Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/24): Who Likes Winning? I do! I do!

Transactions:

• INF Jheremy Vargas was promoted to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers Blue - welcome back, Jheremy!
• RHP Cameron Wagoner was promoted to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers Gold
• RHP Max Lazar was sent on a rehab assignment to the Carolina Mudcats by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• SS Andruw Monasterio was promoted to the Nashville Sounds from the Biloxi Shuckers - welcome back, Andruw!
• RHP Michael Perdomo was released by the ACL Brewers Gold

Three Quick Strikes :

1) OF Joey Wiemer is ever so stealthily starting to swing a more patient and effective bat. After a prolonged slump coming off a hand injury, this has been a sight for sore eyes. His absolutely ripped opposite field double to begin his evening was one thing; it was reflective of finding that patience; that groove; and waiting for his pitches. He spoke to it recently with play-by-play stalwart, Jeff Hem, in his weekly interviews (HERE).

So we were sitting on two doubles in two consecutive games. He also legged out an infield single last night displaying that hustle and that focus I've seen when he's dialed and engaged. I keep saying it in the Minor League Game Threads but, it's a real thing. You can not expect any minor hiccups when these young stallions are running the base paths.

Then there was the unreal heads up play grabbing the double play at second base last night by charging in from deep right field. It was possibly the best play I've seen all season from a baseball awareness sense. Well, in tonight's second at-bat he came to the dish with the bases juiced and the Sounds clinging to a 1-0 lead. He displayed even more patience; he laid off an off-speed low but center cut pitch and then he laid off a heater just a smidge outside and high. He waited for his pitch. And, well, he got it:

2) Kudos are in order for the continued excellent form of RHP Josh Lindbolm . He self-admittedly scuffled trying to work some things out in real time on the mound (conversation HERE). Since he put that idea on the shelf, he's been back to his stellar AAA All-Star form. Tonight's output was a ridiculous 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HR, 1 ER, 7 K. That will set your ball club up for a win nearly every time on the hill. When I watch Lindbolm pitch, I find myself routinely asking: "What is it like to have five pitches in the bag? How would I sequence such gifts?" Thankfully, tonight, he gave us all another glimpse.

3) I could talk about Garrett Mitchell 's continued excellence (3-for-4 on the evening with two more doubles - including his now patented stretch-a-slow-roller-into-two because, well, he can?). But, instead I will remind you how good RHP Cam Robinson is. In his first action since his recent promotion to Triple-A, he was gifted a seven run cushion. He proceeded to whack that cushion minimizing any meaningful contact via two weakly hit infield ground outs. He then finished his evening with a vintage strikeout on a 96 mph cutter that fooled me (yet again!) into thinking it was off-speed. Words can not describe how filthy this pitch is. If 96 mph can move that gracefully, I think we're all going to be alright. My goodness, Mr. Robinson. 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K. 

For the second consecutive evening, the Biloxi Shuckers and the Chattanooga Lookouts were postponed due to rain. We once again give you a brief glimpse of a hypothetical pre-game scene at MGM Park:

This game has been pushed to Saturday, 8/27. This is now the second rain-induced double header of the series. Tomorrow will be double header number one. Stay tuned - the weather is clearly not cooperating.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 13, Lansing (Athletics) 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review:
Lucky Thirteen for the Rattlers - Murray Drives in Five for Wisconsin in 13-2 Win Over Lansing

It will be well worth your while to watch the full game highlights given the high quality Cruz performance, the run output, and the 15 hits. Take a look:

And, your postgame podcast for some good listening: HERE  (highlights include an Ethan Murray interview and Joe Ayrault on red hot Taylor Floyd)

This was a break-out outing for the T-Rats bats with their first double digit run output since early July and only the 5th double-digit run output for their 2022 season. RHP Stiven Cruz continued his fantastic work since his call-up and has allowed a mere two hits in 12 IP to date - absolutely absurd production. He is becoming a must-watch young arm every time on the mound. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The ongoing developments and evolutions of the young trio of RHP's in Carlos F. Rodriguez, Cruz, and Alexander Cornielle has been one of the highlights of my Minor League viewing season. The rapid growth of Cruz, in particular, since his call up earlier in the year to Carolina has been a sight to behold. He works extremely efficiently within the pitch clock confines. He has a fastball that clearly sneaks up and by hitters with regularity. He has several off-speed offerings - a slider, a 12-6 curve ball, and a change-up.

The future is bright for all three of these men, but, you'd be hard pressed to find a light shining brighter than Cruz in his ongoing 'adjustments' to High-A ball. Cruz finished his day with 6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 7 K. That's now 12 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 3 BB in his first two outings at High-A. Quite the impressive debuts.

2) Let's talk about the truly meaningful and impactful turnaround for RHP Taylor Floyd . Floyd came on in relief today hoping to solve a precarious one-out scenario: men on the corners and T-Rats clinging to a 5-2 lead in the top of the 7th. Facing his first batter, he quickly sped to an 0-2 count and then absolutely fooled him on a tailing change-up over and then off the plate. One pitch later, a dipping sinker center and in and the final batter routinely hit it to right center where OF Jose Acosta was parked. Inning over. Threat averted. He's re-discovered what made him so darn good in 2021. He pitches 1 2/3 more clean innings - 1 BB, 2 K, 0 H (this was shared just before today's shut down outing) :

3) A frustrating season simply got, well, more frustrating for OF Joe Gray Jr . 0-for-5 on his day with 4 K was not what he was looking for to create some semblance of momentum to close his season. These were primarily fastball strikeouts as well - two heaters up high, one dead center down the heart of the plate on a 3-2 count with the bases juiced.

In a season filled with opportunities to make a big mark, unfortunately, Gray Jr. has mostly missed. He now has 163 K to only 45 BB on his season. Adding insult to injury, in his fifth at-bat he ripped a grounder down the third base line but it was classically right to the third baseman. Even a head first slide to the first base bag couldn't will the hit into existence. It has truly been a rough 2022 for the young outfielder. Here's hoping for improved results in the final weeks and a productive off-season.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes     *Yesterday's Game Notes - none provided for today's game*
Final:  Carolina 5, Kannapolis (White Sox) 3
Box Score / Game Log                                         

Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review:
Garabitos Dominates in 5-3 Carolina Victory 

The new look Mudcats got back on the winning track with a gutsy 5-3 win in Kannapolis. SS Eric Brown Jr . was given the night off, while INF Robert Moore covered the dirt between third and second base. Moore managed to extend his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single through the gap between shortstop and third base in the seventh frame. When all was said and done, every Mudcat managed to produce at least one hit in their 13 hit output.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Catcher Jose Sibrian is up for Minor League free agency after his 2022 season. I've opined on more than one occasion, that this young man is entirely too talented to not try and get something done to keep him in the Brewers fold. Since Jeferson Quero 's much-deserved promotion, Sibrian has only solidified this strictly personal opinion. Coming into tonight's contest, Sibrian was riding an eight-game hitting streak and a prolonged run of excellent play, offensively and defensively. Naturally, he was shelved affording his teammates much-deserved playing time. This will not deter me from shining a light. Take a quick look and get acquainted:

2) LHP Pablo Garabitos narrowly beats out Lindbolm for the game tag above. Why? He simply continues to play the role of and excellent shut down long reliever. Lately, he is piggy backing off the quality work of strengthening and stretching RHP Logan Henderson (2 IP, 2 H,0 BB, 1 ER, 4 K tonight). Tonight's game was akin to so many recent Garabitos outings: lots of innings, lots of pitches, and lots of success. All told, the off-speed specialist managed to complete 5 IP, 0 BB, 5 H, 8 K and he moved to 5-0 on the season.

Given this is really his age 21 season (he turned 22 July 30th), it's quite easy to see the Brewers probably know they have a younger and possibly better long-term version of their former lefty stalwart Andy Otero. (He was recently released - we thank you Mr. Otero for your fine work these past two years.) What the young Garabitos does from here is anyone's guess, but it's hard not to admire how effective he is on a nightly basis. Track his ongoing results HERE.

3) A 5-1 game was suddenly a nail biter in the final frame when typically reliable, late-inning workhorse RHP Michelle Vassalotti, found major trouble in his second inning of work. After a seeing eye single and a walk, Vassalotti manage to grab an out on a dropped pop fly. That's right, Castillo dropped that puppy but thankfully threw out the lead runner at third base. Vassalotti followed with another walk to load the bases. After a ground out to the mound for the second out, but another walk and a run-scoring single the game was suddenly 5-3 Mudcats and the bases still juiced.

Recently promoted lefty, Leoni De La Cruz , was brought on to face the dynamic and dangerous Cannonballer clean-up hitter (and right-handed bat) Tim Elko , who already had two well-hit knocks on the evening. It was absolutely tense. Elko absolutely smashed a high 1-0 fastball to deep right field but the sprinting and leaping efforts of Edquarqui Fernandez somehow managed to stab the ball and end the game. I still have no idea how he caught it. The victory kept the young Mudcats within 3 1/2 games of first place Fredericksburg. 

Four games played and, well, that's a wrap? Hallelujah! What a grind those added Rookie League contests were, and, what a joy it was to get a sneak peek at what might be coming up the pipeline in future seasons! We saw some inspired play throughout the system this fine late August Wednesday. Cruz continues to show he has a bright future ahead, Garabitos proved his ongoing workhorse status, and unlikely heroes like INF Ethan Murray stepped to the mic and delivered.

Tomorrow, we'll hopefully see a double-header in Biloxi. If weather permits, we at least know LHP Robert Gasser will bless us with his gifts. LHP Ethan Small will look to make it 3-0 Sounds in Durham. RHP Brady Schanuel will look to continue his fine work in August as he takes the hill for his surprising third consecutive start - will he be given a longer leash than 3 IP this time out? Stay tuned! Carolina's starter is, once again, 'TBD' at this juncture. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting these young men as they chase their dreams.