Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/8): Sounds Victory Highlights the Day

TRANSACTIONS:

RHP Luis Contreras, who turns 27 later this month, was placed on the Development List at Nashville. Contreras split 2022 between the Sounds and AA Biloxi, then was placed by the Brewers in the Arizona Fall League and wrapped up his "offseason" with several Venezuelan Winter League appearances.

Then there was all this:

• RHP Ryne Moore placed on High-A Wisconsin's 60-day injured list
• LHP Brian Fitzpatrick placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• LHP Pablo Garabitos placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• RHP Arielbi Gonzalez placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• RHP Delson Guzman placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• RHP Rosmel Reyes placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• INF Alberis Ferrer placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list
• LHP Josh Shapiro placed on Low-A Carolina's full season injured list

Moore, the Brewers 18th round pick in 2021 out of Old Dominion, underwent Tommy John surgery last summer. Buzz on our forum via @ARobsBrewCrew is that rehab is progressing well. A late-season return would seem possible.

Garabitos is rehabbing a non-elbow related arm issue. We had also referred to the nature of Fitzpatrick's injury in yesterday's Link Report.

Have to feel for Shapiro (34th round, 2019 out of Marshall). He had Tommy John surgery in 2021, missed all of last season, and now has already been deemed out for the full season in '23.

As for the others, we don't have specific injury status information, but hopefully most, if not all, will return to play or eligibility as early as mid-to-late June.

Maryvale RHP Mario Perez was released. As we do with all players whose minor league time with the Crew comes to an end, we detailed Perez' pro journey thus far within our Transaction Thread here.
 

Final: Nashville 6, Memphis (Cardinals) 2

Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine:

Jackson, Perkins Power Sounds Past Redbirds - Sounds Use 13-Hit Attack to Take Control of Series

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

Any type of defeat over the Cardinals is sweet, though this clearly doesn't offset Saturday evening at Am-Fam Field.

SIDE NOTE: Has anyone been able to find minor league archived games within the MLB.TV app? Nice that live minor league action is included with MLB.TV now, but if the only way to pull up an archived game is an MiLB.TV subscription, it defeats the purpose of most of our needs (reviewing injury exits, etc.). Comment if so, please.

Via @Joseph Zarr as he live-watched Saturday evening: "The training staff is looking at Tyler Herb after a 93 MPH sinker. Something seemed to happen with his hand or elbow there? Not good. That ended quickly. Ugh. One of my favorite Sounds is getting shelved here. He'll make way for LHP Alex Claudio. Bummer! This just after inducing a key double play in his first batter faced. And then after ripping an 0-1 sinker inside he just came up shaking that arm and Navarreto quickly came to the mound, and he was followed by the entire Sounds staff.

First night off of the season for Sal Frelick, we immediately await his name in Sunday's lineup. We will build enthusiasm for this Sounds roster all season long, we promise. However, it's amazing what the AAA absence of Frelick, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Joey Wiemer does to our mindset. Review the box score and you'll see impressive outings for Blake Perkins, Skye Bolt, Jon Singleton, Alex Jackson and Eddy Alvarez. This is good! However, it's certainly not the same postgame high we had reviewing the exploits of the kids last August and September. We're back to a AAA "feel", if you will, and that's OK.

As noted in the lead today, Lucas Erceg's start to 2023 is encouraging, and 40-man roster RHP Tyson Miller continues to build his resume after an impressive big-league camp.
 

Final: Mississippi (Braves) 11, Biloxi 6

Via the Shuckers' site:

Shuckers Rally Late, Fall to M-Braves 11-6 - Shuckers return to Trustmark Park on Sunday with chance to take opening series

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

This was the Milwaukee organization debut for RHP Christian Mejias, who elected free agency after seven seasons tied to the Houston Astros. Despite that tenure, this was Mejias' AA debut as well, and the native of Venezuela won't turn 24 until May. But like normally solid LH starter Brandon Knarr and fireballing RHP Zach Vennaro, it was a struggle on this night.

Jackson Chourio reached base twice for a second consecutive game with a single and walk (one K).

Tyler Black walked three times and is already 3-for-3 in stolen bases after just two contests. He had been 18-for-26 in career attempts prior. Speed (or not) aside, we should all enjoy the Tyler Black show this season. Should he avoid the fluke injuries, it's going to be awesome.

OF Carlos Rodriguez off to a rough start, 0-for-7 with four K's.

The best news out of Biloxi Saturday was this:

Love it, love it, love it! You'll get so many nuggets of info in a five-minute conversation that certainly aren't readily available elsewhere - RHP Tobias Myers, who dazzled Friday in the opener, was the debut player interview (audio link). Thanks, Javik!
 

Final: Beloit (Marlins) 2, Wisconsin 2

Via the Timber Rattlers' site:

Late Rally Falls Short in Beloit - Rattlers drop 4-2 decision to Sky Carp

Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box 

Box Score / Game Log

I see that like Biloxi, we're putting the positive spin on headlines with the late rally theme.

We saw another organizational pitching debut, very similar to Christian Mejias' Biloxi debut detailed above. LHP Luis Amaya has been in pro ball since 2015, his age 16 season. After a long run in the Giants' system in which he topped out at AA in 2021, Amaya spent 2022 at High-A for the White Sox. The Venezuela native won't turn 25 until August. It gives an indication of the type of minor league free agents the Brewers tend to target (youthful but experienced). Amaya stranded three baserunners for RHP Max Lazar and fanned five while walking none in 2.1 innings.

Welcome to High-A (finally!) for RHP Michele Vassalotti, who fared so well for Italy in the WBC. Counting 2020's lost season, this is Vassalotti's 7th season with the Crew, so he'd qualify for minor league free agency this fall. Michele was excellent for Carolina in '22, he'll only turn 23 in August. 

Good news here:

That's wonderful, because at least at first glance with an older group including multiple returnees, this lineup is potentially light on the "it" factor. We shall see in time.
 

Via the Mudcats' site:

Mudcats and Woodpeckers Postponed Saturday - Saturday's de facto doubleheader postponed due to rain

Looks OK (it seems) to get two games in Sunday:

"Rain showers early with bright sunshine by the afternoon. High 63 degrees. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%"
 

For those who celebrate, hope your Easter Sunday is joyous, and sprinkled with successful baseball check-ins on both the big-league Brewer level and down on the Crew's farm.

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

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