Milwaukee Brewers Farm Report: Colorado Springs Sky Sox June 24-30

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox went 3-4 over the last week, finishing at 12-15 for the month of June, an improvement over the team’s performance for the year despite the below-average results.

Who’s Hot

Hiram Burgos could merit an article all of his own if he continues at this rate, as he has returned from being released from the organization and climbed through the farm system. He began his year with the High A Brevard County Manatees, where the 27-year-old was four years older than the league average.

He graduated to AA Biloxi after seven starts, then joined the AAA team after 5 strong performances in Mississippi. This week, Burgos went seven innings, allowing three walks, two hits, and no runs while striking out eight. His strikeout numbers are at a career high (10.62 K/9) over the three levels.

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He could very well be pulling himself back into consideration as a back-of-the-rotation guy like he was when he won Brewers minor league player of the year in 2012.

Tyler Thornburg has put together back-to-back quality starts, going eight strong innings while allowing two earned runs, though he struck out just one batter. His strikeout numbers are way down since his demotion (5.78 K/9), but he has to feel good about his last couple of games, given his other rough numbers for the year, between AAA and the Majors (.880 OPS against).

Tyler Cravy stopped his cold streak on a dime with a 7 2/3 inning shutout with two walks, three hits, and four strikeouts. Cravy has stifled bats overall this year, and should be the first man up if Kyle Lohse or Matt Garza get traded before Wily Peralta returns.

Catcher Nevin Ashley salvaged the back end of June after struggling for most of the month, slashing .333/.444/.400 with as many walks as strikeouts over 18 plate appearances. His walk rate has been great after a slow start in that area during his otherwise hot April.

Elian Herrera continues to play like a non-human in AAA, somehow not coming down from his ridiculous batting average since his demotion. He slashed .455/.478/.500 over his last 22 at-bats, and his batting average remains an even .400 via a silly .460 BABIP.

Who’s Not

A lot of hitters have scuffled in the last week, including Matt Long, who had just two hits in 17 at-bats (.118) with one extra-base hit. The outfielder came to the team with a reputation as an underappreciated minor league journeyman, but he has seen his numbers slide slowly as the season wears on.

UT Yadiel Rivera has cooled off after an outstanding start to the year in AA Biloxi. As a defense-first prospect, his .677 OPS since joining the club isn’t discouraging, particularly given his age (23), but over the last week, Rivera has hit .222 with no extra-base hits and one walk.

Rivera’s biggest competition for the rebuilding Brewers utility spot is probably SS/2B Luis Sardinas, but they are showing solidarity with their poor performances. Sardinas hit .211, also lacking an extra-base hit, also with one walk. Rivera has had a much better season overall, but it remains to be seen who the organization prefers going forward.

Logan Schafer was the worst of them all, though his .695 OPS over June was a marked improvement over his other months. He slashed .125/.176/.188 over the last week. Schafer continues to show a worrying lack of power considering his home field and could be fading fast from the favor of the organization.