Joseph Zarr

JOE JOE Gray JR. wheeeeeeeewwwwww! An absolute 2-run BOMB in the bottom of the eighth over the wall in left field and it's 3-1. WOW. An absolute no-doubter. Cam Robinson continues to warm up.

This just in Hasler is a baller. I love this young man out of the bullpen. He has that bulldog in him. He also has 'stuff'. I see why they gave him an inning in ST. Lots to like here.

Good ol' Jonathan Davis just tied it up 2-2 in the bottom half of the fifth with a solo ding dong. I love me some Jonny Davis. Heck of a Triple-A CF. As an aside, the Cubbies just erased the No-No on a line drive single do CF over the outstretched leap of Tyler Black. The bullpen is now active. What a performance from Kelly.

We have an Antoine Kelly something through five innings. Something is missing from the South Bend stat column. It shant be named. I will say, Carlos Rodriguez made an incredible running and leaping stab of a difficult liner toward the warning track in left center. It's on to the bottom half of the fifth and Wisconsin holds onto a slim 1-0 lead.

STAY HOT Biloxi bats. It's 6-0 here with two down in the top of the second inning. Jakson Reetz just battled to a full count muscling an absolute flare single dropping between the second baseman and the RF'er. He knocked in two! Love to see it.

Let's celebrate the recent Joey Wiemer walk parade! 2 walks tonight baby! LOVE to see it. Just LOVE it.

The Shuckers, with extreme patience at the plate, have already punted the Braves starter after 34 pitches. The bullpen has been called. There are still two men on and two down and we are still in the top of the first. Yowza! I could get used to this. ?

Tristen Lutz has come off his injury stint absolutely RED HOT. He just shot an absolute laser off the bottom of the wall in deep right center. It is now 3-0 Shuckers in the top of the first.

Jimenez facing trouble to start the third inning. He now faces bases loaded, with one down, and the Mudcats trailing 2-1. A classic Low-A inning: cruising through 2 and the wheels start to fall off. ?

Mendez just ripped a triple on a laser shot through the 6-hole to the warning track in deep left-center. He's on third. None down. Bottom of the 2nd.

Jackson Chourio is approaching 'must watch' status. Even his groundouts are spicy. He just hit an absolute laser one-hopper to third base and nearly beat the throw in what should have been a routine out. I love this young man's game.

We are live at Five County Stadium to watch the Mudcats and Wood Ducks. Here's hoping Edwin Jimenez has his A-Game stuff!

In today's report, 5/17/22. Transactions: LOTS of them

TJ Shook promoted to Double-A Biloxi? Tyler Herb promoted to Triple-A Nashville. Be still my heart! YESSSSsssssss! Well done, men! Congratulations!

First off, I'm very excited for Trevor Kelley. This is a young man (he's still 29 yo until October) who has been a real solid and high quality Triple-A reliever now for 3 years running and he's definitely continued that into this season with the Sounds. He was another of the winter 2021 Minor League FA signings to join the Sounds - by way of the Braves organization if I'm not mistaken tho he was originally a Red Sox prospect and did spend a breath of fresh air in the Phillies system. Peripherally, I'd also like to say: Tyler Herb got a much deserved promotion to Nashville. He's been fantastic in his shift to a starting role. Congrats are in order. Trevor has really done all you'd hope for a prospect to do: He rose through the Red Sox ranks methodically and consistently and he's now at that shoe-in high quality Triple-A reliever status. It's now a situation of: 'Can he find any success at the MLB level?" stage of his career. He's only had two small cups of coffee at the MLB level totaling a whopping 11 innings and the results, until now, have not been all that good. BUT, he definitely is worthy of a shot. And, as I say time and again: this jump isn't easy. In Nashville he's essentially pitching to the tune of 12 k/9 with a 43% ground ball rate. He's faced 57 batters over 13 or so innings allowing 4 walks and 10 hits while striking out 17. I imagine what we'll see with Trevor is work trying to ensure he faces righties - he's fairly tough on righties (as we might see) as he has an unusual low slot delivery he gets in an unorthodox manner. You'll see he is definitely more a sidearmer than a submariner but it is a wild pitching motion with some interesting movement and snapback on the arm. It's going to all be about: How comfortable is he at the MLB level in 2022? How comfortable is he now with who he knows he is as a pitcher? Check out this 2019 write-up on Trevor via his late time with the Red Sox - it's a good read.

I would add one note above: Stiven Cruz did only pitch 3 innings in his debut in Carolina but that was technically as the Starting pitcher and was recorded officially in the 'Games Started' stat column.

I would add one note above: Stiven Cruz did only pitch 3 innings in his debut in Carolina but that was technically as the Starting pitcher and was recorded officially in the 'Games Started' stat column.

We shall see is really all we can say at this point. We've already seen several promotions at the lower levels - Frelick, who you mention, was just promoted to Biloxi's Double-A affiliate a mere 2-3 weeks ago. Nashville is so loaded with veteran talent it's hard to see promotions there as they are truly set-up to be the AAAA club for the Big Club - David Stearns talked about that in his most recent sit-down with Jeff Hem during the Jacksonville series (Listen to the Two-Part interview: Here and Here). They are already stacked with veterans - many of whom already have Big League experience - who can fill an injury or COVID void at the drop of the hat. Stearns, in those same interviews, alludes to what the organization already knows: Brice Turang is an MLB player today. BUT, they have a really good SS already playing every day. The depth problem is a good problem to have. Outside of some possible ongoing pitching promotions from say the ACL to Low-A Carolina before their season kicks off here in Maryvale on June 6th, and some fringe demotions (see Ashton McGee heading back down to High-A Wisconsin, for example), we might just see things stay put for the time being at the Triple-A level while the reshuffling and promotions happen amongst the Low-A to Double-A teams. It's a fun time to be a Minor League fan of the Brewers! And, of course, this being said: Andy Otero was recently promoted to Nashville's pitching staff (which was great to see as Andy works extremely hard and is just a solid hurler) and one would have to ask: When is Tyler Herb getting the call - he's been literally lights out since named a Starter a month or so ago.

BTW, @Seth Stohs, I continue to just LOVE these reports heading into Minor League Monday. It's wonderful to see the week in review - the aerial overview, if you will - of the work @damuelle, @Mass Haas, and I have been doing the previous week. Thanks for consolidating and starting each week off with a bang.

BTW, @Seth Stohs, I continue to just LOVE these reports heading into Minor League Monday. It's wonderful to see the week in review - the aerial overview, if you will - of the work @damuelle, @Mass Haas, and I have been doing the previous week. Thanks for consolidating and starting each week off with a bang.

Agreed. He may not get as much love elsewhere, BUT, Knarr has been one of our early season darlings here. He's been lights out since Game 1. I've said on a couple occasions now: I'll take on any High A team with a Knarr, Shook, Kelly trio in a five game series and feel real good about our chances.

Agreed. He may not get as much love elsewhere, BUT, Knarr has been one of our early season darlings here. He's been lights out since Game 1. I've said on a couple occasions now: I'll take on any High A team with a Knarr, Shook, Kelly trio in a five game series and feel real good about our chances.

There's a reason we call him "K-Knarr":

It's all evening games tonight for our Minor League Monday. SO, let's get to know one of our favorite 'up and comers' in Wisconsin, Tristan Peters. He sits down with Kyle Lobner for a brief 'get to know you' 3 minute session:

Really appreciated the Ned Yost IV and David Tufo interviews. It's clear the club really valued David's time in Nashville. For those of you wondering, David was originally hired on as a non-specified Carolina Mudcats coach in 2020 but ya know, COVID. In 2021 David coached the ACL Brewers Gold to a 27-24 record. For a slightly deeper dive, Tufo played college baseball at Salem, Oregon's DIII Willamette University and graduated with an Economics degree in 2009.