Big league injuries impact Crew's Minor League success

MILWAUKEE -- Each of the Brewers' top two Minor League affiliates won their season finales Monday, capping an otherwise trying season throughout Milwaukee's farm system.

Brewers affiliates combined to go 331-417 (.443) in 2013, with the only winning record belonging to the playoff-bound Helena Brewers in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Triple-A Nashville, its roster raided throughout the season by the injury-battered Brewers, went 57-87 for the lowest winning percentage (.396) in 36 years as a franchise, and Double-A Huntsville, subsequently raided by Nashville, went 59-79.

"It was a tough year, but I feel like there was a lot of talent down there," said right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who played in both Huntsville and Nashville. "There's been a lot of guys come up here and have success."

He was surrounded by many of those guys at Miller Park on Tuesday. Khris Davis, Scooter Gennett, Caleb Gindl, Donovan Hand and Rob Wooten all played more prominent roles than expected for the Brewers this season.

"So it wasn't a lack of talent by any means," Nelson said.

Said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke: "Guys are moving around so much now that it's hard to have that 'team' there the whole year. Look at what we've done to Triple-A, and because we've done that to Triple-A, look at what that's done to Double-A. So how do you stay good doing that? If we're affected by injuries, that means they're affected by the same thing."