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

[Mass Haas]

Real bummer -- Brewers announced that 2013 Midwest League All-Star RHP Austin Blaski has retired.

 

Blaski underwent arm surgery on July 18th (same-day tweet), and in this audio interview with his hometown press just a couple of weeks prior, mentioned shoulder soreness. Here's a May video report with additional insight into Blaski's stellar college career at Marietta.

 

Good luck, Austin.

 

***

 

Brewers released utility man and mid-season independent league signee Eric Patterson.

 

***

 

Here's our post on the four minor league free agents the Brewers have re-signed.

[Mass Haas]

LINK

 

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Milwaukee Brewers Minor League right-handed pitcher Dylan Brock has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

 

The suspension of Brock, who is currently on the roster of the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers, is effective at the start of the 2014 season.

 

***

 

Brock was the Brewers' 34th round pick out of Glendale Com. Col. (Glendale, AZ).

[MadScientist]

LINK

 

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Milwaukee Brewers Minor League right-handed pitcher Dylan Brock has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

 

The suspension of Brock, who is currently on the roster of the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers, is effective at the start of the 2014 season.

 

***

 

Brock was the Brewers' 34th round pick out of Glendale Com. Col. (Glendale, AZ).

Given all the negative publicity over ped's for Milwaukee, this is probably the last we hear about Dylan. Unless the Clomiphene works and he becomes pregnant.

[brewmann04]

Brewers Player Dev ‏@BrewersPD 12m releases continued - Wardour, and Adrian Williams. Juan De Leon has retired. We wish them all the best #Brewers

 

Brewers Player Dev ‏@BrewersPD 13m Brewers announce these releases - Albury, Andrade, Dicent, Fasano, Garman, Gibbard, HernandezY, Keller, Meadows, Matulis, Ozuna,

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers announced these releases via their Player Development Twitter account.

 

Alphabetically --

 

24-year-old RHP Sean Albury, 31st round, 2011 - Darn, was rooting so hard for this young man, missed all of 2012 after rotator cuff surgery. Unlike Tommy John, that is such a death sentence for pitchers' careers. The Nassau native (the "Mad "Bahamian") was interviewed by Steve Wendt in July (audio). Albury managed a few two-inning relief stints in 2013, 18 innings overall.

 

***

 

23-year-old C Joe Andrade, a July 2012 undrafted free agent -- the LH bat didn't get much playing time, so tough for the undrafted catchers who are often brought in just because of the sheer number of arms in Maryvale / Helena. Andrade was interviewed in August 2012 by Steve (audio).

 

***

 

22-year-old RHP Joel Dicent was a four-year pro, signed out of the Dominican in September 2009. After a full season in Maryvale in 2012, his time was limited to only six appearances split evenly between the Arizona and the Dominican Summer Leagues this past season. We actually had some Bruce Seid quotes excited about Dicent's future back in May 2010.

 

***

 

Soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP Ryan Fasano was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers after the 2012 draft. He reached Wisconsin at the back end of this past season. Steve Wendt interviewed Fasano both in 2012 and 2013.

 

***

 

This one comes as a surprise. 25-year-old LHP Brian Garman, the Brewers' 17th round 2010 pick out of the University of Cincinnati, ended his 2013 Huntsville season rehabbing a torn labrum (ouch) in Maryvale. Garman is the latest in a long line of "let's develop a LOOGY since Mitch Stetter" that didn't quite work out (unless you count Lucas Luetge, lost in 2011's Rule 5 to Seattle, who did stick in that system). In fact, the LH reliever now in the system who's the furthest up the affiliate chain is Brevard's soon-to-be 26-year-old Stephen Peterson, who was invited to instructionals this fall. Here's a July 2013 hometown article with Garman discussing his injury and rehab.

 

***

 

Soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP Ryan Gibbard was the Brewers 14th round pick out of Lynn (FL) University in 2012. He was actually a Midwest League All-Star this past season based on a hot first half, but slumped badly in June and August. Steve interviewed Gibbard while he was in Helena in July 2012.

 

***

 

The only "Yonki" in the entire history of professional baseball is a Brewer no more. Just-turned 23-year-old switch-hitting OF Yonki Hernandez (a second baseman back in his DSL rookie season in 2010) was limited to a backup role in Maryvale this past summer (25 games, 47 AB's) after spending all of 2012 in Helena.

 

***

 

By far the highest drafted player in this group, 21-year-old RHP Danny Keller was the Brewers' 6th round draft pick in 2011 out of a California high school, spurning Cal-State Northridge for a $150,000 signing bonus. After posting two very hittable seasons in Maryvale, Keller was given an opportunity to be a big part of 2013's Helena rotation, but as the linked numbers show, it didn't work out. Steve Wendt spoke in August with Keller.

 

***

 

They don't even have a 49th round in the draft anymore, so 2008 JUCO LHP Daniel Meadows reaching AAA Nashville in both 2011 and 2012 was quite an accomplishment in itself. Meadows, 26 next week, was asked to become an extreme sidewinder in April, and worked on his craft in Maryvale before AA and High-A stints saw him walk 47 in 42 innings this season. Meadows was an Arizona Fall League particpant after the 2011 season. Here's a 2012 audio interview with Nashville's Jeff Hem.

 

***

 

23-year-old 6'6" LHP Chris Matulis, an undrafted 2013 free agent out of the University of Central Florida, only got to experience the Maryvale heat in his short time as a pro, hardly the glamorous experience to relay down the road. Here is our posting on his background from when he first signed this summer.

 

***

 

22-year-old OF Ruben Ozuna spent part of 2011 and all of 2012 and 2013 with Helena. This past August, Ozuna showed off his English skills in an interview with Steve Wendt. Ozuna enticed in the Dominican Summer League in his first taste of pro ball, but the Brewers' track record there remains weak (with recent glimmers in stateside additions the past two seasons).

 

***

 

Like Chris Matulis, 22-year-old RHP Sean Wardour's taste of pro ball with the Brewers was limited to his 2013 Maryvale season. The undrafted free agent and Los Angeles-area native was all smiles on his signing day with the Crew.

 

***

 

22-year-old utilityman and supersub Adrian Williams was a 45th round pick (again, only 40 rounds now) out of UCLA in 2011. He was a Brevard County interviewee in May of this past season. Williams' season-high for at-bats was 206 with Helena in his rookie season.

 

***

 

Not released, but retiring, is four-year pro, 21-year-old Juan De Leon, who holds a record of sorts, we can't remember another Brewer farmhand to spend four full seasons at the Dominican Academy without making it stateside (EDIT: one is identified in the next post in this thread).

 

***

 

We wish all these young men well in their future endeavors, hopefully with other organizations in affiliated ball down the road. We may see some go the independent route in 2014, and if so, we'll let you know. Hopefully for those whom it applies, all will make good use of any college money the Brewers guaranteed as part of their original deals.

[And That]

6'7" LHP Eliezer Montano spent four full seasons in the DSL, with the caveat that he spent his first year on a combined Orioles/Brewers team. Baseball Reference indicates he was Baltimore property and then Milwaukee property in 2009, but I don't believe that's correct, unless I'm misremembering.

 

Good luck to all these guys.

[Mass Haas]

Last July, the Brewers announced five international signings -- as Adam McCalvy wrote at the time, two broke the club's signing bonus record, $800,000 apiece for 16-year-old Dominicans Franly Mallen, a shortstop, and Nicolas Pierre, a center fielder.

 

J.P. Breen of Disciples of Uecker did a nice job providing additional information at the time summarizing what additional details had come available.

 

Depending on your Spanish skills, you may want to follow on Twitter two of the players signed at that time, Mallen, and Panamian catcher Johel Atencio.

 

So there's been a Twitter stream of late that prompted this re-visit.

 

Scroll down Sophia Minneart's timeline just prior to November 4th, for some great photos, including her visit with Jean Segura in the Dominican. Today's photo included Mallen, Pierre, and highly-regarded infielder Carlos Belonis.

 

We were able to learn that the Brewers had also signed three players last summer, signings not announced until now.

 

All three of these players were signed out of Venezuela.

 

Julio Mendez, 2B - 10/24/1996 (just turned 17) – from Sabaneta, Venezuela, R/R 5’10 140

 

Mendez signing his pro contract

 

Another photo via his busy (Spanish) Twitter feed

 

Joantgel Segovia, OF - 11/08/1996 (just turned 17) – from San Cristobal, Venezuela, R/R 6’1 175

 

Segovia's Twitter feed

 

Nicol Valderrey, 1B - 01/20/1997 (still just 16, good size) – from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, R/R 6’2 180

 

Seven of the eight signings last summer were position players, if you followed our DSL Link Report updates, you know that was a real need.

 

***

 

Now, Mallen and Pierre will draw more focus, but should any of the latest-named youngsters prove to be future big league cogs for the Crew, we'll be sure to link back to this post when you were introduced to them .

[Mass Haas]

Jaymes at Disciples of Uecker with some Luis Ortega info (Badenhop trade), as limited as it is, does provide some linked insights.

 

The Brewers now have three Ortega's in their system: newcomer Luis from the Dominican Republic, 2013 Maryvale RHP Jorge out of Venezuela, and their 2012 6th round pick Angel, the 2013 Helena Brewers SS from Puerto Rico. Guessing they're not related .

 

There are three Davis', all OF's -- big leaguer Khris, AAA Kentrail, and rookie baller Johnny.

 

There are three Gomez' -- Carlos, Double-A SS Hector, and Maryvale RHP Milton.

 

There are four Diaz boys -- 2013 8th round OF Brandon, veteran backstop Robinzon, and Dominican Summer League RHP's Miguel and Victor.

 

But, as you may have predicted, the Williams family leads the way with five -- 2013 23rd round middle infielder Eric, and four pitchers, LHP Alan, and RHP's Mark, Taylor, and Devin.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America on LHP Luis Ortega

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers -- links include major and minor league stats:

 

INF Irving Falu and C Matt Pagnozzi signed to minor-league contracts and invited to Major League camp.

 

(Obviously in response to us chiding them on their inactivity on the minor league free agent front....)

 

On Twitter -- INF @irvingfalu and C @MattPagnozzi

 

Falu, 30, has known nothing but the Royals' organization for all of his 11 pro seasons up to now.

[Mass Haas]

It was a Yuni B injury that got Irving Falu to the big leagues in 2012 after 949 minor league games.

[And That]

Falu is a switch-hitter, which should help his cause a bit.

[Outlander]

The Brewers sure seem to like light hitting utilty infielders from the Royals. Falu could potentially battle Bianchi for a final roster spot.

[brewmann04]

Light hitting is sure the word for Falu.

[Eye Black]

Falu, 30, has known nothing but the Royals' organization for all of his 11 pro seasons up to now.

 

Link to a nice Irving Falu Appreciation Piece from Minor League Ball recapping his days in Omaha. I hope the "Faluuuuuu" chants catch on in Nashville.

[Mass Haas]

RHP's Johnnie Lowe and Santo Manzanillo have been brought back on minor league contracts. Lowe will be 29 in March, Manzanillo turns 25 tomorrow (12/20).

 

Lowe made five appearances in Venezuela this winter, the most recent back on November 12th. They did not go particularly well, as evidenced in his linked stat line above.

 

Manzanillo's true only positive season was 2011, but it was indeed impressive. Never the same since shoulder surgery (car accident in the D.R.).

[dacbrewers]

RHP's Johnnie Lowe and Santo Manzanillo have been brought back on minor league contracts. Lowe will be 29 in March, Manzanillo turns 25 tomorrow (12/20).

 

Lowe made five appearances in Venezuela this winter, the most recent back on November 12th. They did not go particularly well, as evidenced in his linked stat line above.

 

Manzanillo's true only positive season was 2011, but it was indeed impressive. Never the same since shoulder surgery (car accident in the D.R.).

 

Are these minor league contracts one year deals or multiple years?

[Mass Haas]

Are these minor league contracts one year deals or multiple years?

 

One year.

 

If they had picked up a previously released player, the Brewers would own the player until the 7th minor league season had been completed.

[Mass Haas]

As per Baseball America's Matt Eddy --

 

Brewers release RHP Cody Scarpetta, the two-time org top 10 prospect who spent three years on 40-man roster.

 

Actually, Scarpetta was granted and used up a 4th option year as well...

 

Scarpetta, 25 years old, had one more year of Brewers team control before reaching minor league free agency, but even if he had excelled in 2014 in the minors, he would have had to be re-added to the 40-man roster next fall and would then need to make the big league roster to stay in 2015 and beyond, as he's out of minor league options. Knowing this, the Brewers might have foreseen better allocation of those AA or AAA innings to others.

 

Turns out this circumstance back when he signed did Scarpetta no favors --

 

"When the Brewers drafted righthander Cody Scarpetta out of high school with their 11th-round pick in 2007, Scarpetta initially signed for $325,000, but the Brewers voided that contract and re-signed him a few weeks later for $125,000 when he needed to have surgery on a pre-existing injury to his right index finger. Scarpetta became eligible for the Rule 5 draft the following year, and after he spent the 2009 season in low Class A Wisconsin, the Brewers placed him on their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft" - Baseball America

 

At this point, Scarpetta is a rare phantom major leaguer, in a big league bullpen for a day, but never in a game, so he's not in the Baseball Encyclopedia, among other notations. The same thing happened to former Brewers indy league signee Tim Bausher, although his Moonlight Graham moment came with Boston later on. At least Cody has a chance to become official down the road. Good luck to him going forward.

[TURBO]

Nick Bucci released?

 

This is very surprising to me. For a club that isn't very deep in minor league pitching, Bucci has to be let go?

 

Loved watching this kid in Appleton, awaiting to hear the full story. Was he unable to come back from his shoulder injury?

 

Bummer...

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/mlb/baseball?r=1

[Outlander]

Yeah, he was already off the 40 man so they must really think he is done to release a 23 year old pitcher who was once a top pitching prospect.

[Mass Haas]

Kyle at BrewCrewBall put together a detailed write-up very quickly this afternoon, view it here.

 

That is a darn shame -- hope to see Nick elsewhere in the game someday.

 

At least this young man (Chris Saenz) got his one shining moment before arm injuries runined everything.

[CheezWizHed]

Blast! Bucci was one of my darkhorse favorites for SP options.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have signed a young Dutch catcher to a professional contract -- here's a rough translation from this this web page.

 

***

 

The baseball life of Milan Post has received an unexpected turn.

 

Initially, he would start this month at San Jacinto College in Houston. Those plans have now changed. The nineteen-year-old catcher from Diemen has signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, the American professional organization where he did an internship for ten days in Sepember.

 

The career of Post has been very impressive. As many as nine clubs from Major League sought the talented Dutch catcher, who in 2012 made ​​his debut for L & D Amsterdam in the Dutch League.

 

When he was 16, he was found to be suffering from rheumatism, and there were even "a few months when I could not even walk", Post said. He missed a year of baseball.

 

Post recovered slowly and in 2012 he got the chance to get on the baseball field. His comeback "I thought: I 'm going to make it." However, it turned out differently. " I went to Junior Team for the World Cup to South Korea. But this World Cup, I messed up. The European Baseball Academy of Major League Baseball went dramatically. I had too high expectations of myself." Post decided to work even harder. Successfully. Followed in 2013 for the fourth year in a row, an invitation to the MLB Academy. "That was just plain good. I was even approached by scouts from San Francisco Giants."

 

On the advice of scouts Post decided then to focus on college baseball and he got a scholarship offered at San Jacinto College in Houston, where he would start this month. But those plans have now changed. In September, Post, along with Rowan Hoek and Ruben Prince, left for Arizona . They received compensation from the sports fund Leo van der Kar. In the Maryvale Baseball Park in Arizona there were ten days of internship with the Brewers. This was done under the leadership of former Major League catcher Charlie Greene . The Dutch catchers already trained in the Netherlands before. After seven days, "The Brewers were very excited." A day later, the Dutch catcher was offered a contract. Early December Post for eight days returned to the United States for medical tests, after which he put his signature under the seven-year (standard minor league contract) with the club from Milwaukee late last month. "I am really looking forward to it, I'm very curious what it will be like. I expect that I will start for the AZL Brewers, but have higher hopes.

 

Post reports on March 2 in Arizona for Spring Training. He will return to the complex where he stayed in September for his ten-day internship. Post: " So I know the clubhouse, the property, and a number of people. " Meanwhile trains Post also join the Dutch A-team. Post: "It's very strange. I'm actually now a professional baseball player."

 

***

 

Here are some training videos via Post.

 

Post is a right-handed bat.

[TURBO]

There has to be more to the Bucci story than is being reported...

 

Any chance we pick him back up?