Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/16): Shuckers Find an Offensive Groove

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham (Rays) 7, Nashville 5
Box Score and Game Log

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

Bauers, Zamora Homer in Sounds Saturday Night Loss - Avans Extends Hitting Streak to Nine Games

The Sounds have 17 active pitchers on their staff currently. That includes two rehabbers in starter Robert Gasser and reliever Rob Zastryzny.  But even with that sheer number of arms in the dugout and bullpen, there have been so many appearances needed in recent games that the 6th "pitcher" utilized in this bullpen game was catcher Nick Kahle. Yes, Kahle was brought in to keep the narrow deficit at 7-5 in the 8th. Of course, the man had a 1-2-3 inning because this is what Nick Kahle does on the mound.

If you're a fan of a minor league club based on where you live, and don't necessarily live and die with the big-league parent club but want to root for a local championship season, the AAA level is not where you want to be. Sure, lower-level rosters are impacted as well, but not to the extent of the daily machinations of maintaining a AAA roster. It's enough to drive one crazy, never mind Rick Sweet and his staff.

Five of the Sounds base hits were extra-base knocks. The box score will tell you that Jake Bauers and Jeferson Quero combined for four of those, and Freddy Zamora had the 5th:

Nashville batters K'd 11 times and didn't work a single walk. Not ideal.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 13, Columbus (Braves) 3
Box Score and Game Log

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

Shuckers Juice Clingstones Behind 13-Run Explosion, Wichrowski's Strong Start - Spain sets single-season franchise record with 13th outfield assist, four Shuckers record multi-hit efforts

The Biloxi 'X' feed reached double-digits in video highlight clips. Based on the game summary you just read and watching these clips, you have a darn full picture of the evening in Biloxi.

For the first time in six starts, RHP Brett Wichrowski went beyond 4.1 innings. This was the 2nd time in 2025 that he pitched into the 7th inning, and the first time in his career that Wichrowski completed seven. 

Such a fun box score - 22 baserunners for the Shuckers, nine of 13 hits went for extra bases. Manager Joe Ayrault surprisingly placed Luis Lara into the cleanup spot in the second game of this series, back on Wednesday. All the 20-year-old Lara has done has hit safely in each game, going 8-for-12 with two triples and three doubles. Wow.

We'll mention what happened to Cooper Pratt after this 4th inning blast:

View these two posts via @biedergb in our "as it happened" forum thread. Will Pratt play on Sunday?

Blake Burke is loving the AA level, this is becoming a significant development, and fun to watch, as that linked 'X' timeline showed you.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Great Lakes (Dodgers) 7, Wisconsin 0
Box Score and Game Log

Loons Fly Past Timber Rattlers - Great Lakes steals eight bases in 7-0 shutout of Wisconsin

You can often get a sense of the game overall by the length of the TimberRattlers' YouTube package - it's relatively brief here:

Includes this for comic relief:

The postgame podcast opens with Manager Victor Estevez' comments.

It was another "Birchard-y" start for Ryan Birchard, who did earn praise from Estevez. Only one hit allowed in 5.1 innings, but walked three, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch, with much of the trouble mainly coming in the 6th.

How much is the Wisconsin "Tums" budget just based on reliever Yerlin Rodriguez alone? We all have lived the game-by-game madness, but it's been a while since we reminded you of the season-long figures for the fireballer:

37 G, 49 IP, 32 H, 54 BB, 8 HBP, 24 WP, 71 K

Jesus Made, as the designated hitter, singled and was hit by a pitch and has a .435 OBP in his ten T-Rat games.

Shortstop Luis Pena and third baseman Andrew Fischer combined to go 0-for-8 with five K's, though catcher Marco Dinges did walk three times.

You'll notice that both Biloxi and Wisconsin were the "Oat Milkers" on Saturday. This is the second season that the Oatly company has coordinated their marketing throughout MiLB, here's the 2024 USA Today article reminding you what the campaign is all about. I actually came home from the grocery store Saturday with a pint of their non-dairy frozen dessert for my wife, she's a fan.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fayetteville (Astros) 3, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Fayetteville Rallies Past Mudcats

A fourth consecutive loss, a pilfered-by-promotions roster, and hanging on by a thread in the second half Carolina League standings. Our @Joseph Zarr puts the situation in perspective here, while we all still hope the final season in Zebulon places Muddy and the team in the postseason. The unfortunate first-half collapse looms large.

The Carolina "name game" is strong within the two highlights, not exactly Smith and Jones here -

Hopefully we're not under-appreciating what 18-year-old Ethan Dorchies and 19-year-old Jayden Dubanewicz continue to do in their tandem role, often, like here, completely saving the bullpen. What are the most impressive figures we can toss out here? The respective debut season professional WHIPs for the RHP's are 1.03 and 1.12. Fantastic. The two recent high schoolers pitched on the road in front of nearly 4,000 fans Saturday.

With two swipes, CF Braylon Payne is now 27-for-35 in SB attempts in 2025.

Final: DSL Cubs Blue 6, DSL Brewers Gold 3, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score and Game Log

Reverse rematch fortunes vs. the results from Friday's contest. 

18-year-old LH-swinging 1B/C (first base here) Jonathan Rangel singled and walked as his season-long OPS now sits at a lovely .948.

He won't turn 18 years old until September 30th, but it hasn't been a positive debut season for 2025 $1.3 million bonus baby CF Kenny Fenelon, 0-for-4 here. Was he injured in the midst of his final inning (7th) at bat in which he was charged with his 3rd K of the game? Pedro Tovar is listed as "replacing" Fenelon but was not charged with the K himself. Perhaps a foul ball off the body or a pulled muscle? At least there is a bit of OBP skill in the .193/.349/.304 line. Fenelon now has more outfield assists (5) than errors (4). Talk about a mixed bag.

Final: DSL Brewers Blue 12, DSL Rojos (Reds) 7, eight innings (scheduled for seven)
Box Score and Game Log

This game was nuts, so I'll have to ask you all to do a deep dive into the game log on this one.

Blue led 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 6th, the Rojos scored five to grab a 6-3 lead.

Blue responded with four runs in the top of the scheduled final inning to take a 7-6 advantage.

Rojos was gifted a run to tie it, sending the game to the extra frame.

Blue utilized four singles as part of a wild five-run top of the 8th.

It all reads like a novel, enjoy!

We've got three early-evening games on tap Sunday, with the lone traditional start time in Appleton. Enjoy your day, all!

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