Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/8): Three Wins, One Delayed Opener

Transactions:

OF/IF Noah Campbell was promoted from High-A Wisconsin to AA Biloxi, providing much-needed depth after the recent Korry Howell and Hayden Cantrelle trades. The ultra-versatile Campbell was at Carolina for all of 2021 (.775 OPS), so for the moment at least, is bypassing the High-A level.

25-year-old LHP Scott Sunitsch was placed on the 10-day injured list at Biloxi. Sunitsch is apparently still working his way back from 2021 hip surgery, though it's possible this placement is unrelated. Due to the lost Covid season, Sunitsch last saw action at the two A-Ball levels in 2019 - 28 appearances, 26 of them starts.

LHP Jakob Brustoski was assigned to Low-A Carolina, This will be Brustoski’s official organizational (and pro) debut, as the recently-turned-23-year-old had Tommy John surgery in December 2020, causing him to miss his junior year at Texas Tech. The Brewers signed him as an undrafted free agent in February 2021.

Also, thanks to a poster's contribution link on the Minor League Forum, we got some clarity on the what the "Development List" is all about.

***

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes

Final: Nashville 3, Durham (Rays) 1

Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds' site, game details, please review:

Jason Alexander Pitches Sounds to Win - Right-hander Tosses Five Scoreless Innings to Even Series 

We'll be up front with everyone, it's too long a season and too easy a reference, so for Jason Alexander's sake, you won't see Seinfeld/Costanza comments here very often. This fantastic feature article from last December is the definitive chronicling of Alexander's baseball journey. Since this was Alexander's Brewers organization debut, this is a fine chance to familiarize yourself with him.

113 MPH off the bat? How's the webbing in your glove this morning, Jamie Westbrook?

The relief trio of RHP Luis Perdomo, RHP J.C. Mejia, and RHP Miguel Sanchez made their 2022 debuts. It will be interesting to see how long it is prior to Perdomo being stretched out.

***

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes

Final: Biloxi 13, Pensacola (Marlins) 11, 11 innings

Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please review:

What A Night! Shuckers Win Season Opener In Wild 11-Inning Affair - Valerio Homer Wins It For Biloxi

First of all thank you Mets, for the January 2019 trade in which Keon Broxton turned into RHP Adam Hill (who was later flipped for Omar Narvaez) and a Dominican Summer League lottery pick in the 5'7" Felix Valerio.

Hope you digested Garrett Greene's report just above, because where do we begin? Had the MiLB.TV video feed of the Pensacola broadcast on one device while synching (or attempting to) the Biloxi audio on another. It made for late-night fun for sure (game time 4:08).

Check out the early-inning action here, you'll see a Garrett Mitchell triple, Joey Wiemer's first AA hit (plus showing off his cannon from right field), all which the Shuckers tweeted last night. But this video includes our only view of Tristen Lutz' HR as well.

Might as well make your first AA knock ultra-productive, Freddy Zamora!

Unfortunately, 3B Ashton McGee had to leave the game after a very awkward slide into home on this play. Total speculation, but that can't be good for one's shoulder. Here's hoping it's only a day-to-day, love McGee (.913 OPS in 2021) and the cleanup choice in a stacked lineup.

By the way, 5'7" for Felix is being generous...

Talk about immediate "Hello, Old Friend" - part of a 3-for-6 night:

The Shuckers won despite committing four infield errors, they did eventually get to 18-year-old RHP phenom Eury Perez, but only after three dominant innings, and we haven't touched on the Shucker arms in this game. One of those wild nights where you just dig into the box and log and explore. Enjoy!

***

Details on the Timber Rattlers postponement - Wet field conditions delay season-opener, juggles opening weekend schedule for Wisconsin

***

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes

Final: Carolina 6, Down East (Rangers) 3

Box Score / Game Log

We don't see an online version of the game summary quite yet, so we'll copy and paste the press release:

ZEBULON – Arbert Cipion matched a career high with four RBI, and Micah Bello scored three times as the Carolina Mudcats defeated the Down East Wood Ducks 6-3 in front of an Opening Night crowd of 3,999 on Friday night at Five County Stadium. Reliever Christian Tripp earned the victory and Michele Vassalotti earned his first career save.

The Mudcats (1-0) originally fell behind 1-0 in the second before tying things at 1-1 thanks to Cipion’s first of two run scoring doubles in the game. Carolina then took a 2-1 lead when Jheremy Vargas singled and scored on a RBI single from Hendry Mendez. Bello made it 3-1 in the fourth when he doubled and scored on a Cipion groundout.

The Wood Ducks (0-1) later bounced back with two runs off Carolina starter Ryne Moore to tie the game, but Carolina answered with two more in the sixth and one in the eighth to get the Opening Night victory. Cipion drove in both Carolina runs in the sixth with a two-run double, and Bello scored from third on a double steal (with Cipion taking second) in the eighth.

Tripp (1-0, 0.00) earned the win after working through three straight scoreless innings. He entered in the sixth and retired eight straight before walking a batter in the eighth. He also followed Moore who had worked through five innings with three runs allowed on five hits. Moore’s only blemish was a game-tying two run single given up to Maximo Acosta in the fifth.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Bello, DH (Carolina): 2-for-3, 3 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Cipion, LF (Carolina): 2-for-3, 0 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI
Quero, C (Carolina): 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Moore (Carolina): 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Tripp (W, 1-0) (Carolina): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Vassalotti (S, 1) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Hey, way to go, Zebulon, couldn't fudge the number to get a 4,000th fan in the ballpark? Great turnout!

He won't turn 22 until next month, but speedster Arbert Cipion is working on his 5th pro year (the lost Covid season counts for service time). He was the Crew's 9th round pick in 2018 out of a New Jersey high school. It's been a struggle (nearly 44% K rate), but it'd be neat if this was one of those development-of-raw-tool-stories.

Two doubles and a walk for Micah Bello, who was the DH here. Now 21, folks may have forgotten that Bello was the 73rd overall pick in that same 2018 draft.

Nice work by the two big RHP's in Ryne Moore and Christian Tripp. Tripp, the former Mets farmhand who was a victim of their Covid-era releases, just turned 25. Importantly, he only walked one in three innings, as control was an issue in 2021's Carolina debut (20 BB's in 25.1 IP). Keep that up and he'll be bumped to a more age-appropriate level soon.

Folks, I did take in much of this game via MiLB.TV, and wow, nice first 2022 impression Jeferson Quero (2-for-4). The Brewers' prized catcher just exudes maturity, and his triple was a laser beam over the center fielder's head punctuated with an athletic slide into third.

One bummer - Carolina's social media presence, at least in terms of within-game video highlights and such, is in a state of transition as of now. The Mudcats had one of the premier online entertaining identities in all of MiLB for the past few years, hopefully they can strive to regain at least part of that.

***

We're not going to be able to make note of Brewers alumni each and every night (not even close), however it was quite a week thus far, particularly Friday night.

From earlier this week, we missed David Fry's (J.C. Mejia trade) first home run in the Guardians' organization -

RHP Evan Reifert (Mike Brosseau trade) made his AA debut in style last night, just 15 pitches to do this:

Did we all see catcher Payton Henry (John Curtiss trade) made Miami's opening big league roster?

Wonderful AA start to the season for Reese Olson (Daniel Norris trade).

Third baseman Alex Binelas was 2-for-4 in his High-A Boston system debut Friday night.

And his trade partner in the JBJ/Hunter Renfroe deal, David Hamilton, had a Red Sox AA debut for the ages, oh of course he stole a base, too.

***

Saturday 4/9:

Make note of the gametime starts as you plan your Brewers prospect Saturday!

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores