Ro Mueller

Transactions: Signed RHP Carlos Carra and assigned to DSL-Brewers 1 RHP Joseph Hernandez assigned to High-A Wisconsin from ACL Brewers (returning to the level he played in 2023) Thank you to BrewerFanatic Verified Member ARobsBrewCrew for updating us on the injury to RHP Ryan Birchard, who’s “dealing with an oblique issue and his absence should end up being a matter of weeks rather than months (hence the 7-day IL placement). All things considered, non-elbow issue = good news.” Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (not yet available at press time) Final: Louisville 9, Nashville 5 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: Nashville's Late Rally Not Enough in Loss to Louisville Watching LHP Aaron Ashby (3 IP, 6 R, 5 H, 5 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks) struggle with control for 60 pitches, then ultimately get hit hard when his velocity drops below 94mph remains a tough experience, I’m sorry to say. The five walks were issued in the first two innings (amongst the first 10 batters Ashby faced), before a first-pitch, bases-clearing triple was crushed at 112.2mph to put Nashville behind 4-2 at that point. The 4th inning ultimately decided this game, with the Sounds squandering a 2-on, nobody out opportunity (K, shallow fly, fly out), then Ashby giving up a double and 2-run homer when asked to extend himself beyond 81 pitches (he totaled 95 in the end, with 49 strikes). Sounds’ Extras: RHP Kevin Herget was also extended further than expected, throwing 50 pitches for the highest total in his last 37 games played. The results were solid, at least giving his teammates a chance to get back into the game in the middle innings: 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks). C Eric Haase (2-for-4, double, RBI) was the offensive bright spot, delivering a 2-out, RBI single to help Nashville to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, then smacking a double which nearly turned the tide in the Sounds’ favor in the 4th inning. By all appearances, 28-year old RHP Enoli Paredes remains the top reliever for the Sounds, providing another 3-up, 3-down inning with 2 strikeouts here to lower his season ERA to 1.80. He’s most likely not in Milwaukee due to being on a minor league contract and the fact that (even if he’s added to the 40-man MLB roster) he can’t be freely optioned back to the minors. Friday’s outlook: RHP Chad Patrick (3.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6.2 K/9 in 13 IP) is scheduled to make his 4th start of 2024, with the Sounds desperate for a win since they trail the series 3 games to zero thus far. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Pensacola 6, Biloxi 5 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Boeve Makes History with Two Triples in Shuckers 6-5 Loss to Pensacola The three runs scored in the 1st inning against starting RHP Tyler Woessner (5 1/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 8 Ks) were the first three batters he faced in the game, with each Pensacola player smacking a double to the opposite field, followed by an error to allow the third run in. Only two of the first 13 Shuckers’ hitters reached base: both in the form of triples by 3B Mike Boeve (2-for-4, 2 triples, run), who was stranded in the 1st inning after reaching base with one out, then scored on a 2-out RBI single by C Darrien Miller (extending his hitting streak to 6 games) to cut the deficit to 3-1 in the 4th inning. Despite this being a road game and a loss, Biloxi’s media team led by Javik Blake came through with numerous highlights, including this one: Three players had the chance to play hero, coming up as the potential game-tying run in the top of the 9th inning: 1B Ernesto Martinez ground out, right fielder Lamar Sparks ground out, center fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez line out. Shuckers’ Extras: Although Boeve got the headlines, Zavier Warren (2-for-4, HR, double, 2 RBIs; playing left field this game) actually had the bigger hits: solo homer to trim the lead to 3-2, then a 9th inning double in the 3-run rally which fell short. https://twitter.com/BiloxiShuckers/status/1783651818653753847 It’s been a tough campaign for Sparks thus far; .157 AVG, .380 OPS. In this game, he was also unable to come through in the 7th inning with 2-on, 2-out, down 4-2 (flied out). RHP Shane Smith (2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) did well to strand a runner for Woessner via back-to-back strikeouts, but then ran into trouble himself by conceding two runs the following inning. Friday’s outlook: A week ago, Biloxi was celebrating their 8th straight victory, but now they’ve gone down in four consecutive games and trail Pensacola 3-0 in this series. RHP TJ Shook (2.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 11.9 K/9 in 13 2/3 IP) gets a chance to turn the series around tonight. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Bullpen Shuts Down Peoria Wisconsin was the sole affiliate to grab a Thursday victory, but when I check the box score to highlight key performances, I see: Zero extra base hits and 7 hits total A starting pitcher (RHP Will Rudy) who gave up 3 runs in 5 innings 0-for-2 on stolen base attempts 2-RBI center fielder Luis Lara knocked them in via walk and HBP, including the RBI-HBP to give the Timber Rattlers a 4-3 lead in the 7th inning So it was a Team victory, punctuated by going 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position, committing zero errors and having a lockdown bullpen: 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K by RHPs Will Childers, Aaron Rund and Chase Costello. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: Rudy (5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 Ks) was solid if not spectacular, walking none and needing only 67 pitches (50 strikes) to get through his five innings. The three runs came via two Peoria homers. SS Gregory Barrios may not have added to his league-leading doubles total, but he did knock in runs via groundout (3rd inning for a 2-1 lead) and single (7th inning insurance run for 5-3 advantage). 2B Dylan O’Rae and right fielder Eduarqui Fernandez collected two singles each, with Fernandez also drawing a walk and scoring two runs. Friday’s outlook: Talented 21-year old RHP Brett Wichrowski (1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11.5 K/9 in 11 IP) gets the call, as Wisconsin aims to push their series lead to 3-1. Final: Salem 3, Carolina 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Fall at Home To Salem RHP Jesus Rivero (4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 6 Ks) was able to work out of a 2-on, 1-out jam in the 2nd inning, but Salem made him pay in the 3rd inning via a 3-run homer which was enough for the Red Sox to finally defeat Carolina in their 6th attempt of 2024. 18(!) strikeouts by Mudcats’ pitchers is phenomenal, but perhaps less so when we see that Salem also K’d 17 Carolina hitters. Did the home plate umpire have somewhere else to go (2 hours, 29 minute game time)? The 6th inning proved pivotal, as DH Cooper Pratt and 1B Tayden Hall were left stranded on three consecutive strikeouts, the last two called strikes on frustrated Carolina hitters. Salem retired the final 12 Mudcats in order, including 3 Ks in the final inning. Mudcats’ Extras: Pratt went 1-for-3, but more importantly was able to stay in the game despite being hit by pitch on the hand in the 1st inning. It was a night for most pitchers to stat-hog, with the Mudcats’ bullpen taking advantage: RHPs Jeferson Figueroa, Morris Austin and Bayden Root combined for 4 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 12 Ks. 18-year old center fielder Yophery Rodriguez (1-for-4, double, RBI) produced the team’s only extra base hit and RBI. Friday’s outlook: 18-year old RHP Josh Knoth (3.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 in 8 1/3 IP) is due to make his 4th start of 2024, as Carolina aims for a 3-1 series lead. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck to all squads in their Friday contests. 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

All four full season affiliates captured series wins this week – Biloxi taking theirs 5 games to 1, while Nashville, Wisconsin and Carolina each won 4 of 6 games. Transactions: LHP Jared Koenig recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville (replacing injured LHP DL Hall) RHP James Meeker promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi OF Chris Roller placed on AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list, retroactive to April 20 C Alejandro Rodriguez activated by High-A Wisconsin from Development List We thank MLB.com Brewers beat writer Adam McCalvy for getting a little more insight into the C Wes Clarke and OF/INF Eduardo Garcia injuries reported earlier: Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 7, Omaha 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 Take Series Finale, Earn First Series Win This was a gutty performance by Nashville to clinch their first series win, given the recent outflow of players (Wiemer, Miller, Koenig, Gutierrez, Thompson, Roller, Myers to a degree) and the fact that this was essentially a bullpen game. With no starting pitcher available, LHP Nick Bennett (3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K) ably stepped into the breach and delivered three shutout innings while the Sounds built a 3-0 lead. Bennett had only exceeded 50 pitches in 6 of 33 contests last year (and zero times in 3 games in 2024), but threw 69 pitches here. Later, with the game tied 3-3 and all momentum having swung in Omaha’s favor (e.g. 10 straight Sounds were retired), Nashville was given a boost from an unexpected source: reliever Jake Brentz failed to retire any of five batters faced in the bottom of the 7th inning, allowing two runs in without the ball leaving the infield (3 walks, 1 HBP, 1 nobody-out fielder’s choice). Credit 1B Tyler Black (2-for-4, HR, walk, 4 RBIs) with the clutch 2-out, 2 RBI single to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 8th inning. You can go to the Sounds’ Twitter feed to see that single and many other highlights, while I show Black’s earlier homer here: It’s fair to wonder whether RHP Kevin Herget and/or LHP Rob Zastryzny have an opt-out clause in their contracts. Both are immensely valuable in the Nashville bullpen, delivering 2 1/3 shutout innings in this game to give them a combined 15 2/3 shutout innings this year, with 18 Ks and one walk. Sounds’ Extras: Two of the three runs charged against Bennett and RHP James Meeker (2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) stemmed from attempts to get a little bit extra out of them – i.e. asking Bennett to extend beyond 54 pitches (a double, pop out, single and walk followed) and Meeker to go past 31 pitches (a double followed). Despite his mediocre final line, Meeker did very well to strand two inherited runners from Bennett to maintain a 3-1 lead through four innings (shallow fly, swinging K of old friend Cam Devanney). The same can be said of Storm Chasers’ reliever Sam Long, who stranded three inherited runners (with nobody out) in the 7th inning, then gave up the back-breaking hit to Black the following inning. I'll admit that I didn’t think much of the OF Chavez Young (1-for-2, HR, walk, HBP, 2 RBIs) off-season signing (.634 OPS last year, split between AA and AAA), but he stepped up with a solo homer here and has been holding his own (.238 AVG, .717 OPS in 51 PAs). Next week’s outlook: The Sounds (11-10) take the 2 hour, 45-minute drive to face Reds’ affiliate Louisville (9-12). RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (6.75 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 in 18 2/3 IP) is scheduled to start the opener, still trying to locate consistently in 2024. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Chattanooga 10, Biloxi 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Drop Series Finale to Lookouts LHP Nate Peterson’s (4 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks) third start in 11 days (following in Aaron Ashby’s footsteps for Nashville earlier in the week) was a struggle, as he conceded four solo homers and a triple this time out. Obviously, the strategy was to keep things in the zone (40 strikes in 58 pitches), while Chattanooga’s objective was to hit it out of the ballpark. Despite being out-hit 14 to 5, Biloxi actually had their chances, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position to strand 11 men. Shuckers’ Extras: For the third time this year, RHP Sam Gardner (2 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) was asked to deliver two relief innings and for the second time that second frame proved challenging. He retired five of the first six batters he faced before conceding a single and a 2-run homer to tarnish his final line. Credit RHP Shane Smith with stranding two baserunners inherited from LHP Justin King, along with his 1 1/3 shutout innings (0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks). Recently-promoted 3B Mike Boeve (0-for-4, walk; one error in the field) will have to wait until Tuesday to collect his first hit in AA ball. Next week’s outlook: Marlins’ affiliate Pensacola (6-8) may be “two states over” from Biloxi (10-5), but it’s just a 1 hour, 45-minute drive along the Gulf Coast. RHP Jacob Misiorowski is the most likely starter for the opening game. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wisconsin 2, Cedar Rapids 0 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Shuts Out Cedar Rapids to Claim Series Victory As is typically the case for their home series, Wisconsin’s media team put together terrific video highlights and I encourage you to watch RH reliever Craig Yoho making hitters look silly from the 1:54 mark onward: We’re also blessed with another Mehring-Lobner podcast (20 minutes, including discussions with Manager Victor Estevez and starting RHP Edwin Jimenez) recording to give us further club insights. Jimenez (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) continued his bounceback from a 4-run first inning one week earlier (conceding one run over the remaining 4 1/3 IP in that game and zero runs in this one) to position Wisconsin for a series-clinching win. It was rather risky for the offense to go to sleep after scoring two runs in the 1st inning (2B Dylan O’Rae walk, SS Jadher Areinamo double, C Matthew Wood sac fly), producing just three hits and going 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position, but it thankfully worked out on this 53-degree afternoon. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: RHPs Chase Costello, Aaron Rund and Yoho had identical lines (a scoreless, hitless inning with 2 Ks each), contributing to this being a 1 hour, 59-minute contest. RHP Stiven Cruz made things tense in the 7th inning (single, walk, 2-0 count) before inducing the ground ball double play as Areinamo (1-for-4, double, RBI) demonstrated that he can excel at shortstop as well. We’re left to wonder about the health of 3B/1B Luke Adams (exited Saturday’s game early and didn’t feature in this game), while also praying that hot-hitting SS Gregory Barrios’ absence was simply a day off. Next week’s outlook: Cardinals’ affiliate Peoria (Illinois) (6-9) may sound close by, but it’s actually a four and a half hour drive from Appleton. RHP Patricio Aquino (2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 3.6 K/9 in 10 IP) is the Timber Rattlers’ (10-5) scheduled starter for the opening game of the road series. Final: Augusta 3, Carolina 1 (official in 6 innings) Box Score and Game Log Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Carolina Drops Rain-Shortened Series Finale in Augusta When RHP Yorman Galindez (4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 7 Ks) was promoted from the Arizona Complex League to Low-A Carolina in August 2023 despite a 5.02 ERA and 1.70 WHIP, it was fair to wonder what we were missing. Well, all the 21-year old has done since then is reward the Brewers’ faith: 1.50 ERA in 18 IP in Carolina last year and now a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/3 to start the 2024 campaign. Curt Hogg and Spencer Michaelis both like what they see in Galindez’s improved slider. Manager Nick Stanley and the team will rue the missed chances early in the game, putting five players on base in the first two innings but failing to push any runs across. Credit Augusta starter Riley Frey (from Oshkosh West and UW-Milwaukee) with critical strikeouts of SS Daniel Guilarte, left fielder Luis Castillo and center fielder Yophery Rodriguez to end those threats. LHP Osbriel Mogollon (1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) was terrific in two earlier long relief outings (7 1/3 scoreless innings), but the GreenJackets jumped on him here: back-to-back four pitch walks, followed by a double and a single. Mudcats’ Extras: Mogollon’s defense gave one away (Blayberg Diaz fielding error at first base to put the first hitter aboard), but also took one back (left fielder Castillo throwing out a runner at home on a relay throw by SS Guilarte). To be fair, this was Diaz’ first game at first base since July 2022. Call me an ignorant conspiracist, but I struggled to accept that play couldn’t have eventually resumed, given that rainfall essentially ceased by 3:53pm according to online data. But who knows – maybe the field was truly a mess or perhaps all parties were simply happy to end the week a bit early. Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats (12-3) return home to have their second series of the year against Red Sox affiliate Salem (6-9). Although none has been announced, 18-year RHP Manuel Rodriguez is most likely to start the series opener. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Catch the Brewers in Pittsburgh tomorrow, then get back to follow our minor leaguers on Tuesday. 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