Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/9): Henderson, O’Rae, Patrick, Yophery Shine as Affiliates Sweep

For the week, Nashville, Biloxi and Wisconsin were each victorious in their series by a 4 games to 2 margin, while Carolina won its third game in a row to forge a 3-3 split.

Transactions:

• RHP Fabian Reyes transferred from DSL Brewers-2 to DSL Brewers-1

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 14, Louisville 3
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 Blow Out Bats in Series Finale, Clinch Winning Homestand

It took a few innings for RHP Chad Patrick (7 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 Ks) to find his groove, but the 25-year old was once again terrific in earning his 6th win of the 2024 campaign (season ERA 2.83).

C Francisco Mejia’s (3-for-4, HR, walk, sac fly, 4 RBIs) hot streak at the plate continued with his 5th multi-hit game in his 7-game hitting streak, tying the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning on a poorly placed 0-2 curveball.

Every hitter in the starting lineup collected at least one hit, with a whopping 7 Sounds having multiple in their 19-hit barrage in front of 6,101 joyful home fans. Of particular note, 2B Owen Miller and DH Eric Haase joined Mejia with 3-hit, 1-homer days, while right fielder Chavez Young collected 3 RBIs.

Sounds’ Extras:

• We don’t have any injury reports on 1B Tyler Black (missed 3 games) or OF Joey Wiemer (missed 2 games), so hopefully they magically re-appear on the lineup card on Tuesday evening. Also, until we know more, it’s best to assume that OF Isaac Collins was given a rest day.
• Credit INF Yonny Hernandez, playing left field in this game with a solid all-around game: 2 singles, a sacrifice fly and he collected an outfield assist.
• Perhaps forgotten on the Brewers’ 40-man roster, each of RHP Janson Junk (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – topped at 94mph), SS Vinny Capra (2-for-6, 2 RBIs, SB) and center fielder Chris Roller (2-for-4, double, walk, SB, 3 runs scored) demonstrated their continued value.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville will take the 4-hour drive southeast to take on Braves’ affiliate Gwinnett, with LHP Aaron Ashby ready to build on his last two encouraging outings (combined 12 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 8 walks, 8 Ks).

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 8, Montgomery 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Henderson, Campbell Star in Shuckers' Series-Clinching Win Against Biscuits

Since last year, we’ve been looking forward to RHP Logan Henderson’s rapid progression up two levels and he did NOT disappoint in his AA debut at first place Montgomery.

Handed a 4-0 lead before throwing his first pitch, Henderson was content to pound the zone (65 pitches, 49 strikes) over 5 efficient shutout innings, throwing at least 94mph: 5 IP, 0 R, 4 H (all singles), 1 BB, 3 Ks.

Right fielder Noah Campbell (3-for-4, HR, double, HBP, 4 RBIs) continues to lead the team’s resurgent offense, driving in 3 runs in the first inning and only needing a triple to complete the cycle.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Statement-making RHP Craig Yoho (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks) has gone from K’ing 37 of 77 batters faced in High-A (48%) to 13 of 22 hitters faced in AA ball (59%). Maybe Rick Sweet and AAA Nashville should test Yoho’s mettle very soon.
• Eight of the Shuckers’ nine position players reached base via walk or hit, including 3B Mike Boeve and C Andy Yerzy both reaching 3 times (2 singles, 1 walk). Will the relatively sparsely-playing Yerzy be Henderson’s personal catcher going forward?
• Be sure to check out Biloxi’s Twitter feed for more highlights, including left fielder Zavier Warren’s second homer of 2024.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi returns home to get revenge on Cubs’ affiliate Tennessee, who took 4 of 6 games against the Shuckers in early May. 24-year old RHP Shane Smith (3.74 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 12.8 K/9 in 33 2/3 IP) is expected to start the first game of the series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 6, Quad Cities 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Cardiac Rattlers Score Four in Ninth to Beat Quad Cities

We're once again privileged to have comprehensive video highlights from the Wisconsin media team:

We’ve also got a 26-minute post-game podcast from Mehring and Lobner, featuring comments from Manager Victor Estevez, along with Tayden Hall, Brian Fitzpatrick and Luke Adams.

As you undoubtedly surmised from the game link and video highlights, this was basically two games in one: a taut 2-1 contest through 8 innings, followed by a chaotic 8-run final frame to the delight of 4,003 home fans.

The lefty Fitzpatrick threw 56 pitches (3 shutout innings) in Tuesday’s game, but that didn’t stop him from recording career highs of 88 pitches and 6 shutout(!) innings as Manager Estevez went for the series win.

Offensively, it was 2B Dylan O’Rae’s show early (e.g. 2 singles, an RBI and his 30th stolen base of 2024 in the first 3 innings) and late: RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning to cut the deficit to 5-3, then scored the game-winning run on Hall’s walk-off sacrifice fly. 

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Recently-promoted RHP Bayden Root conceded 4 runs in this game and 3 runs in his last outing as he struggles to stake his claim to the closer role. RHP Yerlin Rodriguez was rather solid in this game (2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks), but a wild pitch knotted the game 1-1 in the top of the 8th inning. Might we see RHP Chase Costello get more high leverage opportunities going forward?
• Along with three hits from O’Rae and two from Hall, 3B Adams reached base five times (single, 4 walks) and SS Jadher Areinamo had 2 singles and a walk.
• It’s truly a team game: left fielder Jheremy Vargas’ outfield assist to stop the bleeding (down 5-2 at the time) in the top of the 9th inning may well have been a key difference-maker in the game’s final outcome.

Next week’s outlook: A boat-ride might be shorter, but I’m sure Wisconsin will take the 5.5-hour bus ride to Comstock, Michigan to battle Tigers’ affiliate West Michigan. LHP Mark Manfredi is scheduled to start the opening game on Tuesday.

Final: Carolina 6, Charleston 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Down RiverDogs, Split Series

Manager Nick Stanley’s troops responded incredibly well to dropping 3 straight games in Charleston to start the week, reeling off 3 consecutive wins to close out the week with a 5-game advantage over Lynchburg in the Carolina League North division.

Three first inning doubles from 2B Filippo Di Turi (2-for-3, double, walk, 2 runs), center fielder Yophery Rodriguez (2-for-3, triple, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) and left fielder Yhoswar Garcia gave RHP Josh Timmerman an early 2-0 lead, though the RiverDogs immediately responded with 2 runs on 2 hits of their own.

To his credit, Timmerman bounced back to notch his longest career outing: 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks, ultimately earning the Win, as Di Turi (leadoff single) and Rodriguez (RBI triple) came through again in the 6th inning to give Carolina a 3-2 lead. SS Cooper Pratt and DH Luis Castillo followed with singles in the same frame to help push the advantage to 5-2.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• RHP Brailin Rodriguez put in a particularly solid shift, covering 3 scoreless innings to raise a few eyebrows in the BrewerFanatic Minor League Forum: 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks – 40 pitches, 26 strikes. He’s still just 21 years old despite losing the 2022 season due to injury and struggling to rediscover his form in 2023.
• Handed the ball and a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the 9th inning, RHP Jeison Pena was unfortunately unable to take the queue from Brailin (throw strikes!), allowing 4 of 5 batters to reach base (2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 infield single, 1 K), so RHP Cristopher Carrasco had to enter with the bases loaded and 1 out while clinging to a 6-3 lead in front of 5,416 boisterous road fans.
• For the second time in three games, Carrasco was cool under pressure to collect the save, getting a swinging strikeout and then a fly out to preserve the Mudcats’ victory.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina hosts Nationals’ affiliate Fredericksburg this week, with 18-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguz (3.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 in 46 2/3 IP) most likely to get the ball in Game One.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Monday will see three Rookie-level affiliates in action, starting with our Dominican Summer League squads at 10:00am CST (DSL Uno hosts DSL Padres Gold, DSL Dos plays at DSL Athletics), then the ACL Brewers hosting the ACL Cubs at 8:00pm. In between, catch the Milwaukee Brewers hosting the Blue Jays at 7:10pm.

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