Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/8): Civale, Crow, Letson, Renz Shine in 4-Win Thursday

Coleman Crow and Aaron Civale delivered scoreless starts in victories for Biloxi and Nashville. Blake Burke came through in Wisconsin’s tight win, while Tyler Renz’s solid debut was a great sight in Arizona.

Transactions:

• RHP Aaron Civale sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• RHP Elvin Rodriguez optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers

Game Action:

Final: Nashville 4, Norfolk 1
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: Civale Works Four Scoreless In First Rehab Start

Good vibes permeated First Horizon Park from the onset, with rehabbing RHP Aaron Civale making his first appearance since March 30 and DH/1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. (1-for-4, RBI) returning from an injured thumb for his first game action in 16 days.

As you’ve read in the linked game report, the Sounds (playing as the Oat Milkers) grabbed a 4-0 advantage by the 2nd inning and hit cruise control from there.

After his first caught stealing of the year on Wednesday, OF Jared Oliva got right back on his horse: singling and stealing his 17th base to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, then tripling and scoring in the next frame.

Civale needed just 50 pitches (32 strikes) to blaze through 4 innings (0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and RHP Logan Henderson was similarly efficient over his 4 frames (1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks).

Sounds’ Extras:

• The opposing Tides never managed to put two players on base at the same time in any inning, as Civale, Henderson, RHP Craig Yoho (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K) and the Sounds’ defense were stifling.
• Every Sounds’ offensive player reached base via walk or hit in the contest, led by Oliva (2-for-4, triple, walk, 2 RBIs, SB). 2B Freddy Zamora also had a 2-for-3 evening and now rides an 8-game hitting streak.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (1.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 in 35 2/3 IP) is scheduled for his 8th outing of 2025, as Nashville seeks to take a commanding 3-1 home series lead against Norfolk.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Biloxi 10, Pensacola 0 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Game Two Final: Biloxi 5, Pensacola 2 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Outscore Blue Wahoos 15-2 in Doubleheader Sweep

In these shortened 7-inning doubleheader games, a 5-0 first inning lead can really put a game away quickly. However, before the Shuckers put up that 5-spot (all with 2 outs) in the opening inning of Game One, RHP Coleman Crow had already set the tone by striking out the side (all swinging) in the top of the 1st inning on 12 pitches.

Crow needed just 63 pitches to plow through 4 2/3 scoreless innings, registering 8 strikeouts to give him an astounding 20 Ks in just 13 innings pitched in 2025 (and dropped his season ERA to 2.08). Though he’s still ramping up his innings after a long injury absence, you’d have to believe Crow’s sights are clearly set on a move up to AAA and beyond.

Video highlights from the Shuckers’ 2-game blitz abound on their Twitter/X feed, starting with Crow’s strikeouts and OF Luis Lara’s 2-out, 2-run double to open the scoring in Game One, but let’s appreciate OF/INF Zavier Warren’s fourth homer of 2025, a 3-run blast:

The second contest saw starting RHP Abdiel Mendoza (5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) put forward his best outing of 2025, locking things down after an infield single and hustle double had Biloxi down 1-0 in the 1st inning.

DH/3B Brock Wilken tied things up in the bottom half of the inning with a 2-out, RBI single before C Darrien Miller put the Shuckers ahead to stay:

Each of Wilken, OF Garrett Spain and 2B Ethan Murray contributed homers in their resounding wins:

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Twelve innings of Biloxi offense produced the 15 runs on 15 hits and 12 walks, with 3B/1B Luke Adams drawing leadoff walks in both games. Lara had a combined 4-for-6 evening with 3 doubles, 2 RBIs and a stolen base.
• C Ramon Rodriguez may only play in about half the games for Biloxi, but he keeps producing, reaching base 4 times in the first game (1-for-1, 3 walks, RBI). Spain had a nice 2-for-3, 2 RBI effort in the second contest.
• In the bullpen, RHP Will Childers registered 5 strikeouts in 2 innings in the second game (1 ER, 0 H, 2 BB), while LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and RHP Tyler Bryant combined on 2 1/3 innings of shutout baseball in the opener.

Friday’s outlook: 23-year-old RHP Alexander Cornielle (0.42 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 in 21 2/3 IP) has adapted quickly to the Southern League and aims to extend Biloxi to a 3-1 home series lead.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 3, Peoria 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Holds On After Taking Late Lead in Peoria

Wisconsin’s climb back to a .500 record continued unabated (the record is now 13-17) on Thursday behind starting 20-year-old RHP Bishop Letson (who recently entered Brewer Fanatic's Top 20 Prospect List) and productive 1B Blake Burke (2-for-4, triple, RBI; season OPS .843).

Clutch moments littered the timeline in this tight affair, including 2-out RBI hits from Burke (3rd inning to lead 1-0) and OF Eduardo Garcia (7th inning to re-take a 3-2 advantage), Letson escaping a 2-on, nobody out 5th inning (line out double play, ground out) and RHP Zach Peek getting out of an equivalent jam in the 7th inning (via 3 straight Ks).

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Every Timber Rattler who participated can point to his contribution in the win, including 7 players who registered hits (outhitting Peoria 8-4), 3B Daniel Guilarte's RBI groundout to tie the game 2-2 in the 4th inning and C Matt Wood throwing out a basestealer to end the 4th inning (actually it went Wood-Baez-Burke-Areinamo-Guilarte-Wood).
• Kudos to the solid bullpen work of Peek (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and RHP Patricio Aquino (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks; season ERA 1.00).
• 2B Juan Baez and OF Yhoswar Garcia are both pulling themselves out of their early-season difficulties, each reaching base via single and walk in this contest. Garcia also stole his 8th base.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Tyson Hardin (0.70 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 in 25 2/3 IP) has impressed in his first five Midwest League starts. Wisconsin can also boost its home series lead 3-1 over Peoria with another victory.

Suspended in 2nd inning: Kannapolis 1, Carolina 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats and Kannapolis Suspended Thursday

Lightning and rain were the winners in Kannapolis on Thursday, as the teams only made it 1 1/2 innings before play was suspended.

RHP Travis Smith had started the contest, allowing a leadoff double and infield single before walking in a run. SS Jesus Made had opened the game with an infield single but was picked off.

Friday’s outlook: The teams will re-commence from the bottom of the 2nd inning on Friday, followed by a 7-inning contest. 19-year-old RHP Bryan Rivera (4.11 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 in 15 1/3 IP) is listed as the starter for the latter affair, with Carolina presently holding a 2-0 series lead at Kannapolis.

Final: ACL Giants 1, ACL Brewers 0
Box Score and Game Log

Despite dominant work from rehabbing LHP DL Hall (second outing since September 2024) and organizational debutant RHP Tyler Renz, the ACL Brewers dropped a rare low-scoring, error-free game.

The 6’4”, 18-year-old RHP Tyler Renz was the Brewers’ 18th round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft but actually received the 4th-highest bonus ($850,000) amongst 16 signees, so prospect watchers had to be pleased to see him deliver 5 innings of 1-run, 1-walk, 4-K baseball. He did yield 3 doubles and 3 singles, including back-to-back doubles in the 4th inning for the only run of the contest.

As to the offense, our young men actually had more baserunners (5 hits, 4 walks, 1 HBP), but produced no extra-base hits and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. This included 8 players reaching base from the 5th through 7th innings, with Jorge Quintana’s line out double play to end the 7th frame representing that best and last scoring chance. Might OF Jose Anderson’s (didn’t play) bat have been a difference-maker?

1B Frederi Montero, OF Jadyn Fielder and OF Handelfry Encarnacion paced the offense, combining on a 5-for-9 evening with 2 walks and a stolen base. INF/OF Juan Ortuno got his first crack at playing shortstop stateside, as Quintana moved over to third base for this game.

Friday’s outlook: The 3-2 ACL Brewers will meander over to Goodyear Ballpark to face the ACL Reds. We may see the likes of rehabbing RHP Tanner Shears, 18-year-old LHP Enderson Mercado and recently acquired RHP Cesar Espinal.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, the Mudcats will resume their suspended game at 4:00pm CST as part of a 6-game Minor League slate for Brewers’ affiliates. The Milwaukee Brewers also return to action with a 6:05pm CST start time at Tampa Bay.

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