Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/3): Wiemer's Costly Error in the Ninth Gives Saints One Extra Run Spoiling Sounds Comeback

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• RHP J.B. Bukauskas was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to the Milwaukee Brewers (and acquitted himself quite well in his relief work)
• 18-year-old Dominican RHP Justin Lugo was signed and assigned to the DSL Cerveceros Uno  

Final: St. Paul (Twins) 6, Nashville 5

Via the Sounds' site, 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 Late Rally Not Enough as Saints Even Series - Nashville unable to get tying run across in ninth, fall 6-5 to St. Paul

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log 

RHP Janson Junk took to the hill for his inaugural start of his 2024 season. With the MiLB.TV audio giving off wicked static as alluded to above - Jeff Hem sounded as though he was announcing from behind a waterfall - Junk was equally out of tune early (and 'late', it turned out). Opening with two walks, a hit batter, a line drive single to right field and 28 pitches were not what the doctor ordered when they healed Junk's illness back in Toledo. Thankfully, he calmed down in the ensuing two frames. It pretty much all fell apart for the young righty in his fourth and final frame. Simply put: Junk was hanging everything and getting ripped hard in his final 2/3 inning of work. The four walks were indicative of his rust: Junk only walked 44 batters in all of last season in over 140 IP. 

It was quite nice to see the Sounds recognize and salute RHP Caleb Boushley - a fan favorite; a clubhouse favorite; and a workhorse for the Sounds over the past two seasons. He was an easy pitcher to root for. Afterall, Boushley was a born and raised Wisconsin boy and thankfully he has that storybook MLB debut versus the Cubs to keep its place in Brewers lore. In a perfect world, Boushley would have stayed in the Brewers system for the remainder of his career. As such, in an imperfect MLB universe, we simply have this tribute to share:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I am here to tell you, despite the onslaught of DH appearances for INF/OF Tyler Black to start the 2024 season he looks fantastic at first base. He's been very sure with the glove. He's catching everything. He's stretching high and making outs. He's stabbing grounders and errant throws low. He picked up tonight where he left off last night - making plays and stating his case as a worthwhile player at this perennially underrated position. There are no highlights to share, unfortunately, but take my word for it: he made several fine plays and continues to settle in quite nicely.

2) OF Joey Wiemer very much looks like a guy pressing to get back into contention as a prospect. He doesn't look in control of his bat despite the modified and new fangled approach - I might see less pre-swing movement overall but I still just don't see consistency in the swing. Despite the very unfortunate 106 mph come backer in the bottom of the eighth that ultimately caromed for an unfortunate ground out, I still don't see consistency at bat-to-at bat...yet. It's fair to say it: he is in a prolonged struggle. He struggled as last year's season progressed; he struggled in spring training; he is struggling now. Misplaying a deep fly to the wall in the middle inning Saints rally certainly doesn't do anything to help Wiemer's cause. Dropping a routine foul ball out in the ninth frame when trailing by only one leading to a next pitch unearned run absolutely doesn't do your team or yourself any favors either. Of course, the caveat here is it's a long season with a lot of ball games left. I only ring this alarm bell quietly because, if we're being honest, I think it's fair to say he's almost searching for himself while playing ball games. That's a tough place to be as an athlete. Regardless, Wiemer has work to do to declare and own his identity with a bat in his hands and re-establish himself in the overall pecking order. 

3) I continue to really like what I see from OF Brewer Hinklen on a nightly basis. His bat plays. His hands and wrists turn with speed and with purpose. He's compact. No wasted movement. I really like his overall game (Pat Murphy wasn't lying in spring training, after all. Who knew?) 

Down two in the ninth inning after a lead-off Tyler Black strikeout, Hicklen calmly took a four pitch walk. That's just winning baseball despite the loss.

Extra Innings: Hey, we only have one game to zero in on and after last weekend's no-highlight road weary affair so I am unabashedly sharing the goods. Last night it was INF Yonny Hernandez's three-run long ball heroics., tonight it was 2B Isaac Collins hitting a line drive oppo squeaker over the 330 foot mark on the wall in left field. It was a beautiful easy swing resulting in a pivotal and key run-producing knock. Take a look: 

Sadly, this proved all for naught but it was a great moment in an entertaining game.

On the other side of the diamond, I really liked what I saw from promising young RHP Harold Chirino. The sinker was moving and sitting 95-96 mph and he fine-tuned his off-speed offerings within his inning plus of work - he executed a gorgeous change-up K to a lefty and came back and executed a gorgeous curve to a righty bat. I continue to have high hopes for his long-term outlook. Finally, special shoutout to LHP Jared Koenig who looked absolutely fantastic in my first live look at his toolkit in the 2024 season. He struck out the side in the eighth frame sitting 93-95 mph on his heat (that appeared to cause all sorts of problems as the ball entered the zone) with very intriguing movement on his off-speed arsenal.

Early in the Sounds 2024 season, it certainly looks like pitching coach Jeremy Accardo has once again sharpened the bullpen tools and has plenty to work with moving forward.

It's Game three of the opening six game home stand tomorrow. They'll be looking to get things going, once again, at around 6:35 PM CST. Keep in mind, in just two day's time LHP Wade Miley will be making his first rehab outing as he looks to get back to the Brewers pitching staff in short order - a dependable and savvy arm they desperately need lest they exhaust their bullpen entirely. 

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. I'll be back next week reporting on all four affiliates.

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