Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/22): 2024 MILB Campaign Ends on Sweet Sounding Note

For the week, Nashville managed to claw back to earn a 3-3 series split at Norfolk.

Transactions:

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 12, Norfolk 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Trounce Tides in Season Finale

After dropping three straight in Norfolk to start the series, Manager Rick Sweet and the Nashville Sounds picked themselves off the mat to end the 2024 season with a three-game winning streak.

Sunday’s finale took a pitching committee approach, with starting RHP Easton McGee retiring 9 of 10 batters faced, striking out 4 while issuing no walks, then handing over to four bullpen arms.

Norfolk’s starter also retired 9 of the first 10 Sounds, but center fielder Chris Roller (1-for-2, HR, walk, RBI) made sure the second time through the order was not smooth sailing with a 4th inning leadoff homer igniting Nashville’s offense.

A single by OF Brewer Hicklen (3-for-6, double, RBI), error and two walks produced a second run before SS Freddy Zamora brought two more Sounds home with a 2-out double for a 4-0 advantage.

Any thought of a Norfolk comeback in front of their 5,481 home fans was essentially put to rest with another Hicklen single and 1B Tyler Black 2-run blast for a 7-0 lead in the 5th inning, followed three batters later by a 3B Patrick Dorrian 3-run rocket.

Each of RHP Evan McKendry (2 1/3 IP), LHP Bryan Hudson (1 2/3 IP) and RHP Shane Smith (1 IP) contributed scoreless relief outings, with most eyes on Hudson of course as he tries to earn a spot on the Brewers’ playoff roster.

Hudson faced six batters, getting three strikeouts, two ground outs and conceding one hard hit double to old friend Garrett Cooper. The five swinging strikes were encouraging, although the velocity on his sweeper is not yet back to where it was earlier in the season.

All nine Sounds' position players produced at least one hit, with DH Wes Clarke having perhaps the best offensive game of all: 3-for-4, HR, walk, RBI. The 24-year old had a sneakily-solid season, producing an .812 OPS in 425 plate appearances (including 373 PAs in his first opportunity at the AAA level), with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Black set aside a rough patch (16-for-99 from August 4 – September 18 with 31 Ks, 18 walks and 2 SBs) to end the Minor League season with a 4-game hitting streak, including home runs in his final 2 games. Will this be enough to grab a spot on the Brewers’ postseason roster?
• After getting cups of coffee in The Show in 2022 and 2023 (combined 9 2/3 IP) then spending much of the 2024 campaign rehabbing from a 2023 surgery, McGee will have his eye on returning to the Majors at some point in 2025.
• C Andy Yerzy saw his first game action in 3 months, contributing two singles in five at-bats, with no Norfolk player attempting to steal.
• Late season signing RHP Sam McWilliams was the only Sound pitcher to run into difficulty on this day, conceding 3 runs on 5 hits in the 8th inning. One would imagine the goal is to get him into the pitching lab, then back to Nashville next April, but let’s see how things proceed.

Congratulations to RHP Chad Patrick for leading the 20-team International League in basically every starting pitching category imaginable:

This report polishes off a victory-filled 2024 Minor League Season for the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliates, with seven squads combining for a regular season record of 389 wins and 320 losses (.549 win percentage).

Of course, the Brewers’ big league campaign continues, with six regular season games remaining. They’re off on Monday, but will be in Pittsburgh for a 5:40pm CST game on Tuesday.

On behalf of fellow Link Reporters @Joseph Zarr and @Jim Goulart, thank you BrewerFanatic Readers and Contributors for your support. Keep checking the Minor League Forum section for offseason updates – Arizona Fall League (which starts October 7), Australian Baseball League, transactions, etc.

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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