Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/5): DSL Teams Debut and Win Two; T-Rats Comeback and Steal Another in Lara's Return

Transactions:

• OF Luis Lara was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• RHP Janson Junk was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Tobias Myers was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• LHP Aaron Ashby was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• OF Chavez Young was activated off Nashville's 'Temporarily Inactive List'
• RHP Ayendy Bravo was activated by the DSL Brewers Uno

Final: Nashville 3, Louisville (Reds) 3 - Suspended after 11 Innings (to resume tomorrow)

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):

Sounds Game Versus Louisville Suspended Due to Rain 

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

Well, it's a shame this one ended the way it did. Coming off the heels of his International League 'Pitcher of the Month' award, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez was simply put: sensational. He pitched 5 1/3 IP of extremely efficient 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 7 K ball. At just 74 pitches, one has to wonder if this was a planned pull to prepare him for a possible call-up. I certainly hope that's the case: strike while the iron is hot. Rodriguez is a pitcher who has adjusted to the ABS but he's also a pitcher who thrives with standard human umpiring. He's been on a tear and tonight was merely emphasizing how hot he has been. Now, this is the change-up we grew to love in Biloxi:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) SS Freddy Zamora is going to lament failing to execute in the 9th and 11th innings with runners aboard and chances to walk it off. He flew out harmlessly to RF in his first opportunity. He popped out even weaker to the infield grass to end the 11th before the rain suspension. As an aside: with runners on first and second base and nobody down, the game tied, and the relief pitcher not having thrown a strike...why are we sacrifice bunting with C Francisco Mejía? It went about as poorly as you'd imagine. The Sounds had momentum. They simply handed it over without cause.

2) With INF Vinny Capra mired in a bit of a funk, my 'what if' mind likes to wonder if LF/2B Isaac Collins doesn't nab one of those coveted 40-man roster designations. I'm not suggesting anything whatsoever here. Capra is a likable professional utility player and is always available. BUT, it certainly isn't hard to make a case for the threat Collins has become in that batting order on a nightly basis. He caused more havoc tonight hitting his 16th double while earning two free passes. What a season he has had. What a revelation he has been.

3) The missed opportunities. The failure to capitalize in extra innings. None of this would have mattered had 3B Owen Miller simply handled the ground ball to 3B with runners on the corners and two down in the top of the eighth. He botched the corral - he got ahead of the play. A run scored. For a young man trying to stick back with the big club, a young man who has struggled to make a mark with his bat in his call-ups, the defense has to be automatic. I'm sure he'll want that one back. 

Lastly, it's a 1B Tyler Black homer. His 9th of the year. The defense at 1B? As inconsistent and unreliable as ever. The bat? 

Final: Montgomery (Rays) 9, Biloxi 2

Shuckers Fall in Season Opener to Biscuits - Pitching Duel Early Turns to Late Offense

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

Biloxi's woeful slide to the bottom continues. They've now lost 11-of-12 and are 13 games under 0.500. The best part of this one? When the game was knotted 0-0 through three innings. That's about all there is to it. What a time that was - a proverbial Southern League cellar renaissance.

RHP Shane Smith was fantastic through 3 IP. Then he had a minor hiccup by giving up a lead-off single to center field to the speedy Chandler Simpson. Simpson took second base quite easily on a steal. After a fly out to Noah Campbell in right field, the wheels just kind of quickly fell off some for the talented hurler - the hiccup turned into several more. RBI single, walk, walk, force out at home, RBI single. And, just like that, his night was over. Despite only tossing 3 1/3 total innings, Smith continues to showcase the weapon he is. He ended his work with 3 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, and 5 K. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing. 

Two (Very) Quick Throws to First Base:

1) I can't help but wonder how deeply that metal caged helmet is impacting 3B Brock Wilken. He's getting under everything. Lotta harmless pop flies to nowhere. This is not anything remotely the same as the offensive weapon we saw throughout 2023 and early 2024 before breaking his face. We can only hope Wilken turns it around - there's entirely too much talent in that young man's bat to be nearing a dip below the Mendoza Line.

2) With EBJ in a season-long slump of futility at the dish, he needs to ensure his defense continues to be a plus at shortstop. He's had a handful of errors of late. Tonight's throwing error was as routine as it gets in terms of a groundout - plenty of time to corral and throw. He simply sailed the ball up line. We can't have those with the bat as inept in 2024 as it has been. And, boy, has his bat been inept. The struggle is mighty real.

Final: Wisconsin 6, Quad Cities (Royals) 5

Rally Rattlers Win Late Again - Wisconsin Scores Four in Eighth Inning to Beat Quad Cities 6-5

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

LHP Tate Kuehner is really coming on and validating what I said after his first few outings for High-A Wisconsin: he has 'stuff' and it plays. After today's work, that's also two eight strikeout outings over his last three starts. The 23-year-old lefty from Louisville can now toss in a six-inning Quality Start as today featured his longest outing of his season. He needed 95 pitches to do so (throwing 61 strikes) and needed only 10 pitches to finish off his final sixth frame. All told, he gave his teammates 6 IP of 4 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 8 K ball.

Full Game Highlights:

Post-Game Pod:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I've discussed the impact of a more dialed RHP Stiven Cruz as a reliever in 2024. Well, today, was definitely not as smooth. In a lefty dominant Quad Cities lineup, Cruz struggled mightily to get anything effective going versus the Southpaws. Mainly, the Bandits hitters from the left side sat on his flat four-seamer and pounced. 2 HR surrendered - a two-run and a solo jack. There's no getting around it, the going was tough: 2 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 HR, 3 ER, 2 K (both versus righty bats). His season ERA goes back above five at 5.09 on the season.

2) Just as inauspicious as Cruz's outing was, RHP Aaron Rund's was equally as inspiring. Rund picked up his very first affiliated Save in his very first Save Opportunity. Nothing sloppy. No apparent jitters. Just a pitcher staying within himself and doing what he's done all season: pitch with impact while nobody notices😅. Well, I see you Mr. Rund. You are having an incredible season to date. Rund has conceded a mere three runs over 19 1/3 relief innings. He has tailing movement on his 94-95 mph heat. He doesn't leave anything meaty in his off-speed arsenal. He hasn't conceded a long ball to date. Take notice. He'll turn 25 years old mid-month. Let's hope he keeps churning and can get to a more age-appropriate environment in Double-A.

3)  Let us simply enjoy having another meaningful weapon in the T-Rats arsenal now that OF Luis Lara is healthy again. He made his standard casual broad coverage catches in the center field grass. He caused havoc like he typically does. Oh, and how about a game-winning two-rbi 0-2 single ripped to right field to win the ball game?

Final: Charleston (Rays) 5, Carolina 4

Mudcats Rally Falls Short in Charleston - Division Lead Falls to 3.5 G

Box Score / Game Log  

RHP Daniel Corniel once again struggled mightily in the third frame - his second consecutive rough 3rd inning of work. Entering the fourth frame, he had hit two batters and gave out two additional free passes. This being said, let's not lay all the blame at Corniel's feet. Some rough play at 1B by newly-seasoning Reece Walling and a questionable decision, at best, by 2B Daniel Guilarte to throw home in a men on second and third scenario all played their parts. Either way, Corniel is certainly facing a rough patch in his young career. What he lacks at present is one simple thing: consistency. Consistency finding the zone. Consistency staying in and around it. It's a testament to Corniel, he dug deep and managed to pitch five complete. No small feat considering the struggles in that third frame.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Some players just can not shake their reputation. RHP Jeison Pena is currently one of these players. In his second Low-A season, Pena may be even more wild in 2024 - which is saying something. He allowed two runs in the sixth frame and didn't allow a single hit. He opened the frame with a ball launched roughly six feet high and outside the zone to the back stop. In a 3-1 ball game, that is a tough pill to swallow. All told Pena pitched 2/3rd an inning with 0 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 1 HBP, and 2 ER. In the abbreviated outing, his ERA ballooned back above seven to a ripe old 7.13 in 17 2/3 IP overall. 

2) OF/1B Reece Walling plays the first base bag like a player who has spent that past season plus as an outfielder. I don't mean this in any overall negative tone - it's simply the truth. Tonight was a night where the ball seemed to find Walling early and often and not a single play was executed with ease. He was charged with an error on a hard hit but playable chopper that absolutely ate him up glove side. Covers and communication with Corniel were challenged. We'll chalk this one up to the necessary road he must travel to develop the versatility the organization covets.

3) The Mudcats managed to get the bases juiced in the eighth. They plated all three runs - two of which crossed on a fantastic piece of opposite field first pitch hitting by INF Miguel Briceno

However, in the end, the Muddies will lament their ineptitude with RISP (4-for-14) and the possibility of a serious injury to the glove hand (HBP) of their highly reliable LF Yoshwar Garcia. He gave way to struggling OF Reidy Mercado who grounded out weakly to the pitcher to end the game with the bases juiced. It sure would be nice to have a healthy Kay-Lan Nicasia back on the lineup cards!

**A Quick DSL Brewers Note: For Baseball America subscribers like myself, review THIS late May article reviewing the Brewers 2024 International Class by BA's Ben Badler. Several nuggets in here. **

Final: DSL Brewers Uno 7, DSL Padres Gold 5
Box Score / Game Log

Jesus Made was one of the headliners of the 2024 International class. He did not disappoint in game one. He opened with a homer and followed with a two-bagger in a 2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K morning. That's stellar stuff from the young man - we can only hope it continues. Home runs. Doubles. Forever. Fellow 2024 International class headliner, 3B Luis Pena, also had a fantastic day at the dish: 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 2 SB. The early returns from the big names have a lot of fireworks and big dreams. One game, you say? Ohhhhhhh no. We're casting ballots. It wasn't all roses and unicorns, however, the Cerveceros Uno will lament their 3-for-11 with RISP. On the pitching side of things, the only blemish free outing was from second year RHP Saul Sanchez 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 K, 0 R. He picked up the victory. For any other inquiries, simply click on that 'Box Score/Game Log' link above and take a dive into the DSL waters.

Final: DSL Brewers Dos 10, DSL Tampa Bay 9 (10-Inning Extras)
Box Score / Game Log

The DSL Brewers Dos showed quite a bit of heart in this first game. Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth frame, the Crew outscored Tampa 10-4 over the next five innings. Every batter collected at least one knock - none more important than lead-off, and 2024 International Class top headliner, SS Jorge Quintana's (1-for-5, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS) 10th inning game-winning triple. Five Brewers Dos batters collected two hits. With Quintana slotted in at shortstop one of last year's headliners, INF Kevin Ereu, was slotted in at second base. He batted behind Quintana and acquitted himself quite nicely on the day: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB. 2024 signee, INF Frederi Montero (who played first base in this one), appears to have had the most impressive batting performance overall in the Brewers 14 hit team effort. Batting clean-up, Montero managed a 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 3B day. From Badler's Baseball America linked just above:

Quote

Frederi Montero, SS, Dominican Republic: Montero, 17, showed power projection at an early age. He has leaned out some (6-foot-2, 185 pounds), flashing signs of lefthanded power now with more to come as he continues to get stronger, with a likely power-over-hit offensive game. Signed for $300,000, Montero trained as a shortstop when he was an amateur, though he will likely see more time at third base in pro ball. 

There's quite a bit to look over in that offensive box score for the Brewers Dos, however. Take a look. On the pitching side of things, firstly you have to admire RHP Jesus Broca (2023 signing out of Mexico) working around men on 2nd and 3rd base in the 10th with only one down striking out consecutive batters. You love to see that type of performance from a 20-year-old. Also of note, both multiple inning performers - RHP's Argenis Aparicio (2nd year) and Alejandro Parra (DSL rookie) - tallied 6 K's in their innings. 

That's a wrap for my report duties this fine early week of June as I again hand duties back to Daniel and Jim. Let's hope for better news in Charleston and Montgomery as this week advances. It's going to be a full nine game buffet tomorrow - both DSL squads will take to the diamond in the morning and the ACL Crew will be back at it late and we'll toss in the resumption of the Sounds 12th inning before their scheduled game. Many an intriguing arm will take the hill so tune in throughout. 

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

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