Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/24): Devin Williams Dazzles in Nashville Rehab Relief Outing; Yerlin Rodriguez Dominates in 9th Inning 100 MPH Buffet

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• RHP J.B. Bukauskas was sent on his first rehab assignment to the ACL Brewers

Final:  Nashville 5, Charlotte (White Sox) 3

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):

Vihuelas Knock Off Knights, Even Series - Ross and Williams Continue Rehab Work

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

Let's start this one off with a bang:

Having just lost OF Christian Yelich for an unknown period of time, that pitch just adds a wee bit of salve on our collective wounds. The Airbender is indeed back to, well, bending. D-Will pitched a mostly clean inning of seventh inning relief - he did issue a walk and send that same runner to third on a wild pitch. BUT, who cares when this stud high-leverage stallion can just throw a pitch like that to casually walk back to the dugout?

RHP Joe Ross opened again with a 4 1/3 IP 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 ER outing of his own - a significant improvement from his last time on the bump. I think, as a rule, his outing would have to be considered a success despite the three runs. 10 whiffs on 39 pitches. An average exit velo of 90.6 mph off his sinker and only 57.1 mph off his slider - two pitches he threw over 71 % of his outing - is more than fine. He'll want a couple pitches back but we can work from here and start dialing in and fine-tuning the change-up and four-seamer. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez playing the role of the ninth inning man? Well, I know he's healthy and approaching last year's inning count but he's not that close and if he kept his current workload going he'd likely only past years inning by a nominal amount. I'm going to guesstimate this had more to do with the fact he hadn't pitched in 12 days due to the All-Star breaks. Regardless, he did pick up a 2.0 IP, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 H, 0 R Save in the process - his first since back in 2022 as a Mudcat. 

2) LF Isaac Collins led off and managed an 0-for-3 night atop the order. However, he also took a free pass and stole his 18th base, advanced to third base on the errant throw, and scored the Sounds first run to tie the game at 1-1. He also rescued RHP Mitch White from a possible blow up inning with this web gem assist at home plate. This is quite easily the best throw I've personally seen from Collins in the outfield grass (and only his second OF assist since being in the system) and it couldn't have come at a better moment:

This young man continues to stake his claim on an eventual 40-Man spot - if not for the Brewers somewhere across the MLB landscape.

3) INF/CF Tyler Black bounced back to 3B tonight. He also slid down in the batting order to the third spot. He rifled two balls at 100 mph off the lumber - a ground out to 3B and a key insurance-run producing line drive double into right field in the bottom of the seventh. He also grabbed a free pass earlier in the contest. The stolen bases are certainly down in 2024 - I don't know if there is anything to read into this or if 2023 was simply an anomaly - but the BB:K ratio still remains on point. I think it's fair to point out that despite the defensive unknowns with this young man, he is still just 23 years old. And, he continues to positively impact baseball games. 

Final: Biloxi 3, Pensacola (Marlins) 0

Blalock's Dominant Start Leads Shuckers to Shutout Win over Blue Wahoos - Martinez Jr. Records Second Consecutive Multi-Hit Game

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

I'm watching the second half Southern League South Division Standings. Unabashedly so, mind you. SO, before we get into RHP Bradley Blalock's illustrious start, I am here to share the Shuckers moved to 15-8 gaining a game back on the Mississippi Braves. They remain atop the second half standing and are up 2.0 G on the Braves. It's early but this train has left the station and it is rolling down the tracks. What can I do?

Back to the game at hand. RHP Bradley Blalock had a rough initial return from the Brewers bullpen back on June 26th. But, that abbreviated 2 1/3 inning start is long gone in the rear view mirror. He is a different pitcher in July. Actually, Blalock is currently reminding us all of what we saw back in April: high impact starts and meaningful innings. If we couple tonight's 5 1/3 IP of 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 R ball with his three other starts in July? 21 2/3 IP, 12 H, 8 BB, 20 K, 4 ER. All while allowing a 0.156 BAA with a 1/62 ERA achieving a 0.92 WHIP. I think you'll agree with me: we can absolutely roll with this. With the 3-0 result, Blalock moved to 5-2 on his season. Let's go!

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Filed under the 'Also Still Hot' category? LF Lamar Sparks. I made mention of this some weeks back: after a really prolonged struggle to his season, Sparks was starting to heat up. That simply hasn't changed in two months. The addendum here is Sparks will likely always have a propensity for the swing and miss - he currently holds a 15:1 K:BB ratio in July  and a 77:16 ratio on the season. However, we're starting to see the bat-to-ball contact he can produce. 

2)  It wasn't just Blalock throwing darts atop the mound. The bullpen effort of RHP's Nick Merkel (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K), Craig Yoho (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K), and Justin Yeager (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 S) held serve. The theme of this ongoing second half Shuckers renaissance has absolutely been the consistently impactful pitching efforts.

3) With consecutive two hit performances to open this series at Pensacola, Ernesto Martinez Jr. is now hitting 0.270 with a 0.801 WHIP for his season. He also ripped his second triple of 2024 in his 2-for-4, 2 R evening. I am certainly left wondering one thing: why are we playing around with C Darrien Miller in the clean-up spot when Martinez Jr.'s hot bat and propensity for absolutely crushing baseballs is down in the sixth spot. Miller is hitting 0.176 in July with a 0.648 OPS. Martinez is ripping a 0.423 BA and a 1.206 OPS. Let's not overthink this.

Final: Wisconsin 7, Beloit (Marlins) 3

Wisconsin Runs Away with a Win - Rattlers Steal Ten Bases in 7-3 Victory Over Beloit

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Yujanyer Herrera did the heavy lifting through 5.0 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 ER ball. He moved to 6-1 on his season in nine GS overall. His season as a whole, at just 20 years old, has to be considered a massive success at this point. The walk woes of 2023 feel far behind as he matures and rounds into his stateside professional form. The walks are back down in July's three starts. and he has now allowed a mere nine earned runs over his past 36 2/3 IP. There is quite a bit to like in this young man's arsenal and this is a young pitcher we should all be excited about. If you take a bird's eye view of his season to date as a whole, you are definitely left wondering what an already impressive picture looks like if you take away May 25th's 7 ER over 3.0 IP at South Bend.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Yes, the T-Rats swiped 10 bags amongst three players. Two for 3B Luke Adams (24 on the season), 5 for RF Eduarqui Fernandez (15 on the season), and 3 for LF Jheremy Vargas (17 on the season). I don't know what the conversations were in the Beloit dugout but the Timber Rattlers absolutely knew they were facing a catcher who had allowed 70 steals in 78 attempts in 2024. Good managers attack weaknesses. And, let's also share this was an absolutely historical night for Fernandez:

2) I've been a notorious RHP Yerlin Rodriguez fan for the past two years. Even when the results feel off the track due to walks and location concerns, I insisted (and I still insist) the raw tools are too good to brush over. I've said on numerous occasions: absolutely high-leverage late-inning reliever stuff. Tonight, well, he reached an entirely new level. Five pitches of his 12 pitch three strikeout ninth inning hit 100 mph or more. He ended the game on a 101 mph swing and miss with a young batter entirely overmatched. Typically, Rodriguez might touch 98 mph a handful of times in an outing. Eclipsing 100 at will? Well, that changes everything. You pair this with an accurate 91-92 mph slider? Well, we're looking at what I've envisioned for some time. We didn't see a single breaking ball in this outing but he he has it and didn't need it. Do not sleep on this young man. Despite the walk issues in 2024, I will convey to you once more: the stuff is just too good. This is his age 22 season. 

3) LHP Mark Manfredi's current and ongoing move to the bullpen is one of the more interesting ongoing pitching stories within the Timber Rattlers deep pitching staff. The consistency is a work in progress but you can see the elements within his fairly deep pitching tool kit. He gave up a solo shot on a two out 1-2 heater that was mis-located up and in over the plate - Wood had stationed pre-pitch in the upper outside portion of the zone. He then gave up consecutive knocks and was driven from the game after 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 HR. However, I continue to see a deceptively good fastball and the ability to play with his mix of off-speed pitches. The ingredients are there for a future multi-inning meaningful relief arm if this is the route he travels. This was Manfredi's fourth consecutive relief appearance in eight total relief outings for the season. How this plays out the rest of season is a peripheral storyline to watch.

Final: Fredericksburg (Red Sox) 7, Carolina 1

Box Score / Game Log

Carolina Falls at Salem - Mudcats Fall to 13-12 in the Second Half

There isn't all that much to share with you in a 7-1 loss. The Red Sox jumped out to a three run lead on a three-run homer in the third inning and they tacked on two more over the next two innings to lead 5-0. The Mudcats grabbed back their sole run in the top of the ninth inning behind the work of Juan Baez (BB) and Cooper Pratt (single). 

The real storyline of this game that may future implications is the unknown status of CF Yophery Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a lead-off first inning first pitch chopper to second base but he was incapable of running out the hit down the line. He stopped mid-way with a grabbing motion, as he came to a bouncing halt, toward his lower right hamstring just above his knee. He was then seen stomping his right leg in some frustration as he headed to the Mudcats dugout. He was pulled from the game as Yoshwar Garcia shifted to CF and Reidy Mercado came aboard the left field grass. It goes without saying, but any loss of Rodriguez from the Mudcats lineup - just as Baez returned from his ACL rehab - will have a significant impact on the team. Let's simply hope this is nothing serious. Perhaps we'll learn something as early as tomorrow. You can see the play for yourselves, if you so choose, at 1:03:05 on the MiLB.TV replay. 

18-year-old RHP Enniel Cortez took his second loss as a Mudcat (0-2) in his fifth start going 4 IP with 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, and 4 ER.  The Mudcats as a team sprinkled four hits throughout and were 1-for-5 with RISP. They'll look to bounce back in game three tomorrow.

Final: ACL Brewers 2, ACL Dodgers 1 - Scheduled Seven-Inning Game
Box Score / Game Log

You have to love the ACL Crew ending their season on a two-game winning streak. They got back to five games under 0.500 after winning a close seven-inning slate versus the (39-20) ACL Dodgers. In a season filled with ups-and-downs, this was simply a fantastic way to end it.

Young RHP Melvin Hernandez ended his season on a positive note starting the game and going 2.0 IP of 2 H, 2 K, 1 ER ball (For some highlights of his outing travel HERE). RHP J.B. Bukauskas even got his first rehab taste with a 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K scoreless inning. Venezuelan 19-year-old RHP Jesus Flores continued to impress stateside closing the game out with 2.0 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K scoreless work. He picked up his second save in his third opportunity and further proved his promotion from the DSL Brewers #2 was certainly earned. 

On the offensive side of things, lead-off 2B Josh Adamczewski continued doing damage hitting his 10th double of his season in a 1-for-3, 1 RBI outing. Additionally, 1B Johan Barrios continued his late-season push with a 2-for-2, 1 RBI outing himself. We now will await possible news of promotions in the days ahead. Certainly some players will stay and work at the complex but I have to imagine we may see a handful join some newly signed draftees in Zebulon.

The DSL Brewers teams push for some divisional and possibly post-season magic back at it tomorrow morning. The DSL Brewers Uno, in particular, play a key head-to-head with the DSL Orioles Orange (a make-up completion of a July 9th game) as these two continue to fight atop their divisional leaderboard. Elsewhere, all four full-season affiliates will play in the evening. RHP's Shane Smith, Chad Patrick, K.C. Hunt, and Daniel Corniel will all take the hill.

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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