Do Minor Leaguers have Spring training?

[sausage racer]

Hello,

I know this is probably something most of you know but where do the players that will end up in Wisconsin or Huntsville do their training camps in the spring? Do they train near the parent team, or not at all?

Just curious,

thanks, Dan

[RyDogg66]

The Maryvale Complex, where the Brewers train, has many, many fields and the entire organization trains there in the spring. You usually (at least you used to) can get pretty close to the minor league fields and watch them work out. One year my dad was down there watching team workout and after the players were done for the afternoon my dad was hanging around one of the dugouts and Cecil Cooper was in there. They had a chat about some of the players and my dad helped Coop pick up the dugout of all the gear and such. He said it was pretty cool.

 

Also, one year when I was down there (2003) we took in a game at Maryvale and while we were walking to our car we walked right next to and past Prince Fielder, who was coming back from a minor league workout and walking to the "clubhouse" area. So yeah, they are all down there.

[jimmyjeromehardy7]

Do they start the same time as the Brewers? We are heading down the first weekend of March so would the minors be training already?

[Mass Haas]

It depends with the minor leaguers. This note was in a recent Scout.com paid premium article at their site on Erik Komatsu:

 

On Jan. 18, Komatsu is scheduled to begin a six-week session at Milwaukee's facilities in Arizona. He'll get a few days off and then return for training camp, after which Komatsu will find out whether he'll be taking his next step with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League or at Brevard County in the Florida State League.

 

So several of the top prospects are there now. Some others may arrive for workouts around March 1st, but the official date when all farmhands are due is March 13th, we believe.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's Spring Training Game Schedule is Out, for you ultra-diehards in Maryvale and other AZ locales

[azcheesehead]

Thanks, Maas. That is awesome. I went out on Monday and they were there. I couldn't get at anyone though. To answer the previous question about the minor leaguers, they are actually harder to watch than the MLB players. They mainly practice on Hank Aaron field, which is behind the fences of the MLB complex. The Brewers use the 4 field complex to maximize space, while the minor leaguers practice on one field and an infield only field. However, if you are looking for autos, the minor leaguers have to walk from their clubhouse all the way across the complex to the Aaron field, thus making them very accessible for autographs. The nice thing is that the dirtball autograph hounds only go after the MLB guys. They leave the top prospects alone for the most part. Hope that provides some insight. Feel free to PM with any other questions. I am usually out there everyday on the weekends during ST, so I am pretty familiar with the area and how things happen once training starts.

[DHonks]

They usually start around the 1st-10th of March. My understanding from when I worked Dbacks Minor League Spring training was that they are unpaid, although they get daily money for lodging and dinner (breakfast and lunch are provided)

[sausage racer]

Thanks for all the info!!

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

It's great to go down and check out the minor league camp before the Big League game. You can really get up close and personal with the players and even get a few conversations in. I didn't ask for autographs last year because I didn't want to bug them, but I got a chance to talk to Jeffress, Gamel, and Salome. It was really fun to watch Don Money work with Salome in batting practice. I was about 15 feet from Jeffress while he was throwing a bullpen session and let me tell you that it was amazing. (Yes, I have no life) I can't wait to get down there again this spring.

[SenatorShriv]

Once the full-blown Spring Training schedule is in effect the minor leaguers are extremely accessible. My favorite part of spring training is watching the minor league teams do fielding drills, play intersquad games, take BP, and play against other opponents on the fields outside the main Maryville complex. Scouts, coaches, reporters, club officials, etc... are all hanging out and usually willing to shoot the breeze with you. I've had many conversations with Melvin, Gord Ash, Reid Nichols, etc... about prospects while sitting on the blechers in the minor league facilities. I haven't seen any of the minor leaguers play live since they left the A team left Beloit, so the spring training was always my opportunity to really study the players in the minor leagues. The only thing that is a little confusing is that players are frequently bumped up to play with the higher level squads during training so unless it is really late in the spring you don't see the teams practicing as a full unit and you have to know where to look for the players.

[Mass Haas]

This Baseball America article from January, which includes former Brewer farmhand Steve Palazzolo, discusses how tough all the non-bonus babies have had it this offseason, and their financial situations for the upcoming spring training.

[azcheesehead]

I am going to the Prospect Camp tomorrow. I'll post some pics if anyone is interested.

[sausage racer]

I am going to the Prospect Camp tomorrow. I'll post some pics if anyone is interested.

thta would be great!

[brewpitch]

A lot of guys are down there for Winter Workouts right now. From what I gather its mostly pitchers and catchers and guys in the lower levels. The pitchers (in the lower levels) finish on March 6 and report back on March 9.

[azcheesehead]

There was nothing there but Fantasy Campers on Saturday. I will try again this weekend. Sorry guys.

[sausage racer]

ANyone know if Lawrie is there yet?

[BrewCrew Fan]

The winter workout guys have the weekends off so you probably won't find anyone out there. Monday through Friday and they're done around 2:00 and even earlier on Fridays. Monday, Wednesday and Friday they take BP on the field and the other two days it's in the cage. I believe that they take fielding every day. Lot's of them out here with more and more showing up every day.

[Mike]

And he is working out at 2B.

[yoshii8]

And he is working out at 2B.

Is he only working out at 2B, or is he also working out at catcher? Also, have you watched him and how does he look? I would love to hear a report on who is standing out at the minor league camp and making a good impression.

[Mike]

He is only working out at 2B and is not catching. His bat looks terriffic and the ball really jumps off it. As expected his work at 2B is just OK and will need more time. If he sticks there (2B) he will have the strongest arm for sure.

[Jarjohm]

I wonder if that's a permanent switch for Lawrie or if he's just working there because that's where he could be used on Team Canada for the WBC? After all the catcher talk, it'd be a little surprising if they didn't try him there at all.

[Mass Haas]

Jarjohm wrote:

 

After all the catcher talk, it'd be a little surprising if they didn't try him there at all.

The catcher talk from the organization always seemed like a cursory acknowledgement to Lawrie since the kid expressed a desire to play there.

 

Let's note what's happened since Lawrie was drafted --

 

Salome explodes at the plate in AA, and Lucroy draws nothing but raves for his all-around game. Suddenly catcher is an organizational strength (can't believe I just typed that after so many decades).

 

Lawrie, from all indications, is a hitting "savant", and his bat is going to be major-league ready and primed for action by the 2011 season.

 

There's no way he's going to be defensively major league ready at catcher at that time, however.

 

At that same time (2011), a decision will have to be made about Rickie Weeks' long-term tenure with the team, as he'll be in that final arbitration year situation.

 

Is Eric Farris going to be a roadblock for Lawrie at second base? If Farris develops nicely, he'll be traded to make room. Here's hoping Taylor Green is somewhere in the 2B / 3B picture as well, Gamel at first, etc. I mean, let's face it, the 2011-2012 club is going to be missing a few prominent names from the current squad.

 

Playing second base from the go makes all the sense for Lawrie at this time, I doubt he ever dons a catcher's mitt for the organization.

 

My take, anyway...

[Jarjohm]

I thought the Lawrie at catcher plan was suspect from the start (for the same reasons you brought up), but I thought they'd at least give him a look there since he's expressed so much interest in it and they've seemingly been more than open to the idea. I hope it is a permanent change though. Lawrie's bat would be a nice boost to the club in 2011 or 2012 when some of these guys on the current team move on. And, as you said, there's no way he could be ready to catch in the majors that quickly.

[Hate those Rodents]

I think Gamel might hold the keys in a way. If Gamel can't stick at third, then Green should be fine there in two years. If Gamel CAN stick at third, I'd have to think Green might get a shot at second again and probably could handle it. That should put Lawrie at catcher.

 

Also, if Lawrie is moved to second permanently, wouldn't Fryer have had more value to us? All of a sudden, our catching depth takes a bit of a hit...

[southpaw121505]

Very interesting take Mass..I guess I always thought they'd start him there, but I like this approach of having a little foresight and making a decision that seems the best long term and sticking to it(hopefully). It would stink to have him spend a year or two behind the dish THEN decide it's not gonna work.