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

[Mass Haas]

Journal-Sentinel: Smith optioned to Nashville

 

I could have sworn Smith was out of options, though. We'll see if that post is amended later to a DFA.

 

EDIT: Actually it appears Smith also has an option remaining for next season as well. The Red Sox added him to their 40-man roster for the first time in 2008.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Nick Green, claimed off waivers from Anaheim in February, and currently in Huntsville, was designated for assignment to make room for David Weathers on the 40-man roster. He will remain in the Brewers' organization should he clear waivers.

[Mass Haas]

RHP and closer Michael Fiers, the 2009 22nd round pick, is doing exactly what he needed to do considering he turned 24 in June.

 

He dazzled in stops in Helena and Wisconsin, and now joins the Manatees.

 

The Rattlers roster is now one short at 24.

 

Here's colbyjack's draft day scouting comments on Fiers.

[DHonks]

Mass, I clicked on the MLB scouting video link (within the link you provided), and beginning on the pitches at around the 18 second mark, you see an insane amount of lateral movement on his pitches. His 2-seamer rides away from lefties almost like an extreme power screwball.

[jjfanec]

Fiers looks like this years Wooten. If guys like Wooten (even though his ERA has climbed his peripherals are still great), Axford and Fiers can continue their quick rise we could have some nice homegrown depth in our bullpen.

[Mass Haas]

In a corresponding move to the Mike Fiers promotion, RH reliever Jim Henderson (stats) also gets his second bump of the season, from Brevard to Huntsville.

[LouisEly]

A nice reward for Henderson even if he is a "non-prospect". Older pitchers have made major league debuts, so with that 35 hits in 53 IP, even if in A-ball, might as well bring him to the next level and see what he can do.

[TheCrew07]

Wow, Fiers has an outside chance of pitching in the big leagues next season, he's certainly earned his promotions, his 3 shutout innings the other day for WI obviously made an impression to be bumped again so soon.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Nick Green cleared waivers and will remain in Huntsville. Stars' RHP Donovan Hand has been placed on the 7-day DL retroactive to the 6th with an undisclosed injury.

[Mass Haas]

From Chris Mehring's Game Notes:

 

MAKING MOVES: The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that right-handed pitcher Corey Frerichs has been promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He had been on a rehab assignment in the Arizona League. Frerichs was a 30th round pick of the Brewers in the 2007 draft out of Temple Junior College in Texas. He pitched for the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League last year and was 6-9 with 10 saves and an ERA of 2.82 in 40 relief appearances.

 

Frerichs is coming off knee surgery -- he's also an "Agent39" client.

[Mass Haas]

We discussed the tight Nashville roster in Wednesday's Link Report. To fill the open roster spot, OF Adam Stern has been bumped up from Huntsville, a logical move given his ability to play center field (over let's say, Drew Anderson).

 

Both the Huntsville and Nashville rosters now sit at the 24-man limits for the AA / AAA levels.

[Mass Haas]

Supplemental first round pick RHP Kyle Heckathorn has been activated for Helena and will be in uniform tonight for the H-Crew.

 

No official word on how the Brewers plan to use him at this time.

[Mass Haas]

OF Caleb Gindl spends the minimum amount of time on Brevard's DL -- activated for Saturday's action, nice.

[thevaccinator27]

Mike Jones to AAA. What a testament to stick-to-itness.

 

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/08/in_the_minors_jones_to_aaa_but.html

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/53305927.html

 

Edit: activated links.

[LouisEly]

Thanks for the link vaccinator - TH says that according to Melvin he is "optimistic" that they will sign Kentrail Davis, and "expects" to sign Brooks Hall. Because of their injuries, Butler and Braddock are good guesses to go to the AFL with Cain, Green, Lucroy, and Rogers. With all but Lucroy missing time because of injuries, the AFL would be a great way to help "catch up" without wearing them down.

[Mass Haas]

Perhaps lost in all the weekend's news was this update, reported both by Tom at the J-S (text below) and Adam at MLB.com.

 

Gord Ash said the Brewers will lose several minor-leaguers Sept. 1 to the Baseball World Cup in Europe. Second baseman Brett Lawrie, a first-round pick in 2008, will play for Canada, along with relievers Jim Henderson and John Axford and outfielder Adam Stern.

Catcher Martin Maldonado and left-hander Efrain Nieves will play for Puerto Rico, and catcher Shawn Zarraga will play for the Netherlands. Ash said those losses come at a bad time because Sept. 1 is when the Brewers can expand their roster with minor-leaguers.

"We're going to be scrambling to fill our rosters down there," Ash said.

Ash said the only sure thing is that the Brewers will promote a catcher. Last September, Angel Salome saw his first big-league

action.

 

In general terms, the implication is, if you're promoting Tim Dillard and/or Chris Smith on September 1st because they're already on the 40-man roster, losing John Axford shorts the Nashville staff by three and you're then scrambling with moves all up and down the chain to backfill. The minor league seasons run through Labor Day the 7th above rookie ball, with the Stars, Manatees (and possibly Sounds) then in the post-season. Nothing the organization can't overcome with some creativity.

[Mike]

Mass H,

 

I thought a player had to be on the 40 man roster to be called up Sept 1. Is that not true?

 

Thanks

[biedergb]

Any idea what the competition for the Baseball World Cup is like? Not as good as the World Baseball Classic, obviously. So does this help or hurt these players relative to the competition in the minors, and possible playoff time?

[Mass Haas]

4th round high school RHP Brooks Hall signs for $700,000

 

Here's his Brewerfan Draft Forum scouting report from colbyjack (Patrick Ebert of 5tooltalk.com)

[Mass Haas]

Mass H,

 

I thought a player had to be on the 40 man roster to be called up Sept 1. Is that not true?

 

Thanks

Yes, true, I'm not sure what gave the impression otherwise...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

T.L. Hanna's Hall signs with Brewers

By Keith Farner, Anderson (S.C.) Independent Mail

 

ANDERSON - It took longer than he had hoped, but Brooks Hall is officially a professional baseball player.

 

On deadline day for players drafted in June to sign, Hall signed with the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon for $700,000. Hall, a righthander who formerly pitched for T.L. Hanna, said he was relieved that the long process was over.

 

"It feels different," Hall said. "But I like it."

 

Hall was drafted in the fourth round, 136th overall. Hall's father, Buck, said it took longer than expected because Hall signed over slot money, which was set at $198,000.

 

Hall had signed to play at South Carolina, but has said since draft day that his preferred plan was to go pro over college.

 

He was the third pitcher selected by the Brewers, but first out of high school.

 

A year after Hall said he pitched five innings as a junior, Hall began the season as the Jackets' ace and threw a perfect game before an elbow injury limited him to shortstop and designated hitter roles. He went 4-1 on the mound in 20 1/3 innings, allowed five earned runs, and had a 1.74 ERA.

 

He struck out 12 on 76 pitches in the perfect game, a 9-0 victory over Greenwood in late March.

 

At the plate, he hit .324 with a .438 on-base percentage, and team-highs in walks (17) and stolen bases (8).

 

Asked what his goal was to reach the big leagues, Hall said three years.

 

"It's going to be hard, it's going to be a long trip, a long road," he said. "But I'm going to work hard and make it."

 

Hall will report to an instructional league in Arizona in the next week, Buck Hall said.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

GoGamecocks.com

Pitcher Brooks Hall, from T.L. Hanna High in Anderson, joined the parade of University of South Carolina signees who turned pro instead.

A fourth-round selection by Milwaukee, Hall signed his contract Monday afternoon in Anderson on a piece of land revered in his family. Hall's grandfather, James Hall, suffered a heart attack and died while on a tractor preparing a baseball field five minutes from Brooks' house. Brooks Hall signed his Brewers contract on that very spot Monday.

"He was a huge baseball fan," Brooks Hall said. "He would have loved to have been here. He went to all my games. It was a big significance to sign where he died. I know he was watching down."

Hall received a $700,000 signing bonus, more than three times the amount Major League Baseball slotted for that draft position.

Even though it came down to deadline day before he signed, Hall wasn't worried about a deal being struck. He and Lee Long, his advisor from Columbia's Palmetto Sports Management Group, were in constant contact with Brewers officials in the weeks leading up to the deal.

Giving up his scholarship to USC wasn't easy, Hall said. But the chance to fulfill a dream was too good to pass up.

"It was a hard decision because coach (Ray) Tanner and coach (Chad) Holbrook are really nice guys and I like them a lot," Hall said. "But this opportunity came up. I just want to play baseball for my whole life. If you get an opportunity to do this, you've got to do it."

[Mass Haas]

Media Relations Director Brian Massey of Huntsville with good news on three fronts:

 

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Huntsville Stars announced today that RHP Mike Jones has been promoted to Nashville. Also RHP Josh Butler and LHP Zack Braddock have both been reinstated from the 7-Day Disabled List.

[pogokat]

Kentrail Davis has signed for well above slot as well...

[Mass Haas]

Jim Callis of Baseball America:

 

The Brewers have signed Tennessee outfielder Kentrail Davis for $1.2 million. That's the highest bonus in the supplemental first round so far this year.

 

Brewerfan / Patrick Ebert Scouting Report Info