Ro Mueller

Yeah. It looked like we were trying to stack DSL Brewers-1's roster for a final playoff push, but all we really did was replace the injured Pena with Anderson for one game...in which he too got injured. Neither Wande Torres nor Wenderlyn King played in the doubleheader against the first place Orioles on Saturday. Let's hope it's just bumps and bruises and these guys will all be stateside shortly for the unofficial Extended Summer League in Arizona (assuming that's permitted) - Pena, Made, Anderson, Ortuno, Torres...

Super CF Jose Anderson has missed the past 2 ballgames for DSL Brewers-1, after being hit-by-pitch and pinch run for near the end of the first game of their doubleheader on Saturday.

Mitch White, Shane Smith, Mark Manfredi and Brailin Rodriguez combined on 16 scoreless innings for four affiliates in terrific Sunday action. Clutch Ramon Rodriguez produced all of Wisconsin’s runs. For the week, Nashville (4-2) was the sole series winner, while Biloxi and Carolina managed to draw 3-3 with their competition. Wisconsin (2-4) had a rare series loss. Transactions: RHP Rosmel Reyes released by Low-A Carolina Reyes had been in the system since December 2019, but only saw action in the DSL in 2021, with injuries wiping out subsequent seasons. Best of luck to the young man (still just 21 years old). Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 3, Indianapolis 0 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 Blank Indians for Second Straight Night to Win Series A Sunday theme across several affiliates was pitchers being pushed to give a little more than usual. For Nashville, it was RHP Mitch White, tasked with making his first start since early May (then with the Giants) while covering more innings (5 IP) and throwing more pitches (69) than he had all season. And Boy did White deliver: 5 scoreless frames, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks, exiting up 2-0 and earning the Win. From there, the game was well in-hand, as RHPs Craig Yoho, Jacob Misiorowski and Kevin Herget made opposing batters look silly, striking out 8 of 13 batters over 4 scoreless innings. Sounds’ Extras: Right fielder Brewer Hicklen (1-for-3, walk, 2 SBs) got things started offensively, singling and scoring in the 4th inning for a 1-0 lead which was all the Sounds’ pitching staff required. Left fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez (2-for-3, triple, walk, run) had the most productive game at the top of the lineup. 1B Owen Miller keeps getting the job done: 1-for-4, RBI double to open the scoring: Next week’s outlook: Nashville (60-53) heads due east (7.5 hours by road; or will they fly?) to play at Rays’ affiliate Durham (53-61). RHP Taylor Clarke is expected to start the series opener on Tuesday. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Biloxi 4, Montgomery 0 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Blank Biscuits Behind Five Shutout Innings From Smith The weekly RHP Shane Smith (5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) Show continues to be enjoyable to watch, this time cruising through 4 innings before recently-promoted Rays’ prospect Brayden Taylor tripled to lead off the 5th inning. Twenty pitches later, Taylor was still standing on 3rd base as Smith went K, walk, pop out, ground out to preserve the 4-0 lead. DH Mike Boeve continues to be a problem for opponents, reaching base 4 times in this contest: walking and scoring in the 1st inning (2-0 lead), doubling and scoring in the 4th (3-0), singling and stealing a base in the 5th, then walking in the 7th. SS Eric Brown Jr. (1-for-4, double, RBI) may have struggled off-and-on with injuries this year, but he definitely shows promise offensively and defensively when he's feeling all right: RHPs Bo Bowman and Tyler Woessner each allowed 2 singles and a walk over 2 scoreless innings of relief, which was particularly notable for Woessner as he bounced back from a 6-run partial inning on Thursday. Shuckers’ Extras: 20-year old center fielder Dylan O’Rae went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, although he was caught stealing for the 10th time in 62 tries this year. Right fielder Connor Scott (3-for-4, double, RBI) continues to be a solid addition since joining as a free agent (released by Pittsburgh), although we expect he’s eligible for free agency this fall. Biloxi only managed to go 3-for-17 with runners in scoring, but Montgomery was no better in that department (0-for-7). Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (54-51) heads home, where they welcome the Mississippi Braves (49-58). RHP Brett Wichrowski is listed as the scheduled starter for Tuesday’s opening game. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wisconsin 3, Quad Cities 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rodríguez Delivers a Win for Wisconsin Ramon Rodriguez was Mr. Clutch, providing a solo homer to break the 0-0 deadlock in the 7th inning, then calmly delivered the 2-out, 2-run single to shatter the 1-1 tie in the top of the 8th inning. I hope that someone bought a beer for the 25-year old catcher, even if many of his teammates were too young to partake. Chris Mehring’s game summary linked above wonderfully captures the 8th inning drama of this road affair: “Luis Lara singled to start the inning against Isbell. Lara stole second but was ruled to have overslid the base and was tagged out for the first out of the inning. Then, Cooper Pratt singled to reach base. That was the end of the line for Isbell. Ben Sears took over on the mound for the Bandits. He hit Luke Adams on a 1-0 pitch to put two runners on base. It was the second time Adams was hit on Sunday and the 36th time he has been hit this season. The River Bandits argued that Adams did not attempt to move but the argument did not move plate umpire Shea Graham. Sears missed with his first two pitches to Jadher Areinamo. He turned away from the plate and apparently said something that caught the attention of base umpire Jonathan Rector, who ejected Sears from the game. By the time the arguments ended, Quad Cities manager Brooks Conrad had been ejected by Rector and Hunter Owen, who was the starting pitcher for Quad Cities on Saturday, was tossed from the game for putting in his two cents from the dugout by Graham. AJ Block took over the count on Areinamo for Sears and issued a walk to load the base. That brought Rodríguez back to the plate with a chance to put the Rattlers in front again. Rodríguez with a single to the hole at short that deflected off the glove of (shortstop) Dickerson. Pratt and Adams both scored for the 3-1 lead.” 24-year old LHP Mark Manfredi (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) had started 4 days earlier, repeating his sterling work to deliver another three scoreless innings. He only needed 37 pitches in Wednesday’s contest and reduced that to 34 pitches (22 strikes) on Sunday. RHP Stiven Cruz (3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) had thrown a season-high 59 pitches four days earlier, but was tasked with giving even more, matching Manfredi with three scoreless innings before exiting after a 1-out walk in the 7th inning. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: If RHP Aaron Rund felt bad about allowing an RBI single to knot the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 7th inning, he showed it in the best possible way: retiring 6 of the next 7 batters to get within one out of closing out the game. Rund was then unfazed by the 2-out, 9th inning double which brought the potential game-tying run to the plate, firing across four straight strikes to get the swinging K in front of 3,300 road fans. 3B Luke Adams reached base 3 times (2 HBP, 1 walk) and 1B Tayden Hall added a double, while 34th overall pick DH Blake Burke registered his first professional hit, an infield single in the 6th inning. Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (67-40) returns home to face Cardinals’ affiliate Peoria (47-60). Final: Carolina 6, Fredericksburg 4 Box Score and Game Log Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Beat Nationals To Split Series RHP Morris Austin (2 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) made his first minor league career start (34th appearance), despite throwing 55 pitches five days earlier. He cruised through two hitless, scoreless frames before understandably tiring in an attempted third inning with five consecutive Nationals reaching base. Just like in the case of Biloxi above, we’re grateful for any road video highlight we’re lucky to get, in this case left fielder Miguel Briceno (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) getting the scoring started with a 2-out, 2-run double in the 1st inning for a 2-0 advantage. Carolina hitters patiently accepted 3 walks and 2 wild pitches to knot the contest at 4-4 in the 4th inning, before center fielder Yophery Rodriguez (singled and scored) and 3B Eric Bitonti (walked and scored) put the Mudcats back into the lead in the 5th inning. RHP Brailin Rodriguez (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP – then picked him off, 5 Ks) had never pitched 2 games over a 3-day period in his minor league career to date, but achieved that feat and more with 3 impeccable innings to get Carolina to the 8th inning with a 6-4 lead. Per the game report, RHP Harrison Durow (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) retired 6 of 7 batters to shut the door on Carolina’s victory in front of 3,550 road fans. Mudcats’ Extras: RHP Jose Nova (last pitched July 13) went from the injured list into the fire (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 2 Ks), entering for Austin down 3-2 with 2-on and nobody out in the 3rd inning, superbly recording essentially 4 outs (including a run-scoring error) to keep the Mudcats in it. RHP Jeison Pena entered and walked the first two batters (on 15 total pitches) in the 4th inning, before bearing down to record consecutive strikeouts and a ground out in a fine effort. DH Luis Castillo (0-for-1) walked 3 times, scoring twice, while C David Garcia (1-for-3) singled, walked and scored a run. Next week’s outlook: Carolina (64-42) stays on the road, this time heading 3 hours east of Fredericksburg, Virginia to Salisbury, Maryland to battle Orioles’ affiliate Delmarva (40-67). We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the only minor league games are found in the Dominican Summer League, with DSL Brewers-1 playing DSL Rojos and DSL Brewers-2 taking on DSL Red Sox Blue at 10:00am CST. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Dodgers in a huge clash 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

AAA Nashville can claim a 4-2 series victory with a win in Indianapolis tonight. RHP Mitch White (6.95 ERA with 28 Ks in 22 IP for the Sounds) gets the spot start. C Francisco Mejia homered yesterday to extend his on-base streak to 15 games.

I believe we can sign as many non-drafted players as we want for up to $150k each (it was limited to $20k prior to 2022). Anything above $150k for a player would actually count against the bonus pool, but I don't think anyone imagines that these players are signing for that much. I assume Reece Walling got a sizeable signing bonus in 2022, but we'll probably never know how much. These post-draft signings are how we picked up Shane Smith in 2022 and KC Hunt in 2023.

EBJ with a key 2-out, RBI double in the top of the 1st inning, with Connor Scott also singling in a run for an early 2-0 lead:

Tense games tonight: - Wisconsin was threatening (2-on, 2-out) in the top of the 8th, then Quad Cities’ pitcher was tossed (and their Manager) mid-at bat against Jadher Areinamo, who walked. Then Ramon Rodriguez came through with a 2-run single a 3-1 lead. Aaron Rund shut it down from there over 2.2 IP - Harrison Durow recorded the final 6 outs as Carolina held onto its 6-4 win

Heckuv an effort by Carolina’s Brailin Rodriguez, who’s pitching twice in 3 days for the first time in his career. And we’re not talking a light load: 3 scoreless innings (5 Ks, no walks, 1 HBP whom he then picked off) to get the Mudcats to the 8th inning, leading 6-4.

Seems kind of cruel to have Stiven Cruz throw 61 pitches, 4 days after throwing a season-high 59 pitches. With 1 out in the bottom of the 7th inning, he walked his final batter on 8 pitches, then got charged with the earned run when Aaron Rund allowed a stolen base and RBI single. 1-1 game - to the 8th Wisconsin and Quad Cities go.

Mark Manfredi - 3 scoreless innings Stiven Cruz - 3 scoreless innings But it’s 0-0 in the 7th! (Oops - 1-0 now - thank you @Joseph Zarr and Ramon Rodriguez - see above) Wisconsin and Quad Cities each have a double (Tayden Hall), 3 singles and 2 more who’ve reached via walk or HBP.

Biloxi trails 3 games to 2 at Montgomery, but has stud RHP Shane Smith (3.13 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 11.0 K/9 in 74.2 IP) on the mound tonight. DH Mike Boeve continues to impress in AA ball (team-leading .797 OPS in 272 PAs).

Carolina grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the top of the 2nd inning thanks to this 2-out, 2-run double by Miguel Briceno.

LHP Mark Manfredi (4.04 ERA with 80 Ks in 62.1 IP) started 4 days ago (37 pitches in 3 scoreless innings) and High-A Wisconsin calls upon him again. They’ve lost 4 of 5 games at Quad Cities this week. 1B Tayden Hall is having a productive stretch (.896 in last 49 PAs with 6 BB and 4 Ks).

24-year old RHP Morris Austin (3.69 ERA with 64 Ks in 53.2 IP) makes his first career start (34th appearance), as Low-A Carolina needs a victory at Fredericksburg to even the series 3-3. He threw 55 pitches of long relief 5 days ago. SS Filippo Di Turi has a 17-game on-base streak (though just a .631 OPS during it).

It appears we've also added 21-year old RHP Garrett Hodges from Gardner-Webb, who'd earlier announced a planned transfer to UNC Charlotte.

Rather informative interview - passed up a chance to transfer to Oregon State. Team is scrimmaging other clubs in Arizona (e.g. Royals a few days ago). Hoping to be sent to Carolina or Wisconsin this year. Not sure if he'll be invited to post-season instructs in Arizona.

- RHP Rosmel Reyes released by Low-A Carolina The Venezuelan signed in December 2019 as a 16-year old, but his only season was 2021, as Covid took out 2020 and injuries cost him 2022-2024. Reyes K’d 30.3% of opposing batters (27 of 89) in 11 relief appearances in the DSL in that lone season, coupled with a 5.50 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 18 IP as 18 walks and 4 HBP cost him. We hope the now 21-year old Rosmel is fully healthy and wish him luck in whichever opportunities come next.

I think the general consensus has been and continues to be a #4 or #5 MLB starter at best. https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/milwaukee-brewers-top-prospects-for-2024/ 12 swinging strikes in 90 pitches thrown, with one hard hit ball in the air and two walks yesterday was a good day. With the way he struggled in his first 6 games in AAA this year, I was surprised when we selected his contract for an MLB debut just 6 weeks later, but maybe we felt he’d benefit from the exposure. He was hit very hard in those 3 MLB starts, so I’d imagine he’ll need a looonnngggg look against top competition next Spring Training. He’ll still just be 23 then, but we’ll have to burn his 2nd option year in 2025 if he’s simply not ready.

Warren came aboard with a leadoff HBP, but Martin, O'Rae and Boeve didn't advance him. Biloxi loses 1-0, stranding 11. Sucks that KC Hunt takes the loss in his AA debut, but Logan Henderson knows this feeling (High-A debut, AAA debut) so he's in good company.

Nashville Manager Rick Sweet seemed to tempt the fates by calling on LHP Aaron Ashby (8.73 ERA in 77.1 IP) with a 3-0 lead in the 8th inning. And Ashby responded!: K swinging, ground out, K looking. There we go. Let's hold on for a win.

After Yophery Rodriguez singled but was thrown out at home on a Luis Castillo double to end the top of the 7th (final scheduled) inning, it is in fact Dikember Sanchez who gets the call for a save opportunity. And the leadoff Fredericksburg hitter battled for 9 pitches before homering to tie the game 1-1. Ugh. Time to bear down Dikember, take this thing to extra innings and then pull this out to avoid a doubleheader sweep.

The Shuckers have stranded 10 baserunners through 8 innings and trail 1-0, despite fabulous work from KC Hunt, Sam Carlson, Will Childers and Justin Yeager - combined 13 strikeouts. Yeager just worked out of a 2-on, nobody out situation in the 8th. It's up to Warren, Martin and O'Rae in the top of the 9th inning.

That's now 82 pitches (61 strikes) and 9 strikeouts for Bryan Rivera through 6 scoreless innings in Fredericksburg. Carolina leads 1-0 as they head to the final scheduled inning. I'm guessing that Dikember Sanchez will get the call. Let's see.

At least you've proven that C Victor Torres exists, after we've not seen him for over 7 weeks.