Ro Mueller

21-year old RHP Jesus Rivero was a June 2021 international free agent signing from Venezuela, posting impressive strikeout rates in starting and relief over 4 seasons across DSL, ACL and Low-A ball (12.3 K/9 in 157 career innings). His 2021 (DSL – 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP in 28.1 IP) and 2023 (Low-A/ACL – 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP in 50.1 IP) were quite impressive, though walks and HBPs marred his 2022 and 2024 campaigns. We trust that Jesus is fully recovered from a July 2024 injury, as suggested by his recent Spring Training start on March 29. Good luck to Jesus in his next opportunity.

Carolina has rolled out its scheduled starters for Opening Weekend: - Friday: RHP Jack Hostetler - Saturday: RHP Bryce Meccage - Sunday: RHP Travis Smith

Herron .048. Monasterio .105. Clarke .111. I did not expect this. But hey, we lead 5-0. Go Sounds!

RHP Sam McWilliams has faced 6 batters this season and struck out 5. He’s feeling like this year’s Kevin Herget to this point (throwing 95.2mph, getting the job done).

Garrett Spain is making the most of his chance atop the order with two first pitch singles. Ernesto Martinez got the breakthrough hit the other way on a 1-2 count, knocking in 2 runs for a 2-0 lead with 2 outs in the 3rd inning. Then Jorge Alfaro immediately followed with a 2-run homer, his 2nd hit of the game (and season for him). Ray Delgado is hitting the ball hard, getting 2 hits for his efforts. And Caleb Durbin has his 3rd double of the year. Vinny Capra’s rope may be shortening. I did not imagine that Logan Henderson would throw 85 pitches on 4 days’ rest, but he’s gotten the job done, working around 5 walks.

- C Jeferson Quero's return is delayed a bit

The MILB schedule is now showing Biloxi’s expected opening weekend starters: - Friday: LHP Tate Kuehner - Saturday: LHP Nate Peterson - Sunday: RHP KC Hunt

Not blaming Bauers. Tough play. Am blaming Capra though. A 3B can't give up a double to India there. Let's get 2 runs to spread joy and happiness.

25-year old RHP Deivi Garcia gets his first start (2nd appearance) at AAA Nashville, as they strive to even their series at Gwinnett 1-1.

- RHP Evan McKendry activated by AAA Nashville from Development List

Here’s that first road lineup, with 30-year old LHP Bruce Zimmermann making his organizational debut at Gwinnett:

- RHP Nick Mears sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville

I figure it’s a ripple effect roster crunch: Areinamo and Eduardo Garcia are in High-A; Josh Adamczewski and Eric Bitonti are in Low-A. That pushes 2 players to remain in Extended Spring Training. And I don’t believe we saw DeBerry in any of the MILB Spring Training lineups. That’s worrisome, since he’s already 22 years old and has yet to make his MILB debut. Timmerman’s only played one game above Low-A ball and is still younger than Gillis, Garcia, Seppings and Holobetz, so I guess he won’t be out of place. Hopefully Peek (solid in AA in 2022 before injuries) and Fitzpatrick (2.69 ERA in High-A last year) can earn quick promotions to AA ball, so other promotions can happen in their wake.

It looks like Wisconsin is ahead of the curve in naming starting pitchers for the opening weekend: - Friday: RHP Manuel Rodriguez - Saturday: RHP Bishop Letson - Sunday: RHP Chandler Welch

20-year olds Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt and Luke Adams lead the youngster brigade, with Lara and Adams promoted to the AA level for the first time (Pratt was up for the 2024 playoffs). Congrats to other promoted players (e.g. Alexander Cornielle (23), Tyler Bryant (26), LHP Mark Manfredi (25), etc.). It’s odd not to see LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (2.69 ERA in 70.1 High-A IP) or INFs Jadher Areinamo (.791 OPS vs. .684 league average, gold glove defense) and Eduardo Garcia (commenced 2024 in AA ball) included, but the ST lineups suggested they’d start the season in High-A Wisconsin for some reason.

20-year old LHP Anthony Flores may be the biggest surprise inclusion after just 26.1 IP at Low-A Carolina. Congrats to him and the other promoted players (e.g. Bishop Letson (20), Manuel Rodriguez (19), Juan Baez (19), Tyson Hardin (23), Daniel Corniel (20), etc.). The other youngster is 19-year old Yophery Rodriguez, but he was promoted for last year's playoffs.

At least Quero's back up to AAA. No idea on O'Rae and Wichrowski. Crow's name only showed up on the final day of the ST lineups, so he's probably ramping up arm strength.

SS Jesus Made (17), INF Luis Pena (18), OF Braylon Payne (18), RHP Bryce Meccage (19), 3B/1B Eric Bitonti (19), C Marco Dinges (21) and 2B Josh Adamczewski (19) headline the Mudcats’ Season Opening Roster, but don’t sleep on 18-year old RHP Melvin Hernandez and 21-year old Jack Hostetler:

SS Jesus Made promoted to Low-A Carolina from DSL Brewers-1 INF Luis Pena promoted to Low-A Carolina from DSL Brewers-1 RHP Bryce Meccage promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP Jack Hostetler promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP Travis Smith promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers LHP Bjorn Johnson promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP John Holobetz assigned to Low-A Carolina LHP Sam Garcia assigned to Low-A Carolina LHP Wande Torres promoted to Low-A Carolina from DSL Brewers-1 RHP Tanner Gillis promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP Miles Langhorne promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers INF/OF Demetrio Nadal promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers C Yannic Walther promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers INF/OF Luiyin Alastre promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP Garrett Hodges promoted to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers RHP Bishop Letson promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina INF Juan Baez promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina RHP Tyson Hardin promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina RHP Manuel Rodriguez promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina LHP Anthony Flores promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina RHP Daniel Corniel promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina INF Daniel Guilarte promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina OF Luis Castillo promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina OF Yhoswar Garcia promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina C David Garcia promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina C Edgardo Ordonez promoted to High-A Wisconsin from ACL Brewers OF Luis Lara promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin 3B/1B Luke Adams promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin RHP Alexander Cornielle promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin RHP Tyler Bryant promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin LHP Mark Manfredi promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin RHP Stiven Cruz promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin C Ramon Rodriguez promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin INF/OF Jheremy Vargas promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin C Victor Torres promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin C Jeferson Quero assigned to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi RHP Grant Anderson recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville (replacing injured Aaron Civale) RHP Josh Timmerman assigned to Low-A Carolina from High-A Wisconsin

At least Anderson was ready to play ball today. Too bad nobody else was.

Brennan Miller’s not exactly earning his paycheck today.