Jim Goulart

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Look for Nashville media notes at the link just prior to game time. New this season: Brevard County has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Brevard County Midwest League All-Star Game DSL Brewers New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Iowa (Cubs), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: Idle ********** Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos in a rehab start at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the link based on listed schedule Manatees audio, hooray! Dave Walkovic is the first play-by-play voice of the 'Tees since 2007, he's joined by Andy Towne; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio. All home games and many road games are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed, we'll let you know that. ********** Wisconsin: Midwest League All-Star Game from Dayton, 6:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link via the Dayton broadcast team ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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We noted this signing earlier -- here's a followup feature article: *** Harvey Martin signs deal with Brewers By Drew Kochanny, petoskynews.com (Petosky, Michigan) All Harvey Martin ever wanted was a shot. When it came in college, Martin, who’s family has ties to the Petoskey area, became the Division II baseball National Pitcher of the year, a first team All-American and led his Minnesota State team to the National Championship game. Now, Martin has yet another shot, this time as a professional baseball player after recently signing a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. “It was surreal, definitely an awesome opportunity,” Martin said. “I knew I was going to get a shot with some team, I had a really good school year and was hearing from a lot of teams. It was an honor to get a call from the Brewers.” The son of Petoskey News-Review Circulation Director, Jim Martin, Jim never doubted his son’s dream of making it to the next level, always feeling he’d earn his way in through hard work on and off the field. “In my heart of hearts I always knew he was going to get his shot,” Jim Martin said. “So many kids don’t get the shot and he got the shot. So that’s pretty cool.” A really good year might be an understatement to describe the 2013 season for Martin, as he went 9-1 on the mound with a 2.06 earned run average. He allowed just seven walks in 13 games and threw 91 strikeouts. Batters hit just .217 against him. “I think my whole mind set for the season was if I never played pro ball I wanted to leave college and I wanted everyone that I faced to think that I was the best pitcher they saw all season,” Harvey Martin said. “Fortunately enough, I was the National Pitcher of the Year, so I guess a lot of people thought that.” A 2006 graduate out of Farmington High and a 2012 transfer from Central Michigan University, Martin was used primarily as a relief pitcher for the Chippewas, but always wanted to break into the starting rotation, something he knew he could get at Minnesota State. “Hands down that was probably the best decision I ever made,” Martin said. “I became a starter at Minnesota State and went 19-1. I got a chance to play pro ball, which was my ultimate goal. It was a great decision.” Martin signed as a free agent moments after the First-Year Player Draft on Saturday, June 8, after receiving a call from Milwaukee scout Drew Anderson. From there, he instantly flew out to join the Helena Brewers, a minor league affiliate of the organization. “It’s been a fun ride,” Jim Martin said. “I think being a good teammate and having a drive and desire to play the game is important. Good things will happen to good people.” Numerous teams had been in contact with Martin leading up to the draft and throughout the draft process including the Detroit Tigers, but the Brewers never looked to be in the picture. “I actually never really heard from the Brewers. I got a letter from them earlier in the year but I never got a call from them leading up to it. It was kind of a shock out of left field.” It might have been a shock at the time, but it was also a dream come true and one that sent him to one of the most pristine area’s to play baseball in the country. “It’s unreal, we’ve got mountains surrounding our stadium and its beautiful out here. Right now we’re just doing a mini camp, doing some strength and conditioning and doing some throwing and hitting.” In the offseason, Martin plans to continue his masters at Minnesota State and work as a personal trainer in Minneapolis. Any time back to Northern Michigan for now will be reserved for holidays. “For the holidays I’ll definitely be in Northern Michigan and depending on where I want to train, it depends on where I feel is the best option for me. Right now, Minneapolis or Northern Michigan.” The season begins for Martin and Helena on June 22, and with the opportunity now in hand, he’ll turn his focus to taking it one pitch, one out and one day at a time. “I’m just appreciating every day being out here, I think my ability and everything is there and it’s just going to come down to what it always is in baseball, which is getting people out. As long as I’m doing that I should be able to move up. We’ll see how long I can play and hopefully one day I’m in a (Milwaukee) Brewers uniform.”

A link to our thread on D'Vontrey Richardson's decision to walk away from baseball last year.

Maryvale preview from Brad -- with a surprise twist. D'Vo!

Davis' career echoes father's by Mack Burke, The Tennessean When Sounds outfielder Khris Davis was younger, he would accompany his father to work. That led the 25-year-old to where he is today. He got a closeup look at players such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez while his father, Rodney, worked as a coach and scout in the Seattle organization. “I would watch what their routines were and how they worked,” Davis said. “I was a kid and mostly star-struck, honestly, so I didn’t say much, but they knew I was out there.” That experience also made it easy for him to decide what to do. “I got started playing baseball because of the bond with my father,” said Davis, whose father also worked as a scout with Cleveland and Arizona. He’s now a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sounds manager Mike Guerrero knows what that’s like. His father, Epy, who died May 23 at age 71, was a well-known Dominican scout who is credited with signing such players as Carlos Delgado, Tony Fernandez and Alcides Escobar. Guerrero said having a father in professional baseball helps a young player, and son, develop the necessary tools he needs in order to be noticed and enter the professional game. “He can tell you the pluses and minuses about the things you need to improve and the things that you are already skilled at,” said Guerrero, who made it to Double-A as a player. “But, you have to be able to overcome adversity once you’re (in the game).” Davis’ mother also played a part in her son developing as a hitter. When his dad was away at work and couldn’t help a young Khris with his hitting, Sofia would take him to a local park. “With my pops being a scout, he would travel a lot, so I would go to the park and toss up a baseball and hit it to my mom,” Khris said. “Or, she would throw beans and I would hit them with a stick, and that’s how I learned how to hit, really. “That was freshening up the tools as far as my swing goes.” Davis won a state baseball championship in his senior year in 2006 at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Ariz., where he hit .592 with 10 home runs with 50 RBIs. He was drafted in 2006 by the Nationals in the 29th round but didn’t sign. He played three seasons at Cal-State Fullerton, making it to the College World Series twice before being drafted in the seventh round by Milwaukee in 2009. He reached Triple-A Nashville in 2012 and made his Brewers debut earlier this season. “(The road) has been fast, but it has been slow at the same time,” Davis said. “It’s hard to look at the finish line, which is the big leagues, and want to get there and be rushed. But I just have to get better each day and trust that that will take care of itself with hard work.” After he led the Brewers in home runs (six) and RBIs (16) in spring training, Davis made the 25-man opening day roster as a fifth outfielder. “It’s a bit surreal,” Rodney Davis told the Wisconsin State Journal. “My son is one of the guys on baseball cards that I used to grow up looking at when I was a kid. I’ve loved baseball for a long time. I’m very happy for him. I know how long he’s pursued it and how long this mountain climb has been for him.” Khris Davis struggled to get it going in the first month, going 3-for-16 (.188) in the Brewers’ first 26 games. So he was sent back to Nashville to get more playing time. “I feel pretty humble,” Davis said. “And because I just came down from the big leagues, I know what it’s like, and it’s humbling to be here now because anything can happen.” Even though his time in the major leagues has been short, Davis said he learned so much from his time there. “There is so much information there that you have to take advantage of that, and the resources are unlimited,” he said. “It’s crazy how the environment influences your attitude and learning. It’s a good place to be.” Davis also has struggled a bit since he’s been back in Nashville. He’s hitting .227 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 43 games. “I’m a bit of a realist when it comes to my son,” Rodney Davis told the Wisconsin State Journal. “I know that he works very hard and that he’s talented. But I also know he’s got a lot of things to do to improve.” Sounds outfielder Khris Davis learned about the game while watching his dad scout for major league teams as a child. / Sanford Myers photo, The Tennessean http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20130618&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=306180013&Ref=AR&Profile=2072&MaxW=640&Border=0&Nashville-Sounds-outfielder-s-career-echoes-father-s

Huntsville Video Highlights / Lowlights Lamenting Frankie De La Cruz's promotion -- OK...

Stars Lose Series, First Half Finale By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars In the final game of the first half of the Southern League season, the Huntsville Stars dropped the rubber match of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium against the Chattanooga Lookouts by a score of 3-1 on Monday night. After coming from behind to win game four on Sunday, the Stars picked up right where they left off in the third inning. With one out, starting pitcher Andy Moye helped out his own cause at the plate with a double. After advancing to third on a groundout by second baseman Nick Shaw, Moye scored on a throwing error from Chattanooga starting pitcher Ross Stripling on a grounder from outfielder Rene Tosoni to give the Stars the early advantage. Unfortunately for Huntsville, the lead would not last for long. In his first pitch of the fourth inning, Moye served up a solo home run to Lookouts outfielder Joc Pederson to tie up the game. For Pederson, the homer was his tenth of the year and his fourth roundtripper against the Stars in ten games played between the two teams this season. One inning later, the Lookouts would take the lead for good off of Moye, who fell to 3-7 on the year with the loss. With runners at first and second with two outs, a throwing error from Stars shortstop Hector Gomez on a grounder from Lookouts third baseman Sean Burroughs allowed Jan Vazquez to score to give Chattanooga the lead. After a walk to Pederson, an RBI single from outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez scored Rafael Ynoa to put the Lookouts up 3-1. For Chattanooga, Stripling improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory. To ensure the win for the Lookouts, relievers Jharel Cotton, Mark Thomas and Yimi Garcia (S, 13) shut out the Stars through the final three innings of the game. Chattanooga finished the first half of the season with a 35-35 overall record. The loss for Huntsville marked the third time in the last four games they were held to one run. Also, the three hits on offense tied for the fewest the Stars have had in a game all season. Overall, the Stars ended the first half with a 29-39 record, finishing in last place in the Southern League North division. On Wednesday, the Stars will wipe their slate clean and begin the second half of their Southern League season with a five-game series against the Jacksonville Suns in North Florida. Huntsville will send RHP Drew Gagnon (1-0, 5.40 ERA) to the bump as Jacksonville will counter with a starting pitcher that is to be determined. First pitch is at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

Brevard County Audio Highlights SS Yadiel Rivera - Manatees Pre-Game Audio Interview

Manatees pull off a dramatic 3-2 victory Two runs in ninth keep title hope alive by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY VIERA — The Brevard County Manatees have won games in just about every imaginable way this season. And Monday night was no different, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Lakeland 3-2. The win kept Brevard County just a half-game behind Dunedin, which beat Tampa 6-4 in the race for the Florida State League North Division first-half title. Brandon Macias provided the big hit Monday. With one out, Cameron Garfield and Cody Hawn each singled. After Yadiel Rivera grounded out, Macias stepped to the plate. And with a full count and two outs, he hit a chopper between third and short that neither Lakeland player could field, scoring both runs after an errant throw. “These guys find a way to win,” Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault said after the team’s latest walkoff win. “Bottom of the ninth, two out and two runners in scoring position. It is funny just how things happen.” The offense struggled for most of the game, managing just three hits in the first five innings. But then things changed for the Manatees. Greg Hopkins led off the sixth inning with a solo home run, his third of the season. “That was huge. We were in a lull,” Ayrault said. “We were in a flat period for sure and then, bam, a home run can spark you and then you say — ‘We are in this, let’s go.’ ” One of the reasons they were still in the game was Brevard County starter Jed Bradley, who was good again Monday night. Bradley tossed seven solid innings, giving up two runs — one earned and striking out three in the no-decision. “He was very aggressive, been filling the zone with strikes,” Ayrault said. “He is attacking hitters and using all of his pitches. The slider has been coming around and he has been throwing the ball very well.” And with two games remaining in the first half, the Manatees will get a boost on the mound tonight. Hiram Burgos will make a spot start tonight while on rehab assignment. Burgos is 1-2 this season in six starts with the Milwaukee Brewers. Burgos pitched for the Manatees in 2011. “He has had a lot of success here and above,” Ayrault said. “To have a big leaguer come down and make a start is great for the team, to have him in the dugout, the bullpen and the guys to see how he goes about getting ready for the game is great.”

Holy Sea Cow! Manatees walk-off again! By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees earned their sixth walk-off win of the season on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium as they topped the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-2. This time it was on a strange single and an error with two outs in the ninth inning. Brandon Macias became the hero with a soft chopper to the left side of the infield, forcing both the shortstop Brandon Loy and third baseman Francisco Martinez to charge in to try and make the play. Both collided and missed the ball, allowing runners to score from second and third on the error charged to Loy and give Brevard County (35-30) the win over Lakeland (30-36). After Cameron Garfield's infield single and Cody Hawn's bloop single in left center to start the ninth, Yadiel Rivera grounded out to the pitcher and advanced both runners. Garfield had been immediately replaced by Ben McMahan on the basepaths, while Hawn was lifted for Lance Roenicke to run once he reached second. It was the third of Brevard's six walk-offs in which a pinch runner scored the winning run. Other such instances included on April 16 against the Flying Tigers, when Adrian Williams advanced from first to third on a pair of passed balls then scored on a wild pitch and on May 31 when T.J. Mittelstaedt scored on a double by Rivera against the Daytona Cubs. Greg Hopkins led off the sixth inning with a solo homer, his third of the year, to cut what was then a 2-0 deficit to Lakeland in half. Hopkins, along with Hawn, each recorded two hits for the 'Tees. Brevard County starting pitcher Jed Bradley (4-2, 3.94) was charged with two runs in the third inning, though just one was earned. The southpaw left after seven innings as he surrendered seven hits with only one walk and three strikeouts. Bradley recorded 14 groundball outs on the night and had his fourth consecutive quality start. Earning the win in relief was Stephen Peterson as he fanned two with two hits allowed in as many innings, while Lakeland's All-Star closer Melvin Mercedes (3-1) was hit with the loss on three hits for two runs, one earned. For Lakeland, Wilsen Palacios left the game in line for the victory but took a no-decision despite holding the Manatees to just one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven in seven innings. With the Dunedin Blue Jays topping the Tampa Yankees on Monday night, the Manatees remain one-half game out of first place with two games to go in the first half. With the Blue Jays in Tampa tomorrow, the Manatees will once again host the Flying Tigers on Tuesday night at 6:35 PM (5:35 Central). It was announced late Monday that the Major League rehab assignment of right-handed pitcher Hiram Burgos was transferred from Class-A Wisconsin to Brevard County and that Burgos will start for the Manatees on Tuesday. Lakeland will counter with Jeff Ferrell (3-4, 3.44). Manatees starting pitcher Jed Bradley allowed just one earned run in seven innings of work, but did not factor in the decision of Monday night's 3-2 walk-off win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/9/2/50952092/cuts/Bradley_6.17_1_c6ag9xqu_zkq33ypm.JPG

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)” Here is this week’s installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero, who discusses the Sounds’ home stand to this point, the first-ever major league call-up for outfielder Caleb Gindl, the unfortunate circumstances and injury for Mike Fiers, the Sounds’ recent defensive mistakes and the improvement Guerrero is seeing with the team’s offense.

Manatees just announced that Hiram Burgos' rehab assignment moves to Brevard and he'll start the 'Tees game Tuesday evening.

UCF pitcher Matulis signs Free-Agent Contract with Milwaukee By Eric DeSalvo, UCFAthletics.com ORLANDO -- Left-handed pitcher Chris Matulis was able to give his dad, Michael, a one-of-a-kind Father's Day present. The Boynton Beach native signed a free-agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday following a two-year career at UCF in which he amassed a 12-5 record and 4.02 ERA in 161 innings. "UCF has definitely helped me grow as a player," Matulis said after signing his contract with the Brewers. "Coach (Terry) Rooney has helped me become the pitcher I am today. He's helped me become more adapt to tough times as far as pitching and learning myself better." Matulis is the second hurler to sign with an MLB team following the 2013 campaign as RHP Ben Lively inked a deal with the Cincinnati Reds following his selection in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He is also the first Knight to sign a free-agent deal since Nick Cicio in 2011 with the Minnesota Twins. Overall, Matulis became the 112th player out of UCF to either be drafted or sign a free-agent contract since the program's inception in 1973. He is the 20th Knight to ink a pro deal following the draft for Rooney since he arrived in summer 2008. After transferring to UCF from LSU in 2010, Matulis sat out the 2011 season due to NCAA rules and Tommy John Surgery on his left elbow. He returned to the bump in 2012 and amassed an unblemished 7-0 record in 20 appearances and 10 starts. In his senior campaign, he served multiple roles for the Knights and eventually settled in as a weekend starter. In Conference USA play this past season, the 6-foot-6 lefty amassed four starts in which he went eight innings, including a victory at No. 14 Rice back on April 12. He finished the year with a 5-5 record and a 4.31 ERA in 19 appearances and 11 starts. *** Chris Matulis UCF Player Profile Page *** Twitter *** 2012 story about his return from Tommy John surgery

Final: DSL Blue Jays 14, DSL Brewers 8 Oh, my. The Cerveceritos actually outhit the Blue Jays kids, 11-9. Brewers farmhands drew three walks as well. So why the long faces, DSL fans? Brewer pitchers walked 17, hit two others, and threw six wild pitches. Ouch. Last July, the Brewers inked a Venezuelan RHP named Yosmer Leal for a not-insignificant $370,000. After two shutout innings in his pro debut June 5th, the last two outings have been shaky. In this one, Leal allowed four runs in 2.2 innings, walking five. Leal is just 17 (18 next February), so let's just sit back and enjoy a hopeful growth process. Another Venezuelan RHP, 2nd year pro 18-year-old Junior Flores, stranded two of Leal's three 3rd inning inherited baserunners, but allowed six 4th inning runs, including a grand slam. That made the score 10-3. Last season, in his 2nd season in the Tampa Bay DSL system, RHP Nelson Arguila walked 35 in 39.1 innings, so his six walks in 1.2 innings here isn't a shocker. More shocking was that Arguila was only charged with two runs. Arguila turns 25 in September, so we won't use the term "age-appropriate" in this sentence. Wait, guess we just did. 3rd year 21-year-old RHP Orlando Torrez earns points for respectful work late in this contest. *** The legend of 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop Daniel Leonardo grows. On base three more times, plus a stolen base. We search for potential breakout stars in these boxes, and after two weeks, Leonardo has given us someone to follow. With all those pitches, no surprise two catchers split duties in this three hour, 30-minute clunker. DSL Brewers Box Score DSL Brewers Game Log

Manatees with an incredibly improbable walkoff win -- a great listen, sorry if you missed it. Details later, can't wait for the audio highlights for you.

Here's a link to the Tampa - Dunedin box score. Go Tampa Yankees, up 1-0 early. No real need to have a rooting interest quite yet for Daytona - Clearwater, but here's their box.

Draft picks and undrafted free agents opening up in Helena, based on various reports, please keep in mind this is an unofficial list and those who just signed in the past few days would not be included here yet. 3rd round: Barrett Astin - RHP, Univ. of Arkansas 4th round: Taylor Williams - RHP, Kent State U. 6th round: Garrett Cooper - 1B, Auburn U. 7th round: Omar Garcia - CF, Miami Dade CC South (FL) 9th round: Tyler Linehan - LHP, Fresno State 21st round: Tristan Archer - RHP, Tennessee Tech (Cookeville, TN) 24th round: Chris Razo - RHP, Illinois St. U (Normal, IL) 38th round: Charlie Markson, CF, Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) Undrafted: Harvey Martin - RHP, Minnesota State-Mankato Also in Helena (tentatively) -- RHP Sean Albury, LHP Anthony Banda, RHP Estevenson Encarnacion (the former Arizona Summer League Cleveland Indian, RHP Ryan Fasano, RHP Danny Keller, LHP David Otterman, RHP Zach Quintana, RHP Eduard Reyes, LHP Juan Santiago C's Dustin Houle and Mike Turay (and now we learn, Clint Coulter) INF's Taylor Brennan, Jalen Harris, Renaldo Jenkins, Angel Ortega OF's Dionis Hinojosa, Ruben Ozuna, Jose Pena That's 28 names, and Pioneer League roster limits are 35, although not every team carries that many.

From the Manatees -- PLAYOFF PUSH: Coming into today, four teams in the FSL North are separated by just 1.0 game in the standings. The Dunedin Blue Jays are currently in 1st place, half of a game ahead of the 2nd-place Manatees. The Daytona Cubs and Clearwater Threshers are both 1.0 game out of 1st and a half game behind the Manatees. Daytona and Clearwater begin a two game series against each other, beginning tonight while Dunedin will play three against Tampa. *** Also, it should be noted that Brevard County's opponent this week, Lakeland, is under .500, but they just had their nine-game winning streak snapped in the final game before the All-Star break. Great race these next three nights!

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division - FINAL 1ST HALF DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris