Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/20): Made Continues to Shine in High-A; Manuel Rodriguez Pitches Master Class

Transactions:

• OF Pedro Ibarguen has been assigned to the ACL Brewers from the Carolina Mudcats
• C Nick Kahle was transferred to the Development List by the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Tobias Myers was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Carlos Rodriguez was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Chad Patrick was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers

Final: Nashville 7, Louisville (Reds) 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):

Nashville Slugs Their Way Past Louisville - Sounds Hit Four Home Runs in 7-5 Game Two Win

Box Score/Game Log

Game Notes

Take heart Brewers fans: the Sounds recently suffered an eight game skid including a six game sweep at their Home park at the hands of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Two series later? They're up 2-0 at Home versus the Louisville Bats. Baseball is a game that often defies logic. The Brewers are going to be just fine. Trust me. It's a game of runs and spurts and crazy samples. Take LF Daz Cameron. He was the absolute lifeblood during the Sounds late first half charge. He's been phenomenal as a key bat for the Sounds since his acquisition. Tonight? 0-for-4, 4 K and he was seen entering the dugout with a golden sombrero.

LHP Tate Kuehner certainly wasn't as effective in his second Triple-A start. 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 5 ER. Yeah, it was a struggle. 98 pitches needed over those 4 1/3 IP - 60 landed for strikes. I've seen this from Kuehner at every level with the Brewers. He very much bobs and weaves his way to finding how his stuff plays at each successive level. This is the test this talented 24-year-old lefty needs to end his season with meaningful feedback for his upcoming off-season. He was solid in his debut. He hiccuped in his second outing. Remember, Kuehner didn't even have a strikeout until his third Double-A start to begin 2025. He is very much a hot and cold arm. Let's hope he heats up after this one. Personally, I think Kuehner can benefit greatly from two of the lefty vets in the current Sounds pitching stables in Maciejewski and Zimmerman. Lean into their experience young man and see what you can glean to add wrinkles to your already plus stuff.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) DH Rhys Hoskins hit his first rehab long ball. It was a sight for sore eyes (just as that early CF camera was sore on our eyes):

We all know the Brewers will benefit greatly to have Hoskins' bat as an option off the bench or in a first base rotation. To think otherwise would be a bit silly I think. Our beloved Pat Murphy is going to welcome this veteran back with open arms. 

2) 2B Ethan Murray went 2-for-4 with 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR and 1 K. That's right, he hit his first Triple-A HR. After the long ball and the 0.500 BA on the evening suddenly his Triple-A work is a palatable 0.219 BA with a 0.668 OPS. That's the way to get back into the swing of things. This sample is too small to glean any real meaning at this new level of challenge for Murray but it's always wonderful to see a talented player claw their way back into providing real meaning in the line up.

3) 3B Raynel Delgado followed last night's cycle with a 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR evening. CF Drew Avans managed a 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 K evening himself in the nine-hole extending his hitting streak to 11 games if I'm not mistaken (I am not - I read the post-game article linked above). However, let's hone in on the red hot rehabbing 1B Jake Bauers who continues to showcase how good the really good AAAA/MLB players are. Bauers hasn't cracked a full-time regular playing gig in the majors and he hasn't done it with the Brewers. But, he sure provides quality play when he is in the rotation. He has pop, obviously, as indicated in tonight's 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 K, 1 HR outing would suggest. But, with Bauers in particular, I always love to hone in on the acumen he provides defensively at first base. He is an incredibly underrated defender at the position - I would personally call him a plus defender; a far cry better than both Vaughn and Hoskins. This play will serve as tonight's example:

Special shout out to RHP Blake Holub and his 1 2/3 IP of 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 R work. With that work he picked up his second win of his season and improved to 2-2 overall. There's a bevy of things to look over in that Sounds box score - including the 15 strike outs for the Sounds bats

Final:  Chattanooga (Reds) 6, Biloxi 3

Hunt Turns in Strong Start in Shuckers Loss to Lookouts - Pratt, Wood, Burke All Extend Hit Streaks 

Game Notes

RHP KC Hunt's final line reads 6.0 IP of 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 2 ER work. The wild pitch plated the second run, unfortunately. He struck out the very next batter. As I noted in the night's game thread: the change-up appeared to be getting the most stares. The cutter was also impactful in the swing and miss department. Unfortunately, there was no run support and the bullpen ultimately faded late. In what has been a wildly erratic 2025 season for last year's co-pitcher of the year organizational award winner, this is a welcome sight regardless of the final outcome.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) DH Cooper Pratt is indeed hot once again. We had last week's three homer power surge. Tonight, in a 3-for-5, 1 2B performance, we had another ripped pull shot. This particular 102 mph double caromed high off the Keesler Federal Park left field wall:

Unfortunately, given the way the Shuckers bats were performing all night, he was stranded. But, the bigger story in the development arc here is the power surge and the rising average and OPS. Consecutive multi-hit games after last week's road performance is very noteworthy. Let's keep this going!

2) 1B Blake Burke had a fairly frustrated 1-for-5, 1 K evening at the dish. He also had some unlucky action at the first base bag - dropping SS Eduardo Garcia's near web gem stab and cross-body throw is one he surely would like to have back. Just off the tip of his webbing while he lunged up line and it certainly seemed like the runner would have been out. And, this being said, I'm still going to shine a light yet again on how his defense as a whole remains undervalued as do his smarts on the baseball diamond. Check out this absurd play on a an attempted sacrifice bunt:

That is an absurdly good play from a big fast moving man! That also greatly helped Hunt keep his earned run damage at the minimum two. 

3) Shoutout to RHP Nick 'Large Mammal' Merkel whose parents were in town - out from my neck of the woods in Washington State, no less. He struck out his first two batters faced. Go supportive parents! Unfortunately, that was the last of the shutdown bullpen work out of the Shuckers Pen. RHP Kaleb Bowman had a lot of traffic on the base paths and surrendered a solo home run. He escaped a bases loaded jam as well. I hadn't seen Bowman that out of sorts in quite some time - a testament to the season he's had as a whole. RHP Austin Roberts let things get away when the Lookouts managed four singles scoring three runs. That proved to be the final difference.

Final: Wisconsin 7, Beloit (Marlins) 5

Rattlers Bounce Back with Win at Beloit - Rodriguez's Gem Paved the Way for Game Two Victory

Game Notes

Firstly, shout out to the Sky Carp's Josh Flickinger. It's not often, well, honestly, it's never when an opposing team's broadcast booth shouts out Brewer Fanatic; @Spencer Michaelis; and myself in the early going. I nearly choked on my beverage I was so shocked. That was truly a memorable moment. Josh may work for the Marlins - and, hey, he's truly a fantastic High-A call - but he very clearly shares a passion for Wisconsin sports. It's a shame he and Spencer weren't able to share the booth a bit on Tuesday. Surely, that conversation would have been fantastic.

RHP Manuel Rodriguez bounced back from his recent long ball woes in a major way. I haven't seen Rodriguez this dominant since his days of Low-A last season. It's incredible to watch a young man sitting 88-89 mph and absolutely blowing balls by bats. Tonight, the name of the game was movement. His pitches were moving and shaking from pitch one. I could tell in the first inning - facing the first batter really - his stuff was moving at a different level. His final line of 5.0 IP of 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 R work absolutely tells the tale. The only thing that would have made his evening more dominant would have been putting batters away earlier in counts. 94 pitches and 55 strikes. If you've never seen Rodriguez pitch this is the outing to dream on. When his off-speed toolkit is dipping and fading like it was tonight, everything opens up in terms of what type of pitcher he could become at higher levels of play. This was as Maddux-esque as I've ever seen him. If you can, go back and watch the tape. You won't regret it.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) This just in. There are reasons why SS Jesus Made is considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball. A night like tonight, yes even with the misplay on a routine grounder that led to a fielding and a throwing error, he showcased elite upside. The ball got to first base with urgency throughout. The movement skills were showcased with his first stolen base and beating out a 96 mph hard hit DP grounder directly to the second baseman. And, his innate power was showcased via a two-run 106 mph pull shot off a dipping inside slider over the right field wall:

I mean, that's an MLB hit right there. That's a man's golf shot. My goodness.

2) DH Josh Adamczewksi's first High-A poke was a line drive single back up the middle right side off former first rounder RHP Noble Meyer. Hats off to the high school phenoms. 

It was nice to see Adamczewski rewarded for a good approach in both games since his call-up. 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI. He was in the clean-up spot yet again. Not bad for a 15th rounder out of Indiana. #LetGingerCook

3) 3B Andrew Fischer has four stolen bases in four attempts already in his brief High-A career. He swiped another tonight and, honestly, he beat the throw by a good couple steps. I did not know he had this much get up and go in his bag. He is still searching for his power stroke at this current level. He is still finding his timing. 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K. That's 5 K through two games in the early going of this series. That's also 9 K after 28 PA's. We'll obviously want to look back at these numbers come, say, 100 plus PA's. None the less, that's a lot of current swing and miss for a player considered to be the best hitter in college baseball this past season. 

Final: Salem (Red Sox) 4, Carolina 2

Game Notes

Two storylines carry the Mudcats post-game sentiments. Firstly, the ongoing effectiveness and savvy of one LHP Enderson Mercado is a thing. 5.0 IP of 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K work. 73 pitches and 46 strikes. Mercado makes a living on the edges of the zone - both sides and below - as a dominant tactic. He doesn't wow with velocity but he's a lefty who locates. In Low-A, that's a winning recipe. The second storyline is the 2 1/3 IP of RHP Griffin Tobias. I am near certain Tobias blew out his throwing elbow. I've seen this same reaction from a Brewers pitcher multiple times over the past two seasons. It hurts every time I see it and I can only imagine what Tobias is going through in this very moment. As I indicated in the night's game thread HERE, if you want to take a look for yourself it happened at 4:02:31 on the replay. Tobias was let down by his defense on numerous occasion throughout his outing  - I felt for him. Balls were getting hit hard, yes, but it felt like his tough luck outing was compounded in the worst way when his arm gave out. We'll have to wait and hear word in the days ahead. I don't have high hopes with this one, sadly. A 2 1/3 IP of 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 4 ER body of work to end a season injured leaves a bitter taste.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Just one evening after I called CF Josiah Ragsdale a consummate Brewer - small stature, contact hitter, little bit of speed - he goes out and hits 4-for-5 with 1 RBI. It's early, obviously, but Ragsdale is very much the part of a slap and contact hitter to the opposite field. He hits with reaction and quick wrists. As a connoisseur of all types of baseball styles - the various ways a hitter can get on base - I find it quite entertaining. He did mis-step slightly forward on the first two out double hit past Ragsdale in center field. A better read likely makes that play. 

2) LF Handelfry Encarnacion misplayed a deep fly to the left field warning track miserably during RHP Griffin Tobias' second inning of work. I don't know if he lost the ball in the lights or if he is simply uncomfortable in left field. It gave me a little too much OF Luis Castillo vibes for my liking, however. Encarnacion also hit another pull rocket double down into the right field corner. That's two doubles in two games at Salem. 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 K on his evening. Baby steps for a young man with a baby face. My goodness, I'm almost 50 years old and Handelfry will still be 18 years old until June of next year. This is a very young player. 

3) SS Brady Ebel's second game was not as enticing as his first. The same pure swing, yes. But, he was also out front of several off-speed offerings in his 0-for-4, 2 K outing. He also would like to have his charged fielding error back. He mis-stepped and literally ate a handful of dirt as he saw the ball come out of his glove during a face plant into the middle infield. Despite the lack of an ostensible positive impression within the game logs, I can avow to you dear readers after just eight AB's: Ebel has a natural line drive to opposite fields swing in that beautiful lefty bat. I don't know what we ultimately have here but I do know I like the visuals - if that makes sense.

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