Milwaukee Brewers Farm Report: Brevard County Manatees, Aug 25-31

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 affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers. 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 accomplished two firsts for the year in Florida State League action: the ‘Tees went winless for the first week all season, and they played in a game that ended in a 4-4 tie. On the week, they were 0-5 with one deadlock. Overall, Brevard County is in fifth place in the FSL North, 20 1/2 games out of first. In the second half, the ‘Tees are 26-36, also good for the fifth spot in the six-team division.

As a team, Brevard County is second in the league with 77 hit-by-pitches. And on a random note, it took 127 games but a Manatees player was finally the recipient of an intentional walk: Clint Coulter got the free pass in a 2-1 loss to Clearwater on August 28.

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The pitching staff is having good success, leading the league with 14 complete games, a number which is nearly 1/3 of the league total of 44. They are tied for second with two shutouts and have shown good control, allowing the fewest walks in the league (312).

Individually, batters continue to place near the top of the FSL leader board.

Outfielder Clint Coulter is tied for second with 13 homers, third with 194 total bases, and fourth in the FSL with 30 doubles. Third baseman Taylor Smith-Brennan is third with 62 walks and tied for fourth with 68 runs scored. Recently promoted first baseman Garrett Cooper is second in doubles (32) and second in OPS (.792). Second baseman Chris McFarland is second with 147 hits, while speedy flychaser Omar Garcia is second with 53 steals.

On the pitching staff, starter Jorge Ortega is first in ERA (2.41), complete games (6), shutouts (2), and WHIP (1.038). His nine wins rank in a tie for fifth, and his 141 2/3 innings place him third in the loop. Wei-Chung Wang also has nine victories and is tied for fourth with two complete games. Zach Hirsch and Javier Salas each also have a pair of complete games, ranking in a tie for fourth.

HITTER OF THE WEEK: Chris McFarland, 2B

McFarland went 8-for-19 (.421/.421/.474), including two runs, a double and a stolen base. For the year, McFarland is hitting .275 with 20 steals.

Runners-Up: Taylor Smith-Brennan, 3B and Omar Garcia, OF

Smith-Brennan went 6-for-16 (.375/.412/.438) with two runs, a two-base hit, two RBI and a steal. Garcia was 6-for-18 (.333/.400/.333) with two runs, two walks, and four stolen bases.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Wei-Chung Wang, SP

Wang made one start, going six innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out three.

Runners-Up: Tristan Archer, RP and Preston Gainey, RP

Archer made one appearance, allowing one hit and striking out a pair in two innings. Gainey had a perfect one inning outing, striking out all three batters faced.

NEXT UP: The Manatees finish up the season with one game against Lakeland and a four game ‘home-and-home’ with Daytona to end the campaign.