Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/20): DSL Season Comes to an End; LHP Aaron Ashby Continues to Shove

Transactions:

• (8/19) INF Josh Adamczewski was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats (ankle)
• (8/19) LHP Nick Bennett was released by the Nashville Sounds - we wish Mr. Bennett the absolute best moving forward.

• (8/19) C Satchell Norman was released by the Carolina Mudcats
• (8/19) RHP Elvis Peguero was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Josh Timmerman was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• C Marco Dinges was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• INF Jose Acosta was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• RHP Jose Nova was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats retroactive to 8/18
• INF Mike Boeve was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers retroactive to 8/19
• INF Ben Metzinger was reinstated from the Development List (he had been serving as the Shuckers bullpen catcher)
• RHP Harold Chirino was assigned to the Bilxoi Shuckers from the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Gerson Calzadilla was activated off the 60-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats

Final:   Nashville 9, Jacksonville (Marlins) 5

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 Erase Early Deficit, Take Down Jacksonville in Series Opener - Misiorowski Notches First Career Save

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes     

RHP Chad Patrick pitched his shortest outing since he was building innings back in early April. It's been a long run. However, after seeing a shaky start to his last outing I think we can at least take notice he hasn't been all that sharp now in consecutive outings. He lasted a mere 3 IP of 8 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 ER ball. He only threw 64 pitches with 40 for strikes - at face value, this is just fine and dandy. However, he'll lament his location when ahead in counts. He uncharacteristically left too many pitches in hittable locations ahead 0-2 and 1-2. He and the Sounds suffered for this early as he left his last inning of work in a 5-1 deficit. Given his season as a whole, I think it's fair to state better outings are very likely in the weeks ahead.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RHP Jacob Misiorowski will steal the headlines with his first career Save and some masterful curveballs for punch outs:

BUT, I'm here to tell you the story of the night in the Sounds bullpen (and one of the stories for the past two weeks) was LHP Aaron Ashby. 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. 21 pitches. 16 strikes. The shape of the curveball and slider are heavenly. The sinker is sitting 95-97 mph. Throw every statistic from the first four months of Ashby's season in the trash. For the first time in 2024, he is stacking successes. And he is dominating while doing it. This was his fourth consecutive scoreless short relief stint. He is offering an absolutely lethal blend of pitches. The best part of this development? He's already rostered folks. Just one phone call is all he'll need. He is ready. Believe me when I say it: he is back. We've found his first results-defined performance-based MLB role and it is glorious. And, seriously Nashville media team: you're posting a Corgi race over some of those spicy Ashby punch out curves and sliders? <insert best AI-automated East Coast voice> "Get outtttttttttttta here!"

2) The INF/OF Isaac Collins Truth Movement (TM) will never die. This young man just repeatedly makes another statement just when you may have fallen asleep. Collins ripped an early RBI double (his 27th), he walked home a run, he smashed his 12th long ball of 2024 over the right field fence for an insurance solo jack late. Collins may be the Brewers organization's most important Minor League utility player heading into the 2024/2025 off-season and he is eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Oh, the tension is palpable! 

3) Several Sounds had solid night's at the dish - in addition to Collins all three of DH Wes Clarke, 1B Owen Miller, and C Brian Navarreto had multiple hit evenings. However, in a night of bullpen plaudits, let's take it up another notch. I mentioned recently RHP Garrett Stallings may have pitched his best baseball as a Brewer in his last two outings. Scratch that. RHP Garrett Stallings has pitched his best baseball as a Sound over his last three outings. Stallings absolutely shoved over his 2 1/3 IP of 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K ball. You love to see it!

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 6, Biloxi 5

Late Homer Sees Shuckers Drop Heartbreaker to Barons - Wichrowski Continues to Stack Second Half Success

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes    

We had a feel good run of Shuckers baseball. We really did. And, I am very grateful for it and I certainly hope it returns. We are not experiencing a good run of Shuckers baseball. Losers of six-of-seven games after this game one loss at Brimingham, the Shuckers still hold an extremely precarious 1/2 G lead atop the Southern League South division. 

In a recent Minor League Link report, I asked the Shuckers offense to give us signs of life. Well, they did that tonight scoring five runs. Unfortunately, the typically very reliable bullpen was punished to the tune of four earned runs in a three inning span blowing a 5-2 lead and a 5-5 tie into the realm of a 6-5 loss. RHP Brett Wichrowski gave his team 5 IP of 1 H, 4 BB, 2 ER ball - his first outing of his entire season without a single punch out. At the time, it felt like enough to secure a victory. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) With SS Eric Brown Jr. clearly mired in a season-long funk at the dish (sigh), it was a sight for sore eyes to see one of last year's darlings in INF Ethan Murray have a moment in a season generally lacking any. Let us all take a moment to appreciate this rocket over the left field fence - Murray's first long ball of 2024:

2) Quite literally where would this team be without RF Connor Scott? What a rabbit's foot of a mid-season pick up. 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 HR. He continues to contribute meaningful AB's in run-producing spots in the line-up. Take a look at this smooth and easy long ball stroke on an inside tailing off-speed pitch in the first inning. Just a gorgeous swing and he got the Shuckers off on the right foot:

3) For any remaining Shuckers highlights simply click on one of those just above and head to the Shuckers main twitter page - including yet another CF Casey Martin run-producing poke. To wrap this up, I can simply share the Shuckers ultimately lost this contest when LHP Russ Smith hung several pitches in the heart of the plate to begin his first inning of work - an uncharacteristic inning for Smith in what has been a consistently really good season as a whole. In an homage to Smith, in his first Double-A inning since being re-assigned from Nashville, RHP Harold Chirino proceeded to do the same when he hung a slider dead center cut and it was smashed over the right center field fence - Chirino ultimately took the loss. It has been a truly rough week plus giving me shades of the harder times of a woeful first half. Let's hope these young men can find the resolve to pull out some victories throughout the remainder of this series. They are improbably still atop their division standings, after all.

Final: Great Lakes (Dodgers) 4, Wisconsin 2

Loons Break Tie with Two Runs in Eight Inning to Beat Wisconsin - Rattlers Drop Sixth Straight Series-Opening Game

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

The overall results of this game take a back burner to the post-game status of Loons starting RHP Patrick Copen. Copen took an absolutely smoked inside out line drive off the bat of SS Cooper Pratt off his face to begin the top of the third inning . Copen just couldn't get his glove up in time and he immediately fell to the mound in pain as you can imagine. This led to a 21 minute delay with both training staffs and paramedics tending to the young man. Copen ultimately left on stretcher and in a neck brace. All our thoughts are with this young man as it was a truly scary moment. We can only hope and pray for the best here.

RHP Will Rudy had the Loons bats pretty much off balance his entire outing. He continues to pitch his best baseball of his season in the second half and tonight may have been his best outing all season - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 R (unearned) - in terms of a movement; location; mix and results perspective. There is still plenty of tools in the kit to see continued improvements in the remainder of this season and seasons ahead. An outing like this will hopefully give him a boost of confidence needed to finish his 2024 season on successive high notes. If Rudy can simply continue limiting the long ball it will go a long way toward this end.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Leading 2-1, having just grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning, RHP Yerlin Rodriguez came to the bump. I think it's fair to say the Dodgers highly-touted Josue De Paula was looking for heat: 

Other than the long ball and the lead-off walk to start his second inning of work (sigh), I wish I could walk away knowing this was a 'bad' Rodriguez outing. We can live with this - he lost the lead but he didn't lose the ball game in the process. He managed a 2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 ER, 1 HR brief bit of work. I remain befuddled, however, as to what exactly is preventing any semblance of consistency of his most dominant self. Because, believe me, when Rodriguez is 'On' (as rare as this may be) it is absolutely lights out. We have yet to see this, however, but for fits and spurts here and there. I can only hope that light will one day turn on as a Brewer.

2) He giveth. He taketh away. The Eduardo Garcia story. Garcia actually had a solid night at the dish. He wasn't chasing. He wasn't over-swinging. He was taking easy swings. This helped him to a 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B evening. Kudos deserved and given. However, one of the challenges I have as someone who watches these games is Garcia so rarely puts together a complete performance and his charging wild throwing error to begin the Loons half of the third frame led to the tying run to score. I've seen Garcia make this same mistake on more than one occasion. Eyes wide with a difficult play to be made and 'Whoooops!' that ball is sent up the 1B line into foul territory. Like Rodriguez above, I do wonder if the light will every truly on for this talented young player. I certainly hope it does.

3) I could offer forth another boring dose of compliments for 2B Jadher Areinamo (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and the several ways he impacted this baseball game, however I'd rather show you RF Hedbert Perez's first long ball in High-A. It was an absolute rocket over the right field fence:

@Spencer Michaelis: you have zero convincing to do here. He simply needs health and repetitions. AND, I would certainly love if he could develop more pitch recognition and selectivity. He is still very much prone to massive swings and misses on pitches off- speed and below the zone. I will continue to contend he is an underrated defender with a very good arm, however, who seems to be overlooked in that department. It's easy for people to forget Perez is still just a 21-year-old young man. We can only hope the time rehabbing and the travel North has inspired him to play his best stateside ball.

Final: Carolina 5, Augusta (Braves) 4 

Box Score / Game Log

Mudcats Claim Series Opener from Augusta - Corniel Recovers after Rough First Frame

After a 31 pitch first inning in which the GreenJackets jumped to a 2-0 lead, RHP Daniel Corniel's outing felt uncertain at best. It's a credit to him that he was able to dig deep and pitch four complete innings. Corniel didn't get a much-needed single digit pitch recovery inning, but he certainly buckled down after the first. After surrendering three hits and a walk in that same shaky first frame, the young righty held Augusta to three hits over his remaining three innings with no more free passes. All in all, he tallied a 4 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 ER mark. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) LHP Anthony Flores did the crucial heavy-lifting allowing the Mudcats to extend their lead by two runs. Pitching the fifth-through-seventh innings, Flores didn't surrender a hit or walk in a flawless 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 R outing. 31 pitches with 24 strikes to boot. I continue to love what I see in this fiery and stocky lefty. He doesn't over-power with velocity at this stage - sitting 86-88 mph and occasionally touching 89 mph - but, he's extremely adept at keeping hitters off-balance by changing speeds and eye-level. Despite the lower velo on his primary heater, he still manages to get late movement on the pitch. And, as I've opined on numerous occasions, he truly does have a nasty bender. Already an advanced Low-A offering garnering many a strike looking and swinging.  

2) We got our first look at DH/C and 2024 4th round draft pick Marcus Dinges. What can we truly say after just four AB? I don't know but I'm going to give you as much as I can in one simple vieiwing 😅. Dinges appears to swing with a hard and compact motion down to the ball. He ripped a very hard hit oppo line drive single into right field and scored a run. He looked athletic and capable on the diamond. And, well, that's all there is to truly say at this extremely early juncture. Hopefully, we see quite a bit of him in the final month ahead.

3) If I were to share one player who is an unsung and completely under-the-radar player on the Mudcats roster, I'd be hard-pressed to not mention INF/OF Miguel Briceno. The 21-year-old Venezuelan plays the part of a plus utility player across the infield and corner outfield for manager Nick Stanley. He's had his struggles in 2024 (see April and July), but as a whole he's been a meaningful contributor throughout the season. More importantly, for my eyes, he flashes regularly enough to leave an impression. I notice these things. He has a very manageable 37:19 K:BB ratio in 268 official AB's, he's stolen 15 bases in 21 attempts, and he continues to play very respectable defense at every position. Miguel Briceno is just a solid baseball player and he provides meaningful depth to the Mudcats roster. Tonight, adeptly covering the left field grass, Briceno went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI, 1 2B (his 12th) and 2 K. Another solid night's work for one of the more unsung players in the Mudcats clubhouse.

** Yesterday's DSL Contests will lead each section - the DSL Brewers #1 and DSL Brewers #2  - and I once again thank my wing      man @Jim Goulartfor stepping in to help lighten the load  **

(8/19)

Final: DSL Brewers #1 Squad 12, DSL Cubs Red 5
Box Score and Game Log

The penultimate game for the DSL Uno men saw them move their record to 31-23, not quite in the playoff position envisioned just a week ago, but still more than respectable. A thrashing of a weak Cubs entity (18-35) added to Monday's fun.

Twelve runs on just seven hits (four for extra bases) for Team Prime, as the Chicago pitchers walked ten and plunked two others. 17-year-old RF Handelfry Encarnacion had a remarkable game, scoring five runs despite just one official at-bat. In that AB, the LH-hitting Encarnacion clubbed his 2nd home run to center field. He was also the victim of both HBP's and walked twice. The fact Encarnacion crossed the plate five times reflects that these Cerveceros scored in six of their eight innings as the home team. Let's give credit to those behind him in the lineup for plating him consistently.

Speaking of players who scored each time they reached, studly SS Jesus Made homered (his 6th), doubled and walked, and stole his 28th base. We'll await Tuesday's finale for his 2024 swan song on a glorious season.

Barring a surprise in Tuesday's season finale, it appears as though injury ended 17-year-old infielder Luis Pena's season with a .393/.457/.583 line, 39-of-43 in SB attempts. Pena last played on August 12th.

Fellow 17-year-old Jose Anderson last saw action August 10th, Anderson's 20 XBH's, including 8 HR's, had him enjoy his debut campaign.

18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Gabriel Colmenarez allowed just four hits in four scoreless innings (no walks, five K's). The zero walks are big for Colmenarez as he wraps up his second DSL season.

(8/20)

Final: DSL Brewers #1 Squad 7, DSL Rojos 3
Box Score and Game Log

After the extended stretch where the DSL Brewers Uno played themselves out of the playoffs, they managed to save face and end their DSL season winning three of their last four games - a sweet taste despite a bitter end.

In today's 7-3 victory we see the spotlight back on INF Juan Ortuno. He took the lead-off spot and manned shortstop yet again going 3-for-5 with 1 R, 1 RBI and 1 K while he also tallied 1 CS. Ortuno certainly adds to the wealth of infield depth surely coming stateside in 2025. CF Handelfry Encarnacion continued to deserve mention in his last game of the 2024 summer by going 1-for-3 with 1 R, 2 BB, 1 2B (his sixth overall) and 1 K. I don't think it's an over-exaggeration to share I noticed Encarnacion in nearly every box score over the past two weeks. Talented back stop, C Luis Corobo finished his summer by catching 1-of-3 would be base stealers. He ended his summer with a whopping 45.5 CS % mark 😳. Given the young pitchers he was back-stopping this is simply an absurdly impressive mark. Corobo also went 2-for-5 on his final day with 1 R and 1 RBI closing his season with a very respectable 0.241 BA overall in 112 AB with a palatable 0.715 OPS. I remain very intrigued by what the Brewers may have here. Like Encarnacion, RF Engel Paulino continued making his mark in a 1-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 3B (his sixth) day. Despite a challenging debut month of June, Paulino absolutely came on in July and August. This is a name to remember, in a deep pool of names to remember, as we look forward to 2025 (wipes a tear). And just to tickle your fancy I share another reminder Pauline, like Encarnacion, was featured in the Baseball America International Review for the Brewers class:

Quote

Paulino is 5-foot-9, 160 pounds at 17 with the bat speed that helps him generate sneaky power for his size from the right side of the plate. He’s an athletic mover in the batter’s box and comfortable letting the ball travel deeper into the hitting zone, allowing him to drive the ball well to right-center field. Paulino has experience training as an infielder but moved to center field, where he’s expected to develop as his primary position, though he could have value in a utility role if he’s able to bounce between the dirt and the outfield.

Paulino primarily played center field in 2024 though he did play nine games in the corner outfield spots with very favorable defensive marks across the board. 1B/C Freider Rojas also collected two hits on the day in a 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 CS day at the dish while LF Yohandy Cruz continued making impact in August with a 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 2B day at the dish. The pitching side of the DSL Brewers Uno last game was handled by four of its most consistent and dominant arms of the summer. RHP's Carlos Carra, Oliver Camilo, Ayendy Bravo, and Saul Sanchez all combined for a 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1 HBP. Carra was credited with both the WP and HBP and had six additional base runners aboard through 3 2/3 IP. Camile, Bravo, and Sanchez closed the game out, respectively, with allowing a single run - a harmless solo jack in Bravo's last inning of work. The DSL Cerveceros Dos finished their summer with a 32-23 mark - 5.5 GB the 38-18 DSL Orioles Orange. They will look back at what could have been considering they were a mere 1.5 GB before their double-header with the Orange on Saturday August 10th. 

(8/19)

Final: DSL Brewers #2 Squad 9, DSL Royals Fortuna 3
Box Score and Game Log

Actually, with a record percentage points better than their Brewers #1 brethren, Team Dos moved to 30-22 with this win.

A 5-3 lead on the road exploded with a four-run 9th to break things open. 

These youngsters reached base 19 times - ten hits (four for extra bases), five walks, and four HBP's. Add on eight stolen bases (only 17-year-old catcher Yoneiker Lugo had a rough day on the bases, only slightly offsetting his double, single, and three RBI). Lugo lit up the box score from every angle, with a catcher's interference and passed ball as well.

Wonderful five-inning start for 17-year-old RHP Lonell Downs, now sporting a 1.23 WHIP. Downs is another of the arms out of Nicaragua, where the Brewers have lapped the rest of MLB in blanket coverage and signings of very encouraging pitchers.

For additional insights on both of Monday's DSL games, check out comments made in our daily "as it happened" thread.

(8/20)

Final: DSL Astros Orange 7, DSL Brewers #2 Squad 1
Box Score and Game Log

The DSL Cerveceros Dos, unfortunately, ended their season with a thud. There isn't all that much to report about here in a shellacking - outhit 10-to-4 while mustering a mere 1-for-6 with RISP. DH Jorge Quintana kept his late-season surge going full bore, however: 1-for-3, 1 2B (his 14th), 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB (his 22nd). Quintana managed this final output the same day the Brewers PD twitter celebrated his last month:

SS Moises Polanco also managed a 1-for-3 mark with 1 2B (his 11th) - unfortunately, his double didn't align with any run production. Beyond that, there isn't all that much to discuss in this one a. Despite the woeful closing statement, we all know the DSL Cerveceros Dos had been playing their best ball in quite some time over the past two weeks. They closed their season at 30-23 - third place in the DSL North division. 

With the ACL well behind us in the rear-view mirror and with the DSL season having come to a close today, we are back to our early-season four-game slates. My what a long road we have traveled to get here. Tomorrow we will be seeing four evening slates as we'll get our second glimpse of RHP Jason Woodward on the bump in Zebulon; RHP Adam Timmerman is scheduled for his High-A debut; LHP Adam Seminaris will continue offering his starter innings for the Shuckers; and RHP Logan Henderson will hope to continue his late season charge for Nashville.

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!