Ro Mueller

CF Braylon Payne pulls a triple in his first plate appearance. Yeah, he seems healthy. Unfortunately we didn’t knock him in. Go Mudcats!

The Timber Rattlers closed out the 2-0 win to head into their 2-day Easter break on a better note. Tyson Hardin issued his first walk with 2 outs in the penultimate inning, then RHP Zach Peek closed it out from there, working around a single that inning and a walk in the final frame. Jadher Areinamo had 2 hits to boost his team-leading OPS to .878.

LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4.91 ERA, 7 Ks in 11 IP) makes his 2nd start (4th appearance) as AAA Nashville gets a 2nd chance to close out a series win at Nashville. 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.’s hitting streak has reached 8 games.

Tyson Hardin had a clean 5th inning (2 Ks - that’s 6 Ks for the game, with no walks or HBPs), then doubles from Hedbert Perez and Yhoswar Garcia doubled Wisco’s lead to 2-0.

After Hardin’s first hitless frame (3-up, 3-down 4th inning), the usual suspects come through as Wisconsin strikes first: Blake Burke double, Jadher Areinamo single, Eduardo Garcia sac fly. 1-0 T-Rats thru 4 innings.

LF Jheremy Vargas guns down a baserunner at home for the 2nd straight game, keeping it 0-0 thru 3 innings. Juan Baez has Wisconsin’s sole hit thus far. Hedbert Perez also had a diving catch earlier.

Two wounded Mudcats return (CF Braylon Payne, DH/INF Luis Pena) and 18-year old RHP Melvin Hernandez (4.05 ERA, 6 Ks in 6.2 IP) gets the start as Low-A Carolina aims to clinch a home series win over Delmarva.

23-year old RHP Tyson Hardin doesn’t give up runs (9 IP, 0 R, 9 Ks), but Wisconsin doesn’t win (lost 5 straight), so something’s gotta give in their home series finale against Lansing.

Hall Ks. Burke swings on a 3-0 pitch and grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. What a gut punch after the bottom of the lineup T’d it up on a silver platter. T-Rats drop their 5th straight.

Matt Wood with a pinch hit RBI single the other way(!) and it’s 4-3, 2 on, nobody out with the Big 3 due up: Tayden Hall, Blake Burke, Jadher Areinamo.

10 pitches by Lansing in the final frame: back-to-back walks for Jheremy Vargas and David Garcia. Let’s pull this thing out!

Single, error, SB, single - that equals an unearned run off Letson and the T-Rats trail 4-2 with Jheremy Vargas, David Garcia and Daniel Guilarte left standing between a 5th straight home defeat.

Patient Eduardo Garcia watches 4 pitches, then singles to left to start things off, then Mr. Baez promptly flies out on the first pitch. Sigh. To be fair, Juan Baez is the 2nd youngest hitter in the Midwest League.

17 pitches, 9 strikes, 5 outs for Letson thus far. Time for Wisconsin’s offense to show up, down 3-2 with 6 outs remaining. Eduardo, Baez and Hedbert due up.

The Timber Rattlers continuation home game from yesterday (down 3-2 with 1 out in the top of the 5th) has commenced, with RHP Bishop Letson (2.16 ERA, 12 Ks in 8.1 IP) coming in for yesterday’s starter Chandler Welch. It’s a scheduled 7-inning contest.

- RHP Kaleb “Bo” Bowman reinstated from AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list

- RHP Daniel Corniel placed on High-A Wisconsin’s 7-day injured list retroactive to April 17 - C Edgardo Ordonez placed on High-A Wisconsin’s 7-day injured list retroactive to April 17 - OF Jefer Lista assigned to DSL Brewers2

No team in the Southern League has an OPS above .700. I’d imagine umps are enjoying the quick games.

Sobering stolen base data from the Midwest League:

Overcoming injuries, 24-year old RHP Coleman Crow makes his first MILB appearance in nearly 2 years as he starts for AA Biloxi at Birmingham. A Shuckers’ win would push their series advantage to 3 games to 1.

High-A Wisconsin needs to get off this week’s schneid (4 straight losses). 22-year old RHP Chandler Welch (5.00 ERA. 8 Ks in 9 IP) starts the second game of today’s twin-bill. DH Tayden Hall and C David Garcia join the lineup for this nightcap.

RHP Tobias Myers makes his 3rd (and final?) rehab start for the AAA Sounds, who can clinch a road series win at Charlotte with a victory tonight. Recently-optioned 3B Oliver Dunn goes right to the top of the order, while high impact CF Jared Oliva (.976 OPS, 11 RBIs, 10 SBs) hits 3rd.

6’4”, 22-year old RHP Travis Smith (3.60 ERA, 5 Ks in 5 IP) makes his 3rd start for Low-A Carolina, who seek a 3-1 home series lead over Delmarva. Tyler Rodriguez gets his first career MILB start in center field after Braylon Payne and Demetrio Nadal exited the past 2 games early.

Carlos Rodriguez registered 7 strikeouts and Blayberg Diaz had 4 hits in wins for Nashville and Carolina. Jadher Areinamo and Ramon Rodriguez homered in losses for Wisconsin and Biloxi. Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers Transactions: INF Oliver Dunn optioned from MLB Brewers to AAA Nashville (not official) INF Caleb Durbin promoted to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville Game Action: Final: Nashville 5, Charlotte 4 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 Score Early and Hold On Late in Win Over Charlotte Outside of a 2nd inning bases loaded double play, starting RHP Carlos Rodriguez (4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 5 BB, 1 WP, 7 Ks) largely cruised through 4 innings before yielding some 5th inning damage. In all, he reached the century mark (100 pitches, 56 strikes), exiting with a 5-2 lead with an assist from RHP Easton McGee (stranded two baserunners). Despite being outhit 9-6 and only going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, the Sounds’ offense was powered by 4 extra base hits, including solo homers from DH Wes Clarke (1-for-3, BB) and OF Jared Oliva (2-for-3, 2 BB, SB). McGee stayed in after a leadoff 6th inning single deflected off of him, allowing one run and stranding two more. RHP Vinny Nittoli also allowed a run and stranded 2 baserunners in the 7th inning, handing a tight 5-4 game to LHP Tyler Jay (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, first save) for the final two frames. Sounds’ Extras: 3B Raynel Delgado reached base 3 times (single, 2 BB), scored a run and contributed an RBI. 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. (1-for-4, BB) also contributed an RBI double. C Anthony Seigler’s mini-funk continued with an 0-for-5 day to drop his average to .152 (small sample warning). Friday’s outlook: Rehabbing RHP Tobias Myers gets the ball, looking to prove he’s ready for a return to Milwaukee, as Nashville aims to clinch a series win. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Birmingham 4, Biloxi 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Rodríguez Smashes First Homer of the Year in Shuckers Loss to Barons Biloxi’s 3-game win streak came to an end despite outhitting the Barons 6-4, undone by grounding into 3 double plays, committing 2 errors and allowing 4 stolen bases. RHP KC Hunt was solid through 5 innings (2 runs, 2 hits, 7 Ks) before the first three batters reached base in the 6th (walk, 2 singles), with LHP Brian Fitzpatrick stranding one baserunner for Hunt as part of 2 scoreless innings of work (0 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks). The first 10 Shuckers were retired in order before a OF Luis Lara (2-for-3, BB) single in the 4th inning and C Ramon Rodriguez (2-for-3) solo homer in the 5th frame. Shuckers’ Extras: Kudos to RHP Chase Costello for a 2-K, 3-up, 3-down 9th inning. For the game, the team went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Friday’s outlook: 24-year old RHP Coleman Crow starts Game 4 of the series, representing his first official baseball action since April 2023 with AA Rocket City, as injuries have limited him since. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Lansing 4, Wisconsin 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Comeback Thwarted by Lansing Wisconsin may have come out on the short end of this tight loss, but their wonderful media team have us covered with video highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYH4bj-_uVc And don’t forget to listen to the insightful 15-minute Mehring/Lobner post-game podcast, including comments from Brewers’ Director of Player Development (and Acting Wisconsin Manager) Spencer Allen and Jadher Areinamo (with translation by Hedbert Perez). As you’ve now read, seen and heard from the above links, Wisconsin had their top hitter at the plate, trailing 4-3 with the bases loaded, 2-down in the bottom of the 9th inning, but 2B Jadher Areinamo (2-for-4, HR, BB, RBI) wasn’t able to tie it up this time. The team also stranded the bases loaded back in the 5th inning, though they managed to cut the deficit to 3-2 on 2 singles (OF Jheremy Vargas, DH Tayden Hall) and a wild pitch in that frame. 20-year old LHP Anthony Flores (4 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks) commenced with 3 scoreless innings in his first-ever High-A start (3rd appearance). The bullpen of RHP Patricio Aquino and Jeferson Figueroa were terrific, conceding only 1 (wind-assisted) run over 5 innings. Tale of the Tape: Per the podcast, SS Eduardo Garcia’s homer (first of 2025) went 400 feet with an exit velocity of 108.8mph and Areinamo’s game-tying 8th inning blast went 365 feet at 105mph. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: Dropping their 3rd straight game, the team stranded 9 baserunners (vs. 7 for the Lugnuts) but only had 3 opportunities with runners in scoring position (0-for-3). Hall, Areinamo and Eduardo Garcia combined for 6 of the squad’s 8 hits. Per the podcast, Manager Victor Estevez is presently in the Dominican Republic with family for Easter. Friday’s outlook: Rehabbing RHP Brandon Woodruff will start the first game of Wisconsin’s Friday doubleheader, after which the stadium will be cleared before RHP Chandler Welch takes the mound for the night cap. Final: Carolina 10, Delmarva 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Offense Lifts Mudcats Past Delmarva After a rare defeat, the Mudcats re-asserted their authority by grabbing a 6-1 lead by the 4th inning and now lead the series 3 games to 1. While the Biloxi and Wisconsin offenses presently struggle to push runs across, here we saw Carolina’s 8 (C Blayberg Diaz) and 9 (OF Luiyin Alastre) batters combine for 6 hits, 4 RBIs, 5 runs scored and a stolen base. Diaz’ RBI single gave the Mudcats their first lead at 2-1 in the 2nd inning, before he followed up with an RBI double for a 3-1 advantage in the 4th inning. Alastre then singled home 2 more runs and also scored on a SS Jesus Made single to lead 6-1. 19-year old RHP Bryce Meccage’s 3rd start of 2025 went far better than his last outing, tossing 55 pitches this time out (3 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks), with LHP Anfernny Reyes stranding one baserunner for him to enable Meccage exit with a 2-1 advantage. However, the real pitching story of this game was the scoreless relief work of RHP Tanner Gillis (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks). Of some concern, OF Braylon Payne (2 walks, 1-for-2 on stolen base attempts) exited in the 7th inning after reaching on an error and moving to 2nd base on a walk. Hopefully, this was purely a precautionary move while leading 7-1. Mudcats’ Extras: Every spot in the Mudcats’ lineup reached base via hit or walk, including 1B Eric Bitonti (1-for-3, 2 walks) and 3B Filippo Di Turi reaching base three times (1-for-2, walk, HBP, 2 runs). Of course, 1100+ OPS man 2B Josh Adamczewski also contributed with a double and a sac fly. Made also had 2 RBIs and a stolen base. From left field, Alastre earned an outfield assist by gunning down a player at second base in the 6th inning. Friday’s outlook: RHP Travis Smith (3.60 ERA with 5 Ks in 5 IP) is scheduled to make his 3rd start of 2025, as Carolina aims to extend its home series lead to 3 games to 1. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Good Friday, 5 Brewers’ Minor League games are on top, starting with the first game of the Timber Rattlers’ doubleheader at 1:10pm CST. The Milwaukee Brewers also host the Athletics at 7:10pm. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article