BREWERS’ MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Isan Diaz, 2B, Carolina: The Milwaukee Brewers’ 2016 minor-league player of the year had a huge week, collecting 13 hits and 22 total bases over eight games to raise his average from .219 to .280. Diaz doubled three times, homered twice, drove in 11 runs and posted a 1.099 OPS. Teammates Jake Gatewood and Trent Clark also produced; Gatewood hit .310 in eight games with three doubles, three homers and produced an OPS of 1.154, and Clark hit .320 in seven games with a double, homer, four RBI and an OPS of .913.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jorge Lopez, RHP, Biloxi: Lopez is starting to look more like the top prospect he once was. His start April 28 in an eventual 1-0 shutout victory over Pensacola was terrific as he allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out 10 over six innings. Lopez improved to 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA and a WHIP of 0.81 over five starts, and has struck out 30 while walking only four in 26 innings. He also has not allowed a homer and is holding hitters to a .214 average.
JOURNAL SENTINEL’S TOP FIVE PROSPECTS
1. Lewis Brinson, OF, Colorado Springs: Brinson didn’t have a chance to do much with the Sky Sox playing only three times, hitting .231 with a double and three RBI while striking out six times. To illustrate what a hitter-friendly league the Pacific Coast League is, his .355 average this season ranks him 11th among qualified players. Brinson also has homered three times, driven in 11 runs and posted a .972 OPS.
2. Josh Hader, LHP, Colorado Springs: Hader’s lone start was his worst of the season, as he allowed four hits, five runs (earned) and three walks to go with five strikeouts over 42⁄3 innings in a no-decision against Iowa on April 27. He’s 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in five starts, but his command is still an issue as he has walked nearly as many batters (17) as he has struck out (20). 3. Isan Diaz, 2B, Carolina: Diaz is on an 11-game hitting streak and has posted multiple hits in four of his last six games. Another positive sign is the fact he struck out only four times in 33 at-bats. His 148 strikeouts last season led the Midwest League. Diaz also is tied for the team lead with four homers and is tops in RBI with 19. 4. Corey Ray, OF, Carolina: The Brewers’ first-round pick last year, Ray doubled five times and drove in six runs over seven games but batted only .229 and struck out 12 times. He’s hitting .246 with nine RBI in 14 games, but his 22 strikeouts have contributed to a disappointing .277 on-base percentage.
5. Lucas Erceg, 3B, Carolina: While Diaz went crazy at the plate, Erceg went the other way as his 3-for-34 week dropped his average from .302 to .218. He also has gone eight games without an extra-base hit.
AFFILIATES UPDATE
Class AAA Colorado Springs: Weather is always dicey for Colorado Springs this time of year, and last week the Sky Sox had three games postponed. Throw in an off-day and they finished the week with a 1-2 record. Springs’ 13-7 overall record is still tops in the Pacific Coast League, although Memphis has one more victory with 14. First baseman Garrett Cooper continues to swing a hot bat and has a team-best 21 RBI, while Brett Phillips’ five homers are tops for the Sky Sox.
Class AA Biloxi: The Shuckers went 4-3 to move into a four-way tie for second place in the Southern League’s South Division at 11-14 overall. Hurting their standing is the fact they’ve gone just 2-8 at MGM Park. First baseman Dustin DeMuth hit .318 over six games, but overall the offense remains MIA. Catcher Jacob Nottingham’s average has sunk to .143. Prospect Luis Ortiz strained a hamstring in his last start April 25.
Advanced Class A Carolina: It was a tough week for the Mudcats, who went 2-6 with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Frederick on April 29 the low point. Their 10-14 record has them in fourth place in the Carolina League’s Southern Division. The big story has been the resurgence of first baseman Jake Gatewood, who’s leading the team with a .326 average and turned heads with a terrific .431 on-base percentage that’s been helped by a much-improved eye at the plate (16 walks). Right-hander Corbin Burnes’ record is just 1-0 after five starts, but he’s struck out 27 in 27 1⁄3 innings and posted an ERA of 1.65 and a WHIP of 1.06.
Class A Wisconsin: Like the Sky Sox, the Timber Rattlers went 1-2 after having games washed out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Burlington. At 10-11, they’re in fifth place in the Midwest League’s Western Division. Monte Harrison and Tucker Neuhaus each have a team-leading six homers and Demi Orimoloye is right behind at five. Infield prospect Gilbert Lara has struggled mightily and is hitting only .154 with one homer and six RBI in 15 games. Right-hander Trey Supak is 0-2 but has a 2.79 ERA and WHIP of 0.78 with 22 strikeouts in 19 1⁄3 innings.