Brewers' top 2025 draft pick dazzles in professional debut

Outside of time travel and crystal balls, minor league baseball can be the best way to take a glimpse into the future. In fact, one can argue that the MiLB is the most visible development league in the country, with affiliates all over the country for each major league organization. Combine the rising stars, wacky alternate uniforms, celebrity appearances, and giveaways, and you have a product made to attract the masses.

Milwaukee is one of the lucky teams in baseball to have one of its minor league affiliates within easy driving distance. The Brewers' High-A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, is located just about an hour's drive up US Highway 41 in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a suburb of Appleton. Over the years, this has afforded Brewers fans north of Milwaukee the opportunity to not only see future stars, but also their favorite Brewers players if/when they are on a minor league rehab assignment.

With the Brewers having an off day on Thursday, baseball fans turned to the minor league affiliates to whet their baseball appetites. In the midst of a feverish rise of the big league club, it was this affiliate up in Packers country that stole the eyes of Brewers fans for the night. In the end, the Timber Rattlers mounted an improbable comeback, largely impacted by several of its top young prospects.

Andrew Fischer's impressive Timber Rattlers debut

Starting with the main headline heading into Thursday's action: Milwaukee Brewers' 2025 first round pick, Andrew Fischer, who bears no relation to me, was set to make his professional debut. Fischer, an infielder out of the University of Tennessee, signed his contract in late July before being assigned to the Arizona Complex League to get back up to speed after the long, grueling college baseball season.

Batting third and playing third base, Fischer immediately contributed in the bottom of the 1st inning, when he laced an RBI single to right center, scoring Brewers top prospect Jesús Made. Another top prospect in the organization, Luis Peña, moved from first to third on the play, and later came around to score on a Marco Dinges sac fly.  Wisconsin increased its lead to 3-0 in the 2nd inning on a Luis Castillo long ball. 

This week's opponent, the Great Lakes Loons, High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, capitalized on a big 3rd inning scoring four, highlighted by a two-run home run by Jake Gelof. The Timber Rattlers would knock on the door a couple of times but were unable to tie the game. Great Lakes added a pair in the top of the 8th, extending their lead to 6-3.

Timber Rattlers explode in the 8th

After a leadoff single by Hedbert Pérez, Wisconsin's next two hitters were unable to reach. With two outs and Pérez standing on first, an incredible comeback began. Luis Castillo worked a walk, and with nine-hole hitter Daniel Guilarte at the plate, a balk was called to advance the runners up 90 feet. Guilarte capitalized with the runners in scoring position, lacing a single to right, closing the Loons’ lead to 6-5.

Made went on to single, followed by a Peña double which scored Guilarte, tying the game at 6-6. This brought up Fischer, who was able to leg out an infield single on a slow chopper to second. With all the attention on first base, Peña was flying around the bases on the back end, scoring along with Made, giving the Timber Rattlers an 8-6 lead. Dinges struck out to end the rally. Jeferson Figueroa came out of the Wisconsin bullpen, and walks the first two batters before getting a double play and a strike out to close the game out for the Timber Rattlers.

Fischer was named the Timber Rattlers' "Hardest Worker of the Game," part of a 3-for-4 night with three RBI and two stolen bases in his debut. Brewers top organizational prospect Jesús Made went 3-for-5, with the Brewers' No. 2 prospect Luis Pena going 2-for-4, in their first series at home with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

This series is the penultimate home series for the Timber Rattlers, and limited tickets are available for the weekend games. The Brewers affiliate does stay in the state of Wisconsin next week, taking on former Brewers affiliate, the Beloit Sky Carp (formerly the Snappers), which are now the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Wisconsin will return home for its final homestand from August 26-31 for a six-game set against the Quad Cities River Bandits, High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Get your tickets now, because with the amount of exciting talent on the Timber Rattlers' roster, they are bound to go fast.