Milwaukee Brewers Farm Report: Brevard County Manatees, July 28-Aug 3

Each week throughout the regular season, the staff at Reviewing the Brew will be bringing you a comprehensive minor league report about each of the Brewers’ affiliates. There hasn’t been much to write home about up at the big league level this season for the Brewers this season, but Milwaukee does have plenty of exciting prospects playing well throughout their minor league system. The Brewers’ high-A affiliate, the Brevard County Manatees, are no exception.

The Manatees went 2-4 during the week, losing two to Palm Beach and splitting four games at Jupiter. For the year, Brevard County is in a virtual tie for fourth with Dunedin in the Florida State League North Division with a 45-59 record.

Brevard County hitters lead the league in hit-by-pitches (65), are tied for third with 43 home runs, and are fifth with a .246 batting average. The pitching staff is first with eight complete games and is tied for fourth with one shutout.

Individually, many ‘Tees (pardon my pun) rank among league leaders. Clint Coulter leads the league in HBP (15), is second in home runs (11), third in total bases (159), and fifth with 23 doubles. Taylor Smith-Brennan is tied for third with 60 runs scored and is tied for second with 52 walks.

Garrett Cooper is tied for second with 27 doubles, Omar Garcia is second with steals (41), and Chris McFarland is tied for second with 117 hits.

Promoted Victor Roache is still tied for fourth with ten home runs.

Pitching-wise, Jorge Ortega leads the league with four complete games, leads among qualifiers (min. 102 IP) with his 2.35 ERA and 1.018 WHIP. He is tied for first with one shutout, third with 111 innings pitched, and tied for fifth with eight victories.

More from Reviewing the Brew

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• Which Players May Be In The Final Month Of Their Brewers Careers?
• Brewers: Where Does Devin Williams Stand In NL Reliever Of The Year Race?

HITTER OF THE WEEK: Angel Ortega, SS

Ortega was a sixth round pick by the Brewers in the 2012 MLB June Draft from the International Baseball Academy (Ceiba, Puerto Rico). The right-handed hitting 21-year-old went 8-for-21 during the week with two runs, two RBIs, and a two-base hit for a slash line of .381/.381/.429.

Angel Ortega throwing to first to complete a twin killing. Photo credit/permission: Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography.

Runners-Up: Chris McFarland (7-for-24, 2 runs, RBI, SB); Rafael Neda (4-for-12, 2 runs, 2 doubles); Dustin Houle (3-for-10, run, double, RBI); Steven Halcomb (4-for-11, 3 runs, RBI).

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Wei-Chung Wang, LHP

Wang–the Rule 5 pick from last year–has pitched very well as of late after being DFA’d in mid-June, going 4-1 in his last eight starts, including four of the ‘quality’ variety. This week, the 23-y-o southpaw made two starts, going 1-1, allowing 10 hits and one run in 13 1/3 innings pitched. Wang struck out eight and walked three.

Runners-Up: Tristan Archer (4 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K); Kaleb Earls (2 IP, H, 2 BB, K, 1 save); Preston Gainey (2 2/3 IP, H, BB, K, 1 save).

Up Next:

The ‘Tees host Tampa in a trio of games, then travel to Dunedin for three games, and finish up the week with one at Tampa.