Ro Mueller

It appears this league will run from November 10, 2022 until January 22, 2023. The Brewers typically send a few players to join the Brisbane Bandits (there's a Dave Nilsson connection, as he's the Bandits' President of Baseball Operations), although last season was cancelled due to Covid. The prior winter saw C Nick Kahle, RHP Matt Hardy, RHP Paxton Schultz and RHP Michele Vassalotti sent down under, while RHP Brandon Ramey was announced but didn't play due to injury.

- RHP Jason Alexander optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers (making space for RHP Trevor Gott)

AAA Nashville plays Game Two in Louisville tonight, aiming to extend their series lead to 2-0. RHP Tyler Herb (3.77 ERA in 117 AA/AAA innings) gets the start, though he threw 2 innings 4 days ago, so let's see how long the leash is. Leadoff LF Sal Frelick's on-base streak is now 36 games and versatile Brice Turang gets a start at second base:

- RHP Justin Topa optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers (making room for LHP Aaron Ashby) - C Nick Kahle assigned to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi

The Sounds raced to an 8-0 lead behind solid performances from Sal Frelick, Esteury Ruiz and young starter Victor Castaneda, then held on for a Game One victory. Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic The Sounds raced to an 8-0 lead behind solid performances from Sal Frelick, Esteury Ruiz and young starter Victor Castaneda, then held on for a Game One victory. Monday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Frelick, Ruiz and Castaneda, as well as Pedro Severino and Hobie Harris. Transactions: RHP Jake Cousins recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville RHP Trevor Kelley optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers Game Action: Final: Nashville 8, Louisville 6 Box Score / Game Log Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Hold Off Louisville After Hot Start OF Sal Frelick (3-for-5, double, RBI) opened the game with a single to extend his on-base streak to a whopping 36 games and the Sounds were essentially off to the races from there. Two-out RBI singles from 1B Jon Singleton and 2B Patrick Dorrian gave Nashville an early 2-0 lead before starting RHP Victor Castaneda had even thrown a pitch. Not satisfied with just a two-run lead, Frelick smacked an RBI double for a third run in the 2nd inning, in which the Sounds poured misery on the Bats to score six runs on three doubles and three singles for an 8-0 advantage. In the offensive explosion, OF Esteury Ruiz (2-for-5, double, 2 RBIs, SB) and DH Cam Devanney each contributed two-run doubles and C Pedro Severino (2-for-5, RBI) added an RBI single. Castaneda (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) was solid in his second AAA start of 2022, conceding only two runs and exiting with an 8-2 lead after five innings of work. It was 8-4 when things tightened up against RHP JC Mejia in the bottom of the 8th inning, with Louisville snatching two runs on three hits and bringing the tying run to the plate twice. Thankfully, Mejia stepped up to induce a groundout and strike out to end the threat. Now 8-6 and with the Bats having a glimmer of hope, RHP Hobie “No Nonsense” Harris entered for the 9th inning, garnering three straight outs to earn his seventh save and lower his ERA to 2.13. Three Quick Strikes: A 5th inning stolen base for Ruiz gives him 80 thefts on the season (the most in the minors) vs. 13 times caught. Coupled with his OPS of 1.003 in 511 AA/AAA plate appearances, it’s difficult to contain excitement at the prospect of this 23-year-old eventually wreaking havoc for the Brewers in the majors. The 6th inning saw the return of RHP Dylan File, who gave up two runs in his first game action since August 26th. Welcome back Dylan! After scuffling a bit in some recent appearances, RHP Zack Brown gave the team a scoreless 7th inning, working around a one-out double in the process. Tuesday’s outlook: RHP Josh Lindblom is scheduled to take the mound for Game Two of this week’s series in Louisville, aiming to continue a highly productive run (5-0 record in last six starts, with an ERA of 2.06 and 40 Ks in 35 innings during this stretch). We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck on Tuesday! Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Links for affiliate audio Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

It's time for Monday night AAA baseball, with Nashville (aka The Best Team Outside the Majors) spending this week in Louisville against the Reds' affiliate. 24-year old RHP Victor Castaneda makes his 2nd AAA start of the year (6 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks in last game). CF Esteury Ruiz has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games, with 14 hits, 3 homers and 9 stolen bases in this span of play: 1 - Sal Frelick - LF 2 - Esteury Ruiz - CF 3 - Brice Turang - SS 4 - Jon Singleton - 1B 5 - Pedro Severino - C 6 - Patrick Dorrian - 2B 7 - Cam Devanney - DH 8 - Weston Wilson - 3B 9 - Matt Lipka - RF X - Victor Castaneda - P

- RHP Jake Cousins recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville - RHP Trevor Kelley optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers

The first place Sounds battled back from an early deficit thanks to homers from Cam Devanney and Weston Wilson. Biloxi’s win streak ended at nine games in its season finale, despite another Tristen Lutz blast. Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic The first place Sounds battled back from an early deficit thanks to homers from Cam Devanney and Weston Wilson. Biloxi’s win streak ended at nine games in its season finale, despite another Tristen Lutz blast. Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Wilson and Devanney, as well as Esteury Ruiz, Jon Singleton and Clayton Andrews, with honorable mentions to Trevor Gott and Jonathan Davis. Transactions: N/A Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 8, Jacksonville 5 Box Score / Game Log Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Take Series With Sunday Victory Nashville stormed back from early deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to grab this series-clinching win. After the Jumbo Shrimp scored three runs on three hits off starting RHP Marcus Walden (4 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) in the top of the 3rd inning, 1B Weston Wilson (2-for-2, HR, walk, HBP, RBI, SB) was in the thick of the comeback contributions. Wilson led off the bottom of the 3rd inning with a single, stole second base, moved to third on an error and scored on an OF Sal Frelick sacrifice fly. The 4th inning saw a Jacksonville solo homer re-establish their three-run lead, then a two-run blast by SS Cam Devanney (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs) and solo shot by Wilson to knot the game 4-4. After LHP Ethan Small entered in relief with a clean 5th inning, OF Esteury Ruiz (2-for-5, double, RBI, SB) doubled, stole third (his 79th stolen base of 2022) and scored on a two-out, RBI single by DH/1B Jon Singleton (2-for-4, walk, RBI) to give the Sounds their first lead. Sensational relief work from rehabbing RHP Trevor Gott (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) covered most of the 6th and 7th innings, before OF Jonathan Davis (3-for-5, double), Ruiz, Singleton and Devanney collected consecutive hits to lead off the bottom of the 7th inning, opening up the game 8-4. Reliable RHP Hobie Harris collected his sixth save of 2022, working around a single in a scoreless 9th inning. Three Quick Strikes: Frelick didn’t collect a hit or a walk in this game, but a 1st inning hit-by-pitch was enough to extend his on-base streak to 35 games. The teams combined to collect five stolen bases (three by the Sounds: Frelick, Wilson, Ruiz), with no runners caught. The victory gave Nashville a 4-2 series win, but victories elsewhere by Columbus and Toledo mean that the Sounds’ first place advantage remains 4.5 games and 5.0 games over the two pursuers. Nashville has nine games remaining, Toledo 10 and Columbus 11. Toledo actually hosts Columbus for seven games this week, so hopefully they damage each other’s pursuit. Friday’s outlook: Nashville (85-55) travels to face Reds’ affiliate Louisville (56-85), with RHP Victor Castaneda scheduled to make his second AAA start (6 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks in his first start) of 2022 Monday’s contest. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Pensacola 5, Biloxi 2 Box Score / Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers’ Win Streak is Snapped at Nine Games A Sunday win in its season finale would have given Biloxi a 10-game winning streak and clinched a winning season, but alas it wasn’t meant to be and the team finished 67-68 in an up-and-down 2022 campaign. Making his second start of the week, RHP Carlos Luna (5 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks) held up well through four innings, but three doubles and a single in the 5th inning gave Pensacola a 4-1 lead which it would not relinquish. OF Tristen Lutz (1-for-4, HR, RBI) had homered in the top of that 5th inning to tie the game 1-1, the second consecutive game in which he homered. SS Ethan Murray (1-for-3, double) and OF Terence Doston (1-for-2, walk, RBI) led an attempted 7th inning comeback with a double and RBI single, respectively, but a C Jason Lopez fly out to center field ended that threat with the Shuckers still down 4-2. The team did not register any baserunners in the 8th or 9th innings as it clearly ran out of gas. Speaking of Lopez, he nabbed a runner with a nice throw earlier in the game. Despite the loss, the Shuckers still won the road series 5-1. Three Quick Strikes and a Concern: 25-year old LHP Clayton Andrews (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 5 Ks) ended the season on a very promising note, retiring six of seven batters, with five of them going down via strikeout. 18-year old OF Jackson Chourio’s thrilling 2022 season ended with this 0-for-4, 2K effort against the Blue Wahoos. Rest assured, he’ll come back with a vengeance to conquer AA baseball next season. Pensacola outhit Biloxi 11-to-3 in this contest and its own season will continue as it qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the First Half title. We’ve no word on the status of 25-year old 1B Thomas Dillard, who didn’t play in this final series after going 2-for-4 last week Sunday, last seen drawing an intentional walk as the designated hitter. Hopefully he’s healthy, as the team has an interesting decision on AA vs. AAA placement for 2023 (in what will be his 5th season of minor league ball), given his .755 OPS, supported by 81 walks (though with 157 strikeouts). We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. There’s no rest for the weary, as Nashville is immediately back in action today, Monday. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Links for affiliate audio Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

AA Biloxi is seeking a 10th consecutive victory tonight to close out their season, facing Pensacola on the road and sending RHP Carlos Luna out for his 2nd outing of the week (6 IP, 2 R, 6 Ks on Tuesday. 3B Zavier Warren comes in with a 6-game hitting streak:

The Jumbo Shrimp got to Marcus Walden early, but the Sounds have tied the game on some hard work from Weston Wilson (single, SB, score on sac fly), a Cam Devanney 2-run shot and then Wilson with a solo blast. It's 4-4 through 4 innings, with LHP Ethan Small coming in.

A victory for AAA Nashville over Jacksonville at home today would give the Sounds a 4-2 series win. RHP Marcus Walden makes his 2nd start of the week (6 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 5 Ks on Tuesday) and LF Sal Frelick has a 34-game on-base steak:

Some old friends in the Arizona Fall League: 3B/1B/C David Fry, RHP Evan Reifert, OF/C Cooper Hummel. Age nuggets: - RHP Logan Henderson is the 2nd youngest pitcher in the AFL this year (after Cardinals RHP Tink Hence) - C Jeferson Quero is the 7th youngest position player (youngest is D-backs 3B/1B Deyvison De Los Santos)

The shift ban is a gift to pull hitters, while the larger bases are a gift to speedsters. With more balls undoubtedly making it to outfielders next year, teams will need better outfield defense. I want to believe Stearns expected these changes, which is why we have Frelick, Mitchell, Ruiz and Wiemer all poised to contribute in 2023. But I also assume this will force Yelich into the designated hitter role much more than previously. I can’t imagine his defense rates better than Mitchell, Taylor, Frelick or Ruiz, so those four can easily rotate in the left field and center field positions, while the strong-armed Wiemer sits in AAA as right field depth behind Renfroe.

Yeah, looks like Reetz was blocked by 23-year old Feliciano (only one option year left, so likely to sit on MLB roster most of next season) and Caratini. When we DFA’d Severino, then Narvaez got injured that same evening (with Alex Jackson also injured), it seems Reetz or his agent seized the opportunity to threaten to opt out, so we 40-man rostered Reetz as urgent depth. But then Severino cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment, so Reetz ended up being DFA’d to clear space for pitchers. No other team claimed him off waivers, which tells me that his prospect star isn’t burning as brightly as I’d imagined (maybe his defense isn’t solid enough yet). But he’s hitting well for AAA Omaha (Royals) now (.308 average, 1.012 OPS in 61 plate appearances), so he’s certainly out to prove the entire league wrong and earn his way onto a 40-man roster.

Kind of happy we opted to give Quero a 3-week breather (before the Arizona Fall League games) while having Jason Lopez, Wes Clarke and Nick Kahle take turns at AA catcher in these final weeks. Good way to spread around playing time.

First good season since 2019, benefiting from repeating a year in AA, really taking a step forward when he returned from an injury in mid-May. But the .775 OPS loses luster when you see the Southern League OPS average this year is .754. And the .348 BABIP will likely fade when facing AAA defense, though I guess the shift ban will help him out. Plays mainly right field, so the arm is decent. I see him playing in Nashville next year but being “just a guy” - .730 OPS, then becoming a minor league free agent, playing one season in AAA elsewhere, then off to Korea or Mexico. But he’s just 24 years old, so there’s still hope for MLB one day (.911 OPS against lefties this season, .900 last year) if he can demonstrate 30-HR potential in AAA-level ball.

C Nick Kahle added a solo shot of his own to start off the 5th inning. It's 3-1 Shuckers.

1-for-17 in AA ball with 8 strikeouts, including K'ing in his last 4 plate appearances (last 2 yesterday, first 2 today). If we wanted him to taste some humble pie so that he works hard this offseason, I guess he's gotten it. Gonna be very interesting how he performs in AA ball next season.

Zavier Warren and Tristen Lutz go back to back with homers to start the 2nd inning. Shuckers up 2-0.

AAA Nashville needs a home win over Jacksonville tonight to grab a 3-2 series lead, with Hortonville-native RHP Caleb Boushley looking for another great start (6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 K last time out). 3B Cam Devanney has reached base in 9 of his last 10 games:

AA Biloxi seeks to extend its winning streak to 9 games in Pensacola tonight, sending out LHP Nick Bennett to replicate his last solid outing (5 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 7 Ks). SS Ethan Murray has acclimated reasonably well since his promotion (.732 OPS in 34 plate appearances):

Middendorf had a frightful 9th inning but escaped. That’s 8 straight wins for Biloxi. Columbus lost, so Nashville maintains a 4.5-game lead. Toledo has won 8 in a row to thrust themselves into the picture at 5 games back.

Nashville leads their home series against Jacksonville 2-1 and have 23-year old LHP Robert Gasser making his 3rd start in AAA ball tonight (5.23 ERA with 13 Ks in 10 1/3 innings). CF Sal Frelick's on-base streak has reached 32 games: