Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/16): Matos, Dubanewicz, Jones Lead Affiliates to Three-Win Sunday

Luis Matos and Kyle Jones both homered and drove in four runs in late wins for Nashville and Wilson. Jayden Dubanewicz tossed five shutout innings in Wisconsin’s victory, while Andrew Fischer homered in Biloxi’s loss.

For the week, Wilson (5-1) was the sole series winner, while Nashville (3-3) and Wisconsin (3-3) fought to draws in their respective series. Biloxi dropped all six games in a tough week.

Transactions:

• LHP Tate Kuehner activated by AAA Nashville from 60-day injured list

After Sunday’s games, the Brewers’ announced the promotion of SS Brady Ebel (2025 first round pick) to High-A Wisconsin and the assignment of his brother SS Trey Ebel (2026 first round pick) to Low-A Wilson.

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 6, Indianapolis (Pirates) 4
Box Score

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

Matos' 4-RBI Night Fuels Sounds Win Over First Place Indians - Luis Matos' 438-foot moonshot is the second-furthest homer for the Sounds this season

We’re grateful to Nishant Brahme and the Nashville media team for their detailed game report, including three video highlights which capture major contributions by OF Luis Matos (2-for-4, HR, triple, 4 RBIs) and C Bo Naylor (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs).

Starting RHP Tyson Hardin (3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) and LHP Tate Kuehner (2 1/3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 5 Ks) each struck out five batters and allowed two runs, though Kuehner’s were unearned as the Indians took advantage of an error to tie the game in the 7th inning. This game was a welcome comeback for Kuehner, who’d last pitched on May 20th before going on the injured list.

1B Blake Burke’s opposite field 107.8 MPH single put the Sounds in business to start the bottom of the 8th inning, with Matos delivering the clutch two-out, two-run triple (also to the opposite field) to re-take the lead:

LHP Jared Koenig (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) did a terrific job to close out the win, while RHPs Will Childers (2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 K) and rehabbing Joel Kuhnel (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 Ks) were both effective in relief. This was Koenig’s first outing since July 12 and his velocity topped out at 96 MPH to the final batter.

Sounds’ Extras:

• SS Eduardo Garcia exited after singling in the 3rd inning, with 2B Eric Brown Jr. coming on in relief. Hopefully Garcia will return to action quickly.
• Rehabbing OF Sal Frelick (1-for-4) doubled, while each of 3B Brock Wilken (1-for-3, walk) and 2B/SS Ethan Murray (1-for-3, walk) reached base twice.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville will fly east to Norfolk, Virginia for six games against the Orioles’ affiliate, with the series starting on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 6, Biloxi 3
Box Score

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details:

DeBerry Deals in Nine Strikeout Night, Shuckers Swept By Blue Wahoos - Biloxi Setback for 11th Consecutive Contest in Series Finale Against Pensacola

Pensacola took advantage of an infield single and two miscues on a ground ball to starting RHP Jaron DeBerry to ultimately score four unearned runs in the third inning, which was ultimately too much for the faltering Shuckers to overcome.

We’ll have to monitor 20-year old OF Braylon Payne’s status, as he exited in the top of the 9th inning after his fly out and an “injury delay” notation in the game log half an inning earlier. In potentially positive news, OF Josh Adamczewski was the player who entered for Payne, which is the first we’ve seen Adamczewski in action since Wednesday’s contest.

DeBerry walked none, struck out nine Blue Wahoos and only allowed one extra-base hit in an encouraging outing overall (5 IP, 4 R (0 ER), 6 H, 0 BB, 9 Ks).

Biloxi was out-hit 9-6 and had only three opportunities with runners in scoring position (0-for-3), but closed the gap to 5-3 thanks to homers by MiLB home run leader 1B Andrew Fischer and OF Mike Boeve (3-for-4, HR, RBI) and a sacrifice fly which brought Payne home after he’d tripled.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• 2B Dylan O’Rae was a late addition to the lineup, after OF Mark Coley II was originally listed as a starter. Per the game report, O’Rae stole his 50th base of 2026. He also singled to lead off the 8th inning while trailing 5-3, representing the team’s last real opportunity to tie the game.
• RHP Edwin Jimenez retired both batters he faced, stranding three baserunners inherited from RHP Ryan Birchard in the top of the ninth inning.
• RHP Garrett Hodges also put in a respectable shift of middle relief: 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 Ks.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi head to Huntsville to battle the Angels’ affiliate Rocket City for six games, commencing Tuesday evening.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 1
Box Score

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details:

Wisconsin Wins Third Straight to Close Out Road Trip - Dubanewicz tossed five scoreless innings for Timber Rattlers

As well-captured in the linked game report, starting 20-year old RHP Jayden Dubanewicz got his revenge after a difficult Tuesday outing, allowing only three harmless singles and issuing no free passes over five innings of dominant work (0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks).

Dubanewicz’s Ks

A two-out hit brigade by SS Luis Pena (1-for-4, walk), OF Sawyer Strosnider (1-for-4, walk), 2B Daniel Dickinson (2-for-4, walk, RBI, 2 SBs) and 1B Eric Bintoti (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI) got the scoring started in the 3rd inning for Wisconsin, while OF Luis Castillo (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI, SB) and DH Tayden Hall added two-out RBI singles two innings later.

Dickinson RBI single
Bitonti RBI single
Luis Castillo RBI single
Tayden Hall RBI single

Credit to LHP Bjorn Johnson for a 1-2-3 seventh inning, as well as to RHPs Yerlin Rodriguez and Jose Nova for escaping challenges of their own making in the sixth and eighth innings. RHP Michael Fowler registered three strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth inning, but also conceded a homer and double to the first two batters he faced.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Cedar Rapids may think they should have done better than an 0-for-10 outing with runners in scoring position, but Wisconsin stranded 13 baserunners to their seven to make it clear who had more opportunities.
• Every Wisconsin position player reached base via hit or walk in the contest, including 3B Luiyin Alastre (1-for-4, walk, RBI) adding a late RBI single and OF Tyler Rodriguez drawing three walks and stealing a base.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin returns home for two weeks, hosting Guardians’ affiliate Lake County from Tuesday. RHP Jacob Morrison is the scheduled starter for the series opener.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 9, Columbia (Royals) 6
Box Score

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details:

Warbirds Score Seven Late to Win Series Finale 9-6 - Jones, Sabathia Hit First Professional Homers

Trailing 6-2 in the sixth inning and having already clinched the series victory earlier in the week, Wilson kept their eye on the bigger prize (i.e. a potential second half playoff berth), with DH Carsten Sabathia III (3-for-4, HR, RBI) triggering the rally with his first professional homer and also leading off the team’s three-run eighth inning to grab the lead.

Perhaps there should be rule that a first-year player must homer when their Hall of Fame father is in attendance:

RHP Carlos Carra deserves a ton of credit for giving the team a chance, tossing 5 1/3 innings and 82 pitches in relief (1 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 1 K), just five days after covering six innings and throwing 78 pitches in Tuesday’s win.

Carra also stranded two baserunners inherited from RHP Carlos Espinal (2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 K) after entering with one out in the 3rd inning, while his defense picked him up after a leadoff double in the 4th inning -> 2B Filippo Di Turi (1-for-3, walk) threw out a baserunner at home and C Rylan Mills caught another stealing.

3B Juan Ortuno (1-for-4, HR, sac fly, 3 RBIs) was a key contributor for the victors, homering for an early lead and tying the game on a sacrifice fly after OF Kyle Jones’ (3-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs) first professional homer, a two-run shot:

A balk gave Wilson a 7-6 advantage in the bottom of the 8th inning, with Jones tacking on two critical insurance runs with an opposite field single.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• RHP Joshua Quezada (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks) stranded two baserunners inherited from Carra, ultimately retiring all four batters he faced to earn the win.
• 6’5”, 19-year-old RHP Luke Roupe made his first start (second appearance) at the Low-A minor league level, struggling with control this time out (1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 6 BB, 0 Ks).
• OF Brailyn Antunez (1-for-3, walk, HBP) reached base three times, while SS Brady Ebel (1-for-4, double, walk) and 1B Frederi Montero (0-for-2, 2 walks) came aboard twice.

Next week’s outlook: Wilson travel four hours northwest to take on Red Sox affiliate Salem, with the first game of the series scheduled for Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the sole affiliates in action are the Dominican Summer League clubs. Brewers Gold (33-19) battle Cubs Blue (32-21) on the road, while Brewers Blue (30-23) host Padres Brown (11-42), with both games starting at 10:00 am CST. The Milwaukee Brewers have a day off on Monday before hosting the Mariners on Tuesday evening.

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