Joseph Zarr

Biloxi is indeed a FUN viewing. Tune in! The middle of the order 1-2 punch of Valerio and Wiemer is not fun for opposing pitchers. Bullpen is solid if not spectacular at times. A fun team to watch. They need more fans in that stadium - they deserve it.

Great insights Tim. It would seem they are trending in the right direction and have carried last year’s Foundation into 2022. Here’s to more favorable pitcher’s counts ahead for the entire Brewers staff!

Great insights Tim. It would seem they are trending in the right direction and have carried last year’s Foundation into 2022. Here’s to more favorable pitcher’s counts ahead for the entire Brewers staff!

? True. True. Fear not…these won’t get longer. I just love watching these young men work on their craft. So much possibility.

? True. True. Fear not…these won’t get longer. I just love watching these young men work on their craft. So much possibility.

Sometimes, as the Timber Rattlers showed us tonight: late means tomorrow. Sometimes, as the Sounds dramatically showed us: late means absolutely nothing doing through seven innings and then a dreamy seven-spot, take the lead and shut the door end to the night. I miss my opportunity to see and report on yet another tantalizing Timber Rattlers pitching prospect in one 6'7" 255-pound Russell Smith. Still, I also check back in my most recent 'up and comer' down in Zebulon in Eduardo Garcia. Enough of the introductions; let's get into the meat! Transactions: Jamie Westbrook (INF/OF) was traded to the Detroit Tigers organization for cash considerations. We wish Jamie the best at his new Triple-AAA affiliate in Toledo. Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Carolina 13, Fredericksburg 6 Box Score / Game Log Via the Mudcats' website, game details, please review: Garcia and Cipion Homer in 13-6 Road Win - The Mudcats scored seven runs in the eighth to seal Wednesday's series-tying victory It is time to start having 'Top Ten' conversations about toolsy and tantalizing prospect Eduardo Garcia. In the recent past, shadowed by the press and excitement for fellow Low-A prospect Hedbert Perez, it seemed as though Eduardo was an under-the-radar by-line or afterthought - perhaps, a player too young to garner serious attention in those hallowed one through ten slots. I know it is extremely early in the 2022 season, but when a player flashes what Garcia is flashing daily, something needs to be said to push this conversation. To date, Eduardo typically finds himself ranked in that 10-20 range in most publications. I will get out ahead of the crowd: He is top ten. Today. There is too much swagger, skill, athleticism, and 'It' in this young man to relegate him anywhere outside this upper echelon. We've seen more than one web gem in the field (including a first-inning put out today to first - from his knees, beyond second base, on a scorched liner that one-hopped off his chest) in the five games to date. After stabbing yet another well-hit ball his way deep in the hole between shortstop and third base to claim the first out of the bottom of the second, Joey Zanaboni (Nats' primary broadcaster and MiLB.TV voice) asked: ***(If you are an MiLB.TV subscriber, tune in to the 1:25:19 mark of today's recorded game cast.)*** And, can I get a: "Hey Now!"? Eduardo has shown range, incredible explosive leaping and timing ability, and an absolute cannon for an arm with accuracy to pair with it. We see a free and easy swing, capably recognizing and mashing breaking balls out of the park while simultaneously splitting the gap for doubles when taking heat. Is the next great Brewers shortstop nipping at the heels of higher-level candidates like Freddy Zamora? I say this is a worthy question to ask. It is too early to tell, but warning flares are being sent quite high and with visibility into the partly cloudy skies of lofty projections and hopeful aspirations. I can see a future 'Big Club' infield featuring Biloxi's Felix Valerio manning the dirt between first base and second base while a maturing and even more refined Garcia is deftly handling duties at shortstop. Time will clearly define this current unknown, as it always does, but if there is one player to tune in for at Low-A Carolina, I would be hard-pressed to say any player's name outside 'Eduardo Garcia.' And, I would be remiss if I did not add: there are several compelling young players to watch on a day-in and day-out basis. More to follow as the season progresses. Final Viewing Notes: Oh, to be young! A tip of the cap to Jeferson Quero is in order. He deserves recognition when any catcher mans the backstop in consecutive outings with shortened rest - an evening to midday. As mentioned in the Fredericksburg broadcast, it would not be surprising to see Jeferson get a rest day tomorrow or man the DH spot. Will we see Jose Sibrian or Jesus Chirinos filling in as catchers tomorrow? Stay tuned. The Fredericksburg Nats' batters have taken 44 walks in 5 games this young season. This is, um, noteworthy. Yes, that's the word. Miguel Segura faced some trouble early in his debut at the Low A level - he spent 2021 dominating his DSL and ACL outings. He struggled a bit in inning one as he walked a runner on four pitches after allowing a run to score on a House single. In the ensuing at-bat, he grabbed some luck as House, hugging the second base, was uncertain if Bello was under the fly ball to deep left. He was not. The ball hit midway up the deep left-center fence and one-hopped to Bello while House held at third. Nabbing a much-needed strikeout on his best breaking ball of the early inning, he then managed to induce a hard but tricky chopper to Vargas between the pitcher's mound and the third baseline. Vargas adeptly and miraculously charged the ball, bare-handed it, and in one motion rifled an accurate throw to nab the runner at first base. Out of a rough first inning, he settled down for two more while limiting any further damage. He left the mound after three in full allowing three hits, two walks, punching three k's, and allowing the one earned run. Micah Bello continues to see the ball and is swinging comfortably and under control. His 1st inning opposite-field two-run single on a pitch up and in was not an easy hit. But, he saw the pitch, liked what he saw, and executed a highly effective inside out swing to line it to the RF grass. This is the maturation we hoped to see. Micah struggled last season at the plate: a 33.5% k rate and a near 6.6K:BB ratio. This was not ideal and, understandably, he was left off most pre-season 'Top 30' prospects lists as a result. As I consistently mention, and it truly does need to be said as the sample size is much too small, it is early. But, I am also one to celebrate small victories in hopes they will lead to stacked successes. In the early going Bello has seen that strikeout rate drop to the low 20's, albeit in a mere 18 at-bats, and his K to BB ratio dip to 2:1. He is hitting to the tune of an unsustainable 0.444 with an OPS of 1.222 (5 doubles). Here's hoping a corner of some kind has been turned. Your 2022 Carolina Mudcats have a penchant for early inning success. If you are considering tuning in, do so early or you may risk missing some meaningful output. This is two games in a row where they've jumped on the starter from the get-go and put runners on, smoking balls, and sending runners across home plate. Yesterday, the bases were loaded from the start and two runners crossed home plate by the inning's end. Today, it was 4-0 and the second and third outs were on well-hit fly balls. Tune in early. Tune in often. Arbert Cipion deserves mention as a prospect who is playing with more discipline in all facets. Like many young players, Arbert was drafted at the 21st pick of the 2018 ninth round clear out of Passaic County Technical Institute (the only player ever drafted from the school), Arbert struggled to find his footing as an offensive player in the earliest days of his professional career. COVID certainly didn't assist in any on-field growth or playing time and added a year of development missing from his belt. He's always been a solid defender with range. Originally drafted as a centerfielder, and today playing right field, Arbert showed arm strength to hold a runner on 3rd with the game still not broken open. But, he has shown more with his bat in this young season than he has in quite some time. It would appear, he is getting comfortable. Take a look at his calmness here as he crushes this home run to deep left field...over the fence, out of the stadium, and into the trees: Is Michele Vassalotti in for a resurgence with a shift to the bullpen? I don't know. But, after struggling with walked batters as a starter in Carolina last season, the early results are a bonus. Although he has hit one batter, he also hasn't walked a batter (the main culprit of his elevated 1.74 WHIP last season given batters hit to a tune of 0.237 in his 13 games started) and has struck out three in two innings pitched. *** Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Postponed For your viewing pleasure, here's a 40-second video segment proving it was indeed a postponed outing. And, so, the Timber Rattlers Wednesday game is pushed to Thursday where we'll have a double-header (see tweet above). Our very own @damuelle will be working double-time right off the bat in his first 'Minor League Report' of the young season. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Biloxi 3, Mississippi 2 Box Score / Game Log Via the Shuckers' website, game details, please review: Shuckers Walk Off to 5-0 Start - Luna Allows 1 Over 5.1 Innings It was 'Bark in the Park' night in Biloxi for the only remaining undefeated team in Double-A baseball: A certain pup was indeed making itself known in the top of inning one and again in the top of the third. While concessions employees and patrons alike were fearing the worst... * The author notes, no dogs or dog owners were injured in the crafting of this post* ...it was another facet of dog 'personality' menacing the ballpark. With two down and the batter in an 0-2 count during the top of the first, there was a yapping, resounding, and consistent choir of high-pitched barks resonating from said pup. 'Fido', if that is your name, you know who you are. On behalf of the fans, viewers, and players: Go take a walk! And, with that, the internet has spoken. On to more details of the fantastic Double-AA contest that took place at Biloxi's MGM Park: After surrendering a lead-off triple, Carlos Luna continued the top of the first inning with a breaking ball strikeout in the dirt and followed it with a breaking ball swing and a miss. After walking the dangerous lefty first baseman, Lugbauer (formerly, a third baseman and catcher for the University of Michigan college baseball enthusiasts may recall), on a questionable ball 3 call I might add, Carlos finished his first frame by inducing an infield pop-up to Freddy Zamora who calmly collected the ball. It's always good to work through the early hiccups when making your first appearance of the season. It is worth noting, Mississippi stacked the lineup with lefty batters to face Carlos with the lone right-handed hitter the red hot hitting Trey Harris in the Mississippi DH slot. Facing the Atlanta Brave's #9 (MLB Pipeline) overall prospect in Freddy Tarnok (a very tantalizing 4-pitch prospect featuring a 12-6 knee-breaking curve), things didn't start smoothly for the Shuckers as the young pitching prospect worked the order three up and three down - including a four-pitch strikeout on an unexpected changeup to young Joey Wiemer. Things continued through the third inning as Tarnok held the Shuckers hitless through all three frames. Ultimately, he only surrendered 1 hit, 3 walks, and a hit batsman after his last pitch to catcher Jakson Reetz grazed off his hands. After 4 2/3 innings, Tarnok would not qualify for the potential victory. Luna, on the other hand, made it through 5 1/3 efficient innings and called it a night. Further Viewing Notes: Freddy Zamora saw fly-ball action early and often. After collecting four pop-ups in the early going, he did not see much action the remainder of the evening. I await any improvements from his throwing accuracy in the games ahead. Shuckers Media Relations Manager and Broadcaster extraordinaire, Garret Greene's update on Garrett Mitchell: "He's in good spirits but he's getting the day," seemed to hint at the young outfielder just taking the rest needed due to his recent bad luck with the baseball. Well, to close this loop, Mitchell did indeed play the part of a pinch-runner in the top of the ninth inning after Jakson Reetz opened the closing frame with a base on balls. It would appear he is on the mend, and for good measure, he scored the winning run! It's a 'Walk-Off'! Have a beer Tristen Lutz: Jakson Reetz deserves some recognition in this young season. He is playing a very very solid back stop for his pitching staff. He has shown off a cannon to both second and first base. He is also a well-built young man and he's shown an ability in the early going to surprise at the plate with some discipline and decent AB's. As mentioned above, it was his lead off walk that got the ninth trending in the right direction. Joey Wiemer had an uncharacteristic 0-5 evening. This wasn't for lack of contact as several of his groundouts were absolutely smoked. What was uncharacteristic, if we consider these first five games, was the strikeout in the early innings. I would tip my cap to Freddy Tarnok here whose four-pitch mix kept all Shuckers batters on their heels. It appeared to be the changeup that was fooling the young prospect. Fine bullpen work from Harold Chirino, Nash Walters, and Arnaldo Hernandez. Hernandez may be new to many of you and this is because he was only signed to the Brewers organization as a minor league free agent in December of 2021. This is a young man who has been in professional baseball for 10 years and is still only 26 years old. He's had his ups and downs in all levels of the minor leagues but, to date, has definitively had noteworthy success at the Double-AA level. I enjoy his mound presence, and I look forward to seeing if he can continue to pound the zone in the weeks and months ahead. He picks up the win tonight moving his record to 2-0. Kudos to Cam Devanney knocking in the original tying run on a single to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cam turned 25 years old on this beautiful Biloxi spring day. That hit had to have felt good! Cam, if you're reading, I got up from my chair; took a sip of hard cider; I might have made some indiscernible utterances of joy; and I clapped. And, I clapped again. And, I clapped loudly. This isn't the celebration you deserved but it was the celebration I could offer. Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 7, Gwinnett 5 Box Score / Game Log Via the Sounds' website, game details, please review: Sounds Erase Five Run Deficit for Another Comeback Win - Dahl's Two-Run Blast Puts Nashville Ahead in 7-5 Victory at Gwinnett I don't know what it is with the microphone set-ups or the acoustics at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, but let me tell you: every pitch, every bat struck, and every round of applause has a resounding volume unlike any other I've experienced, virtually at least, in the years of watching minor league baseball. It's truly uncanny. And, in the early going, it was easily the most exciting aspect of Sounds baseball. This was one of those games where the players seemed to be moving at half speed early. BUT, fear not, they picked it up late in this one. Things aren't always the way you want it from the get-go in life - sports remind us of this all the time. Dylan File (#24 on MLB Pipeline's Top 30) came out, as he always does, ready to pitch and ready to rapid-fire. Who needs pitch counts anyhow when Dylan is on the mound? After a clean first inning, Dylan found the zone elusive in innings two and three falling behind too many a batter 2-0. After getting a couple of fly outs, including a rip to the deep left-center warning track Corey Ray calmly collected, he was able to induce a broken-bat ground out to end inning two. There was trouble ahead in the bottom of the third, however, as Dylan again found a favorable pitcher's count elusive. Ultimately, after some seeing eye weakly hit singles, he saw his first run surrendered on yet another weak ground ball. Weston Wilson who was incapable of corralling the ball as he dove to his right saw no play at first and then saw the runner down the third baseline. The throw home, from his knees, was a second too late. With the bases loaded, Dylan gave up a deep double to left-center field and the bases were cleared and the Sounds trailed 0-4 after three. All told, Dylan's night can be summed up this way falling behind in the count, weak or seeing-eye ground balls, a bases-clearing double, and an ineffective uneven evening. Sometimes, it just isn't your night. He left the game after a walk and a hit batter to start the bottom half of the fifth. Further Viewing Notes: I continue to be impressed by Jon Singleton's approach at the plate. I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again today: this is a Big League hitter. We are seeing his early MLB pedigree starting to shine through. He has the strength to fight off pitches late over the plate. He also has the eye and discipline to lay off most questionable deliveries. He grabbed a savvy base on balls to get on base in the 4th inning. He tacked on a hit (a triple!) and added two RBI and a run to his night. But, let's also point out another aspect of Singleton's game: he is a much better fielder than given credit for. This isn't just a big and strong first baseman, this is a big and strong athlete. In the 4th inning alone, he made two very agile plays back-to-back nabbing a hard-hit line drive to his right a mere foot from the ground while casually doubling the runner off of first. In the very next at bat, Jon stabbed a hard hit grounder that brought him over the first base line where he smoothly went to his lower left, fielded it, and stepped on the bag. We are going to see this man on the Big League club. Mark my words. Congrats are in order for David Dahl. We all know he's shown he's a capable hitter. We also all know he would have liked a hotter start to his early season. Tonight, however, he showed his stroke with his first deep ball of his early season. Take a look as he turns his hips and ropes a bomb over the wall in right field: Let's hope he continues seeing the ball like this and we start seeing his suite of offensive numbers trending up. The strength of this Sounds team would appear to be their bullpen at the present time. Unsung MVP on the evening, Hobie Harris, was the first man out of the pen inheriting File's two-men on no out mess in the fifth. After walking his first batter on a slider off the plate loading the bases with zero outs, he limited the damage to one run inducing a double-play ball and snagging a hard-hit bouncer right over his head to close the inning. There were no runs the rest of the way for Gwinnett. Appearances side-armer Trevor Kelley, Miguel Sanchez, Luke Barker, and Luis Perdomo all went scoreless. Speaking of bullpens, Braves prospect Nolan Kingham (promoted to Gwinnett during the 2021 MiLB season) impressed me tonight. He may not be on any top 30 lists, but he is an effective reliever right now. I'll be curious to see if he grabs a cup of coffee at the Braves' big league club sometime this season. All-in-all, the word for this Sounds comeback victory is: scrappy. The hits were elusive through the 7th, but, they stuck with it and had a heck of a finish. They head into tomorrow's contest with a 5-3 record. That's a wrap Brewers and Brewer's Affiliate fans. My work this week is done. However, our teams play into tomorrow and the weekend. Please stay tuned daily as @damuelleand @Mass Haas reward us with their fine works as we sit back, watch games, and catch up on all news 'down on the Farm'. Thursday April 14th: Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores View full article

By RAS score, I imagine you mean: the best RAS score ever posted by a TE in the history of RAS data? Yeah, that RAS scoring. I'm telling you, we need to get this kid in the Marcedes House of Learning. Glad you like him as much as I do!

Alright, it's time to bring back my 'The draft is only two weeks away' Jelani Woods man crush: I'm just sayin' because I've been sayin'...

I agree with what you are pointing out here. And, I want to add: This draft is also quite different in that these age discrepancies are outliers because of COVID. In other words, you can comfortably take a year off, as a personnel department, if the concern is wear and tear. COVID truly did mess everything up. I'm unsure how that plays into their thinking but it's almost like a year is added here that doesn't make all that much a difference as the players weren't playing. Thoughts?

If Caleb Boushley is starting on the Big Club, I fear our season has really and I mean really headed South. But, hey, who knows maybe he finds a miraculous turn around and a treasure trove of untapped stuff. Stranger things have definitely happened.

If Caleb Boushley is starting on the Big Club, I fear our season has really and I mean really headed South. But, hey, who knows maybe he finds a miraculous turn around and a treasure trove of untapped stuff. Stranger things have definitely happened.

Paula Cole must be a Brewers fan. This is exciting for any an all nostalgia-riddled Oregon Trail Gen'ers. I shall now go hang my Lilith Fair poster and watch last night's highlights from Baltimore.

Paula Cole must be a Brewers fan. This is exciting for any an all nostalgia-riddled Oregon Trail Gen'ers. I shall now go hang my Lilith Fair poster and watch last night's highlights from Baltimore.

For those of us, like myself, who were drawn into the original ‘Brewer Fan’ website (now the beautiful Brewer Fanatic website you are habitually perusing throughout your day) because of the tireless output of Jim Goulart. The fact we are so obsessed over the lower levels of Brewers baseball is largely due to this amazing man. Jim Goulart's incredible work over 20-plus years of minor league reports is, perhaps, considered the real eighth wonder of the world in some dugout corners. It became clear in his absurdly detailed, well-written, meticulously edited, and incredibly informative output(s) of early-season reports: he needed a little more relief to fulfill his duties and start every one of his scheduled tasks outings this season. To that end, I will be your middle relief. In 2022, I will cover your Tuesday and Wednesday slate of minor league games for the Brewers organization and you, the fans. After all, this is why we do this: for you…the 'also obsessed.' Without further ado, here is your report for Tuesday, April 12th, 2022. *** A Brief Note: Because I spend the majority of my own Brewers baseball viewing and ‘studying’ in the Lower Levels, Low-A, High-A, and Double-A, I am going to mix the delivery of this report up a bit. I will begin by tossing a sidearm knuckler and start us at the proverbial back of the alphabet of the minor leagues - each post will start at our Low-A affiliate in Carolina while I work our way up to the Triple-A and Major League-extended roster down in Nashville. *** Transactions: Nashville's Angel Perdomo (LHP) is placed on the 7-Day IL, and Moises Gomez (RHP) is assigned to ACL Brewers Blue from Nashville (likely a roster-crunch paper move of sorts) Both RHP Caden Lemons and LHP Jackson Gillis placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list, as each underwent Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2021. *** Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Fredericksburg 6, Carolina 2 Box Score / Game Log Via the Mudcats' website, game details, please review: Early Rally Not Enough in 6-2 Loss in Fredericksburg - Garcia, Leones, and Quero combined for three straight hits and two runs to start Tuesday's series-opening loss Boy, did they ever. If you tuned into inning one, you would have thought the Mudcats were in for a 4-6 spot: 3 men up and three straight hits. The young men were swinging early in the count and finding great success. However, that early rally fizzled, and only two runs crossed the plate, and that was all the runs they would see for the rest of the contest. Where the Nats' starter, Caceres, calmed down and hammered the zone with a nice steady mix of heat and off-speed (striking out 8 in his five IP), the Mudcats' Cornielle struggled his entire outing finding the zone. Making his first appearance in 2022, after two less than ideal outings in his late call up to Carolina last September from a highly successful stint in Arizona, Alexander struggled with what Fangraphs (see write-ups in the lower section titled 'Youngins') considers to be his best pitch: "...a plus-plus movement slider". It simply was not finding the zone and left him searching. This forced the youngster to fall back on his fastball. And although it was hopping and had respectable velocity, it was struggling to find the zone. This led to falling behind hitters and elevated pitch counts. Ultimately, it resulted in five hits surrendered with three walks given in 3 2/3 innings pitched. The young man battled - something you like to see in a young prospect, and we did see this tonight even if he didn't have his best stuff. If Jesus Chirinos doesn't botch a routine high pop-up first base side in the fourth inning, the outcome may have been quite different, and he isn't jettisoned from the game on this bomb from the Nat's CF Jeremy De La Rosa: Simultaneously, if Jesus can corral that pop-up, Mudcats, and Brewers fans are not subjected to that home run call: "Shave my legs with a roll of Dollar Store duct tape!!! Let's. Get. Ripped!!!!" I don't even know what to say to that. It hurt just as much in replay as it did live. Some errors hurt more than others. Final Viewing Notes: For a 19-year-old catcher, Jeferson Quero plays the part of a precocious pitch framer. He also looks quite advanced at the plate. This is an exciting young prospect. Hats off to Oswel Leones, getting his first start of the young season in left field while grabbing his first hit and knocking in a run with a first-inning triple. Luis Silva (3B) and Eduardo Garcia had a few web gems in the early innings. Garcia, in particular, plays the part of an up-and-coming young prospect. I, for one, am excited to watch him develop. Hedbert Perez continues to struggle at the plate. He looks out of sync at the moment. I would gather to guess he isn't comfortable with where his swing is. A disappointing start to the young season for a highly-touted prospect. Brandon Ramey continued his strong start with two innings pitched and three strikeouts. He has been a pleasant surprise and a steadying presence out of the bullpen early. The same can not be said for late call-up Jakob Brustoski who continues to wrestle as he finds his Low A footing: two hits, a walk, and a run earned in an inning tonight to go along with two strikeouts. *** Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes are coming via the always worth-mentioning treasure trove of their Virtual Press Box. Final: Wisconsin 6, Beloit 3 Box Score / Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers website, game details, please review: Rattlers Spoil Sky Carp's Home-Opener with 6-3 win - Martínez & Miller homer while four pitchers combine for 16 strikeouts And nine strikeouts of which come via one of my favorite young prospects in the Brewers system in LHP Antoine Kelly. If you've never seen this young man pitch, and you live in the Appleton or Paper Valley region of Wisconsin, get out and watch this young man throw the baseball. You will not regret it. In his first game for the High A club this season, he set his career-high in strikeouts and gave up a mere two runs on a looping bloop of double to right-center. His pitch count elevated in the low 80s after a walk following two strikeouts in the fourth; the youngster gave way to the bullpen, who allowed a mere one run over the remaining 5 2/3 innings. Final Non-Viewing Notes: It was a real bummer looking forward to logging in to MiLB.TV to watch Antoine Kelly's first start...and, realizing upon several scrolls of the game docket, there was no game to be viewed. A sigh was felt through my little mountain valley as I grieved a lost chance to see the youngster pitch. Congratulations are to Ernesto Martinez and Darrien Miller, each collecting their first home runs of the young season! Darrien had scuffled early at the plate, but he had quite the outing tonight, tacking on the double to boot. Video evidence of the opposite field, "Ernesto Bomb," at the tail end of this Beloit TV news report (1:00 minute mark). It was a two-run shot, not three as announced here. Congratulations are also in order for the bullpen: Miguel Guerrero, promoted from Low A Carolina for this season, notches the 'W' in three innings of work. Additionally, we see 2 1/3 innings of scoreless work from 27-year-old Robbie Baker and 22-year-old hurler Cam Robinson to close out the contest. Something tells me we are in for a fun season at the top of the Timber Rattlers batting order: Sal Frelick and Carlos Rodriguez are quite the duo to watch atop that order. My one hope for Carlos, this season, is he can elevate that OPS north of .750. Features from earlier Tuesday - *** Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Biloxi 6, Mississippi 4 Box Score / Game Log Via the Shuckers website, game details, please review: Bennett and the Jets Help Shuckers' Improve to 4-0 - Kahle Records Three Hits, Wiemer Drives In Three Lots to unpack in this one, folks. One of which, as Brewer Fanatics self-proclaimed #1 Joey Weimer fan, I have to admit is the continued evolution of Joey Weimer. I've watched every Shucker game to date in this young season, and I can honestly say outside his first at-bat in Pensacola where he was a wee amped up and outside himself, he has put together one professional at-bat after the next. He continues to evolve and reach new levels. He is unfazed and unafraid when he is down in the count. He fights off pitches to stay alive. He lays off pitches out of the zone when he is down in the count. He is becoming one of the toughest outs in the minors in the early going. Ohhhh, and he is currently batting a cool .500 with a 1.217 OPS. More four game runs like these, please, Mr. Weimer! Joey does not have a HR yet, nor does he have the flowing blonde locks of a Greek God (sigh), but he is hitting the leather off the ball. The velocity is there on nearly every hit. Case and point tonight, in the bottom of the eighth after nearly missing a three run bomb over the wall in left field by a mere 8-12 feet, he calmly collected himself and knocked an opposite field single to right on the very next pitch: Toolsy. That was a savvy insurance RBI poke to right field off the adrenaline high of a near-missed first home run of 2022. There is so much to be excited about with this young man. "Who is Kahle?" you might ask. Well, in his first action (more on that after the clip) he absolutely delivered: Nick did appear to misplay a deep fly ball to and off the wall in left-center, perhaps jumping a tad early and fearing the wall. Would Mitchell have made that play? I am unsure. But Mitchell was out of the game at that point as he had begrudgingly taken his third ball off his right arm in less than a week when Felix Valerio smoked an absolute dart foul down the third base line. Garrett came back to complete the inning defensively but that was his night. Was it precautionary? Will he get a few days rest? We'll have to stay tuned. Video highlights here, including a great look (well, not so great in terms of pain factor) of Garrett Mitchell getting smoked on the shoulder. Before I give you my 'Final Viewing Thoughts', let's look at a defensive web gem candidate in this scoop and toss double play from Felix Valerio (who, miraculously, went hitless on the night) and Freddy Zamora with the savvy scoop by Thomas Dillard : Final Viewing Thoughts: I don't know what is going on with Freddy Zamora, but after plain air mailing three throws to First in Pensacola he followed with a couple questionable throws to first this fine evening. He pulled Dillard off the bag in one and one-hopped a routine throw on another. This is something to monitor in the early going as we help usher any and all thoughts of 'The<Coughs>' out of the ballpark and out of that young arm. I would personally suggest this is what Freddy needs to shore up in the early going. He is making good contact. The hits will come. Nick Bennett was quite impressive overall. He has added a splitter to his now four-pitch repertoire and he is working it into his pitch flow. Other than one mistake hanging fastball over the plate to known Shucker nemesis Drew Lugbauer (nine home runs vs Biloxi in 2021) for a two-run home run, Nick had a very workmanlike and effective five innings pitched with a mere 1.00 WHIP. That will play in 70 pitches. Lots to like as we follow his progress through the rest of the season. We still haven't heard what is actually going on with Ashton McGee, and given what we saw in his brief stint pre-injury we sure hope he returns soon, but you have to tip the proverbial cap to Cam Devanney filling in at the Hot Corner. His bat has yet to develop from his pedestrian 2021 in AA, but I love me some defense. And, Devanney can throw an absolute accurate dart to first base and he is making very difficult plays look effortless. A true joy to watch. Abner Uribe and Lucas Erceg is quite the 1-2 punch in the bullpen. Abner looked absolutely dialed and the evolution of his breaking pitches, as we saw tonight, is what will help his 100 mph heat play at the Major League level. He had several pitches of the 99-100 mph high heat, but it was his off-speed stuff getting the swings and misses. Of the two, Lucas has more work to do at this point, and understandably so. In the two outings I have seen, I can tell he is still learning the nuance and the finer points of how he wants to use and execute his stuff. His progress and evolution this season is one of the highlights of the minor league year for me. *** Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Gwinnett 4, Nashville 3 Box Score / Game Log Via the Sounds website, game details, please review: Nashville Rally Falls Short, Sounds Drop Road Trip Opener - Team Leaves 12 Runners on Base in Loss That pretty much sums it up. It was quite the rally too...and, men were also left on base. Non-Viewing FInal Notes: The Sounds are going to want and need more from Caleb Boushley (pronounced 'Bozzlee') if he wants to have an extended stay on their roster. Coming off a rough close to his 2021 season in the PCL, getting tagged for seven hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings pitched isn't quite cutting it. In his two outings to date, opposing hitters are hitting a ripe 0.316 while he is sporting a 1.67 WHIP. Brice Turang is going to get a call up if he continues to play like this. The young man is collecting clutch hits while continuing to play his typical steady defense. John Singleton. Three words: big league hitter. Welcome back to playing Pablo Reyes! A 'Brewer Fan' favorite in his late season call-ups during the 2021 season filling in for the injured Willy Adames in a utility role. It was nice to see him get his first run. It was even nicer to see him get a key hit late to keep the rally going. *** With these contests and reports finished it's on to the next! What is on the docket for tomorrow's contests? Wednesday April 13th: Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Let's hope Carlos Luna keeps Biloxi rolling and undefeated as he looks to build on his stellar 2021 where he pitched to a combined 7.4 K:BB ratio between Wisconsin and Biloxi. The 25-year-old takes the mound for the first time in 2022. As the kids like to say: "I'm excite!" View full article

I think another Low A hurler we should be monitoring is Trevor Tietz. I like what I see from him in the young season. In 2 outings in the early season, he was called upon in extremely unfavorable conditions: bases juiced and barely holding onto a lead. In both outings, he looked uber poised; was hitting the zone with a mix of pitches; and met the moment with aplomb. He's a Watertown, Wisconsin lad who attended Jefferson Community College (Jefferson, MO) and is still 21. He is 6'3" and 205 - give or take. But, it is something to notice when you are the guy out of the bullpen in those situations. And, it is something to notice when the situation is not too big and you dominate those odds.

Having seen Puello's 3 inning stint this past weekend for the Mudcats: the hype is real. He has that 'It' factor on the mound. If he can stay accurate and continue to mix his velocity (velocity that really attacks the plate and hops) with his breaking pitches, he is definitely one to watch. Beyond the results in the early early going here - after all, one outing definitely does not a pitcher make as we all know - he has the look of a professional athlete. He has some size, he looks very in-shape, and he looks strong on the mound. I definitely noticed this from pitch 1. He was one of my highlights of Week One in the lower Levels.

Thank you for writing this. It's really quite clear what Contreras is up to and how he goes about his AB's. I would surmise, given his predilections to play the victim card and deny culpability he will make a successful run in politics after his playing career.

Thank you for writing this. It's really quite clear what Contreras is up to and how he goes about his AB's. I would surmise, given his predilections to play the victim card and deny culpability he will make a successful run in politics after his playing career.

Valid points I hadn't thought of. The counter to that, I would propose: Are the Packers concerned giving an extension to a guy approaching age 30? That seems to be the ripe old age when they let most of their OL walk. Tho, counter to my counter would be: perhaps, this isn't a typical OL or age-related OL prospect given his athletic vintage comes from TE stock. I guess we shall see.

This is what it's all about. Thanks so much for sharing. I resonate deeply with the full immersion into a personal and nuanced representation of the baseball bug. For me, it was originally RBI baseball on the original NES. I had an innate ability, surely others did as well, to blast HR after HR using the Blue Jays and George Bell. I don't know if I left the basement that first couple weeks with that game. I can't believe I never learned of Earl Weaver Baseball 2, but, learning of it now it sure sounds like an epic achievement for its time.

My counter to this, for the sake of let's have a conversation, would be: why not simply target Tyler Smith? 21 years old. Also played LT, more size and strength but also quite nimble and agile. And, also a project of sorts, like Raimann, but he has 3 years of OL experience to add atop Raimann's 2. This is a guy, in my view, who screams: Stash and develop the Packers way. He can wait behind Yosh as they determine what they really have there and as they see how he manages a shift to RT. That's my current thinking, at least.