Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/20): Complex League Action

[Mass Haas]

As usual given MiLB's new scheduling established in 2021, the full-season affiliates enjoyed Monday off, with the clubs at the top three levels all returning to home base. The rookie-level youngsters at the complex level gave us some moments, documented for you here.

Transaction: C Jesus Garcia assigned to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers Blue

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Arizona Complex Leage recaps via @damuelle. On this particular night, Daniel spotlights the ages of nearly every player mentioned, as a reminder of just how many teenagers are at the complex. I'll have your Dominican recaps below.

Final: ACL Brewers Blue 7, ACL Giants Orange 0
Box Score / Game Log

This seven-inning game was the RHP Alexander Vallecillo show, as the 19-year-old dominated with his best start of 2022 thus far – 5 2/3 scoreless innings of four-hit, zero-walk (stunning), seven-K baseball. The Blue team improved their record to 3-8.

Offensively, 18-year-old 2021 international bonus man SS Daniel Guilarte and 19-year-old 2021 draftee CF Jace Avina led the 12-hit charge by combining to go 5-for-8 with four doubles and four RBIs, thus raising their impressive early season OPS’ to .937 and .904 respectively.

The Blue’s 19-year-old left-handed hitting 1B Quinton Low knocked in the first run of the game in the second inning, driving home 20-year old Eduarqui Fernandez (who’d doubled) in the second inning. The good guys then doubled their advantage in the third inning on consecutive doubles by Guilarte and Avina.

The flood gates opened with a five-run fourth inning, with all runs scoring with two outs: 19-year old Jamal Zalm RBI single, infield error for a run, Guilarte RBI single, Avina two-RBI double.

On the mound, Vallecillo was never out of rhythm, as the Giants Orange team never managed to put two men on base in any inning and only had one runner reach second base over his 5 2/3 innings of terrific work.

Let’s also tip our caps to 19-year-old reliever LHP Junior Castillo for closing out the shutout by throwing 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball and 18-year-old 2B Jonatan Guzman going 3-for-4 and scoring a run.

The staff was aided by 20-year old C Jhonnys Cabrera throwing out an attempted base stealer in the second inning, ground ball double plays in the fifth and seventh innings and zero Blue team errors in the game.

Wait, no errors, no hit batsmen, no wild pitches, no passed balls and only one walk? What is this, AAA ball?? Great job, young men.

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Final: ACL Brewers Dodgers 5, ACL Brewers Gold 2
Box Score / Game Log

The Brewers Gold squad couldn’t generate enough offense against the Dodgers in this nine-inning contest, though the pitching was solid. The loss dropped the Gold team’s record to 7-4.

Starting 20-year old RHP Domingo Mejia took the loss despite a solid effort – six innings pitched, three runs, six hits, one walk, four Ks.

After falling behind 2-0 through two innings, the Gold team battled back with 19-year old 1B Jesus Parra singling and scoring in the second inning and 19-year old CF Diego Larez being hit by a pitch, moving to third on an error and scoring on a double play ground out in the third inning. 2-2 game through three innings.

Unfortunately, the team couldn’t generate much offense the rest of the way, with their best chances coming and going as follows:

• Down 4-2 in the seventh inning, 19-year old C Blayberg Diaz led off with a single, 19-year old LF Eduarh Colina walked with 2 outs, but nothing came of it
• Down 5-2 in the ninth inning, 20-year old 2021 draftee 3B Kaylan Nicasia and 19-year old DH/INF Jose Caballero each singled with one out, but a ground ball double play ended the game

The only Gold player with multiple hits was Diaz (2-for-4) and the only RBI came via Mr. Caballero. Usual offensive bright spots 18-year old RF Luis Castillo (1.287 OPS) and 18-year old 2B Jadher Areinamo (.275 AVG) combined to go 0-for-6, but did manage two walks. Castillo also gunned down a runner at third base in the first inning.

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Final: DSL Colorado 1, DSL Brewers #1 Squad 0, seven innings
Box Score / Game Log

The Rockies' island kids scored their lone run in the 5th on a sacrifice fly. Considering the inning began with back-to-back singles, the damage could have been worse.

The Cerveceritos only managed three singles, three walks, and that was the extent of their baserunners, as the Colorado team played clean defense. Their was only one at-bat with a runner in scoring position.

It was a surprise that RHP Kevin Briceno was not brought to Maryvale to begin the 2022 season. because the Venezuelan's 2021 work was strong. Briceno won't be 20 years old until October, and don't you know, he's posting wonderful peripheral marks again thus far, as evidenced at his MiLB Player Page.

In relief here, 18-year-old Dominican RHP Jesael Cabrera's rookie season is off to a similarly nice start after three outings.

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Final: DSL Phillies Red 10, DSL Brewers #2 Squad 5
Box Score / Game Log

Up 3-1 after five innings after the very best of the three rookie outings of 18-year-old Dominican RHP Daurys Mora's season thus far, Club #2 saw five Philly runs cross in the top of the 6th, thanks primarily to the eight wild pitches thrown by 18-year-old Dominican RHP Franddy De Los Santos. In two appearances, De Los Santos has retired three batters while throwing eleven wild pitches. Place that in the "I can't believe what I just typed" category.

The Crew responded to get back to within one run at 6-5 in the bottom of the inning when the runaway early candidate for Most Improved Player, corner outfielder/first baseman Yeison Perez, clubbed his 5th (!) home run of the season, a two-run shot. The LH bat now sports a ridiculous line of .371/.421/.943 (OPS 1.364) after 35 at-bats.

Through ten games, 17-year-old switch-hitting Dominican center fielder Reminton Batista is 7-for-8 in stolen base attempts.

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