Affiliates struggle but Eric Bitonti slugs three homers, moving season total to 13 between ACL Brewers and Low-A Carolina
Each week, I’ll be bringing you a roundup of the Brewers minor league affiliates, including score updates, key players, and more. Here is the week 20 roundup.
Triple-A Nashville
The Sounds took four of six from the Indianapolis Indians (51-59 overall; 18-19 second half) to improve to 60-53 overall and 22-16 in the second half, still four games behind Columbus for the International League West lead.
Vinny Capra led the offense with six hits, including a pair of homers, driving in six runs and scoring three more. Francisco Mejía and Isaac Collins each picked up five hits, including a homer apiece. As a team, the Sounds hit .202/.282/.328 with four homers and 20 runs scored.
All six starters – Mitch White, Chad Patrick, Jacob Misiorowski, Carlos Rodriguez, Logan Henderson, and DL Hall – looked solid for Nashville this week, combining for 26 ⅓ innings, allowing just two runs (0.68 ERA) and striking out 27. Misiorowski also made his first career appearance out of the bullpen on Sunday, pitching 1 2⁄3 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts — perhaps a preview of his role in Milwaukee later this season? Craig Yoho was perfect in his first two appearances after a promotion to Triple-A, striking out four over two innings. The Sounds pitching staff finished the week with a 2.13 ERA, striking out 57 across 55 innings.
The Sounds head back to the road as they take on the Durham Bulls (53-61 overall; 17-22 second half). Nashville went 3-3 against the Bulls in both previous series against Durham this season.
Double-A Biloxi
The Shuckers split their six-game set with the Montgomery Biscuits (61-47 overall; 21-18 second half). The Shuckers remain in first place in the Southern League South second-half standings, up two games on Pensacola with a 24-14 second-half record and a 54-51 overall record.
Mike Boeve slugged another homer this week while leading the team with seven hits, slashing .292/.414/.500 with two RBIs, four runs, and a steal. Connor Scott and Lamar Sparks both picked up six hits, including a homer, driving in four each. As a team, the Shuckers hit .196/.310/.289 with three homers and 24 runs scored.
Tate Kuehner had a strong five-inning performance, striking out a team-high 10 batters while allowing no runs on one hit and three walks. K.C. Hunt allowed one run over 5 ⅓ innings on three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in his Double-A debut. Kaleb Bowman was strong in a pair of relief appearances, allowing no runs with six strikeouts over 4 ⅔ innings, while Shane Smith worked five scoreless with five strikeouts in a win. The pitching staff finished the week with a solid 2.82 ERA, tallying 65 strikeouts across 51 innings.
The Shuckers head home where they’ll welcome the Mississippi Braves (49-58 overall; 18-21 second half). Biloxi is 10-8 against Mississippi this season.
High-A Wisconsin
The Timber Rattlers struggled with a 2-4 week against the Quad Cities River Bandits (51-56 overall; 21-21 second half), falling to 67-40 overall and 25-16 in the second half, though they remain 4.5 games ahead of the pack in the Midwest League West second-half standings.
Cooper Pratt was the standout performer offensively for Wisconsin, picking up seven hits, including four doubles, while scoring three runs and picking up a steal. Tayden Hall collected four hits in four at-bats, while Felix Valerio had a .444 OBP with two hits and five walks, stealing three bases. As a team, Wisconsin hit a measly .186/.308/.257 with two homers and 16 runs scored.
Mark Manfredi had a pair of scoreless starts, allowing just three hits and a walk over six innings with five strikeouts. Jefferson Figueroa worked three scoreless innings in relief, striking out three. Aaron Rund got the win in relief despite blowing a save, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over three innings across two appearances. As a staff, the Rattlers finished the week with a rough 5.76 ERA, striking out 59 batters over 50 innings.
The Rattlers head home to take on the Peoria Chiefs (47-60 overall; 21-21 second half). Wisconsin is 7-2 against the Chiefs this season.
Single-A Carolina
The Mudcats split six games with the Fredericksburg Nationals (61-47 overall; 26-16 second half), moving to 64-42 overall and 23-18 in the second half.
Eric Bitonti continues to flash his power, hitting three homers and driving in eight this week while also collecting four walks for a .348 OBP. Daniel Guilarte picked up five hits and seven walks for a .357/.545/.500 line, driving in four and scoring six runs with three steals. Yhoswar Garcia led the team with four steals. As a team, the Mudcats hit .198/.343/.316 with three homers and 35 runs scored.
Bryan Rivera made a strong start this week, allowing no runs over six innings on two hits and a walk with a team-high nine strikeouts. Brailin Rodriguez worked 4 ⅓ scoreless across two appearances, earning a win and striking out eight. Manuel Rodriguez also had a strong start, allowing no runs over four innings with four strikeouts. As a pitching staff, the Mudcats had a 5.81 ERA but still led the league with 59 strikeouts over 48 innings.
The Mudcats head to Maryland to battle the last-place Delmarva Shorebirds (40-67 overall; 17-25 second half). Carolina swept Delmarva in a six-game series earlier this season.
Performances by Top 10 Brewers Prospects (Weekly Performance; Season Totals)
- (MLB No. 31) RHP Jacob Misiorowski (AAA): 3 ⅔ IP, 1 H, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 0 BB, 5 SO; 84 ⅓ IP, 53 H, 33 ER (3.52 ERA), 53 BB, 110 SO
- (MLB No. 32) 3B/1B Tyler Black (AAA): .235/.350/.294 (17 at-bats), 0 HR, 0 RBI; .272/.382/.433 (342 at-bats), 11 HR, 53 RBI
- (MLB No. 91) SS Cooper Pratt (A+): .333/.348/.524 (21 at-bats), 0 HR, 1 RBI; .290/.380/.400 (300 at-bats), 4 HR, 39 RBI
- 3B Brock Wilken (AA): .083/.185/.083 (24 at-bats), 0 HR, 1 RBI; .219/.322/.392 (319 at-bats), 14 HR, 45 RBI
- RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (AAA): 6 ⅓ IP, 3 H, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 2 BB, 5 SO; 107 IP, 97 H, 60 ER (5.05 ERA), 47 BB, 105 SO
- OF Luis Lara (A+): .143/.308/.143 (21 at-bats), 0 HR, 0 RBI; .231/.314/.303 (346 at-bats), 2 HR, 32 RBI
- OF Yophery Rodriguez (A): .222/.250/.296 (27 at-bats), 0 HR, 1 RBI; .254/.344/.406 (342 at-bats), 7 HR, 52 RBI
- SS Eric Brown Jr. (AA): .167/.250/.278 (18 at-bats), 0 HR, 3 RBI; .192/.276/.278 (302 at-bats), 4 HR, 34 RBI
- RHP Josh Knoth (A): 3 ⅔ IP, 9 H, 6 ER (14.73 ERA), 1 BB, 5 SO; 73 ⅔ IP, 70 H, 40 ER (4.89 ERA), 38 BB, 85 SO
- 3B/SS Eric Bitonti (A): .211/.348/.737 (19 at-bats), 3 HR, 8 RBI; .300/.423/.587 (223 at-bats), 13 HR, 58 RBI