Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/15): Black's Three-Run 10th Inning Homer Wins it for Sounds; T-Rats Keep Winning

Transactions:

• RHP Taylor Clarke was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers
• OF Chris Roller was recalled from the Nashville Sounds to the Milwaukee Brewers
• INF Oliver Dunn was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers
• OF Carlos D. Rodriguez was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers

Final: Nashville 5, Jacksonville (Marlins) 3

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):

Black's Extra Inning Blast Launches Sounds Past Jumbo Shrimp - Nashville Stays Unbeaten in Extra-Inning Games

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Taylor Clarke was optioned, as noted above, as he continues to work toward regaining full health and form in 2024. He started this one in a classic bullpen game and ultimately went 2.0 IP with 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 ER. He only induced one swing and miss in 18 total pitches - leaning heavily on his four-seamer, slider, and change-up while sprinkling in his 2600 RPM plus sweeper. Compare Clarke's outing with the ongoing domination of RHP Enoli Paredes - a stalwart in the Sounds staff and bullpen - who once again showed he is pitching on another level in 2024: 9 total pitches with six swings and misses. Granted, Paredes essentially features his upper 94-97 mph four-seamer with his 2,900 RPM + slider. Clarke was followed by six other bullpen arms (including the aforementioned Paredes). RHP Ryan Middendorf conceded the tying run in the sixth frame but he adeptly stranded runners on the corners by striking out the Marlins' 14th ranked prospect in 22-year-old Victor Mesa Jr.

 Three Quick Strikes:

1) It's a road game in Jacksonville. Very little to show in the way of highlights so I may as well share some joy with a clip of INF Tyler Black's game-winning three-run jack off the batter's eye. You have to love it when a highly touted prospect such as Black rises to the occasion in a big moment with a big swing of the lumber. Incredible strength shown with this swing and resulting 103.4 mph line drive:

2) Major props are due for SS Freddy Zamora continuing to play inspired ball. He followed yesterday's 2-for-4 performance with another 2-for-4 performance including a seeing eye double to left field. I continue to hope he makes strides like these. He has all the athletic tools declaring 'MLB player' but health and consistency have been elusive. We're rooting for you Mr. Zamora!

3) Back to Paredes for a moment. The 28-year-old reliever has conceded earned runs in one of sixteen outings to date. He has struck out 30 in 18 2/3 IP. He's pitched in the biggest of moments. Four Saves. Two Wins. Zero losses. And, yet, we all know the drill here: he's out of options. I don't know what happens for Paredes in the greater Brewers pitcher in 2024 - does he have an opt out, for example? But, I can say, despite the challenges of a potential call-up and what that poses for the 40-Man and the pressure cooker of his possible time in the Brewers clubhouse and bullpen, he is absolutely deserving of an opportunity. I hope that comes for him in 2024 - if not with the Brewers with another ball club. He's been the very definition of 'lights out'. Today's 1 IP, 3 K performance featuring that fabulous near 3,000 RPM slider was a thing of beauty. 

Final Game 1: Mississippi (Braves) 2, Biloxi 1
Box Score / Game Log

Final Game 2: Mississippi (Braves) 1, Biloxi 0
Box Score / Game Log

Starting Pitching Dominates, Shuckers Drop Doubleheader to M-Braves - Blalock, Peterson Combine to Allow Two Runs over 11 Innings

Pre-Game Media Notes

Facing the Braves #2 and #3 prospects overall in RHP's Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach (major props to all Braves announcers who have to say 'Schwelly's' name on a weekly basis - phew) was absolutely not what the doctor ordered for the beleaguered bats of 2024's epically struggling Shuckers offense. I watched game one in entirety. I can say it is a true credit to RHP Bradley Blalock's talent and tools (and, honestly, the Braves' anemic offense) he pitched into and finished the sixth with five strikeouts as well. The lone run was an improbable sky high fly ball carried over the wall in right field - it was hit well but it certainly didn't appear hit that well. Blalock was sharp in moments. Dominant in some. And, he managed to find just the right pitch on nearly all occasions. His body language, however, suggested what I was seeing was accurate: he wasn't actually all that sharp. Which is quite obviously funny given the results. He was missing high, low, and gifting batters balls in very favorable pitcher counts. And, yet, because he has the tools and the fight he gave his team everything they needed. YET, the Shuckers bats put forth a woeful 1-for-9 with RISP stranding six men on base. The Braves? 0-for-1 with RISP. As I said in the game thread: the pitchers deserved better. I did not watch game 2 until very late - so frustrated I was with the Shuckers bats 😅. But, it certainly appears LHP Nate Peterson also more than did his part. And, like game one, the Shuckers bats certainly appeared to fail him as well.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) We all know slumps happen in baseball. They are an inevitable part of such long season with so many innings. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the Shuckers line-up is in that scary territory of sub-.200 BA's with sub 0.500 OPS's. It's an ugly ugly state of affairs. However, even in the midst of such challenges, as a fan and a diehard, I want to see some fight. I want to see the body language. I want to see good swing decisions, regardless. I can say I saw this and more from INF Eric Brown Jr. EBJ absolutely deserved better on a few of the balls he tagged - including the very hard hit liner directly to the Braves shortstop to open the eighth frame of Game 1. What's more? EBJ played absolutely fantastic defense throughout. It was a display filled with gold glove web gems - this isn't an overexaggeration. We need to hold on to something. I'm holding on to this performance and keeping it close. Let's hope it leads to good things ahead. 

2) How did game two end? With an absolute whimper. A 3B Brock Wilken pop out to shallow left field. He got under that pitch a good deal - not a good two game stretch at the dish for the talented Wilken. Then, I saw what I repeatedly saw throughout both games: swinging miss K's on pitches outside the zone. Over-aggressive approaches from both INF/OF Noah Campbell and INF/OF Zavier Warren. The Shuckers went down without a chance. 

3) Let's end on a positive note. Even though Darrien Miller's game one performance at the dish lacked results (and eye appeal), he continues to demonstrate he has made serious strides throwing out runners on the base paths. In his two opportunities to second base, Miller threw two absolute accurate darts directly to the base path at sliding height. He has obviously put some serious work in over the past two season and it is starting to really show in games. Major kudos are in order for this young man. Miller had a glaring weakness in his game. He has attacked this weakness and he has made serious serious strides in a positive direction. Keep at it, young man. We see you.

** Note: If you'd like to see the few highlights posted to Biloxi's twitter page, visit HERE. I'm sad to report, not a single one of EBJ's web gems made the cut, improbably. 

Final: Wisconsin 3, Beloit (Marlins) 1

Areinamo Gets an A + for Wisconsin - Rattlers Beat Sky Carp 3-1 for Fourth Straight Win

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

Full-Game Highlights:

Post-Game Pod:

Well, it should be quite obvious, the official T-Rats headline above gave me a bit of a baseball version 'Proud Papa' moment. Just one night after celebrating one of my absolute favorite Brewers prospects, INF extraordinaire Jadher Areinamo hit another RBI double (his ninth), scored a run, and dazzled with the glove at 3B throughout. Don't take my word for it, however. From the article linked just above:

Quote

Jadher Areinamo doubled in the tying run and scored a run in Wisconsin’s three-run fourth inning that put them ahead to stay. Areinamo also contributed with some big defensive plays at third base to help the Rattlers to their fourth straight win.

I'll take 'my guys' seven days a week. 365 days a year. I opine we'll win a lot of ball games. 

LHP's Mark Manfredi and Tate Kuehner are becoming quite the Southpaw duo for talented manager Victor Estevez. The two combined to hurl 8 IP of 6 H, 4 BB, 9 K, 0 ER ball. They are an interesting juxtaposition in lefty approach. Manfredi relies heavily on his delivery deception while Kuehner relies very heavily on his off-speed to help his heat play up in the zone hunting chase swings. Kuehner has been likened to 'The Raptor' in his form and delivery (though his heater has clear different characteristics than Suter) whereas Kuehner comes from a more traditional 10 o'clock arm slot. It's nice to see Kuehner's recent work validate what I said after his ERA ballooned in his first couple of outings in 2024. His stuff plays quite well if he's precise. He's been precise of late and his results are backing that up in spades.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Watching a smooth as it gets guy like Areinamo cover 3B in a pinch, looking like a born natural at the position (see yesterday's remarks: 'defensive savant'), versus seeing an athlete first and defensive baseball player second in INF Luke Adams cover 3B just tells you all you need to know how power and pop (even when it is mostly potential in Adams) are valued in professional baseball. It's a night-and-day experience. Areinamo makes nearly every play look routine - especially the extremely difficult ones. Adams makes nearly every play at the hot corner look like a challenge. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Adams' best position, by good measure, is 1B. His athleticism is very valuable there. He needs the reps. Unfortunately, for Adams, so does another very talented 1B: Tayden Hall.

2) OF extraordinaire, Luis Lara, is starting to simmer a bit at the dish. I've seen his hardest hit balls in the past two weeks. He went 2-for-4 in the lead-off today. And, this being said, I remain mildly befuddled an athlete such as Lara is being thrown out nearly 33% of his stolen base attempts. Is this a INF Juan Baez situation? Absolutely not. But, it certainly gives pause. Are Lara's jumps on the base paths as bad as his jumps in the outfield grass are good? I'd love to see some deeper data on this 'phenomenon'. He was caught stealing two more times today. That's 7 CS's in 23 SB attempts.

3) Let's dive deeper ourselves, then, shall we. Beyond Lara and into a macro-view of the entire first place 11 game over 0.500 T-Rats. The Timber Rattlers lead the entire Midwest League by at least 2.0G. They lead their division by 2.5 G (Cedar Rapids has taken games 1 and 2 from Quad Cities). They also are second last in the League in long balls (17 as a team) - entirely unsurprising if you know this roster. However, this is also further drives home my point: Victor Estevez knows how to manage. He bridges the development and winning gap. How do they do this? They strike out the least. They are in the top four in walks. They are second in BA. They've been caught stealing the most but they've also swiped the most bags by 16 SB. They are agressive but they are disciplined as well. They lead the League in OBP and, even with their paltry power numbers, they reside third in OPS. And, this is largely what carries this team. Their pitching peripherals, at large, are middle-of-the-road. They certainly have capable arms but they don't wow with huge K numbers. They allow a decent BAA and they put men on base. However, they have RHP Craig Yoho and they don't give up long balls either. These first place T-Rats are a four-leaf clover in today's game. They defy the odds. What a joy to watch.

Final: Down East (Rangers) 7, Carolina 3

Mudcats Drop Series Opener to Wood Ducks 

Box Score / Game Log

Hell hath no fury for a dominant Mudcats team like an un-televised road tilt at Down East. Yuck. To the Wood Ducks. To the Rangers. I digress. You know what I miss? Watching Mudcats games. You know what else I miss? Mudcats Media Notes. Sigh. Tough sledding this week folks. The Rangers want to pretend Low-A is a Complex League. We're not going to let them!

There. That's better.

RHP Manuel Rodriguez wasn't as sharp as he's been of late and this was mostly due to a three-run jack in the second frame after a single and HBP. It would appear Rodriguez gave up a hard hit single to Guilarte at second base immediately after the long ball, and then proceeded to retire five straight including three by way of strikeout. Given he was at only 58 pitches (39 strikes) before the rain delay, I would casually opine Rodriguez was just getting started after an atypical slow start. A seriously impressive 18-year-old pitching prospect.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I mentioned this in the game thread (HERE), but I don't find anything about Rodriguez's abbreviated start worrisome. Not a thing. What I do find 'worrisome', however, is the second straight extreme struggle from RHP Jesus Rivero. We saw flashes of inaccuracy and inability to locate by Rivero in 2023. But, in the early part of 2024, it almost appeared he had put those concerns to rest. These last two outing absolutely show he has much more work to do to solidify consistency and a lasting approach. IF we count today's struggle, we see the following output over his past two outings: 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 5 BB, 4 HB, 3 K, 8 ER. That's unsightly. Big outings ahead for the young and talented hurler if he wants to steady the ship.

2) Yophery Rodriguez hit 0.244 in April. He is hitting, well, 0.244 in May through the 15th. Uncanny. What we also see, however, is a much better K:BB approach. 2-for-4 on his afternoon with his fifth double and 15th RBI. There is so much to like in this young man's game, despite the middle-of-the-road bird's eye stat peripherals. I have a sneaky feeling we are just getting started here. He has intangibles in his game you can not teach - fearless, hustle, drive, want to, and fast learning and adaptability certainly seem to be front and center here. 

3) We'll close this bit with tips of the cap to (1) OF Luis Castillo who hit first triple of his season knocking in his 19th RBI in the process, (2) OF Kay-Lan Nicasia who apparently threw yet another dart at home plate grabbing an OF assist and (2) RHP Aidan Maldonado's much needed scoreless, 4 K,  2 2/3 frames of work. To each man: we salute you. Castillo has come on some at the dish the past couple of weeks - let's crest the Mendoza line, you're right there! Nicasia again proves what I've said for the past two years: the must under-recognized outfield defense in every way in the system. Maldonado badly needed a bounce back outing. Ecstatic for him to see such results. Keep going, men!

It was a 2-3 day overall. A little bit of everything in there. The ACL Crew will be back in the fold tomorrow taking on the (4-3) ACL Mariners. It's an all evening slate throughout. The Mudcats will be making up their game 1 postponement in an evening doubleheader with the Wood Ducks. Pitching highlights include RHP Bishop Letson, RHP Tobias Myers (reportedly, though he pitched two innings today - I'm going to give this a big fat 'not likely'), and RHP Will Rudy. Regardless of who actually takes the mounds to start, lets get some 'W's!

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 now pass the baton to Daniel and Jim for the remainder of these ongoing series.

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