Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/7): On a Rare Winless Night on the Farm, 1B Eric Bitonti Hits Two More Nukes in Fredericksburg

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• RHP Jesus Flores was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers - making the rare DSL-to-ACL-to-Low-A jump in one season as Jim discusses HERE
• RHP Travis Smith was assigned to the ACL Brewers (2024 15th Rd draft pick - University of Kentucky)

Final:   Indianapolis (Pirates) 4, Nashville 3

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):

Indians Down Sounds in 10, Spoil Misiorowski's Home Debut - Miz Strikes Out Three, Nashville Falls 4-3

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Jacob Misiorowski threw 20-of-29 pitches for strikes - tho, it should be pointed out the Indians' bats swung at 50% of pitches outside the zone. We'll take those swings regardless as this was a much-needed bounce back bit of work for Misiorowski - unfortunately, a familiar phrase in 2024. It's fun to point to prospect ranking and status for a talented and sometimes electric hurler like Misiorowski, but I want to remind Brewers fans: this is very very much still a development path this talented young man is on. SO, to that end, tonight we celebrate 0 HB, 0 BB, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K. The Max velocity in Miz's 29 pitches was 99.3 mph on the four-seamer. The nastiest pitches by my eyes were a 93 mph cutter and a slider. 13 swings and 7 whiffs speaks to the dominance. He did give up a 108.7 mph double in his second inning of work but he stranded that runner. In a season filled with ups-and-downs tonight is a night to celebrate. And, the reality is: this needs to be the baseline moving forward to consider any type of MLB considerations. No more meltdown outings in 2024 would go a long way to that end.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) A 3-1 lead evaporated when RHP Evan McKendry allowed a single and double to open the seventh inning. He had two down and a 3-2 lead after 1B Tyler Black wisely took the out at 1B on a ground out with a man on third base followed by an upheld K looking to Billy McKinney. But, a hard hit single past the mound (past a dodging McKendry) and then off the second base bag tied the game back up. This being said, the game was really lost when the Sounds consistently failed to score with RISP. 0-for-10 to that end. 10 men left on base. 1B Tyler Black, playing the part of Manfred's Man in the Sounds' half of the 10th and final inning, never left second base when the Sounds hit three consecutive grounders to 3B. The game was there for the taking, sure, but as was discovered throughout the system tonight: the ball doesn't lie.

2) With the recent promotion of OF Carlos D. Rodriguez, the Sounds are suddenly playing a bit of line-up Jenga with INF/OF's Isaac Collins and Tyler Black. Black actually had a nice game at first base - he made the right decisions and executed some deft glove work scooping throws to first base. Collins at third base, a more natural infielder than Black if we're being honest, was a bit hit-and-miss on the evening and how can we blame him given this shift to the hot corner is quite recent to his utility tool kit. He made an error fielding with his backhand glove hand up the 3B line, he couldn't dive and snare a hard hit grounder to his glove hand - not that there was a play to be made regardless here but he didn't have the range to make it. Collins made some other plays for sure but the overall theme I am sensing with this current Sounds roster construction is very much 'development'. It's a credit to the team and the coaching staff they've managed to continue to play above 0.500 ball. I should also mention Collins, in particular, also managed a very respectable 2-for-3, 2 BB night in the lead-off spot while smacking two singles at 104 and 105 mph. 

3) If I were to read the line-up tea leaves heading into game three tomorrow in this 1-1 series split so far, I would gather INF Christian Arroyo will be getting a rest day. After his 0-for-5, 1 K evening without hitting a ball over 74.5 mph into the field of play I sense he crafted the recipe for INF Patrick Dorrian to get another turn in the mix given his improved play over the past two months. Just a hunch. 

Final: Montgomery (Rays) 1, Biloxi 0

Shuckers Fall to Biscuits in Pitcher's Duel, 1-0 - Five-Game Win Streak Snapped after Bats Manage One Hit

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Brett Wichrowski was pulled after a mere 3 1/3 IP and a pitch count of 74 - this hasn't been unusual for Wichrowski as the mid 70's pitch count has been the first consideration for resting his arm. He threw just 41 strikes allowing 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HB and 1 ER while punching out five batters. All that massive one run damage came largely as a result of a lead-off triple over the sprinting CF Adam Hall and off the wall taking a generous bounce. The anomaly in Wichrowski's age 21 season is really the month of May when he scuffled in his transition to Double-A. After that rough debut month, he's pitched quite well for such a young inexperienced arm. In what is very much a development and experience year, we have to be quite pleased at the early results. And, it goes without saying this will be a big off-season for his professional career. In a game without much else to point to other than lead-off 2B Dylan O'Rae's oppo single to open the game while immediately swiping second base (19th SB as a Shucker), I'll turn your attention to the bullpen. Just one evening after I lauded the unsung heroes of the deep and underrated Shuckers bullpen, RHP Kaleb 'Bo' Bowman (2 2/3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 R) and RHP Sam Carlson (2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) did everything and then some to give their offense an opportunity to comeback and win for the sixth consecutive game. It wasn't to be, but their efforts very much deserve recognition and praise. The Shuckers fell to 22-12 in the second half but with the Pensacola loss remain 3.0 G ahead in first place. The Biscuits moved back to 3.5 GB.

Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 2, Wisconsin 1

Late Bandits Runs Beat Rattlers - Quad Cities Breaks 1-1 Tie with Eighth Inning Rally

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

An evening after being held scoreless for just the fourth time in 2024, the bats were held to four hits and a single run. Unfortunately, tho the T-Rats led 1-0 for the majority of the game, they were incapable of sealing the deal as the bullpen surrendered two runs late in the contest. LHP Mark Manfredi more than did his part with three extremely efficient innings - 37 pitches and 27 strikes; 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 R. It was very refreshing to see Manfredi back in complete control of his talented toolkit. The same can not be said for RHP Stiven Cruz who pitched the same number of innings but threw 22 more pitches (59). His final line read 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, and 1 ER. He escaped significant damage but Cruz was certainly working around some heavy base traffic and elevated pitch counts. RHP Aidan Maldonado (0-2) was ultimately credited with the loss but one has to wonder would have ultimately become of this game had RF Eduarqui Fernandez been able to hold on to a deep fly to the right field wall with one down in the bottom of the eighth inning. Fernandez caught the ball in a truly valiant effort but as he did so he crashed into the wall in an awkward manner and the ball popped out and well into the outfield grass. Immediately thereafter, and with the infield in and a fresh RHP Tyler Bryant on the bump, the next batter hit a shallow line drive single into right field. 2-1 ball game. And, that was all She wrote. Not all that much happened on the offensive side of things - C Matt Wood bounced back with a 2-for-4 effort and 1B Tayden Hall knocked in the T-Rats only run with a well hit single into center field. 3B Luke Adams was plunked yet again. I'll close by saying it's really unfortunate we have no highlight of SS Cooper Pratt's leaping snow cone catch of a bases loaded Caglianone line drive to end the seventh. It was a special grab in a high-leverage moment. Pratt consistently showcases his defensive prowess on a night-in and night-out basis and what we've been seeing between Pratt and Eric Brown Jr. defensively over the past several weeks is simply jaw-dropping. The T-Rats fell to 23-14 on the second half now just 3.5 G ahead of second place (first place for Playoff purposes) Peoria.

 Final: Fredericksburg (Nationals) 13, Carolina 9

Box Score / Game Log

Fredericksburg Levels Series with Mudcats 

Just one evening after taking a 7-0 lead and running with it in game one, the Mudcats led 7-1 before RHP Daniel Corniel (4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 1 HB, 1 Balk, 3 K, 8 ER) was inexplicably left in the game surrendering seven runs of his own in the fifth inning. A comfortable lead turned into a one-run deficit in the blink of an eye. Several things happened in the game-changing bottom of the fifth frame worthy of discussion. Corniel took a come backer directly off his throwing hand and into center field for a lead off single. This led to a mound visit and trainer observations through several practice pitches after a hand assessment. Corniel then gave up another single while quickly advancing both runners via balk. Even though the pitch count was certainly manageable at this point, I opine manager Nick Stanley was entirely too inactive in reading the situation. Your starting pitcher just took a ball of his pitching hand and has advanced two runners via a balk and there are zero outs. Maybe another mound visit would be in order at this moment? Maybe? Corniel then gave up a two-run double. He immediately hit the next batter. Still no outs. In hindsight, this was the moment to take that slow walk to the mound to save your young pitcher and call the bullpen regardless of their readiness (which, if we're being honest they should have been readying after the come backer). Stanley's inactivity certainly isn't responsible for Corniel unraveling for a seven-run blow-up inning but it absolutely didn't help Corniel's cause or the team's in the least. This was a very winnable game. In the end, it will simply look like a high-scoring loss in the record books.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) What's even more unfortunate about the loss than the loss itself, is it wasted another two home-run Nuke parade off the power bat of one young phenom in 1B Eric Bitonti. These balls were absolutely scorched: 

Just remember, I was opining back in mid summer Bitonti should be a call-up candidate to play 1B given the Mudcats thin stable there post-Hall promotion despite concerns about a possible elevated K rate etc.. Bitonti is finally getting action there now. He's kind of a bit talented. Wouldn't you agree?😁 He has five long balls in just seven Low-A games. He is hitting 0.281 with a 1.146 OPS in 32 AB over that span. This young man has legit superstar potential folks. How blessed are we the Bitonti Era has reached streaming capacity?! Let's enjoy this run while we can.

2) Speaking of another high-upside 2023 MLB Brewers Draft high school infielder with immense talent, 2B Josh Adamczewski was pulled from this contest early. This is something we'll simply have to monitor in the days ahead. After just one AB and two innings of fielding work, the young stud was pulled for INF Miguel Briceno (1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K) who struck out swinging. Nothing was very apparent within the game itself, but speaking with a source in close proximity to the situation and who had direct conversations with the player, I can share the young man felt a tweak in his back. We have no word on what exactly that means at this time. It could be soreness. It could be a pulled muscle. We'll simply have to monitor Adamczewski's activity in in the days ahead. Let's hope for the best!

3) SS Daniel Guilarte had his most complete game in some time. He was active and very solid defensively and he showed improved plate discipline in a 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB night at the dish. It could be a massive boon to the Mudcats late-season and playoff chances if they can get a dialed in Daniel Guilarte. In what has largely been a season off the radar, he could certainly give his team a needed boost while also giving his prospects for 2025 a needed boost as well. After a pretty woeful July, Guilarte is off to a scorching start in 17 August AB - 0.471 BA with a 1.196 OPS. This is obviously an absurdly small sample size but given he hit 0.156 in 64 July AB's we'll take this and sprint to the optimism booth. 

The ebbs and flows of a baseball season. I remain incredibly optimistic despite the tough 0-4 night. Games aplenty tomorrow to flip the script yet again! If you can make sense of what is going on for the DSL Brewers Dos, good on you. I think they're playing? 😂 The DSL Brewers Uno are definitely facing the DSL LAD Bautista. All four full-season affiliates will be back playing evening tilts. Tomorrow will be a big test for newly christened LHP Anthony Flores. Can he build off his smashing debut just last week? LHP Brian Fitzpatrick will surely do his part to get the T-Rats back in the win column. Book it. Which version of LHP Adam Seminaris will we see tomorrow night? And, can RHP Chad Patrick continue to state his case as the real Ace of the Sounds staff? Lots to tune in for.

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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