Your 2016 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

[CheezWizHed]

Without looking at their competition, I'd guess some of that is name recognition and some of it being a hot(ter) May influencing the votes.

[Mass Haas]

LINK includes video interview --

 

Allemand tearing it up for Timber Rattlers

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

[igor67]

So I'm kind of curious with all of the college draftees how placement is going to shakeout. There are a lot of position players who have been playing better after horrible starts, but only Allemand is doing well enough to really justify a promotion. On top of that there were a fair number of guys waiting to get started at Helena already, so it's not like you can dump all of the college guys there either. I'd hate to see us short guys who still have a chance on playing time.

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Switch

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO Report via WTMJ TV: Isan Diaz profile

[Mass Haas]

Former Ruston pitcher now Minor League All-Star

Luke Thompson, Shreveport (LA) Times

 

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9652acbf19091d6bc9bcc29b648b2905b2bc5000/c=0-0-640-853&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2016/06/16/LAGroup/Shreveport/636016939049568786-image1.PNG

 

David Burkhalter made the Midwest League All-Star game thanks to a stellar start to the season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

(Photo: Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

The most common message to pitchers, especially young ones, revolves around the simple, obvious goal of throwing strikes.

 

David Burkhalter's ability to consistently find the plate continues to lead him to success in the minor leagues, much like it did during his two years at Ruston High School. Longtime coach Toby White called the righthander the most dominant pitcher he's ever had, noting Burkhalter's brilliance often went underappreciated.

 

"When other teams went up there, they knew he was going to be around the plate, so they took good cuts against him," White said. "That’s what made his numbers even more extraordinary because he was always just around the plate."

 

Milwaukee encouraged the same approach after selecting Burkhalter in the sixth round of the 2014 Major Baseball Draft, making him the school's earliest pitcher taken since 1971. Less than a full year in Rookie League earned the 6-foot-3 prospect a spot on the Single A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he made this season's Midwest All-Star game.

 

Just two walks in 21 innings led to a stellar April during which Burkhalter posted a 1.29 ERA and an opponent batting average of .176. He credited his catchers and cold hitters not quite ready in the early part of the season, showing the humility White said defined his ace in high school.

 

After transferring from West Monroe, Burkhalter went 11-1 with a 0.93 ERA as a junior, helping Ruston earn the No. 4 seed in the Class 5A playoffs. The next season he pitched even better, posting a 7-3 record that belied an 0.70 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 70 innings.

 

A fastball in the mid-80s and a deceptive changeup hardly gave him electric stuff, especially in the pros, so Burkhalter had to learn to "outthink" hitters. Even with some added velocity to throw closer to 90 miles per hour, he understood the mental part of his game would need the most improvement.

 

"We have a psychologist and he'll have meetings with all the pitchers and stuff," Burkhalter said. "I just really try to learn from those guys."

 

White said that attitude combined with a strong Christian faith helped Burkhalter fit right in at Ruston, where he quickly proved himself to be one of the team's hardest workers. Less than two years later, he became the youngest player on the Timber Rattlers' roster.

 

This season Burkhalter took over as Wisconsin's most regular starter until a sprained elbow put him on the disabled list for the first time as a pro following a rough start on June 7. It will force him to miss the All-Star game, but Burkhalter hopes to be back on the mound before turning 21 on July 25 and remains on the right track towards one day pitching in the big leagues.

 

"Right now my biggest goal is just getting back healthy and trying to get back up there and keep pitching well," said Burkhalter, who posted a 1.99 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings thru May. "If it's in the plans to move up or whatever, that would be great, but just keep doing what I've been doing."

[Mass Haas]

Clark working his way up

Story and Photo by Josh Flickinger, Beloit Daily News

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/beloitdailynews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/23/1234fcfe-3505-11e6-a6e9-237f2977f8a1/5764c095edec1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C498

 

Trent Clark, a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, is adjusting to life in the professional ranks.

 

BELOIT — Trent Clark shakes his head and laughs. You see, he’s heard it all before.

 

Sitting in the cramped, fragrant visiting clubhouse at Pohlman Field, Clark’s Wisconsin Timber Rattlers teammates are giving him the business.

 

“Hey, Trent hurry up. Another reporter wants to talk to you,” his teammates say. “Man, you can not keep a guy waiting. Who do you think you are?”

 

“Listen, Trent,” longtime Timber Rattlers trainer Jeff Paxson said. “In all my years here, I’ve never seen anybody hold up the team bus. Don’t be the first.”

 

“I get that all the time, man,” Clark, a first-round draft choice of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, said. “They call me a bonus baby, they tell me I don’t need the regular paycheck that we get. It’s all in fun. They know that and I know that.”

 

The Brewers gave Clark $2.7 million to sign on the dotted line after choosing him with the 15th overall selection out of Richland High School in Texas. After signing, Clark put up a terrific rookie season, performing well both in the rookie Arizona League and at rookie-league Helena.

 

This spring, however, Clark faced his first true challenge as a professional.

 

“I was thinking way too much at the plate in spring training,” Clark said. “It would get to the point that I was so focused on having my mechanics perfect that I would freeze up in the box. I would take pitches all game, and maybe swing at one. My timing was so off and my body wasn’t in position. But I got past that and started to swing the bat well.”

 

He was promoted to Wisconsin on May 9, only to head to the disabled list with a hamstring issue 13 days later. Two weeks later, Clark was back in the lineup, ready to once again showcase the considerable all-around talent that made him MLB.com’s seventh-ranked prospect in the organization heading into the season.

 

Clark, who won’t turn 20 until Nov. 1, is batting just .211 for the Timber Rattlers, but his numbers look much shinier when the peripheral statistics come into view. He had already drawn 18 walks in just 76 official at-bats, giving him an on-base percentage of a solid .362. Ten of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases,

 

Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said Clark’s debut has been solid, but he still has many things to improve upon.

 

“He can be a prototypical leadoff guy.” Erickson said. “He’s patient at the plate and draws a lot of walks. We’d like him to be a little more aggressive when he’s ahead in the count, and he’s done a little bit more of that since he came off the DL. I like the way he gets out of the box and he really puts pressure on the defense. He’s got good baseball instincts. In the outfield, he can definitely cover some ground, but we are working on him getting better jumps and taking full advantage of his strong arm.”

 

Clark was 0-for-4 Thursday night, a performance that wouldn’t have been to his satisfaction last spring when he was still playing high school ball. However, this 0-fer included a sacrifice bunt, a walk and an RBI.

 

“I had some productive team at-bats, and that’s what you are looking to do,” Clark said. ”Walks, getting a guy in with less than two outs, bunts, those are all things we work a lot on. Getting a bunt down, to me that’s just want-to. If you really want to get it done, you will.”

 

Clark said his approach at the plate is one of his strengths, and he will continue to refine it as his professional career continues.

 

“I’ve trained my eye from a very young age to know what is a ball and what is a strike, whether the umpire agrees with me or not,” Clark said. “There’s not time where I go up there looking to swing at anything. I really pride myself on swinging at good pitches and doing my to getting on base. You’re only as good as what you swing at. That’s something I really believe in.”

[Mass Haas]

LINK includes a video interview

 

Timber Rattlers’ Gatewood showing development

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

An extensive Q&A here...

[Mass Haas]

Just prior to the announcement of Monte Harrison's hamate bone (wrist) injury --

 

Todd Rosiak of the Journal-Sentinel: Pair of Brewers' 2014 picks (Harrison, Gatewood) starting to come around

[Mass Haas]

LINK includes video interview --

 

Griep emerges as closer for Timber Rattlers

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE - Stephen Colbert has “The Late Show,” but Nate Griep also does quality work at odd hours.

 

Griep has a late show of his own at Fox Cities Stadium, and lets his powerful right arm do the talking.

 

The 22-year-old Griep has settled into the closer’s role with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and has emerged as one of the best relief pitchers in the Midwest League.

 

Griep entered weekend play with terrific numbers: a team-high 11 saves in 12 opportunities, a team-low 1.27 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 28 ⅓ innings. Opponents are hitting just .189 off Griep and he has a WHIP of 0.88.

 

“He’s developed into a real reliable, real consistent late-inning guy,” said Wisconsin pitching coach Gary Lucas. “He has a lot of poise and composure in tight situations. He challenges hitters and he’s not afraid of contact.”

 

Griep throws a low-to-mid-90s fastball along with a curve and change-up. He also has a hesitation to his delivery that seems to throw off hitters.

 

Pitchers, though, need more than just good stuff to mow down hitters. Griep’s mental make-up is what impresses Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. He’s a Rattler who doesn’t rattle.

 

“He’s a good competitor,” said Erickson. “He’s a guy you want on the mound in the late innings because he competes. His mound presence, composure and athleticism around the mound are really good and he controls the running game really well. He’s got some deception to his delivery. I wouldn’t say he has a ton of velo (velocity), but he’s got movement to his fastball. As he learns to cut and sink the ball, I think he’ll just continue to get better.”

 

The bullpen is a different environment for Griep and being a closer is a new role for him. He was primarily a starting pitcher in high school and at Kansas State University, making 23 starts in 28 appearances with the Wildcats.

 

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Griep was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 2015 draft after going 6-3 his sophomore season at Kansas State with a 2.63 ERA. He was a second-team all-Big 12 Conference selection and held opponents to a .218 batting average, the lowest by a Wildcats starting pitcher since 2000.

 

The transition from starting pitcher to baseball’s high wire act as a closer has been an adjustment, but it’s clearly improved Griep’s value as a prospect. Griep made five starts in 14 games in rookie league ball last season at Helena, where he struggled going 0-2 with an 8.02 ERA.

 

“I like where I’m at right now,” said Griep. “I’m excited about it and where it’s going. I like coming in and trying to pump strikes and work my way through counts. Coming in at the end you have to have the mindset of, ‘Nobody is hitting me.’ ”

 

Nobody hit Griep at Millard West High School in Omaha, where he finished second in school history in appearances (36), wins (23), strikeouts (225), ERA (1.71) and complete games (11). He was the 2012 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year and was a Louisville Slugger High School All-American as a pitcher and outfielder.

 

“In high school and college, I was always a starter and I loved it,” Griep said. “I absolutely loved going deep into games and trying to preserve the bullpen. Now, being a closer, you just want to get in the game instead of just sitting there. When they call your name, you have to get hot real quick and do your best to close out a game.

 

“The biggest thing is just working your way through situations and dealing with adversity because you don’t have as much time to acclimate yourself to the game as you would as a starter. It’s been fun.”

 

What wasn’t fun for Griep was having Tommy John surgery following his senior year of high school to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He redshirted his true freshman season at Kansas State to give himself plenty of healing time, and says his arm feels stronger than ever.

 

“It’s definitely a tough thing to go through,” said Griep. “When I found out, I was just crushed. It’s a long process. It was about 18 months before I got fully back.

 

“You’ve got to grind through it. Some days are awful. You wake up and you’re really sore. But if you have a good training staff like I did at K-State, they work you through it. And you need good support, which I had. It definitely molds you into the person you are today. They always says that you come back stronger and it’s because you’re basically taking a year off with throwing and putting all your time into rehab.”

 

When he’s not shutting down ninth-inning rallies, Griep is an automobile aficionado who enjoys all things cars.

 

“I love cars, love trucks,” Griep said. “I’ve been a student of the car world for a while now. I don’t know what it was, but something sparked it. I’m not a fixer-up type guy. I kind of like to soup them up more than anything.

 

“I’ve got a 2015 F-150 (truck). She’s sitting at home in my parent’s driveway. My parents take it out for ride every now and then and send me pictures of it. I miss it. She’s done me well.”

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Protecting Their Potential

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' 2016 season is only a little more than halfway over, but for many players it's already been the longest year of their professional careers. As the Milwaukee Brewers' lowest full-season affiliate, the Timber Rattlers have many players who were in short-season leagues, college or even high school a year ago.

 

Rest of the story at the link...

[Mass Haas]

For easy-find archiving purposes --

 

VIDEO via WTMJ4: Timber Rattler Jake Gatewood (and a bit of Isan Diaz)

[Mass Haas]

Includes VIDEO interview and a profile Q&A

 

Rattlers’ Isan Diaz could be part of Brewers’ future

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

Manager Matt Erickson's comments insightful...

[Noche]

I always like to check in on how an offensive player compares to their league. Often you find out context matters and you don't have to be putting up "video game" numbers to be having an outstanding season.

 

Average age in the MWL is 21.6. Average batting line is .246/.316/.363 for a .680 OPS

 

The Young Stars

 

Isan Diaz (20): 112 OPS+, 342 PA, 32 XBH, 37 BB, 82 K

Trent Clark (19): 113 OPS+, 118 PA, 12 XBH, 20 BB, 30 K

 

The Projectable Youngsters

 

Jake Gatewood (20): 99 OPS+, 317 PA, 27 XBH, 6 BB, 86 K

Carlos Belonis (21): 98 OPS+, 223 PA, 8 XBH, 10 BB, 54 K

Monte Harrison (20): 95 OPS+, 232 PA, 17 XBH, 14 BB, 74 K

Troy Stokes (20): 92 OPS+, 152 PA, 7 XBH, 16 BB, 27 K

Luis Aviles (21): 101 OPS+, 258 PA, 22 XBH, 7 BB, 71 K

 

MWL Veteran and Older Types

Blake Allemand (23): 117 OPS+, 235 PA, 19 XBH, 19 BB, 37 K

David Denson (21): 105 OPS+, 283 PA, 21 XBH, 34 BB, 78 K

Max McDowell (22): 107 OPS+, 239 PA, 14 XBH, 17 BB, 38 K

 

We don't have anyone approaching Buxton or Trout numbers here but many interesting offensive prospects. Juan Ortiz is up now and hopefully Tucker Neuhaus will be back soon making this a very formidable offensive team for the remainder of the season even with Allemand back in A+. Should be fun to watch!

[fondybrewfan]

Gatewood and Diaz have improved substantially over the last month. Now if only Gatewood could learn to take a walk.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WBAY: Ghelfi’s versatility helps keep him in lineup

[MillerParkSouth]

Anyone have an idea when Clark is supposed to come back? I'm going to a couple of games next week and I'd love to see him play.

[Mass Haas]

Hometown paper takes notice...

 

Central grad Ghelfi upping his stock

Colten Bartholomew, Lacrosse Tribune

 

Three photos at the link

 

If hitting truly is infectious, Mitch Ghelfi has certainly caught the contagion in recent weeks.

 

Ghelfi’s play of late for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers — the Milwaukee Brewers’ Class A affiliate — has brought more attention to the Central High School graduate. And with the increase in eyeballs trained his way, he’s delivered quite the show.

 

Ghelfi took a 13-game hit streak into Saturday night’s Midwest League home game against Lake County, and had hit safely in 17 of his past 18 games. He’s not just quietly extending his streak, either — he’s collecting two-, three- and four-hit games seemingly with ease. The 13-game streak includes nine games with multiple hits, and Ghelfi had seven consecutive games with at least two hits from July 10-17.

 

The rise in hits, Ghelfi said Saturday, is a testament to the work he and the Timber Rattlers coaches Chuckie Caufield and Al LeBoeuf have done to compact Ghelfi’s swing.

 

“They’re so knowledgeable about hitting, what works, what doesn’t, so I’m soaking all that up,” Ghelfi said in a phone interview before heading to batting practice Saturday.

 

“I’ve been able to shorten my swing, which is getting me to the ball quicker. Knowing that I’m able to get the bat there quicker lets me see the ball longer, which helps me lay off the off-speed stuff and stuff out of the zone,” he said.

 

He’s been hitting out of the No. 2 hole during his streak after hitting in multiple spots throughout the year.

 

“We’ve got a pretty fluid lineup here,” Ghelfi said. “There’s a bunch of guys in this lineup who can swing the bat.”

 

Much of what Ghelfi and his coaches work on is the physical aspects — the step of his swing, bringing his hands to the ball, proper shoulder rotation, etc. — but Ghelfi says that he’s been able to improve on the mental side of the game as well.

 

“Being able to come to the field every day focused on the little things, that’s helped,” he said. “I’ve just been so focused on getting that extra practice time, whether it’s fielding or hitting. That focus before the game or at practice makes it easier to lock in for games.”

 

The skills that have made him successful in Minor League Baseball could be seen when he suited up for the Red Raiders or for UW-Milwaukee. He was a second-team all-state selection in high school, and earned All-American honors his freshman year with the Panthers.

 

Ghelfi is a switch-hitter, and said shortening his swing from each side the plate hasn’t been much as a challenge, again crediting Caufield and LeBoeuf’s tutelage. However, one aspect has been tough and it’s something he can’t control — finding lefties to hit against.

 

It may be days or even a week between games where the Timber Rattlers face a southpaw pitcher, so Ghelfi has had to rely on time in the batting cage and hitting off tees to keep his right-handed swing sharp.

 

“You have to stay in a groove from both sides of the plate. That comes down to making sure you’re getting the same swings and focusing on both sides equally,” Ghelfi said. “So if I’m not getting as many at-bats in the game right-handed, I’ve got to make up for that in practice.”

 

Ghelfi said maintaining that consistent approach from both sides allows him to feel confident in the batter’s box, regardless of the pitcher staring him down.

 

The Timber Rattlers went 8-5 during Ghelfi’s hit streak, and the 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect has added even more versatility to his game to go along with his switch hitting. Ghelfi has played primarily first base for Wisconsin after injuries at the position opened up the spot.

 

Ghelfi played some infield while at UW-Milwaukee, so it wasn’t foreign to him to switch gloves and take over at first. He still catches once or twice a week, splitting time with Max McDowell behind the plate.

 

“We have a good thing going and we’re always working with our pitchers so they’re comfortable with both of us back there,” Ghelfi said. “First base came up this year, so I just hopped in there and kind of learned it on the fly.”

 

Playing another position could help Ghelfi’s prospects of moving up through the minors, as position players that can fill multiple spots on a given day are in vogue today more than ever.

 

“Anything I can do to help my team and keep in the lineup,” Ghelfi said.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WTMJ TV: Get to know Jonathan little brother, David Lucroy

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers’ Erceg had unique journey to pro ball

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

The Q&A feature includes a video interview...

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers’ Burnes blessed with big-time talent

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

The Q&A feature includes a video interview...

[Mass Haas]

Brewers prospect Isan Diaz maturing, flourishing

Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

[Mass Haas]

Link includes video interview

 

Rattlers’ Stokes learning how to use his speed

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/cb5505d52b357b78205e097c0043aec1a5110ab0/c=239-0-3137-2179&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/08/06/Appleton/B9323234483Z.1_20160806212729_000_GHCF8CKCL.1-0.jpg

 

Full Q&A at the link...

[Mass Haas]

LINK includes VIDEO INTERVIEW

 

Harrison thrilled to be back in Rattlers’ lineup

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE - Monte Harrison bobbleheads were given to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans Monday night and the subject had only one complaint.

 

“I didn’t get mine yet,” said Harrison with a laugh. “The first thing my mom asked was, ‘Did you get one for me?’ Hopefully the Timber Rattlers will help me out with that.”

 

His bobbleheads may arrive a little late, but the timing of the night was perfect. The promising 21-year-old outfielder has just returned to the Wisconsin lineup after missing the last two months with a broken hamate bone in his left hand. He’s looking to finish a frustrating season with some momentum and help the Timber Rattlers with their playoff push.

 

“It definitely feels good to be back,” Harrison said. “Being away from the game hurt a lot. I’m a competitor. At the end of the day, I just want to compete against the best talent and I want to win.”

 

Harrison, a highly regarded second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the June 2014 draft, broke the hand on a swing in a June game against Beloit and underwent surgery to repair the damage. Former Timber Rattler David Denson, who was recently promoted to Brevard County, had the same injury and surgery in 2015.

 

“After it happened, I went up to Denson and said, ‘Yo, I think I just broke my hand,’” Harrison said. “He looked at it and pushed on a certain spot and said, ‘Yeah, it’s broken.’ He told me to not push it, to take it slow and just let it heal.”

 

The injury is becoming increasingly common to hitters.

 

“You’re seeing it more and more today with some of the lighter bats,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “Guys like to curl their pinkie finger around the knob and the knob digs into that part of the hand. If it catches it the right way, you have a fracture.”

 

It’s the second straight season that Harrison has missed a big chunk of the summer with a major injury. He split the 2015 season with Wisconsin and Helena in the Pioneer League, and was sidelined the entire second half with a broken ankle suffered while running the bases for Helena. He hasn’t had much luck the last two years, but Harrison doesn’t have a long track record of injuries and was a highly sought football recruit coming out of Lee’s Summit High School in Missouri.

 

“It’s definitely frustrating because I’ve never been a guy who’s been injured a lot,” said Harrison. “I had never had a significant injury, so it’s been kind of weird. You play football and get hit all the time. Guys get concussions and things like that.”

 

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound Harrison has yet to put it all together in his three pro seasons, but remains a high-ceiling player and a solid prospect. He has blazing speed and has shown power throughout his brief career (12 home runs the past two years), but has struggled at times making contact and hitting for average. Harrison — rated as Milwaukee’s 16th best prospect by MLB Pipeline — is hitting .215 with six homers, 32 RBIs, five stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .349.

 

Erickson says Harrison was just starting to tighten his game prior to the hand injury. Upon his return, Harrison spent a few weeks with the Arizona Brewers in the Arizona Rookie League, readjusting to game speed.

 

“Obviously, he brings some athleticism and more power to the lineup,” Erickson said. “He was playing as good as I’ve ever seen him play a couple weeks before he got hurt. He was playing with a lot of confidence and doing a great job of getting himself in position to get solid contact every at-bat. And he was really taking advantage of his opportunities on the bases, stealing some bags and going first to third on hits.

 

“He was using his physical skills and applying them to the game of baseball, and paying attention to the details. He’s had a few big hits since he came back. The Brewers sent him back here a little earlier than we thought. The plan is to play him a couple games, then give him a day off and kind of let him ease his way back.”

 

Harrison is excited to be back at crunch time, with the Rattlers competing with five teams for the final two playoff spots in the Western Division of the Midwest League.

 

“I just want to finish the year out strong and help the team get to the playoffs and hopefully win a championship,” said Harrison. “This team is very confident right now.”

[Mass Haas]

Lengthy feature via our 50th state on Timber Rattlers LHP Quintin Torres-Costa.