowly ramping up and we are seeing real improvements in a very short period of time. All told, we saw 3.0 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 ER, 1 HR work. Both runs came in his first frame where his pitch count ran into the low 30's. He finished after 58 total pitches throwing 36 pitches for strikes. The heater still runs high and wide arm side - common amongst taller young pitchers, in general - but, again, I am telling you: watch the second inning. When you see an inning like that second frame you toss the WHIP and early struggles out the window. The Development Path is gaining clarity.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) We start with SS Jesus Made. 4-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR in the lead-off slot. The switch-hitting phenom has such a smooth and innately potent stroke. Just take a nice long look at this 107 mph long ball off the Five County Stadium scoreboard:

He came into this season on a hype train running hot. He has most definitely not disappointed. It's such an added bonus to have this type of talent stateside when he can rip from both sides of the dish. 

2)  The 2B Josh Adamczewski RBI in the first frame (his 19th of his season - he grabbed his 20th RBI later) on a line drive hustle double past the diving second baseman was a fantastic reminder on what type of young hitter we are watching on a weekly basis. He lost a favorable 3-0 count when the home plate ump late called a 2-0 pitch (high and outside) a strike. Sitting 2-1, instead, Adamczewski ultimately worked a full count and then muscled a liner into shallow right field in a lefty-vs-lefty match-up. He truly is just an incredibly talented hitter. He was facing several lefties, a wide strike zone, and yet he worked for two pokes.

3) 1B Eric Bitonti finds himself in his first prolonged mini-slump. He was given the rest on Sunday after a nine strikeout series at Columbia. He came fresh off that series with a golden sombrero. I didn't dislike any of his swing decisions. What is apparent, however, at present is his timing is just off. He is fouling back some hangers as opposed to barreling them up. He leads the Carolina League in doubles but we have yet to see his first long ball of 2025. It just wasn't clicking in full to start the season and now he finds himself searching. This is a good test for the young phenom. He was charged with two fielding errors but the second error was definitively not his fault. Substitute catcher, Yannic Walther ran into him and the two collided during the catch. How does the scorer determine that is allotted to the first baseman? I do not know. Walther had replaced the scorching hot C Marco Dinges (3-for-3, 1 3B, 3 RBI) to start the sixth frame. I rewatched Dinges' fifth inning of work. Nothing was apparent. We'll have to monitor in the days ahead. The Dinges three-bagger further proved he has the best belt high to high outside tomahawk in the system:

Come to think of it, is it just me or does he pull up at third base grabbing that upper left hamstring. He was definitely stretching that same left leg out a couple times in his last inning of work behind the dish. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say he was pulled with pre-caution because he felt a little something there. Let's hope it's nothing serious. Rest up, young stud!

Carolina gets things started with that not so coveted 11 EST 'matinee' - that's 8 am my time so I'll be reviewing that tilt late. RHP Bryce Meccage will look to build on his last outing. RHP Brandon Woodruff will continue his rehab work with the Timber Rattlers in Wisconsin's mid day matinee. In the evening RHP Elvin Rodriguez will take the bump for Nashville while RHP Coleman Crow is back atop the mound for Biloxi. 

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball.

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