Minor League Transactions -- 2014 Regular Season

[Mass Haas]

Todd Rosiak of the Journal-Sentinel tweeted this update on Nashville RHP Ariel Pena - bullet dodged, nice!

 

Ariel Pena placed on DL at Class AAA Nashville after being hit by a line drive in the right forearm. No fracture; expected to miss 1 start.

[Mass Haas]

We learn from the Sounds that catcher Lucas May is technically on the AAA DL now, not the AA DL (technically, it seems he's on a taxi squad).

 

PENA PLACED ON DISABLED LIST; LEACH, MAY JOIN SOUNDS: Starting pitcher Ariel Pena has been placed on the disabled list, retroactive to yesterday. He was struck on his pitching forearm by a Brian Bocock comebacker in the fifth inning on Saturday evening and was immediately removed from the game. Pena’s rotation spot will temporarily be filled by left-hander Brad Mills. Left-hander Brent Leach, who spent the final month of the 2013 campaign with the Sounds (0-3, 5.19 in 17G), joins Nashville today to fill Pena’s spot on the active roster. He opened the year at Double-A Huntsville, where he posted a 2.25 ERA (1er/4.0ip) in four relief outings. Another addition to the Nashville roster today is catcher Lucas May, who made one appearance for Huntsville (0-for-1) after opening the year on the inactive list. May has been placed on the Sounds’ disabled list.

[Mass Haas]

As per @BrewersPD --

 

RHP Rodolfo Fernandez has been added to the Wisconsin roster; LHP Tyler Linehan placed on the DL.

 

***

 

On Sunday, Linehan struggled a bit in two innings of work in his 2nd outing of the season (here's the box score / game log link).

[Mass Haas]

Continuing to post brief alumni updates in our Transactions thread (but only for those players from the 2013 season)

 

Two more players go the independent ball route:

 

OF Rene Tosoni - Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers, American Association (article)

 

LHP Zach Kroenke - Somerset (NJ) Patriots, Atlantic League (article)

 

***

 

During the offseason, we posted this about Kroenke --

 

LHP Zach Kroenke has pitched well in the Dominican Republic this winter -- earlier this fall, his agent (Joshua Kusnick -- known to many as agent39 here), tweeted that Kroenke was sleeping on a very fine offer from the Brewers. Apparently Kroenke didn't think the offer was "that" fine (and maybe would have preferred it being kept quiet), and that helped spark one of the more interesting twitter conversations of the offseason.

[Mass Haas]

Back on Tuesday, we posted this --

 

We have a D'Vontrey Richardson early exit to concern us --

 

Huntsville Top of the 2nd

 

Greg Hopkins lines out to center fielder Matt Lipka.

Adam Weisenburger grounds out, third baseman Kyle Kubitza to first baseman Seth Loman.

Nick Shaw walks.

Brooks Hall triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Matt Lipka. Nick Shaw scores.

D' Vontrey Richardson pops out to second baseman Emerson Landoni.

 

Mississippi Bottom of the 2nd

 

Defensive Substitution: Brock Kjeldgaard replaces center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson, batting 1st, playing right field.

 

Now Richardson has been placed on the 7-day DL with Huntsville (@BrewersPD tweet), no immediate news on the nature or severity of his injury.

 

Although Wisconsin's Michael Ratterree, last year's Pioneer League MVP, is only 7-for-35, he's flashed both power and patience (.813 OPS in 11 games), and he's the choice to jump a level to take D'Vo's place for now. Congrats to the 23-year-old.

 

That could mean Richardson's DL stint is expected to be brief, and also that the Brewers don't want to touch their young Manatee outfield at all.

 

Catcher Paul Eshleman is transferred from extended spring training to backfill Ratterree's spot on the Timber Rattlers' roster.

 

***

 

The Brewers recall UT Elian Herrera from Nashville, as Lyle Overbay goes on paternity leave for three days to celebrate the birth of baby #5.

[Mass Haas]

Update Via the Stars' Steve Jarnicki --

 

"Stars OF D’Vontrey Richardson has been placed on the DL with a hand injury. In the game on Saturday April 12th, Richardson went diving after a foul ball. His hand first bothered him then. He came out of Tuesday’s first game against Mississippi after popping out to second base. Richardson is batting .244 with 6 RBI in 10 games."

 

***

 

Doesn't sound "too" bad -- we'll see.

[torts]

Maas, any word on whats up with Delmonico?

[Mass Haas]

Maas, any word on whats up with Delmonico?

 

Just this recent update from Tom Haudricourt, so things are progressing

[Mass Haas]

Recently released and former 40-man roster RHP Santo Manzanillo has signed with the Joliet (IL) Slammers of the independent Frontier League.

 

That's the same club 1B Adam Giacalone signed with a couple of weeks ago.

 

You can add catcher Tyler Roberts to the Slammers roster now as well, quite the reunion there.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy -- Brewers re-sign Jeffress to Minors deal

[Mass Haas]

@BrewersPD announces that 3B Stephen Parker, who had yet to see action in 2014, has been released. He was acquired for RHP Darren Byrd in spring 2013. Byrd, by the way, is out of baseball at the moment.

 

***

 

Brewers also announce that RHP Johnnie Lowe returns to Huntsville from the Sounds. Nashville has two spots open on the roster, but they will likely be re-filled soon (once Lyle Overbay returns from paternity leave and Ariel Pena comes off the 7-day DL).

[Mass Haas]

Via Jeff Hem --

 

RHP Ariel Pena activated from DL today, sched. to start Thurs in OKC.

 

***

 

Nice!

[Mass Haas]

Via Nashville's Media Notes --

 

FIGARO CALLED UP; MAY ACTIVATED: Sounds pitcher Alfredo Figaro was called up today and will join the Brewers in Milwaukee. Figaro made seven relief appearances with Nashville for a 5.00 ERA (5er/9.0ip) and eight strikeouts. The 29-year-old will take the spot left by Rob Wooten, who was optioned to Nashville after establishing a 8.31 ERA (4er/4.1ip) in four appearances with the parent club. Wooten is expected to join the Sounds on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Catcher Lucas May has been activated from the disabled list and has yet to appear in a game for the Sounds this season.

[Mass Haas]

This set of three posts from Monday's Link Report discusses the upcoming DL stints for RHP Johnny Hellweg and OF Kevin Mattison in Nashville.

 

Nothing official yet, so any conjecture on other moves (Jungmann, Bradley, Prince?) up the chain, would be just that at this point, conjecture.

 

As for this thread, let's wait for the official moves.

[Mass Haas]

As per @BrewersPD --

 

Utilityman Hainley Statia has been transferred to Nashville from Huntsville. OF Kevin Mattison to the DL (as we discussed yesterday, Grade 2 shoulder strain, out anywhere from 2-6 weeks).

 

***

 

Statia should see some time at short, where incumbent Hector Gomez has been proving last season's AA sub-.500 OPS was no fluke - MH

 

No official roster move announced on RHP Johnny Hellweg as of yet.

[82brewcrew11]

Torn UCL for Hellweg, bad break.

 

McCalvy: Hellweg has torn elbow ligament

[Mass Haas]

Hellweg discussion can take place in the Sounds thread if you wish.

[Mass Haas]

Update from Huntsville:

 

TODAY’S TRANSACTION: Outfielder D’Vontrey Richardson was activated prior to today’s game. Richardson had been sidelined with a hand injury since he came out of game one of the doubleheader at Mississippi on April 15th. He suffered the hand injury diving for a foul ball on April 12th diving after a foul ball in Huntsville against Pensacola. He missed eight games total.

[Mass Haas]

Per @BrewersPD,

 

Brewers formally place Johnny Hellweg (likely Tommy John surgery) on Nashville's DL, and have released 2012 12th round RHP Eric Semmelhack, out of UW-Milwaukee (career stats). The Brewers had no spot for Semmelhack in 2014 - he posted very low K numbers (and a .299 BAA) in a tough 2013 for the Timber Rattlers.

[Mass Haas]

From the Timber Rattlers --

 

RHP Preston Gainey has been placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 21. LHP Tyler Linehan has been reinstated from the disabled list and is active for Wednesday’s game.

 

***

 

No word on the nature or severity of what's ailing Gainey.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Alfredo Figaro optioned to make room for the return of Brandon Kintzler.

 

There was an open sopt on the Sounds' roster, so Nashville is back at 25.

[torts]

was that open spot Hellwegs spot?

[Mass Haas]

was that open spot Hellwegs spot?

 

Yes

 

***

 

At Huntsville, Kentrail Davis is over his groin strain and has been activated from the Stars' DL. We've asked to learn what the accompanying move will be, as that would place the roster at 26.

[Mass Haas]

At Huntsville, Kentrail Davis is over his groin strain and has been activated from the Stars' DL. We've asked to learn what the accompanying move will be, as that would place the roster at 26.

 

OF Michael Ratterree has been returned to Wisconsin's roster. In his brief AA stint, Ratterree was 3-for 26 (.115, double, HR, 5 RBI), with four walks and 12 K's (.503 OPS). Not quite ready for that jump yet...

 

The Timber Rattlers will need to free up a roster spot prior to Friday's game.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have re-signed OF Chadwin Stang, their 2009 8th round pick (career stats), who had just been released back on March 27th. News comes per the Can-Am Independent League transactions page (Milwaukee purchases his contract from the New Jersey Jackals - normally the Jackals would retain his rights if things don't work out with the Brewers).

 

No word yet on where Stang will first be assigned, or when (perhaps some extended spring Maryvale time first, as the indy league schedule had yet to begin). The just-turned 25-year-old right-handed bat split 2013 between Brevard County and AA Huntsville.

 

It may have happened before, but no instance quite like this pops into my head, where the Brewers have brought someone back like this so quickly, goes to show that at the time, Stang was caught in a true numbers crunch moreso than a weak performance analysis by the organization.

 

Congrats to Chadwin!