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

[Mass Haas]

To make room for the return of LHP Chris Narveson on Nashville's roster, third-string Sounds catcher Patrick Arlis has been placed on the Helena roster in what is likely a paper-only move.

 

RHP Ryan Platt, the 27th round RHP out of UC-Riverside who turns 24 years old in August, received a needed bump from Maryvale to Helena.

[Mike]

I have watched this kid for many years through Pony, HS and @ SCU in the Bay Area. For his age he was always bigger than most and dominated through HS. Though listed in the 6-3 210lb range, he is closer to 6-1 210. Tommy John surgery really set him back as in HS he sat in the low 90's and the last time I saw him pitch @ SCU he was mid-80's.

 

Decent breaking stuff now, but the best the Crew could hope for is a middle reliever fron the left side. I'll be anxious to see where he is placed in the system.

[Mass Haas]

T-Wolves Pechek signs with Brewers

Former Colorado State at Pueblo catcher Tony Pechek became the newest member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization Thursday when the club signed him to a minor league contract.

Pechek will report to the Brewers' Rookie League team in the Arizona League on Sunday.

Pechek's journey to a Major League organization was a bumpy one, as he played at four different colleges during his collegiate career, finally finding a home at CSU-Pueblo. An all-Central Region selection as a catcher in 2008 at CSU-Pueblo, hit .390 for the Pack with eight home runs, second-highest mark on the squad, with 76 RBI in 231 at bats. Pechek helped lead the ThunderWolves to the 2008 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament championship as well as the program's first berth in an NCAA Division II regional tournament since 2006.

Prior to his time at CSU-Pueblo, he had played with two Division I programs, Wichita State and Creighton, and at Central Arizona College. A graduate from Pueblo South High School, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round of the 2005 draft out of high school. He instead opted for Wichita State, a highly-regarded NCAA Division I baseball program before his path brought him to CSU-Pueblo. Pechek said he feels much more prepared for the pros this time around.

"Without a doubt, I feel more mature and ready this time around," Pechek said. "It feels more gratifying [than getting drafted in 2005] because I've gone through all the adversity to get to this point."

Pechek becomes a second-generation pro ball player in his family, joining his father, Wayne, who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1976 and played in the Giants' farm system for four seasons, reaching as high as the Phoenix Giants, the club's AAA affiliate, in 1980. He also played in the California Angels' organization.

 

Tony Pechek Player Page at CSU-Pueblo

[battlekow]

Cody Adams was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for amphetamines.

[bretsky07]

Yikes, that's a surprise. Hopefully a fresh start next year is just what he needs.

[DHonks]

Must be a few greenies still lying around clubhouses. Well, maybe he can use the time to improve whatever was causing him to have issues. He should be available for lesser AFL (former Hawaiian league)

[Mass Haas]

We can discuss the Adams suspension here.

[battlekow]

As noted in the Major League forum, Cole Gillespie and Roque Mercedes were traded to the Diamondbacks for Felipe Lopez.

[Mass Haas]

From the Stars' Media Director, Brian Massey --

 

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Huntsville Stars announced today that LHP Zach Braddock has been placed on the 7-Day Disabled List retroactive to July 17th. OF Lorenzo Cain has also been promoted to Huntsville from Wisconsin.

 

Both moves are effective immediately and Cain will be in uniform tonight against the Carolina Mudcats.

[Godspeed]

Retroactive to the 17th is a good sign.

[GoMocs]

Dave Bush has left the Stars....don't know when he will pitch again....

[Mass Haas]

LHP Dan Merklinger gets a deserved bump from Wisconsin to Brevard County.

 

More from the Timber Rattlers' Chris Mehring:

MEET THE "NEW" GUYS: Outfielder Erik Komatsu rejoins the Timber Rattlers tonight. Komatsu was the Opening Night right fielder for the Timber Rattlers, but was injured and placed on the disabled list. The 8th round pick of Milwaukee in 2008 was a Pioneer League All-Star last season. Pitcher R.J. Seidel has been on Wisconsin's disabled list all season, but has not been in Wisconsin until today. Seidel, who is rated as the #18 prospect in the Milwaukee system, was a 16th round pick of the Brewers in the 2006 draft out of UW-La Crosse. Finally, OF Erik Miller (hand injury after HBP) has been activated from the DL. He last saw action on May 31st.

[Mass Haas]

News from the independent American Association:

DURHAM, NC - The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball announced today that the contract of St. Paul Saints RHP Brandon Kintzler has been sold to the Milwaukee Brewers. Kintzler will be headed to the Brewers' Double A affiliate, Huntsville.

 

Kintzler went 8-3 for the Saints with an ERA of 2.79. In 80 2/3 innings pitched, the 24-year-old Kintzler struck out 46 batters and walked only 24. He was first in the league in wins and fourth in earned run average. He was also the starting pitcher for the North Division squad in the 2009 All-Star Game in Grand Prairie yesterday.

 

Kintzler was a selection of the San Diego Padres in 2004. He pitched two seasons with the Padres organization. The last two years Kintzler played with Winnipeg in the Northern League. The Las Vegas native becomes the 11th player sold to a major league organization since the beginning of the 2009 season.

 

***

 

Link for source, text below:

 

ST. PAUL, MN (July 22, 2009) - Fresh off his two shutout innings at the American Association All-Star game St. Paul Saints pitcher Brandon Kintzler had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers organization and is headed to Double-A Huntsville.

 

The 24-year-old Kintzler was having one of the best seasons in his career going 8-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) including one complete game. In 80.2 innings pitched he walked just 24, struck out 46 and opponents were hitting .277 against him. He hurled his first professional complete game on June 8 against the Shreveport-Bossier Captains allowing just a ninth inning run on six hits while walking two and striking out five. He led the American Association in wins, was fourth in ERA and tied for fifth in complete games.

 

"Brandon was a top starter in our league this year," said Saints manager George Tsamis. "He deserved this opportunity."

 

Kintzler was a 40^th round draft pick by the New York Yankees in 2003, but elected not to sign and was a 40^th round selection by the San Diego Padres in 2004. He spent two seasons in the Padres organization reaching Single-A Fort Wayne at the end of the 2005 season. He missed the entire 2006 season due to a shoulder injury and spent 2007 and 2008 with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the Northern League. He was the Northern League Rookie Pitcher of the Year in '07 and finished sixth in the league with a 4.07 ERA. In 2008 he was voted to the Northern League All-Star Game and finished the season with a career high in innings pitched (112.1) and strikeouts (73).

 

"This is what I've been working towards for three years since my shoulder injury," said Kintzler. "To get signed by the Brewers and go straight to Double-A is incredible."

 

Kintzler is the fifth player from the Saints signed or drafted by a Major League Organization this season. The Saints have had 95 players signed by Major League Organizations in their 17-year history.

 

http://saintsbaseball.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/News/Player%20Action%20Shots/Brandon%20Kintzler/kintzler8.jpg

RHP Brandon Kintzler Career Stats

 

St. Paul Bio Page

 

Kintzler is 6'1", 180 -- he'll turn 25 August 1st.

[TheCrew07]

Not exactly the AA move I was looking for, but interesting.

[Godspeed]

Seidel, who is rated as the #18 prospect in the Milwaukee system, was a 16th round pick of the Brewers in the 2006 draft out of UW-La Crosse

 

Seidel was drafted out of Central High School in La Crosse, not UW-L. Makes a huge difference for a guy who's 21 in single-A vs. 24 if he had gone to college.

[dadofandrew]

A 2-1 K/BB ratio and 5.3 K/9 in St. Paul makes you wonder about Kintzler. Unless he's a pure sinkerballer, he's filler and filler only.

[BrewPackBuck]

Not exactly the AA move I was looking for, but interesting.

 

I know right, Im hoping the Brewers finally move Anundsen up there. Im getting frustrated with it, the Brewers seem like they are babying these young arms. Idk its frustrating to me.

[tratfan]

Yeah, it seems that way to me also. I just turned on time warner 32 and saw an interview with merklinger (before the promotion) and seems like a real level headed kid, gave a great interview.

[Mass Haas]

Just turned 22-year-old RH bat, 6'5", 235-lb.1B Sean Halton gets a deserved bump up to Helena.

 

First baseman Hitaniel Arias, still just 18 years old, gets sent down, not to Maryvale, but to the DSL squad.

 

Stats at links above...

[Mass Haas]

To make room for newcomer RHP Brandon Kintzler in Huntsville, LHP Casey Baron has been placed on the 7-Day Disabled List, retroactive to July 22, with an undisclosed injury.

[Mass Haas]

Here's some nice news to cheer you:

 

RHP Kyle Heckathorn signed a contract Friday with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to his agent.

Victor Menocal of Career Sports & Entertainment confirmed that Heckathorn, who was drafted in the supplemental round after a successful three seasons at Kennesaw State University, signed and will report to the Brewers' Helena, Mont., short season rookie league Monday. He will be introduced in Milwaukee Saturday at the Brewers' game against Atlanta.

 

Brewerfan Scouting Page on Heckathorn

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

By Lindsey Young, Chattanooga Times Free Press

 

Kyle Heckathorn officially will begin a new job Monday after signing a professional baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

The former Ringgold High School and Kennesaw State University star pitcher will report to Helena, Mont., where the Brewers' short-season rookie league team is based. First, though, he will attend Milwaukee's weekend series with the Atlanta Braves and be introduced to the fans today.

"It's going to be really exciting to go to Milwaukee and see the ballpark and meet the players and fans," said Heckathorn, who was the team's second pick and the 47th overall selection in the recent Major League Baseball first-year player draft. "I'm excited, but I'm also a little nervous. I just feel blessed to have this opportunity."

Two major factors led to Heckathorn's signing, according to agent Victor Menocal of Career Sports & Entertainment. First, the Brewers agreed to pay Heckathorn more than he was slotted ($776,000 instead of the slotted figure of $739,000). They also agreed to invite him to spring training next year.

"That was a big factor," Menocal said. "They haven't done that since 2003 when they drafted Rickie Weeks, so that really impressed Kyle. He's very excited about it and ready to get started."

[Mass Haas]

Discussion links on the Major League Forum:

McClung to DL; Dillard recalled from Nashville

Brewers sign reliever Jesus Colome to minor league deal

[Mass Haas]

From Adam McCalvy (link):

 

The Brewers signed former Nationals farmhand Ryan Delaughter, a right-hander pitcher, to a Minor League contract and assigned him to rookie-level Arizona.

 

Delaughter was a 5th round selection in the 2005 draft by out of high school. Delaughter was a two-way star for his Texas high school team, but the Nationals saw the most promise as an OF. Scouts compared his makeup to former major leaguer Jay Buhner, as Delaughter had both amazing raw power and a cannon for an arm in the OF. After failing at the plate, he made a handful of appearances on the mound in the Nationals chain before being released.

 

:

[bretsky07]

Apparently Jesus Colome reported to Nashville to fill Tim Dillard's spot, instead of to Helena as reported. He just pitched two scoreless innings, and struck out the side in his second inning, while working around a double and wild pitch.

 

Edit: I just noticed this link at the Sounds site that details the move. Also noted in the link, Wes Littleton to Huntsville, Sam Narron back to Nashville.