Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/9): KC Hunt Shines, Marco Dinges Returns as Shuckers and Rattlers Win

Transaction: 

• Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP Travis MacGregor to a minor league contract, assigned MacGregor to AA Biloxi.

Via the Shuckers: MacGregor, 27, has made 218 career minor league appearances, including 36 this season with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders in the Texas Rangers organization. The Tarpon Springs, Florida, native was originally selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 9, 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:

Zimmermann Goes Five Strong Innings in Sounds 9-5 Loss to Jacksonville - Three Sounds Have Multi-Hit Games, Account for Six of Eight Nashville Hits

The always detailed game summary is packed as ever - yes, there were 13 stolen bases combined in the game, we'll add here that no baserunner was thrown out. Jacksonville stole eight bases, although they had zero through five innings thanks to the work of LH starter Bruce Zimmermann, as detailed in the report. Technically Jeferson Quero saw eight SB's go against his ledger, although I have often thought double steals really punish catchers unless they are somehow accounted for in the defensive stats. The Jumbo Shrimp pulled off two double steals in the 6th inning alone.

Surely the Sounds' media team was being polite to the "new guy", but skirting around mentioning LH reliever Brian Fitzpatrick's unfortunate results in his debut AAA outing is not the way to go. Better performances are sure to come, Brian.

Manager Rick Sweet always has the Sunday pre-game interview slot, and when that chat is released on Monday, it should be an interesting conversation with Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem given the winless results this week (thus far). AAA baseball is a bit of lawless Thunderdome given the vagaries of roster assignments, unanticipated emergency MLB callups, etc. Sweet has seen it all over the years. As he should, he'll cite the contributions to the success of the big-league club.

There are five miscellaneous video clips waiting for you at the team's "X" feed this morning.

Career change, Nick Kahle? Kahle has pitched (sparingly) in each of the past five seasons, yet he has a 0.32 (!) WHIP) to brag about. Here are those career pitching stats.

CF Steward Berroa netted a golden sombrero as part of an 0-for-5 night. Yes, he is on the Brewers 40-man roster, and you'd likely win a few variations of a bar bet with that info.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Knoxville (Cubs) 2
Box Score and Game Log

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

Burke, Hunt Lead Shuckers to 4-2 Win over Smokies - Burke stars with three hits, first Double-A home run, Hunt ties season-high with six shutout innings

Go the 02:28:00 hour/minute mark here if you are an MiLB.TV subscriber. We shouldn't complain (but will), because you won't see LF Adam Hall's actual sliding catch, described as a really good play. The camera never panned to the outfield during the play itself. What you will see is the aftermath in which Hall is removed, barely being able to place any pressure at all on his left leg, aided off the field. As the Smokies announcer says, "that stinks".

Otherwise, plenty of positives in this one, none more exciting than the return of a 2024 version of RH starter KC Hunt. As Hunt's game log shows, he had very positive outings approximating Saturday's effort on both July 24th and 29th. So, this newest fantastic line of 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K builds upon some recent success. We are normally spoiled by Biloxi's "X" feed, and you will find various highlights there now, but none of Hunt's mound efforts were captured. 

Do you think Blake Burke is having a fine week back in his college (and championship) home? We are guessing "yes-sir-ree-bob", both on and off the field. Talk about a timely call-up.

Outside of Burke's a-triple-shy-of-a-cycle night (and he did triple twice while with Wisconsin), there were only three other Shuckers knocks, all singles.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Wisconsin 4, Peoria (Cardinals) 3
Box Score and Game Log

Wisconsin Escapes with Win Over Chiefs - Timber Rattlers hold on for 4-3 win despite several Peoria rallies in final four innings

If this report was posted seven minutes later than usual, it's because I really enjoyed this video I was inspired to watch after reading Voice of the TimberRattlers Chris Mehring's linked game report.

Each of the three Wisconsin pitchers (Ryan Birchard, Aaron Rund and Yerlin Rodriguez) contributed to the ten walks issued while each also threw a wild pitch (Peoria hurlers issued five free passes). I think we can invent a word and call Birchard's mound effort "Birchardy". Just one hit allowed through five innings, but three runs charged, due partly to five walks and Rund having two inherited runners score (though noted Rund came in with zero outs recorded).

Welcome back, Marco Dinges! Line drive RBI single to center field in his first at-bat since June 29th (hamstring injury rounding third base that game). Dinges also walked twice and fanned once before what we imagine was a planned exit. May Jackson Chourio have such success when he returns!

Oh yes, the kids. Luis Pena with an uncustomary 0-for-5, two K's while committing an error playing shortstop. This was Pena's first 0-for-5 game of 2025, though surprisingly he had two such efforts in July of 2024 during his remarkable .393 campaign in the Dominican Summer League. 

Jesus Made singled twice and walked, throwing error playing second base for the 9th time this year.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final, Game One: Carolina 3, Lynchburg (Guardians) 2
Box Score and Game Log

Final, Game Two: Lynchburg 8, Carolina 6
Box Score and Game Log

Mudcats Split Doubleheader with Lynchburg

The early stages of our "as-it-happens" forum thread contained lively discussion on Game One starting here. Check it out and get a taste of the fun that is had there.

The Mudcats showed four players on the bench for each of the seven-inning contests. Catcher Edgardo Ordonez last played on July 27th, a contest in which he played the full game, so we are unaware of his injury status. Otherwise, the full position player roster received at least one start, with second baseman Josh Adamczewski sitting out the nightcap.

The most productive day at the plate belonged to 19-year-old left fielder Tyler Rodriguez, a RH-bat who doubled, singled, walked twice and stole two bases during the course of the two games.

I count six video highlights at the Mudcats' "X" feed his AM, feel free to visit and be entertained despite the nightcap defeat.

RH starter Miqueas Mercedes, who only turned 19 years old last month, made his Carolina League debut, up from Arizona. His professional WHIP of 1.53 doesn't jump off the page, to be sure, but the organization liked enough to merit the bump, though the final line on this day were not shiny, as you'll see in your box score perusal.

Final: DSL Orioles Orange 5, DSL Brewers Gold 3
Box Score and Game Log

Final: DSL Tampa Bay 13, DSL Brewers Blue 9
Box Score and Game Log

These were rematches from Friday, with the Orioles taking two of three games within a 24-hour span due to the completion of a suspended game. The Rays club also found a bit of revenge on Saturday.

These much-appreciated words are via my fellow Link Reporter "Ro" in our previously linked forum thread:

"The DSL playoff push is fizzling, unfortunately.

Blue scored 7 runs in the 4th inning to grab a 9-6 lead but conceded 7 over the final 3 innings to fall 13-9 to Tampa Bay.

C Yoneiker Lugo (3-for-5, double, 3 RBIs; .791 OPS), CF Brailyn Antunez (3-for-5, HBP) and 1B/LF Angel Gonzalez (1-for-2, double, walk, HBP; .802 OPS) had solid days at the plate.

The Gold squad were 3-hit in a 5-3 defeat to Orioles Orange, but they did draw 15 walks. SS Cristopher Acosta (1-for-2, 3 walks, SB) was their top performer.

Gold’s spark-plug leadoff INF Juan Martinez (.977 OPS) has missed the last 2.5 games. And the Jonathan Rangel (.939 OPS) catching experiment seems muted (caught 2 of his last 11 games played; sat today)."

It's a traditional day off in the DSL while the four full-season squads wrap up series, as the Shuckers and Timber Rattlers look forward to coming home. Note that the Nashville game doesn't get underway until 6:00 PM Central. Have a great Sunday, all! Do I even need to say, "Go Brewers!" - they don't need my help, it seems!

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