Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/5): Misiorowski Terrific, Gasser Respectable in Sunday Action

For the week, Carolina captured its series 3-1 over Columbia (with 2 rainouts), while each of Nashville, Biloxi and Wisconsin dropped their series 4 games to 2.

Transactions:

• SS Eric Brown Jr. activated from AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list
• 3B Patrick Dorrian placed on AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list retroactive to May 4
• 3B Ben Metzinger assigned to AAA Nashville from High-A Wisconsin

Although no official moves were made, we noted with interest 1B Tayden Hall’s absence from the two innings which Carolina was able to play before the rains won out. We should know by Tuesday whether this was related to an upcoming promotion, injury or just a rest day.

Similarly, we await news on the status of Biloxi OF Carlos D. Rodriguez, who exited Saturday’s game early, and eagerly wait to see if rehabbing 3B Brock Wilken is ready to return to the Shuckers in the upcoming week.

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 6, Norfolk 3
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 Take Advantage of Tides Miscues in Victory

The victory was certainly enjoyable for 8,877 home fans, but the real questions center on 24-year old LHP Robert Gasser (4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 Ks): How did he look? Is he ready to make his MLB debut this week while Freddy Peralta serves a suspension? 

Giving up an earned run in each of the first two innings (two doubles, one solo homer) was a downer, but the Brewers will likely be pleased with 13 swinging strikes, peak velocity of 96.1mph and 51 strikes in Gasser’s 78 pitches thrown. Expect him to get the call to the Show this week, accompanied by a flood of articles about the Gas-Man.

The Sounds capitalized on four errors by the Tides, which contributed to three of their first four runs in building a 4-2 lead by the 4th inning.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Despite a combined five walks from LHP Darrell Thompson and Corbin Martin, the bullpen was solid overall against the potent Norfolk offense: 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 6 BB, 4 Ks. From the Win Probability data, the single biggest play was RHP Kevin Herget striking out the only batter he faced, with the bases load in the top of the 7th inning and the Sounds clinging to a 4-3 lead.
• About that bullpen, 23-year old RHP Abner Uribe (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) got back to work in his first AAA appearance since early July 2023, cranking out fastballs as high as 101.6mph in a solid relief inning.
• Left fielder Chavez Young was the only Nashville player to reach base twice (2-RBI single, walk), although he was also caught stealing twice. The Tides stranded 11 baserunners, while the Sounds only left two men on base.
• Right fielder Brewer Hicklen’s homer was his fourth of the season, this time a 104.4mph, 2-run blast to give Sounds’ relievers some breathing room and lift his season OPS to .939.

Next week’s outlook: It’s a nearly 8-hour drive from Nashville (15-18) to take on Rays’ affiliate Durham (13-20), so I hope they put them on a plane instead. LHP Aaron Ashby (8.68 ERA in 18.2 AAA IP) has been named the starter for the opening game on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Tennessee 1, Biloxi 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Misiorowski Sets Season-High with Eight Strikeouts, Shuckers Fall to Smokies

Once Gasser moves up to Major League ball, RHP Jacob Misiorowski will be the undoubted Brewers’ top pitching prospect in the minors and he served notice that he’s potentially ready for a crack at AAA ball: 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H (both singles), 4 BB, 8 Ks.

After throwing only 47 pitches in his last start (on 4 days’ rest), Misiorowski was let loose on Sunday to reach a season-high of 87 pitches, including 56 strikes (note: his career MILB pitch count high is 97). 

Also on the good news front, this game saw the return to action of SS Eric Brown Jr. (DHing this game), last seen exiting a game early on April 17th. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and no Ks. Welcome back!

Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t get anything going despite walking 8 times vs. 8 strikeouts. The one hit was a double by C Darrien Miller in the first inning. Yes, the Shuckers went hitless over the final 8 1/3 innings. Miller reached base three times in the game and also stole a base.

For the second time this year, RHP Justin Yeager was asked to throw more than 25 pitches in relief and ended up wearing the loss as an end result: 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks. This occurred after RHP Bo Bowman and Yeager had combined on three scoreless frames to cover the 6th through 8th innings.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• 3B Mike Boeve’s 22nd birthday didn’t go to plan, going 0-for-3 with a walk and grounding into double play to erase Brown Jr. in the 1st inning.
• Nothing seems to be going to plan for center field Justin Dirden, who was 0-for-3 and grounded into two double plays, the second with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 4th inning. Dirden’s season OPS is now .567, as he searches for the pre-injury form which produced a 1.027 OPS at AA ball in 2022.
• Tennessee’s walk-off hit came off the bat of old friend INF Hayden Cantrelle.

Next week’s outlook: After two tough road series, the Shuckers (13-14) return home to face Rays’ affiliate Montgomery (15-12). RHP Bradley Blaylock (1.50 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 in 24 IP) is most likely to start the opening game.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Great Lakes 5, Wisconsin 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Great Lakes Scores Late to Beat Wisconsin

Although it was a tough loss, readers can still see the extensive video highlights put together by Wisconsin’s media team:

Be sure to also check out the Mehring/Lobner 26-minute post-game podcast, including comments from the Manager, Alexander Cornielle and Dylan O’Rae.

Per the game summary, RHP Edwin Jimenez (5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) was on cruise control, retiring 12 straight hitters before being jolted by a solo homer to open the 5th inning and two hits to commence the 6th inning.

While Great Lakes came through in their 2-on, 1-out opportunity in the top of the 8th inning (RBI single), DH Luke Adams was unable to do so in an even better situation in the bottom half: grounding into a double play with 2-on, nobody out. That’s baseball though and came as part of an 8-pitch at-bat.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• After a rare day off on Saturday, 20-year old SS Gregory Barrios went right back to work on Sunday: 2-for-4, league leading 11th double. His season average and OPS are now .348 and .908 respectively.
• 20-year old 2B Dylan O’Rae’s 26th run scored and 14th stolen base both top the 12-team Midwest League.
• At the other end of the spectrum is 1B Jesus Chirinos, who showed promise with a homer on Saturday, only to follow up with a golden sombrero on Sunday: 0-for-4, 4 Ks. His season average is now .194 and OPS is .560. Misery loves company, so right fielder Eduarqui Fernandez joined Chirinos with a golden sombrero of his own.
• On the relief pitching front, RHP Will Childers keeps humming along (1 1/3 scoreless innings with 3 Ks, lowering his season ERA to 2.31 while stranding one baserunner inherited from Jimenez), while RHP Stiven Cruz (1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) simply cannot get going, conceding a hit in his 7th straight relief outing of 2024.

Next week’s outlook: It’ll be a first place battle for the second week in a row, with Wisconsin (17-10) taking the ~4-hour drive down to Davenport, Iowa to battle Royals’ affiliate Quad Cities (17-10). LHP Tate Kuehner is scheduled to start Tuesday’s opening game.

Doubleheader Postponed: Carolina vs. Columbia

Via the Mudcats’ website, rainout details: Mudcats and Fireflies Suspended Due to Rain

The clubs planned to finish the remaining 7 1/3 innings from Saturday’s rain-suspended game, then play a 7-inning contest thereafter, but Mother Nature had other ideas.

Although the teams have not said so, it’s likely they’ll attempt to conclude this contest (and maybe make up the Sunday rainout as well) in Columbia from June 18-20, which I believe constitute the final games of the first half of the 2024 season. If and when they resume play, Carolina will be trailing 1-0 with one out in the top of the 5th inning.

Until then, kudos to RHP Morris Austin (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) for cleaning up two inherited runners from the day before and left fielder Yhoswar Garcia for stealing two bases.

Next week’s outlook: It’s just a 75-minute bus ride from Zebulon, NC down to see Astros’ affiliate Fayetteville (also in North Carolina). Tuesday’s starter is a toss-up between RHP Bishop Letson (last pitched April 28), RHP Manuel Rodriguez (last pitched April 30) or RHP Josh Timmerman (who threw 6 pitches before the Sunday washout).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. While the Brewers head to Kansas City, the only Monday Minor League action will occur at the Arizona Complex League (vs. the ACL Reds at 8:00pm CST).

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