Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/17): Friday Wins Tough to Come By (Thank you, Biloxi)

Although the Shuckers were the lone victors among the full-season squads, there were individual efforts of note throughout the system, and the Dominican youngsters were twice victorious.

Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers optioned LHP Jared Koenig to Nashville Sounds
• Nashville Sounds released SS Eddys Leonard.
• RHP Cameron Wagoner assigned to Nashville Sounds from Biloxi Shuckers.
• LF Jacob Hurtubise assigned to Nashville Sounds from Biloxi Shuckers.
• RHP Will Childers assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Nashville Sounds.
• Wilson Warbirds activated OF Nick Monile from the Development List.
• Milwaukee Brewers signed SS Trey Ebel.
   

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (unavailable)
Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 4, Nashville 2
Box Score and Game Log

Considering this was a home game, a little surprising that the Sounds were offline, at least as of this morning's "post time". No media notes, no game summary. This is from the Tides:

"Norfolk rallied late, using a two-run 7th inning and a final insurance run in the 9th to break a 2-2 tie. In the 7th, Luis Vázquez delivered a go-ahead triple that scored Ryan Noda, and Vázquez himself later scored on a balk. The Tides added a final run in the 9th on a sacrifice fly by Vázquez, which brought José Barrero home. Barrero was active on the basepaths throughout the night, stealing two bases in the final frame.

Norfolk starter Cade Povich pitched five innings, allowing two solo home runs-one to Luke Adams in the 2nd and one to Jeferson Quero in the 4th. The Tides' bullpen was effective in relief, with Josh Walker earning the win and Jose Espada recording his second save of the season. Despite a 28-minute rain delay early in the contest, the Tides managed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, while their defense held the Sounds scoreless from the 5th inning onward."

Quero has been nothing but a designated hitter for several weeks now, so it'd take a surprise promotion or an outside acquisition if the big-league catcher tandem were in any way sidelined.

Eight days off brought this 24-year-old back strong!

As soon as Hardin exited, normally solid RHP Reiss Knehr (actual first name David, who knew?) walked the first man he faced, not ideal. An RBI triple followed, that tied the game at 2-2, and Knehr then balked in the go-ahead run.

Best succeeding chance for the Sounds came in the bottom of the 8th, when a two-out threat materialized as Tyler Black had an infield single to first and surprise, Luke Adams was hit by a pitch. Quero grounded out.

We thought that the All-Star Break might have brought Jett Williams (wrist) back Friday, but not the case.

Catch up with the latest Biloxi pre-game audio interview archives 

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Pensacola (Marlins) 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

O'Rae Makes History in Shuckers Series-Opening Win - Adamczewski records multi-hit performance, Shuckers pitching strands 10 baserunners

Is a .446 2026 OBP for Josh A. good? Seems good. He also walked.

Andrew Fischer the designated hitter for the 11th time in 2026. Mike Boeve had the night off as Jheremy Vargas got the start at third base. Here for Andrew vs. a southpaw - it's just another aspect of Fischer's numbers that are off the chart - 1.137 OPS vs. LHP's is higher than his 1.122 OPS vs. righties.

40-for-48 on the season, 83.3% success rate:

A bit unusual to go with a bullpen game out of the box post-break, but RHP Travis Smith did very well in the four-inning bulk role.

Shuckers were only 3-for-6 in stolen base attempts and there were three infield errors (Blake Burke, O'Rae, Jesús Made), so escaped with a win seems fair. Made did walk twice.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 13, Wisconsin 10
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: 

Bandits Outslug Timber Rattlers - Wisconsin falls to Quad Cities in series opener

Be sure to catch Luis Pena's defensive gem at shortstop at the 03:00 minute mark. Pena reached base five times, by the way. Plus, pretty sure Braylon Payne would tell us that he should have caught the crushing two-out, three-run double at the 03:40 mark.
 

Hope you read the game summary, and my-oh-my, the tale of two teams not taking advantage of wildness and then taking advantage of wildness in the bottom of the 3rd / top of the 4th. The Rattlers were not the beneficiaries.

There were 22 free passes issued in this game (BB's and HBP's), which helps explain this:

T: 3:41.

Not only did RHP Tanner Perry strand three runners for Jose Meneses, but he also tacked on two scoreless frames. RHP Garrett Hodges allowed one run late but otherwise had a strong outing. The outings for LH starter Wande Torres, Meneses, and Daniel Corniel were uncharacteristically ineffective.

The High-A samples are small - 12 and 7 games, respectively - but the early post-promotion work of OF Tyler Rodriguez (.985 OPS) and C Yannic Walther (.997) is worth noting, among the reasons the Wisconsin offense has continued to produce in the wake of the Fischer and Adamczewski bumps to Biloxi.

Bonus points for the video package including the word "slobberknocker" considering it was Wrestling Night at the ballpark.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Hickory (Rangers) 7, Wilson 5
Box Score and Game Log

Late Rally Lifts Hickory Past Wilson - Warbirds hit three home runs in loss

If Myrtle Beach has by far the best broadcast set-up in the Carolina League (heck, perhaps in all of baseball), then we learn Hickory is on the other end of that spectrum, at least on home run balls.

Did you catch Trey Ebel's booth interview during the Brewers broadcast? Catch a small portion of it here.

This unfortunate Brady Ebel throw to the plate in the 8th allowed the Crawdads to take a 6-5 lead. Ebel was charged with an error.

Starting RHP Jacob Morrison didn't issue any free passes and six of his 11 outs recorded were via strikeout, but he allowed a home run and double among seven hits (five runs, four earned).

Final: ACL D-Backs 10, ACL Brewers 6, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

The free-falling A-Crew drops to 25-30. There are only five games remaining in the Arizona Complex League season, so Maryvale won't be over .500 for 2026.

Things looked good early, Brewers up 4-0 after one inning in Maryvale. I'll invite you to review that game log as three runs crossed the plate before the good guys even had a base hit. Maryvale received ten free passes in all for the game.

• Team RISP: 1-for-10.
• Team LOB: 8.

Good to see Jonathan Rangel back after exiting early from the catcher position Wednesday. He played first base here.

Maryvale pitchers walked nine of their own, and the ERA column in the box score indicates it's been a rough season for those involved.

Shortstop CJ Hughes (DH'ing here) is now 15-for-20 in stolen base attempts.

Final: DSL Brewers Blue 10, DSL Tampa Bay 2
Box Score and Game Log

The Men in Blue reached base a lot in this one - 15 base hits, six of them doubles, plus seven free passes (five walks, two HBP's). They stranded 13, which seems poor, but were 8-for-19 in RISP situations.

Let's first give props to the mound efforts of RHP Jesus Vasquez, the Venezuelan native turns 18 years old at the end of the month. Fellow countryman and also 17 years old, RHP Daniel Munoz also pitched well. Highlighted by five scoreless walk-free frames from Vasquez, the two combined for eight strikeouts over eight innings of one-run ball.

The offensive box score is fun, with hits for all. Yes, third baseman Leanders Matos, who turned 17 July 2nd, did have one of the doubles as he lifted his OPS to 1.080.

The Rays committed five errors as two of the runs were unearned. That still means eight runs were rightly earned, enjoy your box score and game log review.

Final: DSL Brewers Gold 5, DSL LAD Bautista (Dodgers) 2, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Four Brewers reached base twice in the shortened game while it was Cerveceros Day in Milwaukee. Fello Link Reporter "Ro" detailed the playoff-hopeful status of each DSL team here.

Check out the game log for 2nd-year RHP Raymond Sarmiento, yet another Venezuelan. Behold those last five appearances! 22 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 7 BB, 19 K. Sweet!

The DSL teams are idle on Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's All-Star Game.

Maryvale plays twice on Saturday, including the resumption of a suspended game. The Timber Rattlers play twice as well, including once as a road team in Appleton. So, still a seven-game heavy docket. Have a fine summer Saturday, everyone!

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