Brewers Minor League Week in Review (4/11-16): Hiura Homers and Maldonado Strikeouts

There are essentially two purposes of an organization's minor-league system. The first is to develop players that will help at the big-league level. The second would be to trade prospects to gain players to help the big-league club during a winning cycle. 

Where are the Milwaukee Brewers in that circle of baseball life now? Opinions may vary. They didn't sign many free agents. They didn't make a lot of trades. They also weren't able to sign Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, or Willy Adames to long-term deals. Where will they be in June, and what will they do at the deadline? Well, that's for another day. 

The minor-leaguers deserve our attention. They earned the right to be called professional ballplayers. They put in a tremendous amount of work, and while improvements are being made to minor-league pay, there is still a long way to go. So, it is important to recognize those efforts and the successes in the minor leagues. 

Each week, we will take a look at how the Brewers' affiliates are performing as a team and their upcoming schedule. But our focus will be on the players. For each of the four full-season affiliates whose seasons are just getting started, we will name a Hitter and Pitcher of the Week. At the end, we will let you decide who the Brewers Minor League Hitter and Pitcher of the Month are, so please take some time to read about the prospects and discuss them in the Comments. Let's get started in Nashville. 

Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Last Week: Home vs Norfolk, 3-3
Overall: 8-7
Standings: Tied for 7th place in the International League
What’s Next: Six games at Jacksonville (7-7)

Top Hitter: Keston Hiura
In five games last week, Hiura went 5-for-20 with four home runs and seven RBI. He had a slash line of .250/.318/.850 (1.168) and walked twice.

The 26-year-old former ninth-overall pick could have sulked when the Brewers DFAd him at the end of spring training, and he cleared waivers. Instead, he’s provided power in the middle of the Sounds offense. Through the season’s first 12 games, Hiura has hit .279/.367/.698 (1.065) with six home runs and 12 RBI. He’s still looking for his first double. Hiura will play in the big leagues again. Will it be with the Brewers?

Honorable Mention
     IF Eddy Alvarez (33): 4 G, 3-for-11, .273/.500/.545 (1.045), HR, 4 BB, 2 SB
     3B Abraham Toro (26): 5 G, 8-for-20, .400/.455/.550 (1.005), 3-2B, 2 BB
     C Brian Navarreto (28) had a game-winning grand slam this week.  

Top 20 Prospects
     OF Sal Frelick (23)(#2 prospect): 6 G, 3-for-20, .150/.261/.150 (.411), 3 BB

Top Pitcher: LHP Clayton Andrews  
26-year-old Clayton Andrews had a really nice week. The lefty reliever pitched in three games. He earned a win and a save. He pitched a total of three innings and gave up no runs and no hits. He walked one and struck out five batters.

Andrews is a little lefty that the Brewers drafted in the 17th round of the 2018 draft. He was working his way up the organizational ladder, reaching Double-A in the 2nd half of 2019. He went to the Arizona Fall League. Unfortunately, he didn’t pitch in 2020. Then after seven appearances for Nashville in 2021, he underwent Tommy John surgery. He spent most of 2022 rehabbing and got into some games at Double-A at the end of the season. He returned to Nashville to start this season where he has nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He’s given up just one run on two hits and one walk. He was a two-way player really until he starting having arm issues in 2021.

Honorable Mention
     LHP Alex Claudio (31): 3 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K.
     RHP Lucas Erceg (28): 3 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K.
     RHP Tyson Miller (27): 2 G, 0-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K.

Other Top 20 Prospects
     LHP Robert Gasser (24)(#7 prospect): 1 G, 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K.
     LHP Ethan Small (26)(#18 prospect): 2 G, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K.  

Double-A Biloxi Shuckers
Last Week: Home vs. Pensacola, 3-3
Overall: 5-4
Standings: 4th place in the Southern League (1 GB)
What’s Next: Six games at Rocket City (6-3)

Top Hitter: IF Tyler Black (#8 prospect)
Tyler Black was the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Wright State. He played five games last week and went 6-for-16. He hit .375/.500/.813 (1.313) with a double, two home runs, and four RBI. He walked twice, and he stole three bases.

The 22-year-old Canadian hit .281 with an .831 OPS a season ago in Wisconsin. However, because of injury, he played just 64 games. He finished the year by playing in 17 games in the Arizona Fall League. Drafted as a shortstop, he spent quite a bit of time in center field last year. So far this year, he has played third base in all seven games that he has played.

Honorable Mention
     1B Zavier Warren (24): 6 G, 5-for-17, .294/.455/.471 (.926), with a home run. He also walked five times and stole three bases.

Top 20 Prospects
     OF Jackson Chourio (19)(#1 prospect): 6 G, 4-for-24, .167/.200/.583 (.783) with a double, three homers, and seven RBI. One walk, nine strikeouts in 25 plate appearances.
     C Jeferson Quero (20)(#5 prospect): 4 G, 3-for-12, .250/.308/.250 (.558) with one stolen base.

Top Pitcher: RHP Christian Mejias  
Mejias made one start for the Shuckers last week. He tossed five shutout innings. He gave up just one hit, walked one, and struck out eight batters. It was his first start of the season, but he had a two-inning relief appearance the previous week.

Mejias signed with the Houston Astros back in June of 2016. He pitched parts of three seasons in the DSL. He came to the States midway through the 2018 season and didn’t make his full-season debut until He reached A-Ball with the Astros organization in 2021, but at season’s end of 2022, he became a free agent. The Brewers signed him quickly and assigned him to Double-A to start this season.

Honorable Mention
RHP Justin Jarvis (23): 2 G, 0-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.0 IP 3 R, 7 H, 5 BB, 13 K.
RHP Harold Chirino (25): 2 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K.
LHP Darrell Thompson (29): 2 G, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.30 WHIP, 3.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K.

Top 20 Prospects
     RHP Carlos Rodriguez (21)(#11 prospect): 1 G, 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K.
     RHP Abner Uribe (23)(#13 prospect): 2 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 K.

High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Last Week: Home vs Peoria, 4-2
Overall: 6-3
Standings: Tied for 5th place in the Midwest League
What’s Next: Six games at Quad Cities (3-5)

Top Hitter: 3B Ben Metzinger  
Metzinger had just three hits over 11 at-bats last week. However, he had a double, a homer, and an incredible nine walks. He hit .273/.600/.636 (1.236).

The Brewers selected Metzinger in the seventh round of the 2022 draft after four years at Louisville. The 23-year-old played four games in Arizona after signing before finishing the year with 25 games in Wisconsin.

Honorable Mention
C Alex Hall (24): 3 G, 3-for-10, .300/.417/.900 (1.317) with two home runs and two walks.
OF Joe Gray (23): 5 G, 7-for-20, .350/.435/.550 (.985) with a double, a homer, and three walks.
1B Jesus Chirinos (21): 3 G, 3-for-11, .273/.333/.636 (.969) with a double, a homer and a walk.
IF Eduardo Garcia (20): 5 G, 6-for-20, .300/.364/.550 (.914) with a triple and a home run.

Top 20 Prospects
     SS Eric Brown Jr (22)(#9 prospect): 6 G, 3-for-26, .115/.179/.115 (.294) with one walk, one steal.
     OF Hendry Mendez (19)(#12 prospect):  1 G, 1-for-1, 1.000/1.000/1.000 (2.000). Injured on an awkward slide on a caught stealing at second base. Listed as day-to-day.
     OF Robert Moore (21)(#14 prospect): 5 G, 6-for-20, .300/.364/.600 (.964) with three doubles and a home run.   

Top Pitcher: RHP Tyler Woessner   
It was a two-start week for the 23-year-old Woessner, the first two starts of his season. He went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He worked a combined 10 innings and gave up four runs (2 earned) on seven hits. He walked three and struck out 13 batters.

A native of Phoenix, Woessner spent his college years at Central Arizona College where he helped the team to a national championship. The Brewers selected him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. He pitched six innings in Arizona before ending the season with a game for Carolina.

Honorable Mention
     RHP Kaleb Bowman (26): 2 G, 0-0, 2 Saves, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K.
     LHP Russell Smith (24): 1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K.
     RHP Max Lazar (24): 1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K.
     RHP Ryan Brady (24): 2 G, 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K.

Top 20 Prospects
     RHP Stiven Cruz (21)(#15 prospect): 1 G, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K.
     RHP Alexander Cornielle (21)(#20 prospect): 1 G, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K.

Low-A Carolina Mudcats  
Last Week: 2-4 hosting Salem  
Overall: 3-5
Standings: 11th place in the Carolina League
What’s Next: Six games at Down East (5-3)

Top Hitter: 3B Luke Adams  
Over five games last week, Luke Adams went 4-for-14 and hit .286/.524/.643 (1.167) with two doubles and a home run. He also walked seven times and then stole three bases. His 1.167 OPS was just over .500 points higher than the next high on the Mudcats team

The 19-year-old Adams was the Brewers 12th round pick in 200 out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois. He had been committed to play at Michigan State. He was ranked the seventh-best prospect last year in Illinois, and the eighth-best third base prospect in the country a year ago. The Brewers gave him sixth-round money, more than double the $125,000 value for players taken after the tenth round. He’s a big kid, 6-4, but he’s a very good athlete. He also has a huge arm. Because it was such a big decision, Adams didn’t sign right away, but he hit .375 in 11 games in Arizona.

Honorable Mention
     None.   

Top 20 Prospects
     OF Jace Avina (20)(#17 prospect): 4 G, 1-for-11, .091/.375/.091 (.466). He had three walks and eight strikeouts.   

Top Pitcher: RHP Aidan Maldonado
Maldonado pitched twice last week, one start and once out of the bullpen. Over a combined seven shutout innings, he gave up just one hit, two walks, and struck out eight batters. He had a 0.00 ERA, a 0.43 WHIP, and opponents hit just .045 against him.

The Brewers liked Maldonado enough that they drafted him twice. In 2018, they selected him, one pick before the Rockies selected Kumar Rocker, out of Rosemount (MN) High School. He went to the University of Illinois for three years before coming home to the University of Minnesota for his senior season. He posted a 3.91 ERA over 73 2/3 innings and struck out 90 batters. He did not pitch after the Brewers selected him in the 14th round of last year’s draft.

Honorable Mention
     RHP Tyler Wehrle (23): 1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K.
     RHP Alexander Vallecillo (20): 2 G, 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K.

Top 20 Prospects
     RHP Jacob Misiorowski (21)(#10 prospect): 1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K.  

YOUR TURN…
Now is your opportunity to vote on the weekly Brewers minor league awards:

Hitter of the Week
Keston Hiura (Nashville): 5 G, 5-for-20, .250/.318/.850 (1.168), 4-HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K
Tyler Black (Biloxi): 5 G, 6-for-16, .375/.500/.813 (1.313), 1-2B, 2-HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 SB
Ben Metzinger (Wisconsin): 5 G, 3-for-11, .273/.600/.636 (1.236), 1-2B, 1-HR, 4 RBI, 9 BB, 6 K
Luke Adams (Carolina): 5 G, 4-for-14, .286/.524/.643 (1.167), 2-2B, 1-HR, 2 RBI, 7 BB, 5 K, 3 SB

Pitcher of the Week
Clayton Andrews (Nashville): 3 G, 1-0, 1 Save, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Christian Mejias (Biloxi): 1 G, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.40 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Tyler Woessner (Wisconsin): 2 G, 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 13 K
Aidan Maldonado (Carolina): 2 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K

Feel free to ask questions and discuss the Brewers’ minor league affiliates and prospects in the COMMENTS below.

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!