Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/20): Three Playoff Teams, but alas, No Championships

Transaction:
 

• RHP Kevin Herget recalled from AAA Nashville (replaces RHP Enoli Paredes, who was DFA'd, on the Milwaukee 26-man roster)

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery (Rays) 8, Biloxi 2
Box Score and Game Log

Shuckers Eliminated from Playoffs with Game Three Loss in Montgomery - Pratt records first Double-A home run, Biscuits advance to Southern League Championship Series

Let's again recognize Manager Joe Ayrault who had to leave the team in early June. The long-time member of the Brewers' affiliate managerial crew (shout out, Brevard County Manatees!) has never been far from the minds of the organization. See you in March, Joe!

Trivia: As noted in Javik Blake's notes linked above, no Brewers' AA affiliate has won an outright league championship since the El Paso Diablos won the Texas League Championship Series in 1994. Mark Loretta would go on to be that team's most prominent MLB alumnus.

However, it should be noted the Huntsville Stars were named co-champions in 2001 when the playoffs were canceled due to the 9/11 tragedy. Many members of that Stars' team would play in MLB (in bold here), however most but Bill Hall were primarily for the "cup of big-league coffee" stint.

It never quite felt that the 2024 Shuckers were bound to break the long championship drought. Credit of course goes to the team for qualifying for the postseason. But given the nature of the split season and that there are only two four-team divisions comprising the league, Biloxi's 36-32 2nd half mark managed to do the job, though the team was four games behind these Montgomery Biscuits, who took both halves of the Southern Division schedule.

My fellow Link Reporter @Joseph Zarr summed things up last night in our forum thread:

"Well, the Shuckers season is officially over. That was a very challenging season to watch from start-to-finish. Really happy for them that they stole one in the Divisional series - really glad KC Hunt got that moment to shine. As a whole, however, the team itself was quite easily the most frustrating team in the entire system to watch on a weekly basis. There was a stretch early in the season where I couldn't even watch their games - they were mired in an awful funk, and (no fault of the players) they then had that CF camera issue. They were just so frustratingly inconsistent. Big names underperforming. Erratic mostly low-scoring offense. Starting rotation constantly shuffling - injuries and promotions. The bullpen was their strength but then they got pilfered in the starting pitcher circus."

Specific to Friday night, clearly this was the highlight, and Cooper Pratt is bound to poke a blast the opposite way one of these days. In the meantime, we enjoy this:

Outfielder Lamar Sparks turns 26 in a few days, he doubled and singled here while getting the start in center field, where he played in ten games during the regular season. It seems likely the Brewers will try to entice Sparks (.757 OPS in '24) back on a minor league deal for next year. If Sparks chooses to explore other offers, there should be affiliated options available to him. Hoping he's back.

Hello again, Chase Costello, two scoreless relief innings. Costello doesn't turn 25 until April and is just the latest non-drafted indy ball find to work his way into potential MLB bullpen plans with the Crew.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes 
Final: Nashville 5, Norfolk (Orioles) 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Sounds Get Back in Win Column, Take Down Tides - Wes Clarke homers, Mitch White pitches seven strong innings in 5-3 triumph

The Mitch White late-season saga:

Last seven appearances of the season were starts. The second of those, on August 17th, was a failed to get out of the first inning disaster. But since then, well, let the game logs tell the story. 

Pretty remarkable. But White turns 30 years old in December, is importantly out of minor league options, and the front office and big-league staff still have fresh memories of what the Mitch White MLB experience was in 2024. So, look for White to enjoy his march into minor league free agency five days after the World Series. Thanks for the late-season efforts with Nashville, Mitch!

Speaking of minor-league-free-agents-to-be:

So, there are still storylines in place on the minor league front over the next several weeks and continue to follow our Minor League Forum, though I am hoping we are thoroughly enraptured by major league postseason success until these farmhand decisions have to be made.

Tyler Black sat for this one. Sadly, that doesn't generate a blip of notoriety. OPS marks of .622 in August and .526 in September will generate a yawning reaction. One of the few real bummers of a 2024 season we'll look back on.

Oh, Craig Yoho, brought in to protect a two-run lead, it was walk, wild pitch, walk, then strikeout, popout, strikeout. We look forward to the bright lights of Maryvale big-league invite spring training.

Chad Patrick is slated to get the starting nod on Saturday, as the recently-turned 26-year-old is set to scoop up all kinds of MiLB AAA hardware at season's end. Dude, if you somehow don't net your coveted 40-man roster spot this fall, then congratulations on being the first overall Rule 5 pick in December.

Nashville plays its penultimate game at 5:35 Central today. (We are contractually bound to use the word penultimate whenever the opportunity arises). 

Enjoy your Saturday everyone, as we all navigate this grayish week of anticipation on the big-league Brewers front.

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!