Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/11): Oliva, Wilken and Areinamo Come Through in 3-Win Mother’s Day

Jared Oliva, Brock Wilken and Jadher Areinamo were offensive sparkplugs as Nashville, Biloxi and Wisconsin came through with series-ending victories. Carolina let early opportunities get away in defeat.

For the week, Biloxi (5-1), Nashville (4-2) and Carolina (4-2) were all series winners, while Wisconsin managed a draw (3-3).

Transactions:

• RHP Elvis Peguero recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• RHP Tobias Myers optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers

Game Action:

Final: Nashville 7, Norfolk 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Score Seven Unanswered to Take Series Over Tides

Rehabbing RHP Brandon Woodruff’s final outing was a relatively short one, but fans and viewers were treated to the OF Jared Oliva (3-for-4, double, 3 RBIs, SB) and LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 Ks) show, as Nashville clinched a home series win.

As to Woodruff (2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks), many of us were expecting to see him let ‘er rip in what’s expected to be his final tune-up before returning to the Brewers, but we instead saw a little drop in velocity from his prior outings:

Down 2-0 by the 4th inning, Oliva started the rally with an inning-opening single in the bottom of the 4th, then delivered the clutch 2-run double one inning later to give the Sounds a lead which they would never relinquish.

Zimmermann deservedly earned the win in his most impressive outing since at least April 8 (he threw 5 shutout innings with 3 Ks in that game), needing just 51 pitches (37 strikes) as an uber-effective bridge to the bullpen.

Sounds’ Extras:

• RHPs Craig Yoho and Jesus Liranzo combined on 2 shutout innings and 5 Ks to close out the win, though Yoho issued 2 two-out walks to allow the potential game-tying run to come to the plate in the top of the 8th inning.
• Kudos to OFs Adam Hall and Jimmy Herron for their combined 4-for-7 day, with a double each, 3 runs scored and a stolen base for Herron.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville heads across to the other side of Tennessee to battle Cardinals’ affiliate Memphis for six games, commencing on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 5, Pensacola 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Wilken's 3-Hit, 3-RBI Day Lifts Shuckers to Win in Series Finale

With yet another win (19 of their last 25 games), Biloxi completed its remarkable early season turnaround from a 1-7 start to first place in the Southern League.

Starting LHP Tate Kuehner set aside his season-to-date walk issues (22 BB / 24 Ks in 26 2/3 IP entering the contest) in grand fashion to turn in his best outing of 2025: 5 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 6 Ks.

While leading 2-1, Kuehner did well to strand a baserunner in the 4th inning (fly out), then two more in the 5th (strikeout swinging), before handing over to the capable bullpen.

On the offensive side, 5 runs is a solid number in the pitcher-friendly league (average 4.06 runs per team/game), with 3B Brock Wilken (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) delivering 3 of them as he continues his recent tear (1.388 OPS in 42 PAs in his last 10 games, including 5 homers).

The Biloxi media team’s Twitter/X feed has us covered with far more video highlights of another convincing win.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Over his last five games in the leadoff spot, 1B/3B Luke Adams (1-for-3, double, walk, SB) has delivered a 1st inning leadoff walk in four of the contests, so we can expect this experiment to continue for quite a while.
• Congrats to DH Mike Boeve for collecting his first extra-base hit of 2025, in his 4th game back from an injury absence. This was a clutch double after the team had stranded 3 baserunners in the first two frames.
• The bullpen of RHPs Stiven Cruz, Chase Costello, Tyler Bryant and Will Childers did not mess around, limiting Pensacola to a single, walk and HBP over 4 scoreless innings.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi heads northeast 3 hours by road to take on Rays’ affiliate Montgomery for six games.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Earns a Series Split with a Sunday Win at Peoria

The detailed linked game report from Chris Mehring is about as comprehensive as you can get, replete with multiple video highlights and vivid descriptions of the game’s key proceedings, including this well-hit OF Hedbert Perez double which gave Wisconsin a valuable insurance run to push the lead to 5-3 in the 9th inning.

With RHP Ryan Birchard making his second start of the week, it was understandable to see him pulled at 57 pitches (33 strikes) and 2 2/3 innings shutout innings pitched, even though they were effective: 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks.

After being ejected in Saturday’s frustrating contest, SS Jadher Areinamo (3-for-4, RBI) did not hesitate to get back to work on Sunday, singling and scoring in the 2nd inning and delivering an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0 in the 3rd inning.

RHP Bayden Root (3 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) was quite effective in relief, stranding a baserunner for RHP Aaron Rund and needing just 39 pitches to produce 3 scoreless innings and drop his season ERA to 2.55.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• After struggling to steal bases early in 2025, Wisconsin is turning it around, going 5-for-5 in this contest to push their season total to 34, now 8th in the 12-team Midwest League. OF Yhoswar Garcia (2-for-4, RBI) unsurprisingly led the way with two more thefts (now 11 for him on the season), although he was also picked off in the game.
• Leadoff hitter Perez actually had 2 doubles in the game, lifting his season OPS to a solid .777 in 126 PAs, with 13 of his 24 hits going for extra bases.
• RHP Zach Peek earned his 2nd save of 2025, despite allowing a run on a double, wild pitch and HBP to entertain the road crowd.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin returns home to take on Marlins’ affiliate Beloit, with RHP Chandler Welch (5.72 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 4.8 K/9 in 28 1/3 IP) listed to start the series opener on Tuesday.

Final: Kannapolis 3, Carolina 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Shutout By Kannapolis

After a 16-run outburst on Saturday, some Sunday regression was understandable, but the team will understandably be disappointed by being shutout, stranding 9 baserunners and going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

The contest was actually 1-0 for the first 6 innings, despite Carolina loading the bases with nobody out in the 5th inning (K, fly out double play) and having 2-on, nobody out in the 6th (ground out, fly out, K).

LHP Wande Torres (1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks) had started the contest, but it was RHP Tanner Gillis (4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) who did the most to give the Mudcats’ offense a chance to break through, with Kannapolis only getting a run across against him in his final frame.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Six singles (no extra-base hits) weren’t enough for the Mudcats’ offense, especially considering they produced only one hit over the final 4 innings.
• 3B Jesus Made (2-for-4, SB) led the way offensively, but he also struck out with the bases loaded in the 5th inning.
• DH Marco Dinges (1-for-3, walk, SB) and OF Tyler Rodriguez (2-for-4) each reached base twice as well. Rodriguez also notched an outfield assist and was caught stealing in a busy day for him.

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats return home to battle Astros’ affiliate Fayetteville for six games this week.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, most affiliates have a travel day, but you can catch the Milwaukee Brewers against the Guardians at 5:10pm CST and get online to follow the ACL Brewers at the ACL Padres at 8:00pm CST.

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