Jim Goulart

Yesterday we asked for a spark from the Timber Rattlers, and some late heroics Saturday in Appleton netted a walkoff win. Wisconsin's "big brother" affiliate in Nashville followed suit as that club is on a walkoff tear. Mixed results in Biloxi and Carolina produced a 3-2 Saturday overall for the system. Let's provide the game summaries below and then dig in for some player notes as well. Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic TRANSACTIONS: LHP Jakob Brustoski activated by Low-A Carolina from Development List LHP Bennett Sousa activated by AAA Nashville from 7-day injured list OF Tyler Naquin placed on AAA Nashville's 7-day injured list Final: Nashville 6, Omaha (Royals) 5, ten innings Via the Sounds' site, we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine: Hiura's Single Gives Sounds Another Walk Off Win Over Omaha - "Nashville bullpen extends scoreless inning streak to 23 innings against Storm Chasers" Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log Five walkoff wins in 14 home games thus far? That's how you satisfy your ticket-buying base. Even with Tyrone Taylor on hand during his rehab stint (he DH'd Saturday), the Sounds find themselves light on outfielders again with Tyler Naquin's IL placement. You just read within the detailed summary linked above - "Skye Bolt, who left the game after coming up hobbling following beating out an infield single in the eighth". The Nashville roster had four bench players entering the game, two of those catchers. Eddy Alvarez and his 1.074 OPS continues to man right field for the first season of his lengthy career. Keston Hiura and Monte Harrison will join Taylor in the OF rotation for now. There is a critical resurrection of sorts in terms of player value going on, and it's LH (now reliever) Ethan Small. The 26-year-old is limiting outgoing velocity and has not walked a batter in his last three outings, spanning five innings. He's still racking up K's, and the next time the Brewers need to supplement Hoby Milner, perhaps Small's 40-man roster status spares us another Alex Claudio call-up. Except for one sour outing on the 19th, RH reliever Lucas Erceg has been near-spotless. The bullpen depth the Brewers have established is somewhat remarkable, both 40-man and waiting in the wings to be added if necessary. The last time swing man RHP Pedro Fernandez pitched in affiliated ball was 2018, The soon-to-be 29-year-old has been super-solid in the early going. Baserunners galore - Sounds stranded 15 yet found a way in the end. Five video highlights on the Sounds' Twitter feed - but we'll choose to share the game-ender, hard-hit off a LHP, no less, via Hiura: Final: Mississippi (Braves) 7, Biloxi 6 Via the Shuckers' site: Shuckers Comeback Attempt Falls Short in 7-6 Loss to M-Braves - Biloxi scores four in the final three innings, but strand the tying run on base in the ninth Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log The Shuckers parlayed six singles and six walks to net themselves their six runs. On the top prospect front, five of those six hits came from Jackson Chourio, Tyler Black, and Jeferson Quero, who combined to reach nine times, so that's promising despite the notch in the loss column. That bullpen depth noted in the Nashville section above? Eighth-year Brewer farmhand RHP Harold Chirino (only in his age 25 season!) is unscored upon in seven 2023 outings, with 15 K's and only one walk. Can/should a callup to AAA be forthcoming? Wes Clarke has now been behind the plate in nine games this season (eight starts) vs. five games at first base, two as DH. He had two passed balls in this game, three on the season. No Braves baserunners attempted to steal. Clarke has thrown out 21% of his pro baserunners. VIDEOS: The two Jeferson Quero knocks have been archived on the Biloxi Twitter Media feed here. AUDIO: LHP Nick Bennett and Manager Mike Guerrero recent pre-game audio interviews are found here. Final: Wisconsin 4, Beloit (Marlins) 3 Via the Timber Rattlers' site: Wisconsin Wins with Two Runs in the Tenth Inning - Gray’s sacrifice fly caps Rattlers rally to beat Beloit 4-3 Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box Box Score / Game Log Chris Mehring and the Rattlers' production staff do such a wonderful job for us within Chris' detailed game summaries. You'll find individual play video tweets along with the full game highlights generated for each and every home game. For most home dates, we also get the award-winning (well, we'd present them one if we could) postgame podcast with Chris and Kyle Lobner. Hear from Gus Varland, Joe Gray Jr, & Joe Ayrault in the latest episode. All within the one link above. Thank you, T-Rats Crew! This was not an offensive explosion, but Gray, Jr., Alex Hall, Je'Von Ward, and Terence Doston all reached base twice. The #8 designated hitter spot in the lineup did as well, as Jesus Chirinos singled and Micah Bello had the big double. Bello had the only extra-base hit, but the club was successful in all three stolen base attempts and played clean defense. Add it all up, and the postgame meal in the shiny newly renovated stadium digs must have been sweet. Not sure we'll ever see 51st overall pick type-of-production out of 2021 2nd round 6'7" LHP Russell Smith, but the 24-year-old is seemingly healthy and bounced back with two shutout innings after a very rough outing six days prior. Can we get RH reliever Taylor Floyd (ten K's, zero BB's) back to Biloxi, where he performed well two years ago before inexplicable struggles in 2022? But let's not bury the pitching lead in this one - 21-year-old RHP Alexander Cornielle (17 K's, 3 BB's in his three starts thus far) is intriguing as heck. Final, Game One: Carolina 1, Kannapolis (White Sox) 0, completion of Friday's suspended game Final, Game Two: Kannapolis (White Sox) 8, Carolina 1, scheduled for seven innings Via the Mudcats' site: ‘Cats and Ballers Split Saturday Doubleheader - The Mudcats won the opener 1-0, but dropped the second game 8-1 Pre-Game Media Notes Game One Box Score / Game One Game Log Game Two Box Score / Game Two Game Log 4,252 in Zebulon? Yes! (Thursday's attendance was 345.) Yeah, you and I'd have shown up for this as well - so fantastic: Shhh, don't tell the other 29 organizations, so that the Brewers can continue stockpiling their secret weapon - fine young arms from Nicaragua. Carlos Rodriguez in Biloxi, Stiven Cruz in Appleton, just add 20-year-old 6'2" RHP Alexander Vallecillo to the collection. If you want to see what coaching up can accomplish, take a gander at the April sunshine of Vallecillo's line improvement in every regard from 2022. In the nightcap, youngster Jhonnys Cabrera has only seven games at first base under his belt, and it showed in the nightcap. RHP Aidan Maldonado's ERA should still be at zero for the season, but Cabrera was part of an infield oversight on a pop-up that landed and ruled a single. Cabrera's 6th inning error opened the unearned run floodgates. But kudos on Manager Victor Estevez working with his full roster, all four position players who sat out Game One were in the Game Two starting lineup. I've been mesmerized by this video highlight. Mudcats should have got the call, out at second base: Here's to another Sunday - Funday, 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

AUDIO: LHP Nick Bennett and Manager Mike Guerrero recent pre-game audio interviews here.

Saturday 4/29:Postgame Shows for the Brewers 7-5 victory over the Angels --Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsWTMJ with Dom Cotroneo: - Craig Coshun is the guest Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Burnes Solid as Bullpen Survives Angels Flurry"

Friday 4/28:Via WTMJ's Morning News (download link): Craig Counsell Via WTMJ's Morning News: Adam McCalvy Via the "Foul Territory" Podcast: Vinny Rottino (go to the 30:35 minute mark) *** Postgame Shows for the Brewers 2-1 squeaker win over the Angels --Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsWTMJ with Dom Cotroneo: - Craig Coshun is the guest Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Brewers Take Opener vs Halos"

Nashville wins on an error-off (well, that's how it ended). Here's your yearly reminder that the term walk-off is based on the losing team walking off the field. On Friday, the good guys bounced / danced / cajoled off the field. Biloxi provided their usual entertaining dose of victorious baseball, but the Timber Rattlers need to break out of their collective funk. Meanwhile, the Mudcats continued their season-long dance with Mother Nature. Here we go! Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers - Freddy Zamora TRANSACTIONS: 1B/C Tayden Hall placed on the Carolina 7-day injured list retroactive to April 27th RHP/1B Quinton Low placed on the Carolina 7-day injured list retroactive to April 27th RHP Fernando Olguin activated from the Carolina Development List More on the Mudcat moves below. Final: Nashville 4, Omaha (Royals) 3 Via the Sounds' site, we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine: Sounds Storm Back From Early Deficit to Walk Off Omaha Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log The Sounds stole one here, but that's what'll happen when your bullpen dazzles. Three scoreless for Birthday Boy (29th) LHP Thomas Pannone in just his second appearance in the organization, and recent waiver claim J.B. Bukauskus, in his Crew debut, tossed a scoreless 9th to set up the walkoff reached-on-error groundout from Brian Navarreto. Check out how hard Navarreto comes out of the box; the throw beats him but the first baseman somewhat needlessly comes off the bag and then chooses to argue. Put that in the category of "we'll take it". By the way, J.B. Bukauskus' full name is Jacob Allen Bukauskus. Can people just flaunt the rules and logic of initials? Apparently so. Adrian Houser had a perfectly suitable Adrian Houser start. His groundball / flyball ratio was 7-to-0, he walked two and fanned three in five innings, allowing three runs. That's the Houser we know so well, and it will serve the big-league Brewers just fine, as completely unspectacular as it is. You'll find four additional video highlights from this game on the Sounds' Twitter media feed. It is such a joy to watch this system's catchers take out baserunners. Mr. Navarreto is the king in this regard. Tyler Naquin grounded into three double plays, a rare feat. Naquin appeared on this MLB Trade Rumors post Friday - 14 Veterans With Upcoming Opportunity To Opt Out Of Minor League Deals. Final: Biloxi 8, Mississippi (Braves) 3 Via the Shuckers' site: Zamora's Two-Home Run Night Blasts Shuckers to 8-3 Win - Shuckers win big in front of season-high 4,567 fans at MGM Park Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log Nice to see the large crowd for the Shuckers, the fanbase hasn't always turned out in the numbers expected. A clear Friday night, 77 degrees, yeah, that'll work. The season-long crowds for this team should be rewarded with fun and exciting play, as was the case here. The .696 OPS thus far doesn't dazzle, but there's comfort in knowing Jackson Chourio leads the Southern League in RBI. Last Sunday AM I indicated we'd need to hold off on looking at 2023 as a "breakout" campaign for SS Freddy Zamora. About that... Shall you entertain us, Shuckers' video production crew? Yes, you shall! Eight more videos via the Biloxi Twitter feed, including Jeferson Quero showing off both sides of his game, and my goodness, did we see throws like the one you'll find from RF Carlos Rodriguez when he was a Timber Rattler? Twenty-nine K's vs. six walks now for RHP Justin Jarvis. Predictive transaction post here from our "Brewerfan Power 50" friend: Nice to see fireballing RHP Zach Vennaro back on the bump, we do hope to see RHP Justin Yeager, acquired in the William Contreras deal, return soon, but out since April 12th (he left his April 11th outing with the trainer), we have no new news there. Day off for both Tyler Black and Zavier Warren. Final: Beloit (Marlins) 3, Wisconsin 0 Via the Timber Rattlers' site: One Rough Inning Enough for Sky Carp to Beat Wisconsin - Beloit scores three runs in third inning and holds Rattlers to a pair of singles Pre-Game Media Notes (Download Link) via the team's Virtual Press Box Box Score / Game Log When the game highlight package comes in at under two minutes, that's usually not ideal: I'm sure Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring would prefer the lone spotlight not be placed on him on Friday, but 21 years is amazing! Third baseman Ben Metzinger and his .875 OPS sat for a second consecutive game, so that didn't help the team's output. Sixty-four degrees at gametime, yes, there have been some chilly evenings, but overall it'd be hard to fault the weather for the T-Rats doldrums. Midwest League team offensive numbers here. The young men are drawing walks (third league-wide), but there has been a definite malaise evident, picked up on by those with eyes on the action. It's too early to check when the standings reset at mid-season, but this new coaching staff (all new under Manager Joe Ayrault) need to get a handle on things quickly. Suspended after two innings: Kannapolis (White Sox) 0, Carolina 0 Via the Mudcats' site: Friday's suspended game will resume on Saturday as part of a doubleheader in Zebulon Pre-Game Media Notes Box Score / Game Log The Tayden Hall and Quinton Low IL placements are not the transactions we'd hoped to see. The 6'4" Hall (son of former big league catcher Toby Hall) has made all but one of his appearances in the field at first base, but the 20-year-old sports a .750 OPS in the early going. As for Low, we received an injury update within our forum here. We like nice things. Can we please have nice things? Hoping this is just a scare. Five games on tap Saturday, with the Timber Rattlers seeking their groove at 1:10 PM Central. The Mudcats' in-effect twinbill kicks off at 4:00 Central so there is Brewer farmhand availability prior to your eyes focusing on Trout-Ohtani vs, Corbin Burnes this evening. Enjoy!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

RHP TJ Shook is the most recent addition to the Biloxi pre-game audio site.

Thursday 4/27:Via WTMJ's Morning News (download link): GM Matt Arnold Reviewing the Brew's" Cold Brew Podcast: "Good news and bad news" Via WSCO's "The Show with Leo and Balky: Matt Carroll from "Reviewing the Brew" (go to the 34:15 minute mark)

Sorry for those without Athletic subscriptions, but this tries to explain some of the K rate and other oddities in the Southern League thus far

DSL Brewers 1 released 2B Luis Watter. DSL Brewers 1 released C Juan Rosa. DSL Brewers 1 released LHP Jhofez Mejias. DSL Brewers 1 released RHP Jose Pena. DSL Brewers 2 released 3B Edgardo Reyes. DSL Brewers 2 released RHP Reybert Reyes. DSL Brewers 2 released OF Francisco Nina. DSL Brewers 2 released RHP Franddy De Los Santos. We will provide background info on these eight players a bit later on.

DSL Brewers 1 released RHP Royer Cabrera. Cabrera is the rare Brewers farmhand released after just one year in the system, signed out of the Dominican Republic last June. Cabrera's 2022 season in the DSL was his age 17 season, as he won't turn 19 until October. Among his seven games pitched (three starts after four relief appearances) was a hitless two-inning relief stint and a four-inning start in which he allowed only one unearned run. Yet he finished with a 9.64 ERA over 14 innings, showing that he struggled in five games. May your baseball dreams persist, Royer, and if not, life's opportunities otherwise,

04/27/23 Nashville placed C Alex Jackson on the 7-day injured list retroactive to 4/26 04/27/23 Nashville activated RHP J.B. Bukauskas from the 7-day injured list 04/27/23 Nashville activated RHP J.C. Mejía from the Development List 04/27/23 Biloxi activated RHP Zach Vennaro from the 7-day injured list. 04/27/23 Milwaukee sent RHP Gus Varland on a rehab assignment to Wisconsin

Wednesday 4/26: Via WTMJ's Morning News (download link): Jeff Levering Via 97.3's Mike Heller Show: Tim Allen (go to the 15:15 minute mark) VIDEO via MLB Network's "MLB Now": William Contreras *** Postgame Shows for the Brewers 6-2 win over Detroit -- Via 97.3's Drew & KB: Tim Allen, Baseball Postgame Show Host (go to the 10:15 minute mark)Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Better Than We Thought?"

04/26/23 Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Tyson Miller from Nashville Sounds. 04/26/23 Milwaukee Brewers optioned LHP Alex Claudio to Nashville Sounds.

ACL Brewers Blue released C Darlin Lora. ACL Brewers Gold released CF Eduarh Colina. *** Darlin Lora was signed out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2021, and appeared in 20 games in the Dominican Complex League that summer. Lora was back on the island to open 2022 but made his way to the Maryvale complex in rather short order on June 16th. Lora posted a .627 OPS in 11 games in the desert but was then placed on the 60-day IL on August 6th. Odd defensive stats - on one hand, Lora threw out 38.2% of runners, 21 of 55. On the other hand, he committed eight errors in 27 career games behind the plate. Lora turns 20 years old in July. *** Venezuelan native Eduarh Colina was a member of the July 2019 class, but then had his 2020 campaign wiped out. Colina turns 20 this June, so his 2021 debut in the Dominican came during his age 18 season. Colina was very solid that summer, .278/.358/.383 (.741 OPS). But that didn't translate to Maryvale in 2022, .565 OPS with 53 K's in 115 AB's. Like nearly all Brewers releases of these youngest farmhands, both Lora and Colina received a second season to show their wares. Here's to fruitful futures to both.

Shortstop Freddy Zamora is the most recent addition to the Biloxi pre-game audio site.

Tuesday 4/25: Via the Brewers Unfiltered Podcast - Sophia Minnaert, Adam McCalvy, Tim Dillard: "The gang discusses some of the biggest storylines from the first 20-plus games. Topics this week include Garrett Mitchell’s injury, Tyrone Taylor’s impending return, Brian Anderson’s big contributions, some new Brewers pitching trends, the Crew’s standout defense and more" Via 97.3's "Nine2Noon Show": Jeff Levering (go to the 23:20 minute mark) Via WSSP's Steve "Sparky" Fifer: Tim Dillard Via 97.3's Drew & KB: Bill Schroeder *** Postgame Shows for the Brewers 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Tigers --Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hosts WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo: - Jeff Cirillo is the guest Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "We Have Hit a Funk"

Also now available after an overnight delay -- Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hosts

Latest batch of Jeff Hem pre-game audio: Brewers Infield Instructor Matt Erickson (Parts 1 & 2), INF Eddy Alvarez, RHP Caleb Boushley, INF Abraham Toro, Manager Rick Sweet.

Monday 4/24: Via WTMJ's Morning News (download link): Sophia Minnaert Via WTMJ's Afternoon News (download link): Lane Grindle Via ESPN Wisconsin's "Homer & Tony" (download link)": Sophia Minnaert Via the "Barrel Banter Podcast": "Managing the Garrett Mitchell Injury, Revisiting their Trade Deadline Strategy, and Praising the Defense" *** Postgame Show for the Brewers disappointing 4-2 loss vs. Detroit --Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Experiencing Losing For a First Time" WTMJ with Dom Cotroneo (download link): - Jeff Cirillo is the guest (site link)

Manager Mike Guerrero and Pitching Coach Will Schierholz are the most recent additions to the Biloxi pre-game audio site.

Sunday 4/23: Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast - "The Brewers had another good week that didn't feel nearly so great because of a particularly rough loss and yet more injuries to add to a growing early list. The guys also assessed how sustainable this sort of winning actually is and a fruit peeling mishap." Via the Journal Sentinel Podcast: "The Brewers went 4-2 in another solid week, though a long-term injury to Garrett Mitchell and some late-week bullpen woes put a downer on the team's continued hot start. Can the Brewers overcome the loss of Mitchell with their internal options for center field? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss. How worried should we be about the pen? What about Corbin Burnes' early struggles? Or Jesse Winker's? Meanwhile, Wade Miley and Eric Lauer are stepping up in a big way, and Rowdy Tellez is on fire. Remembrew When looks at some big innings and Curt Blanche has a take on Shohei Ohtani, who'll be in Milwaukee this weekend. Then, JR has two interviews, one with former Brewers pitcher Dave Bush, who's now pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox (45:00). He talks about his role on the 2008 team, his near no-hitters and his non-traditional path back to the big leagues as a coach. Then, a chat with Peter Strzelecki (54:50), off to a white-hot start out of the bullpen for Milwaukee. He talks about his new sinker, his love for basketball (and his Miami Heat fandom) and is ComPETE gear. *** *** Postgame Shows for the Brewers 12-5 bullpen mishap vs. the Red Sox --Via 97.3's Baseball Postgame Show - Tim Allen hostsWTMJ with Dom Cotroneo: - Craig Coshun is the guestLocked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "GET HIM OTTA THERE!"