Joseph Zarr

Now that failed relief acquisition project RHP Matt Bush is back with the Rangers, I'm just here to remind us all of LHP Antoine Kelly's relief work this July for the Rangers' Double-A affiliate the Frisco RoughRiders: 8 G 9.0 IP 1 SVO 1 SV 4 H 1 BB 10 K 0 ER 0.129 BAA 0.56 WHIP

-RHP Pedro Fernandez has been activated by the Nashville Sounds (he had been on the Development List)

Yes, we're counting the Big League Brewers in our 5-0 count. How sweet it is. This just in hot off the presses: days like this should remind us all the Brewers organization as a whole is really quite good at doing this professional baseball thing. Remember this wisdom when we inevitably experience our game-to-game frustrations. The macro view is much much better than we've been told across the baseball media universe. Much much better. Let's look at these Minor League affiliated victories and get into this report! Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers Game Balls: RHP Shane Smith continues to excel out of the bullpen at any level. Just stellar results in typically very high leverage situations. He has allowed 1 run over 25 1/3 IP since late May between Low-A and High-A. He is no longer just a hard thrower. He is showing very gutsy off-speed offerings as well - including the in-season evolution of a really nasty slider/cutter offering. Be very excited about this young relief arm! INF Eduardo Garcia gets the nod here (more below). His first game back since July 6th was a really good one at the dish. Congrats to you, young man. Your clutch long ball was much needed in the comeback effort. RHP Caleb Boushley gets the nod for his fantastic outing of work giving his team an opportunity to build a lead. 6 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 ER on the evening. His teammates responded in kind. INF Freddy Zamora gets the nod here for atoning for his 9th inning error in a big way by hitting the 9th inning walk-off - a bloop liner to shallow right center field. It was a crucial piece of hitting in a tough moment by fighting off a tough pitch in a winning way. Well finish by recognizing INF Luis Urías who showed signs of life at the dish - much needed (for me, let's be honest) given his sluggish start to his re-assignment. 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K. Transactions: INF Abraham Toro was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds OF Eduqarqui Fernandez was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers INF Eduardo Garcia was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Final: Nashville 5, Norfolk (Orioles) 3 - game called due to rain after 6 2/3 inningsBox Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Take Rain-Shortened Win Over Tides Three Quick Strikes: 1) Not to be lost in recognizing Urías work at the plate above is the fine work of 1B Keston Hiura at the dish. He hit an opposite field long ball early for the Sounds first hit of the game. He smacked a line drive single into center field as well. Hard contact abound. This was all quite nice to see after yesterday's silly quick ejection. 2) The game of baseball is so often a result of maximizing on opportunities when they present themselves. The Sounds managed a 3-for-6 output with RISP. The Tides were a fairly woeful 2-for-10. That 50% to 20% execution was meaningful to the end result. This is mostly a credit to RHP Caleb Boushley's ability to execute pitches in key spots. His quality start meant all the marbles as the late bullpen work of RHP Peter Strzelecki and LHP Alex Claudio felt quite inauspicious before the clouds really opened and a deluge commenced. 3) Speaking of Claudio, the veteran lefty really needs to re-group after stumbling through a very rough July. Given his tenured work as a reliever, he gets the benefit of the doubt here - especially after pitching so well for the Sounds through June. But, there is definitely work to be done. After tonight's outing, we see the following collective output: 8 G, 5 2/3 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 6 ER. That's a 9.53 ERA with a 2.57 WHIP. Batters are hitting him to the tune of 0.429 collectively in mid-summer. Let's get back to what was working before, shall we? Final: Biloxi 5, Birmingham (White Sox) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Zamora Single Gives Biloxi a 5-4 Walk-Off Win over Birmingham With tonight's walk-off victory (the 5th walk-off win for the Shuckers in 2023), the Shuckers moved to 13-10 in the second half just 1.0 GB of first place Pensacola. It was a thrilling victory after a very disappointing top half of the ninth where, I would argue, RHP Ryan Brady was robbed of his first save on a blown call on what would have been a game-ending K (See more HERE ). Credit is due to the team, however, as they didn't let the tying result phase them. RHP Christian Mejias was actually cruising through 4 IP but ran into a little bit of trouble in his fifth and final frame. He still managed to escape with the 3-2 Shuckers lead. Kudos to him for doing so and kudos to him for ending the remaining threat (men on the corners with two down) by striking out his final batter. His final line reads: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 HR. Mejias has been up-and-down as a starter for manager Mike Guerrero and his staff but he's had many outings just like this as well where he's given his teammates everything they need for a meaningful chance at victory. Three Quick Strikes: 1) It was the INF Zavier Warren and INF Isaac Collins show early. Collins was getting on base. Warren was knocking across the runs. The two young men accounted for all three of the early runs. Let's take a look at this easy swing on an off-speed pitch tailing inside but sitting belt high. Golf shot liner here: 2) CF Jackson Chourio is so much more than a lethal weapon at the dish. He's taken last year's gold glove winning defense to new heights in 2023. Just watch the athletic tools on display - the balance, the agility, and the speed - to make this ridiculously difficult catch in the deep gap of far away left center field: That is a ridiculously difficult play on many levels. He is such a special special talent, folks. Let's enjoy the ride. 3) I alluded to the blown called strike three robbing RHP Ryan Brady of his first Double-A save above. However, when he was pulled for RHP Cam Robinson the Shuckers still led 4-2. As has been so often the case in 2023, however, things tend to not come easy for this talented Shuckers squad. INF Freddy Zamora botched a weakly hit grounder (his 14th error of 2023) - charging and to his right but extremely makable - and RHP Cam Robinson then gave up a two-run chopper up the middle infield and into the CF grass under the glove of diving 2B Isaac Collins. It was suddenly a 4-4 ball game. It's a testament to Robinson he shut things down from there. It's a testament to the team they walked it off in the next half inning. But, those gaffes were also a testament to how how hard it can be for the Shuckers to cross the finish line. We certainly won't complain about winning - ever. But, sheeesh, it sure would be nice if they made it easier on us fans on a more consistent basis?. Final: Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 7 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the T-Rats' site, game details, please visit and review: Wisconsin Erases 7-0 Deficit to Beat Cedar Rapids 8-7 Full Game Highlights: Post-Game Podcast: T-Rats Talks: 1) He plays chess, he speaks four languages, he has the best laugh and the best smile on the T-Rats and he's on an absolute tear at the dish. Read up on enigmatic and enthralling 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. HERE 2) Meet new T-Rats pitching coach (2023) Josh Spence who played professionally for 12 different teams in 11 different leagues (!!) HERE We had seen a much improved RHP Cameron Wagoner in June. We saw his best outing of his 2023 season in his last start at Dayton (5 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 8 K). Today, sadly, was a step in the wrong direction. Where we go from here, I don't know, but it's definitely back to the drawing board for the young man. After an opening strikeout, Wagoner struggled with control. Ultimately, he only lasted a mere 2/3 IP - 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 5 ER, 1 2B, 1 HR. He struggled through 37 pitches but it wasn't a total loss with the two punch outs. If RHP Miguel Guerrero doesn't give up a two-run shot himself in immediate relief, Wagoner only sees four cross the dish and it's perhaps tossed aside as a classic 'He just didn't have his accuracy.' outing. This should take nothing away from Guerrero's total effort which was really really good - 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 HR. It is really nice to see Guerrero find some High-A success after last year's struggles and re-assignment to Carolina. He's earned this opportunity in every sense of the word. Keep trucking young man. When all was said and done, the T-Rats gained a game back from the first place Kernels. They are now 13-13 in the second half and just 4.0 GB. Three Quick Strikes: 1) The game-winning knock was a failed double play chopper off the bat of OF Hendry Mendez that turned into a force out at 2B. Hindsight is obviously 20/20. However, where do you go with this chopper? Seeing OF Je'Von Ward isn't even half way up the 3B line, I personally take the sure fire out at home plate - I trust my accuracy and my throw and the catcher's ability to apply the tag. The obvious thinking is a double play ends the inning. Baseball is a game of chess and the results state: this was a poor defensive move. 2) RHP Shane Smith is fast becoming one of the more surprising and intriguing stories in the entirety of the Brewers Minor League bullpen picture this 2023 season. When he began his season with Low-A Carolina, we saw a pitcher primarily relying on his 95-96 mph heater. He challenged hitters on a nightly basis with a "Here it is. Come hit this." mind set. In Wisconsin, we are seeing an arm who uses that same four-seamer as a pitch that is simply part of his mix. His hammer curve and his slider have taken front and center. His punch out to end today's tilt was a courageous and nasty 3-2 slider that left the zone in a hurry and absolutely fooled the Kernels hitter. Smith has now pitched in six games for manager Joe Ayrault and his Timber Rattlers staff. He's allowed one single run. His total High-A line reads: 11 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 13 K, 1 ER. That's a 0.82 ERA with a 0.55 WHIP. It is absolutely noteworthy when a player is promoted and he produces better and more dominant results. Smith remains a pitcher to keep your eyes on. 3) INF Eduardo Garcia made a triumphant return to the T-Rats line-up. Having last played on July 6th at home versus Beloit, it was a real boon to the team and the offense. Return outings can often show the rust, but, Garcia finished with a 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (his fourth of 2023) line in his first game back while giving 3B Ben Metzinger a much deserved rest at the hot corner. The long ball was a no doubter off the top of the batter's eye. Hopefully, Garcia can pick up some of the good mojo we've been seeing from 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. (2-for-3, 1 BB) for weeks. Final: Carolina 5, Columbia (Royals) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Castillo Homers as Mudcats Defeat Columbia 5-4 The majority of the winning damage came on OF Luis Castillo's mammoth shot over the right field wall - his first long ball of 2023. RHP Alexander Valecillo gave his team a really nice outing - a solid if unspectacular 4 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 2 K. He was pulled after 50 pitches so clearly the staff had a relief game plan in mind. The Mudcats have now won the first two games at Columbia and remain in first place at 15-10 in the second half now 2.0 games ahead of second place Salem. Three Quick Strikes: 1) There's no doubt that RHP Quinton Low has electric stuff when he's dialed in. But, with this electricity comes a regular bouts where he can't find the strike zone. This issue has now reared its head on enough occasions to merit some concerns as his season progresses - 18 BB over his past six outings spannig 15 1/3 IP. Tonight, he came to the hill with just a single runner aboard in the fifth frame and the Mudcats holding a comfortable 5-1 lead. Low proceeded to throw six consecutive balls and not a single one of these was particularly close. He then threw two wild pitches and he also threw several other balls low and in the dirt. He escaped the frame by inducing a double play ball but the inning as a hole was not not pretty. He was much cleaner in the second inning of work but Low has to work out these accuracy kinks as he attempts to move up in he system. Low ended his outing after 3 IP, 2 H, 5 BB, 2 WP, 2 ER, 3 K. He has to clean this up. 2) If I were Low, I'd look to my Mudcats stablemate in RHP Yerlin Rodriguez to analyze ideas of how to harness delivery mechanics. Rodriguez is sharper in nearly every aspect of his delivery and release point at present but has also been prone to periods of wildness. Both pitchers have been brilliant at times in 2023 with episodes of struggle sprinkled in. Yet, it certainly seems like Rodriguez is poised for a real breakout of magnanimous proportions and I observe this coming from the way he harnesses and executes his pitch-to-pitch in his current form. It's a truly interesting juxtaposition and I was afforded an ability to see it in immediate succession from the 7th to 8th innings. Rodriguez has really nasty stuff on the hill (as does Low - to a lesser extent at present), but my amateur eyes would opine Rodriguez has a better overall feel of his innate stuff. 3) I told you last night and I'll remind you again tonight: OF Jace Avina is dialed in at the dish right now. He's just seeing the ball better and making very solid line drive contact. You love to see it! Tonight's 2B and 3B were both ripped to the wall - to left center and deep right center field, respectively. With the two knocks and the 2-for-4 night, Avina saw his BA elevate to 0.203 on the season. Let's go! We don't have July's compiled statistics up-to-date at time of publish, but I do believe his July OPS will now be over 1.000 and his July BA will be close to 0.315. That's just a phenomenal bounce back month of baseball for the young outfielder. RHP Brandon Woodruff takes the mound tomorrow for his second rehab start with the T-Rats. Let's hope he brings his 'A' stuff to shut these pesky Kernels down. The Sounds will play a rare Thursday mid-day game at Norfolk - so, with the DSL Brewers Uno playing two games (completing a July 17th game as well) there will be a rare four-game matinee. Later in the evening, we'll have the ACL Crew to pair with the Mudcats, T-Rats, and Shuckers. It's a full day of Brewers Minor League baseball. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting this extremely underrated organization. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

We miss you in Nashville, Eddy. Best of luck with the Red Sox!

We were back with our standard seven-game Minor League Tuesday tonight. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you never see the same thing twice in baseball games. Well, we had a literal 'Drone Delay' in Norfolk with one down in the bottom of the second inning. Yes, a 'Drone Delay'. Welcome to modern baseball. Pitch counts and UFO's. The Shuckers offense stayed humming. The T-Rats fought in a tightly contested affair versus the Cedar Rapids Kernels. And, the Mudcats were at Columbia looking to get their series started right. We also had DSL morning tilts and an ACL evening affair. Let's get into the report! /images-custom/google-analytics/author-tracker.gif Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers Game Balls: INF Isaac Collins makes it all better. What a month of July this young upstart is having. I've talked about him on more than one occasion in July - and, rightfully so. He continues to be one of the more unheralded and under-discussed players in the entire system. 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. LHP Nate Peterson gets the nod for a very noteworthy debut versus a tough Cedar Rapids opponent in his High-A debut. More of this, please, Mr. Peterson. We're rooting for you! RHP Thyago Vieira absolutely gets the nod for helping the Sounds escape with an improbable victory after LHP Clayton Andrews scuffled in the ninth and final frame. More below, but suffice to say it was a fantastic piece of closing work. Abraham Toro gets the nod for his clutch double in the 8th inning leading to a break-out frame when the Sounds came into their half trailing 6-5. Toro continues to be so trustworthy with his switch-hitting bat. I maintain he's currently, and oddly, the best 1B on the Sounds roster (I don't know how much this is actually saying, but it is saying 'something'?) OF Yophery Rodriguez is starting to make a not so subtle case we may have another stud on our hands, folks. Two HR today. A clutch two-run jack in the 10th. He now has 6 HR in his short DSL season. A 4-for-6, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR day is nothing to scoff at. The season BA is now 0.298 with the OPS sitting dead set at 1.000 in 152 PA's. I refuse to get ahead of myself but it is really really hard to not think of a certain other OF'er in Biloxi when I look deeper into his Game Logs and Advanced stats. I'll leave it there. Transactions: RHP Jason Woodward (4th Round Pick) was assigned to the ACL Brewers but with a designation of 'Injured - Full Season' RHP Craig Yoho (8th round pick) was assigned to the ACL Brewers UDFA RHP Isaiah Jackson was assigned to ACL Brewers UDFA RHP Blake Whiting was assigned to ACL Brewers UDFA RHP KC Hunt was assigned to ACL Brewers UDFA RHP Bayden Root was assigned to ACL Brewers LHP Russell Smith was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers (retroactive to 7/23) C Jeferson Quero was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers C Jason Lopez was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers Final: Nashville 10, Norfolk (Orioles) 8 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Overcome Early Deficit in Win Over Tides Coming into their series opener at Norfolk, the Sounds were losers of six of their past nine contests. RHP Jason Alexander was in a struggle from the first batter into the rest of his outing. He was already at a pitch count of 51 after 2 IP. After these same 2 IP, he saw 7 H, 1 BB, 4 ER, and 2 K. His primary issue was hanging off-speed pitches - early and often no matter the count. These balls were smacked all over the park to all fields. When he located his sinker down and out of the zone he found swings and misses. Unfortunately, the off-speed arsenal just wasn't capably executed. All this being said, kudos are deserved for Alexander. He dug deep when he didn't have his best stuff and ultimately gave his team 5 IP in entirety. This allowed the team to claw back and make a game of things. Ultimately, after the victory, the Sounds moved to 12-9 in the second half one game back the first place Iowa Cubs. Three Quick Strikes: 1) I don't know if I've seen a home run hit harder by a Sound all season than OF Tyler Naquin's solo blast over the right field wall in the top of the sixth frame. He absolutely got a hold of an inside off-speed breaking pitch and rocketed it in a straight line drive. The Tides announcer definitely concurred with my observations. I'd love to see some Statcast data on that rifle shot - it just might be the hardest hit Sounds hit in 2023. 2) Unfortunately, I continue to be relatively unimpressed with INF Luis Urias' Triple-A work. For a talented infielder who was mired in a season-long slump at the MLB level, a player the Brewers sure could use in good form given their ongoing offensive woes, I'd certainly like to see more competitive AB's. Instead, what I do see on a nightly basis (at present, mind you) is a player whose body language looks like that of a player who doesn't want to be in Triple-A. Will Urias find his way back to the Brewers ball club in 2023? I remain skeptical if this is the version of Urias we will continue to see. The walk he took in the top of the 8th frame was a nice start for my eyes. He laid off several enticing pitches and took the free pass. Let's build from there. 3) LHP Clayton Andrews has been in an up-and-down struggle since he was optioned from the Crew back to the Sounds. Tonight was part of the down. He just didn't have it and he left the bases juiced with only one down and the Sounds clinging to a 10-7 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. This forced manager Rick Sweet to call upon RHP Thyago Vieira. He struck out his first batter all on off-speed pitches. He then gave up a weak 91.3 mph seeing eye grounder that scored a run as it squeaked into LF. The bases remained full. It was 10-8 Sounds. Vieira once again began a count with a very successful off-speed delivery low and in the zone. He got to 0-2 on a high heater fouled to the backstop. He came back and rifled a heater down the heart of the plate for the swing and the miss. This was the Vieira we grew to love in the early part of this season. It would be absolutely huge if this was the Vieira we got to close out the season. Final: Biloxi 7, Birmingham (White Sox) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Shuckers Set Stolen Base Record, Meeker Sets Career-High in Innings in 7-4 Victory The Shuckers came into their home series opener having scored 55 runs in their series versus Montgomery last week - leading all of Double-A baseball. They've scored six or more runs in 11-of-12 contests. They have 32 home runs in July alone. This offense is what you call 'on something'. And, they just keep breaking records up and down the lineup. Here's OF Lamar Sparks breaking the single-season Shuckers team steals record with 47 games remaining! RHP James Meeker set a career record of 6 IP as he continues to develop an approach and a philosophy as a starting pitcher - this man will do anything for his ball clubs. The one definitive thing I am seeing in these early starts to Meeker's new role as a starter is his punch outs are down as he is pitching to contact more and more. It's such a small sample size so it's meaningless to make anything more of this observation at the present time, but, this observation is backed up by facts. He continues to not walk batters, however, so there is reason to believe as he continues to learn how his mix plays in extended innings the strikeouts will rise some with it. All told, he finished his night after 6 IP, Three Quick Strikes: 1) I try to be extremely fair in my observations during these games. SO, when INF's Freddy Zamora and Ethan Murray flash the leather and execute on multiple occasions, I am going to tell you about it. Tonight, both young men showed us why they are such tantalizingly good defenders and why their collective uncharacteristically sloppy play over the past month plus has been so frustrating. Murray made a web gem play at 3B deep and past the foul line. Zamora made clean scoops and accurate throws from SS. These men need many more games like this as they move up the system if they hope to make it to the MLB level one day. This is what I have come to expect from both of them (perhaps, unfairly) and I imagine this is what they expect from themselves: 2) With C Jeferson Quero shelved with a hand bruise (7-Day IL), it was a scary moment when 1B Wes Clarke took an inside heater high and directly off his elbow pad. He was grimacing in pain and flexing his hand (likely a stinger or nerve flare after contact) and was ultimately pulled from the contest early. INF Zavier Warren was inserted in his place. Needless to say, Clarke's versatility and capable power stroke are a nice ingredient for manager Mike Guerrero and his staff. We'll have to stay tuned tomorrow to see if he is given another day's rest or if anything residual occurred. 3) Special kudos are in order for the collective scoreless bullpen work of RHP's Ryan Middendorf and Cam Robinson. Both young men have suffered through extended bouts of inconsistency in 2023 and, yet, they inspire us all with their commitment to continuing working on their crafts in hopes of reclaiming former glories. Just one year ago, both hurlers were a prominent part of the organizational bullpen picture. In 2023, they have experienced a heavy dose of the baseball rollercoaster. So, tonight, we salute their efforts - Middendorf picked up his 5th Hold and Robinson picked up his 7th Save. Special kudos to Robinson who fought off the insanely weak dribbler single to start his frame and ensuing five-pitch walk. That type of resilience is what every closer absolutely needs. Final: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 4, Wisconsin 1 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the T-Rats' site, game details, please visit and review: Wisconsin Held to One Hit in 4-1 Loss Full Game Highlights: (Note: With a mid-day matinee tilt tomorrow for game 2, there is no post-game podcast) Let's Wrap This Up Quick: There isn't all that much to discuss when your squad loses a 4-1 affair and your offense musters one single hit. We'll start with LHP Nate Peterson's highly successful High-A debut: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 3 K. The moment was certainly not too big for last year's 8th Round pick as he looks to continue improving and building in 2023. He continues to have a very solid season. The T-Rats offense did try to make the most of their lemons: they swiped two bases after two of their six generously gifted free passes. They also managed to get into scoring position three times while executing at a 33% clip. The Rattlers even managed to knock a tying run across early off the bat of INF Robert Moore. It remained tied 1-1 into the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the combined relief work of RHP Nick Merkel and LHP Karlos Morales was incapable of matching the Kernel's scoreless four innings out of their bullpen. It's on to the next. And, well, that is just about it. They'll look to bounce back in game number two. Final: Carolina 6, Columbia (Royals) 5 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Mudcats Open Road Trip with 6-5 Victory in Columbia The Mudcats improved to 14-10 in their second half - alone in first place leading second place Salem by one game. RHP Yujanyer Herrera got the starting nod to open the series and he did not disappoint as he seems to be rounding into his best form of his 2023 season. This appeared to be an intentional combined bullpen game with Herrera and RHP Chase Costello really did the heavy lifting. Herrera finished after 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K. The hits were certainly not spectacular - seeing eye grounders up the middle of the infield. Costello also shined in his 3 1/3 IP: 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 K. 1 HR. RHP Jeison Pena fought himself for much of his outing and allowed the Fireflies to crawl back into things late but he held the 6-5 lead and we'll take that as a success. Three Quick Strikes: 1) A notable development we witnessed tonight is dropping down CF Luis Lara into the three-spot of the batting order. Interestingly, manager Victor Estevez had 1B Tayden Hall (an on base machine in his own right) into the lead-off. This is an intriguing development because it subtly speaks to what several of us have hinted at in 2023: Lara has sneaky gap power. He packs a punch in his smaller frame. He came through, to boot, tonight with a key two-rbi triple to deep right center field tacking on the pivotal 5th and 6th runs in the 6th frame. This might be a small storyline throughout the series: where does Lara bat given his highly capable array of offensive skills? 2) I alerted you all to the ongoing fantastic and unrecognized play of the Shuckers' INF Isaac Collins on more than one occasion this summer. Well, I am going to again remind you of the ongoing fantastic work behind the dish and at the plate from the Mudcats' C Jose Sibrian. This is just a really solid backstop and a capable bat. He throws runners out on a consistent basis. He has gap power. He corrals and tags with skill. There's a distinct reason why he was a rumored trade target by clubs last season and there's a distinct reason the Brewers re-upped this young man: he's a very good baseball player. He finished his evening 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B. He caught 2-of-4 base stealers - he currently catches base runners at a very impactful 36% clip. He made an expert catch and tag at home plate to prevent the tying run to cross. I continue to absolutely love his game. 3) I absolutely love the improved approach and results I am seeing from young OF Jace Avina. He is seeing the ball better. The defense, the hustle, and the intensity will always be there - this is a young man who clearly loves playing the game. But, there were serious concerns from this fan given the early-season slump amidst crazy strikeout numbers. That all seems to have settled down to a sense of normalcy - if that makes sense. He still has quite a bit of work to do to cut back his swing and miss tendencies but a 29% clip is much more palatable than a 50+ % K rate. Tonight we saw a near missed home run blast left of the left field foul pole and a next pitch blast off the low wall in left center field. He finished his evening 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB. How he closes his season is a storyline I am tracking on a nightly basis. ACL D-Backs Black 10, ACL Brewers 5 Box Score / Game Log After trailing 4-2 by the second inning, as RHP Ryne Moore struggled in his 3 IP (6 H and 2 BB), the Crew saw the D-Backs Black run away with the game in the middle innings. It was 9-2 before the Crew managed to plate three runs in the bottom of the 8th. As always, there are notable performances in the finer details within: 1B/LF/DH Yeison Perez appears to be turning a corner and approaching hints of the form that made him a 2022 DSL darling. He went 2-for-2, 1 R, 3 BB in this game. His season BA is now sitting at a healthy 0.313 and his OPS is sitting at 0.842. If we start to get even more hints of the power he displayed throughout last summer, we could see a really surprising statistical ascent. RHP Gerson Calzadilla is thriving in his shift to a full-time relief role - 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. After starting 8 games in the summer of 2022 for the ACL Gold, Calzadilla has been given higher-leverage relief work throughout this summer. Stay tuned but this is one of the ACL Brewers pitchers to keep tabs on. 3B Brock Wilken's second game did not go as smoothly at the dish. 0-for-3, 1 K is his final line on the evening. He'll look to bounce back tomorrow. He's human: INF Juan Baez went 0-for-4 with 1 K. I can't recall the last time I saw an 0'fer for Baez. He didn't get a hit on the evening, he committed his 3rd error of his summer, but lead-off specialist INF Dylan O'Rae still made an impact: 0-for-1, 1 R, 2 BB. He's an on base machine in the ACL. One game. One game all season he didn't manage to get on base in some capacity. He did leave tonight's game after a HBP so we'll have to monitor this going ahead. The ACL Crew fell to 18-17 still just 1.0 GB of the ACL Reds. Plenty of ballgame left! DSL Yankees Bombers 11, DSL Brewers #1 10, ten innings Box Score / Game Log The first thing that obviously pops off the screen when you scan the box score and the game logs is OF Yophery Rodriguez's ongoing output. Stellar (as ntoed above in the Game Balls). However, there was quite a bit going on in this one and, wildly, the four runs the Crew Uno plated in the 10th weren't enough! Oh, those DSL tilts can be wily. Let's just start with the collective outfield of the Cerveceros Uno went a combined 10-for-17, 4 R, 8 RBI, 2 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 0 K. Sweet goodness. Who were the other bandits in the box beyond the perennially intriguing Rodriguez? LF Idalberto Santiesteban and his 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 SB output. And, RF Brian Sanchez and his under-the-radar campaign continued: 3-for-6, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 3B, 1 SB. That is quite the offensive display as a whole - you can win some games with that type of work?. Let's also recognize INF Kevin Ereu's 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 3 K day and his ongoing subtle statement indicating maybe he's getting over that early season injury? Who knows? It's too hard to tell beyond his season as a whole has been a disappointment and his error in the 10th certainly appears to have led to the winning Yankees run. The real unfortunate part of this game, however, was the spoiling of another hugely impactful RHP Enniel Cortez start: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 6 K. The man has been, simply put, an Ace this entire DSL season. I'm jonesing to see what we might have here stateside. His numbers, across the board, are extremely noteworthy. Go ahead and check out his MiLB player page HERE The Brewers Uno fall to 21-15 with the loss. DSL Marlins 8, DSL Brewers #2 7 Box Score / Game Log The DSL Cerveceros Dos are better than their 13-23 record would indicate - let me get that out of the way. They have managed to lose several tight ones over the past couple of months and today's game was definitely one of those. Their three run ninth inning rally ended when C Freider Rojas struck out. Once again, they showed fight and their collective effort fell just short. A closer look at the box score and the game logs shows us several things: The combined relief work of RHP Dikember Sanchez and RHP Justin Caceres - 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 R - was the only thing that allowed the Crew #2 an opportunity to steal one late. This was a heck of a performance by these two young hurlers. INF Demetrio Nadal is taking his increased opportunity and running with it: 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, 1 3B. In a summer of pleasant surprises in the Rookie Leagues, Nadal is certainly on the list. PH Cristopher Vazquez continues to flash potential when given opportunities. His pinch-hit two-rbi single in the ninth inning rally brought the game to a 7-8 deficit. He has a limited sample size, for whatever reasons at present, but it's hard not to notice his impact. What a solid opening night of baseball for this last week of July. And, whoa, we only have four games tomorrow?! It's a classic affiliate affair. The T-Rats will open things mid day when RHP Cameron Wagoner looks to keep building off his fantastic start in Dayton just last week. Will he give us another clinic in effective off-speed deliveries? Carolina, Biloxi, and Nashville will all be playing their game two's in the evening. That's a wrap for me. 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 scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

So, that settles that. It was the swing. Thankfully, it's just a bruised hand. Big sigh of relief!

There it is. I refer anyone to our recent Friday GT re: Quero and a possible injury we witnessed after the rain delay. @wiguy94opined at the time (a few posts above) he didn't think anything happened. It may have looked benign-ish. I opined, it seemed clear (to my eyes) something may have happened after the massive swing and miss and unorthodox manner by which he re-entered the batters box or the manner by which he pulled up running the first base line. It's funny how two avid watchers see two entirely different things but that's why we watch the games. What was absolutely clear to me, at the time, was pulling Quero after his AB was anything but planned. You don't pull your star catcher in a 6-1 game. That is far from 'in the bag'. We'll just have to stay tuned to the live Shuckers games and pre-game interviews this week to see if we get anything from announcer Javik Blake or manager Mike Guerrero. Hopefully, this is just a nagging something!

Glory be for a T-Rats Home series. Time to spoil myself with the post game offerings!

- INF Alexander Perez was assigned to the ACL Brewers from the Carolina Mudcats

There have been many more good nights than 'bad' ones in this early second half. Here is hoping we are in store for a very special second half of Brewers Minor League baseball. If baseball is the ultimate sport of sample sizes, then I am going to simply keep enjoying and savoring the heck out of the current one. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Lara, Adams, Bitoni, Pratt, Baez... Oh my sweet baby cheezus! This is lit.

So glad they started that clip off with that one-hop dart from Mendez (mentioned originally in the write-up above). That was a huge huge play. That out doesn't happen? Maybe the Dragons start their own break-away rally. It's always, always, always the little things like that (well, that throw wasn't little) that make the difference in a baseball game. Just an incredible throw. And, we've seen throws like that from Frelick and Sparks (naturally, the man is a flamethrower) this same week across the system. Also, how about that diving catch by Wood at the netting behind home plate? Huge out there. Such an awesome game to watch live.

- Carolina moved to within 1/2 game of first place Delmarva and sit alone in 2nd place. They move to 11-9 in the 2nd half. - The T-Rats also picked up a game on both Peoria and South Bend - they are 1 GB at 12-9 in the early 2nd half. - The high-stress Shuckers moved into sole possession of 2nd place (1 GB of Pensacola) at an absolutely emblematic 9-9. - The Sounds stay 2 GB of St. Paul but gain a half game on the Baby Bears in Iowa. They improve to 10-7 in the second half.

I personally leave Frelick alone in that tier by himself. I've seen too much ridiculously good stuff from Black to consider him anything other than ascendant. I know there are ongoing concerns about his position. BUT, I will say (and I said it tonight in the report) he is actually improving at 3B. He has the arm already and the accuracy is improving. He is starting to make difficult plays look less effort-driven. He is gaining experience. I propose (also in the report) they are leaving him in Biloxi to keep giving him everyday reps at the hot corner whereas the infield is drowning in veteran depth at Nashville. AND, the fall back is Black plays an average 2B. With his bat-to-ball skills (ridiculoussss), increasing power, and base running. If the fall back for Misiorowski is we have a transcendent relief arm, my fall back for Black is we have a transcendent DH who swipes 40 bases, hits 20-30 long balls, hits for average, and takes walks.

The line drives are coming - and they've been coming mostly in recent outings. He leads the Mudcats in HR (tied with Avina), R, RBI, and SB. Beyond the bat - which is getting better and will, imho, hopefully only get better - there's his ridiculous athletic profile. Serious serious athleticism in his crazy body. He moves gracefully but with power. He is agile. Contrary to where they play him, he's the best 1B on the Mudcats roster. He gets a little overconfident and wild with his throwing mechanics at 3B but he absolutely has the arm and the range to continue making a go of it. Anyhow, he's just an extremely tantalizing prospect for many reasons. The age is definitely one of those. @Smichaelis9liked him and likes him for a reason. I've been seeing those reasons all season long. I attribute his contact issues earlier to '...it's a baseball season'. AND, I personally believe the questions should come about what they will do moving forward with his leg kick. Is that sustainable? It's pretty over-pronounced.

The Mudcats graced us with a matinee 18-hit blow-out of the Cannon Ballers. They set the bar quite high. In the evening, we had all three remaining affiliates and the ACL Crew to give us their best shots as they looked to build off of yesterday's 6-1 overall record system-wide. There were notable offensive performances throughout the system as well as a shutdown effort from the collective Sounds bullpen. Let's get into the report! /images-custom/google-analytics/author-tracker.gif/images-custom/google-analytics/author-tracker.gif Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Game Balls: OF Terence Doston gets the nod here because I like consistent and impactful production. Doston is one of the least-heralded outfielders in the system and yet every time I watch him play he is making impact plays. He stretches singles into two-baggers. He swipes bases at a very efficient rate. He is an increasingly likable player who knows his strengths and limitations, plays within himself, and rarely makes mistakes. I see you Mr. Doston. You get the nod for your 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 SB efforts. INF/OF/DH Keston Hiura gets the nod for his 4-for-5 evening - three very hard hit singles (two oppo knocks) and an infield chopper. This is another achievement award for a young man who has performed at the dish all season long. Tonight was no exception. RHP Cameron Wagoner gets the nod here for what was clearly, far and away, his best outing of 2023. It was a much needed 5 IP in more ways than one. It helped the Timber Rattlers jump to a 2-0 series lead at the Reds' Dayton Dragons ballpark. OF Hendry Mendez gets the recognition for his 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 HR outing rewarding his manager for being gifted clean-up duties. Clean up he did. And then some. I said it when he returned healthy off his ACL stint: he looks stronger and thicker in his base. Let's hope for more good things in the games ahead! 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. gets the nod for his ongoing onslaught of the baseball in the batters box. Nobody in the system is swinging a hotter piece of lumber than this large man. Tonight was another scorching performance: 4-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 CS (he was safe...I'm not lying). What a run he continues to be on. Honorable Mentions: the entire Mudcats line-up ? Seriously, just go take a peak at that ridiculously loaded 18-hit box score. It was also nice to see INF Isaac Collins reward my kind words last evening with more kind work at the dish: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R - OPS now up to 0.864 on the season. Don't sleep on this young man. Transactions: OF Reidy Mercado was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers LHP Nate Peterson was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats INF Eduardo Garcia was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (retroactive to July 18th) RHP Brannon Jordan was placed on the 7-Day IL by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Final: Nashville 5, Jacksonville (Marlins) 3 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Hiura Smacks Four Hits as Sounds Snap Losing Skid The Sounds trailed 3-0 early after a series of singles surrounding a free pass in the second frame. But, other than that inning, RHP Caleb Boushley successfully worked around eight hits and said free pass: 5 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 4 K. Another workmanlike outing for the now entrenched Sounds starter in his second year with the club. Boushley doesn't wow you with electric stuff, per se, but he is very dependable and has now pitched at least five innings in each of his last eight starts dating to June 1st. He is a much needed stabilizing force - especially now that LHP Thomas Pannone is no longer in the starting rotation. After tonight's victory, the Sounds both ended their four game losing streak post-All Star break and moved to 9-7 in the second half - two games back of both Iowa and St. Paul. Three Quick Strikes: 1) They struggled mightily last night with RISP but they lost the contest. Tonight, they managed to take the lead late and hold it. BUT, this certainly wasn't because they were RISP savants. Entering the eighth frame, the Sounds were sitting 3-for-14 with RISP and clinging to a 5-3 lead. This is how they finished. This is obviously not a sustainable pace but it will be something to track as this series progresses. 2) These two men poked 7-of-10 Nashville hits on the evening: Oddly, in a game with 21 combined hits between the two squads the only XBH was an INF Abraham Toro double. That's 20 blue collar singles adorning our screens. 3) When you are only poking one bag knocks, it pays to have your bullpen revert to its prior shutdown form. The combined scoreless 4 IP (2 H, 2 BB, 6 K) amongst RHP Pedro Fernandez, LHP Justin Wilson, RHP Pete Strzelecki, and LHP Clayton Andrews was a much-needed sight for these weary eyes. Wilson and Strzelecki, in particular, really stood out - both had their Big League form atop the hill tonight. Strzelecki's 12 pitch, 10 strike, 1-2-3 2 K outing was extremely refreshing considering how he landed and skidded when re-assigned to the Sounds bullpen. Wilson features a four-seamer, a cutter, and a curveball by my eyes. Deceptive tailing movement at as the cutter approaches the dish. The four-seamer was touching 95 mph. The curve seemed a 'keep you honest' pitch. Most impressive was his location - he was dotting the outer stripe pitch after pitch. Nothing up. Nothing meaty. It's plain to see, even after TJ surgery, he knows how to execute. Final: Montgomery (Rays) 9, Biloxi 8 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Shuckers Fall to Biscuits, 9-8, on Walk-Off Single Having jumped out to a 7-0 lead, RHP James Meeker was initially done in by a INF Freddy Zamora error that was casually not scored an error allowing the first run to eventually cross the dish. Those types of mistakes are far too common for the ultra-talented and smooth shortstop - a source of constant frustration for someone like me who views these Shuckers games. I digress. Meeker was solid if unspectacular throughout the early part of his outing - the primary damage came via a two out, three run long ball just over the wall in right center field. However, the hits came aplenty as the outing progressed and those knocks definitely came back to haunt him - 5 IP, 11 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 6 ER, 1 HR. It's important to remember, Meeker has only just taken this starting role and made a run of it of late (all 4 GS have come in Meeker's last four outings) - he was a bullpen arm for the better part of a year for the Brewers organization. The strikeouts are down in these extended displays as the lead-off hurler. It's a significant adjustment and a work in progress. And, as I'll allude to below, it's also a significant loss to the bullpen staff. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Seven of the first eight Shuckers runs came in the opening frame. Quite a way to start an evening! The inning started with the effective display from blue-chippers INF Tyler Black, OF Jackson Chourio, and C Jeferson Quero. That's quite a trio for any pitcher to face. Black ripped what looked like a single into right center but, as he does, he motored it into a double. He then played a savvy game of cat-and-mouse with a hard hit Chourio grounder toward the hole past second base obstructing the shortstop and allowing Chourio to reach 1B. Quero then walked to load the bases from there. Then it was a series of gaffes by the Biscuits pitcher (wild pitch) and both corner outfielders that allowed runners to score and advance. This does nothing to take away from timely hits by Zamora and Collins. Taking advantage of these situations is the Achilles heel of any baseball team. The Shuckers succeeded and then some in the first frame. After the first frame, actually, they had scored 27 runs in their last 18 innings played. It's fair to now point out: they've scored one run over their last 8 innings played. Baseball. A game of sample sizes. 2) I'm going to be the one to say it: INF Tyler Black is improving at third base. It's still a work in progress but he is definitely getting better and it is discernible as he completes more innings. What sticks out more than anything to my eyes is he absolutely has the arm to man the hot corner - it's a bit of a cannon. He is beginning to make more challenging plays as well. It's not all roses, by any measure, but I see enough progress there to understand why the Brewers made the shift and are sticking with it. Many fans have wondered why he hasn't been promoted sooner. I would opine: to continue giving Black daily work at 3B. He needs the experience and exposure if this is the plan moving forward. The bat will play any day and anywhere - it's already an MLB bat - 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB. 3) The ongoing dilemma manager Mike Guerrero is facing with his talented Shuckers, as I see it, is the ongoing inconsistencies and unknowns within the bullpen stables. On any given night, it certainly feels, the bullpen is liable to give up crucial tying or losing runs. Tonight, it was the combination of RHP Ryan Middendorf and LHP Nick Bennett who allowed the tying and losing runs. This isn't to single them out in any way. Rather it is to share: this is an ongoing trend. IF the Shuckers are to make a meaningful run in the second half of their season, they will absolutely need better bullpen efforts. As it stands, of late, the only bullpen arms consistently performing are the recently-promoted RHP Ryan Brady and the tentatively effective RHP Cam Robinson. Beyond that, on any given night as a fan of this team, I have no idea what I'm going to witness. Final: Wisconsin 8, Dayton (Reds) 5 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the T-Rats' site, game details, please visit and review: Rattlers Drop Dragons 8-5 RHP Cameron Wagoner was effective with his breaking ball early as he got the Dragons lead-off batter striking out swinging on a hammer curve down and in to start his outing. He used a similar hammer curve to strike out the fourth batter he faced in the first frame stranding a runner on second base in the process - a really nice pitch that hooked inside on a lefty. If this was the version of Wagoner we were working with, I was ready. It was the best I've seen Wagoner through 4 IP -3 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 R. He definitely came apart just a wee bit to start the fifth inning when he gave up a huge two-run homer over the wall in right field on a hanging dead center 80 mph change-up. This came after walking the first batter on five pitches. A credit to him is due, most definitely, as he dug deep after a mound visit and exited the inning without further damage getting a routine grounder to Metzinger shifted into the shortstop dirt and then striking out the next batter on yet another fantastic curve ball. All told, Wagoner finished a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR. Other than the brief loss of his stuff to start the fifth frame, this was quite easily the best Wagoner outing of 2023. You love to see it. I am jonesing for more as Wagoner is starting to execute more consistently - something he absolutely struggled with throughout the first months of 2023. Three Quick Strikes: 1) C Darrien Miller continues to experience ongoing SB issues when he mans the back stop. If the pitchers delivery is anything remotely of the off-speed variety, those throws to second base tend to arrive several steps too late. Honestly, the ball appears to hang in the air struggling to pick up steam on its way to the second base bag. 3 SB in 3 SBA on the evening - none of them particularly close. Miller is now just 16-for-77 in SBA for his 2023 season. That is a meager 20.77 CS%. All this being said, I'm going to be honest: those 16 CS were quite a bit higher than I anticipated. Progress is being made, albeit small, from previous season. And, let me call a spade a spade: this is also a 1.73% higher than the current CS% of Brewers' William Contreras ?. 2) INF Jose Acosta is the Doston of the T-Rats infield. He isn't the touted prospect many of these young men are, but everything he does when manning 2B is smooth and easy. I don't take this for granted. He seems to always make the smart play. His glove is sure and his hands and scoops are clean. It's a pleasure to watch a player who is comfortable with who he is and, to boot, has the propensity for key hits. I'm a big fan and his increased PT is one of the silver linings of the unfortunate injuries to INF's Eduardo Garcia and Eric Brown Jr. He finished 2-for-5 (2 2B) for the evening. 3) What a pitching pipeline we have seen come the Timber Rattlers way from Carolina in 2023. First it was RHP Edwin Jimenez (despite his recent struggles he hit the ground running), then it was RHP Jacob Misiorowski (purportedly now in Double-A Biloxi) and now we have the shutdown bullpen duo of RHP Shane Smith and RHP Tanner Shears among others. Shears has taken the closer role, it would appear, from first half stalwart RHP Brannon Jordan (now on the 7-Day IL). And, as we know from his time with the Mudcats, RHP Shane Smith can certainly fill that role when called upon as he was tonight. We know Smith is entirely unafraid to challenge hitters with his heater - unabashedly so. But, tonight, it was his hammer curve that impressed the most. It was truly nasty during both K's in his successful inning of work. Big things ahead for both of these young men. Final: Carolina 13, Kannapolis (White Sox) 2 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Carolina Crushes Cannon Ballers 13-2 Now, this is a way to get the day started after a brief weather delay. 18 hits for the Mudcats to the Cannon Ballers 4. A real shellacking in every sense of the word. RHP Quinton Low began his work with consecutive 2-2 punch outs. He then gave up a solo shot and a single before C Jose Sibrian threw out the would be base stealer at second base - Sibrian is now 17-of-49 on the season throwing out runners; a healthy 34.69 CS%. Low wasn't the shut down dominant version we've seen several times in 2023 - 3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 ER, 1 HR. However, this was definitely the most complete and impactful outing we've seen from young RHP Yujanyer Herrera: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K, 0 R. He picked up his third win of 2023 for his efforts moving to 3-4 on his season. The Mudcats moved to 10-9 in the second half of their Carolina League season and 43-39 overall. They are just 1/2 game back of first place Delmarva as of Wednesday morning. Three Quick Strikes: 1) INF Jadher Areinamo continues to show why he was sent to High-A Wisconsin early in the 2022 season from the ACL. As he continues to showcase March was an anomaly, he is now bringing the XBH game into his mix. Given he is already an elite defender at multiple positions, the 0.568 SLG% in July and 1.006 OPS in 44 July AB's is absolutely noteworthy. This remains a young man who has completely flown under the radar in 2023 because of his slow start and his lack of walks but I will point out to you dear readers: he is only striking out at a 10.87% clip. I suggest you toss out his anomalous 54 AB's in March. Start there. See what you find. He is playing extremely confident and fantastic baseball. This young man is a player in every sense of the word: 2) INF Luke Adams just continues to demand notice for the Mudcats. After today's performance (2-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 HR), he now leads or is tied atop the following offensive categories for the Mudcats: HR, RBI, R, SB. The early-season pop-up woes appear to be falling further behind him as he is making more and more line drive contact. Today, we saw him rocket a 107 mph 437 foot blast over the wall in left field. Athletic gifts for days: 3) I've noted Areinamo and Adams above, but, really, this was a total team effort. Six Mudcats had multiple-hit games at the plate - Sibrian and Areinamo had three hits apiece and INF Gregory Barrios was 4-for-5. This was a massive offensive outburst. And, after mentioning 1B Jesus Chrinos just yesterday - how he appears to get hot near his birthday (July 27th) - he went ahead and hit his second long ball in two days. He finished 2-for-4 and is beginning to demonstrate an uncanny resemblance to his 2022 season. Let's hope he gets red hot from here and helps the Mudcats win this second half! ACL Athletics 9, ACL Brewers 5Box Score / Game Log The first thing that popped off the box score, for me at least, was lead-off specialist INF Dylan O'Rae's 0-for-4, 1 K performance. I had to check the last time I saw him with an 'O-fer'. Oh, that's right: he had reached base in all 22 games of his ACL season before tonight's doughnut. What a run he's been on. Let's start another. INF Juan Baez (who else, really?!) went 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 3B. He grabbed his 30th RBI of his ACL season and he sent the OPS north to 1.029. Just an unreal season at the dish for the young man. Also of note, OF Miguel Briceno was moved up in the batting order (from my vantage point this may be the highest he's batted in 2023 in his small but growing sample size?) to the second spot. He rewarded the coaching staff with a 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB evening. This was a classic abbreviated 7-inning ACL contest in the back fields of Arizona, however, so the ACL Brewers had limited opportunity to claw back into this one after first falling behind by a run in the fourth frame. We see both RHP Yorman Galindez (3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 3 K) and RHP Henrison Mota (3 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 ER, 6 K) struggled with men on base throughout their innings of work. The ACL Crew fell back to two games under 0.500 at 14-16. Despite their recent scufflings, the Crew are still alone in second place just a mere 2 1/2 GB of the ACL Reds. Lotta ballgame left. That is a wrap for me and my Minor League reports for this week. By reporting duties next week, I will have turned a ripe ol' 45 years of age. I have seen many a Brewers and Brewers Minor League baseball game in my lifetime. They just never grow old - even if I inevitably do. I give great thanks to these young men who entertain me on a nightly basis - their pursuit of their dreams is truly my enjoyment. You will se an eight game slate of Minor League tilts tomorrow. The DSL Brewers Dos will play two early morning contests as they look to complete their July 17th game versus the DSL Guardians Blue before facing them again shortly thereafter. The DSL Brewers Uno will look to keep their torrid recent winning pace going against the DSL Braves. Highlights on the mound elsewhere in the system: RHP Jason Alexander's continued work for Nashville as he tries to work his way back to consideration for the Brewers, RHP Patricio Aquino brings his tantalizing mix to the hill for the Mudcats, and RHP Alexander Cornielle looks to find better end result given he's actually pitched quite well overall despite what misleading stats might say. 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 scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

I went back and watched several AB's from April and May. His leg kick has indeed always been this wily. It's wily. It's essentially the Stiven Cruz of batting leg kicks. I don't know why I just noticed this. I have no explanation.😅

No worries, my friend! @wiguy94has you covered there. Thanks for reading and ask away any time!

With seven games on the docket, we had a full slate of Brewers Minor League tilts to open our post-All Star break week. It was a fun-filled night of baseball in my return to report duties - honestly, it felt like an entire mini off-season for me this past week plus. Let's see if I can knock the rust off and deliver a solid write-up for our fine Brewers Fanatics. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers Game Balls: C Matt Wood gets the game ball for his ninth inning defensive work alone - just fantastic stuff from the backstop, believe me - but he also went 2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 RBI. Just a fantastic night of work. RHP Tobias Myers gets the nod for his gritty game one start at Montgomery: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 11 K. All three runs came after the Shuckers had jumped to a 10-0 lead. OF Jackson Chourio stays scorching red hot since those tacked balls were tossed in the dumpster. 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K. INF Juan Baez continues to be atop the ACL leaderboard in many many categories. He hit his second long ball of his 2023 ACL season. He finished 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR. He pushed his BA back to 0.405 with a 1.004 OPS in 115 PA's and he is sporting a very healthy 11.3 K %. Extremely impressive stuff. The defense, however? Well, that is clearly a work in progress to put it politely. DH Darrien Miller was Captain Clutch in the DH slot tonight: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. His solo jack in the ninth frame with one down really kick-started the game-winning rally. * Honorable Mention: LHP Russ Smith and 2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 R ball is very worthy of celebration. Can he stack success? Always the question with these young men - much easier said than done. RHP Enniel Cortez gets the mention here for his season-long stellar work but, more importantly, his 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K shutdown work for his fourth win and throwing the DSL Dodgers monkey off his back. Transactions: RHP Trevor Megill was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds LHP Ethan Small was activated off the 7-Day IL by the Nashville Sounds C Alex Jackson was activated by the Nashville Sounds (suspension) Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 6, Nashville 4 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Missed Chances Loom Large for Sounds in Frustrating Defeat The Sounds fell to 8-7 in the second half and 48-41 overall as they dropped game one at home to the Jumbo Shrimp after being swept at the Louisville Bats. The Sounds, in this recent stretch, very much have the look of a 0.500 ball club so their 8-7 record feels apt, unfortunately. RHP Justin Jarvis indeed was back to his fast-working ways we saw every time out while with Double-A Biloxi. He is still very much learning how his mix plays in the International League, but tonight's outing was definitely a step in the right direction. He looked more comfortable on the mound. In the end, he threw a quality start and gave his team every opportunity to break away from a tie score: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 4 ER, 2 HR. He'll obviously look to tone down the long balls, but we'll consider this outing a success. Three Quick Strikes: 1) When you start experiencing throwing arm injuries like RHP Jake Cousins (he is just coming off a shoulder injury while with Milwaukee and this after last year's elbow injury), it can start to take a toll on a pitcher. Cousins' velocity was well below what we've grown accustomed to averaging 92.4 mph on his evening. He was inaccurate to boot throwing five consecutive balls to start his outing. Cousins did suffer from some seeing eye dribblers, but his recipe for success is far murkier than it used to be. 2) The Sounds stranded 13 men on base after six innings and this ultimately came back to haunt them when the above-mentioned Cousins couldn't find anything resembling his best stuff. They didn't go down in order until the seventh inning. They had the bases loaded in the first three innings and they stranded two runners in both the fourth and fifth inning. A 4-4 ball game heading into the eight inning, in other words, felt inauspicious given the Sounds inabilities throughout the contest to capitalize in favorable situations. 3) The last thing of note from this tilt was the move of CF Sal Frelick from the lead-off slot to the two-spot in the batting order. INF Luis Urias took the lead-off to open the series - given Urias' extremely slow gait, I don't know what precipitated this move other than a kick start for both men but it definitely worked early. Urias hit a long ball and a double but popped out 15 feet up the first base line with men on 2nd and 3rd base while trailing 6-4 with two down in the ninth and final inning. He'll obviously want that AB back. Frelick finished 2-for-4 with his 8th SB. However, he'll be remembered for his defense tonight as he continues to showcase his range and underrated arm: Final: Biloxi 13, Montgomery (Rays) 6 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Five Multi-Hit Performances, Four Home Runs Power Shuckers to 13-6 Win The Shuckers moved to 8-8 in the Southern League second half and 42-43 overall behind RHP Tobias Myers' 11 K and their 10 run cushion earned in the early going. Myers got the game ball nod above, but this game was really about the offense. The talented Shuckers showed out early and often and, as the article above points out: this was the Shuckers 12th series opening victory in 16 tries in 2023. Let's just highlight a few things I saw throughout the contest. Three Quick Strikes: 1) All the mainstream media hype for the young and talented Reds of late is extremely well-deserved. BUT, Brewers fans don't get distracted. Say the course. Let's not overlook the immense amount of talent sitting in Biloxi in INF Tyler Black, OF Jackson Chourio, and C Jeferson Quero. These young men are, quite simply, studs. And with RHP Jacob Misiorowski coming to the pitching stables shortly, it is quite simply a talent buffet down yonder. Handling the 1-through-3 spots in the batting order, Black; Chourio; and Quero went a combined 9-of-14, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K. The only surprise here tonight is Tyler Black didn't swipe another base. Let's also not forget the back-to-back-to-back we saw Sparks-Black-Chourio in the fifth inning: 2) INF Isaac Collins (sometimes LF'er) has definitely had his own share of bright moments in 2023. He was called up to Nashville for a reason in the first half though he wasn't capable of taking advantage of that opportunity at the time - unfortunately, he was asked to play mostly LF in his very brief stint which isn't his natural position. Tonight, he managed a 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB (his 18th) output while adeptly manning second base. It may surprise you, but as someone who watches the Shuckers regularly I want you to know: Collins is now hitting 0.265 with an 0.845 OPS in 143 AB's - 7 2B, 4 HR, 30 R, 18 RBI, 37 BB, 29 K. This is a quality baseball player and my hunch is you may not quite know this yet. 3) I continue to enjoy watching INF Ethan Murray play the game of baseball. He had an uncharacteristic bout of errors playing SS in the past month but that is the exception not the norm. He is a very good infielder with a capable arm and surprising range and leaping ability. Since his surprising call-up to Biloxi lat year, however, he's really advanced in the batters box. This is a player on the rise. He finished his evening 2-for-5 with 2 R, 2 RBI, and 1 K. He also hit his fifth long ball of the year - an oppo blast to right center on a mistake curve: Final: Wisconsin 9, Dayton (Reds) 8 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the T-Rats' site, game details, please visit and review: Wisconsin Wins a Wild One at Dayton They had outhit the Dragons. They had more RISP throughout the contest and, yet, the T-Rats trailed 8-6 heading into the ninth frame. Fear not, I said! Let us adorn our baseball crowns with mighty T-Rats rally caps! Fear not, I said! The T-Rats may have been 1-for-40 coming back when trailing after eight innings but the Dragons bullpen had blown 21 save opportunities in 2023. The Reds pitching woes run deep into the thorny briars. It was the perfect recipe the young Timber Rattlers needed to go 2-for-41 in their late game comeback bids. RHP Stiven Cruz got the opening nod and, well, he was mostly the 2023 version of Cruz we've become accustomed to. We hope he bends but doesn't break. This is the nature of his season so far, unfortunately. He ended his work after just 4 IP and just 67 pitches 6 H, 2 BB, 4 ER, 2 K. The Timber Rattlers led 5-4 at that point after rallying for five runs of their own in the top-half of the fourth inning. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Egregiously left out of the 'Game Ball' and 'Honorable Mentions' above (who writes these things anyway - sheesh), OF Je'Von Ward was clutch at the dish all night. No hit was more meaningful than his one out tailing double off the low left center wall to keep the comeback mojo alive post-Darrien Miller solo shot. He finished his evening 4-for-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI at the plate and throw in a pivotal OF assist in there as well. No game ball? Unacceptable. 2) He just keeps hitting. And, as a result, he's now seeing his name in the clean-up spot to open a road series. 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. is cooking in July. After tonight's 2-for-5 work at the dish, Martinez is hitting a scorching 0.375 BA with a 1.111 OPS in 48 AB's in July. And, this is after hitting 0.295 BA with a 0.839 OPS in 51 AB's in June. He's trending. Two-month trending. How Martinez Jr. closes out his 2023 season is one of the most inriguing storylines in all of Brewers Minor League baseball given their lack of meaningful depth at the 1B position. 3) 10-9 overall in the second half and just three games back of first place Peoria. A win like this demonstrates why several of us were so high on the T-Rats potential in the second half of their 2023 season. This just feels like a team on the rise. They are executing better in key spots. They are playing better baseball for longer stretches. If (and it's a big if given trends) they can get more arms pitching more consistently from the starting rotation, they could really make some noise to close their season. Stay tuned. Final: Carolina 6, Kannapolis (White Sox) 0 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Mudcats Blank Ballers 6-0 in Series Opener The Mudcats moved to 9-9 in the first half - just 1 game out of first place Delmarva - and 42-39 on the season as a whole. It was a combined shutout effort between starter LHP Nate Peterson (3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K), RHP Tyler Wehrle (4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 W), and RHP Jeison Pena (1 IP, 1 K). The entirety of the Mudcats damage came in the first four frames. Baseball is a game of opportunity, however, and the Mudcats made their mark when the irons were in the proverbial fire. Three Quick Strikes: 1) My memory certainly isn't what it used to be, but, I'm going out on a limb here: INF Luke Adams adjusted his leg lift during the All-Star break. I absolutely don't recall this pronounced action: Do you? Chime in below. I'm going off memory here but I've watched likely 2/3rd the Mudcats game so the memory is fairly informed. Regardless, Adams had an improved night at the dish. That's now 24 SB (7 CS) in 2023. The athletic tools continue to pop. He remains a massive wealth of athletic talent. He is still just 19 years old through the entirety of 2023 and into the first month of the 2024 season. 2) OF Jace Avina has fallen to the ninth spot in the batting order? Well, when you are hitting 0.192 in July and that is your second best month of your season that will happen. However, I still see better things than I did in the very early going of this season. The 8:3 K:BB ratio in July plays for me - this is improved. His 0.738 OPS is acceptable as well. This is a big couple of months for the young man and I'm hoping these improved approaches lead to better contact and better results. I still appreciate his effort and he hasn't once given bad body language - believe it or not, this is meaningful. He likely isn't pleased with his season but he's working. The results will come with his commitment. 3) 1B/DH Jesus Chirinos has had one of the more forgettable seasons in the entire Brewers system in 2023. His struggles in Wisconsin - offensively and defensively - carried with him when he was re-assigned to Carolina. However, his 2022 surge truly began around this very same time - his birthday. He celebrates yet again on July 27th. Are we in store for another anomalous breakout? I have no clue. For a man his size to hit his first home run of 2023 on July 18th is quite surprising and I'm unsure if I'll ever understand the physics of taking your energy away from the baseball in a batting approach. But, hope springs eternal for this aging Brewers fan. The power is certainly in there: ACL Brewers 13, ACL Cubs 4Box Score / Game Log The ACL Crew bounced back from their Monday woes in fine fashion as they scored runs in each of the 4th-through-8th frames. They outhit the Cubbies 12-to-4 and managed a 5-for-16 mark with RISP. INF Dylan O-Rae continued to excel in the lead-off spot with his 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K evening (a very healthy 0.325 BA and 0.854 OPS). I already alluded to INF Juan Baez's stellar and outgoing offensive output above, but the 7th error and combined 0.9055 fielding percentage between SS and 3B has to be cause for concern. C Edgardo Ordonez continues to shine in nearly every opportunity he receives behind the plate and his offensive output is anything but offensive: 3-for-5, 3 R, 2 2 B on his evening. Also of note in this one, RHP Ryne Moore's successful opening 2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 1 K as he continues to rehab in hopes of a promotion back to Low-A or High-A. Finally, LF Miguel Briceno continues to shine in his limited plate appearances: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI - 0.370 BA and 0.840 OPS in a mere 30 PA's. With the victory, the young ACL Brewers moved to 14-15. DSL Brewers #1 3, DSL Dodgers Mega 1Box Score / Game Log The combined victories here and for the Brewers Dos were the highlights of my Brewers Minor League day. Finally, the Dodgers fall at the hands of the young DSL Crew. A quiet sigh of relief stirred through my mountain valley. In the case of these Brewers Uno, they trailed 1-0 early to boot. They managed to score their first two runs on an infield single and a balk but INF Gery Holguin managed to smack his 8th double for the third and final run. This game was all about the combined pitching efforts of RHP's Jesael Cabrera and Enniel Cortez. 17-year-old Nicaraguan RHP Enniel Cortez, in particular, continues to showcase a game well beyond his years. He picked up his 4th win of 2023 in his 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 3 K work. In 28 2/3 IP in 2023 he now has 33 K to just 4 BB. Batters are hitting a mere 0.194 BAA with an 0.84 WHIP. Quite the season. The DSL Brewers Uno moved to 20-11 on their season and they moved into sole possession of second place in the DSL North just 5 GB of the Dodgers Bautista. DSL Brewers #2 7, DSL Dodgers Bautista 3Box Score / Game Log I don't know why this game was called after six innings, but I don't really care when it means the DSL Crew finished 2-0 versus the mighty DSL Dodgers. This was a big victory for the young DSL Brewers Dos who moved to 12-18 in the process - 5-5 in their last 10 games and 12 1/2 GB these same Dodgers Bautista. INF Filippo Di Turri continues to get on base at an accelerated clip (1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 SB) for the Brewers Dos despite their losing record. DH Pedro Ibarguen was the main run producer on the day as he sent three across home plate via singles (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 R). Scanning the box score and game logs, however, we see only three of the seven DSL Dos runs were earned. They were the willing beneficiaries of some much needed luck. We'll gladly take it. We'll be back at it again tomorrow. Both DSL Crew teams will be taking a much-deserved day off. The ACL Crew will be taking on the ACL Athletics late in the evening. RHP's Quinton Low and James Meeker will be the highlights for me personally as they take the hill for the Mudcats (in the very early going matinee - 8 am PST for me) and Shuckers, respectively. RHP Caleb Boushley will look to help get the suddenly struggling Sounds back on the winning track while RHP Cameron Wagoner will look to help the T-Rats start their road series at Dayton 2-0. 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 scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article