Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/9): Carlos Rodriguez Dominant on Mound in AA Debut. Affiliates Win Two of Five Games

Sunday Game Balls go to Carlos F. Rodriguez, Shane Smith, Robert Moore, Lamar Sparks and Jesus Parra. Nick Bennett and newcomer Darrell Thompson also had big days in Biloxi’s impressive 2-hit shutout.

For the week, Nashville (3-3) and Carolina (1-1) split their respective series, while the Shuckers came out winners (2-1) and Wisconsin lost a tight one (1-2). All four full season affiliates will return home for six games starting Tuesday, including home openers for Biloxi, Wisconsin and Carolina.

Transactions:

• LHP Bennett Sousa acquired from Reds for cash and international bonus money, then assigned to AAA Nashville
• RHP Tyler Herb placed on AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list
• RHP Luis Contreras activated by AAA Nashville from Development List

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Memphis 6, Nashville 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review the affiliate write-up as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Settle For Series Split With Sunday Loss in Memphis

A win would have given Nashville their second straight series win, but unfortunately this game went off the rails from the word “go”. Starting RHP Robert Stock (1 IP, 5 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 HBP, 1 WP) hit the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning, conceding three runs in the frame on an array of singles, walks and a wild pitch.

After a game off, Keston Hiura (1-for-4, HR, RBI) manned first base, pulling a run back in the 2nd inning with his second homer of 2023, but Stock’s nightmare worsened as the first four batters reached in the bottom of the second inning.

Entering with the bases loaded and nobody out, RHP Luis Contreras did well to only allow one inherited runner to score. However, Contreras then allowed a run of his own via a walk and RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd inning, as the Redbirds built their unassailable 6-1 lead.

The loss meant the teams spilt the series 3-3. This game wasn’t remotely competitive, partly evidenced by Nashville going 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position, versus Memphis going 2-for-17 in this department.

Seven Sounds pitchers saw action, with LHP Clayton Andrews and RHP Elvis Peguero probably the most impressive (combined 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks). LHP Ethan Small also struck out three batters after allowing a double.

Three Quick Strikes:

• After seeing action in the majors four straight seasons (2018-2021), then throwing 165 IP in Korea last year, 33-year old Stock is clearly a capable pitcher, but he needs to right his 2023 ship in a hurry. He has two losses and a 24.30 ERA, retiring just 10 of 25 batters that he’s faced.
• OF Sal Frelick had his second straight 0-for-4 game. We’re not likely to see many slumps for the 22-year old, so the bright side is that this is happening in AAA, not MLB. He still has only three strikeouts in 35 plate appearances, so the plus contact rate remains.
• Not only did Memphis outhit Nashville 8-3, they also ran the Sounds ragged: 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts against four pitchers, including two swipes of third base. Trust C Payton Henry and other Sounds’ catchers to be on a mission to improve next week.

This week’s outlook: The Sounds (5-4) return home to face Norfolk (7-1), with RHP Caleb Boushley (1.42 ERA in 6 1/3 IP) scheduled to make his third start of 2023.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Mississippi 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Carlos Rodriguez, Nick Bennett, Darrell Thompson Pave Way to 4-0 Shuckers Win

It wasn’t exactly Super Bowl-level hype, but we were certainly psyched for 21-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez’s debut in AA ball and he did not disappoint, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, including five consecutive strikeouts during one stretch. Pulled after 66 pitches, he struck out eight hitters in four innings of scoreless work, only yielding a single and three walks.

After putting three runners on base in the first two innings but failing to score, the Shuckers’ offense came through with clutch two-out extra base hits in the top of the 3rd inning: OF Lamar Sparks RBI double, 3B Zavier Warren RBI triple, OF Tristen Lutz RBI double. The 3-0 lead was more than Biloxi’s stellar hurlers would require on Sunday.

Led by Rodriguez, LHP Nick Bennett (credited with the win) and LHP Darrell Thompson, Biloxi dominated the Braves in all facets of the series-clinching game, striking out 14 batters, outhitting them 8-2, limiting them to one at-bat with runners in scoring position (0-for-1) and throwing out their only basestealer (well done C Jeferson Quero). The win gave the Shuckers a 2-1 series victory.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Seven dominant starts in High-A ball last year was sufficient for the Brewers to give 21-year old Nicaraguan Rodriguez the quick promotion to AA. His only difficulty was with a tight strike zone, issuing three walks on full counts, the last loading the bases in the bottom of the 4th inning. He didn’t back down, however, striking his final batter swinging on four pitches.
• Sparks’ third inning double was his first hit in affiliated baseball since September 2021, as the former fifth round pick spent 2022 in independent baseball following a release by the Orioles. These kinds of performances (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI, SB) will likely earn him more playing time.
• Speaking of independent ball, Darrell Thompson must be the organization’s resident expert on the subject. A 2016 graduate of Shenandoah University (Virginia), Thompson spent 2016-2022 playing for four independent clubs in four different leagues! What a debut for this “young” man (he’s actually 28): 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks). Let’s keep an eye on his progress and Nick Bennett as well (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks).

Most of Rodriguez’s strikeouts came on high heat. Here's the call on the last one:

This week’s outlook: Biloxi (2-1) has its first home series of the year, hosting Pensacola (1-2). RHP Justin Jarvis (3.83 ERA in 141 IP last year) is expected to make his first start of 2023.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Beloit 5, Wisconsin 4 (in 10 innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Beloit Tops Wisconsin in the Tenth for a 5-4 win

The Timber Rattlers and Sky Carp battled hard in this series-deciding game, with Wisconsin falling just short, particularly hampered by going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and also having two runners caught on the basepaths.

Seventh-year minor leaguer 1B Ernesto Martinez (1-for-2, HR, 2 walks, RBI) opened the scoring with an opposite field solo blast in the 2nd inning before starting RHP Stiven Cruz (4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) found trouble in the bottom half in conceding two runs on two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

SS Robert Moore (2-for-4, HR, double, walk, 2 RBIs) immediately responded with a deep 2-run blast to center field in the top of the 3rd inning, his first homer of 2023, followed by a Joe Gray Jr. RBI double for a 4-2 lead.

Cruz settled down for the next two innings, not allowing any runners past first base, but normally-reliable RHP Brannon Jordan was hit hard in one inning of work: 2 runs on 2 doubles and 2 singles, with the game only remaining tied 4-4 thanks to a Sky Carp baserunner returning to third base due to a ground rule double.

Independent league signing RHP Kaleb “Bo” Bowman only got to throw two pitches in his organizational debut, giving up a walk-off single to right field to the only batter he faced in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHPs Joey Matulovich and Taylor Floyd were terrific in keeping Wisconsin in the game with their relief work, combining to cover four scoreless innings (4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks, one balk, one pick-off by Matulovich).
• OF Je’Von Ward collected his first hit since August 2021 with a leadoff double in the 9th inning, but was unfortunately stranded as the team followed with a sacrifice bunt, 2-0 pop-up to the catcher, then Moore striking out on the 9th pitch of a gutty at-bat.
• Interpreting hints on Twitter can be difficult, but it seems clear that the team expects 2022 first round pick SS Eric Brown Jr. to join the lineup this week.

This week’s outlook: The Timber Rattlers (1-2) head back to Appleton for their home opener, with Peoria (0-3) coming to town. 2022 first round draft pick SS Eric Brown Jr. is expected to make his 2023 debut and RHP Tyler Woessner (1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 IP in 2022) is scheduled for his first start of the season.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One (Resumption) Final: Carolina 5, Fayetteville 3 (in 10 innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Game Two Final: Fayetteville 7, Carolina 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Open With Split in Fayetteville

In a continuation of Friday’s rain-suspended game from the top of the 6th inning with the score tied 1-1, Carolina immediately knocked in two runs for a 3-1 lead on a 1B Tayden Hall single, 3B Daniel Guilarte RBI single and 2B Jadher Areinamo sacrifice fly.

However, the Mudcats regretted failing to take advantage of inning-opening walks in the 8th and 9th innings when RHP Jeison Pena fell apart in the bottom of the 9th inning, allowing the first four batters to reach and tie the game 3-3 with two on and nobody out.

With another nine innings to play in the second game of the day, Manager Victor Estevez appeared set to allow Pena to wear this one, but C Matthew Wood caught a foul tip strikeout for the first out before Jeison hit his second batter of the inning to load the bases. In trotted RHP Shane Smith (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) for his season debut and his very first pitch was a grounder to Areinamo, which triggered a 4-2-3 double play great escape!

Some typical low minors ugliness by the Woodpeckers in the 10th inning (two errors, hit-by-pitch to give Mudcats a 5-3 lead in the top half; ghost runner caught stealing in the bottom half) helped Smith earn a deserved win.

Highlights can be difficult to find on the road, but Carolina’s media team came through:

19-year old RHP Yujanyer Herrera (3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 BB, 4 Ks, 1 WP) started the nightcap, which was scoreless and hitless through three innings. However, the game was all Woodpeckers from there, as they managed to get seven runs across despite going 3-for-16 with RISP while stranding 10 runners. The Mudcats were even worse in the clutch department, going 1-for-11 with RISP while stranding 12 on the basepaths.

The second contest was a game of debuts, as RHPs Chase Costello and Tanner Shears (both independent ball signings) made their first official appearances, along with 2022 eighth round draft pick LHP Nate Peterson. Peterson was hit hard, tagged with the loss after giving up 5 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings of work. RHP Nick Merkel also saw his first action in Low-A, striking out the first two batters before giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in the 8th inning.

Here's Areinamo helping Costello throw a clean inning:

Three Quick Strikes:

• We weren’t sure how serious the Tayden Hall catching experiment was after he never featured as the starting catcher in any of the spring training lineup cards (thank you @BrewersPD), but he was the man behind the plate for nine innings on this night. Statistically, he allowed three passed balls and two stolen bases, while his pitchers also threw three wild pitches. We know the 6’4” Hall can hit (3-for-7, 2 walks, RBI over two games), but it’s to-be-determined whether he catches or plays first base.
• We do our best to read the tea leaves in spring training, but those snippets were telling me that 20-year old 1B Jesus Parra was likely on his way out the door, as he was given the “last-gasp treatment”, starting a number of ST games with the AAA/AA squads, after coming off an 8 BB / 47 K season with ACL Brewers Gold last year. However, Parra beat the odds to make the opening day Mudcats’ roster and continued his resurgence this evening: 2-for-3, 2 doubles, walk, stolen base.
• Herrera and Shears must have drunk some magic potion to not yield any runs. Herrera put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out in the bottom of the 1st inning (2 walks, wild pitch), yet escaped. Shears gave up three walks, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and gave up a stolen base, all in the bottom of the 7th inning, but escaped, helping himself with a pick-off.

This week’s outlook: The Mudcats (1-1) will host Salem (1-2) for six games. Although no starting pitcher has been named for the home opener, possibilities include RHPs Patricio Aquino, Fernando Olguin or Tyler Wehrle.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Rest up on Monday’s Minor League off-day before 24 games over six days starting on Tuesday.

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