Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/27): Mudcats and T-Rats Set the Pace in a 2-2 Night; Hicklen Enters Nashville Record Books

Transactions:

• 1B Blake Burke was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (retroactive to 8/25)
• RHP Josh Knoth was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats (retroactive to 8/25)
• RHP Dikember Sanchez was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• RHP Brailin Rodriguez was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
• LHP Mason Molina was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Jack Seppings was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Melvin Hernandez was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP Tyson Hardin was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers
• RHP James Meeker was assigned to the Bilxoi Shuckers from the Nashville Sounds
• INF Ben Metzinger has been assigned to the Development List (retroactive to 8/25)
• RHP Enoli Paredes was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to continue his Rehab

Final:  Charlotte (White Sox) 16,  Nashville 7

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):

Hicklen Makes History, Sounds Fall to Charlotte - Hicklen Becomes First 20 HR/40 SB Player in Sounds History

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes     

The Sounds were cruising with a 6-2 lead. RHP Logan Henderson had settled in after some early control issues. And, then, well then RHP Easton McGee entered the game and the game fell apart. A 6-2 lead had turned into a 11-6 deficit. As to Henderson, this wasn't a particularly impressive outing by his 2024 standards. His off-speed was erratic through his first three frames. And, his heater was sitting 91-93 mph and not quite touching 94 mph. If we look at his outing as a whole, it was essentially a two-pitch performance: four-seamer to change-up. Cutters were sprinkled in. A sinker was thrown once. This being said, even with the overall lack of control and a lower velocity output overall he did manage to grab 14 whiffs in 42 swings while keeping all exit velocities below 100 mph. It was a laborious four innings: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 ER, 1 HR - 80 pitches and only 53 strikes. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 1B Tyler Black did his 'he giveth and he taketh' thing. 2-for-5 at the dish with 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B, and 2 K. The home run was a massive turn of the wrists on a low inside pitch for a crazy 433 foot blast over the right field wall that likely left the stadium:

He also had a nice dig early in the contest on a tricky throw from SS Freddy Zamora. However, Black also botched a hard hit grounder that bounced high on him and off his glove (gracefully not called an error) and he couldn't corral a crucial runners on one-hop throw from 3B Vinny Capra (Capra was unfairly charged an error by my eyes even though the throw was short). It continues to absolutely be the defensive inconsistency that is preventing prolonged exposure at the MLB level by my book.

2) This was the most challenged RHP Craig Yoho relief outing I've seen in 2024. And, it was mainly the lack of control that soiled his 1.0 IP of 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 WP, 2 K work. It has been a massively impressive season as a whole for Yoho and he has been extremely impressive with Nashville. This was simply not his night and his 41 pitch, 21 strike performance attests to this. The zone was elusive. He'll look to bounce back to his previously dominant ways. Like Payamps' unfortunate outing in Milwaukee, when you go as many scoreless outings as Yoho has (19 straight dating back to June 14th) you get a mulligan...or two...or three.

3) Your RHP Jacob Misiorowski update: 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 WP, 0 HB, 1 K. He was absolutely dominant yet again as he continues to shine in a bullpen role:

• He hasn't allowed a hit since August 7th
• He is holding opposing Triple-A hitters to a 0.030 BA
• He has a 1.69 ERA with Nashville
• 5-of-6 heaters were 99.2 mph or higher on the evening 
• Three total swings seven pitches. Two whiffs.

Final: Montgomery (Rays) 11, Biloxi 4

Shuckers Drop Opener to Biscuits  - Martinez Extends Hit Streak to Five Games

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes    

The Shuckers came into this one with a 2.5 G lead over Mississippi for that coveted second half playoff berth. However, I've watched the Shuckers play the past two series: they have not been playing like a playoff team. This is just the plain truth. The offense remains an enigma on most nights. And, the starting pitching staff is being patched together. They do have one thing working in their favor: they are playing in the Southern League South Division. Both Mississippi and Pensacola lost again tonight.

It was LHP Adam Seminaris' turn to play the part of the 'Yes Man'. I've opined on several occasions, I just don't think a starting role is the best use of Seminaris' tools. His upper 80's and low 90's sinker and his off-speed tools are best served out of the Pen as a change-of-pace. However, given the state of the Shuckers pitching staff my sentiments don't really carry water - they need starters and Seminaris has starting experience. The lefty gave his team 4 2/3 IP of hard fought 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 4 ER ball. It wasn't a great start by any stretch but it ate important innings. Unfortunately, the Shuckers bats didn't do a single thing until the game was well out of reach. It's a testament to Seminaris' resolve that he ended his outing with consecutive punch outs:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) We saw some signs of life in 3B Brock Wilken's bat when he hit a deep fly to the right CF gap that was run down by the Biscuits' speedy center fielder. He then ripped a deep double to the left CF warning track that one-hopped the wall and bounced over. However, it's the month of August and it has been very unkind to Wilken at the dish as a general rule. He had runners on second and third of a 7-3 game and struck out swinging on a slider off the plate. He struck out in his next AB as well. All in all it was a 1-for-5, 1 2B, 2 K all or nothing night.

2) 2 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR. The combined output of RHP's Tyler Woessner and Harold Chirino speaks to their frustrating seasons. Back in the Double-A Southern League, both having been re-assigned from Triple-A Nashville, neither young pitcher has re-discovered any semblance of consistency back in the Shuckers bullpen. Rather, the two hurlers continue to battle the same consistent issues that have haunted them throughout their 2024 seasons. I can only imagine the frustrations each young man is experiencing as they scratch and claw their ways through each bullpen session and ensuing outing. I'm rooting for each young man - they both need to finish strong to improve their organizational standing. And, with Chirino in particular, I continue to be baffled as to why he can't take the next step. He truly has filthy raw tools:

3) It wasn't for lack of opportunities. Despite the lopsided score, each team knocked 11 hits. The difference, as we so commonly see in all of baseball, was the Biscuits won the RISP battle. 6-for-13 with RISP for the Biscuits only stranding four runners overall. The Shuckers managed a 3-for-12 mark stranding eight runners. To me, this very contrast is a metaphor for the past two series plus. The offense continues to struggle to stack success.

Final: Wisconsin 10, Quad Cities (Royals) 4

Two Five-Run innings Send Rattlers to Victory - T-Rats Win Game One for First Time in Seven Series

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Alexander Cornielle's long fourth inning of work ultimately drove him from the game at 76 pitches (45 strikes). Despite the elevated pitch count, I liked what I saw from Cornielle. He wasn't giving in to hitters. He wasn't hanging any pitches. He was moving the ball around the zone and changing speeds regularly. Cornielle scuffled mightily in a three-start stretch July 30th-through-August 10th, however he has resembled the pitcher we've seen 85% of his season since that time. 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 ER is a good result any day of the week. This was a solid performance coming off his 11 K lights out performance at Great Lakes.

Full-Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) In a game where the T-Rats only outhit the River Bandits 9-to-7 yet won 10-4 there is typically an underlying reason. Tonight, we obviously look to the 10-run two-inning output in the third and fourth innings (as alluded to in the post-game article above). The Rattlers' 6-for-10 mark with RISP (vs Quad Cities' 2-for-13 mark) can largely be attributed to a bevy of seeing eye hits in the third inning. Bloops were dropping. Dribblers were finding holes. I don't want to take away from Garcia's deep double or the scorched XBH's in the fourth inning. But, in the third frame, there was some vintage baseball luck shining on the T-Rats bats. 

2) C Ramón Rodríguez remains one of my favorite players in the system absolutely nobody talks about. All this young man does every time he steps behind the bump is manage the game and influence the game with impact. He's fielding to a 99.3% clip. He's throwing out 28% of baserunners. And, he has consistent nights like this at the dish: 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B (his 16th), 1 HR.  Do not sleep on Rodríguez as a meaningful backstop. His homer was absolutely scorched.

3) Speaking of unheralded players, you have to love 1B Jesus Chirinos stepping in to the Burke/Adams void and putting forth a 2-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B (bases clearing), 2 K night at the dish. Chirinos has very much been a part-time player throughout the 2024 season, but he consistently finds his moments and he's in the best shape of his career playing improved defense as well. His bases clearing double in the fourth frame missed leaving the yard by about 6-9 inches on atop the right field wall.

Final: Carolina 3, Lynchburg (Guardians) 2

Box Score / Game Log

Solid Start Lifts Mudcats Past Lynchburg - Corniel Pitches Masterfully into Seventh Inning

When RHP Daniel Corniel is good he is pounding the zone and forcing batters' hands. Tonight was such a performance. All in all, Corniel was pulled after 87 pitches (65 strikes) and a very Quality 6 1/3 IP of 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 ER. The run was 'earned' after RHP Jesus Flores came on in relief inheriting a runner on first base. That runner eventually scored. The bigger story here, however, is Corniel has bounced back in a big way since his August 7th start when he was hung out to dry during a seven-run blow-up inning after taking a come backer off his arm. Three consecutive solid starts - two of which have gone six innings or more. Given the Mudcats' season-long number one Ace RHP Manuel Rodriguez is still on the 7-Day IL, this has been a huge boost for the health of the Mudcats pitching staff (not to mention, their post-season outlook).

Three Quick Strikes:

1) CF Yophery Rodriguez began his night with a three pitch looking strikeout. His bat didn't leave his shoulder. However, he responded in a big way thereafter: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 2B (his 23rd). He now has 57 RBI on the season. Given the meteoric rise of phenom Jackson Chourio, I have to remind myself Chourio's path to the majors is an anomaly. Rodriguez remains an extremely talented blue chipper. His defense, as I've opined on numerous occasions, is phenomenal. The hustle is undeniable. The arm is plus. He is still getting acclimated to who he is as a hitter. He is 18 years old. I consistently remind myself: he is 18 years old. 

2) 3B Juan Baez had a 2-for-5 night at the dish batting second but what continues to stand out for me with Baez is his defense and arm at 3B. I don't know what was going on in Arizona in 2023, but I can emphatically state the INF Juan Baez I see in Carolina is a very good defender. He handled all his work cleanly once again tonight including an extremely deep back-handed stab behind third base. He stopped on a dime and fired an absolute accurate cannon shot to Bitonti at 1B. He continues to impress in ways you might not expect.

3) RHP Jesus Flores picked up the 2 2/3 inning Save - his first as a Mudcat. Kudos are in order! All in all, the young righty managed a 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3K line. He did allow the run he inherited from RHP Daniel Corniel to score as I mentioned above. 48 total pitches and 33 strikes is a good peripheral mark, however with Flores I continue to see a lack of refinement in his location. His current ERA speaks to it - a case where the ball doesn't lie. As he moves forward, I would love for Flores to improve his breaking ball accuracy. At present, it has a tendency to be a hit me pitch. 

The Timber Rattlers will look to jump to a 2-0 series lead when they play the lone matinee game tomorrow - RHP Stiven Cruz takes the bump as a starter as he looks to continue his solid work for manager Victor Estevez. Carolina and Nashville will once again play the early evening tilts - RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez is the only known starter at this time. And, Biloxi will look to bounce back when LHP Tate Kuehner (in need of a bounce back performance himself) takes the mound.

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

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