Minor League Transactions -- Potential FA's Henderson, Arlis Return; 12 released

[Mass Haas]

First a link to the April / May / June transaction thread, now closed --

 

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Huntsville Stars announced today that LHP David Welch has been assigned to Helena (paper move). Also, RHP Nick Green has been assigned to Huntsville from Nashville (via way of his rehab stint in Maryvale).

 

Both moves are effective immediately and Green will be in uniform tonight for the Stars as they face the Tennessee Smokies.

[Mass Haas]

25th round pick signs

[battlekow]

25th round pick signs

Sorry, forgot to post it here instead. UNCW's baseball coach on McKelvie:

Meanwhile, Demetrius McKelvie, a player the Seahawks once viewed as a potential recruit, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers last week, according his East Columbus High School coach, Karl Bracey.

McKelvie, an outfielder, supposedly is in Phoenix with the Brewers rookie league affiliate in the Arizona League.

"I anticipated him signing,'' Bracey said of the Brewers 25th round pick last month. "It is fulfilling a lifelong goal for him. He is ready to start his pro career.''

McKelvie had been playing with the Ohio Warhawks travel team when he apparently signed. I have not seen any minor league stats on him, nor seen his signing anywhere but the Whiteville News Reporter and through Bracey.

"The sky is the limit for him with his work ethic,'' Bracey said. "He is raw like everybody has said, but he always seems to hit good pitching.''

[battlekow]

According to McCalvy, the Brewers have signed another NDFA, RHP Andrew Sauter from the University of Texas-Arlington.

[Never Outhustled]

Thats great news on McKelvie, a toolsy, high ceiling guy with work ethic. I didn't expect to see him signed anytime soon. He was reportedly looking for big money, which was why he slid to round 25. However, I'm going to speculate that he didn't get huge money, because MLB wouldn't make his signing official yet if he received a well over slot bonus. Great job by the Brewers scout who knew this kid well enough to realize how badly he wanted to start his very promising pro career.

[battlekow]

As reported by Mr. Miller, Lorenzo Cain's rehab assignment sees him bumped to Wisconsin.

[TheCrew07]

Brett Pollock just notified his listeners that Josh Butler was placed on the DL and Welch was "recalled" from Helena.

[Mass Haas]

It's over and out after two appearances for Helena RHP Ivan Herrera-Rusova, the 22-year-old Cuban native and former Pirate farmhand, given his release by the Brewers this weekend.

[battlekow]

Mitch Miller called up to Brevard County?

[Mass Haas]

RHP Mitch Miller, perhaps a logical call-up to Brevard for now, as he'll be 24 in November. Find out what you have in the non-drafted free agent.

He takes the spot of catcher /sometimes RHP Brett Whiteside, on the DL retroactive to July 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville announced today that INF Johnny Raburn and OF Freddy Parejo have been promoted to Nashville. OF Drew Anderson was assigned to Huntsville from Nashville and INF Taylor Green has been activated from the 7-Day DL.

 

Nashville makes room by sending catcher Martin Maldonado down to Wisconsin. C Sean McCraw has been placed on the DL at Wisconsin retroactive to 7/2.

 

***

 

First of all, it's great that Taylor Green will be back. Baseball America mistakenly commented a few days ago that he had been activated.

 

With a Nashville starting outfield of Cole Gillespie / Jason Bourgeois / Brendan Katin, and no designated hitter games scheduled until July 25th, this is probably an opportunity for Drew Anderson to get more consistent AB's.

 

No word on McCraw's injury, but Maldonado's departure indicates that Patrick Arlis (one AB since May 15th) will serve as Angel Salome's sole backup in Nashville.

[Mass Haas]

It should be noted that RHP Santo Manzanillo has been on the 60-day disabled list with the Maryvale Brewers (undisclosed injury, but likely won't see action in 2009).

 

MiLB lists 2008 10th round RHP Greg Miller (Seton Hall) as being on the reseve list. Unsually, this is an indiaction that a player has retired but has not filed all the necessary paperwork to do so. MiLB also lists OF Brandon Drespling, whose retirement we had read about previously, in this manner.

 

We'll work later this week in trying to learn about a few other players who seem to potentially not be in the system any longer, although we failed to see any formal reports on their departures.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America lists some moves that were not noted here previously:

Placed on suspended list: SS David Fonseca (2007 8th round pick)

 

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Garrett Sherrill, LHP Jose Romero

 

Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Travis Nevakshonoff, LHP Josh Romanski

 

For Sherrill, we had earlier linked to this article which included the following --

 

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in Sherrill's right elbow - the joint that launched hundreds of wicked sliders, made him a

devastating right-handed pitcher and helped him become a 12th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers a year ago - has put him on the shelf.

Tommy John surgery is a phrase the 6-foot-5 Sherrill hears often these days, but he and the Brewers are still looking at that option as a last resort.

 

On a separate note, promising 21-year-old outfielder Erik Komatsu, the 2008 8th round draft pick who was rehabbing a wrist injury with the Maryvale squad and has not appeared in a game recently, apparently suffered a fairly severe hamstring injury during a game in Arizona and will be sidelined for a while yet based on that.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville 1B Joe Koshansky outrighted -- link to Major League Forum thread, placed there because of the 40-man roster implication.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Nick Green returns to Nashville after a single start in Huntsville. To make room, LHP Chase Wright goes on the 7-day DL with an undisclosed injury.

[Mass Haas]

Great name for the latest non-drafted free agent -- 23-year-old switch-hitting catcher Austin Stockfisch out of Grand Canyon University, a transfer from Arizona State, assigned to the Maryvale Brewers -- stats listed below are 2008, click here for 2009 stats

 

Sr., C

6-2, 205

Scottsdale, Ariz.

High School: Desert Mountain

Previous Schools: Arizona State University

Date of birth: 4-26-86

Career Highlights: GCU: All-PacWest second team … Led team in batting average (.373), hits (63) and doubles (17) …also scored 30 runs and had 25 RBI … had .996 fielding percentage (2008) … ASU: Freshman record-holder for consecutive hits in a season (2007) …

High School: Twotime Class 5A all-state selection … 5A all-star game selection .. Super 50 all-star team … Three-time 5A all-conference team.

Favorite food: Steak Sandwiches

Favorite movie: Chariots of Fire

Most unusual thing that's happened to me: Playing at two of the three NCAA four-year colleges in Arizona.

What I love most about Grand Canyon: Tradition of Excellence

 

Photo at link

 

Sophomore season ASU bio link

[Mass Haas]

Catcher Sean McCraw's stay on the Wisconsin disabled list was very brief -- he's activated to fill an open roster spot for the Timber Rattlers.

[Mass Haas]

Catcher Carlos Corporan returns to Nashville from Brevard County.

 

Catcher Martin Maldonado heads back to the Manatees from Wisconsin.

 

RHP Mitch Miller is moved to the Helena roster to make room for Maldonado.

 

Hopefully we'll see Miller pitch soon, he left an ealier game after being hit by a line drive. Maldonado just needs to be assigned to Huntsville to complete the yearly tour above rookie ball. We're pretty sure he's a decent guy, but we're still waiting for an explanation as to why once-every-two-month catcher Patrick Arlis continues to tie up a AAA roster spot.

[CheezWizHed]

Any insight as to why Corporan/Maldonado swapped in the first place?

[MLS1965]

Any insight as to why Corporan/Maldonado swapped in the first place?

To give Martin a break from being behind the plate every night....and to give Carlos some playing time due to Angel playing most every night.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Pedro Lambertus has been reassigned to Wisconsin after re-acclimating himself to the mound in four Arizona Brewer stints, this after his 50-game PED suspension.

[Mass Haas]

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Huntsville Stars announced today that Brewers RHP Dave Bush will join the Stars for a Major League Rehab Assignment and that LHP Sam Narron has been assigned to Huntsville from Nashville.

 

Both moves are effective immediately and both Bush and Narron will be in uniform for the Stars tomorrow night in Mississippi.

Bush gets the start Wednesday night.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have released 21-year-old Helena RHP Rico Salmon (2008-2209 stats at link), 2008's 48th round pick.

 

You wouldn't think you'd see a young pitcher who was effective last season, and sported a 0.00 ERA thus far in five brief appearances in '09, released. We have no idea if off-field issues led to this, and it's unfair to speculate, although I guess I just did.

[Mass Haas]

News from the independent Golden Baseball League:

 

LHP Donald Brandt, 23, 6-3, 195 went undrafted after finishing his collegiate career at Santa Clara University in 2008. He signed with the Yuma Scorpions late in the season that year and was traded prior to the start of this year to the Chico Outlaws. Originally used as a middle reliever and setup man out of the Chico bullpen early in this season, he had so much success that Manager Greg Cadaret moved him to the starting rotation. He had four fine starts prior to the All-Star game and ran his record to 4-1 with a 3.64 E.R.A. (fifth best in the league) while striking out 42 batters in 41 innings pitched and walking only 15. He pitched a scoreless inning giving up no hits against the heart of a tough South Division lineup in the All-Star game, prompting the Brewers to move quickly and acquire his contract shortly after he came off the mound.

 

Brandt is the 13th GBL player acquired by a Major League organization in 2009.

 

Player Profile Page while at Santa Clara University

 

Photo by Jason Halley/Enterprise-Record

 

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site135/2009/0626/20090626__01_sports_26~1_Gallery.jpg

[DHonks]

nice...another SCU alum. I'll see if my sources in the athletic dept remember anything of this guy. At the time of the '08 draft, I was told that Willinsky was seen as a terrible fireballer. Many of the spectators there wondered how he could have gotten drafted, despite his good arm.