Joseph Zarr

For interested zealots, it is purportedly in the : Style: BHMBSMURKDBMBBT 😅

Here's a fun throwback from 2016 when RHP Thyago Vieira was considered the Mariners top relief pitching prospect. Fresh off a successful AFL stint and the sudden development of a plus slider: Read HERE RHP Abner Uribe: Take note, young man. Lots more work to be done.

Two morning/matinee games started things off in the lower levels - Nashville and Wisconsin, respectively. And they each started with a bang by grabbing two victories. In the evening, we had Biloxi and Carolina trying to round out an undefeated mid-week slate of games. We fell one game short as the Shuckers saw a late lead slip away in the eighth inning. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Game Balls: LHP Robert Gasser was absolutely fabulous in what was far and away his best outing as a Nashville Sound. It all came together and it was especially rewarding given his truly bad luck outing his last time out: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K. This is the potential that is oozing from his deep toolkit. OF Blake Perkins continued his extremely solid work in the Sounds outfield. This week he's been leading off and today he put it all together: a two-run HR jack and a 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 R game overall. Fantastic work from the smooth moving young prospect. RHP Edwin Jimenez gets the nod for his deepest outing (6 IP), his second win as a starter in High-A, and generally just continuing to put forth solid outings every time on the hill in 2023. He won't wow you with velocity but he continues to demonstrate he can pitch with his blend of off-speed. C Blayberg Diaz gets the nod for a very solid night overall - behind the plate and in the batter's box. Read more below. We have another solid catcher in the stables. INF Ethan Murray gets the final salute here with more fabulous defense and solid production in the batters box getting on base three times and scoring what was a brief go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Transactions: (5/29 - announced late) INF Jamal Zalm was released by the ACL Brewers (5/30 - announced late) RHP Breijher Subero was released by the DSL Brewers 1 Final: Nashville 4, Charlotte (White Sox) 0 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Robert Gasser Gifts Sounds Dominant Start in Birthday Win LHP Robert Gasser certainly looks the part - he has the eclectic blend of pitches that make up a solid lefty MLB rotation pitcher. And, today, he finally really showed out in Triple-A after some truly bad luck his most recent outing. I've opined in the past, given his truly fantastic aforementioned blend of pitches, if he could just consistently find the zone or nibble closer to it the rest will simply take care of itself. He did that, and quite a bit more, today to the tune of 7 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K, 0 ER. It's outings like these that simply remind us why the Brewers targeted him at last year's trade deadline. The refinement of a pitcher often takes time. Let's hope, with Gasser, this is, the start of that clock! Three Quick Strikes: 1) He didn't turn many heads or impress all that much in his recent call-up opportunity, but that shouldn't take a single thing away from how fantastic OF Blake Perkins has played for the Sounds. Since his first game, he's been as solid and as consistent as anyone on the roster. He showed out, yet again, today. A two-run jack in the fifth inning (his second of the year) and a 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 R overall in the lead-off spot is a manager's dream. If nothing else, in 2023 he is definitely proving the Brewers right for signing him with a 40-Man spot in the off-season. 2) After scuffling a bit since his return from injury, it's a breath of fresh air to see one of my favorites in INF Cam Devanney find some production at the dish. 2-for-3 with a 2B on the day - it's important to remember we're still only dealing with a 76 AB sample size given his early season injury. I will continue to go to bat for this young man's game - when he is on and clicking he's as tantalizing an infield prospect as the Brewers have in the lower levels. It's a matter of staying healthy and finding that groove. 3) Meanwhile, in Canada, we salute the Sounds on-base maven of the early going, Mr. Abraham Toro. First AB with the big club today in Toronto. Pay dirt: What? It's a road series. Let's celebrate one of our favorite Sounds of the early going 😝. Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 4, Biloxi 3 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Shuckers Fall in Close Affair Against Blue Wahoos, 4-3 Pre-Game Interviews: Brewers Organizational Pitching Coordinator (and former Shuckers pitching coach) Nick Childs is now in the archive and, tomorrow, RHP Luis Contreras will be on the mic in the same place. Check them out HERE RHP Tobias Myers had a very effective blend of his curveball and change-up to keep Wahoos hitters off balance throughout his three innings pitched. He was likely pulled early because he took a 106 mph liner off the back of his head during the third frame! He stayed in the inning, he was even smiling during the mound visit, but none the less being so close to the Adames episode it was certainly a worrisome moment. We'll have to stay abreast of any developments as the week progresses. LHP Russ Smith came on in relief. He pitched an effective first inning but ran into trouble in his second frame with a lead-off jack over the wall in right field followed by an opposite field line drive single. All in all, Smith continues to struggle to find his footing in Double-A but is suffering from an absurd BABIP and, ultimately, settled down tonight after the long ball. We'll take it as a successful appearance. Three Quick Strikes: 1) If you would have told me Pensacola starter RHP Luis Palacios didn't throw a ball in the 90's his entire outing, you could have fooled me. He had the Shuckers bats entirely out of synch. He was mixing in an extremely effective blend of off-speed (primarily a change-up and slider combo) and repeatedly had the Shuckers batters off-balance and making extremely weak contact if any. This was as clear as ever when he got OF Jackson Chourio swinging and whiffing at a change-up that tailed outside the zone in a crucial AB in the 7th inning with two down and two men on. It was refreshing to see a pitcher showcase velocity most definitely isn't everything. It was equally frustrating watching several of the Shuckers at-bats. 2) INF Ethan Murray continues to showcase his defensive acumen on a near nightly basis. Last night it was a head first diving save in the shallow right field grass. Tonight, not only did he leap to save a liner and grab the first out of the fifth frame he also ended it with runners on second and third and two down on this web gem: There are few better all around infield defenders in the entire system. He's that consistently good. And, what's more, in 2023 he's doing some solid work at the plate. A very refreshing story in the early going. 3) Some final quick hits: After a single early, INF Tyler Black is now up to a 25 game on-base streak - two shy of Cooper Hummel's club record. RHP James Meeker now has a plus curve ball - a big development for his pitching future. We may see Freddy Zamora hit the shelf for a spell with a concussion - just a hunch after a scary and violent collision sprinting toward a fly ball in left field and crashing full speed into LF Isaac Collins (who miraculously held on for the final out). You'll see this play at 3:04:12 on the MILB.tv broadcast. This game came down to OF Jackson Chourio's rough AB with two men on and two down in the 7th and then RHP Robbie Baker's two mistakes that left the yard. That was ball game. The Shuckers fell five back of these same Wahoos after gaining a game last night. Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria (Cardinals) 2Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review: Rattlers Rally Past Chiefs RHP Edwin Jimenez continued his break-out 2023 campaign by pitching his deepest outing to date - 6 IP, 2 ER (2 solo shots), 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. He picked up his second victory in High-A and greatly helped his squad grab their second consecutive victory. That's right: the Timber Rattlers have a winning streak! Just as importantly, they handed the Peoria Chiefs their seventh consecutive loss. How sweet it is. Remember, after the matinee, we get the home game post-game podcast: Full Game Highlights: Three Quick Strikes: 1) RHP Max Lazar grabbed the three inning save - 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K. He missed that third strikeout in his first inning by what must have been an inch, if that, on a glorious curveball on the outer stripe. He was walking off the mound, actually - it was a nasty pitch. He looked quite sharp overall on the afternoon. We just request one thing: stay healthy, Mr. Lazar! 2) INF Eric Brown Jr. was credited with a double error (fielding and throwing) on a two out chopper in the eighth inning. It was a play where he attempted to backhand the ball and it bounced up his glove and popped into the air. He ultimately should have eaten it. However, he barehand grabbed it and forced the throw late taking Hall off the bag and the ball down the line. The runner advanced to second base. We discussed it in our game thread (Start HERE), but his 10 errors on the season-to-date are more a product of forcing things or trying to get too much from a situation. I personally feel this is related to an over-confidence in his skills (and, they are quite delicious). In other words: with experience and practice he'll have to learn when to eat a play or when to dial it back. 3) I could discuss EBJ's 3-for-4 day at the dish driving his BA up to 0.272 but I am going to hone in on INF Eduardo Garcia. Garcia played what may have been his best game at the hot corner - making the very difficult look routine in a variety of ways. He also 'drove' in a run with a painful inside HBP with the bases dripping while also ripping two doubles. The first two-bagger was the T-Rats first hit of the afternoon. The second two-bagger resulted in what could have been a key insurance run heading into the ninth and final inning. The random feel good week of inexplicably advanced discipline at the plate is gone, sadly. But, it is still quite nice to see the young man find success at the dish. He finished his day 2-for-3, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 0 BB. He and Joe Gray Jr. both continue to mightily struggle with anything off-speed down or away. It is definitively their collective Achilles' heel. Final: Carolina 9, Lynchburg (Guardians) 1Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Diaz & Parra Help Mudcats Hammer Hillcats 9-1 Let me start by simply sharing: the ump crew in Lynchburg tonight was, unfortunately, as amateur as it gets. The home plate ump clearly didn't know the breadth of the strike zone - under his watch it became an absurdly tight dead center box. The field ump was missing calls at 3B robbing a beautiful Diaz to Vargas throw out on a double steal - the runner was out by a good 3 feet yet he somehow casually called him safe. This same ump was letting men who blatantly flew out stand at 2B as if they'd hit a double. It was unreal what I was seeing in the first inning. Regardless, a game was to be played. The missed strike calls continued throughout. RHP Jacob Misiorowski suffered from the above mentioned tight zone early as he was robbed of at least three strikes in the top of the first. However, it's a testament to him he was able to maintain his poise Three Quick Strikes: 1) If you were to carve out a bit of time to watch one team in the Brewers system with a strict focus on quality of baseball, the Mudcats would have to be at the top of your list. These young men play truly solid defense. They play smart baseball. They play aggressively. They are managed extremely well by an up-and-coming leader in Victor Estevez. The breadth of their pitching staff is fantastic. And, they are improving at the plate on an almost nightly basis. Tune in early and tune in often. These young men are simply enjoyable to watch. 2) Let me take a brief moment to introduce you to yet another fantastic catcher in the Brewers system: Blayberg Diaz. He is extremely spry behind the dish and has some deceptive size to boot - he is every bit of 5'11" and 190 (I would imagine he's added some weight and sits closer to 195-200). He has a plus arm - he was robbed tonight of a gorgeous throw to third base from his knees. And, he has an ascending bat. Each time out, I've seen him put forth better and better AB's. I mentioned Sibrian last night. Tonight, I share with you Diaz. 3) There are plenty of things to check out in the box score tonight - shutdown pitching throughout with a mere three hits allowed. Offensively, a bevy of men were on base - every Mudcat touched the bags, actually, but OF Jace Avina who still managed to knock in a run. With this being said, and being a road series and all, I deliver you the only Mudcat highlight - a Jesus Parra bomb over the wall in left field: We'll be back to all evening slates tomorrow. RHP Caleb Boushley looks to put his walk woes of his last outing to bed in Charlotte. RHP Christian Mejias will look to replicate his fantastic last trip to the hill and give the Shuckers a 2-1 series lead. RHP Cameron Wagoner will look to stop hanging those curveballs and give his team some solid innings - let's be honest, it's been a tough start to his 2023 season. And, we're still 'TBD' for Carolina in Lynchburg at time of publish. As always, thank you for reading and thank you 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

A couple retroactive late-announced releases: (5.29) INF Jamal Zalm was released by the ACL Brewers (5.30) RHP Breijher Subero was released by the DSL Brewers 1

It is an affiliate week where two teams are on the road (Carolina and Nashville) and two teams will enjoy some home cooking (Wisconsin and Biloxi). The series openers ended up a 3-1 evening after the late and improbable T-Rats comeback. The Mudcats continued to lead the charge. The Shuckers gained ground on first place Pensacola. And, the Sounds lost a frustrating affair. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Game Balls: RHP Will Rudy fought a very tight strike zone and continued his fantastic Low-A work while picking up another win over five scoreless innings. C Jose Sibrian showcased his vastly underrated defense and arm and knocked in a three-run deciding home run blast for good measure. C Matt Wood continues to demonstrate the move to High-A is certainly not too big for his bounty of talent. He went 3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, and poked in the tying run late: (For even more C Matt Wood goodness, be sure to check his 'T-Rats Talk' HERE) RHP Luis Contreras continued to showcase those brilliant flashes I saw in Nashville were no mere illusion. He pitched 2 1/3 crucial innings of one hit four strikeout ball. When he is on, as he was tonight, he is truly a fantastic relief arm. INF/OF Tyler Black continued to dazzle at the plate with the game-clinching 2-rbi triple in the second inning and he also showcased maybe he has more defense in that bag than we all give him credit for: Transactions: (5/29) LHP Alex Claudio was sent outright and activated by the Nashville Solunds INF/OF Noah Campbell was assigned to the Nashville Sounds from the Biloxi Shuckers OF Roman Quinn was assigned to the Nashville Sounds from the ACL Brewers 3B Abraham Toro was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds Highlights from the Week that Was: Take a look at the most complete starting pitcher in all of the Brewers Minor Leagues: Rodriguez was interviewed by Voice of the Shuckers Javik Blake for Sunday's pre-game (audio here). Let's revisit the most exciting young pitching prospect in the entire system: Lastly, let's remember why OF Jackson Chourio was given such superstar accolades to begin the 2023 season: Final: Charlotte (White Sox) 4, Nashville 2 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Late Rally Comes Up Short in Loss After a one hour weather delay in Charlotte, the Sounds managed to get their opening road tilt underway. In the first, RHP Pedro Fernandez gave up a lead-off double down the left field line that caromed off the lunging glove of OF Monte Harrison. This double proved costly after a two-out knock through the left side of the infield made it a 1-0 ballgame. In their opening half, the Sounds played to the tune of three straight strikeouts. Fernandez gave up a solo jack over the wall in right field in the second frame. He carried that 2-0 deficit into the fourth frame where the Sounds managed to scrape a run across in a bases loaded no out situation. The Knights, however, tacked on two more. Fernandez left with his team trailing 4-2. It wasn't the sharpest we've seen the jack-of-all-trades hurler, but he gave his team (and, more importantly, the Sounds bullpen) a shot over 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K, 4 ER. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Last week it was Biloxi's IF Lamar Sparks. Tonight, it was a gorgeous OF assist from OF Monte Harrison grabbing the final out in the bottom of the third inning and maintaining the 0-2 deficit in the process. There is no margin for error on these throws. Harrison absolutely rose to the occasion and threw a dart nailing the runner by a good 2 feet. Take my word for it or: 98 mph over that distance is absurd. As was the throw. No thank you to the road highlight absence! 2) Every time the Sounds managed to pull within a run, the Knights managed to extend the lead back to two - they did so in both the fourth and sixth innings. It was that type of road opener. What's more, with two down after consecutive lead-off strikeouts from C Payton Henry and INF Noah Campbell (suddenly a second baseman?), the Sounds still managed to load the bases in the final frame. It was all for naught when rehabbing Luis Urias grounded into the final out down the third base side. 3) Let's tip our caps to the continued resurgence of RHP J.C. Mejía and the continued shutdown work of RHP Thyiago Vieira - 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 ER between the two. They gave their team that crucial opportunity over the final innings to make a comeback run of it. Unfortunately, tonight, the Sounds fell short. Final: Biloxi 3, Pensacola (Marlins) 2 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Early Runs, Great Pitching Lead Shuckers to Series-Opening Win RHP Justin Jarvis was working as fast as ever and was extremely effective early. He was scoreless through 3 IP with a really nice curveball grabbing quite a number of looks as they crossed for strikes. Over the course of the entirety of his start, I would say Jarvis was effective; dominant at times (7K); but without his best stuff (5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 R). It was certainly enough to protect the early lead - especially important considering the Shuckers couldn't muster a single hit after the second frame. Three Quick Strikes: 1) The Shuckers on base streak record is 27 games. INF Tyler Black made it 24 games on a clutch two out triple to the wall in right field. There isn't all that much more to say about the offensive start to Black's 2023. It is, as the kids say: 'The Stuff' 2) INF Felix Valerio is now 4-of-6 dating back to Sunday. It's quite nice to see a young man rewarded with base hits after what seems like a steady year of extended periods of solid contact resulting in mostly outs. Now, these are all singles, so I'm not bringing out a megaphone here. However, we see 1 BB and 0 K. And, in general, it is simply nice to see a one-time blue chip prospect find some success at the plate. Let's hope it continues in the series ahead. 3) Major kudos are in order for RHP Abner Uribe who fought off a head-scratching display from the home plate umpire in the ninth and final inning. The first missed strike - a gorgeous curveball that cut the inner stripe in two - led off his inning with an undeserved walk. It got so testy for the relief ace, pitching coach Will Schierholtz had to visit the mound to calm the scene. The ump missed another strike 3 call as well during the same inning. It didn't matter, Uribe got the K swinging on another fabulous curve (his off-speed stuff was more dangerous than his heat tonight). He ended the game on a weak pop fly to shallow left field. The Shuckers moved within four games of first place Pensacola. Final: Wisconsin 8, Peoria (Cardinals) 7Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review: Fernández Finishes Wisconsin Rally with Walkoff Single in Tenth Full Game Highlights: RHP Alexander Cornielle was looking to turn the tides of his season and, well, he did what he has done throughout 2023: he lost his stuff during a single blow-out inning. Tonight, Cornielle's off flavor was a five run fourth frame. With those T-Rats bats hiding in the basement early it felt like one run may have been the difference. This all miraculously changed late when a rally forced extra innings and the T-Rats did the unexpected flipping a 6-0 deficit into an improbable extra innings walk-off. Three Quick Strikes: 1) INF Robert Moore's three two-out rbi's were key in the comeback effort. Overall, he finished 2-for-5 while tallying his 20th rbi. In the process he managed to get back to the Mendoza line! Let's hope tonight's mini-surge is a sign of better things to come for the young and talented 2022 draft pick. There is an entire summer ahead to get hot in more ways than one. 2) After an unbelievable seeing-eye sky high chopper one-hopped over the 1B and down the 1B line into the outfield grass, RF Joe Gray Jr. threw an absolute one-hop dart to C Matt Wood who calmly laid the tag on the Chiefs runner at home plate. It was an absolutely crucial play. It was a web gem moment. It was a game-saving play the T-Rats desperately needed: 3) The Timber Rattlers giveth - a spectacular charging throw-out to third base from 1B Ben Metzinger to open the 10th inning on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt. The Timber Rattlers taketh away - RHP Brennan Jordan walked the bases full in the same 10th frame. The Timber Rattlers giveth - 1B Ben Metzinger and C Matt Wood execute a fantastic inning-ending 3-2-3 double play to preserve the tie and give their team a chance to walk it off. The Timber Rattlers taketh away - OF Je'Von Ward pops out a bunt weakly to the pitcher at the pitcher's mound. The Timber Rattlers giveth (and taketh the victory) - OF Eduarqui Fernandez ripped a line drive single into center field scoring INF Eduardo Garcia from second base. What a roller coaster walk-off! Final: Carolina 5, Lynchburg (Guardians) 1Box Score / Game LogGame Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Adams and Sibrian Power Mudcats to 5-1 Victory RHP Will Rudy had an uncharacteristic start to his stellar early season when he walked only his fifth batter of his campaign. This was aided quite a bit by a fairly tight strike zone in the early going. He managed to escape the first inning unscathed, however, after C Jose Sibrian threw that lead-off man out at second base on a very nice pop and toss. This was a key grab as the second batter ripped the ball off the wall in deep left center field. The inning ended after an OF Jace Avina PO and OF Assist during a failed hit-and-run. INF Luke Adams ripped a solo jack in the top of the first frame. C Jose Sibrian golfed a three-run shot over the left field wall in the second frame. It was 4-0 before I could finish my first adult beverage. If only every game could begin so wonderfully. If only we had automated balls and strikes in Low-A. Yeah, it wasn't pretty from the called balls and strikes perspective. Three Quick Strikes: 1) I said it last week and I'll say it again tonight: INF Gregory Barrios is playing far beyond his lowly offensive numbers - numbers greatly damaged by his struggles at the plate in the very early part of 2023. He led off his evening with a smoked line drive up the middle infield for a lead-off single. He calmly let the pitcher throw to first twice. He then stole his 11th base of his season. Barrios is making better contact, he's playing more aggressively, and he's finding his comfort zone. This is a young player we should all be excited to watch as this season progresses. He ripped a two-out rbi single up the middle in his second AB. It's a night and day difference and I'm very much here for it. 2) I said it in 2022, but I'll say it again tonight (again, I guess 😅): C Jose Sibrian is plain a really solid backstop. He's defensively very sound, he has a plus arm, and he can occasionally do this: There's a reason the Brewers re-upped this young man. I simply propose to you, dear readers, this is yet another absurdly underrated catcher in the Brewers system. Hello, Brian Navarreto. Hello Brent Diaz. I raise you Jose Sibrian. 3) It wasn't the shutdown start we saw from Will Rudy, but it was quite nice to see RHP Yujanyer Herrera pitch to the tune of a four inning save. I still see those lingering episodes where he loses his release point and his control (4 BB tonight), but all in all, he has the youth; the size; the frame; and enough tools to work with to see if he can't find more consistency in and around the zone. Hopefully this comes with time - he has quite a bit of deceptive movement in his offerings. Tomorrow, LHP Robert Gasser will look to stop that ballooning ERA and bad luck BABIP in a game that starts at 8:05 am my time (yuck!). Rounding out the matinee session will be RHP Edwin Jimenez looking to build off of tonight's T-Rats comeback victory. In the evening, we'll see RHP Tobias Myers (and, hopefully, an improved array of heaters) in Biloxi and, as of the time of publish, we're still TBD for Carolina in Lynchburg. As always, thanks for reading and thank you for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

It is bittersweet. He definitely showed these flashes with the Sounds but he simply wasn't able to maintain it. Here's hoping he can continue running with this opportunity. Not to be missed on this same Oakland ballclub is the continued really solid job OF Esteury Ruiz continues to do in the lead-off slot. Last I checked 25 SB. 0.272 BA. 23 RBI. Just having a fantastic debut FT season.

We have an OF Keon Broxton sighting: He'a still grinding away for the Kansas City Monarchs

The more I learn of Griffin the more I become an absolute fan. He has paid his literal dues ever step of his journey. He was on Skiles' Bucks staff because he played for Skiles as a player while Skiles coached the Bulls. Got one big time program offer to Seton Hall in the Big East - took it and his senior year got 2nd team Big East honors. Went undrafted and played CBA and USBL before the Celtics gave him the opportunity on a classic undrafted two year deal. Skiles saw he was teaching and related with the young guys. He is just an extremely likable guy. Highly recommend checking out this 18 minute video. It gives great insight to who he is, how he is, and how his players love him:

Agreed. I had to double take every time he sprinted into the shallow RF grass: "Noah, what are you doing leaving first base?!?" 😅

What an absolutely thrilling evening of Brewers Minor League baseball. Take your woes from another shellacking in Milwaukee, send your sincere well wishes to Willy Adames after that scary moment in the dugout, and take comfort in another exciting night in the lower levels. We saw two walk-offs, three victories, and thrilling moments throughout. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Game Balls: We're recognizing: RHP Tyler Wehrle's fantastic 4 IP in late relief - keeping his team in the game; striking out seven Wood Ducks; and just generally looking like a total stud. We'll stay in Zebulon and recognize RHP Logan Henderson's high impact 56 pitch outing - 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K - inducing a lot of weak contact and ripping K's with that heater and change-up combo. OF Lamar Sparks eclipses his teammate C Jeferson Quero and gets the nod here for his unreal game-saving throw to home plate in the top of the 10th frame (see highlight below) getting the OF assist and the DP tally. Teammate, OF Jackson Chourio, also gets the nod here with more late-inning walk-off heroics while breaking his 0-for-21 slump in epic fashion. And, we end with 1B/DH Luke Voit who had a fantastic night in Nashville - 2-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R. He beats out his teammate, C Payton Henry who had a fine 4-for-4 evening at the dish. Transactions: LHP Ethan Small was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds RHP Tyson Miller was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers 2B/OF Isaac Collins was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the Nashville Sounds Final: Nashville 7, Iowa (Cubs) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Clutch Hits in Eighth Innings Lifts Sounds Over I-Cubs LHP Thomas Pannone was very solid through 3 IP. However, the wheels started to lose their balance in the fourth inning when he gave back a three run lead. It's a testament to his savvy he made it 5 IP but it was a struggle: 8 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 4 ER. That's limiting the damage considering the number of runners he had on the bags. Three Quick Strikes: 1) RHP JC Mejía has been a different pitcher since his Development List stint. Tonight exemplified this with his slider suddenly the dangerous weapon it was touted to be when he first was traded to the Brewers. He is sharper. He is more accurate. He is simply pitching at a much better capacity. You love to see it (well, I certainly do). 2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 ER. His scoreless innings were pivotal. 2) I continue to be impressed with RHP Thyiago Vieira. He is an imposing mound presence and he is delivering in every outing so far in his brief stint as a member of the Sounds bullpen. Tonight he grabbed his first save and looked the part. After tonight's closing performance, he has pitched in 8 games and completed 10 2/3 IP. He has yet to concede a run. He has a 14:5 K:BB ratio. Batters are hitting a measly 0.111 against him while he sports an extremely impressive 0.56 WHIP. As @damuellehas alluded to in recent threads: this is an arm we might just see in Milwaukee. I personally hope we see it. 3) It was as clutch as they come and it was even enhanced by the rare fake bunt into level swing. OF Blake Perkins did not disappoint in this AB resulting in the go-ahead run in the eighth frame. This is definitively not as easy as Perkins makes it look: Kudos to Cam Devanney here for really turning on those jets despite the bounce over the wall. You love the hustle. Several Sounds are worth mention in this one, overall, so please scan the box score. Final: Biloxi 6, Montgomery (Rays) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Quero Ties It, Chourio Wins It as Duo Powers Shuckers to 6-4 Walk-Off Win *** Be sure to stay tuned to Shuckers announcer Javik Blake's ongoing pre-game interviews - HERE. We have OF Lamar Sparks interview from last night now on the page. Tonight (loaded tomorrow) we'll hear from manager Mike Guerrero as he discusses LHP Nick Bennett, OF Lamar Sparks, and the recent goings on from his Shuckers squad. *** RHP Christian Mejias has shown throughout the early going: he can pitch quite effectively in the Southern League as a starter. He was on point tonight, as he has been several times this year. At this point, we're just looking for that all elusive consistency. 6 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 ER, and 9 K is going to play nearly every night of baseball. Can we get some stacked success? That is always the challenge. Here's hoping. Three Quick Strikes: 1) You'll be hard pressed to find a better throw in a more crucial spot than what OF Lamar Sparks put on tape in the top of the 10th inning. With RHP Cam Robinson finding more bad luck in his 2023 season and RHP Zach Vennarro on the try and put the fire out, a fairly deep fly ball was hit to the right field grass. Sparks corralled the ball with very little charging momentum and fired an absolute dart on the button to C Jeferson Quero who calmly laid down the tag. It was just an incredible throw: 2) Coming to the plate in the 10th inning (after INF Tyler Black worked a fantastic patient walk), OF Jackson Chourio was mired in an 0-for-21 slump. All he had to show for his evening of work at the plate was a beanball to the glute. However, there just isn't another player in the system you'd rather have at the dish in such a high leverage situation - slump and all. He just has a knack for the dramatic - a skill you really can't teach - and has a penchant for doing superstar things in big moments. Tonight, he ripped a high and inside heater over the wall in left field and that was ball game. Three runs plated. The Shuckers stole a victory: 3) RHP Cam Robinson continues to search for his form of 2022. He was definitely the victim of some poke bloop hits, so let's not make too big a deal of tonight's outing. But, what I continue to see in his recent outings is a sudden lack of confidence and a lack of effective execution in favorable counts. He's simply put: in a funk. When Robinson is at his best, his violent delivery is a single ingredient ameliorating his mix of offerings as they flirt in and out of the zone while effectively attacking hitters. What I see now is a pitcher who has lost a bit of that violence - he's dumbed down his delivery (for lack of a better phrasing) and he's throwing a bit timidly. If he wants to get back to dictating the AB's, he's going to need to find that fire and that attack mode. This is a crucial stretch for the young man and I'm certainly pulling for him. Final: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 4, Wisconsin 1 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review: Kernels Quiet Rattlers RHP Cameron Wagoner avoided the big inning for the most part but he had far too many runners on base - this continues to be a major problem for the young hurler. I would say his main culprit at this point is his hanging curveballs. He had conceded nine hits through a mere 3 IP - with a 1 BB, 1 WP, and a balk . That's simply not a recipe for success at any level. Several of those knocks came on center cut hanging curves - those are pitches that leave the yard on most nights. All we can hope for as the season progresses is continued work and fine tuning the location issues. Make no mistake about it, however: nearly every outing is a struggle at present. Tonight was no different. It's almost a war with himself when he takes the mound in 2023. Three Quick Strikes: 1) SS Eric Brown Jr. continues to show the entire package of late. He is a gold glove caliber infielder - in every sense of what that means. He is just as smooth as they come covering the infield dirt. He has a very good plus arm and he covers so much ground with great athleticism and lateral movement. Now, we're starting to see the bat catch up with the stance and pre-swing adjustments he made this off-season. There is so much to like here. It's a pleasure seeing him start to find success. 2) Let's honor the fine recovery bullpen work we saw from LHP Luis Amaya (3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER (HR), 0 BB, 5 K) and RHP Michele Vassalotti (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K). After Wagoner nearly caused the wagon wheels to fall off, these two gave their teammates a serious opportunity to make a ball game of the affair. Unfortunately, though their efforts certainly go noticed, those T-Rats bats were relatively silent and ineffective throughout. 3) I haven't seen the same version of early-season INF Ben Metzinger since he's returned from a brief stint out of the line-up in late April into early May. I personally wonder if he's dealing with a nagging something. If he isn't, he's in a month-long slump at present. There are many months ahead, but the concerns about his arm from 2022 still linger. I'm going to rest my hope on the possibility this is merely a mini-slump in a long season from a very fundamentally sound baseball player and nothing more. ? Final: Carolina 4, Down East (Rangers) 2 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Perez Hits Walk-Off For First Place Mudcats RHP Logan Henderson struck out four through 2 IP but it was a hanging curveball that caused a wee bit of damage as it was ripped 105 mph over the left field wall. The Mudcats trailed 1-0. With Henderson, it's all about developing and fine-tuning those off-speed offerings - primarily the curveball as the change-up is already a plus pitch. The fastball is a very advanced pitch - it has fantastic rise out of the hand, sneaks up on many a hitter, and gets many a swing and miss. If he can continue to mix in, locate, and fine tune those off-speed offerings he is likely going to rise through the system quite quickly. Obviously, the addendum here is: health is the key. Henderson's counterpart, the Rangers' RHP Brock Porter, was perfect through 3 IP and was quite impressive for a 19-year-old 4th round pick in 2022 fresh out of high school. Unfortunately, he left early with an apparent left leg injury. He remains a young arm in the Rangers arm I'd peripherally follow. Three Quick Strikes: 1) The Mudcats bats were silent and off-balance through the first four innings. RHP Brock Porter and his replacement, RHP Kai Wynyard, went 12 up and 12 down with a perfect game in tact. Even though the hits were lacking, the AB's were purposeful. The Mudcats ultimately drove Wynyard's pitch count into the 50's 2) The Mudcats had the bases dripping with no outs in the fifth inning. OF Hedbert Perez swung at three balls outside the zone. C Blayberg Diaz struck out looking. INF Alexander Perez walked the first run in. It was 1B Jesus Chirinos who walked in the tying run in the eighth inning. With the score knotted at 2-2, OF Hedbert Perez came to the dish looking for redemption after an Avina single led off the ninth inning. Honestly, it looked like a possible repeat fifth inning AB as he swung and missed on his first two strikes on balls outside the zone. He must have learned from his previous AB, however, as he delivered mightily for a walk-off blast on a beautiful swing. He laid back on the off-speed delivery and calmly drove the ball over the right field wall. It was a heck of a moment for the young outfielder and the first walk-off for the Mudcats in 2023. 3) Strikeouts. Strikeouts. Strikeouts. What a fantastic performance from the Mudcats pitching staff. The combined efforts from RHP Logan Henderson, RHP Jeferson Figueroa, and RHP Tyler Wehrle was a sight to behold. Each and every arm, to a man, was dialed. When all was said and done we saw 9 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 17 K, 2 ER. Nobody was more impressive on this fine evening than RHP Tyler Wehrle who just dealt over his 4 IP. This was the best he's looked in 2023 and it was head turning. We have four extremely closely contested series on our hands. As a Brewers Minor League aficionado, I revel in these moments. The uber-talented RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez takes the hill for the Shucker tomorrow and looks to build off tonight's dramatic victory. RHP Caleb Boushley looks to keep the good times strumming in Nashville. RHP Stiven Cruz will look to re-discover the fine form of 2022 in what has been a mysterious struggle so far in 2023. And, in Zebulon RHP Yujanyer Herrera will look to find the pre-injury form in what has been an up-and-down 2023. Thank you for reading and, as always, thank you for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Arm slot inconsistencies be damned, I say. When RHP Jacob Misiorowski's off-speed arsenal is as consistent as it was tonight, I just don't care what the so called experts proclaim. Let me just enjoy the sweet nectar for one evening of Low-A bliss. There is too much exuberant youth with too much talent to ignore here. Do we really even care if he ends up an MLB reliever or a starter? I sure don't. In his longest and most effective outing to date as a professional pitcher, Misiorowski absolutely dazzled with O H, 0 BB, a questionable HBP, and 9 K - all from off-speed pitches. That's right. Not a single strikeout came from the 101 mph heat we were seeing on this fine late May evening. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Game Balls: RHP Jacob Misiorowski was abolutely incredible in his longest outing as a professional pitcher through 5 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 9 K. His slider was the best I've seen it - just a riveting display of pitching. INF Eric Brown Jr. continues his torrid run of late with a 4-for-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B outing. C/DH Darrien Miller continued a scorching hot May (more below) with a key 2-RBI double in the first frame to help the T-Rats move toward their third straight. RHP Nick Merkel executed what may have been his best relief outing of his season with 2 IP and 3 K of late-inning relief work. His off-speed arsenal was truly wonderful as he held suit and extended the no-hit bid into the 9th frame. And, alas, 1B/DH Luke Voit has a two-game hitting streak! He hit his first long ball for those Nashville Sounds: Transactions: RHP Jake Cousins was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers Final: Iowa (Cubs) 12, Nashville 5 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Crush Three Homers in Loss to Iowa LHP Robert Gasser reverted to that inconsistent form we've seen throughout his Triple-A tenure with the Sounds. The first inning was quite effective and quite nice despite an ugly throwing error from rehabbing Luis Urias at the hot corner. The second inning was also quite nice. However, from the third inning onward it was a series of seeing eye weak contact after weak contact after weak contact hits. The hits just kept coming. When all was said and done, Gasser left after a mere 4 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 7 R, 5 ER. It was a deficit the Sounds never recovered from. As our very own @wiguy94pointed out: he didn't pitch particularly well but he certainly wasn't getting an ounce of luck either. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Even when the Sounds are struggling as a whole, you can almost guarantee they'll be long ball fireworks. They did hit three homers, as the affiliate recap alludes to above. And, no ball was hit harder or hit further than, you guessed it, mash artist C Alex Jackson's rocket to straightaway CF. He may lack consistency or a refined hitting approach as a whole, but you'll be hard pressed to find a man who can routinely smash balls further: 2) INF Luis Urias' 0-for-4 outing very much had the feel of an early spring training affair. Toss in the ugly throwing error, and that point is further validated. The young and talented infielder is now 0-for-9 with 3 K in his two outings for the Sounds. Let's hit that panic button! 3) RHP Ryan Middendorf's frustrating 2023 season continued with another paper cut multi-run outing (2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 ER). He hasn't had any egregious blowout outings, but he's suffered far too many paper cut, multiple hit, multiple run relief appearances in 2023. He was one of my darlings of the 2022 season and, frankly, one of my favorite players overall. 2023 has been nowhere near as kind. He has to start limiting the number of base runners if he hopes to salvage his season. Final: Montgomery (Rays) 14, Biloxi 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Shuckers Fall to Biscuits, 14-4, at MGM Park on Thursday I continue to look for movement on RHP Tobias Myer's fastball. And, well, I continue to see far too much 'stillness' - currently, it's a pitch that leaves and arrives on a level plane. Gone, for me, is the feel good of those early outings - and those outing were fantastic, mind you. When a pitcher is getting hit this hard and when his fastball (and change-up) simply hangs over the meat of the plate, there are bound to be issues. I share this to say: I really don't know what the Brewers have here. The recent outings just haven't been all that impressive, unfortunately. Three Quick Strikes: 1) If we're going to anoint OF Jackson Chourio a top prospect in all of baseball, we're going to start needing to see more flashes in the very least. He looked every bit the part of an 0-for-4, 1 K performance tonight. He struck out on an off-speed delivery at least a good three feet outside the strike zone and in the dirt and to the back stop. It was a poor swing on an extremely poor pitch. Other than a nice (if dramatized) catch to deep center field, there really wasn't a single thing in Chourio's game to suggest he's ready to leave his ongoing slump. He has to be more selective. He has to learn to identify off-speed consistently. The BA dipped to 0.239 and the OPS to 0.658. 2) Let's counter Chourio's ongoing struggles with INF Tyler Black's ongoing climb. He absolutely smashed another home run (his seventh on the season) off the scoreboard in right field. If the sole offensive question we had coming into 2023 was Black's power stroke, he's answering the bell and then some. He also nabbed his 24th stolen base in the middle innings. It's hard to imagine a Brewers future without Black smashing balls in the heart of the line-up. 3) With little else to celebrate in this blow-out, let's celebrate the fact RHP Kaleb Bowman tallied a strikeout in his Double-A debut. And, well, it was downhill from there for the young hurler. Don't look at the stat line. I beg you. Let's simply laud the fact Bowman was literally pitching in the German Bundesliga (!!) last season. Quite the jump. Let's hope he finds more footing in the Southern League. Final: Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 4 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review: Wisconsin Wins Third Straight with 8-4 Victory at Cedar Rapids RHP Edwin Jimenez scuffled a bit in the very early going but, as he is prone to doing in 2023, he ultimately found his footing and gave manager Joe Ayrault and his teammates five solid innings. When all was said and done, Jimenez tossed 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 5 K. His off-speed deliveries continued to be the cream of his crop. The early damage was done on heaters - they weren't bad pitches per se, but the Kernels bats were clearly sitting on the heater. Three Quick Strikes: 1) As alluded to above, INF Eric Brown Jr. continues to put the very early season woes behind him. The swing adjustments are coming into focus and I'm consistently seeing patient AB's. Pitches are being fought off and near misses still end in productive AB's. Everything we are wanting to see from a first round pick is starting to rear its head. If we marry the improving bat with already elite defense, I think it's fair to say we can get excited. Let's simply hope it continues and, more importantly, let's hope he stays healthy for a good run into the summer. 2) We've seen RHP Edwin Jimenez mostly in the middle innings until tonight. His middle inning mate was none other than starting pitcher RHP Joseph Hernandez. Is this going to be an ongoing thing? Are Jimenez and Hernandez the jack of all trade long inning guys in Ayrault's staff? It's much too early to tell. This was an interesting wrinkle, however. Hernandez's sole blemish came on a two-run HR over the left field wall that was more like a protect me golf swing. It barely made it over the shallow porch in left field and, ultimately, amounted to little more than a blemish. 3) C/DH Darrien Miller started things off with a crucial double deep down the right field line. It was a key and opportune hit that got the T-Rats humming. This shouldn't be a surprise, however: Miller is scorching hot in May. After a 2-for-4 night with the key 2 rbi knock, Miller is hitting 0.326 with a 0.988 OPS in the current month. Zesty! Final: Carolina 5, Down East (Rangers) 0 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review: Misiorowski's 9 Ks & Avina's Homer Lead to 5-0 Win RHP Jacob Misiorowski came out slinging the baseball with purpose in the first frame. Sitting 99-101 on the heater (whew baby!) while dazzling with a gorgeous breaking ball on two consecutive K's, it was clear: he was ready to compete. Nine up and nine down, 5 K, ready to compete. It's amazing how much better everything is with accuracy. And, folks, It just got better and better and better. When all was said and done, amongst the four Mudcats pitchers overall, the pitching staff managed to bring a no-hit bid into the ninth frame. Ultimately, they grabbed the shoutout as RHP Tanner Shears stranded the bags full with a fantastic display of ridiculously knuckling splitters. Three Quick Strikes: 1) OF Jace Avina continues to improve his approach and output at the dish. You just love to see it. After a near missed smash double off the wall to deep right center (the wind was blowing in fiercely from center field on a cool night in Zebulon), he pulled a 103 mph sinking rocket over the wall in left field during his next AB. All told, when the evening was over, Avina went 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K, 3 R, 2 RBI. He also nabbed his 4th stolen base of 2023. 2) You won't see it in a strictly numbers or box score approach, but INF Gregory Barrios is definitely stacking better AB's with a more patient approach at the plate. It's truly night and day from his very early season hitless woes. The batting average and the OPS remain unimpressive but tonight was exemplary of his improved approach. His 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K, SB (10th on the season) evening was just solid all around. The numbers will come. Make no mistake, he's just getting comfortable and he is really impacting games. 3) The Mudcats had the chance for the no-hitter when RHP Tanner Shears and his splitter/heater combo came to the hill in the ninth inning. Though Shears couldn't complete the deal, just as impressive was his ability to escape a bases loaded no out jam by striking out the side. His splitter sits 80-87 and has a ridiculously good knuckle ball spin rate. His heater rides quite nicely in the 96-97 mph range. He didn't close out the deal but he certainly turned some heads. He is having a fantastic 2023 to date. That's a wrap for this week Thursday's Minor League Brewers slate. Be sure to tune back in tomorrow while we see if RHP Logan Henderson can build on the fantastic start his last time out for Carolina. LHP Thomas Pannone will look to build more good things for the Nashville Sounds who will look to even the series versus the Cubbies. RHP Cameron Wagoner will attempt to continue walking on the comeback trail as the T-Rats try to keep finding that winning touch. And, in Biloxi, RHP Christian Mejias will look to rediscover some of the fine form he showed out of the Shuckers bullpen as a lead horse out of the starting gates for the Shuckers who sorely need another victory. Thank you for reading and, as always, thank you for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

And, yet, somehow, the Brewers remain four games above .500 and atop the woeful NL Central. I think the one constant these adult drink specialists bring to the table is a consistent ability to defy the Odds - will Teheran? I doubt it but I wouldn't put it past him to give starts that give the team chance to win some games.. Overall, the signing feels very uninspired but, then again, at this stage of the party we are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Thanks for the report, Daniel. 🔥

As a fan of winning games and celebrating player development: I absolutely heart Mudcats manager Victor Estevez. This really can be a both and. And, we often see another brand of managing. Estevez is a breath of fresh air stateside and it certainly feels as though the Brewers have a gem on their hands.

It may not be discernible to viewers who haven't watched every one of RHP Logan Henderson's starts. BUT, I want to point out what you will see on the latter part of that highlight reel: intensity and a demonstrable display of amped-upness (for lack of a better term). THIS is the Logan Henderson we saw last season before he was shelved in nearly every inning of work. THIS is who he is at his core when he is 'On'. This a very encouraging sign. His first outing, he really really had the rust and couldn't get any meaningful swings with his off-speed tools. This was an extremely encouraging outing and one we should be excited about and hang on to in the near term.

I needed ONE look at that Durham HR slo-mo replay to realize that was former Shucker killer OF Niko Hulsizer. Seriously, he is a Brewers destroyer. How many times did he steal games from the Shuckers in 2022? Keep your head up, Mr. Thompson. That was pre-destined.

It's hard to know what Misiorowski will end up being given he is still so young. Nothing Law wrote was all that surprising, however, and it felt quite accurate. He may end up a relief arm. But, sheesh, if that's the case that's one heck of a weapon. This just in: baseball is really hard and it's really difficult to even make it to the MLB for a single opportunity let alone carve out a niche at any position.

This is a big deal! Hopefully he has found the right treatment and post-op success tor those eye issues!

Thanks for the work, Jim. Just got the internets back and this was the report I needed to ground me back in the Brewers Minor League universe.

C Alex Jackson was activated off Nashville's 7-Day IL RHP Edrian Robinson was activated by the ACL Brewers Blue INF Beyker Pastran was assigned to the ACL Brewers Blue RHP Jesus Rivero was assigned to the ACL Brewers Blue C Jason Ollarve was assigned to the ACL Brewers Blue (from the ACL Brewers Gold)

Something happened with Fernandez on those back-to-back long balls with his off-speed stuffs. I mentioned it in the report on Tuesday night. I was unsure it was Development List worthy but it would appear they want to fine-tune some stuff. I would imagine RHP Lucas Erceg might be headed there soon as well depending on how the staff views his quagmire last night (a couple errors really exacerbated his lack of off-speed control so maybe they will give him the benefit of the doubt?)