Joseph Zarr

We are underway in Lynchburg as the Mudcats look to keep on rolling...

Unfortunately, we could very much see some re-assignments. Wagoner (big outing tomorrow); Cruz; and Cornielle are probably all candidates to re-sharpen their tools in Low-A. The bullpen has been and continues to be mostly quite fine. It's really been the starting pitching. I don't foresee any impending promotions in the field (though, I would politely argue, Jose Sibrian is as good as any catcher we have in Wisconsin) - maybe, if he's healthy, we could argue Guilarte's ridiculous start is worthy of a stab at High-A considering he's playing like a 5-year vet. The T-Rats as a whole really need some bats to heat up to make this proposition a reality. Hopefully, EBJ's spark is a sign of things to come.

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

Hey now! It's a TWO GAME WINNING STREAK (WOOT WOOT!!!) for the T-Rats baby. Perhaps, just as importantly, the Peoria Chiefs (the classiest team in High-A) have now lost their 7th straight game. That's crack a beer worthy!

I think it's a sense, or I get the sense, EBJ tries to make plays (sometimes) he shouldn't try to make because he has such an innate confidence in his coverage and his athletic abilities. I agree @wiguy94: the arm has been surprising and quite nice. His range is quite good. He's had electric moments - he's repeatedly expertly backed-up Metzinger when he's botched a few grounders. Anyhow, this isn't a situation like we saw last year with Freddy Zamora where every grounder felt like the ball might sail into the seats. In other words, this isn't 'yips' or remotely close. It's forcing plays or going for plays he probably needs to rein in.

Yeah, it was a weird chopper. He went to the backhanded grab but it popped up and bobbled. He rushed a bare handed throw late and the two out grounder turned into a double error and man on 2B. He should have eaten the ball after the weird bounce and botched scoop.

Actually, I see it was a compounded fielding to throwing error (probably rushed) in the 8th frame when I was out in the yard between innings! LOL. I'll go back quick and check. EBJ just had a fine charging scoop and throw on the run to 1B here in the 9th.

I would offer he's actually had some gold glove-esque moments of late. I was too late to see the errors but I can go back and check them out. @sveumrulesmight be right in that he ends up at 2B (?) - if that's the case that's a very good 2B.

Man, the Chiefs 2B Francisco Hernandez has stolen at least two hits today. He is covering a lot of ground in that 2B dirt and shallow OF grass. Heck of a display. He robs Joe Gray Jr. of a line drive single as he full stretches into the shallow left center grass to make the grab.

RHP Max Lazar pitches the 7th and looks really sharp. He gets a K on a gorgeous curveball on the outer stripe. He misses a final out K on a similar pitch that must have missed by an inch and gets his second lazy pop fly to CF. 4-2 T-Rats as they warm their bats for the bottom of the 7th.

EBJ with a three-hit performance today. Just ripped a sharp grounder through the middle infield. That batting average just keeps climbing as he finds more comfort. Fantastic to see!

I love the diminutive OF Terence Doston - he always seems to find his way on base whenever he gets burn in the outfield grass. I will say, however, he probably has the weakest arm in the system. It's more of a push throw. Anywho, Jimenez works around the lead-off double with a ground out to 3B (Garcia having one of his better days at the hot corner making everything look routine and showing off that plus arm); a fly out to Doston in LF; and a fly out to Gray Jr. in RF. On to the bottom of the 6th. Jimenez seriously might get to pitch the 7th.

Boy Tovalin has the T-Rats number in 2023. He just ripped his 6th (of 11 total doubles on the year) vs the T-Rats on the year here to lead-off the 6th. He also has the solo shot in the First. He also has his lone triple of his year versus the T-Rats.

The T-Rats grab a run on a Wood groundout to 2B (a fantastic diving stop, btw) and an Eduardo Garcia HBP rbi. They leave the bases juiced after Eduarqui Fernandez swings at ball 4 and hits a chopper to 3B for the final out. 4-2 T-Rats as we head to the 6th frame.

Terence Doston and EBJ open the bottom of the 5th with consecutive singles. Men on 1st and 2nd and nobody down for INF Robert Moore who calmly takes a four pitch walk. Bases are juiced for DH Matt Wood and the Chiefs are going to the bullpen. Let's get a rally going, men!!!

This is Jimenez's 4th time pitching 5 complete in 2023. He grabs two sharp groundouts to 3B and a weak dribbler short of the mound where he fired a barehanded rocket to 1B. Considering his pitch count is still in the 60's, I imagine they might just let him pitch the 6th frame for the first time. Noice!

He definitely deserved better given how many fought off foul balls - though, I would add, he likely regrets missing those two hanging curves way in front into foul territory. He sits back on those, those balls should clear the fence.

Jimenez works around a one out hanger of a breaking ball (mistake pitch) double into deep LF and escapes while grabbing two more K's - the final on a center high breaking ball with a 2-2 count. That's 4 K for the young hurler now. On to the bottom half and it's still 2-2.

The one down runners on the corners rally ends at 2-2. OF Joe Gray Jr. works an 0-2 count to an 11-pitch 3-2 K on a change-up low and to the dirt. C Darrien Miller (Wood DH'ng today) grounds out sharply to the SS covering 2B. On to the 4th.

Well, well, well! The good guys have tied it up 2-2 in the 3rd inning. Let's GO! Moore RBI and a fielder's choice rbi off the bat of C Matt Wood.

On his birthday, no less! Just a wonderful result. And, a result that literally always seems possible given his stuff. It's so great to see him put it together. Let's hope for a few more of these to start really building momentum.

It's the bottom of the 3rd inning and RHP Edwin Jimenez has given up two solo shots. T-Rats trail 2-0 - their sole hit a 2B by INF Eduardo Garcia.

Absolutely wonderful to see that type of outing from Gasser. Absolutely wonderful to see OF Blake Perkins with another fine performance in lead-off and INF Cam Devanney go 2-for-3 with a 2B and 2 R in a 4-0 game. Perkins with his 2nd HR of the year a two-run knock in the 5th frame. Sounds back to 0.500. Let's go!

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