Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/29): Five Wins among the Eight Contests

Now, let's get to the busy day on the farm!

Transactions:

• Milwaukee Brewers designated CF Chris Roller for assignment.
• Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of LHP Rob Zastryzny from Nashville Sounds.

Roller will be idle in Nashville until his status is resolved.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (unavailable for this date)
Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 6, Nashville 4
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:

The Sounds Keep It Close but Lose Tight Contest Versus the Jumbo Shrimp - Yonny Hernández and Patrick Dorrian have three hits in 6-4 defeat

That's encouraging, but Carlos F. Rodriguez' piggy-back line was not. Only one K - 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 HR.

Garrett Mitchell, as the designated hitter, opened the game with an infield single. He stole second base but was stranded. He grounded into a 6-3 double play in the 3rd, though a run scored (no RBI), but Mitchell did net an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field in the 6th. He would be pinch-hit for in the 7th. Pat Murphy indicated Mitchell would not be in Milwaukee for Sunday's game. Mitchell's 20-day rehab stint has ended, will he be officially optioned to AAA on Sunday?

Freddy Zamora has not played the last three games (.559 OPS in June).

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 7, Pensacola (Marlins) 2
Box Score and Game Log

Shuckers Fall to Pensacola on Late Home Run - Rodriguez extends hit streak to 11 games, on-base streak to career-best 19

Mike Boeve was 0-for-4 (no K's), but good to see him in the lineup for the first time since June 20th.

Not a lot going on offensively, but 2B Dylan O'Rae had his 3rd consecutive two-hit game, including a double. The 20-year-old has a .250/.353/.318 line through a still-small-sample 51 Biloxi plate appearances. Three of his eleven hits have been doubles.

Here's bit of the limited attack, though it was productive here:

From my co-reporter Daniel in our as-it-happens nightly forum thread:

After leading 2-1 since the 4th inning, Justin Yeager unfortunately couldn’t close it for Biloxi, allowing a 3-run homer with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning. He was ahead 0-1 to that batter and 0-2 to the prior hitter (singled).

Yoho and Holub are the true shut down guys, but Yeager can normally be counted on - he drops to 7-for-9 in save opportunities.

Solid work by Shane Smith, Bo Bowman, Sam Carlson and Justin King over 8 innings: 1 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 8 Ks

CF Carlos D. Rodriguez tripled in a run and scored in the 4th inning to give Biloxi the 2-1 advantage which nearly held up.

Thanks, Daniel.

You'll have an occasional game where you ask five pitchers to perform well, and only four do. It can be a lot to ask. Kaleb Bowman stranded a runner for Shane Smith, who threw 84 pitches over 4.1 innings (one BB, one HBP).

Wisconsin Pre-Game Doubleheader Media Notes
Final, Game One: Wisconsin 10, South Bend (Cubs) 1
Box Score and Game Log

Rattlers Run Away with First Game of Twinbill 

As we always encourage for Timber Rattlers home games, dig into that detailed game summary above, then allow these highlights to provide the visual follow-up for your enjoyment:

It was a third consecutive encouraging start for 23-year-old 2022 5th round RHP Will Rudy (15 K, only two BB over 16 innings during that stretch). 

All nine in the lineup can find a positive box score contribution, even in just the six T-Rat offensive frames (shortened twinbill games).

Third baseman Luke Adams (who also walked in the nightcap) reached base all four trips in this one (single, three walks). At the end of the night, Adams is 3rd in Midwest League OBP at .424, his 19 HBP's aiding that figure.

On base eight times between them on the day (five times in this opener), what a wonderful development year it's been for 20-year-old infielders Gregory Barrios and Jadher Areinamo.

***

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 6, South Bend (Cubs) 0
Box Score and Game Log

Timber Rattlers Complete the Sweep with a Shutout - Herrera and Fitzpatrick hold Cubs to four hits in 6-0 victory

Thank you, Rattlers, for removing some of the Cubs big-league sting on this day.

Fun day for these folks:

Att: 4,263.

Yujanyer Herrera and Brian Fitzpatrick combined to throw only 27 balls (non-strikes) in their 89 pitches. Fantastic.

Areinamo was on both sides of this stat, now 25-for-31 in SB attempts, he was 16-of-21 with Carolina in 2023.

22-year-old Jesus Chirinos was on base all three trips, now .232/.337/.404. He has had his moments (hello, Yu Darvish), but it's just so difficult to carve out a path to the majors via the 1B/DH route, When the Freddy Freeman's and Matt Olson's, and the like, start to wind down their careers, as MLB fans we'll need to be ready for a new breed of part-time/platoon players not just across the MLB level, but the minors as well. We're already seeing that on multiple fronts.

Final: Carolina 5, Lynchburg (Guardians) 3
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Beat Lynchburg

Four players reached base twice, and Yhoswar Garcia, playing LF, was on base thrice. If not for a 2-for-14 team line with RISP, the Mudcats could have pulled away further.

Garcia had the lone XBH (double) among the team's seven knocks, but young legs ran free, 9-for-9 in SB attempts. Daniel Guilarte (now 25-for-31 on the basepaths) and Garcia (38-for-43) swiped three apiece. Yes, Garcia leads the Carolina League (eight more than the next in line).

Infinitely entertaining infielder Juan Baez (remember him?) missed all the month of May, which saddens us.

Appearing for the first time in 15 days, 19-year-old RHP Bishop Letson came roaring back. maintaining his 1.18 WHIP on the season with five scoreless. Remember, the 2023 11th rounder out of an Indiana high school made his pro debut this year with the Mudcats, having been held back from Maryvale action last summer (like teammate Josh Knoth).

Newbie to affiliated ball, but well-armed with 24 games of indy ball experience, 25-year-old RHP Tyler Bryant will be targeted for Appleton soon enough (4.1 scoreless through his first three appearances, one walk, six K's).

Final: ACL Giants 11, ACL Brewers 4, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Rematch from Friday (a 5-4 A-Crew win) did not go as well, Maryvale down 9-1 after four innings in this Arizona matinee.

Maryvale had ten baserunners, but only three via base hit.

Two were singles, but the outlier knock was a two-run home run from 20-year-old Venezuelan catcher (DH'ing here) Edgardo Ordonez, his (wait for it) 7th of the season.

This is Ordonez' 4th year in the system, his first two in the DSL. Ordonez only knocked one over the fence with Maryvale in 2023, so this explosion is quite the offensive breakout we've barely talked about. It was pointed out in our discussion thread, however, that there is work to be done behind the plate.

As the ERA's in the box score will attest, the path to Carolina and beyond often begins with rough edges.

Final: DSL Brewers #1 Squad 6, DSL Orioles Orange 1
Box Score and Game Log

Team Uno moves to 12-8 on the season (standings), good for 2nd place in their division, now two games back of the team they defeated here.

A dynamic trio of 17-year-old's dominated atop the lineup, (8-for-14 at the plate - five of those hits doubles, 2-for-3 on the basepaths).

Third baseman Luis Pena leads the DSL in batting average (.493, not a mistype), is 5th in OBP at .547, 3rd in OPS at 1.263.

We have talked up shortstop Jesus Made's season often, but less so with Venezuelan native Juan Martinez, who has seen action at 3B, SS and 2B, as well as three games in left field. Martinez now sports a .297/.370/.438 line.

Speaking of 17-year-olds, compare the pretty lines for Manuel Moreno and Dariel Jaquez (Panama and the Dominican Republic, respectively), not just in this box score but when you compare their player pages, each having made their first four pro appearances thus far.

Final: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 11, DSL Astros Orange 2
Box Score and Game Log

It was a rough day for Orange-clad opponents, thanks to the two Cerveceros clubs.

Lots of stat-padding for this lineup.

Shortstop Moises Polanco (just assume everyone is 17 years old unless told otherwise) walked four times out of the leadoff spot, and his mates brought him across home plate each time, aided by Polanco's three successful base-stealing events.

Eleven of CF Jose Anderson's hits have gone for extra bases (seven doubles, four HR's). 

Catcher Luis Corobo and first baseman Frederi Montero each had big games. It's worth noting that each of the four players mentioned here are all first-year players.

What a great mound day. The three hurlers did not allow an earned run, walked one and fanned eight. Likewise, these were all first-year pro's, click on player pages should you wish to dig deeper (two have turned 18 years old, egad!)

It's just the four full-season affiliates on Sunday, and the Shuckers have conveniently scheduled a 5:05 Central start for you all to flip to Jacob Misiorowski's start after the Brewers take the weekend series from the Cubs. Enjoy!

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!