Joseph Zarr

It's always darkest before the dawn. I truly hope Middendorf finds his joy again and, should he stay in baseball, that wizardry from back in 2022 when he was signed out of the Indy circuit and made his way from the ACL Brewers up to Biloxi and then pitched well in the AFL even getting the final out in the Championship game. He fell off considerably the last season plus. I hope he finds what he is looking for wherever he may land. An incredible story regardless of the end result with the Brewers.

Well, the Mudcats still use Greg Young's voice over in many of their in game broadcast adverts. I am entirely unsurprised. They are a Low-A bootstrap op - and, hey, Chris might be in charge of that very thing or an intern😅

Many of us already know of RHP Lucas Erceg's ongoing journey with sobriety. Jeff Passan adds another wrinkle as he shares a depiction of his recent visits with a correction facility in Boonville, Missouri. Worth the read.

This is huge. Absolutely love Chris Edwards on the mic. He is a boon to the current Mudcats experience and am truly grateful he'll be going ahead and staying on with the Warbirds.

Image courtesy of Brewers Fanatic Transactions: OF Pedro Ibarguen has been assigned to the ACL Brewers from the Carolina Mudcats C Nick Kahle was transferred to the Development List by the Nashville Sounds RHP Tobias Myers was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers RHP Carlos Rodriguez was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds RHP Chad Patrick was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers Final: Nashville 7, Louisville (Reds) 5 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): Nashville Slugs Their Way Past Louisville - Sounds Hit Four Home Runs in 7-5 Game Two Win Box Score/Game Log Game Notes Take heart Brewers fans: the Sounds recently suffered an eight game skid including a six game sweep at their Home park at the hands of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Two series later? They're up 2-0 at Home versus the Louisville Bats. Baseball is a game that often defies logic. The Brewers are going to be just fine. Trust me. It's a game of runs and spurts and crazy samples. Take LF Daz Cameron. He was the absolute lifeblood during the Sounds late first half charge. He's been phenomenal as a key bat for the Sounds since his acquisition. Tonight? 0-for-4, 4 K and he was seen entering the dugout with a golden sombrero. LHP Tate Kuehner certainly wasn't as effective in his second Triple-A start. 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 5 ER. Yeah, it was a struggle. 98 pitches needed over those 4 1/3 IP - 60 landed for strikes. I've seen this from Kuehner at every level with the Brewers. He very much bobs and weaves his way to finding how his stuff plays at each successive level. This is the test this talented 24-year-old lefty needs to end his season with meaningful feedback for his upcoming off-season. He was solid in his debut. He hiccuped in his second outing. Remember, Kuehner didn't even have a strikeout until his third Double-A start to begin 2025. He is very much a hot and cold arm. Let's hope he heats up after this one. Personally, I think Kuehner can benefit greatly from two of the lefty vets in the current Sounds pitching stables in Maciejewski and Zimmerman. Lean into their experience young man and see what you can glean to add wrinkles to your already plus stuff. Three Quick Strikes: 1) DH Rhys Hoskins hit his first rehab long ball. It was a sight for sore eyes (just as that early CF camera was sore on our eyes): We all know the Brewers will benefit greatly to have Hoskins' bat as an option off the bench or in a first base rotation. To think otherwise would be a bit silly I think. Our beloved Pat Murphy is going to welcome this veteran back with open arms. 2) 2B Ethan Murray went 2-for-4 with 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR and 1 K. That's right, he hit his first Triple-A HR. After the long ball and the 0.500 BA on the evening suddenly his Triple-A work is a palatable 0.219 BA with a 0.668 OPS. That's the way to get back into the swing of things. This sample is too small to glean any real meaning at this new level of challenge for Murray but it's always wonderful to see a talented player claw their way back into providing real meaning in the line up. 3) 3B Raynel Delgado followed last night's cycle with a 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR evening. CF Drew Avans managed a 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 K evening himself in the nine-hole extending his hitting streak to 11 games if I'm not mistaken (I am not - I read the post-game article linked above). However, let's hone in on the red hot rehabbing 1B Jake Bauers who continues to showcase how good the really good AAAA/MLB players are. Bauers hasn't cracked a full-time regular playing gig in the majors and he hasn't done it with the Brewers. But, he sure provides quality play when he is in the rotation. He has pop, obviously, as indicated in tonight's 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 K, 1 HR outing would suggest. But, with Bauers in particular, I always love to hone in on the acumen he provides defensively at first base. He is an incredibly underrated defender at the position - I would personally call him a plus defender; a far cry better than both Vaughn and Hoskins. This play will serve as tonight's example: Special shout out to RHP Blake Holub and his 1 2/3 IP of 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 R work. With that work he picked up his second win of his season and improved to 2-2 overall. There's a bevy of things to look over in that Sounds box score - including the 15 strike outs for the Sounds bats Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 6, Biloxi 3 Box Score/Game Log Hunt Turns in Strong Start in Shuckers Loss to Lookouts - Pratt, Wood, Burke All Extend Hit Streaks Game Notes RHP KC Hunt's final line reads 6.0 IP of 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 2 ER work. The wild pitch plated the second run, unfortunately. He struck out the very next batter. As I noted in the night's game thread: the change-up appeared to be getting the most stares. The cutter was also impactful in the swing and miss department. Unfortunately, there was no run support and the bullpen ultimately faded late. In what has been a wildly erratic 2025 season for last year's co-pitcher of the year organizational award winner, this is a welcome sight regardless of the final outcome. Three Quick Strikes: 1) DH Cooper Pratt is indeed hot once again. We had last week's three homer power surge. Tonight, in a 3-for-5, 1 2B performance, we had another ripped pull shot. This particular 102 mph double caromed high off the Keesler Federal Park left field wall: Unfortunately, given the way the Shuckers bats were performing all night, he was stranded. But, the bigger story in the development arc here is the power surge and the rising average and OPS. Consecutive multi-hit games after last week's road performance is very noteworthy. Let's keep this going! 2) 1B Blake Burke had a fairly frustrated 1-for-5, 1 K evening at the dish. He also had some unlucky action at the first base bag - dropping SS Eduardo Garcia's near web gem stab and cross-body throw is one he surely would like to have back. Just off the tip of his webbing while he lunged up line and it certainly seemed like the runner would have been out. And, this being said, I'm still going to shine a light yet again on how his defense as a whole remains undervalued as do his smarts on the baseball diamond. Check out this absurd play on a an attempted sacrifice bunt: That is an absurdly good play from a big fast moving man! That also greatly helped Hunt keep his earned run damage at the minimum two. 3) Shoutout to RHP Nick 'Large Mammal' Merkel whose parents were in town - out from my neck of the woods in Washington State, no less. He struck out his first two batters faced. Go supportive parents! Unfortunately, that was the last of the shutdown bullpen work out of the Shuckers Pen. RHP Kaleb Bowman had a lot of traffic on the base paths and surrendered a solo home run. He escaped a bases loaded jam as well. I hadn't seen Bowman that out of sorts in quite some time - a testament to the season he's had as a whole. RHP Austin Roberts let things get away when the Lookouts managed four singles scoring three runs. That proved to be the final difference. Final: Wisconsin 7, Beloit (Marlins) 5 Box Score/Game Log Rattlers Bounce Back with Win at Beloit - Rodriguez's Gem Paved the Way for Game Two Victory Game Notes Firstly, shout out to the Sky Carp's Josh Flickinger. It's not often, well, honestly, it's never when an opposing team's broadcast booth shouts out Brewer Fanatic; @Spencer Michaelis; and myself in the early going. I nearly choked on my beverage I was so shocked. That was truly a memorable moment. Josh may work for the Marlins - and, hey, he's truly a fantastic High-A call - but he very clearly shares a passion for Wisconsin sports. It's a shame he and Spencer weren't able to share the booth a bit on Tuesday. Surely, that conversation would have been fantastic. RHP Manuel Rodriguez bounced back from his recent long ball woes in a major way. I haven't seen Rodriguez this dominant since his days of Low-A last season. It's incredible to watch a young man sitting 88-89 mph and absolutely blowing balls by bats. Tonight, the name of the game was movement. His pitches were moving and shaking from pitch one. I could tell in the first inning - facing the first batter really - his stuff was moving at a different level. His final line of 5.0 IP of 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 R work absolutely tells the tale. The only thing that would have made his evening more dominant would have been putting batters away earlier in counts. 94 pitches and 55 strikes. If you've never seen Rodriguez pitch this is the outing to dream on. When his off-speed toolkit is dipping and fading like it was tonight, everything opens up in terms of what type of pitcher he could become at higher levels of play. This was as Maddux-esque as I've ever seen him. If you can, go back and watch the tape. You won't regret it. Three Quick Strikes: 1) This just in. There are reasons why SS Jesus Made is considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball. A night like tonight, yes even with the misplay on a routine grounder that led to a fielding and a throwing error, he showcased elite upside. The ball got to first base with urgency throughout. The movement skills were showcased with his first stolen base and beating out a 96 mph hard hit DP grounder directly to the second baseman. And, his innate power was showcased via a two-run 106 mph pull shot off a dipping inside slider over the right field wall: I mean, that's an MLB hit right there. That's a man's golf shot. My goodness. 2) DH Josh Adamczewksi's first High-A poke was a line drive single back up the middle right side off former first rounder RHP Noble Meyer. Hats off to the high school phenoms. It was nice to see Adamczewski rewarded for a good approach in both games since his call-up. 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI. He was in the clean-up spot yet again. Not bad for a 15th rounder out of Indiana. #LetGingerCook 3) 3B Andrew Fischer has four stolen bases in four attempts already in his brief High-A career. He swiped another tonight and, honestly, he beat the throw by a good couple steps. I did not know he had this much get up and go in his bag. He is still searching for his power stroke at this current level. He is still finding his timing. 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K. That's 5 K through two games in the early going of this series. That's also 9 K after 28 PA's. We'll obviously want to look back at these numbers come, say, 100 plus PA's. None the less, that's a lot of current swing and miss for a player considered to be the best hitter in college baseball this past season. Final: Salem (Red Sox) 4, Carolina 2 Box Score/Game Log Sixth Inning Rally Sends Salem Past Mudcats - Mudcats Waste Early Opportunities and Strand 13 Men on Base Game Notes Two storylines carry the Mudcats post-game sentiments. Firstly, the ongoing effectiveness and savvy of one LHP Enderson Mercado is a thing. 5.0 IP of 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K work. 73 pitches and 46 strikes. Mercado makes a living on the edges of the zone - both sides and below - as a dominant tactic. He doesn't wow with velocity but he's a lefty who locates. In Low-A, that's a winning recipe. The second storyline is the 2 1/3 IP of RHP Griffin Tobias. I am near certain Tobias blew out his throwing elbow. I've seen this same reaction from a Brewers pitcher multiple times over the past two seasons. It hurts every time I see it and I can only imagine what Tobias is going through in this very moment. As I indicated in the night's game thread HERE, if you want to take a look for yourself it happened at 4:02:31 on the replay. Tobias was let down by his defense on numerous occasion throughout his outing - I felt for him. Balls were getting hit hard, yes, but it felt like his tough luck outing was compounded in the worst way when his arm gave out. We'll have to wait and hear word in the days ahead. I don't have high hopes with this one, sadly. A 2 1/3 IP of 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 4 ER body of work to end a season injured leaves a bitter taste. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Just one evening after I called CF Josiah Ragsdale a consummate Brewer - small stature, contact hitter, little bit of speed - he goes out and hits 4-for-5 with 1 RBI. It's early, obviously, but Ragsdale is very much the part of a slap and contact hitter to the opposite field. He hits with reaction and quick wrists. As a connoisseur of all types of baseball styles - the various ways a hitter can get on base - I find it quite entertaining. He did mis-step slightly forward on the first two out double hit past Ragsdale in center field. A better read likely makes that play. 2) LF Handelfry Encarnacion misplayed a deep fly to the left field warning track miserably during RHP Griffin Tobias' second inning of work. I don't know if he lost the ball in the lights or if he is simply uncomfortable in left field. It gave me a little too much OF Luis Castillo vibes for my liking, however. Encarnacion also hit another pull rocket double down into the right field corner. That's two doubles in two games at Salem. 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 K on his evening. Baby steps for a young man with a baby face. My goodness, I'm almost 50 years old and Handelfry will still be 18 years old until June of next year. This is a very young player. 3) SS Brady Ebel's second game was not as enticing as his first. The same pure swing, yes. But, he was also out front of several off-speed offerings in his 0-for-4, 2 K outing. He also would like to have his charged fielding error back. He mis-stepped and literally ate a handful of dirt as he saw the ball come out of his glove during a face plant into the middle infield. Despite the lack of an ostensible positive impression within the game logs, I can avow to you dear readers after just eight AB's: Ebel has a natural line drive to opposite fields swing in that beautiful lefty bat. I don't know what we ultimately have here but I do know I like the visuals - if that makes sense. LHP Wande Torres will look to rebound after a hiccup his last time on the bump. RHP Tanner Gillis will look to rebound as well after a slight regression versus Great Lakes just last week. RHP Garrett Stallings will look to keep his solid season humming along as the Sounds take a 2-0 series lead into game three versus the Bats tomorrow night. And, in Biloxi, trailing 0-2 overall to Chattanooga, RHP Brett Wichrowski will look to boost his team to a victory. 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

C Matt Wood has thrown out 30% (29.68% to be exact) of Southern League base runners. This is an unreal development. 19 CS. 45 SB. Juxtapose this to 37 SB. 6 CS. At Wisconsin. SO, to @wiguy94's point about C Marco Dinges last week...let's wait until he gets to Double-A?

Ethan Murray hit his first Triple-A homer in a 2-for-4 evening. Atta way, Ethan! Game-tying poke at that point, no less.

Handelfry smoked another double to the RF corner. This time in the 9th with Ragsdale aboard 1B. Somehow Ragsdale didn't score - likely because he absolutely scorched that ball. He's held at 3B. Men on 2nd and 3rd. Two down. Anderson to the dish. Muddies trail 4-2. 2-0 count. He pops up sky high to 2B. Ugh. 4-2 Muddies lose and they risk losing their division lead.

This is the roughest Bo Bowman relief outing I've seen in some time. And, yet, he works around the lead off bomb to RF by inducing the inning ending DP with the bases loaded. Could have been a lot worse. Shuckers trail 3-0 late.

The good thing about winning 14 games in a row is it gives you a 9 Game division lead headed to your division rival's place. The Cubs have a ton of talent and are a very good baseball team. No shame in losing three straight - if some things bounced the Brewers way? They'd be up 3-1. This is baseball. We lead the division by 6.0 G today. Lotta season left. Let's see where the chips fall. Even if we lose tomorrow? I promise you all the sky is not falling.

Man, things went from bad to worse for young RHP Griffin Tobias. With one down after seeing a hard hit gapper fall for a triple in right CF. In a 2-0 count at 4:02:31 on the replay time clock it certainly appears as though Tobias blew out his throwing elbow. He knew it. It was immediate. Man, hurt me!

C Matt Wood guns down another runner trying to swipe 2B. What a development.

The Mudcats have been the beneficiary of two blown CS calls in favor of the Mudcats at 2B. Both runners appeared to be out. Both called safe. Doesn't matter. Payne K's with the runner on third on a pitch low, away, and bounced in the dirt. Sighs. So many sighs. Lefty on lefty. Still a poor swing decision.

AND, why can't you do that? Because Yerlin will walk the next batter in five pitches. 😅. Folks, I wouldn't be laughing if hadn't experienced this exact scene - a repeat story - at least 10 times over the past two seasons. None the less, Yerlin does get the 2-2 DP on the next pitch. Nice quick toss to 2B by Peña. Even better gather and rocket to 1B by Made.

We'll call it 'The Yerlin Effect'. Made gets a tailor made ground ball right to him for the step on 2B DP. He botches the collect - may have taken a sharp high late hop up into his body. He rushes to 2B and seeing he won't get there he throws wildly and wide of 1B instead. That is like a fielding and throwing error all in One. When you have 'Wild Thing' on the bump that really can't happen. Sigh. No room for error with Yerlin. Men on the corners now. Nobody out.

SO, we got a WP and a four pitch free pass right off the bat. We are at 2. Will we reach double digits?!?

I kid you not my dear friends: First pitch absolutely over jacked and whipped wide and to the backstop. We might hit double digits. That's as Yerlin a beginning as there is to any outing. This young man. 😅

Yerlin comes aboard. How many combined WP/HB/BB will we see tonight?

Bauers just went yard to RF. Noice! The rehabbers doing good things in Nashville.

My gods. Holguin, who has been playing fantastic D all series, over runs a routine foul pop fly down 3B territory. LOL. This sixth inning is a quagmire for this Mudcats defense. Mis steps. Misplays. And now over running bloop foul pop outs with your pitcher struggling. 3-2 count on the very next pitch. Holguin manages to track the next foul pop by the dugout. 3-2 the Muddies trail headed to the 7th. They will rue there many missed opportunities with men on base earlier in the game.

Meanwhile, after leading 7-0 in the 7th I am knee deep in a classic 2025 RHP Patricio Aquino experience. One out. Line drive single to CF scores another. It's 7-3. This is the type of season he has absolutely had.

Here is where it lands. Directly behind him back and to his left and below that broom/brush on the black and white sign in the dirt. Like where did he lose it?😅

Yeah, Ragsdale took two false quick steps in on the liner and couldn't recover. That ball was roped, however. He needed to immediately go toward the wall so it landed past him. BUT, the real misplay in that inning was from LF Handelfry Encarnacion. He was absolutely eaten up and turned around at a ball that bounced at the foot of the wall in the warning track dirt. He was there. Had plenty of time to get to it. Went the wrong way to track the ball. Stepped forward a few steps and watched it land behind him to his left. Brutal play. That's the third out and Tobias is out of the inning and the Muddies lead 2-1. Instead...it's 2-2 and another man is aboard. Here is where he stops when tracking the ball.

Made beats out a 95 mph tailor made DP ball grounder to 2B. The man has some absolute jets. No business beating that ball. He did so comfortably by a step or two.