Joseph Zarr

The Nasvhille Sounds are back on the road (not their Home series versus Durham had any home 'cooking' - sighs) to face the Indianapolis Indians. We see 1B Rowdy Tellez is taking the start at first to begin his rehab work. INF Abraham Toro moves over to 2B with Dorrian manning SS and Black back at 3B. RHP Caleb Boushley will be back on the hill trying to help his team move past their 2-4 series loss at Home to the Durham Bulls.

The Carolina Mudcats are back at Five County Stadium hoping to preserve their 5.0 G lead in their push for the second half crown. They are taking on the last place Delmarva Shorebirds who have been a thorn in their side throughout 2023. INF Luke Adams gets the night off - he is replaced by talented INF Jadher Areinamo at 3B. Tayden Hall is back at 1B while Jesus Chirinos will look to keep his hot bat swinging as the DH. RHP Alexander Vallecillo (1-2, 39 2/3 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) will look to shut things down from the hill.

- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers sent RHP Joseph Hernandez to the ACL Brewers for a Rehab assignment. (Hernandez last pitched back on May 25th - 3 1/3 innings @ Cedar Rapids. You all might remember his name from the RHP Justin Topa trade.)

Bump. Pour one out for Señor Reyes: Yes Sir!

Just did a quick peak (for those interested) at INF Jhonny Severino's brief work with the FCL Pirates (post-Santana trade). It would appear they are playing him solely at 3B to start things. He's played in 3 G so far. 1 E and graded with a 0.750 FP% - on an identical pace to what we saw with the ACL Crew. He clearly hit the new turf just as comfy at the dish: 10 AB, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2 SB, 0 CS, 0.300 BA, 0.964 OPS. We wish you well, Mr. Severino. Best of luck the rest of your season and beyond!

They grow up so big. So quick.

3G, 11 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 BB. He's played ever game at 2B. In his third outing, he was shifted to 3B in the 6th inning after (sniffles) INF Pablo Reyes shifted to 2B to accommodate a PH and defensive re-alignment. Reyes, as expected, has done admirably all season long as a call-up and utility guy. I miss him in Nashville and the Brewers organization.

RHP Peter Strzelecki has been assigned to the PCL West 1st Place Reno Aces and has taken on a set-up role in his brief tenure there - 2 G, 2 IP, 1 BB, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K. Keep it up Mr. Strzelecki. We're rooting for your continued success.

I don't know if any of y'all have been following the fantastic season of RHP Justin Topa but out this way it's a bit easier to keep tabs on the West Coast teams (obvious reasons). He's been a primary 7th and 8th inning guy for the Mariners. His big development this season has been control - only 11 BB in 44 IP out of the Mariners bullpen. 1.16 WHIP on the season w/ a very healthy 2.45 ERA. 39 K in 44 IP - not crushing with K's, it would appear, but more than holding his own. 17 Holds. 2 SV (3 SVO). 0.241 OBA / 0.289 OOBP / 0.602 OOPS. Just really happy for him. A really solid ongoing 'prove it' season for his future MLB career.

BUMP. Big Jon has been killing it for the Space Cowboys. And, it would appear he is on the possible precipice of his second call-up in 2023! More HERE: Astros Option Corey Julks; Jon Singleton Promotion Under Consideration WOOT WOOT!!!

- Nashville Sounds OF Tyler Naquin was traded to the Chicago White Sox organization for 'Cash'. More HERE. Key tidbit:

It would appear one of the promotions we've all been waiting for has happened. I expect INF Tyler Black will see the majority of his work at 1B. And, that may explain the sudden shift recently in Biloxi - the Sounds have zero true 1B on their roster. Black will fit right in with Hiura and Toro trying their best to fill that void. Thanks to @wibadgers23for the following:

Yikes. Not a good look.

Family Night Observations: I remain befuddled by how the Packers as an organization and the local stations covering Family Night. 73K people there. International fan base. Had to randomly find the stream in Twitch? Repeatedly cutting away to commercials in team portions? Lame. After an over-amped overthrowing beginning to his practice, J Love was fantastic. He has such a good arm. He looked natural in the pocket (I know, doesn't mean much under fake live fire) WR Malik Heath looks like something. He really does. The off-season hype appears real. WR Jayden Reed looks like something TE Luke Musgrave is going to be a big problem for opposing defenses. I hope hope hope he stays healthy. RB Tyler Goodson appeared to get the predominant amount of 3rd team RB reps K Anders Carlson was very good. 8-of-9. Several 50 yd + boots. The lone miss was a terrible snap and a bad timing play. He appears to have plenty of leg to hit 55 yarders - something I definitely can't say about late 30's Mason Crosby C Josh Myers continues to have problems. I am pretty sure there have been five miscue snaps/exchanges throughout TC and he has been the C for all of them? He misfired an early snap to J-Love in an 11-on-11 period. A classic case of a Center snapping when the QB is getting the motion man going and was completely unawares. Not drafting C Creed Humphrey continues to haunt the Packers as they fell prey to their stubborn requirements over a clearly more talented player. S Jonathan Owens again started and played with the Ones DL Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden were in the backfield quite a bit with the back-ups. DL Devontae Wyatt continues to flash That's about all I saw. Curious if anyone else tuned in and saw other things.

This is very very well deserved. Wilson has been fantastic for Lehigh Valley in 2023: 25 long balls (!!), 0.885 OPS, 25 SB (6 CS). All the shades of his first Triple-A work with Nashville in 2021 but with more PA's. So happy for Wilson - a truly versatile and talented baseball player.

That RHP Nick Merkel story is the Sauce. That is why I follow these young men. Their stories are so inspiring. What a journey for that young man. Thanks for sharing, Jim. That was a great use of a portion of my Sunday morning. Also, huge shoutout to Mudcats bullpen coach Jorge Ortega. Merkel credits him for working over his slider in 2023. Seeing the ongoing results from that Mudcats bullpen all season long, it is quite apparent he is a jewel in the Brewers org coaching ranks.

They are talented. But, a lot of their talent is having down or very inconsistent years. They've had their moments recently but they were also getting insane run production from their bats. Losing RHP Harold Chirinos was a big loss. RHP Cam Robinson has been very solid now in recent SVO's. That's a big development considering how far South his year had turned. The problem is, you just don't know what you're getting from literally any bullpen arm on any given night. That's a hard road to travel. AND, yet, they still hold a 3.0 G lead in their division for the 2nd half. Pensacola is essentially a non-factor because they already won the 1st half (currently tied with the Wahoos in the 2nd half). But, the bullpen is their Achilles' heel. Just as scoring runs is the Brewers. It is what it is.

After a sharp ground out to 3B off the bat of Freddy Zamora, Ethan Murray gets the classic weak dribbler infield single to 3B. Tristen Lutz to the dish. Two down. He strikes out on a 2-2 off-speed pitch. Shuckers lose 4-3. The bullpen fails to hold it late...the offense couldn't get another across.

Zavi Warren just missed a HR to RF by about 6-9'. That ball need a bit more launch. Fly out to the deep warning track of right CF.

Middy gets away with the wild pitch and gets the groundout to Zamora at SS. On to the 8th. 4-3 Wahoos.

Weekly?😬

Middendorf just gave up a near 2-run jack to RF. Instead it was a two out rbi double. Wahoos lead 4-3. That ball was roped.

Middendorf will come back out for the bottom of the 7th.

Rodriguez K, Chourio fly out to CF, Collins BB, Clarke pop out to 3B. On to the bottom half of the 7th. 3-3.

RHP Ryan Middendorf is called to clean Vennaro's men on base. He does so inducing the grounder to Zamora at SS. On to the 7th. 3-3 ball game.