Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/13): Bitonti Homers Again in 2-1 Mudcats Victory; Affiliates Tally Frustrating 1-3 Mark

Transactions:

• RHP Ryan Birchard was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• RHP Craig Yoho was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List by the Nashville Sounds
• 1B/DH Wes Clarke was activated from the Temporarily Inactive List by the Nashville Sounds
• OF Hedbert Perez was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• LHP Jesus Broca was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• LHP Anfernny Reyes was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats
• RHP Aidan Maldonado was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (retroactive to Monday, August 12th)
• (8/12) INF/OF Tyler Black was recalled from the Nashville Sounds to the Milwaukee Brewers
• (8/12) LHP DL Hall was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers

Final:  Durham (Rays) 8, Nashville 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):

Sounds Drop Series Opener in Durham - Dorrian Homers early in Game One Loss

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes     

RHP Taylor Clarke continues to show plus off-speed offerings - I continue to see deceptive movement and decent mix. However, Clarke also continues to struggle fine-tuning his arsenal. It is all there and then some in his final line of 3 1/3 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, and 5 ER. 12 swings and misses amongst 39 total swings - a respectable outcome. I mean this when I say it: with just a little more execution and fine-tuned deliveries around the zone and this result is likely much different. None the less, that's just not how baseball works and certainly not at the Triple-A level. Clarke's season ERA went north of 5.00 to 5.06 after tonight's loss. I believe he is under contract for another season after last year's arbitration settlement with the Royals - I could be mistaken - so this will be a key stretch for his standing heading into 2025. Unfortunately, tonight's outing didn't do much to bolster his cause.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Remember that zesty mid-season trade that sent C Alex Jackson to the Bulls for RHP Evan McKendry - who, at the time, proclaimed himself to be a RHP version of Robert Gasser?  Well, even if you don't, I do. The one thing I can say about McKendry's time as a Brewer prospect is the only thing I can say confidently is he is inconsistent. He flashes plus movement and solid results and he also is prone to a blow-up outing. Tonight, we saw 1 1/3 IP of 4 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 3 ER ball - certainly not a 'bad' outing, per se, but certainly not the results we are after. In the previous six outings, spanning a month plus back to July 1st, McKendry had only allowed seven earned runs in 24 1/3 IP picking up two wins and two saves in the process. Like Clarke above, it's hard to accurately read the tea leaves given we don't truly know what the Brewers have. 

2) If you just glanced at INF Patrick Dorrian's season stats, you would be unimpressed. However, the truth is, Dorrian suffered a mighty two month slump to start his season while also spending 20 days on the IL in May. It was just an extremely rough start from the get go. And, this being said, he's actually been a plus player now for over a month. August's sample size is much too small given he is now sharing time throughout the diamond with a bevy or veterans and younger 'project players', but Dorrian was the only offense tonight and he also made a couple fantastic plays at first base. I continue to hope he'll find his name on that line-up card more consistently.

3) With very little else to add about this one, I'll simply celebrate RF Brewer Hicklen's 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB game at the dish. And, I'll also commend RHP Blake Holub for striking out the lone batter he faced. He saved RHP Evan McKendry another earned run after he had already walked in a run and given up a two-run single with the bases juiced. The Sounds were 1-for-5 with RISP but the Bulls managed a 4-for-15 mark. This was a lopsided loss. 

Final: Mississippi (Braves) 1, Biloxi 0

Wichrowski's Second-Half Surge Continues, Shuckers Fall to M-Braves - Young Hurler Lowers Second Half ERA to 2.79

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes    

RHP Brett Wickrowski was very good in his 5 IP of 2 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 ER ball. Very good. He did hit two batters in there as well but those base runners never factored into the limited scoring. WIchrowski has been very good since his seven-run struggles in his last July outing (7/26 @ Pensacola). He has now only allowed two earned runs in 14 1/3 IP in his three starts in August while striking out 16 through those innings maintaining a 1.26 ERA with a 0.157 BAA and a very respectable 0.98 WHIP. AND, yet, he is 0-2 in August. Those Shuckers bats love to sleep when he's on the bump it would appear. And, tonight was no different. In what is essentially his age 21 season (he turns 22 on Thursday), we should all celebrate what we are seeing in Wichrowski's first year in the affiliated ranks. He is laying a very solid foundation for a considerable jump in the coming years.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The Shuckers offense had at least one man on base for eight consecutive innings. This is not a typo. They outhit the Braves seven to two. Yet, they finished with an 0-for-8 mark with RISP and they ultimately left 12 men on base overall. This futile effort was very much led by the greater offense's complete befuddlement by off-speed offerings. This led to being punched out a season-high tying 15 times. It was ugly. Tallying three punch outs apiece were 3B Brock Wilken, C Darrien Miller, and DH Ethan Murray. 

2) This being said, a dose of perspective is also needed. In three key spots with men on second base and two down, the Shuckers hit three absolute scorchers directly to the Braves' shortstop. Sometimes the age old saying of 'That's baseball!' absolutely applies. Tonight was definitely one of those nights.

3) I could dive deeper into 3B Brock Wilken's ongoing struggles of August - if you are into that type of punishment dive deeper beyond the box score. Rather, I'll laud the fantastic bullpen efforts of RHP's Nick Merkel and Sam Gardner. It's hard to understate how much I enjoy watching these two young hurlers toss the white rat. They continue to do wonderful things on a consistent basis. They continue to garner extremely little attention in doing so. Not on my watch: 4 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 6 K combined. RHP Nick Merkel did add a HB in there - with the offensive woes could you blame him?! 🤭

Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 6, Wisconsin 2

Chiefs Take Early Lead to Beat Wisconsin 6-2 - Rattlers Drop Fifth Straight Series-Opening Game

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Ryan Birchard certainly didn't get the results he was after in his High-A debut in his 3.0 IP of 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 5 R (4 ER) ball. However, I saw plenty of signs throughout the outing that gave me reasons for optimism despite the barrage of doubles in a three-run second inning of work. Firstly, I enjoy a pitcher who is unafraid to throw strikes: 42 strikes in 59 total pitches. Secondly, I saw a really zesty breaking curveball. That sucker has some depth. Finally, his heater sat in the 94-96 mph zone so there is a velocity baseline to work with. Essentially, my overall conclusion was quite easily: there is more than enough to work with here - the results will come. Another way of saying this is: I was the one to alert you to LHP Tate Kuehner's stuff after his first two scuffling outings with High-A Wisconsin. That turned out just fine, didn't it? As Birchard learns how to nibble around the zone when facing better hitters, he's going to see his game blossom. I firmly believe this. The raw tools are too good.

Full-Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The LF Hedbert Perez debut did not go glowingly or smoothly. He committed a fielding error in LF to allow the first run to score while also allowing the batter to advance to scoring position in the process. It was very much not the debut he (or I, for that matter) hoped for. 0-for-3 with 1 K at the dish as well in his 2024 debut. He'll look to rebound in the games ahead. Keep working, young man!

2) I continue to see identical hitting flaws in INF Eduardo Garcia's 2024 approach that I saw in his Low-A 2022 approach. I don't know if the lightbulb will ever turn in in the pitch identification department. I don't know if it's overzealousness, a lack of discipline, or just an inability to see the spin coming from the pitcher's hand. I said it in the evening's game thread (HERE) but Garcia's kryptonite absolutely remains anything off-speed low, away, or low and away. Credit to him for ultimately knocking a run-scoring single into CF. But, context matters: that was a belt high heater on the outer black. I mean this when I say it here: if I were a High-A pitcher facing the aggressive Garcia, I wouldn't throw him a single strike. In his current form, I politely opine a pitcher who does this will win the one-on-one battle more often than not. 

3) This game really was an uneventful dud for the Timber Rattlers. I'm not going to pretend to put lipstick on the proverbial pig. Regardless, let's end on a positive note: RHP Yerlin Rodriguez threw a six pitch, five strike 1-2-3 clean ninth inning. No wild pitches. No hit batters. Everything in or very close to the zone. I absolutely needed that and I imagine it had to have felt good for the struggling but uber-talented hurler.

Final: Carolina 2, Delmarva (Orioles) 1 

Box Score / Game Log

Late Rally Lifts Mudcats Past Delmarva - Bitonti Homers Again; Walling Rips 105 mph Game-Winning RBI Double

Major kudos are in order for young RHP Daniel Corniel. He bounced back in a huge way after his previous game's fifth inning mini-meltdown. Corniel gave his young teammates everything they needed to pull off a comeback in Delmarva in his 6 IP of 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 ER work. It wasn't always easy (81 pitches, 43 strikes), as has certainly been the case for the young righty in his debut Low-A season, but I don't think there is a manager alive who would complain about a Quality Start in a 2-1 victory. Let's hope this provides a boost of confidence for the key starter as the Mudcats head toward the playoffs. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) How is a young man batting 0.217 with a 0.288 OBP managing to showcase a 0.940 OPS? Perhaps his 0.652 SLG % helps:

There is obviously quite a bit for this young stud to work on at the dish (17 K: 5 BB in 46 Low-A AB), but what an absolute threat to have in any line-up. We are currently witnessing a HR per 7.667 AB. He is 18 years old until mid November folks. Let's simply soak in the power parade.

2) Venezuelan 20-year-old RHP Dikember Sanchez is truly putting it all together in Low-A Carolina. Let's put tonights outing - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 W (3-1 @ Carolina) - in perspective. Since arriving at Low-A Carolina, Sanchez has been a crucial stabilizing force in the back end of the relief corps. He has pitched in 15 games - a total of 27 2/3 IP overall. He has held batters to a 0.144 BAA with a 0.76 WHIP. He has a 25-to-7 K:BB ratio. He is unfazed in high-leverage situations. He has allowed a mere two runs to cross home plate since June 20th. It's truly awesome to see another ACL query of "Will his strikeout rates transfer to Low-A?" be met with such resounding early success.

3) I mentioned RF Reece Walling's key 105 mph game-winning RBI double (to the right CF gap) above in the Mudcats' post-game article by-line. However, it's important to add context to what made the RBI possible. LF Yoshwar Garcia executed a masterful bunt down the 3B line. The charging catcher hurried an unnecessary throw to first base and it sailed up the 1B line into foul territory. Garcia advanced to 2B. He then adeptly swiped his 54th base shortly thereafter. Walling took advantage of the 3-1 count and put a fantastic swing leading to the RBI poke, no doubt about it. But, Garcia's yeoman's work deserves mention and celebration. 

Final, Monday's Game: DSL Reds (Rojos) 3, DSL Brewers #1 Squad 1
Box Score and Game Log

One again, many thanks due to my wingman @Jim Goulartwho has offered assistance two weeks running:

Oh, what a tough loss given the pitching Team Uno received from 17-year-old Panamanian starting RHP Manuel Moreno, who has posted a 1.00 WHIP in his first 33 pro innings. It just seems as though the Brewers hit more often than not on pitchers from what we may call outlier locales (Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, etc.).

LHP Idalberto Santiesteban and RHP Gabriel Colmenarez will be great Wheel of Fortune puzzle answers someday. They each tossed a scoreless inning of relief, before Colmenarez retired the first two men in the bottom of the 8th. Then this happened:

- Walk
- Infield Single
- Triple to surrender the 1-0 lead that was grabbed in the 7th
- Single for the 3-1 score
- Double which did not drive in a run
- Pop-out finally ends the inning

But let's agree the usually vaunted Prime Brewers lineup did not come through, partly because Luis Pena exited mid-game from the DH spot, and recently-transferred from Brewers #2 OF Jose Anderson was idle, apparently dealing with HBP issues from earlier in the week.

That being said, c'mon men:

Team RISP: 2-for-12.
Team LOB: 8.

Neither of those two RISP hits drove in a run, the only Cerveceros run scored on a GIDP.

Final: DSL Padres Brown 4 , DSL Brewers #1 Squad 3
Box Score and Game Log

The losing streak continues. The DSL Cerveceros Uno (29-20) have now lost five straight including today's defeat to the 15-36 DSL Padres Brown. Ouch. They have now fallen to 4.5 GB of the first place DSL Orioles Orange - coming into this past weekend's double-header they were a mere 1.5 GB the Orange. The playoffs now look to be a near mathematical impossibility. So it goes. The young men will soldier on and attempt to end their seasons on a high note in the week ahead.

A few things jump off the screen when perusing the box score: INF Luis Pena was absent again after being pulled from his DH spot just yesterday, CF Jose Anderson remains sidelined, and INF Juan Ortuno played his first game of his summer at shortstop. Here's another thing that sticks out: the Crew Uno outhit the Padres Brown 9-to-3 and were 2-for-9 with RISP to the Padres' 1-for-10. Domincan 17-year-old RHP Ayendy Bravo - a stalwart for the DSL Brewers Uno - suffered from a bad luck fifth inning and was driven from the game after 4 2/3 IP. An infield single, an error at first base, and a HB set the bases loaded stage for a quick loss of a 2-1 lead. It was 4-2 when Bravo was relieved by RHP Oliver Amilo. The Brewers Uno never recovered.

Despite the loss and the frustrating losing streak, there is still plenty of intrigue in the offensive box score:

• DH Jesus Made hit his sixth triple of his season in a 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B lead-off performance.
• SS Juan Ortuno managed a 1-for-2, 2 BB, 1 SB performance. 
• CF Handelfry Encarnacion had two pokes in a 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS performance.
• LF Engel Paulino hit his seventh double in a 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB 1 K performance.
• RF Danny Puerta was a sublime 3-for-3 with 1 R

Final, Monday's Game: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 5, DSL Red Sox Blue 4
Box Score and Game Log

One again, many thanks due to my wingman @Jim Goulartwho has offered assistance two weeks running:

It's a walk-off, baby!

Each team managed only five hits, but it was over quickly in the bottom of the 9th at the Brewers' new complex.

Second baseman Moises Polanco, a young 17 years old (18 next May), led off with a single. We likely have not mentioned Polanco often enough, so we'll make up for it here. Polanco reached base four times from the leadoff spot (single, two walks, HBP) to lift his OBP for the season to .411 along with 20 steals in 25 tries.

Big-money bonus signee Jorge Quintana then hit a line drive double to center field (as a LH batter, switch-hitter) to end matters. Nice to see Team Dos keep their heads up and it's a spin of results between the two squads management wasn't likely anticipating. 

This win placed Team Dos at 26-21, hardly a troubling record at all. 

We'll give the pitching game ball to 18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Francisco Guevara; check out his game logs to see how his current 12.10 ERA is leaps and bounds lower than his start to the season. The young man can enter the winter feeling better about progress, since he began his season surrendering eight runs over his first two outings before he retired a batter and moved away from his infinity ERA at the time.

Final: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 5, DSL Cubs Blue 2
Box Score and Game Log

DSL Cubs 'Blue' because they lost.  <I'll casually see my dad joke telling self out of this report>

Ok, I'm back. While the DSL Brewers Uno fade, the DSL Brewers Dos keep charging toward their season-ending finish line. There is just one week left in the DSL regular season folks and even though the DSL Brewers #2 are simply playing for pride at this point they are doing a heck of a job in doing so. Winners of three straight, as I mentioned in the day's game thread (HERE - a concise breakdown, might I add) the key to the Brewers #2 success certainly appears to be limiting their opponents to under five runs. Today was no different.

Nicaraguan 18-year-old RHP Josue Toledo did his part performing the lion's share of work in 5 IP of 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 2 ER picking up the win in the process (2-1 overall on the season). Recent transferee Dominican 19-year-old RHP Ever Urena picked up his first Save in his first Save Opportunity of 2024 pitching a scoreless ninth inning while working around a hit batter. 

Offensively, all five of the comeback Brewers Dos runs came in an eventful seventh frame where errors and walks were bolstered by a couple singles and a double. Five runs was all the Dos needed in the end the Cubs Blue scored their sole two runs in the bottom of the third inning. It was a karmic five-run seventh given the Crew Uno outhit the Cubs 8-to-5 and had four more opportunities with RISP. It would have been a frustrating loss. Thankfully, it turned into a joyous comeback victory. The sole XBH for the Brewers Dos came off the bat of lead-off Venezuelan 17-year-old SS Moises Polanco - a significant part of the seventh inning rally and his 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B day at the dish. LF Pedro Tovar remained hot in a 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K day as did 2B Jonathan Rangel in his 2-for-3, 1 BB outing.

We will actually see a rare Wednesday DSL Brewers tilt when the DSL Brewers Uno attempt to complete a makeup game versus the DSL Pirates Black. Let's hope they can end their five game skid. The T-Rats will look to bounce back in a matinee game two tilt at home versus Peoria - LHP Brian Fitzpatrick will look to continue his recent run of stellar outings. In the evening hours, RHP Chad Patrick is the clear Ace taking the hill and looking for his 12th victory of his 2024 season. What a debut campaign for the talented righty.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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!