Minor League Transactions - 2015 Regular Season

[Mass Haas]

At Colorado Springs, RHP Rob Wooten lands on the DL with an unspecified injury.

 

Via this article, we know that Wooten will only be out about a week with biceps tendinitis.

[Mass Haas]

Elian Herrera cleared waivers; he chooses to remain in the Brewers organization as team outrights him to AAA @skysox.

 

Before he officially joins Colorado Springs, Milwaukee will need to free up a spot on the roster there.

 

It would seem they could place OF Bryan Petersen on a Temp Inactive list or such, as his mysterious absence has been documented here recently.

 

And that's not to make light of Petersen's situation, whatever it may be. We're just in the dark.

[Mass Haas]

Also, the Manatees will play a man short in Trevor Seidenberger's absence, but we also know RHP Johnny Hellweg will be taking that spot soon, as per earlier reports.

 

Actually, before Hellweg returns, the Brewers announced today that 24-year-old corner outfielder Michael Ratterree has been added to the Brevard roster.

 

That leaves a Brevard outfield of Roache-Garcia-Coulter-Ratterree-Pena.

 

Imagine we're going to see a bunch of movement both up-and-down in the coming weeks, perhaps Pena back to Wisconsin once Monte Harrison goes to Helena.

[Mass Haas]

Ratterree has, I think, a broken wrist. Not sure when or if he will be back this year.

 

From way back on April 8th via Adam McCalvy --

 

One of last season's Timber Rattlers, right fielder Michael Ratterree, will spend the first two weeks of Class A Advanced Brevard County's season on the disabled list, Gord Ash said. He suffered a slight right wrist fracture on a hit-by-pitch in Spring Training.

 

Unless there was a new different injury, that was no slight wrist fracture.

 

Just a reminder as to what Ratterree's status was...

[Mass Haas]

Finally, there is one pending signee, awaiting MLB paperwork approval -- RHP Joel Pinto is 6'3", 180, 18 years old out of Venezuela, so we may see him debut later in the DSL season.

 

This signing has been approved, so we may see Pinto in a box score at any time. His full name is "Maiker Joel Pinto", so box scores will list him as "Maiker", but should he advance in the system, we'll probably be reading about "Joel" once he's in Helena, for instance.

[Mass Haas]

With only two healthy catchers on the DSL roster, Brewers have gone out and signed another "veteran", this one 22-year-old (23 in July) switch-hitter Sandy Martinez, who was released by the Angels last November.

 

Martinez played two seasons in the DSL, one in Arizona Rookie, then saw action in 44 Midwest League games with Burlington in 2013. So he either was injured for all of 2014 or was idle for another unknown reason.

 

PHOTO: Via Four Seam Images

 

Photo (along with Chris Mehring's wit) in this Rattler Radio Blog Entry of May 20th, 2013.

 

http://mlblogsrattlerradio.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/may-20-2013-003.jpg?w=555&h=416

 

Sandy Martinez waits for the ball and Adam Giacalone at the plate after the single by Alfredo Rodriguez. The ball would get there first. By a lot.

[Mass Haas]

OF Bryan Petersen, carried on the active Sky Sox roster despite not playing for nearly two weeks, finally is formally placed on the Colorado Springs DL, thus making room for Elian Herrera.

[BrewersAA]

so, since the starter on the ninth cant be wagner or cravy can we speculate who it might be? The guys that would make sense that would all be rested are Lopez, Thornburg, Jungmann, & Hall.

 

I personally am kind of hoping that Thornburg gets his shot again, he should have never lost his spot to begin with. I bet they will be watching his start closely tonight!

 

Outside of Thornburg a part of me would like to see what would happen if they gave lopez a shot! I really dont think hes ready, but hes coming off a monster game so who knows.

 

Besides the minor league side i am sure Blazek has a good shot to start and if he didnt have a suspension i wonder if they would consider will smith. Smith was brought in to start and since has developed a good third pitch, id llike to see what he could do.

 

And its Taylor Jungmann getting the start on Tuesday. Excited for Taylor, disappointed for Thornburg who pitched excellent in his last start and was definitely a candidate for this call-up

[Mass Haas]

Via Chris Mehring, voice of the Rattlers:

 

Transactions --

 

RHP Zach Cooper has been signed to a minor league contract and will join Wisconsin.

 

RHP Orlando Torrez has been transferred to the Arizona roster.

 

***

 

Cooper is a 5'10" 25-year-old who had been pitching with AA Montgomery in the Tampa system until his May 24th release. He was drafted in the 15th round out of Central Michigan University in 2012 by the Phillies.

 

Here's what Baseball America had to say about him when he was drafted:

 

A successful starter at Central Michigan since midway through his sophomore season in 2010, Cooper profiles as a reliever in pro ball. He's just 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds and lacks the command to stick in a pro rotation, but he has the stuff to be a weapon out of the bullpen. He can maintain a 91-93 mph fastball deep into games and has hit 95 in the past, so his velocity figures to increase in shorter stints. He flashed a wipeout slider in the past but it's more of an average pitch now, occasionally flattening out.

 

The Phillies released the hard-throwing Cooper after he saw action in 56 games, pitching 82 1/3 innings. In those frames, he had 64 strikeouts against 39 walks with a 2.84 career ERA. Cooper was prepared to continue his career in the independent Frontier League when the Rays purchased his contract in April of 2014.

 

Chris Cotillo tweet at the time -- Source: Former #Phillies RHP Zach Cooper has contract purchased by #Rays after throwing 95-98 mph, hitting 99 in Frontier League.

 

Cooper posted rather middling-to-poor numbers with Charlotte in the Florida State League last year - 22 relief appearances covering only 24.1 innings (24 H, 3 HR, 12 BB, 22 K, 5.92 ERA), yet saw action in the Arizona Fall League after the season, where his struggles continued - nine appearances covering 10.1 innings (13 H, 12 R, 0 HR, 9 BB, 2 HBP, 3 K, 10.45 ERA).

 

Via DRaysBay.com - An AFL PITCHf/x profile of Zach Cooper

 

It was a dreadful exposure to AA this spring for Cooper - ten appearances covering 14 innings (24 H, 14 R, 5 HR, 10 BB, 6 K).

 

Already posed for his MiLB.com Timber Rattler photo --

 

http://www.milb.com/images/605190/t572/180x270/605190.jpg

 

From this article at Rays Colored Glasses --

 

The Rays really did everything they could with Zach Cooper. They signed him after he had been released by the Philadelphia Phillies because they saw two promising pitches, his mid-90’s fastball and his slider. Even after he managed a 5.92 ERA in 22 High-A appearances, they sent him to the Arizona Fall League and gave him another chance to establish himself. He failed, and now he is gone. Will another team take a gamble on him like the Rays did?

 

It is crazy how many pitchers with great stuff can’t get out of the minors. Cooper’s issue is, like most of them, horrific command. He walked 4.4 batters per 9 innings at High-A, but that is nothing compared to his 9-19 strikeout to walk ratio in 24.1 innings between the AFL and Double-A. However, it isn’t as though Cooper doesn’t have the talent to make the major leagues. Could he forgive himself for giving up knowing that maybe the next organization might have fixed him? The next step for Cooper may be independent ball if the answer to that question is “no.”

 

***

 

So now the Brewers assign Cooper to Wisconsin, not Brevard County, to see what they have.

 

Heading to Maryvale is RHP Orlando Torrez, the 23-year-old Dominican native who had walked 22 and struck out 16 in 33.2 innings with Wisconsin (4.81 ERA), his first year of full-season ball after four Domincan Summer League seasons.

[Mass Haas]

Two HBP's and a balk, but scoreless in his Wisconsin debut --

 

Fort Wayne Top of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Zach Cooper replaces Cy Sneed.

Nick Vilter hit by pitch.

Jose Ruiz hit by pitch. Nick Vilter to 2nd.

Felipe Blanco bunt pops out to first baseman Alan Sharkey.

With Ruddy Giron batting, Nick Vilter advances to 3rd on a balk. Jose Ruiz advances to 2nd on a balk.

Ruddy Giron lines into a double play, pitcher Zach Cooper to second baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Jose Ruiz doubled off 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

From January 31st:

 

Baseball America --

 

Brewers LHP Tyler Alexander

Suspension Length: 50 games

Violating Substances: Drug of abuse (second positive test)

 

Alexander, 23, a lefthander out of Florida International, was a 27th-round pick in 2013. He’s gone 7-6, 4.28 in two minor league seasons, walking 4.10/9 but striking out 11.27/9.

 

***

 

Also, even though Alexander spent most of 2014 with the Timber Rattlers, because he was on the Maryvale roster to end the season, his suspension won't begin until June when the rookie league season begins. So at minimum, he's out until late July.

 

Alexander's status as a Maryvale Brewer instead of a Wisconsin Timber Rattler was prompted solely by his involvement in a HBP-immediately-after-surrendering-a-HR-sparking-a-brawl incident last July. It's going to be tough for him to salvage much of anything in 2015, although here's to a big August for the young man.

 

Sigh...

 

And today we get news of Alexander's release.

 

JUNE 7th UPDATE: Alexander has signed with Fargo-Moorhead of the independent American Association. Should an affiliated club eventually show interest, Alexander still has that 50 game suspension hanging over him, we believe.

[Mass Haas]

Per @BrewersPD:

 

Timber Rattler LHP Zach Hirsch last pitched on May 2nd with what he described as “just a little elbow tenderness,” so it's clear the organization took caution with a five-week DL stint. Hirsch gets the start tonight as he is activated off the Wisconsin DL.

 

RHP Milton Gomez, the 21-year-old Dominican native who has struggled with a 1.68 WHIP in 40 Timber Rattlers innings, has been transferred to Helena to make room.

[Mass Haas]

Via @BrewersPD:

 

RHP Johnny Hellweg has been reinstated from the DL and transferred to Brevard County. OF Jose Pena has been transferred to Wisconsin.

 

***

 

The Wisconsin roster is full, so when Pena arrives, the Timber Rattlers will need to make room. The Manatees will be going with 13 pitchers, 12 position players for now.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers --

 

RHP David Goforth has been optioned to Triple-A Sky Sox. INF Scooter Gennett will be recalled from Colorado Springs Thursday.

[BrewersAA]

saw this coming from about 27 miles away! lets hope scooter keeps the sweet stroke going with the big boys.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers --

 

OF Monte Harrison & SS Jake Gatewood have been transferred to Helena. OF Mitch Meyer activated from the DL w/WIS; OF Jose Pena transferred to Wisconsin (from Brevard County)

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers:

 

RHP Rob Wooten (biceps tendinitis) has been activated from the DL with Colorado Springs. LHP Jed Bradley has been transferred to Biloxi.

 

***

 

Shuckers will need to make a roster move once Bradley officially arrives.

 

If the Shuckers clinch the first-half title on the day Jed arrives, does he jump into the dogpile and spray a carbonated beverage?

[Jenkins5]

I don't even consider this a bad thing. Get Bradley back to a neutral environment to succeed. Struggling is hard but when you play in a ballpark where pitchers are expected to struggle....not easy. Hopefully he fixes issues in Biloxi

[Mass Haas]

Shuckers will need to make a roster move once Jed Bradley officially arrives.

 

RH reliever Martin Viramontes has been placed on the Helena "taxi squad" of the Shuckers.

[brewmann04]

will they move Jeb into the rotation or will he continue his role comming from the bullpen.

[Jenkins5]

They said earlier in the season he is now concerted to a reliever

[splitterpfj]

Victor Roache has been promoted to AA.

[Mass Haas]

Victor Roache has been promoted to AA.

 

And Kyle Wren to AAA, no news quite yet on a corresponding move with the Sky Sox.

 

In a separate transaction, RHP Hiram Burgos goes on the Temporary Inactive List at Biloxi.

 

Congrats, Victor and Kyle!

[brewmann04]

Thank YG that what I thought too.

[igor67]

Didn't really expect the Roache promotion at this point, since he had cooled down to doing alright.