Joseph Zarr

BUMP. Praise definitely earned. Award achieved:

That's Yophery, comp pick and PTBNL... Man, I have to say this trade absolutely bums me out. I pair it with their silly choice to leave Smith unprotected. Now, you lose a promising advanced hitter at 19 years of age in High-A (lotto ticket who looked 10x more comfortable at the dish to start 2025) and $3 Million in slot space plus the pick slot and a PTBNL?! AND cash?! The Brewers legitimately were sitting on the precipice of being able to manipulate and control the draft to their liking. They just gave that away. I know there are injuries piling up and you can't account for that but they've also made some head-scratching decisions before this played out that also helped lead them down this road. This doesn't even get into their target in this trade...which is also quite questionable. I need more coffee with a dash of cope.😅 I mean I understand Yophery being the headliner - that's a fine piece of exchange between the two teams. Red Sox get an Advanced A hitter at 19 years who is very well put together and has some upside. BUT, then tossing in that draft flexibility. That's a major loss. You can replace a player. You have an incredibly deep OF Int'l Class this year, ostensibly. You also have a Jose Anderson down in Arizona and a Braylon Payne. You can't replace the draft mobility and manipulation purse. Ugh.

Thanks for the update, Jim. That's encouraging news.

I have headliners above, but there were several notable debuts witnessed across the lower levels on a fine early April Sunday. With the Brewers whooping the Reds, the organization as a whole managed a 3-1 mark. Nashville was postponed (makeup on 5/1) at Gwinnett due to ongoing weather fronts moving through that region. Biloxi took their first lead and then RHP Tyler Bryant's ongoing rude welcome to the Southern League continued in their loss at Pensacola. The T-Rats and Mudcats won back-and-forth nail biters amidst swirling and disruptive outfield winds in both locales. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: LHP Daniel Garcia was officially assigned to the DSL Brewers #2 - the 16-year-old Nicaraguan (turns 17 April 20th) was a part of the 2025 International Free Agent Class announced back on January 15th LHP Grant Wolfram was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds - the corresponding move to cover (initially, at least) for LHP Nestor Cortes 15-Day IL placement due to an apparent flexor strain Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 8, Biloxi 4 Via the Shuckers' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it): Lara, Adams Record First Double-A Hits, Shuckers Fall in Finale to Blue Wahoos - Cruz Strikes out 4 in 2 1/3 Perfect Debut Innings Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Remember that mid-afternoon Sunday back in early April when the Shuckers got their first elusive lead of their young season? I sure do. It evaporated in 1/2 inning. Those were the days - errr, umm, should I say minutes?! In the end, the bats left 10 men on base in a 3-for-15 effort with RISP. Yesterday, Jim lauded Javik Blake's perpetual enthusiasm as the Shuckers play-by-play guy. Javik truly does a fantastic job and has more than filled the bill since we all lost one-time beloved Shuckers broadcaster (and now Houston's Sugar Land guy), Garrett Greene. However, though we obviously lean on the positive side of things here in our daily Minor League reports, when it comes to the Shuckers I'm just frankly at a point where I'm not going to mince words: they consistently remain the most challenging and heartbreaking affiliate I watch on a day-in and day-out; year-in and year-out basis. This is just the baseball gods' honest truth. For whatever reasons, the Southern League gives me week-in and week-out baseball indigestion and the Shuckers viewing grind wears on me like the oceans on its shells. There, I said it even if I said it with a wee bit of dramatic tragedian flare ?. Heck, after writing this pre-amble I find I need to step away and clean up my act! <Walks off. Stretches. Jump-ropes. Hits the cages. Regroups> Ok, I'm back ye unlucky readers! When is the last time we spoke of a mulligan outing from Ace RHP KC Hunt?! I sure as heck can't remember. In his 2025 debut this fine Sunday, Hunt lasted a mere 2/3 IP and 34 pitches before he was mercifully pulled. I haven't seen such an ineffective outing in his entire time as a Brewer. More than anything, this speaks to how danged good Hunt has been. 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 Balk, 3 ER. 34 pitches and just 17 strikes. If that's as bad as it gets for Hunt, I think we're going to be just fine. Let's simply toss this outing into the analysis trash bin. Hunt is way too talented a hurler to read too far into this type of debut performance. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Back under the bright lights of positivity, it's hard to showcase a better Double-A debut for RHP Stiven Cruz. Cruz bounced back in a major way for the T-Rats and manager Victor Estevez in 2024 after quite a struggle on the bump in 2023. As last season progressed, he played a sort of utility knife for that Wisconsin staff and really settled into a meaningful and productive relief role that lasted into the post-season. Cruz's heater had quite a bit of life in Pensacola today as he played a pivotal settling role enabling his squad to recapture the lead. 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K after 30 pitches (19 strikes). Here he is mowing down his third consecutive batter in his first full inning of work: 2) Not only did 3B Luke Adams collect his first Double-A poke and his first RBI but he tied HBP arch-nemesis and teammate, C Darrien Miller, in his outing today as well. This is a vigorous neck-and-neck battle we'll have to monitor throughout the season. Miller and Adams are currently tied 1 HBP apiece. Perhaps, we should have a HBP scoreboard here at Brewer Fanatic in 2025? It's not the Shuckers scoreboard watch we want but it is probably the Shuckers scoreboard watch we deserve. Voice your opinions below! Adams also flashed the leather with a sublime diving stop. Warren had a cool and calm grab off the hop - this is how you do it, Mr. Walling (this comment is reserved for any of you who watched the Mudcats game): 3) It's early but I like the renewed approach from one Eric Brown Jr. He has carried over the simplified approach in the batters box - no elaborate leg lift and he has quieted the multiple moving parts above and below. It's a very simplified conventional stance. He ended his day 1-for-5 with 1 2B and 1 RBI, but, he worked a lengthy AB earlier in the contest with runners aboard. Unfortunately, that AB resulted in a weak pop out to very shallow RF when he just got under the last pitch offering. BUT, at this stage with this player in particular, I am looking at process. The likelihood of a possible rebound season looks possible with his rebuilt approach. As I've said on numerous occasions: the defense is gold glove caliber wherever you throw him around the infield. If we can reconstitute offensive value we can start to dream again. Final: Wisconsin 7, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 6 Burke Blasts Wisconsin Past Cedar Rapids - Last Year's First Round Pick Hits First Pro Long Ball and Drives in Three Box Score / Game Log Game Notes As per usual, we are absolutely gifted every Home series with the impeccable work of the T-Rats Media and Production crew. Here is your 7:07 minutes of Highlight bliss: AND, lastly, the ever enjoyable post-game pods with Chris and Kyle: Enjoy these recap morsels. We truly are blessed as T-Rats fans. RHP Chandler Welch showcased the slider he is known for - a truly zesty pitch if you haven't seen him hurl it. He earned several swings and misses and looks on said slider early but he also gave up some hard meaningful contact on pitches that hung over much too much of the meat of the plate. It was a bit of a proverbial Jekyll and Hyde outing - the good and the bad. Ultimately, his line reads worse than it was in that regard - 3 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 4 ER. Welch was also let down early by his outfield (though also rescued by Blake Burke at 1B) - the swirling winds were moving balls in challenging ways - and this led to more traffic; runs; and more pitches on his arm. And, he was also let down by his inability to execute in pitcher's counts with runners on. All in all, he gave his team 71 total pitches with 44 strikes. He'll look for sharper outings in the weeks ahead. Three Quick Strikes: 1) 2B Jadher Areinamo showcased the entire package today. He ripped a high heater for a two-run homer over the left field wall. He hit a meaningful game-tying ground out to 2B. He also made two web gem plays look routine once again. I'm now at the point where I've run out of words of praise to describe his defensive prowess. His situational awareness, his hands, and his ability to speed up when the play demands it are all unique traits unsurpassed in the organization. I spoke to it at length in the day's Game Thread - feel free to check it out for timestamps and the like. 2) Last season, RHP Yerlin Rodriguez showcased his MLB upside with an unbelievably dominant outing on the road at Beloit early in the season. Multiple 100 mph plus smoking heaters wowed opposing batters and the opposing broadcaster. However, and quite unfortunately, his season mostly cascaded into a downward spiral from there. His lack of control has been a nagging and recurring issue throughout his stateside tenure. Today, Rodriguez started fresh and in a major way for his 2025 season. He executed a two inning Save in extremely impressive fashion. He was sitting 95-96 mph but he was really leaning into his off-speed pitches. It never felt as though his command was in question, more importantly. Check out this off-speed offering to finish the game with his fourth strikeout. If he can command this type of sinking off-speed pitch to lefties, look out: 3) 1B Blake Burke will be lauded for his 3-for-4 outing - a triple shy of the cycle, no less - and rightfully so. He also absolutely destroyed a baseball to the deepest part of the ball park for his first professional homer. All these outcomes are wonderful! BUT, I want to also bring up his glove and his defense - the true unexpected takeaways for this ol' farmhand. Burke made a truly special diving stop down the 1B/RF line in a dangerous RISP situation early and his glove and grab was pure throughout. I wasn't expecting that type of nimble movement from such a big man. Burke loudly came onto my radar today, in other words, and it really wasn't solely because of his clear ability to swing the bat. Final: Carolina 7, Fredericksburg (Nationals) 6 Mudcats Rally to Sweep Nationals - Adamczewski and Payne Shine as the Rally Cats Pull Out Series Sweep Box Score / Game Log Let's start with much deserved shine and celebration of a young man I've been hyping consistently hard and heavy since literally his first Low-A AB: INF Josh Adamczewski. I'm skipping my pitching pre-amble and going right in for a clip of his confident, calm, and collected sure fire game-winning walk-off single to RF. The celebration from his teammates. The confidence knowing the work he's continued to put in is just dripping. And, the play on the field has spoken volumes early in 2025: We are embarrassingly lucky to have such an immensely talented sleeper prospect in our system, folks. Don't let the lack of any type of pronounced national hype and notoriety fool you: this young man has that 'IT' factor you and I just don't see all that often. The swing and the line drive power is pure poetry. The patience and discipline at the dish writing verses in the same poem. The defense has been extremely sure and steady in the early going as well - he's made every play and made some challenging plays look routine. We just need this young man to stay healthy. I mean this when I say it: the rest is going to take care of itself because I absolutely know for a fact this young man is going to keep putting the work in. Are you surprised regional scout Ginger Poulson signed such a talented young man? I sure as heck am not. A 2-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K (highly questionable Statcast disproven second strikeout, btw in a full count) game-winning day. Three Quick Strikes: 1) 2024 15th Round pick RHP Travis Smith (Kentucky) got the starting nod in this one. A large 6'4" 220 lb specimen is Smith. His sinker came across as his best pitch in a 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K debut. Control was his knock leaving the draft and though he wasn't erratic by any stretch he wasn't dialed in and around the zone either. The real talk of the pitching side of this game for me will be the work of two lefties - 2024 8th Round pick LHP Sam Garcia (Oklahoma State) and 2023 12th Round pick LHP Bjorn Johnson (Lincoln HS, Seattle WA). Garcia left the game early after a come backer plunked directly off his throwing elbow. Concerning moments were had when he writhed in pain rolling on the grass in front of second base but he ultimately left the field under his own power while also raising himself off the grass with full weight on the same elbow. We'll have to hope this was merely a bruise situation off the funny bone. Before that unfortunate occurrence, he was showing skill and savvy that he absolutely knows what he is doing on the bump. Given LHP Bjorn Johnson's struggles in the 2024 ACL, I think it's fair to say his debut showing was perhaps the most surprising I've experienced overall across all levels in 2025. His swopping heavy breaking curve/breaking ball came across as a truly dangerous pitch he can throw in any count. He pitched the cleanest line of any Mudcat hurler going 2 2/3 IP with solely a BB while doling out four punch outs. Awesome stuff. 2) We haven't seen INF Jesus Made in two consecutive games for unknown reason (tho, he was spied by several of us Fanatics in the dugout). We'll have to hope he returns in the upcoming road series - as of now, we are in the dark here. However, I say this to share: INF Luis Peña has more than fit the bill in impressing as a highly coveted DSL'er that has made the early jump look too easy. He continues to show a presence in the batters box well beyond his years. His 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 2 BB, 2 SB day at the dish was masterful for a young man of his age. I can not tell you how impressive it is to see a player as diminutive in stature as Peña at 18 years of age look so steady, unfazed and capable at the dish. Here's an example. Tie game, 4-4, with runners on the corners and no outs. Just a free and easy hit it where they pitch it sac fly deep down the RF line. As a Brewers fan, I think we can all agree: this is not an easy thing to accomplish at any level within the organization. Just a beautiful repeatable level swing. 3) Let's not forget about the day CF Braylon Payne gave us all on the center field grass and in the batters box. He looked much more fluid with better reads on the outfield grass - no fly balls or run downs to either field ever appeared in question. He swiped his first three bags of his season. He also went 2-for-4 with 1 R and 2 BB in the lead-off spot. This young man continues to be a menace for opponents from nearly every angle and approach on a game-by-game basis. His raw athleticism when paired with such an impactful and disciplined approach with the bat truly gives him a real chance to be special. Sheeesh, what a time to be a Mudcats fan. Soak it up in what is their last season, folks. Soak every bit of this collection of talent right up. That's a wrap for this week of Brewers Minor League baseball. As per usual, all affiliates (sans any DSL or ACL action, obviously) will be taking their off days tomorrow. Series will start back up again Tuesday. The Sounds will be back Home in Nashville looking to creep closer to a 0.500 mark when they play the (5-2) Memphis Redbirds. Biloxi will look to find what the win column feels like back Home against also winless (0-2) Columbus. Wisconsin will visit last season's first round playoff foe in the pesky (3-0) Quad Cities River Bandits. And, lastly, but certainly not least, the Mudcats will hit the road for the first time as they visit also undefeated (3-0) Myrtle Beach. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores MiLB Audio Links Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

He just has that IT that we so rarely see. Confident. Not cocky. It is time the pundits start talking and get aboard the train I've been revving since last summer's call up. You could see it in his first Low-A AB last summer. He had the same contact as Payne when he came aboard. Sadly, that season ended with two uber-freakish leg injuries. Then he impressed in very limited MLB ST time. The Breakout Game snub (I'm calling it a snub, dang it😁). I am just so dang pumped for this young man to be healthy and seizing early opportunity in a major way. The defense has been very sound in year 2 as well - not that it was bad by any stretch in 2024. Everything is high functioning right now. Hard to contain my excitement, folks. The only ask? Stay healthy.

You'll want to listen to this then. I've embed the link of today's post-game pod. Chris Mehring addresses this specifically. Go directly to the 16 minute mark - just after a clubhouse post-game interview with Jadher with Victor Estevez translating (if you want to hear that as well). It's a quick 1 minutes and 40 that adrresses it specifically. He cross-references an interview he recently had with Tom Flanagan. AND, he mentions an upcoming conversation to be released with Sam Dykstra. You aren't the only one wondering...

I am amazed looking at the Wisconsin Box Score and seeing they are credited with a mere single error. Garcia and Rodriguez both misplayed two fly balls. Generous scoring today. They credited Eduardo Garcia with the sole error - also an error, indeed.

If Yerlin can get comfortable throwing this type of pitch to lefties? Whewwww. That is straight nasty. I'm bullish again. I'm scared. Will I get hurt? Will I have trust issues? Tune in for the Joseph/Yerlin Mega Drama!

Yeah he made that charging throw on a weak grounder to try to end the inning. AND, Walling is very much not smooth with the glove over there. He's very much an unnatural work in progress. Those weren't easy plays by any stretch - the scoops - but he also didn't make it appear as though he even had a remote chance to catch them with his approach.

Yophery's defensive output today says: "Hold my Beer, I got this!" The winds were fierce in both locales today. Yophery had two of the poorest routes I've ever seen him take on fly balls to deep CF. Given you and I both know he is an incredible defender, overall, with great instincts, we can chalk it up to wind and unfamiliarity with the grass and wall at Fox River. Payne actually looked much better today. But, to your point, yeah he's all athlete and lesser feel at present in CF. I think part of it is he is so young and so athletic he thinks he can get away with anything. It's a god-given innate athletic tool kit. Absolutely looks the part in the batters box tho and on the base paths. An incredible weapon.

Yeah, I saw him there too. AND, nothing was mentioned on the broadcast. Hopefully it is minor whatever it is. Good eye, Cap'n!

He looked very poised and in control doing it. Highly impressive debut. I did not expect the level of swooping breaking ball I witnessed out of his hand today. I also thought LHP Sam Garcia showed quite well too - we'll have to keep our fingers crossed that come backer was just a charlie horse on his funny bone.

I think the most important relief outing today - organizationally speaking and off-season speaking - was from RHP Yerlin Rodriguez, honestly. That's a two inning Save that began with two on, none out, in a pivotal 8th inning while clinging to a one-run (before the 2-run lead) where your defense just hung out Aquino to dry. He struck out the side. That's just massive.

Yerlin is sitting 95-96. He does give up a solo jack BUT he digs deep with a ground out, fly out, and then a swinging K on a gorgeous breaker. T-Rats are on the board with a W. 7-6. BIG effort in a game the Kernels will likely feel they should have won outhitting the Rats. Either way, who cares. WIN. Woot woot.

Two out Roped double to the deep RF corner for Tayden Hall. Insurance run triple to the CF/RF gap and alley for Hedbert Perez. Big run. Yhoswar's truly rough day continues with a swinging K to end the inning. T-Rats will try to close this out up two runs.

RHP Yerlin Rodriguez is summoned here. Two aboard. Nobody out. Swinging K on a 96 mph heater. K looking on a gorgeous slider on the inner black after getting the whiff on a filthy slider down and away. WHEWWWW. This is what he can do when he is accurate. The big IF and WHEN. Two down now. He misses inside on a heater. 1-0. Drops another slider in there. He misses high on a breaking ball. 2-1 count. No matter. Swing and miss on a slider away after dropping another, you guessed it, slider for strike 3. Good gracious. THIS is what I've been talking about. IF he can harness control his stuff is absolutely filthy. That was glorious. A redemption inning for this ol' codger.

Pena beats out a DP ball with his speed. That ties the game. AND, what else? Josh Adamczewski walks it off with a hard hit ripped single to RF. I've been saying because I've been saying. This young man is an absolute STUD.

Man, the T-Rats pitchers are definitely being hung out to dry by their outfield. Yhoswar misplays a hard liner sliding and his glove at his knee. The ball hit the webbing, his knee, and the ball caromed into CF. They rule it a double somehow. Then the ump misses a tag by Areinamo off the relay at 2B. He got him when he slid past. Missed the call. Garcia then biffed a grounder to SS. Charging play. Tough play. But he biffed it, regardless. Aquino is likely feeling he should have two outs. Instead he has men on 1st and 2nd and nobody down. Garcia is charged with an E6.

Payne swings and misses late on a high outside 2-1 heater. That was ball 3. 2-2 count now. And he scoops an infield pop out to the 3B grass. Ouch. One down. DP ball is in play now to end the game. Pena with the chance to make something happen here. Pena already has a double, 2 BB, and a HBP today.

Walther works the count 3-1. Bases juiced. He fouls one back at the upper part of the zone - slightly inside. 3-2 count. He walks! 8-7 Mudcats trail. Three straight free passes. Bases still juiced. Nobody down. Payne to the dish. Meanwhile, with Rodriguez running on contact Burke blooped a two out wild spinning double to the LF wall that snuck past the charging LF'er. 6-5 in the 7th T-Rats lead.

Nicasia lays off a 3-1 high outside heater just beyond the zone (was a ball) and the bases are now juiced. Nobdoy down. 8-6 deficit.

Walling works a lead-off full count walk laying off a very close high and inside heater. Men on 1st and 2nd. Nobody down.

AND, he gets the DP thanks to what I've been showcasing to you for two years: Areinamo's hands. That's a bang-bang play. Because he gets rid of that ball in a nano-second it's a DP inning ending play. He's so dang good. 3:00:37 on the replay to see what I've been talking about. So so savvy.

Aquino is falling apart a bit here but still has a chance to preserve a tie. Gave up the RBI double. Then walked the next batter. Ump blows the next batter who fouled off a high inside check swing - clearly a foul ball on replay - he gives the batter a check HBP. Poor call. And, well, he's been poor most of the day just calling balls and strikes. This is the Minor Leagues, afterall. Nothing new. Bases now juiced. 5-5 game. One down. Next pitch nearly goes to the back stop. Aquino appears to have lost his control.