Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/5): LHP Anthony Flores Dominant in 2023 Debut DSL Start; 1B/OF/DH Yeison Perez Continues to Mash Stateside

Transactions:

• INF Mike Brosseau was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers
• INF Luis Urias was activated by the Milwaukee Brewers - he had previously been rehabbing with the Sounds

AND, we have a proverbial buffet of activity and announcements in the DSL./ACL realm. Due to the massive number of transactions in and amongst all teams, I am simply going to let you sift through all the names and movement HERE or, hey, get frisky and visit our Transactions Thread HERE. By the early afternoon, PST, I counted 47 assignments and named roster moves amongst the DSL and ACL squads. 😳 

Of possible special note in the slurry of transactions, and astutely pointed out by our very own @damuelle HERE, is the fact the Brewers have indeed promoted 17-year-old Venezuelan flamethrower RHP Aldrin Gonazlez directly stateside to the ACL:

Game Balls:

• Last year's highest paid (bonus pool) International Free Agent pitching signee, LHP Anthony Flores, was phenomenal in his first outing of 2023. After a mostly disappointing 2022, it is absolutely wonderful to see a 4 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 8 K first trip to the hill. This included striking out the side in the first frame.
• OF Antony Gomez got aboard the bags three times in his first game - a single and two free passes. He also swiped 4 bases. Count them: 4. We'll honor that type of impact any day of the week.
• Cuban outfielder, Idalberto Santiesteban, opened his Brewers career with a 4-for-4 day at the dish (1 2B). A heck of a debut for the 18-year-old November 2022 signee.
• DH/1B/OF Yeison Perez had an incredible debut for the ACL Brewers. Maybe, just maybe, the coaching staff will re-consider batting him in the 9-Hole. A solo jack and a bases clearing triple in the pivotal sixth inning filled out his 2-for-4, 4 RBI evening.
• INF Jhonny Severino had a fantastic debut stateside after a solid DSL season in 2022. 3-for-5, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 R, 1 RBI is what we call 'the stuff'. 

** Honorable Mention: I need to give a nod to OF Reidy Mercado and his three-bagger as well as two outfield assists from CF. Fine work for the young outfielder. And, finally, INF Juan Baez really came on in key situations in the late innings to advance the above-mentioned Severino into scoring position or across the dish. He also added a double in the 9th frame to complete a 3-for-5 evening. 

Final: DSL Brewers #1 4, DSL Athletics 2 
Box Score/Game Log

Seven of nine starters in this debut are first year DSL Brewers players - quite exciting. The highlight of this game was the above-mentioned performance by LHP Anthony Flores. However, the entire pitching staff had 17 K's on the day - RHP Jesael Cabrera (3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 6K) and RHP Yonawil Florimon (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 3 K) tag teamed quite well aiding a winning end result. The Brewers Uno did manage 12 hits, however they were quite inept on the day with RISP (3-for-14). They will look to improve that production moving forward. Aside from the standout performance of OF Idalberto Santiesteban, we see highly-touted signee 17-year-old INF Kevin Ereu was 1-for-3, 2 BB, 1 K, and 2 SB. A solid debut showing in his own right.

Final: DSL Brewers #2 11, DSL Braves 7
Box Score/Game Log

As above, seven of nine starters in this DSL Brewers #2 debut are first year Brewers players. Leading 9-2 after three innings and 11-3 after six innings, the Brewers Dos managed to hold on - the most important result for these young men. In true DSL fashion, three of the Brewers #2 four first runs reached via error or wild pitch. Ah, the scintillating tastes of summer baseball in the DSL! Another inept performance with RISP for the DSL Brewers, the Dos managed a meager 3-for-17 in such scenarios. Let's remember: these are extremely young men on the baseball diamond and they're looking to make their best first impressions. Nicaraguan starter, 17-year-old Bryan Rivera, got the opening nod here (his second DSL season for the Brewers) and though he gave up three earned runs in 4 1/3 IP (2 HR) we do see a significant jump in K's with 7 on the day. This might be something to track moving forward. Of particular note, scanning the box score, is the productivity from the bottom of the Brewers #2 batting order: a combined 4-for-10, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB amongst the trio of INF Luis Lameda; INF Pedro Ibarguen; and INF/OF Smarlin Espinal.

Final: ACL Brewers 8, ACL Rangers 4
Box Score/Game Log

It's no secret 1B/OF/DH Yeison Perez was a man crush of mine in last summer's DSL season. When I tuned into the play-by-play and saw they had put him in the 9-hole of the batting order I nearly gasped. "How could they?!?"😅 I imagine that may change quite soon. He did the very same thing tonight we saw throughout 2022 down in the DSL: mash. A solo jack in the fifth frame. A bases clearing lead-taking triple to the deepest part of the park in the sixth frame. Zesty! INF's Jhonny Severino and Juan Baez, as alluded to above, were pivotal in the top of the order. After trailing throughout the early going 3-1, the Brewers really came on in the sixth frame plating five runs. It was a lead they would not relinquish. A special tip of the proverbial cap is due to RHP Gerson Calzadilla who shut things down throughout the key late innings ensuring the ACL Brewers victory in a scoreless 4 IP.

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!