Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/3): Peña, Bitonti, and Cornielle Shine; Early News is Favorable for Brandon Woodruff's Elbow

• RHP Steven Cruz was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Biloxi Shuckers
• RHP Zach Peek was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• 1B/3B Gery Holguin was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Bishop Letson was placed on the 7-Day IL (retroactive to June 2nd - which means the after effects of last Tuesday's bullpen were not favorable in the end. Sigh.)
• C Ramón Rodríguez was placed on the full-season IL by the Biloxi Shuckers
• LHP Sam Garcia was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• C Jefferson Quero has been reinstated from the IL and assigned to the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Brandon Woodruff was assigned to the Nashville Sounds for another rehab outing (more below)
• C Nick Kahle was placed on the Development List by the Nashville Sounds

Final: Nashville 8, Gwinnett (Braves) 4

Via the Sounds website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Five-Run Eighth Helps Sounds Pull Away from Stripers - Jimmy Herron Leads the Way with Three-RBI Night

Box Score/Game Log

As alluded to in this article title: early news is trending in the right direction with RHP Brandon Woodruff. As to his brief outing, he came out barely touching 89 mph in a six pitch first inning. But, by the early second frame he was sitting 90-91 mph (at this point, we are at least hoping for that as the baseline). His slider was working quite well - sliding and dipping. He was pitching efficiently and fast. AND, then he took the now infamous (in the Brewers twitterverse) 108 mph come backer directly off his throwing arm. It looked just above his throwing elbow to me but everything we’re hearing out of Milwaukee is it was indeed the elbow. And, actually, the early results are favorable:

Clearly, we're not out of the woods yet. Personally, I'm hoping for an improbable laser-focused acupressure like come backer that actually pushes Woodruff's velocity above his previous norms. We're due for this kind of phenomenon. And, well, I'm obviously reeling. Prayers up for the Big Woo. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Hats off are definitely due for the sudden work needed from low-velo specialist LHP Josh Maciejewski. It's definitely not easy to come into a ball game under the circumstances he was called upon. But, he performed as well as we could have hoped for: 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 0 BB, 1 ER (he allowed an inherited runner to cross back to Woodruff's tab in the second frame). This included striking out the side in the fourth frame. He's not going to wow you but you'd be hard pressed to find better work from this young man. If he's not walking batters and he's nibbling the edges he can be a very effective AAAA pitcher. With tonight's much needed effort, he moved to 2-0 as a Sound.

2) C Jeferson Quero is definitely rusty. But, if this is his version of rusty we can work with what we're working with. He's still a very formidable presence behind home plate and he caught a few foul tips tonight helping out his pitchers. His lone throw out to second base was on an off-speed Maciejewski offering (which means upper 70's) and his pop time was well above 2.00 seconds. The throw also never got to the bag - rather, a couple feet up the 3B line. So, that was not optimal and didn't leave us feeling peachy. He also has very clearly never worked with a replay system - he left a couple strikes out there. And, actually, his relief arm in RHP Jesus Liranzo had to challenge a ball call himself to strike out the final batter in a two on two out scenario in the eighth inning. Very clearly, Quero just leapt from the desert to the humid air of the International League. He went 1-for-5 with 2 K on the evening with the bat in his hands.

3) There are several things to note about the veterans on this Sounds ball club - this is an easy routine feat with guys like Anthony Siegler; Bobby Dalbec; Jimmy Herron and Eddie Rosario. But, I'm going to pivot and shine a little light on the increasing 'becoming a savvy veteran' trend we are seeing from INF Freddy Zamora. He is truly beginning to grab our attention. I personally don't put as much investment in his current 0.304 BA as I continue to want more consistent and more meaningful contact - he continues to mostly be a singles hitter with below average exit velocities (only six XBH in 121 PA) and an over-pronounced BABIP. What I am seeing more than anything in 2025: consistent professional approach and plus defense. This means everything for Zamora's future potentials as a MLB utility infielder candidate. He is playing truly smooth and impactful flawless defense on a near night-in and night-out basis. I just don't know if he makes this play in his mistake-laden time in Biloxi:

We always knew the athleticism and agility were there but I personally didn't know if he had the focus and dialed-in capacity. He also successfully stole home base in a perfectly timed and executed double steal in the bottom of the eighth:

These are winning baseball plays. Outside the Hall of Statistical Over-Importance, these are the things we nightly viewers notice and appreciate above and beyond all the other noise. The dugout was emphatically noisy during this play, lemme tell ya. Zamora's teammates have come to truly appreciate what he is bringing on series-by-series basis. 2025 has been a very very good year in this department of organizational depth.

With the victory, the Sounds improved to 34-23. Let's be frank: nobody is catching Lehigh Valley. The Iron Pigs remain 7.5 G ahead of both the Sounds and Jacksonville. 

Final: Biloxi 2, Montgomery (Rays) 0

Shuckers Blank Biscuits Behind Cornielle's Brilliant Start - Shuckers Ace Tosses Six, Retires 17 of Last 19 Batters Faced

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

With 17 games remaining, the Shuckers extended their divisional lead to 3.0 G over these same Biscuits. This was a big game one victory. The Shuckers pitching staff is in shut down mode: they've allowed a mere four runs over their last four games. Yowza. Through 10 Double-A starts, RHP Alexander Cornielle is now sporting a 2.02 ERA. He is legitimately very much becoming a 'someone' before our very eyes in 2025. All that Low-A and High-A dreaming is shaping into a baseball reality. It's a beautiful thing. We all know: the Double-A transition is quite often the great separator. Well, Cornielle is very much proving he belongs. 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 5 K, 0 R. He needed 86 pitches throwing 51 strikes. What stuck out the most in the outing? His plan and his execution. He and C Darrien Miller pitched a master class together. Everything had a plan and a reason. Very very few pitches felt unimportant or lost in the shuffle. If, for any reason or reasons, Cornielle wasn't really on your radar...it is time. He improved to 3-1 on his young season. And, at just 23 years of age and with his frame and build there is room to keep growing. He is comfortably sitting 93 mph right now. Touching 94 (and, occasionally, 95) throughout his outings. I think he'll keep getting stronger and more embodied. In other words, I continue to believe there are even higher levels yet to touch here.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) It's time to seriously discuss RHP Tyler Bryant. Toss those ugly moments of April in the trash. What we are seeing now? It's Big League stuff. He sits 95 with high riding heat that touches 96-97 mph. He can plop in the curve as the change of pace sneak-a-strike. He can absolutely wow with what many call a slider. If you've seen the pitch...it deserves its own name - I guarantee you StatCast would love its shape. It moves, it bends, it disappears. It gets those coveted flailing swinging strikes. He has reached a new level over the past month plus. He picked up his third Hold in his 1.0 IP of 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K work. His 5.23 ERA won't catch your fancy. For those in the know: this is a name and a pitcher you absolutely need to keep tabs on. And, thankfully, we know our man Javik Blake knows what he's looking at:

2) With the offense continuing to muster very little (hats off to RF Garrett Spain for collecting the sole multi-hit night), let's stay where the Shuckers are buttering their bread: the pithcing. RHP Justin Yeager grabbed his ninth Save working around a single. Is there a more impressive early bounce back pitching candidate than LHP Nate Peterson? He pitched another scoreless outing: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K. If everything holds for Peterson over the course of the entire season, he is on pace to allow 1/3rd fewer long balls in 2025. He is still putting a few too many men on base over the stretch of his entire work but he's not getting killed with the long ball and he's getting opportune outs. This is a big step in the right direction for a very important utility pitcher for manager Joe Ayrault. 

With the win, the Shuckers improved to 31-21 on their season. As mentioned above, they now lead second place Montgomery (28-24) by 3.0 G.

Final: Carolina 10, Charleston (Rays) 0

Mudcats Blast Charleston in Series Opener - Bitonti Blasts a Home Run in Third Consecutive Game

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

RHP Travis Smith pitched a much sharper game tonight. Unlike the greater portion of the month of May, he limited base runners by limiting meaningful contact while avoiding multiple runner scenarios on the base paths. As a matter of fact, in just tonight's outing alone he reduced his season-long BAA to 0.285 - down from 0.313 before the contest. His final line reads 4 2/3 IP of 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0 R work. He continues to very much discover who he is a starter but there continue to be tools in the kit worth sharpening and fine-tuning. This is a very good start to his June. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) SS Luis Peña continually proves he's an absolute force to be reckoned with on the baseball diamond. Return from an injury on the base paths? How about a Carolina League 'Player of the Week' award? Tonight, he once again showcased his innate ability to rip those high outside pitches oppo for multiple bases:

Fly indeed, Chris Edwards. Peña also swiped his 23rd base of his season. This young man is electric.

2) 1B Eric Bitonti mashed his fifth home run in three games with an absolute nuke over the center field wall:

They come in bunches for this young man. Hearing how hard he works on his craft, this ongoing recent scorching run of long balls is a true pleasure to witness. He also made several very savvy defensive plays at first base throughout his evening - the glove and the movements were very fluid. He made his mark in more ways than one.

3) Let us not forget the 3-for-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B evening from 3B Jesus Made. Made has a unique ability to hit with meaning to the opposite field. His first inning double was a reach slice hot shot to the left field corner. He continues to display this innate sense of strength and power - he often makes it look effortless. Considering he is also filling in as a lead-off bat for this young Mudcats team while showing an improving defensive presence, it's too easy to take his level of talent for granted. I implore you: don't. 

WIth the victory, the Mudcats improved to 34-16 on their season. With Lynchburg's 8-3 loss at Salem, the Mudcats now lead their division by 4.0 G. With the Mudcats heading to Lynchburg next week, we'll want to keep a close eye on both the ongoing Mudcats and Hillcats series this week.

Final: ACL Brewers 11, ACL Cubs 2

Box Score/Game Log

The ACL Crew got back to 'Crewsing' and all they needed was a 'battle' versus the lowly last place (5-17) ACL Cubs to get back right. Music to my ears. RHP Jayden Dubanewicz did the heavy lifting with 5 2/3 IP of 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K work. Along with RHP Ethan Dorchies, Dubanewicz continues to make a strong early impression in the young Brewers high school drafted pitching ranks. Both runs plated against the Crew came versus RHP Griffin Tobias in his 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 ER work. Tobias did throw 28 strikes in 38 total pitches. There is a bevy of offensive production in this one:

11 Walks to 8 strikeouts obviously sticks out. More than anything, for this old farmer, what I continue to notice is SS Jorge Quintana's ongoing hot streak. He is right smack dab in the middle of 'the discussion'. Going back to May 19th, Quintana is 19-for-50 (0.380 BA) over that span. 6 2B, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 10 K, 6 SB. Keep an eye on this young man as he should no longer be an afterthought if he was during his slow start. It's also quite nice to see CF Handelfry Encarnacion back in the line up. This young man just continues to produce in meaningful ways.

With the win, the ACL Brewers move to 17-6 on their season. They have pushed their divisional lead to 4.5 G over the ACL Angels.

Final: DSL Cleveland Mendoza 12, DSL Brewers Blue 11

Box Score/Game Log

The DSL Brewers Blue fell to 1-1 in an absolute classic of a mid-morning Dominican brand of baseball. Get this: the Brewers Blue led 5-0 in the middle innings and they had not mustered a single hit. Ahhhhhh, yes I can feel that early summer breeze as I type up this recap. It got a little better later - they managed to break up the ‘No-No’ and take a lead in the process. Despite grabbing this 11-8 late lead, however, the Brewers Blue fell in a walk-off echoing the style of their early lead: two consecutive bases loaded wild pitches. And so it goes in summer island baseball.

Of note in this contest, C Johanderson Tarazona (a young man whojust turned 17 years old yesterday) hit two doubles and crossed the plate twice in a 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 SB day. DH Jefer Lista (also 17 years old) went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, 1 BB, and 1 SB. 2B Jhoanjel Saez - who turned 18 years old back on April 13th - did some heavy lifting in the eight spot with a 1-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB day. And, in the nine-hole 1B Joan Gutierrez - an elder statesman at 19 years old in his third year in the Dominican Summer League - managed to get on base three times in an 0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 R day at the dish. 2025 International Free Agent class headliner, super-talented OF Brailyn Antunez has yet to gather a hit in his first 10 PA’s. He has walked three times, while striking out twice, and he collected two of the nine total stolen bases for the Blue today. All told, the Brewers Blue stranded eight base runners and executed to a 3-for-11 mark with RISP. They’ll look to improve in both areas in the days and weeks ahead.

The pitching ledger looks a bit bleak in a contest like this. I can say, Panamanian RHP Manuel Moreno appeared to hit his stride during his 3.0 IP of 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 ER work. He handed over an 11-10 lead to third-year DSL Brewer, RHP Lenin Mendez who promptly gave up consecutive singles. After a pop out to 1B, he walked the next batter. AND, two pitches later the tying and winning runs crossed via wild pitch.

The DSL Brewers Blue will hit the diamond once again Thursday when they face the undefeated DSL Padres Gold (2-0).

Final: DSL Royals Fortuna 5, DSL Brewers Gold 4

Box Score/Game Log

The DSL Brewers Gold fell to 0-2 on their young season having lost two consecutive one-run affairs. After yesterday’s two-run long ball, OF Kenny Fenelon added two more singles to his early season work with a 2-for-4, 1 K day at the dish. 2B Jose Martinez singled twice, scored a run, and swiped two bags in a 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 SB day at the plate. C Jonathan Rangel is indeed a thing as he played his first full game behind the plate. He tripled twice in a 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 3B day but he was also charged with a first inning two-out catcher’s interference that ultimately extended the frame and partially led to two runs crossing. LF Francis Sosa also added a solo shot as part of the Gold’s four-run output. On the pitching side of the ledger, we see RHP Josue Toledo pitched 4.0 IP of 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 R ball. RHP Gustavo Garcia started for the Gold and ultimately took the loss after his 2 2/3 IP of 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 5 R (3 ER) work. His throwing error, after Rangel’s interference, ultimately led to two unearned runs.

The Gold will look to bounce back Thursday when they face the also winless DSL Orioles Orange.

That's a wrap for tonight. With the DSL squads taking their mid-week day off, we'll get the early Wisconsin doubleheader to fill that bill. RHP's Ryan Birchard and RHP Stiven Cruz will get the nods. Here's hoping both young men will thrive back as starters. RHP Jack Hostetler will take the bump in game two at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. LHP Bruce Zimmerman will try and give his team a quality start as the Sounds look to jump to a 2-0 series lead over Gwinnett. Ascending RHP Brett Wichrowski will look to continue the thread of dominant Shuckers pitching in Biloxi. And, the ACL Brewers will return to action in the evening desert air.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
MiLB Audio Links
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!