We were back to a full seven-game Brewers Minor League bonanza. I don't know about you, but I love Brewers Minor League baseball. These full days give me great joy. Well, until a game is postponed! As per usual, we had the DSL Cerveceros entertaining our morning hours. We had the starts to our four affiliate home series happening throughout the early evening. And, we had the ACL Crew closing shop in the late hours of the desert southwest. Let's get into the report!
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Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers
Game Balls:
I am running out of adjectives to describe INF Tyler Black's season. His defense is trending in a better direction at the hot corner - he made a fantastic stab and throw home to grab a key out early though he was eaten by a hard chopper later in the game - and everything he does offensively turns to gold. He notched his 38th stolen base in 53 games. He ripped his 9th homer 414 feet to left center - 99 mph off the bat. I have a legitimate baseball man crush.
RHP Logan Henderson answered the bell and then some tonight. This game definitively had a feel of "If he's not on a pitch count in his ongoing recovery and build-up, we're looking at a quality start." He ended his night after 5 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 9 K. Just a stellar outing featuring his full arsenal of dominant tools.
RHP Jacob Misiorowski wasn't as efficient as his former Low-A counterpart in RHP Logan Henderson, but consider this: he has yet to concede a single run since his High-A promotion. I personally feel these High-A umps don't really know how to call several of his pitches as I see numerous blown calls in every outing. He has so much movement in those sliders and breaking balls, I almost feel the umps fail to see those blazing heaters. None the less, Misiorowski gets the nod here with his ability to meet such a big moment in his career and come away entirely unscathed - 4 2/3 IP,
OF Tristen Lutz gets the nod here for his beauty of a line drive to CF to improbably walk-off Chattanooga. He had missed a deep fly to RF the first pitch he saw. He knew he was reading the heater. Kudos to him for waiting for his pitch and ripping it for the ice bath.
RHP Brennan Jordan gets the nod for playing the part of a closer in the seventh inning. More below. His pivotal 1 1/3 IP helped ensure the T-Rats shutout remained intact.
Transactions:
RHP Nick Merkel was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats
In a corresponding move, 20-year-old RHP Jose Chavez, in what was his third consecutive ACL season with the Brewers, was rewarded with an assignment to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers. Fantastic news for the young hurler.
OF Roman Quinn was released by the Nashville Sounds - best of luck, Mr. Quinn!
In a corresponding move, INF/OF Josh Van Meter was activated by the Nashville Sounds (he had been rehabbing with the ACL Crew)
RHP Jason Alexander was moved to the Biloxi Shuckers from the ACL Brewers to continue his rehab. assignment(s)
Final: Biloxi 8, Chattanooga (Reds) 7 Box Score / Game LogGame Notes - NOTE: these game notes are from the Montgomery series. The Shuckers did not load a proper Game Notes for today's Game 1. Hopefully, we will be so lucky tomorrow. Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review: Shuckers Score Three in the Ninth, Tristen Lutz Smashes Walk-Off Single for 8-7 Win
Fresh off a frustrating 2-4 series at Montgomery (a series that truly could have gone either way after a fairly indicative 2-2 start), the Shuckers were back home facing the Chattanooga Lookouts. RHP Jason Alexander was bumped up from his ACL rehab work to man the hill for the Shuckers squad - his first Southern League start since 2021. After a delayed start, we were underway just over a half hour late. I was excited to see Alexander for the first time in 2023.
I will just say, what was quite apparent in Alexander's first upper-levels action of 2023 is a few things: the Southern League most definitely isn't the ACL, the Lookouts offense is red hot, and Alexander's outing exemplified how challenging it is to pitch in the Southern League as a generality. I see it time and time again. Tacked balls or no tacked balls. Through 2 IP, Alexander had given up many a hit - the cheap and expensive variety - and it continued into the third frame. All in all, Alexander left after three complete and had runners on the bags every inning: 3 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 ER, 1 K. To borrow from old Shuckers fan Obi-Wan Kenobi: "These are not the Starts you're looking for."
Be sure to check the Biloxi Shuckers twitter feed for a bevy of highlights HERE
Finally, be sure to check into the ongoing pre-game Audio series with Shuckers announcer, Javik Blake. He sat down with super prospect, INF Tyler Black, on Tuesday to discuss his 35 game record-setting on-base streak among other things. The interview will likely be posted HERE some time tomorrow.
Three Quick Strikes:
1) LHP Russ Smith badly needed this relief outing. It was in all likelihood his most consistent showing in Double-A since his promotion. He looked sure of himself, I loved his body language, and he was pitching fast. The results naturally followed. His defense certainly didn't do him any favors either. All told, he finished with 3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 ER. Can we use this as our baseline, Mr. Smith, and trend upward from here? I'd love to see it. A very pleasantly surprising outing that proved pivotal to the comeback.
2) INF Freddy Zamora, now healthy, remains an utterly perplexing prospect for me. He is an extremely smooth-moving athlete but by my eyes he makes entirely too many routine errors for my liking. I don't know if it's a concentration issue - I simply don't know what it is. But, for a young man who has an elite defensive reputation, I sincerely have yet to see anything closely resembling this reputation on a consistent basis. He let a slow grounder take its time to his glove early and he then rushed an inaccurate throw to 1B for a throwing error (his 9th registered error of 2023). This allowed the runner to advance to second base. He wasn't charged with an error, but he botched a grounder on a dribbler up the middle. I would argue there was a play to be made and it left his relief arm in LHP Russ Smith in serious trouble. All in all, we are talking about a 94% fielding percentage over 1280 Minor League innings for a soon to be 25-year-old. Somebody convince me otherwise.
3) The real testament to the comeback ninth inning was the line-up rallying the troops after C Jeferson Quero was tagged out in a run down after he rounded second base thinking the CF throw was coming home. It could have been a runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out scenario. It wound up a sole runner on with one down. Key AB's from Wes Clarke, Ethan Murray, and Carlos Rodriguez kept the mojo going. Tristen Lutz just put the finishing touch on what was a fantastic inning for the young men.
Final: Wisconsin 3, Lansing (Athletics) 0Box Score / Game Log
Game Notes
Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review: Wisconsin Shuts Out Lansing to Open Homestand
Your Glorious Full Game Highlights Package:
Did you watch those highlights? Good. Now get in the batters box:
The T-Rats were back home looking to <insert your tire puns here> those rusty Lansing Lugnuts. There are ample wordplay adventures to be had in the post-game affiliate articles this week - hopefully, trusty Chris Mehring is up to the task! RHP Jacob Misiorowski was home for his very first start in front of the T-Rats faithful. With such a highly-touted prospect, the Fox Cities venue was jam-packed with fans. It was a wonderful sight for this Brewers Minor League aficionado.
All in all, I would say tonight's outing wasn't Misiorowski's most dominant outing of 2023 - which is a testament to how dominant he can be and has been. But, considering the circumstances, and considering he has yet to concede a High-A run, we're certainly not going to complain. When all was said and done, Misiorowski was begrudgingly pulled (he wanted to continue, quite clearly) after 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K.
Three Quick Strikes:
1) A definitive key moment to victory came in the top of the seventh inning. Manager Joe Ayrault went to trusty late-inning Ace, RHP Brannon Jordan, who grabbed a crucial punch out with runners on the corners and two down. After that K, Jordan gave one more scoreless frame before handing the ball to RHP Luis Amaya who grabbed his second save in his third try of 2023.
2) INF Robert Moore continues to play a definitively more on-brand style of baseball. This current run of productivity is the style of play we all fell in love with in the late summer and early fall of 2022. The 11 SB-to-8 CS remains an unfavorable statistical trend. But, the savvy defensive work at 2B; the better AB's; the tighter swings; and his overall game are in such a better place than they were a month ago. Kudos to him for staying in the grind and getting better results.
3) With not much else to highlight, quite honestly, in a three-hit T-Rats output let's look forward. Good things are coming our way, fans:
(Special kudos to Curt Hogg for his work tonight)
Final: Lynchburg (Guardians) 4, Carolina 3Box Score / Game Log Game Notes
Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review both game summaries: Mudcats Rally Late in 4-3 Loss to Hillcats
With only two days remaining until the first half's end, I was a bit forlorn to see the Mudcats had squeaked back to within 3 1/2 games of first place Down East. Oh, what could have been had the Mudcats been able to complete their recent series versus the Wood Ducks en lieu of the weather-induced cancellations. Alas, we had game one of the home series versus Lynchburg to enjoy.
After a clean first frame, RHP Logan Henderson ran into trouble in the second inning. Three consecutive well hit singles into right field off lefty bats saw a run cross and runners on the corners with no outs. However, he got back to the right-handed bats and shut it all down. K, CS, K. Special nod goes to INF Jadher Areinamo who made a ridiculously good play in the diving catch and tag at second base for that second out in the above-mentioned 'CS'. If we toss out those singles - by my eyes, and if my memory serves correct, each knock came from off-speed deliveries - Henderson was special. He had everything working to high effect and it leaves me with a familiar sentiment: if he can just move further from the injury and keep building his strength and stamina. 5 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 9 K. A special outing. A special talent.
Three Quick Strikes:
1) Another game. Another one-run loss. The Mudcats made a game of it in the ninth with a two-run mini-rally but INF Jesus Parra and INF Jheremy Vargas went down swinging consecutively to end the threat. I continue to wonder what could have been in this first half had INF Daniel Guilarte stayed healthy and had, say, C Matt Wood's bat stayed in the line-up. We have many things to look forward to in the second half - likely ACL promotions and, hopefully, continued developments at the dish throughout the line-up. But, for me personally, this first half is filled with "Oh, what could have been!"
2) It was a night showcasing continued improvements and results when making contact - including a 100 mph liner smashed over the pitcher and into CF - for INF Luke Adams. But the CS; PO; and throwing error will weigh down those results. Adams went 2-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K, and 2 R. He'll look to avoid those mental lapses moving forward - at least avoid them in bunches. The throwing error was a result of the cavalier attitude Adams has due to his ridiculous athleticism. He made the running throw quite bit more challenging than it needed to be and, as a result, the ball sailed well wide of 1B.
3) OF Kaylan Nicasia was given a charitable triple on his liner to CF in the ninth inning. Kudos to him for the tally. That was a sinking liner that probably should have been caught but definitely ate the lunch of the CF who slipped and face-first fell to the grass. Perhaps it was the rains earlier in the evening and the continued moisture in the air. Regardless, it was a generous gift from the scorer.
ACL D-Backs Red 4, ACL Brewers 2 Box Score / Game Log
The ACL Crew outhit the D-Backs 9-to-5 but they also committed three errors, threw five wild pitches (three from RHP Darling Solano who also had 4 BB and a HB), and hit a batter. The Crew were also a meager 1-for-11 with RISP and ultimately stranded 12 runners overall. And, well, this is the backstory to the 4-2 loss. Sloppy.
INF Dylan O'Rae continues to make his mark of late. He managed a 2-for-4 night at the dish but he also swiped two more bases - that's 13-of-13 in 9 games played. A very intriguing stat line. Our very own@sveumrulessaid it best in our Game Thread (HERE):
I agree with the sentiments wholeheartedly but I would also point out these AB's are split with red hot C Satchell Norman. Oh, hey, look at us debating Brewers catchers. Shocking, I know. The Crew fell to 8-3 on their season with the disappointing loss.
Final: DSL Brewers #1 8, DSL Guardians 3Box Score/Game Log
The young DSL Brewers Uno bounced back from yesterday's loss and improved to 8-4 on their young season. 10 stolen bases really sticks out for me when I scan the game logs and box scores - three steals apiece for INF Gery Holguin and INF Luiyin Alastre. Two successful steals home in what were likely a classic double steal scenarios also sticks out - the fundamentals, or lack thereof, often impact these tilts filled with such young aspiring athletes. The Uno took full advantage of the Guardian's five errors as they were actually outhit 8-to-5 overall. This being said, at least there was some good karma for the good guys after they went a woeful 2-for-21 with RISP (!!). Yowza. German C Yannic Walther got some action at 1B today and committed his first fielding error of his season. However, he also continued to swing a hot bat going 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K. Nicaraguan RHP Enniel Cortez got the start and managed 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 ER, 7 K - a very solid start for a young pitcher continuing to make a name for himself in the very early going of his Brewers career (16:1 K:BB in 14 2/3 IP in 2023). His stablemate, Dominican RHP Jesael Cabrera grabbed the victory with his 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 ER work.
Final: DSL Giants Orange 6, DSL Brewers #2 3 Box Score/Game Log
The Brewers Dos have now lost two straight and are back to a 0.500 mark at 6-6 overall. Headed into the fifth frame, this game was knotted at 2-2 - an outcome reminiscent of the Crew #2's loss yesterday when a very tight 2-0 deficit turned into a 7-1 route in the final two innings. This being said, the Brewers Dos were outhit 7-4 today and apparently never had a single runner in scoring position whereas they held the Giants to a 1-for-7 mark with RISP. In other words, it could have been worse but it was unlikely to be better.
This being said, as per usual, some things pop off the page. Diminutive 18-year-old Dominican OF Ramon Moreno didn't play in 2022 (all we can deduce is he was likely on the 'Restricted List until late September). However, he's certainly catching my attention early in this 2023 DSL season. A 2-for-3 day with 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR (his first of 2023), 1 BB, and 0 K has his seasonal output up to a 0.289 BA with a 0.999 OPS in 28 AB's. That' enough to lure us in for more. On the pitching side, we'll recognize 19-year-old Dominican southpaw, David Dominguez, in his finest outing in his third appearance: 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 ER.
It was a day filled with mixed results. All in all, we have to be pleased with the walk-off; two fine pitching outings from two young intriguing arms; and the continued historic season from INF Tyler Black. Tomorrow, we have Wisconsin and Biloxi manning the mid-day contests. We'll have an opportunity to watch LHP Thomas Pannone pitch at his favorite ballpark in Nashville where he has been red hot. And, we'll have another opportunity to watch tantalizing young Mudcats RHP Patricio Aquino. There will be no DSL or ACL contests - Wednesday and all. As always, thanks for reading and thank you for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball!
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A mini-rally in the top of the ninth has the Mudcats within 3-4. A Luke Adams free pass. A sinking liner eating up the Lynchburg CF who slipped and fell as the ball went to the CF wall. And a Hedbert Perez rbi ground out to 1B. Parra swung at three straight off-speed deliveries missing each one. Two down. Vargas will try and work some magic.
