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I think the true loss is not the pick, but the bonus pool money. Brewers were top 10 in bonus pool money prior, and now are middle of the pack I believe, which can affect what they can do with rounds 11+ Not saying it was a bad move, but the player not picked may not be as critical as the money, just like last year Blake Burke I feel didn’t make/break the Burnes trade, as much as if a Dubanewicz or Renz or Broughton succeed since all of them don’t get signed without that extra money in the global pool.

Loading up on more arms and potential impact bats. Ok that sounds about right. Impactful hitting tools without necessarily concern for defensive home - Tyler Black, Luke Adams, Brock Wilken, Eric Bitonti, Mike Boeve, Josh Adamczewski, Blake Burke, Andrew Fischer, Brady Ebel. Pitchers have now accounted for 39 of the last 51 selections I believe going back to the last three picks in 2022(nine of which signed but still just using picks and positions). ‘that’s round 18-20 of ‘22; 16 of 21 picks in’23; and a 17 of 22 picks in’24; now 3 of first 5 picks tonight.

Potentially- but also assign more players to the corner infield depth now with Ebel and Fischer to join Adams, Bitonti, Boeve, Burke and Wilken - so 7 guys to try to take 3-4 spots in the future roster (1B, 3B, DH, and bench bat). Good to have serious competition to push each other, protect the team against an injury or a player stalling out, or a trade chip. Maybe one of them is the next LaPorta - traded with high value for a game changing player.

I mean yes. Early season Carolina was mashing, winning and then Biloxi caught fire. On may 24th the big league club was 25-28. Now 31 -12 since. Biloxi still competing despite losing Adams and Wilken to injuries, Crow to promotion, and recently missing Pratt. Wisconsin was red hot for a stretch that just happened to coincide with Dinges promotion through his injury. Carolina could not lose early, but now struggling a bit as Made and Pena are pushing past the game/at bats they had all last season, and losing Dinges (promotion), Payne for a stretch. So yeah the past week was a big downer in the minors. But I’ll take the overall results, pray for health and safe return to action for the injured players, and excited to read about the newer pool of prospects that will enter the organization starting tonight. (Even if I know I will be scratching my head at first with their first few selections, but the past 2-3 drafts have made me trust in their ability to evaluate and have a cohesive plan) yeah I’ll take it. Thanks @Ro Mueller for manning the fort of the minor league updates today! And as well as @Joseph Zarrand @sveumrules among several others these past few days. And welcome back @MudcatsfaninBrunsCO

This is the compensation for not signing Levonas, correct. We traded out Competitive Balance pick (#33). Either way any of these guys could help. We will add about 3-5 names that we will add to the prospect list now, and possibly another 3-8 more guys who will possibly thrust themselves into the prospect discussion over the next few years.

A healthy (or confident?) Payne, and a not slumping 3TO Bitonti along with the dynamic duo of Made/Pena make this offense look a lot better. And a very professional hitter who could DH or play the field would look nice - hopeful for a successful rehab and return to Carolina for Adamczewski.

Thanks again for the explanation of the minor league rule 5 @Jim Goulart

Some random observations…. 1. Tate Kuehner-his season at AA this year statistically looks a lot like his season start at A+, so if not for a crowded AAA rotation, I would think he could move up. Is he now on the prospects lists (he is on the radar, just not on lists per se)? Or just not enough ceiling in a deep system to pick up like a late teens to mid 20s ranking? 2. Zavier Warren should move up to AAA if/when promotions come up from high A. I don’t know if he has “earned” it statistically since he is having a similar season to 2023. But he has earned it from a time perspective. He will not be 40-man rule V protected, and I don’t know the rules for minor league rule 5. Also would he be a minor league FA after the 2026 season? 3. Jaron DeBerry has stuff, but he cannot pitch multiple clean innings. Not sure with him and I trust the Brewers player and pitching development. But this year it was the other college pitcher, Holobetz, who has been performing well (at least through last weekend when I looked it up), and I hope he is not the regret from the Priester trade as being in the list of PTBNL. 4. Congrats to Travis Smith on getting his first two professional wins in successive starts. If he can get it going and see high A this year that will bode well for the system and for the ‘24 draft. 5. Adamczewski is on rehab so will join Carolina at some point. Which of his current teammates will join the Mudcats this year - Handelfry Encarnacion, most likely. What about Fielder, Quintana (decent numbers now after his horrific start)? Or Montero and Paulino ?? And pitching wise, will Renz join his draft class mates? Could Mercado or Mercedes bump up as well, or A..Bravo? Last - I am still trying to figure out the plan for Bjorn Johnson - good performances mostly, but only in relief and usually multi-inning relief. Interesting to watch moving forward this season and next.

That is an excellent question. I thought that was why the moved it - to make a weekend event that comes during the schedule break and also try to package it all and get more eyes. Whether that happens is a question I don’t know. But still better than having it way before the college World Series when every team dreads seeing their top draft pick get hurt.

I do think some moves like that are in the making, although I think they keep Pena with his mate in low A especially since they are still so young and Made may be hitting a wall. A late season bump to give them a taste of high A makes sense. I think DiTuri could move up, or Adamczewski if he hits well quickly once rejoining the club. Jadher up, and either Murray or Warren to AAA. Lara - ceiling is starting CF, but floor is a 4th/5th OF defensive and pinch running specialist. I think he will be between those two, and I do think that those doubles can be HRs, so I see a 10 HR guy at a Frelick/Turang level, and his defense and hitting could make him a borderline starter to at least 4th OF, like a Blake Perkins (in terms of roster spot nit profile). Birchard will be a starter until he proves he cannot do so. That command won’t bode well for late relief I think (rule #1 - never walk the lead off batter - my #1 rule in baseball). Again the Brewers have shown they can “correct” command like Miz and Ashby, but Birchard’s delivery (which is part of his unique profile) may make that harder to fix, but then again I’m just a fan what do I even know. But I do see them pushing him as a starter as long as possible, since that’s the best for the team or for future trade value I think.

I do wonder if other teams may copy what the Brewers (and I imagine other teams as well), with slight under-budget early and add some higher value late, and if so do the Brewers zig when they zag and try to maximize the early rounds? Again it’s trying to predict what others do, so I’m sure they will do the same. I agree. I dislike that the signees cannot go to ACL since that season ends about when most players sign, get PE, etc. I am sure they won’t change it since it makes the draft a spectacle during the ASG break. Plus the nba and nhl drafts are late June and their “off season” trades and free agency is July 1 so trying to compete if you want it to be theatre is a challenge for mlb. For dire hard mlb/milb fans a June 15-20 draft to coincide with the end of the CWS would be cool and then a July 15th sign by date to coincide with ASG, gets players a few weeks in the ACL. But the league won’t care what a few of us think….

Hope all stays safe for you. Sorry to hear that.

He was part of the 2023 IFA pool along with other high bonus players like Yophery (and Kevin Ereu). So being a big bonus IFA signing, having a great ACL campaign in 2024 and being part of the early season relentless Mudcats offense will make it seem like he’s been around a while.

Then Payne picked off first. Sheesh. Now 2 outs.

Payne legs out a grounder, and I think he would have beat it out but the throw got away and a single for Payne. Runners at the corner. Let’s go Mudcats!

But the Coleman Crow show has hit a bump. After Nashville takes the lead, Crow gives up a 3 run HR. Ugh

Muddies with a big hit. And 2-1 with a DiTuri single to right scores Peña. AND a @Joseph Zarr call out by Chris Edward’s.

Even Ryan Birchard knows what he has to improve on - in his interview he noted that he has to throw strikes and limit walks. 5 walks, and 84 pitches (46 strikes, and 38 balls) is not going to do it for 4.1 IP. The T-Rats offense had chances, with 9 hits, and 3 walks. But 1-8 with RISP, and only 1 run. They get another runner on with an Areinamo single (his 3rd of the day) but Burke tough at bat and grounds out to end it. 3-1 loss. Ok the winning streak can start now right? Let's get a 4-game win streak against these Cubs cubbies. C'mon T-Rats!

Middendorf has not had a year to remember. It has been a rough go for most of the year both in Nashville and Biloxi. Hopefully he can figure things out and gets back on track as a reliable relief arm.

The Sounds close it out. 12-2 thumping Muddies could not make the full comeback and lost earlier, 5-4. Shuckers are showing life with 2 runs in the 8th to make it 7-5. Only 5 hits, but 5 runs. Maybe they have a late inning comeback in them tonight, maybe?

Grrr.. A Cubs affiliate is winning and winning big. OK T-Rats have 5 more games to take this series. I mean 5-1 sounds like a good week, right? Let's go T-Rats, let's get past tonight and start a new winning streak. As I said the Sounds came to play.

I hear ya, but I do see an organization like the Brewers who value the low cost, low risk, and potential reward in minor league FAs who are this young. I still see him re-upping with the Brewers. But as far as trade value - it would only be one of the orgs who would want to try sign him or have holes in high A or AA, or the Brewers if they don't think he will stay should try to trade him, but understandably his trade value is low.

Sounds came to play tonight. The rest - I mean Muddies are keeping it competitive. Mr. Cornielle not with his best outing :( But hey 2 DSL wins, right, gotta focus on the positives

I agree, although as a Gen Xer, I would just say these "write up have been awesome" lol @Spencer Michaelis these are so great, and keep them coming as long as you are willing to, there is definitely an audience who will read this on a regular basis. And interesting that you highlight Kuehner and Murray as @Harold Hutchison had a post included them in the under the radar prospects... are you guys coordinating or just comparing notes?

Of that list no one is untouchable, as for the right move anyone can be traded, but I know where you are coming from. I would list Areinamo and Hernandez as the least likely to trade. Jadher can play anywhere, seems to be like a leader, plays solid defense, and may not be a starter in the majors, but is a likely super utility guy who can start and play anywhere and understands the game. If he develops power, and adds a little more discipline (I think that was one of the reasons he was sent back to high A?) then he is more valuable, but worth the gamble given his higher floor. Otherwise Melvin Hernandez is a huge wild card and hard to value. Is he a legit starting pitcher prospect given how young he is and the success he is having? But his velocity is not there and he can add that as he matures. So if a team over-values his future potential he can be traded, but my guess is his value is low now so probably maybe better to see what we have in him given the long time horizon until he is a higher level prospect, but if a team overvalues him yes sure trade him. The others are very under the radar prospects, but a guy like Eduardo Garcia who could be this year's "EMJ" as a guy who starts to realize expectations later. Is it because he is a late bloomer, or because he was a little immature (his comments about not taking training as seriously are problematic). There is some power potential and he can play anywhere, but will be a MiLB free agent, so unless he is worthy of a 40 man spot (which I doubt), he is a prime trade candidate. But I do agree, if not traded, he could re-up with the Crew as a free agent to stay here and play with a group of players he has been with and been successful with. Murray is showing what he can be, but joins a crowded middle infield group that includes Areinamo and Di Turi, as well as the higher end Pratt/Pena/Made, so we will not keep all of them, so a Murray or DiTuri could be a trading chip for an organization that doesn't have as much infield depth. Kuehner is interesting as there will be a potential log jam in AAA next year (assuming health of course) with Rodriguez, Kuehner, Crow, and likely other AA call ups like Wichrowski, and maybe Cornielle and Hardin, and if a Meyers or Patrick have to be stashed in AAA too (assuming a healthy MIL rotation of Peralta-Miz-Henderson-Gasser-Priester and who knows if a Quintana or Woodruff could re-up with the team). So Kuehner may not have a great path to be a starter here, and could be more valuable to another team which makes his trade value potentially higher, but I still see him staying as the need for a lefty in this organization seems to always exist.