Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/19): Joe Ross Struggles in Rehab Start

Let's catch up on the post-All Star slate of games and roster movement.

Transactions:

• Milwaukee Brewers sent C Gary Sánchez on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Jared Koenig on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
• Biloxi Shuckers activated RHP Sam Gardner from the 7-day injured list.
• RHP Aidan Maldonado assigned to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from Carolina Mudcats.
• Carolina Mudcats activated IF Juan Baez from the 7-day injured list.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (not available for this date)
Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 12, Nashville 11
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 Lose Shootout in Series Opener Versus Tides - Chris Roller hit a three-run home run in 12-11 loss

Not ideal from a Joe Ross rehab perspective - click the post here to view both gopher balls.

RHP Mitch White had a very Mitch White outing. Immediately after Nashville scored two (one unearned) in the top of the 7th to tie things at 9-9, White entered and three runs scored, despite a Joey Wiemer outfield assist.

Speaking of Wiemer, in ten July games, he's posted a .395/.500/.628 line, six of his 17 knocks for extra bases, and as many walks (8) as K's in the 11 games. With a clear need for RH pop in the OF mix in Milwaukee, this is encouraging should trade season see any kind of shakeup in the roster.

Switch-hitting Isaac Collins had yet another big game, and has a .909 OPS vs. RHP's, .905 vs. southpaws. Dude has had an amazing season. If Chris Roller could parlay 16 strong 2023 games with Nashville into an offseason 40-man roster spot, then Collins, at the very least, should be added to the 40-man this fall to protect him from Rule 5. Collins will not qualify for minor league free agency in October.

Newly-added 40-man OF Brewer Hicklen tripled and singled, so the 3-4-5 spots in the lineup (Collins, Hicklen, Wiemer) shined. As one might imagine given the final score, others performed as well, with Tyler Black, Owen Miller, Brian Navarreto and Roller combining to reach base nine times.

Tyler Zobrist (um, Black) played his 3rd game at third base, and committed his third error at the hot corner (this one fielding). Black has six errors in 51 games at first base in 2024.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 6, Montgomery (Rays) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Rodriguez, Martinez Homers Lead Shuckers to 6-4 Win - Yeager notches 10th save of the year in Shuckers’ 13th win of the half

Very solid team effort. It's tough not to read too much into an effective but brief start from RHP Shane Smith, who exited after three scoreless innings and only 49 pitches (30 strikes). Smith went six innings in his last start before the break. So, let's not go crazy, just putting it out there.

I caught the 9th inning live for RH closer Justin Yeager's save, which was not without drama (four-pitch leadoff walk, one-out line drive single). Nice job finishing up, including a game-ending swinging strike three.

This other strike three swinging is very entertaining, by the way - Javik Blake's "spins himself into a top" is awesome:

Speaking of entertaining:

Ernesto Martinez is one of four players in the starting lineup who qualify for minor league free agency at season's end, along with OF's Carlos D. Rodriguez, Connor Scott and Lamar Sparks, I have the official list of 22 players in that upcoming free-agent pool, and I plan on posting a feature article on that topic within a couple of days. Sorry about the "tease" and thanks for your patience.

There was hit-by-pitch news in Appleton as you'll read below, but catcher Darrien Miller says "hold my beer" as he was plunked twice more, placing his 2024 league-leading OBP at .427, and moving his career HBP count to 69.

Eric Brown, Jr. missed the final three games of the first half and was absent for this one. Frustrating because in nine July games Brown has a sweet .797 OPS.

There are a bunch more videos at the Shuckers' Friday night "X" feed.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 2, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Cedar Rapids Stops Rattlers Six-Game Win Streak with Late Rally 

Cedar Rapids doesn't post video, so we have the rare sightless Timber Rattlers game.

But Chris Mehring squeezes so much info into the linked game summary despite the seeming lack of action (including the HBP update regarding Luke Adams, so it's must-read. Go ahead, I'll wait while you find out why scheduled starting LHP Brian Fitzpatrick didn't make his start, among so many more tidbits.

Manager Victor Estevez is currently working with a lean position player group, On the bench here were OF/INF Jheremy Vargas and the two backup catchers, Ramon Rodriguez and Victor Torres, who has only three AB's since joining Wisconsin from Carolina on June 4th. Torres is effectively the bullpen catcher while maintaining a roster spot.

Not the high-A debut RHP Aidan Maldonado hoped for (five baserunners and two runs allowed in two innings, taking the loss), but he'll bounce back, as he did in his 2nd frame after placing the first two men on.

Stiven Cruz and Tyler Wehrle didn't fan any batters but managed six scoreless innings between them. They also combined for zero walks. That must be a very rare tandem statistical effort.

Postponed, wet grounds: Lynchburg (Guardians) at Carolina

We missed out for a day on third baseman Juan Baez' return from his Maryvale injury rehab, as well as Cooper Pratt's return from the Futures Game (so much for that automatic promotion to Wisconsin many of us envisioned). Patience...

Final: ACL Brewers 6, ACL Rangers 2, called in the bottom of the 6th
Box Score and Game Log

Bonus video out of the desert -

The teams waited out a 43-minute delay in the bottom of the 6th before the game was called (rain on a cloudy 111-degree evening, we imagine, but dust can't be ruled out). Hopefully the rain cooled things off a bit.

Rehabbing veteran infielder Christian Arroyo picked up his rehab stint again.

Final: DSL Padres Gold 5, DSL Brewers #1 Squad 1, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Shortstop Luis Pena continues to post video game numbers (heck, they are beyond video game numbers). He doubled, singled and was HBP, and now sports a .425/.488/.623 line in this, his rookie age-17 campaign through 121 plate appearances. Pena also stole his 31st base in 34 attempts. Insane.

18-year-old All-Star RHP Wenderlyn King struggled in his outing. We don't get pitch counts at this level, but don't expect King to make an appearance in Sunday's All-Star Game (see note below) after the 2.1 innings here. 

Final: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 3, DSL Astros Blue 1, game called in the top of the 6th
Box Score and Game Log

Team Dos caught a break here. Though gametime weather was sunny, apparently there were concerns in the 6th inning, something you don't see in the log at all, but our @Joseph Zarr was tracking live on Gameday. The Houston kids rallied but it was all wiped away:

"The Astros Blues were still in their half of the sixth frame - up 4-3, two down, and the bases still juiced - the game is called after 5 complete innings."

Joseph provided player insights for this game within two forum posts here.

The Dominican Summer League takes a rare Saturday off before Sunday's All-Star Game, to be played at the Brewers' spanking new complex. But we still get a six-pack of games today with Carolina's twinbill. Enjoy your summer Saturday, everyone!

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!