Minor League Transaction Thread -- From 2013 All-Star Break to 2014 Opening Week

[Mass Haas]

Bouncing ball RHP Frankie De La Cruz has been sent back to Huntsville (well, to Birmingham to meet the team there).

 

Nashville needed to free up a spot to account for Chris Narveson's formal arrival on the roster after his outright last week.

 

When De La Cruz formally joins the Stars, Huntsville will need to make a move, almost assuredely with its pitching staff (at 14 members with De La Cruz), to make room.

[Mass Haas]

When De La Cruz formally joins the Stars, Huntsville will need to make a move, almost assuredely with its pitching staff (at 14 members with De La Cruz), to make room.

 

Via the Stars --

 

LHP Brian Garman was placed on the disabled list. In 20 appearances out of the bullpen with the Stars, Garman was 1-0 with a 4.25 ERA. The 24-year-old southpaw last pitched on June 22nd, giving up two runs in two innings against the Suns.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America notes that the Brewers have released 2010 28th round LHP Dane Amedee, who appeared in 13 games for Maryvale in 2010 but had been on a restricted list since.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers sign 14th round LHP Hobbs Johnson, will report to Helena; coming off huge effort in College World Series with UNC.

 

VIDEO INTERVIEW: In a 132-pitch effort to oust NC State, Johnson threw 132 fastballs (first time he had ever done that).

 

UNC Bio

[CheezWizHed]

In a 132-pitch effort to oust NC State, Johnson threw 132 fastballs

 

So we should expect to see him on the DL soon?

[LouisEly]

Better than 132 curveballs

[Mass Haas]

Johnny Hellweg to Milwaukee Wednesday - will be his MLB debut when he starts Friday at Pittsburgh

 

Thanks again, Angels!

[Mass Haas]

RHP Mark Williams, who has split his 2013 between High-A and AA, was returned to the Stars, partly, we're sure, to the heavy workload the Huntsville pen had seen in recent days.

 

To make room, C/Utility man Joey Paciorek (fielding diversity stats) was placed on the 7-day AA DL. Paciorek was needed Tuesday for a mop-up inning on the mound - we don't believe he Canseco'd himself into surgery, or at least we hope not.

 

Manatees roster one below the league limit for now.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers:

 

RHP Marco Estrada (strained left hamstring) & RHP Alfredo Figaro (right oblique strain) will report to Arizona on Friday to rehab.

[Mass Haas]

Well done, Sean Halton!

[Mass Haas]

Scooter optioned to Nashville as Halton comes up.

[82brewcrew11]

Looks like 22nd round pick Johnny Davis has signed and is on the Maryvale roster.

 

From Friday's Link Report:

 

22nd round switch-hitting 5'9" OF Johnny Davis joined the squad. Davis is 23, but was only a freshman coming out of West Los Angeles Community College, so he probably has an intersting backstory about his days immediately out of high school (brief video of him hitting off a tee

). Davis singled in the 9th in second pro at-bat, congrats.

 

Davis had one of the three A-Crew hits, all singles, but two came in the 9th as part of an ill-fated rally attempt.

[Mass Haas]

Updates via the Manatees:

 

LHP Dan Meadows and RHP Santo Manzanillo transferred from Huntsville to Brevard County.

 

OF Chadwin Stang and RHP Kevin Shackelford transferred from Brevard County to Huntsville.

 

OF D'Vontrey Richardson transferred from AZL Brewers to Brevard County.

 

***

 

The Manatees had an open roster spot, so they're back to a full 25 now.

 

All seven of Richardson's Maryvale hits were singles (stats).

 

40-man roster RHP Santo Manzanillo (stats) only has one minor league option left, and would need to be in Milwaukee to stay by 2015. He's been going backwards for a while now, with the occasional blow-up outing.

 

Meadows' new sidearm act takes a step back to Brevard.

 

Shackelford is a 24-year-old out of Marshall (21st round, 2010 - converted from catcher in college), and is rewarded for solid, but not spectacular work here. Obviously a big day for him (and fellow 24-year-old Chadwin Stang), congratulations twice over.

 

Chadwin's appreciative tweet

[Mass Haas]

After just two three-inning each Maryvale appearances (no earned runs, no walks), soon-to-be 23-year-old 31st round RHP Tanner Poppe, out of the University of Kansas, escapes the heat and gets bumped to Helena's squad.

 

***

 

RHP Harvey Martin, undrafted but the Division II Pitcher of the Year, has been promoted from Helena to Wisconsin, also after just two appearances. Here's a recent detailed feature article we linked to on Martin. Martin turns 24 in a couple of weeks, so we all look for a Mike Fiers-like ascent.

 

Martin's tweet

 

***

 

The Rattlers will need to make a move to free up a spot for Martin.

[Mass Haas]

Sometimes we fail to note moves involving the big league club in this thread (figuring you'll know via other sources/news), but to help the overworked pen, Tyler Thornburg is up, Caleb Gindl back to Nashville.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers:

 

Brewers promote catcher Robinzon Diaz to Nashville. Catcher Dayton Buller has been released.

 

***

 

Good luck to Buller in the future.

 

As for Robinzon-with-a-"Z", he's continued his hacktastic career pace with four walks in 174 AA at-bats this year.

 

Huntsville apparently with an open roster sopt to work with now.

[Mass Haas]

The Rattlers will need to make a move to free up a spot for Martin.

 

RHP Austin Blaski, who last appeared on 6/13, goes on the Wisconsin DL.

[Mass Haas]

Follow-up from Alex in Huntsville --

 

Prior to their series at Joe Davis Stadium against the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Huntsville Stars made a handful of roster moves. Added to the Stars roster are RHP Kevin Shackelford and OF Chadwin Stang, both transferred from Brevard County (A+). Heading down to Brevard County from Huntsville are LHP Dan Meadows and RHP Santo Manzanillo. Lastly, C Robinzon Diaz has been transferred from Huntsville to Nashville (AAA).

 

Shackleford, 24, is making his first trip to Double-A level. The former collegiate catcher was 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA in 24 appearances out of the Manatees bullpen this season.

 

Stang, 24, is also making his first trip to the Double-A level. In 68 games this year patrolling the Brevard County outfield, Stang hit .254 with three homers and 16 runs batted in.

 

Meadows, in the midst of his third season with the Stars, is heading back to Brevard County for the second time this season. The 25-year-old southpaw was 0-0 with a 4.60 ERA in 13 games with Huntsville this season. Prior to his stint with the Stars in 2013, the Katy, TX native pitching 6.1 scoreless innings in six appearances with the Manatees.

 

Manzanillo, who is on the Brewers 40-man roster, is heading back to Brevard County for the first time since 2011. The 24-year-old righty was 1-3 with a 7.45 ERA in 26 appearances with the Stars this season. In 2011, Manzanillo was 1-0 with a 1.52 ERA in 28 games with the Manatees while also leading the team in saves with 10.

 

Diaz, who was the oldest player on the Stars at 29 years old, heads to Nashville (AAA) after playing all of 2012 in the Pacific Coast League with the Angels and Rangers organizations. With Huntsville this season, Diaz hit .276 with three homers and 22 runs batted in during his 58 games donning a Stars uniform. Diaz also has 12 doubles, his highest total since 2010.

 

The Stars active roster stands at 24 players, one under the Southern League Maximum.

[Mass Haas]

As noted by "And That" in the Draft Forum (please place any commentary here):

 

Brewers Sign No. 20 International Prospect Nicolas Pierre

 

Dominican outfielder Nicolas Pierre, the No. 20 international prospect for July 2, has signed with the Brewers for $800,000.

 

Pierre, 16, has an athletic 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame and made an impression with some scouts for his bat-to-ball ability from the right side of the plate and overall improvement as July 2 approached. He has good instincts in the outfield and has a chance to play center field. Pierre played in the International Prospect League and trains with Nelson Montes de Oca.

[homer]

Per Twitter, the Brewers have signed Dominican prospect Nicolas Pierre Figeroa. If I knew how to embed the tweet, I would give credit to JP Breen and Dionisio Soldevila (Pierre is ranked #28th best international prospect by MLB)

 

Nicolas Pierre FigueroaRank: 28San Pedro de Marcoris, Dominican RepublicHeight: 6'3", Weight: 175Position: OFDOB: 11/13/1996Bats: R, Throws: RScouting Grades* (present/future): Hit: 3/5 | Power: 3/4 | Run: 4/5 | Arm: 4/5 | Field: 4/5

Figueroa, at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, has speed in the outfield and projects as a center fielder.

 

Overall, Figueroa has been praised for his wiry, projectable body and his above-average athleticism, but there is some concern about his lack of games. There are also some scouts that question his baseball instincts, but he is expected to get better with experience.

 

Figueroa has all the tools scouts are looking for and has shown that he can hit in games. His bat is said to be his best tool because he can spray the ball to all fields but he's also a good baserunner. However, Figueroa might not be the strongest prospect on the market and his strength could be one area of focus once he signs with a team.

 

They've also signed Panamanian catcher Johel Atencio.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/brewers-sign-panamanian-catcher-johel-atencio/

[Mass Haas]

16-year-old Panamanian catcher as well

[Mass Haas]

Nicolas Pierre Photo Tweet

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville:

 

STARS ROSTER MOVE: C Joey Paciorek activated from disabled list. Active roster stands at 25, the Southern League maximum.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Manatees:

 

RHP Tommy Toledo placed on the disabled list, retroactive to June 27th.

Hopefully that's just a part of the "week off" approach the Brewers are taking with their arms. Manatees without their closer for a week.

 

***

 

LHP Brent Leach signed to a minor league contract and has reported to Brevard County.

6'5" southpaw will be 31 in November. 38 games but only 20.1 IP for the Dodgers in 2009 in his only big league action. Finished up 2012 in the Braves' organization, had been idle thus far in 2013. Only 2011 action was eight games in Japan. Likely to be bumped up to AA or AAA soon if he shows anything early on.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Manatees --

 

RHP Santo Manzanillo placed on the temporarily inactive list, retroactive to July 2nd.

 

C Brent Dean activated from the disabled list at Wisconsin and transferred for Brevard County. Dean will be active for tonight's game at Daytona.

 

***

 

Based on Dean's tweets, he's been in Florida for a couple of weeks at least already, taxi squad / bullpen catcher-type.