Checking in with Javik Blake, the voice of the Biloxi Shuckers

There’s no denying the overwhelming talent currently residing in the Milwaukee Brewers’ farm system. It’s well-balanced, with top prospects like Jacob Misiorwoski and Jesús Made making national headlines, while late-round draft gems like Tyson Hardin and Bishop Letson are quickly becoming household names. However, despite Miz lighting up radar guns in Triple-A and the Carolina Mudcats winning games on the backs of an all-teenage infield, some of the best baseball in the Brewers minor league system is currently being played by their Double-A affiliate, the Biloxi Shuckers.

Last week, Reviewing the Brew’s Eric Fischer and Owen Jonas hopped on a call with the Shuckers’ play-by-play broadcaster and media relations manager, Javik Blake. Javik watches more Shuckers baseball than anyone, and he combines his extensive knowledge of the team with an unparalleled ability to articulate the strengths and weaknesses of a particular player’s game. Here’s what he had to say about the Shuckers’ season as a whole and some of their most exciting players.

Team focused questions

Starting with the team as a whole, you guys have been on an absolute tear. What are you seeing from the group, what are the vibes like in the clubhouse, and does manager Joe Ayrault have a new animal-based slogan for this season?

Back in February, Javik informed us of Joe Ayrault’s slogan for his team: “Be a buffalo.” It means running into the storm, rather than away from it — embracing the hardships rather than shying away from them. Last week Javik said, “You know part of being a buffalo is facing adversity, but there’s no adversity [this year]. The guys are really talented, it’s a really talented clubhouse. The young guys are exceeding everyone’s expectations…It’s everybody up and down the lineup.” And exceed expectations they have. With a 24-17 record, the Shuckers sit atop the Southern League. They lead the league in just about every offensive category and have hit 12 more team home runs than the next highest team.

When asked about the offensive mentality this year, Javik noted that being “selectively aggressive is the big thing this year. Be selective, when you get your pitch, you better hit it.” The Shuckers hitters have clearly bought into the approach. In addition to leading the league in HR, they have drawn 28 more walks than any other team in the Southern League. 

So many Brewers prospects have had their breakout season with the Shuckers. What is it about Biloxi that has created the environment for guys to make a jump?

Javik started by giving credit where credit is due, saying, “A lot of the credit goes to the player development staff and the acquisition side." He went on to note how the organization seeks out the right type of players, and they do a great job of ensuring that their progression through the minor league system is neither rushed nor delayed to the point where the players aren't challenged.

On the topic of what Biloxi offers for prospects in their development process, Javik noted, "It is a tough league…They’re doing it against really quality competition in the Southern League." With affiliates for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cincinnati Reds all playing in the Southern League, there is no shortage of strong competition, which has led to several players making big jumps in Biloxi.

Position player questions

You had a lot of confidence in Brock Wilken when we spoke during the offseason, even after his down year in 2024. What do you think has been the key to his success this year? And how long does he last in Biloxi?

“Well, if he keeps hitting homers every game, it won’t be too long.” When asked about the keys to Wilken’s success this year, Javik said, “Early on this year, he did not swing a lot, he took a lot of pitches, but when he was aggressive, he would get after it and hit the ball hard…He’s taking advantage of seeing pitchers again…He attacks misses so well…I think it’s just being comfortable.”

We mentioned that Wilken is leading the Southern League in walks by a fair margin and asked whether that was something we expected out of him this year. Javik replied, “No, not at all. That’s the big thing for Wilken: he’s being selective, but when he gets his pitch, he smashes it. His swinging strike rate is down almost three percentage points. His swing rate is down about six points, and his contact rate is up four points.”

Javik followed up by saying, “The numbers back up the eye-test of yeah this is a kid who’s put it all together. The defense over there at third has been great as well…[Cooper] Pratt is so good that Wilken has to worry about less at third…If you look at the guys who have done what he’s done, 10 homers in the team’s first 35 games, it’s guys like Giancarlo Stanton, Paul Goldschmidt, Brewers trade legend Matt Laporta.”

Javik’s confidence in Wilken never wavered, and with the former first-round pick raising his OPS more than .250 points from a season ago, it's easy to say that Javik's confidence was warranted. Brock Wilken looks like the real deal.

Is it fair to say Cooper Pratt is doing exactly what he needs to be doing right now in terms of his development? Numbers are solid and getting better, but more than anything he just looks comfortable in the field and at the plate. What can you tell us about his start to the season?

“He’s not only doing exactly what he needs to do for his development, but it seems like he’s doing even more,” Javik replied. On the topic of Pratt appearing more than comfortable at the Double-A level, Javik said, “He’s a guy with a really good head on his shoulders. He comes from a baseball family, which helps…It’s so advanced for someone you forget is 20 years old.”

When asked about his development as a hitter, Javik recalled a specific at-bat from earlier in the year. He explained that “[Pratt] was facing a flamethrower and had a really brutal, awkward swing on the first pitch on a fastball on the outer half. Then he works the count back, fouls off like three straight sliders. Then in a 3-2 count, he gets a fastball in the same spot [as the first pitch] and goes to the opposite field with it.”

“He’s just not swinging and missing very much. He’s not swinging any less, but he’s making good contact, and he’s not whiffing a lot,” Javik continued, noting how impressive Pratt’s adjustments to Double-A pitching have been. And as always in Pratt’s case, Javik noted that “the defense has been otherworldly.”

Javik finished our conversation on Pratt with an encouraging prediction about his future, saying, “You look at him and you say to yourself you’re 20, but you might be able to make your big league debut before you’re 22.”

Mike Boeve has yet to play in the field after returning from his injury. When he does return to the field, how do you see the infield configuration playing out?

“I don’t know what they do…Everybody who we thought would bounce back has done that and more…[Ethan] Murray had a really tough year last year…The way he’s bounced back has been absurd… He was talking about how he’s really focused on launch angle and changing his swing path to launch balls at 10-30 degrees this year, and it’s been working for him.” Ethan Murray’s OPS is more than .300 points better than it was last season.

Javik also acknowledged the depth at the level directly below the Shuckers, saying, “And then you look at High-A, and Blake Burke’s had a terrific start to the year, and Jadher Areinamo is another infielder. It’s a fun problem to have with all of these guys who are playing so well.” Both Areinamo and Burke have been rumored as promotion candidates, but with so much talent in Double-A, it’s hard to see where they would fit in.

“I don’t envy Joe [Ayrault]’s position right now, in figuring out where to put everybody. And then what does the organization do? There’s so much infield depth in the upper minors.”

Pitching focused questions

What an awesome start to the season for Alexander Cornielle. What’s been the key to his success this year?

Alexander Cornielle posted an ERA north of 4.00 in each of his last two seasons with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. However, after getting the promotion to Double-A, he looks like a different pitcher. He’s posted a 1.97 ERA in seven starts for the Shuckers this year. 

When asked about how he’s doing it, Javik explained, “I think the big thing for him is that he’s consistently been able to induce so much soft contact…. The fastball’s in a good spot, he has a great mix of pitches. He’s really efficient, which allows him to go deep into the games.”

How has Brett Wichrowski bounced back from his injury? What can we expect from him this season?

After being drafted by the Brewers in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Wichrowski was already pitching games for the Shuckers in 2024, which was his first season of professional baseball. Javik noted that “one of the big things for him is that he’s really consistently pitching for the first time since August. He got shut down and was on the IL last year and then missed a month this year. The big thing is just building back stamina. Last time out he didn’t walk anyone which was big for him.” 

Wichrowski pitched to a 4.12 ERA in 17 starts with the Shuckers a season ago. He’s made three starts for the Double-A squad this season, covering 10 innings and posting a 3.60 ERA. The 22-year-old right-hander out of Bryant University has some serious upside, but as Javik reminded us, “He’s still just a young kid; this is his second year of pro ball.”

Coleman Crow’s return to professional baseball has been a triumphant one. What can you tell us about his return and his success so far this year?

“When we look at all the numbers on this staff and you say ‘alright, who’s the best pitcher?’ it might be Coleman Crow. In terms of big league stuff. The curveball is absurd, it’s spinning at over 3500 [RPM]. It’s basically Ryan Pressly’s curveball. And then the fastball plays really well up in the zone. It gets a lot of positive induced vertical break on it.”

When asked if Crow has missed a beat after losing more than two seasons to injury, Javik said, “[He] played in the Southern League in ‘23 with the tacky baseballs, so the thing was like can you generate the same spin with the normal balls? And the answer is yes, absurdly yes, it might even be better than it was.”

Rather than look at his injury as ‘lost time’, Crow took advantage of the rehab process by adding a new pitch. Javik explains that “Adding the cutter is such a big thing for him, it gives him another option. He added the cutter as he was in TJ rehab. It’s been a really good addition. It just all comes together and makes for an awkward at-bat.”

It’s high praise for the 24-year-old right-hander that the Brewers acquired in the Adrian Houser-Tyrone Taylor trade with the Mets, but Crow is more than backing it up with his performance on the field. He holds a 2.70 ERA through six starts with the Shuckers this year and has struck out more than a batter an inning. 

One guy we’re really high on is Nick Merkel. What can you tell us about his start to the season?

Javik responded saying Nick Merkel is “Not only one of the best players on the team, but one of my favorite people in all of baseball. Such a down-to-earth guy. He’s played five years of NAIA and JUCO baseball, so he’s been through everything.”

When asked about his development and his role going forward, Javik said, “He’s a guy who’s just consistently gotten better and better. I love the knuckle curve. He can fit into any role, whether it's a multi-inning guy or a back-end guy."

Merkel has made eight appearances out of the bullpen for the Shuckers this season. He's covered 15 innings with a 1.20 ERA and a WHIP of 1.07. At 26 years old, and with more than a year of Double-A experience, Merkel could be a promotion candidate in the near future.

Finally, Stiven Cruz has been nails in the middle relief. Justin Yeager and Will Childers have been great at the back end of the bullpen. What have you seen from the bullpen so far this season?

Starting with Justin Yeager, who has been the main closer for the Shuckers this year, Javik said, “Yeager is just so good here. He’s about to make his 100th appearance in the Southern League. You just don’t hit him. It’s a really good fastball, it’s a really good mix from him. He’s added a cutter this year and hasn’t used the sweeper a ton this year.” Yeager, who the Brewers acquired in the William Contreras trade, has been very strong at the back end of the bullpen, and with his extensive experience in the Double-A, he might soon be looking at a promotion.

“Stiven Cruz has kind of been the standout star of the bullpen. This year, he’s firmly in a back-end role in the Shuckers’ bullpen.” Cruz had formerly been in an undefined role, making 33 appearances and six starts a season ago, but since moving to the bullpen full-time, things have started to click for him.

Finally, when asked about Will Childers, Javik explained that, “Chilly’s been nothing short of fantastic. The fastball, which is now at 97-98, has really helped step his game up to the next level. And he pairs well with a good cutter and a big fastball. And he’s got the mentality of a big leaguer.” Childers comes from a baseball family. Both his father, Matt, and his uncle, Jason, were big leaguers, giving Childers two excellent resources to turn to when the obstacles of minor league baseball inevitably present themselves.

In addition to the answers above, Javik also shouted out the impressive performances of Luke Adams, who's tearing the cover off of the ball since the calendar flipped to May, Luis Lara, who also had a slow start to the year, but has picked things up as of late, Zavier Warren, who has played just about every position during his time in the minor leagues, and Ramón Rodriguez, who has quietly posted a .941 OPS through his first 21 games this season. The Shuckers roster is overflowing with talent, some of which could be impacting the big league roster before the end of the season.