Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/20): Boeve, McKendry, Yophery Top Performers on 4-Win Thursday

Transactions:

• RHP Enniel Cortez promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers
• RHP Yorman Galindez placed on Low-A Carolina’s 7-day injured list as of June 19
• C Brian Navarreto activated by AAA Nashville from 60-day injured list
• DSL Brewers 2 transferred RHP Justin Caceres from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list
• DSL Brewers 2 transferred RHP Daiyiro Candelo from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham 4, Nashville 3 (in 12 innings)
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 Fall to Bulls in Extras

LHP DL Hall (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K) rediscovered his velocity in his 4th rehab start for Nashville and RHP Evan McKendry (5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 Ks) bounced back from a rough prior outing, together covering 8 scoreless innings, which should have been enough for the Sounds’ offense.

My colleague Joseph summarized the good and bad of Hall’s brief outing nicely in the daily forum: “I see a max four-seam velo of 96.1 mph. Averaged 94.1 mph. 36 pitches. 15 swings. 4 whiffs. Zero meaningful contact on his slider - avg exit velo of 77.4 mph. Did get tagged for a 105.2 mph exit velo line out off a 4-seamer. Also tagged for a 102.9 mph single off a change-up.”

Although the game went 12 innings, one can argue that the Sounds’ offense actually lost it in the first four frames:

• Failed to score with bases load, nobody out in the 1st inning
• Stranded the bases loaded again in the 2nd inning
• Leadoff single in the 3rd inning yielded no runs
• Two leadoff walks in the 4th inning produced nothing.

For the game, Nashville went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13, while Durham left 8 on base.

The Sounds’ main offensive highlight was DH Garrett Mitchell’s inside-the-park home run to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the 12th inning.

Sounds’ Extras:

• RHPs James Meeker and Joel Kuhnel both continued the solid work of the innings eaters, combining on 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks to keep the game scoreless through 10 innings.
• Mitchell reached base 4 times (HR, single, 2 walk), 3B Vinny Capra 3 times (2 singles, walk).

Friday’s outlook: RHP Chad Patrick (2.86 ERA in 66 IP – good enough for the 9th-best ERA in the 20-team International League) gets the ball, with Nashville presently trailing in the series 2 games to 1.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 8, Rocket City 7
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Boeve Two-Run Home Run Lifts Shuckers to 8-6 Win in Slugfest

Biloxi’s late first half resurgence continues, coming back from 4-1 and 6-4 deficits to grab their first lead in the 7th inning, then hold on for a 3rd consecutive victory at Rocket City.

3B Mike Boeve (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs) is the most consistent bat in the Shuckers’ lineup and he’s now shown some pop with 2 homers over the past week, this one a 2-run shot on a 1-2 pitch to take an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning.

A big credit goes to RHPs Sam Carlson (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) and Blake Holub (1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 WP, 1 K) for throwing scoreless 8th and 9th innings respectively to close out the victory, though it got a bit tight for Holub with runners at 2nd and 3rd base (single, walk, WP) before inducing a ground out to end the game.

Prior to Boeve’s heroics, it was center fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez (2 runs), C Darrien Miller (2 RBI singles) and left fielder Adam Hall (2-run double) who had gotten Biloxi back into the game at 4-4 by the 4th inning.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• RHP Brett Wichrowski (4 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks) continues to find AA ball a bit rough (5.87 ERA at this level), but managed to get through 4 innings after conceding 4 runs (including 2 homers) in the first 2 frames.
• RHP Bo Bowman has been lights out on most occasions in 2024 (2.29 ERA), but struggled to keep the hits in the park in this game: 3 IP, 3 R, 3 H (2 HR), 0 BB, 5 Ks.

Friday’s outlook: After RHP Bradley Blalock’s recent call-up, Biloxi has yet to name a starter for Friday’s contest.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fort Wayne 5, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: First Half Finale Goes to Fort Wayne

Starting RHP KC Hunt (3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) wasn’t going to keep a 1.32 ERA and 0.70 WHIP forever, so we’ll accept this first blip on his 2024 game log and be glad it occurred on the last day of the First Half of the season, after Wisconsin had already wrapped up the division title. Four of the hits off of Hunt were of the extra-base variety, further highlighting the rare challenging game he had.

Per the game link above, the Timber Rattlers’ offense was largely dormant until 3 singles in the 7th inning, but they were only able to muster the single run.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• C Ramon Rodriguez (double, single) and 1B Jesus Chirinos (single, walk) were the only Wisconsin players to reach base twice.
• SS Eduardo Garcia played his first game at a full season affiliate since his April 18 injury, doubling in the 1st inning of a 1-for-4 day. It’s certainly interesting to see him back on the infield dirt after principally playing outfield at AA Biloxi before the injury.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Will Rudy (5.83 season ERA in 46 1/3 IP) aims for a second straight solid start, after conceding only 1 run and 1 hit over 5 innings last week.

Final: Carolina 9, Columbia 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Roll Past Fireflies

Carolina dominated from start to finish, despite having to rely on right-handed reliever Jeferson Figueroa (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) to make a rare spot start.

The trio of 3B Daniel Guilarte, center fielder Yophery Rodriguez and SS Cooper Pratt returned to the lineup after a day off, with Guilarte walking and scoring on Rodriguez’s 2-run blast in the top of the 1st inning.

Every starting Mudcat position player collected at least one hit on a 14-hit day (including 13 singles) for the team, with Pratt extending his on-base streak to 27 games. Guilarte (2-for-4, walk, RBI, SB) and 1B Miguel Briceno (2-for-3, walk, RBI, SB) both reached base 3 times.

RHP Jeison Pena pitched 3 shutout innings of relief before running out of gas to concede 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, but RHP Dikember Sanchez suitably followed with 2 more scoreless innings.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• The team also ran the Fireflies ragged by stealing six bases without being caught, with 2 each by C Satchell Norman and 2B Jose Acosta. However, Norman exited the game after striking out in the top of the 9th inning, so we’ll have to monitor his status going forward.
• Carolina won the defensive side of the ball, committing zero errors (versus three for Columbia), also turning two double plays and collecting an outfield assist.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Bishop Letson is the scheduled starter as Carolina takes aim at a 4-1 series lead.

Final: DSL Brewers Uno 4, DSL Orioles Orange 3 (in 8 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

With each of RHP Wenderlyn King, SS Jesus Made (2-for-4, HR, RBI, 3 runs) and DH/INF Luis Pena (1-for-4, triple) starting, the Uno squad would ordinarily be a heavy favorite, but this time they were facing the 11-1 Orioles Orange crew.

18-year old King was a little less solid than usual (4 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 HBP, 4 Ks – season ERA 1.32 in 13 2/3 IP with 20 Ks and 1 BB), but limited the damage and exited with the game tied 1-1, benefitting from Made’s leadoff homer (his 3rd of 2024) in the bottom of the first inning.

Quite surprisingly, OF Idalberto Santiesteban took to the mound and faced 7 batters in the 6th inning, his first minor league pitching appearance, less surprisingly conceding 2 runs as Brewers Uno trailed 3-1.

Center fielder Engel Paulino (triple) and 2B Juan Ortuno (single) came through with 2-out RBI hits to plate 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, after which RHP Francisco Guevera and RHP Ranwell Smith each threw a scoreless frame. Smith earned his 3rd Win and didn’t allow the Manfred Man to score.

With Made starting the bottom of the 8th inning on 2nd base, a balk and a wild pitch were sufficient to walk off the victory, moving Team Uno to a 9-4 record.

6’4” 19-year old RHP Fabian Reyes also pitched a scoreless inning (the 5th) and the defense came through: zero errors, 2-of-4 caught stealing by C Kevin Garcia, two outfield assists.

Final: DSL Royals Fortuna 2, DSL Brewers Dos 0 (in 7 innings as scheduled)
Box Score and Game Log

Final: DSL Brewers Dos 5, DSL Royals Fortuna 1 (in 7 innings as scheduled)
Box Score and Game Log

Team Dos wasn’t able to cash in on opportunities in the first game of their doubleheader (0-for-8 with runners in scoring position with 7 left-on-base) and losing pitcher LHP Jesus Broca (1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 K) was likely thrust into action after starting RHP Alejandro Parra only faced 3 batters.

RHPs Johan Zapata and Oliver Camilo can be proud of their combined 4 scoreless innings with 5 Ks. Unfortunately, 2 doubles in the 6th inning failed to plate a run (3B Kevin Ereu hits, but makes a lot of outs on the bases too), while a leadoff single and walk in the 7th inning were both stranded.

The second game was more enjoyable, with DSL Brewers-2 scoring runs in each of the first 4 innings to build their 5-1 advantage. 18-year old starting RHP Argenis Aparicio had the best outing of his young career (5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks) and RHP Lenin Mendez was also solid (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks).

Across the two games, OF Pedro Tovar (3-for-6, double, SB) and Ereu (2-for-3, double) had the best days at the plate. Ironically, Tovar’s 3 hits were in the Game 1 shutout loss, while the team only collected 3 total hits in Game 2 and still plated 5 runs (balk, error, 2-run error, RBI single).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. The now-regular slate of 7 minor league games are scheduled for Friday, while the Milwaukee Brewers continue their series at San Diego.

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

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!