2016 Minor League Regular Season Transaction Thread

[Mass Haas]

The Sky Sox placed RHP Tim Dillard on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to July 13th.

 

Even after that move and the recall of RHP Corey Knebel, the Sky Sox are carrying 14 pitchers and 11 position players. One of the 14 arms is RHP Zach Davies, set to be recalled shortly.

[Mass Haas]

OF Omar Garcia gets another bump to Biloxi, where he spent three weeks earlier this season.

 

The Shuckers will need to drop a player somehow by Saturday, likely a pitcher, as Garcia's arrival gives the team a 14-12 pitcher-position player mix.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Preston Gainey has completed his Maryvale rehab stint (stress fracture in his back) and has been activated from the disabled list and assigned to Brevard County.

 

His arrival gives the Manatees 14 pitchers on their 25-man roster.

[Mass Haas]

All per this Biloxi press release, which you should review --

 

Mitch Lambson, LHP, transferred to Biloxi from rookie AZL Brewers

Omar Garcia, OF, transferred to Biloxi from A+ Brevard County (reported here earlier)

Brett Lee, LHP, released from Minor League contract

Brandon Woodruff, RHP, placed on temporary inactive list

 

It was just three days ago that Brett Lee was featured for his new sidearm motion while the Shuckers were visiting his hometown of Pensacola.

 

We wish Brett well, the Brewers signed him on May 5th, after his release by the Twins.

[Mass Haas]

37th round SS Jomar Cortes, 1-for-11 (0 BB, five K's) in four Maryvale games, has been promoted to Helena, where the Puerto Rico native will be one of the Pioneer League's youngest players (turns 18 on September 4th).

 

You can view the already-cramped rosters below, not sure if this is a matter of balancing middle infield playing time, but it does seem like a rather random move for the moment.

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

[markedman5]

3B Lucas Erceg, #Brewers 2nd round pick out of Menlo (Calif.), getting promoted to low Class A after hitting .400 at Rookie-level Helena

[And That]

As I mentioned last night, not a fan of having Erceg and Gatewood on the same team. Both need innings defensively at third.

[FVBrewerFan]

Maybe Gatewood gets bumped up to BC soon though?

[And That]

Don't think a Gatewood promotion is warranted at all, but it's a possibility.

[brewmann04]

Well know Lucas deserved a promotion and sure they will find a way to get them in games.

[TheCrew07]

Well know Lucas deserved a promotion and sure they will find a way to get them in games.

 

As the DH, which is irritating.

[JDBrewCrew]

Brewers Player Dev ‏@BrewersPD 6m6 minutes ago

3B Lucas Erceg has been promoted to Wisconsin; IF/OF Sthervin Matos has been released. C Rene Garcia transferred to Biloxi.

[markedman5]

AM

 

Tom Flanagan said Brewers have plan to keep both Erceg & Gatewood in the lineup. Gatewood will move around.

[Mass Haas]

Posted on June 16th --

 

Partly in order to help protect their younger Dominican Summer League arms from overuse, the Brewers have signed three "older" but new arms to their DSL squad, bolstering what was a lean pitching staff, given the usual innings limits.

 

23-year-old Dominican native Francisco Pena has two years under his belt in the Rays system, you'll see his stat lines at the link.

 

24-year-old Luis Benitez is a Puerto Rico native, and was drafted way back in 2010 out of a Georgia high school by Toronto (31st round). Here's a 2012 photo and bio from his time at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (Bradenton , FL). He'll be making his pro debut with the Crew. The Phillies had signed him to a deal in January 2015, but he did not appear in a game for them.

 

25-year-old RHP Alberto Paulino, a native Dominican, was signed to a pro contract in January 2012 by the Diamondbacks but never pitched for them and was released the following winter. He'll be facing batters this summer as much as eight years younger.

 

Earlier we mentioned the subsequent July 12th release of Francisco Pena.

 

Now only Paulino remains, as the Brewers released RHP Luis Benitez Monday after six relief appearances (stats at link).

[Mass Haas]

Catcher Parker Berberet on the Biloxi DL retro to 7/17 to make room for catcher Rene Garcia (down from Colorado Springs).

[Mass Haas]

Two promotions from Maryvale to Helena --

 

Well-deserved bump for RHP Aaron Myers, 22, a non-drafted free agent in 2015 out of Longwood University in Virginia

 

also OF/1B Ryan Aguilar, 21, the 31st round pick LH bat out of the University of Arizona

 

Congrats to each...

[Mass Haas]

Brewers pick up recently-released just-turned 26-year-old "play anywhere" utility man Tom Belza, a LH bat who was drafted out of Oklahoma State by Arizona back in the no-longer-exists 43rd round in 2010.

 

Belza was 0-for-1 (K), later adding an RBI on a bases-loaded walk, entering on a double-shift Wednesday night for Biloxi, playing third base. Familiar with the Southern League, as Belza had been with the D-Backs' Mobile squad as recently as July 9th.

 

The Brewers have really had to fill in at AA - the Manatees were so very young to start the season, with so few distinguishing themselves, that there has not been the opportunity to reward the group at High-A with promotions to match the need.

 

***

 

NOTE: Brewers also announced INF Javier Betancourt landed on the Biloxi DL as of the 18th.

 

From the team's game summary that night:

 

"Javier Betancourt exited Sunday's contest with an apparent leg injury in the top of the first inning. The infielder's hitting streak remains at nine games."

 

***

 

More here on the moves:

 

Shuckers add former BayBear, Belza; Betancourt to 7-day DL

Tom Belza was batting .232 for Mobile this season over 40 games

Biloxi Shuckers

[Mass Haas]

April 2015 Interview --

 

[Mass Haas]

September 2015 --

 

[clancyphile]

Got a bad feeling about Perry's broken hamate. Didn't that derail Brad Nelson?

[Mass Haas]

Via Chris Mehring of the Timber Rattlers --

 

The Brewers have announced a pair of transactions for today. RHP Chase Williams has been placed on the Wisconsin DL retroactive to July 21. LHP Quintin Torres-Costa returns to the Timber Rattlers from Helena (Pioneer League).

 

Hopefully Williams' injury is minor in nature.

 

Torres-Costa certainly has taken advantage of those direct flights between Helena and Appleton, as evidenced by his transaction log, which MiLB.com player pages now include at the bottom of each respective page, an awesome new feature added this year.

[Mass Haas]

From Friday's Link Report --

 

In the DSL game, a new signee made his pro debut --

 

LHP Jose Alberro is an 18-year-old Puerto Rico native, listed at 6'1", 168.

 

He threw three wild pitches in his only inning (escaped allowing only one run).

 

DSL Tigers Bottom of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Jose Alberro replaces Wilfred Salaman.

Gresuan Silverio singles on a line drive to center fielder Jesus Lujano.

Pedro Hurtado grounds out, third baseman Javier Castillo to first baseman Moises Perez. Gresuan Silverio to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Jose Quero replaces Irwin Chirinos.

With Jose Quero batting, wild pitch by Jose Alberro, Gresuan Silverio to 3rd.

Jose Quero walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Luis Laurencio replaces Santiago Vital.

With Luis Laurencio batting, wild pitch by Jose Alberro, Gresuan Silverio scores. Jose Quero to 2nd.

Luis Laurencio called out on strikes.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Jorge Ynirio replaces Mike Torres.

With Jorge Ynirio batting, wild pitch by Jose Alberro, Jose Quero to 3rd.

Jorge Ynirio strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Carlos Luna- Still haven't seen if it's been confirmed or denied he's had TJ. But he dominated DSL last year, and haven't heard his name since- other than a brief mention that he was put on the DL.

 

Earlier today I sent Todd Rosiak a request to ask about Luna in his next session with Tom Flanagan.

 

In March I was told "not Tommy John" (wasn't told if it was even arm-related), and 2-3 month rehab.

 

Todd followed up for us (thanks, Todd!), but the news is not good.

 

***

 

I posted this back in March, and now we can add Adrian Houser to the list. Did we miss anyone in-between Gomez and Houser? We may have if their status was not made public.

 

Of the players listed on the Brewers' camp roster, yet to be listed on a game roster:

 

Injured as noted above (all "Tommy John"):

 

LHP Joan De La Cruz, RHP Victor Diaz, LHP Nathan Kirby, RHP Yosmer Leal, RHP Daniel Missaki, RHP Taylor Williams

 

We can now add another name to the Tommy John list, as RHP Milton Gomez underwent the procedure this week (Friday 3/25).

 

The Brewers had scored very well in "Tommy John avoidance" in recent years. Daniel Missaki's surgery took place on the Mariners' watch, and six others may be par for the MLB course these days, but is still cause for concern.

 

Diaz, if you're a Link Report follower will have noticed, has begun his road back with Maryvale rehab stints.

 

Yes, unfortunately, we need to add RHP Carlos Luna, the 2015 DSL All-Star Game MVP who dazzled all last year, on the Tommy John list. Don't have a surgery date for you, but it was post-April.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Jorge Ortega was placed on the Biloxi DL retroactive to 7/21, as RHP Brandon Woodruff comes off the Temp Inactive List to make the start Sunday.

[FVBrewerFan]

Thanks for tracking down the (bad) news on Luna. Although not that surprising, had a feeling it was TJ.