Jim Goulart

Via WXXV: extended Biloxi highlight package from Opening Night. Justin Jarvis the early-inning star 96-97.

Tuesday 4/11 (download link): Pregame audio - LH reliever Darrell Thompson, made his first appearance in affiliated ball after seven years in the indy ranks (site link)

Tuesday 4/11: Via the Brewers Unfiltered Podcast - Sophia Minnaert, Adam McCalvy, Tim Dillard: "How does Corbin Burnes take his mind off baseball? In an exclusive interview, the Brewers ace discusses his start to the year, fishing with Bob Uecker, his diary, how he spends time with his family and more. Plus, the gang discuss the bullpen, Craig Counsell’s milestone and the 10-game road trip." Via Ben Verlander's "Flippin' Bats" Podcast: An extended chat with Rowdy Tellez Via WTMJ's "Brewers 360" (download link): Tim Dillard Via WSCO's "The Show with Leo and Balky: Jack Stern from "BrewCrewBall" (go to the 32:45 minute mark) Via 97.3's "Nine2Noon Show": Jeff Levering (go to the 23:00 minute mark) Via 97.3's Drew & KB: Bill Schroeder Via WSSP's Steve "Sparky" Fifer: Tim Dillard *** Postgame Shows for Brewers 7-1 victory over the Diamondbacks -- Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Burnes Bounces Back, Woodruff to IR" WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): - Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hosts

AUDIO via the George Plaster Show in Nashville: Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem (go the 01:22:40 hour/minute mark) *** Statistical nuggets within the latest "Sounds Bytes" post

VIDEO via WLOX: Interviews with Biloxi RHP Tobias Myers and Bullpen Coach Josh Spence, the former big league San Diego Padres southpaw hailing from Australia

*** Dozens of photos via the Post-Crescent

Monday 4/10: Via the Journal Sentinel Podcast: "Well, that was an awesome week of Brewers baseball, plus an interview with Brice Turang" Via WTMJ's "Brewers 360" (download link): Dom Cotroneo Via WTMJ's Afternoon News (download link): Lane Grindle Via 97.3's Mike Heller Show: Vinny Rottino Via the "Barrel Banter Podcast": "Is This the Most Talented Brewers'Team Ever?" *** Postgame Shows for Brewers 3-0 series-opening loss at Arizona -- WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsLocked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Too Many K's in the Loss"

Sunday 4/9: Pregame audio INF Zavier Warren

Sunday 4/9: Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast - "The Brewers are off to a great start, so naturally the guys started off talking about what's gone wrong so far before moving onto happier topics like the rookies, Brian Anderson, the defense and taking pot shots at the Cardinals"Postgame Shows for Brewers 6-1 series-clinching win over St. Louis -- WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsLocked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - A Win Sends Crew to West Coast Swing

Saturday 4/8: Postgame Shows for Brewers loss to St, Louis -- WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsLocked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - Streak Ends, 1987 Easter Sunday Memories

I summarized what we know about these within Sunday AM's Link Report.

Nashville reliever Lucas Erceg means business to open the season - three appearances, five hitless innings (3 BB, 6 K). Another RHP who, like Erceg, received a big league camp invite to spring training, Tyler Herb, left the Sounds game in troubling fashion. The Shuckers pitchers had a rough night, as did the Timber Rattler bats. Mother Nature remains undefeated in Fayetteville as the Mudcats have yet to complete an official game. We'll touch on all that and more as we Easter Bunny hop from one Brewers affiliate to another below. Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic TRANSACTIONS: RHP Luis Contreras, who turns 27 later this month, was placed on the Development List at Nashville. Contreras split 2022 between the Sounds and AA Biloxi, then was placed by the Brewers in the Arizona Fall League and wrapped up his "offseason" with several Venezuelan Winter League appearances. Then there was all this: RHP Ryne Moore placed on High-A Wisconsin's 60-day injured list LHP Brian Fitzpatrick placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list LHP Pablo Garabitos placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list RHP Arielbi Gonzalez placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list RHP Delson Guzman placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list RHP Rosmel Reyes placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list INF Alberis Ferrer placed on Low-A Carolina's 60-day injured list LHP Josh Shapiro placed on Low-A Carolina's full season injured list Moore, the Brewers 18th round pick in 2021 out of Old Dominion, underwent Tommy John surgery last summer. Buzz on our forum via @ARobsBrewCrew is that rehab is progressing well. A late-season return would seem possible. Garabitos is rehabbing a non-elbow related arm issue. We had also referred to the nature of Fitzpatrick's injury in yesterday's Link Report. Have to feel for Shapiro (34th round, 2019 out of Marshall). He had Tommy John surgery in 2021, missed all of last season, and now has already been deemed out for the full season in '23. As for the others, we don't have specific injury status information, but hopefully most, if not all, will return to play or eligibility as early as mid-to-late June. Maryvale RHP Mario Perez was released. As we do with all players whose minor league time with the Crew comes to an end, we detailed Perez' pro journey thus far within our Transaction Thread here. Final: Nashville 6, Memphis (Cardinals) 2 Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine: Jackson, Perkins Power Sounds Past Redbirds - Sounds Use 13-Hit Attack to Take Control of Series Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log Any type of defeat over the Cardinals is sweet, though this clearly doesn't offset Saturday evening at Am-Fam Field. SIDE NOTE: Has anyone been able to find minor league archived games within the MLB.TV app? Nice that live minor league action is included with MLB.TV now, but if the only way to pull up an archived game is an MiLB.TV subscription, it defeats the purpose of most of our needs (reviewing injury exits, etc.). Comment if so, please. Via @Joseph Zarr as he live-watched Saturday evening: "The training staff is looking at Tyler Herb after a 93 MPH sinker. Something seemed to happen with his hand or elbow there? Not good. That ended quickly. Ugh. One of my favorite Sounds is getting shelved here. He'll make way for LHP Alex Claudio. Bummer! This just after inducing a key double play in his first batter faced. And then after ripping an 0-1 sinker inside he just came up shaking that arm and Navarreto quickly came to the mound, and he was followed by the entire Sounds staff. First night off of the season for Sal Frelick, we immediately await his name in Sunday's lineup. We will build enthusiasm for this Sounds roster all season long, we promise. However, it's amazing what the AAA absence of Frelick, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Joey Wiemer does to our mindset. Review the box score and you'll see impressive outings for Blake Perkins, Skye Bolt, Jon Singleton, Alex Jackson and Eddy Alvarez. This is good! However, it's certainly not the same postgame high we had reviewing the exploits of the kids last August and September. We're back to a AAA "feel", if you will, and that's OK. As noted in the lead today, Lucas Erceg's start to 2023 is encouraging, and 40-man roster RHP Tyson Miller continues to build his resume after an impressive big-league camp. Final: Mississippi (Braves) 11, Biloxi 6 Via the Shuckers' site: Shuckers Rally Late, Fall to M-Braves 11-6 - Shuckers return to Trustmark Park on Sunday with chance to take opening series Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log This was the Milwaukee organization debut for RHP Christian Mejias, who elected free agency after seven seasons tied to the Houston Astros. Despite that tenure, this was Mejias' AA debut as well, and the native of Venezuela won't turn 24 until May. But like normally solid LH starter Brandon Knarr and fireballing RHP Zach Vennaro, it was a struggle on this night. Jackson Chourio reached base twice for a second consecutive game with a single and walk (one K). Tyler Black walked three times and is already 3-for-3 in stolen bases after just two contests. He had been 18-for-26 in career attempts prior. Speed (or not) aside, we should all enjoy the Tyler Black show this season. Should he avoid the fluke injuries, it's going to be awesome. OF Carlos Rodriguez off to a rough start, 0-for-7 with four K's. The best news out of Biloxi Saturday was this: Love it, love it, love it! You'll get so many nuggets of info in a five-minute conversation that certainly aren't readily available elsewhere - RHP Tobias Myers, who dazzled Friday in the opener, was the debut player interview (audio link). Thanks, Javik! Final: Beloit (Marlins) 2, Wisconsin 2 Via the Timber Rattlers' site: Late Rally Falls Short in Beloit - Rattlers drop 4-2 decision to Sky Carp Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box Box Score / Game Log I see that like Biloxi, we're putting the positive spin on headlines with the late rally theme. We saw another organizational pitching debut, very similar to Christian Mejias' Biloxi debut detailed above. LHP Luis Amaya has been in pro ball since 2015, his age 16 season. After a long run in the Giants' system in which he topped out at AA in 2021, Amaya spent 2022 at High-A for the White Sox. The Venezuela native won't turn 25 until August. It gives an indication of the type of minor league free agents the Brewers tend to target (youthful but experienced). Amaya stranded three baserunners for RHP Max Lazar and fanned five while walking none in 2.1 innings. Welcome to High-A (finally!) for RHP Michele Vassalotti, who fared so well for Italy in the WBC. Counting 2020's lost season, this is Vassalotti's 7th season with the Crew, so he'd qualify for minor league free agency this fall. Michele was excellent for Carolina in '22, he'll only turn 23 in August. Good news here: That's wonderful, because at least at first glance with an older group including multiple returnees, this lineup is potentially light on the "it" factor. We shall see in time. Via the Mudcats' site: Mudcats and Woodpeckers Postponed Saturday - Saturday's de facto doubleheader postponed due to rain Looks OK (it seems) to get two games in Sunday: "Rain showers early with bright sunshine by the afternoon. High 63 degrees. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%" For those who celebrate, hope your Easter Sunday is joyous, and sprinkled with successful baseball check-ins on both the big-league Brewer level and down on the Crew's farm.Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Mario Perez turns 21 next week. He was first signed out of Mexico in July of 2018 at just 16 years old. He understandably scuffled in Maryvale in 2019 when he made his debut, though the Brewers had him start in five of his 12 appearances. After the lost 2020 summer, Perez would return to Maryvale and it's eerie how similar his numbers were in 2021 to 2019. Lower HIP, but many of his numbers were a near match. Perez would then make one brief rough appearance in the Mexican Winter League, but that was his last appearance as he missed all of 2022 with an injury not disclosed by the Brewers. We miss the days when the Media Guide provided that information. Our best to the young man moving forward.

Friday 4/7: Via WTMJ's "Brewers 360" (download link): Rick Schlesinger Via ESPN Wisconsin's "Jen, Gabe and Chewy (download link)": Garrett Mitchell VIDEO via MLB Network's "MLB Tonight": 3B/RF Brian Anderson Via 97.3's Drew & KB: Tom Haudricourt (go to the 46:25 minute mark) Via the "Larrivee and Lepay Podcast": An extended chat with Jeff Levering *** Postgame Shows for Brewers 4-0 series-opening win over the Cardinals -- WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsLocked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "6th Straight!-But What About Yeli?????" Also with Chuck via "Locked on Cardinals": STL-MKE Series Preview

Within the current Brewers MLB Pipeline Top 30, you'll find just ten pitchers, and only one, youngster Jacob Misiorowski and his 1.2 IP as a pro thus far, among the top eight. Three of the ten Pipeline pitchers saw action on the Crew's farm Friday night, along with nine of their fellow hurlers, combining to toss 32 innings of three-run ball. That's a 0.84 ERA for those about to grab their calculators. Forty-five strikeouts vs. 13 walks is a ratio we can get used to. So while the position players have been grabbing the bulk of the national headlines this past offseason, the first full Opening Night in the system reminds us that the pitching coaches have been hard at work as well! Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic Transactions: The organization continues to give temporary placements to the "Development Squad" (sounds like a 70's-era TV police show) in order to get down to MILB's roster limits. That means, for the time being, these players are essentially on a taxi squad. Biloxi - RHP's James Meeker and Robbie Baker, C Jason Lopez Wisconsin - C Jose Sibrian Carolina - RHP's Jacob Misiorowski and Alexander Vallecillo Keep in mind that only the Biloxi names above have been listed officially by MiLB. Other names were deduced by analyzing roster updates released by the respective affiliates. It's going to be exceedingly rare that the Brewers provide injury updates, but occasionally a regular visitor to our Minor League Forum has provided news based on his own reach-outs with players. His latest post has news on 2022 10th round Rutgers LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and heralded 2021 4th round RHP Logan Henderson, currently #25 on the Pipeline list. Final: Nashville 3, Memphis (Cardinals) 0 Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine: Sounds' Gloves Shine in Shutout Win - Defensive gems all around the diamond back a Colin Rea/Janson Junk combined shutout Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log Did we mention all four affiliates were on the road for their current Easter weekend series? Thankfully, the Brewers teams gave the opposition social media crews little reason to promote themselves. (Memphis' online presence, by the way, is nearly invisible, including their own site. Be thankful for the spectacular work done at the Crew's outposts!). Not sure how one fumbles this play, but Sal Frelick sure did not, even if the Redbirds' announcer did: Seems there's little doubt RHP Janson Junk would be Milwaukee's first reach for a starting pitcher. though he was the back half of a tandem here with veteran and former big-league Brewers RHP Colin Rea. Junk's 40-man spot (and effectiveness thus far) give him the edge over LHP Robert Gasser. You truly can't have a more Keston Hiura early-season line: 6-for-19 with a HR, .316/.435/.474 (.909 OPS) yet with seven K's. The Phillies continue to get ravaged at first base, pick up the phone already, Dave Dombrowski. Final: Biloxi 3, Mississippi (Braves) 0 Via the Shuckers' site: Myers Strikes Out 11, Chourio Tallies Multi-Hit Night in 3-0 Opening Day Win - Biloxi pitching strikes out 16 in shutout win over Mississippi Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log It's not easy to distract from and even upstage the 2-for-4 with two RBI performance of Baseball America's #1 MiLB prospect, but the Biloxi arms did so here. RHP Tobias Myers won't even turn 25 until August, yet he saw time with five organizations prior to Milwaukee signing him last November. His 2022 included a series of trades and DFA's that was both dizzying and spoke to his potential. Check out his transactions journey at the bottom of his MiLB player page, but cover your eyes when you review his numbers last season. No sugarcoating, they're hideous, yet an outlier season within his career path as a 6th round pick by Baltimore out of a Florida high school. Intriguing after night one, to say the least. We saw it this spring, and let's just hope the organization entrenches Tyler Black at third base and he thrives there. We know he can play elsewhere (we didn't say excel), but we know the bat is real and wow, would that fill a long-term void at the MLB level. The RH reliever trio of Justin Yeager, Ryan Middendorf and Abner Uribe already gives us the googly-eyes. So sweet. There will be no shortage of legitimate bullpen arms in the next year or two, another reason to be optimistic for the Crew's sustainability hopes. Oh yeah, the Chourio kid: Final: Wisconsin 4, Beloit (Marlins) 2 Via the Timber Rattlers' site: Rattlers Win Season Opener with 4-2 Victory at Beloit - Four pitchers combine for 14Ks while holding Sky Carp to three hits Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box Box Score / Game Log 2022 California League Pitcher of the Year Joe Hernandez was the return for RH reliever Justin Topa, who was assigned to AAA by the Mariners to begin this season. Getting the Opening Night honors is a promising sign about his work in spring camp. Hernandez' effort was solid enough, but it was the non-drafted 2022 RHP Ryan Brady (Brigham Young University) who dazzled here. Brady only pitched four innings in Maryvale last summer, but his age (just turned 24) and collegiate background netted him the jump over the Carolina League. As usual, our @Joseph Zarr had his multi-screen MiLB.TV analysis at the ready for us last night (review our entire forum thread for insights throughout, but in particular here is the duo of his Brady first impression posts). Hopefully 2022 first round SS Eric Brown, Jr.'s absence will be brief (did not play Friday). Thanks to the Rattlers drawing ten walks, six players reached more than once. Whenever you reach base four times, you should get a mention, and 3B Ben Metzinger did just that. Wisconsin was 0-for-12 with RISP, stranded 12, yet fell on the right side of the win column. Suspended after five innings: Carolina 1, Fayetteville (Astros) 1 Via the Mudcats' site: Mudcats Season Opener Suspended Due To Rain - The Mudcats and Woodpeckers were suspended due to rain on Opening Night Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score (thus far) / Game Log (thus Far) Over 3,600 in Fayetteville under damp conditions, impressive. Despite this being his age 21 season, RHP Edwin Jimenez is technically in his 5th campaign with the Crew (four minus 2020, which still counts for service time purposes). He will need to build on the 25 games (17 starts), 1.41 WHIP with the Mudcats last summer, so this was a solid start. We'll highlight more in Sunday morning's report regarding this game, though Voice of the Mudcats Greg Young Jr. hit all the right topics and notes within the linked write-up above. This was fun. Week One with just the Sounds was fine, but this report really dusted off the cobwebs for this Minor League Link Reporter. Back with you early Sunday AM with just the yellow Peeps. Enjoy your Saturday, everyone! Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Needed to resolve an overflow at the AA level. Healthy sidelines for the time being... Biloxi Shuckers transferred C Jason Lopez to the Development List. Biloxi Shuckers transferred RHP Robbie Baker to the Development List. Biloxi Shuckers transferred RHP James Meeker to the Development List.

The Brewers Minor League spotlight, at least from a "games" perspective, has focused on the AAA Nashville Sounds while we anxiously await Friday night's extended schedule in which all four full-season affiliates will be in action - all on the road. For the second time this week, the Sounds played a weather-induced doubleheader. Let's take a look at how the evening played out. Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic Transactions: None. The Brewers had previously released rosters for Biloxi, Wisconsin, and Carolina earlier this week. Our suggestion - if you have not been keeping up with the multiple topics on our Minor League BrewerFanatic Forum, it's a good day to catch up. In particular, we've been peppering the "Your 2023 _____" team threads with video reports from the various outposts. Final, Game One: Nashville 4, Memphis (Cardinals) 0 Final, Game Two: Memphis 2, Nashville 0 Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine: Sounds Split Twin Bill in Memphis - Gasser and company shut out Memphis in game one, Redbirds return favor in game two Pre-Game Media Notes Game One Box Score / Game One Game Log Game Two Box Score / Game Two Game Log 2:04, 2:05 -Times of game (granted, seven innings apiece, and no bottom of the 7th in the opener). Game One saw a solid offensive team performance, ten base knocks including four doubles, and 4-for-10 with RISP. Leadoff man Sal Frelick led the way: Frelick played right field in both games, by the way, and stole his third base of the season. Fellow OF's Tyler Naquin (LF) and Skye Bolt (CF) were the other players to reach more than once, each with a single and a walk. So the Nashville hurlers tossed zero-run innings in the opener. The Journal-Sentinel's Curt Hogg captured a snippet of LHP Robert Gasser's evening for us: As pointed out in our always helpful Link Report-associated freeform commentary thread, Gasser wasn't in the strike zone a ton but he induced many chases as 53 of his 87 pitches generated strikes. But yeah, 87 pitches over four+ innings isn't ideal. Gasser walked the first two men he faced in the 5th, but what a to-the-rescue inning from RHP Lucas Erceg (K, force out, fly out). Erceg's breakfast is on Gasser's tab this AM, one would think. There's RHP Elvis Peguero with another eye-opening effort for Brewers brass, spanning two innings to close Game One out. Peguero is one of just five Elvis' with big-league experience, and we wonder if he visited a certain tourist spot while in Memphis. In the nightcap, the Redbirds were 0-for-9 with RISP so the 2-0 final score disguised the fact that starting RHP Caleb Boushley and LH reliever Ethan Small each walked three. Trusting one of our readers who had eyeballs on the game: Man, rough outing for Ethan Small. Velo back down to his usual numbers after being up in his 1st outing of the year and just absolutely zero command/control. What's most concerning is he isn't even throwing other pitches. He threw 27 FB and 2 CH tonight. Of his 27 FB only 6 were inside the zone. I feel like it's one thing if he's struggling locating a breaking ball, but struggling to locate a 91 mph FB is a tough look. Just a mechanical mess is my guess because he misses so many pitches super high (early release) or super low and in (late release). Just one outing, and Small was sharper his first time out. Still a bit discouraging, however. Let's focus on 6th-year (including 2020) LHP Clayton Andrews. As Will Sammon wrote in December 2021 (back when The Athletic had a Brewers beat writer): Andrews threw only 9 1/3 innings for the Sounds before Tommy John surgery ended his season. He was a candidate for a call-up from the alternate site in 2020, and it wouldn’t have been surprising to see him make his major-league debut in 2021. He could be useful as a lefty reliever but he isn’t expected to be available until at least June 2022. He’s well-liked for his fastball/changeup combination. Andrews is still listed at 5'6", but is pumping as high as 94 MPH. He's a fascinating candidate in this needs-a-40-man-spot-but-Hoby-Milner-is-the-lone-lefty world in which Brewers fans live. Andrews preserved a scoreless line for Boushley, fanning two with a man on third base. But wait, though he has underperformed in his big-league chances thus far, LHP Matthew Liberatore, acquired for Arozarena, flashed this against the Sounds. Darn -- Enjoy the full feast of action Friday night, everyone! Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scoresCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and DepthCurrent Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article