Joseph Zarr

It's not just a 4th HR either. 2 on. 2 out. Trailing by 3 in the money making innings. He tied that puppy up. Incredible early work from this young man! He's also not chasing these. 5 K: 3 BB in his 22 AB's so far. What a glorious sample! I'll take a Flight of this type of work!😅

Trailing 5-1 heading to the 7th, the DSL Cerveceros Dos put up a game-tying 4-spot. They now have two on in the top of the 8th and are threatening again. The game is still knotted at 5-5 with the DSL Tampa Bay squad. No outs. Let's hope they can squeak out a 'W' and steal this one.

I'm going to ride Spencer's thunder here and add some sprinkles and ingredients to consider - considering I have watched nearly all of Rodriguez's starts given he pitches in the early portion of the week and series. Here's what we know about Rodriguez: (and, I'll add, IF Corniel can keep trending I would likely begin including him here - needs to further put the May walk struggles behind him for me to fully 'invest') 18 - turning 19 in August. Has demonstrated uncanny abilities to control the Zone despite lower velo stuff. Has demonstrated demonstrable capacities to lean into and set up strikeout pitches Has shown he can work the upper part of the zone and set up lower velo with sneaky rise and ride Has a frame that 'appears' capable of adding mass or building strength Has an extremely simple and repeatable delivery I think, more than anything, we need to wait. The core question I have is: can we, in the very least, begin to juxtapose his developments to the 2022/23 class of Carolina call-ups to High-A. How will he fare/compare to Cornielle, Puello, Jimenez, and Cruz? He doesn't have Cornielle's velocity. BUT, I put him in Cornielle's class of threat on the mound - because, unlike Cornielle, I know I won't have unnecessary traffic or possible blow-up innings where I waste my bullpen. What Rodriguez already has that is just so much more advanced than any of the guys listed here is control of the zone. You just can not teach that. Every man, to a T, on that list has had repeated issues with walks and wildness. Rodriguez, at age 18, pitches like a Triple-A veteran. The velo hikes might be important? I don't know. I, personally, don't care regardless. IF he can continue to add to his off-speed kit and continue to locate I will be absolutely find with say a 'touches 91-93' top out as he enters his 20's. He is deceptive. He is absolutely controlled. He is absolutely accurate (47:6 K:BB as an 18 yo in Low-A is absurd). Knowing how to pitch is not something you can add. He has an innate talent on the mound we haven't seen at this age and with this consistency all that often.

The DSL Brewers Uno definitely played a make-up game in the morning. And, well, they definitely gave up 12 runs on four hits over a seven-inning tilt - more below. The Sounds played the matinee and scored four unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth frames to steal one in Gwinnett. The T-Rats struggled to support a very solid outing from LHP Tate Kuehner dropping game two at West Michigan. Carolina keeps churning in their sprint toward a first half title and playoff berth. In Biloxi, we unfortunately witnessed RHP Jacob Misiorowski's low-point. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: - INF/OF Adam Hall was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers (after briefly rehabbing with the ACL Crew) - RHP Edwin Jimenez has been placed on the full season IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers <sad face> - RHP James Meeker was DFA'd by the Milwaukee Brewers (back to the Nashville Sounds) - OF Joey Wiemer was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Nashville Sounds Final: Nashville 4, Gwinnett (Braves) 2 Via the Sounds' 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): Three Run Eighth Propels Sounds to Win at Gwinnett - Clarke's Two-Run Bomb the Difference Box Score / Game Log Pre-Game Media Notes RHP Taylor Clarke played the part of the 'starter' with another abbreviated pseudo-bullpen effort. In a grand total of 46 pitches, he coaxed 17 swings and zero whiffs. This being said, from a pitch-to-contact perspective the highest exit velocity off one of his pitches maxed at 99.8 mph off a four-seam heater. If you dive a wee deeper from there, you can actually gather he was inducing quite a bit of weak contact. All told, he gave manager Rick Sweet and his squad a solid 3.0 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 2 K ball. He left with the Sounds trailing 2-0 and did not factor in the final decision (obviously). Three Quick Strikes: 1) Filed under the 'Baseball is a Funny Game' Department (it's just science, folks), we can counter Clarke's two earned runs with newly acquired RHP Garrett Stalling's relief outing. In just his third 2024 outing (in 13 total outings for the season) in which Stallings did not allow a run to cross home plate, it would certainly appear a bit of luck fell his way. Contrasted to Clarke, Stallings grabbed only five whiffs in 28 total swings and he gave up Max Exit Velo's on four-of-five pitch types well above 100 mph - topping out at an 111.6 mph single. You aren't going to walk away scoreless with that type of contact on most nights. 2) As alluded to in the post-game article and in my Link title above, 1B Wes Clarke hit an absolute monster shot on an inside change-up that rode belt high. It was a two out game-winning jack. It is fair to say he avoided a golden sombrero in epic fashion. That's two long balls in two consecutive games to open this road series. I don't know about you, but I am absolutely ready to feast on some Wes Clarke taters. It is time to feast at House Clarke! 3) RHP Ryan Middendorf and Harold Chirino are both incredibly talented young hurlers with tools and ride for days. However, to a man, they each struggle to master the pitching art of consistency and execution given their respective deep pools of talent. Each young man came to the mound in a high-leverage moment protecting a narrow lead and proceeded to walk their lead-off batter on four pitches. They both know, moving forward, that just can't happen with MLB aspirations. I continue to see MLB talent in each outing. However, the flaws are very real and, in my eyes, this lack of consistency outing-to-outing is preventing them from their next step in their professional careers. Final: Tennessee (Cubs) 5, Biloxi 4 Back-and-Forth Battle Goes to Smokies in Shuckers' Series Opener - Smith Ties Career-High with Five Innings Box Score / Game Log Pre-Game Media Notes RHP Jacob Misiorowski continues to stumble down his path of development in 2024. Let's not put lipstick on a pig for the highly touted prospect: Misiorowski has largely been in a prolonged and inconsistent struggle in 2024. It has absolutely been a fairly big step back from the overall highs we witnessed in 2023. Tonight, by my eyes, we reached the low point of his first half. 75 pitches over 4 IP - 41 strikes. 6 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 HB, 3 HR, 6 ER. It. Was. Ugly. Was Keith Law right? Are we actually looking at an uber-talented arm destined for the bullpen? I certainly don't have a meaningful answer to these questions but outings like these certainly get the hamster wheel squeaking. For the record, I personally don't really care all that much where he ultimately lands - I simply want him to experience success while the Brewers win World Series. I certainly, at a baseline, would love to see him stack outings where he throws strikes and piles on K's. Now, on a positive note...thankfully, given it was a home telecast I couldn't really see the ball reach home plate anyway. Three Quick Strikes: 1) 1B/CF/DH Ernesto Martinez Jr. can still really crush a baseball. I certainly miss the red hot version of Mr. Martinez we witnessed in the second half of 2023. But, nights like tonight remind us of his innate power. A 112 mph bomb. Take a look. Well, you aren't going to see much of anything - Biloxi. 2024 etc. - but, take Javik's word for it: off the scoreboard. The ball left in a hurry. Martinez also cracked a double in a 2-for-4 night for good measure. Unfortunately, he couldn't muster any of this mustard with the game on the line. 2) In another productive offensive showing for suddenly lightly simmering INF Eric Brown Jr. (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K) we'll take a quick look at his second long ball of the season and his second of the past week: 3) All 8 contests between the Smokies and Shuckers to date in 2024 have been decided by two or fewer runs. And, as their respective records would indicate, the Shuckers trail in the series 2 - 6. It isn't for a lack of opportunities for the Shuckers either - like the men on the corners, two down, winning run at the plate scenario in the ninth and final frame. Will the tides change for this Shuckers ball club in 2024? We'll simply have to stay tuned while enduring the foggy camera lens 100 feet above home plate. I politely opine: as soon as this ball club can remedy the center field camera situation, the tides will turn in the Shuckers favor. They are stuck in a bad camera karma loop!😜 Final: West Michigan (Tigers) 4, Wisconsin 1 Walks to Whitecaps Hurt Rattlers in West Michigan - T-Rats Magic Number Stays at Five Box Score / Game Log Pre-Game Media Notes LHP Tate Kuehner gave us another fantastic starting performance. He has really come into his own over the past month or so. What's fun about watching Kuehner is everyone likely knows the high heater is coming in favorable pitcher counts and, yet, very very few can do anything with it. He gets many swinging K's on that pitch. Kuehner absolutely gave his team every chance to make a winning game of this one - 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 ER. A fantastic effort. He also showed his fantastic moves to 1B getting two pick-offs on his scorecard. He, personally, was a rally killer. Unfortunately, there were only three scattered hits to back him up. Three Quick Strikes: 1) I have seen several very hard hit fly outs to the warning track from OF/INF Dylan O'Rae the past two-to-three weeks. He's getting great launch and loft off the lumber. The thing is, at present, O'Rae just doesn't have the strength to get it over the wall. I saw another cracked deep ball in this tilt that simply died at the CF warning track. Now, West Michigan's ballpark is definitively one of the harder parks to go long in all the Midwest League. So, there is that. However, for O'Rae in particular, it truly does feel like if we wait three-to-four off-seasons of a sensible strength program we might just start seeing occasional long ball power. He does so many other things incredibly well. I am intrigued by what I am beginning to see in the launch and loft despite the results. 2) We've had the full-on 3B Luke Adams experience over games one and two of this series. It's a carousel. He crushed a deep ball over the CF wall last night while playing solid defense at the hot corner. Tonight, well, he went 0-for-4 with 1 K, AND, he was absolutely responsible for two throwing errors from third base. He short hopped a very makable throw from deep 3B on a one-hop fairly routine play that bounced and sailed over Hall's glove hand shoulder. He later forced a throw home, allowing ol' friend Jose Sibrian to take 2B in the process, sailing the ball wide and to the backstop. Adams just turned 20 - there is plenty of time to try and iron out the rough edges. But, let me tell you, with all the wonder there is certainly all the raw. Nights like this remind us the path of a prospect is rarely linear. 3) When RHP Yerlin Rodriguez came aboard and fired his first relief pitch into the dirt and to the back stop, well, I sighed. I sighed an audible sigh. Just as we are seeing incredible pitching developments across the Brewers system in 2024, we are also seeing very 'toolsy' guys like Rodriguez continue to lack the polish. Rodriguez is type-casting himself into a category of 'Great Stuff. No Control'. It's confounding. There are tools for days in his pitching kit. He has movement, deception, good velo, ride etc. It's all there. But, like Chirinos and Middendorf at Triple-A, he puts trouble on the base paths too often. After tonight's 1 IP of 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 ER ball Rodriguez saw his ERA pop slightly to 4.50 with a 28 K: 23 BB ratio over 22 IP. Final: Carolina 8 , Fredericksburg (Nationals) 2 Mudcats Roll Past Nationals Behind 14-Hit Effort - Magic Number Falls to Three Box Score / Game Log Looking to move a step closer to a first half title and a playoff berth, the Mudcats got an absolutely sublime outing from 18-year-old RHP Daniel Corniel. Not only did he conquer his recent third inning woes, he set a season high in punch outs with nine. He expertly pounded righty bats in favorable counts with sliders down and away. He expertly fired high heaters to lefties in favorable counts as well. He had a hiccup two walk opening to his fourth frame. But, really, Corniel was in complete control. It was a dominant outing. When you are looking at the savvy and poise the combination of Rodriguez and Corniel are bringing, it is just so dang impressive given their age relative to the level of competition. I don't care about the low 90's velo's here - at all. Give me young men who know how to pitch. Such impressive seasons. Both game one and game two winners have frames and age on their side to add whatever they'll need moving forward. The future is bright. Three Quick Strikes: 1) RF Reece Walling had a game in RF. And, he was rewarded with some hits for a change. I continue to love the swing and the approach - sometimes he gets a little trigger happy with sloppy swings and misses. But, hey, for all intents and purposes this is his second professional season straight from high school. He's 20 years old. He's a smooth mover - really fluid agile mover given the 6'5" frame as demonstrated by an early leaping out at the warning track I fear no other OF'er makes. And, what I also see is the beginning of growing confidence. This is a young man to keep an eye on. Again, what I share with you here is often beyond the numbers. Walling belongs in the conversations. 2) You would 'think' with an 8-2 lead, handing the ball over to a reliever like RHP Jesus Rivero - a guy who truly has fantastic tools - would be an easy transition. Unfortunately, for Rivero, and for viewers like myself, we all had to sweat out a tense eighth frame. It's troublesome at this point. The same issues that popped up in 2023 are popping up on a semi-routine basis in 2024. So much talent. Sadly, so little control over the tools. This is his age 21 season - so, in theory, there is plenty of time on his side. But, the meltdown innings are a primary concern. 1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 WP, 1 HB. Thankfully, only one run crossed the dish. 3) When you pepper 14 hits throughout the diamond, some names definitely deserve mention. Beyond Walling, we witnessed great approaches from Pratt (shocker); Guilarte; Castillo; Briceno; and Di Turi. It felt like a matter of time - even early, with the game knotted at zeroes, we were seeing several very hard hit outs. The bats were just not getting the results. Then, we had a glorious five-run sixth frame after the Nats had pulled within 2-1. This was the type of performance we're looking for as Fanatics when the Muddies are chasing a first half crown. Let's hope for more throughout the remainder of this series. ** Special Shout Out: I need to mention the ongoing fantastic effort and game-wrecking defense we are seeing from young CF Yophery Rodriguez. It doesn't always show in the box scores but I have consistently witnessed impeccable effort on the center field grass on a nightly basis. His OF assist on a charging mound-bound cracked grounder to center, was just an all out effort play. And the throw was a dead-on accurate one-hop strike. He gave his catcher, David García (who had a fantastic defensive game himself), plenty of time to corral the ball and tag. It was beautiful. Final: DSL Padres Gold 12, DSL Brewers Uno 1 Box Score / Game Log Before going further here, let me share: red hot infielders Jesus Made and Luis Pena sat this one out. And, this being said, this game was entirely about a collective pitching meltdown for the young DSL Brewers Uno. It truly is not all that often you concede a mere four hits over just seven innings of baseball and give up 12 earned runs. So, how were they earned? Well, 14 BB; 3 WP; 2 Balks and 3 HBP seemed to have played no small part. That's an impressive display - even for the DSL. Unfortunately, it continues to be a very rude introduction for young RHP Francisco Guevara. If you recall, he was signed last summer but spent the entirety of the summer inactive on a '7-Day IL' designation - he never pitched an inning in 2023. He's appeared only twice so far in 2024 but he is having a very rough go. In just two appearances, including today, he has not gotten a single out and has given up 2 H, 6 BB, 2 HB, and 8 ER. Let's hope he turns a corner shortly and finds a groove. Thankfully, 18-year-old Colombian RHP Danny Puerta managed to stop the bleeding with a relatively clean 1 H inning to close the seventh and final inning. As I noted in today's Game Thread, INF Juan Ortuno may be making a quick case for more PT in the near-term. The just turned 17-year-old Venezuelan infielder was 2-for-3 today with his second two-bagger. Ortuno now has five knocks in just 11 AB's with two doubles. Also showing keen discipline and eye early (albeit, yes, in a very small sample): 3 BB: 2 K. This might be a peripheral development on a DSL Uno squad dominated by big name signings performing to the hype. That's a wrap for me in another bit of early-week Brewers Minor League coverage. I wish all the squads the best of luck and winning results throughout the remainder of this week. Tomorrow, we'll be back to a classic seven-game set of games. Both DSL squads will take to the diamond for their morning knocks. All full-season affiliates and the ACL Crew will be taking to the diamonds as night falls. I'm personally looking for playoff performances from RHP's K.C. Hunt and Yorman Galindez. Let's keep lowering those Magic Numbers, baby! As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 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

A first pitch ground out to 2B. That's all she wrote. Another Shuckers loss when I tune in. It's uncanny. 😅 All 8 games decided by 2 runs. Shuckers trail the series 2-6.

2-2 Blooper flare to center LF. EBJ Has reached base four times tonight. Fantastic. This result, regardless of what happens here, means ALL 8 games between the Smokies and Shuckers to date in 2024 have been decided by 2 runs or less. Ernesto to the dish. 8-6 game. Men on the corners.

Miller just got HBP for the Double-A leading 11th time - not shocking for Miller. We have two men on. 8-5 game. EBJ (already with a long ball tonight) to the dish. Two down. Bottom of the 9th.

In a quiet moment - to myself at muh locker as I clean the mud off my cleats - I whisper: "Maybe it's a good thing RHP Quinton Low is on the IL during the first half? Maybe I couldn't take another Wild Man?!?"

The Mudcats MAGIC NUMBER IS 3. Hellllllo baby. I can taste that first half title. LET'S GO!!

Man, I watch Danny Ceretti covering ground and just putting on gold glove displays inning-after-inning at the hot corner for the Whitecaps. All I can think is the Brewers haven't had a guy play defense like that @ 3B in the affiliated scene since...? He's incredible. Meanwhile, Adams throwing balls to unknown destinations at any moment. I am jealous. LOL. Anyhow, T-Rats go down with a whimper tonight. 4-1 Loss.

With Cedar Rapids leading and the T-Rats with a rare meltdown of execution on the defensive side of the ball is certainly looking like they won't reduce their Magic Number tonight.

Smith is the real Ace on the Shuckers pitching staff. That's my Take. I stand by it. He's also a pitcher that's actually developing. And, developing in a huge way.

AND, what other than another throwing error from Adams at 3B. trying to force an out at Home plate. There was no play there either. Just silly. Sibrian - oh my sweet sweet Prince - then takes 2B because of the throwing error. Just another stupid defensive decision in an inning suddenly filled with them.

I will also say: neither Rodriguez nor Rivero are getting any benefit of the doubt on borderline strikes. They have each thrown a few. Not getting any of the calls whatsoever. AND, for some inexplicable reason, Vargas throws the ball to 3B on a perfect hit-and-run and allows the runner to advance to 2B. That ball has to go to 2B. There's absolutely zero play at third. Silly silly mistake. Can't do that. Men on 2nd and 3rd. Two down. I would opine Rodriguez struck that batter out.

Another full count after he misses just off the inside of the plate. Garcia can't squeeze the pop fly behind home plate. Gotta get to that ball for your struggling pitcher, David! Not easy but it hung long enough to get there. Ooof. Full count again. Oh WOW. Diaz snags a hard hit liner down the 1B line and grabs the DP by beating the runner back to the bag. Whew. 8-2. Nothing doing. LOL.

I've got Yerlin Rodriguez throwing balls to the back stop on one screen. I've got Rivero throwing balls everywhere on the other. This is something. Jeebus.

BUllpen is warming up. Mound visit. They are trying to let Durow warm up. Rivero has the body language of a guy who can't locate his own clothes. ANother rough rough rough outing for the young hurler as his season goes South. Let's see if he can at least recover and get out of this mess.

Walke them full. Be cause, of course. 2 WP. 1 HBP. A single. 2 BB. One down. Why is the batter swinging on his first pitch there? Sometimes I wonder.

LOL. I was just thinking this same thing. He's so utterly unreliable at present. Like Miz, you literally never know what's coming to home plate. So frustrating. So many tools. Absolutely no control of his arsenal.

Rivero comes on with an 8-1 lead and proceeds to do bad Rivero things. Gets a groundout. Then plunks a batter. Then gives up a single to CF. Now he throws a pitch in the dirt and to the backstop. Runners advance to 2nd and 3rd. So many innate skills. So little control of his toolkit. 2-2 count. Let's see what he does here. Inside high and in heater. Full count. Walks him on another wild pitch. This young man can be so utterly frustrating to watch. Just so little control of his arsenal on any given outing.

I mean, it depends how you view his season to date. I personally feel his entire season but for a handful of sequential innings has been largely a disappointment. I don't personally see the #1 Brewers prospect in 2024. He is an implosion outing like this, again in my personal opinion, on any given night. It's a really sad turn of events. I came into this season looking for real momentum and real building blocks after his arrival on the scene in 2023. He's regressed in Biloxi. And, well, let's be honest: lots of players have regressed measurably on that Biloxi team. Something is going on in the water down there.

Castillo having a nice night at the dish. Some real quality insurance run AB's. You love to see it.

Meanwhile, Pratt with another poke knock liner to CF. I can not tell you how much I love watching him play baseball. He is just such a fantastic player.

Rund facing some early trouble in the 7th. Walked the first batter. 3-0 to the next hitter. THis is unlike Rund. Let's hope he digs deep. Back-to-back free passes. Gulp. Two men on. Nobody down. Mound counsel.