Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/3): An Eventful Robert Gasser AAA Debut; Jackson Chourio Does His Jackson Chourio Thing

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Timber Rattler LHP Karlos Morales ' MiLB Player Page still indicates "suspended" for his innocent role in the Wrestling Night dust-up, but he clearly is back as he played a big part Friday night.

When this player eventually makes his way to Appleton for Lederhosen Night, he'll feel right at home: 

• Walk-walk-K-K (both looking)-double steal-F8 for a scoreless 1st.
• K-groundout-walk-walk-popout for a scoreless 2nd.
• Single-8-4 double play-K for a scoreless 3rd, Sal Frelick doing Sal Frelick things all night

OK, so a roundabout way to get to three scoreless, and then there's a five-run Memphis 4th. The game summary mentions consecutive two-run base hits to trim the Sounds' lead to 6-5.

The game log will come in handy for you here to get the full breadth of that 4th inning. Note the two-run double deflected off the glove of Weston Wilson that drove Gasser from the game. Watching it live at the time, certainly not an error on a tough play that brought Wilson to the left field wall, but it was hit very high, and Wilson had time to get under it but kind of semi-leaped thinking it was going over perhaps. If asked, Wilson would probably say he should have caught it. That doesn't excuse Gasser's six walks, but it would have made for a slightly more appealing final line.

Speaking of Wilson, the minor-league-free-agent-to-be had done this earlier:

Used properly in single-inning doses, RHP Trevor Kelley can be so nasty. He was money locking down the save with his side-winding arsenal. I think he may stick on the 40-man all offseason and be looked upon to contribute at the MLB level in 2023, we'll see how things evolve.
 

Final: Biloxi 4, Rocket City (Angels) 2
Knarr's Seven Sterling Innings Helps Secure Shuckers' Win - Ray Homers Twice for Biloxi
Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes / Box Score / Game Log

Sterling is used as an adjective a lot more within the sports world than outside of it. I like it here.

24-year-old southpaw Brandon Knarr has had a heck of a year between his 10 Timber Rattler starts and 14 with the Shuckers. Yes, most of the heavy-lifting was at the lower-level, but Knarr has been a horse, avoiding the blow-up outing, never leaving without completing at least four innings, and only twice not making it through five frames. The peripherals are there to match as evidenced by a glance at his MiLB Player Page. Surely his managers appreciate Knarr's consistent efforts. 

Only four outfielders currently on this squad, and with Corey Ray getting the night at designated hitter, it was none other than 5'7" Felix Valerio  patrolling center field for the first time in his professional career. It wasn't out of desperation but by choice as either Garrett Whitley or Terence Doston could have been stationed in center with Valerio in a more familiar left field. Valerio handled the two fly balls sent his way - neither apparently requiring a leap at the wall.

As for Ray, Corey will have no difficulty finding suitors in minor league free agency aiming to finally get consistent production out of him. Both of his home runs, along with other highlights, are available via the Shuckers' Twitter Media Feed.
 

Final: Wisconsin 6, Peoria (Cardinals) 1
Chourio Powers Wisconsin Past Peoria - Brewers outfield prospect breaks tie with his fourth homer in five games
Pre-Game Media Notes / Box Score / Game Log

Well, between the Sounds and T-Rats, at least the St. Louis organization is being handed losses somewhere.



One more homestand, fans, just one more Appleton homestand. See him while you can.

Hello again, just-turned-21-year-old RHP Alexander Cornielle . Folks, when you do attend that Timber Rattler final homestand, you have a chance to see Cornielle, and 20-year-old RHP's Stiven Cruz and Carlos Rodriguez in a starting role. Not to mention 21-year-old RHP Israel Puello , who has flashed brightly at times in Appleton. That is a very exciting and exceedingly young foursome. Look for Rodriguez, with his JUCO background, to be the one to start 2023 in Biloxi - I wouldn't mind seeing the other three back at Wisconsin minimally for April and May 2023, but surely the young men's ambitions (and spring wardrobes for the location) have other things in mind.

Talk about the fruits of one's labor and an organization seeing a development plan through, as 6th year LH reliever Karlos Morales (one of those years was the lost Covid season) has had a 2022 he'll remember for sure. The recently turned 23-year-old should be in Biloxi at some point next summer. I'm sure other since-released players might roll their eyes at the term "seeing a development plan through", but those are certainly stories for other days.

Final: Columbia (Royals) 17, Carolina 8
Carolina Pitchers Walk 14 in 17-8 Loss - The Mudcats led 5-0 after the third and 7-3 after the fifth before losing 17-8 on Friday night
Pre-Game Media Notes / Box Score / Game Log

Feel free to review just the first three innings of the game log - Mudcats up 5-0 after three.

Go ahead, review another two innings after that - Mudcats up 7-3 after five.

When you see those three double-digit ERA's of the three Mudcats recently promoted Maryvale pitchers, you're looking at a combined seven outings only. Regardless, that's some ugly stuff going on there. We just discussed all the Carolina pitching talent that has made its way up to Wisconsin, clearly backfilling is not always easy.

The Mudcats reached base via HBP four times, including two by CF Jace Avina, who now remarkably has been plunked 18 times vs. 194 AB's in 2022. Compare that to Wisconsin single-season HBP leader Darrian Miller's 22 HBP's vs. 293 AB's. That's 9.3% for Avina, 7.5% for Miller. Avina did face a bunch of wild rookie arms while in Maryvale, though.

Nice to see rehabbing Max Lazar's brief but effective start.

Carolina has a 4:00 Central start Saturday, with the other clubs playing in the early evening. Thanks for joining us during this late stretch of the Minor League Link Report season. I'll catch you again Sunday AM.

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