Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/24): Luis Lara is Breaking Out This Month

Transactions:

• Biloxi Shuckers activated RHP Tyler Woessner from the 7-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Blue placed RHP Dariel Jaquez on the 60-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Blue placed SS Joandrew Pena on the 60-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Gold placed RHP Alejandro Parra on the 60-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Gold placed RHP Dalvin Bodre on the 60-day injured list.
• DSL Brewers Gold placed RHP Luis Aguayo on the 60-day injured list.

Not too surprising seeing the injured stints for the four right-handers, they are pitchers after all. As for Joandrew Pena, he was a January 2024 $500,000 bonus baby out of Venezuela. Initially listed as a shortstop (aren't all international infield signings?), Pena had 6'3", 172-pound vitals indicated upon his signing, so it wasn't surprising he landed primarily at first base in his age-17 2024 DSL season. The RH-bat did slug three home runs, but also fanned 50 times in 133 plate appearances, posting a .606 OPS.

Final: Nashville 12, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) 5
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 Offense Explodes for 12 Runs to Take Series Over RailRiders - Freddy Zamora Ties Career-High with Four Hits

Kudos to the five bullpen arms who pieced together effective work, especially RHP Garrett Stallings, who was acquired in trade one year ago this morning. Then-trade bait RHP Aneuris Rodriguez, who will turn 21 next month, is toiling in the Florida Complex League in the Orioles' system. Rodriguez made one appearance at High-A to open 2025, but it appears that was a planned one-time outing. 

Anthony Seigler, prominently featured in the post-game notes within the game summary you just read, returned to the field on defense, but at his familiar second base spot, not third base. Oliver Dunn played third in this game, with Freddy Zamora at shortstop. Zamora spoke about his first professional forays at third base (five appearances thus far) with Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem last week (audio).

Why is that news on Zamora important? Because the 2020 2nd rounder out of the University of Miami is raking in what should still be considered a small 26-game sample, having played in just about half of the Sounds' games this season, but certainly seeing more time in May (.996 OPS in 15 games). Zamora is controlled by the Brewers for another season, through 2026, so any thoughts of riding his hot hand at the MLB level may be better paused. However, it's nice to see the success after the starts and stops of his organizational tenure thus far.

Catcher Nick Kahle, 27, is set to become a minor league free agent at season's end, but it's not difficult to envision the organization bringing him back next spring based on his availability and seemingly potential future-coach mindset.

There's a whole batch of video highlights available at the Sounds' "X" feed, EMJ's most prominent part of his 30-game .822 OPS is his .397 OBP, so it was nice to see the SLG above all else Saturday night:

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 3, Knoxville (Cubs) 1
Box Score and Game Log

Catch up with Manager Joe Ayrault (prior to Friday's game) - 2:05 minute mark we learn the injury that sidelined Cooper Pratt for three days this week.

"But Jim, why don't you just type and tell us what the injury was?" Because everyone should be in the habit of investing in the easily digestible interview segments provided by all the affiliates. I'm doing my part to promote and educate.

Lara's Career-Day Leads Shuckers to Series Win Over Smokies - Brewers No. 17 prospect sets season-high with 3 hits, career-high with 4 RBI

Yesterday in this exact spot of the Link Report you saw:

"Luis Lara has a .306/.398/.375 line in May."

Make that .325/.409/.403.

The young man doesn't turn 21 until November. And there's always plenty of this in his game:

For more video, here's the Biloxi "X" feed - look for the WLOX highlight package that includes interview comments from starter KC Hunt.

We still await Mike Boeve's first stint in the field of 2025, but his bat had four knocks Saturday, including a double. He scored three runs.

RHP Tyler Woessner returned to the Biloxi mound for the first time since April 10th.

Luke Adams and Brock Wilken each walked twice, respective .844 and .907 Southern League OPS marks nothing to sneeze at.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: South Bend (Cubs) 6, Wisconsin 2
Box Score and Game Log

Late Rally Short-Circuits in Loss at South Bend - Rattlers four-game winning streak ends with 6-2 loss to Cubs

Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring did his very best to describe a double play the Cubs turned, as the below MiLB article link shows and also details. So, click and watch (Chris also included the view in his linked game summary above) -

Six players team up for two outs on this wacky double play

In a more traditional highlight, heck of a catch here:

RHP Tanner Gillis only needed 80 pitches to navigate six innings in his 2nd start since his promotion from Carolina. 

Eduardo Garcia has started exactly 21 games each at shortstop and center field. His 7th error on the season was Saturday, his second while patrolling the outfield.

Final: Carolina 4, Fredericksburg 3, 11 innings
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Down Fredericksburg in Extras

Is it OK to still miss Josh Adamczewski wholeheartedly despite any Mudcats team success otherwise? He was 3-for-4 with a double when he last played on May 2nd.

Also, after playing for the first time in eight days Friday, CF Braylon Payne sat Saturday, hopefully just part of a maintenance plan and not any serious regression on the pain front (I really have to cut back on the Payne wordplay...)

On to this exciting game -

Our own @Spencer Michaelis eats, drinks, and sleeps Brewers and Brewer prospects (well, we're not sure he ever sleeps), but his "X" timeline this AM includes four Mudcats highlights you'll want to view, including one we'll post below.

RH starter Chandler Welch needed a strong outing and got one here. RHP Garrett Hodges netted the win despite four free passes (three BB, one HBP) in his otherwise perfect three frames.

Catcher Yannic Walther is now 0-for-4 in SB attempts on his pro career, with two coming in this game. Things that make you scratch your head, I didn't check the video, but Walther was caught stealing 3rd base with two outs in the top of the 10th (he had been the ghost runner). I'm hoping it was trying to advance on a ball that got away from the catcher, but even that would be hard to justify.

Thankfully this ended the bottom of the 10th:

As for the 11th, I advise a review of the game log, both halves of the inning. Plenty of drama oozing through the online ink. Nice win!

Sidenote: Nice to see the Friday-Saturday Eric Bitonti breakout, just hope that we continue to see positive signs, because it's been a rough go.

Final: ACL Guardians 12, ACL Brewers 11
Box Score and Game Log

OK, so how much time y'all got?

Maybe it's just me, but as I opened this box score, the first thing that caught my eye was the very first thing we see, the top of the Guardians' batting order, where a player who had gone 4-for-4 with a home run, plus a walk, was pinch-hit for in the 9th. The pinch-hitter walked, but c'mon, man!

Looks like this was Jaison Chourio's (Jackson's younger brother) third rehab game since a May 13th IL placement. He was in the starting lineup but was pinch-hit for in the first inning. We'll let Cleveland fans be concerned about that.

• Guardians scored three times in the 3rd to tie things at 3-3.
• Guardians took a commanding 9-4 lead after seven.
• After each team scored once in the 8th, the A-Crew plated six runs in the top of the 9th to take an 11-10 lead!
• A walk, two wild pitches, another walk, and then consecutive run-scoring singles spelled doom for the good guys.

RHP Griffin Tobias (2024 9th round out of an Indiana high school) has yet to walk a batter (one HBP) in 12.1 innings and has fanned nine. Unfortunately, batters are hitting .345 against him, and the sledding has been rough. Keep the head high, young man.

After four days off, rehabbing Jeferson Quero started behind the plate. He was plunked in his first at-bat - always a scary proposition facing rookie arms for these 40-man roster guys. Quero doubled and singled before exiting (2-for-3, R, RBI).

• Team RISP: 7-for-16.
• Team RISP: 3-for-21.

The poor number above belongs to the Brewers' kids.

Normally I'd suggest reviewing the game log from that six-run A-Crew 9th, but to be honest, it was a lot of gifting from Cleveland in the forms of walks and a crucial error. Of course, still feel free to check it out (the fateful bottom of the frame is just below while you're there).

It's a traditional four-pack of games Sunday, but the Shuckers and Rattlers have later getaway times than you'd think. The Shuckers are home, so can't blame the hosts there. The Sounds head to Indianapolis Sunday evening as the one full-season affiliate who will be playing on Monday.

To all those who have served our country, thank you. For those of you have lost someone in the line of duty, heartfelt thoughts are with you.

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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