Your 2016 Dominican Summer League Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Time for several Dominican Summer League Brewers updates!

 

First, the DSL schedule has been released. Opening day is Saturday, June 4th.

 

***

 

Here are the final 2015 DSL Brewers statistics.

[Mass Haas]

Now, regarding those final statistics, a few players were released late in the season or after the season.

 

Among those would be LHP Isaac Silva, C Dilson Fernandez, and RHP Yan De La Cruz (those three briefly reviewed here last August).

 

Veteran catcher Sandy Martinez was eligible for and became a free agency in November.

 

***

 

This was posted as of December 14th re: OF Yunior Santana --

 

The Brewers have released 22-year-old OF-turned-RHP Yunior Santana, who struggled to a .495 OPS with the Maryvale Rookie Brewers in 2014. That came after two less than scintillating seasons in the Dominican Summer League.

 

Dominican Summer League Transactions Page

 

For his three-year pro career (as a position player), Santana was successful on 39 of 53 stolen base attempts, including a pretty 16-for-19 effort in Maryvale in 2014, but when the 6'3, 210 lb. Santana was signed in November of 2011 for a $110,000 bonus, power was supposed to be the projectable tool. Baseball America's Ben Badler stated at the time, "raw RH power, athletic, likely a corner OF".

 

So for 2015, Santana was converted to pitcher and returned to the Dominican Summer League, where in his age 21 season, he was now two years older than most of his competition. But that conversion did not go well, as Santana made 12 relief appearances totaling only ten innings, posting a 10.80 ERA, walking 19 while throwing ten wild pitches.

 

It should also be noted that according to a roster provided by the Brewers last spring, Santana was listed at 6'4", 241, for the start of 2015 season.

 

Other members of that international class include OF Carlos Belonis ($550,000), who should reach full-season ball for the first time with the Timber Rattlers in 2015, first baseman Juan Ortiz ($375,000), who has yet to see Helena after four pro seasons but was promising in Maryvale last summer, and the hopeful prize of the group, RHP Miguel Diaz, signed then as a 17-year-old, and now in the Brewers' Pipeline Top 30.

 

***

 

We posted this as part of the Christmas Eve cuts posting --

 

21-year-old Dominican Summer League OF Ariel Estades' release may be a statement about the Brewers' tolerance of indiscretions in the future. That's a fine line to walk, because the organization should hold highly-regarded talents to the same standards as more fringe farmhands. Estatdes was suspended 72 games for steroid use in July. Here's what we posted last March when the Brewers gave him a second chance at affiliated life --

 

We know the Brewers scout pretty heavily in Puerto Rico, as noted by the number of draft picks used on that island's players during the Melvin era.

 

Milwaukee has signed a soon-to-be 21-year-old CF who the Royals drafted in the 17th round in 2012, but released this past season (on July 1st, only four games played in 2014).

 

Ariel Estades is a LH bat, listed at only 5'11", 150 on his most recent MiLB.com player page.

 

***

 

From April 13th --

 

Released were:

 

RHP Yomelbin Almonte - Now 23 years old, we introduced Almonte to you in this post last May.

 

INF Henry Correa - Just entering his age 19 season, the LH bat struggled in his two prior teenage DSL campaigns.

 

INF Roosevert Chal turned 22 earlier this week. In limited action over three years, Chal posted a .525 OPS in 179 AB's. Chal (now listed at 5'10", 158) is another in a long line of undersized young Dominican kids the Brewers have hoped would develop over the years, perhaps both physically and on the field. In the future, size on a middle infielder (along with defensive ability) might give us more hope for progression.

 

From Chal's debut season in 2013:

 

Brad Krause told us about new DSL infielder Roosevert Chal Friday night in his Link Report entry which included a unique DSL scouting video peek (no cage, good contact every pitch).

 

[Mass Haas]

OK, on to new news --

 

Three DSL releases just announced:

 

Now a 22-year-old, OF Anderson Jesus posted a .705 OPS last season, his first with the Brewers. Anderson was listed at 6'2, 168, the same as Baseball Reference listed him back when he played for the DSL Rangers in 2011 and 2012. Jesus had been idle (not sure if injury-related) for the prior two seasons.

 

***

 

Catcher Bismar Nunez turned 21 in January. He posted a very solid .766 line in his first pro season last summer.

 

LH hitting OF Adolfo Morillo spent his age 17 season with the Crew last season (.550 OPS).

 

The interesting thing about the fact these two releases were announced together was how they were each acquired, as posted last April and May --

 

In the April 8th version of Matt Eddy's Minor League Transactions over at Baseball America, Matt wrote:

 

New York Yankees

 

Released: RHP Scott Baker, RHP Felix Santiago, C Roybell Herrera, C Bismar Nunez, C Daniel Vavrusa, 3B Juan Lorenzo, SS Melvin Aquino, SS Allison Reyes, OF Hector Asencio, OF Adolfo Morillo, OF Adam Silva

 

Most interesting among the Yankees’ roll of released players are a pair of Dominican amateurs signed last July 2. Outfielder Adolfo Morillo signed for $50,000 (at age 16) and catcher Bismar Nunez signed for $10,000 (at age 19) just nine months ago, but New York released both players on March 31 rather than keep them in extended spring training. Neither played a game for a Yankees affiliate.

 

***

 

We have learned that the Brewers have since jumped in and signed Morillo. Given his prior release, any financial commitment must have been very minimal.

 

Morillo is listed as a LH bat and arm, 6'0", 170 - in one link he was listed as a CF. He'll turn 18 on September 21st, so this summer will be his age 17 season.

 

And no, we don't know why he never dressed for the Yankees.

 

We posted that earlier in this thread, back in April. Now notice another name on that release list, catcher Bismar Nunez, mentioned in Eddy's note above.

 

Like Morillo, we now learn the Brewers have signed the former Yankee signee Nunez, who never played at all for the Yankees organization.

[Mass Haas]

Top portion here originally posted November 26th --

 

As per the Brewers transaction page--

 

We won't learn much more about these international signings until the March media guide comes out, and even then it will be minimal. If these turn out to be higher profile signings, we'll see blurbs this winter from Baseball America and the like, perhaps with some bonus info. Hopefully one of these turns out value like the Orlando Arcia $90,000 signing, or the 2003 signing of Alcides Escobar ($33,000).

 

Edwin Sano, a switch-hitting 5'9" 160 lb. shortstop out of La Romana, Dominican Republic, turns 17 on December 12th

 

Henry Medina, 18 years old (9/5/1997), 6'0", 175 RHP from Barcelona, Venezuela

 

Good luck on the Google searches, but we can assuredly believe each will debut for the Dominican Summer League Brewers next spring.

 

And when one (or all) makes their big league debut, we'll point to this post to mark the remembrance.

 

From the overnight twitterverse December 1st --

 

LHP Luis Cordero already w/Brewers. Infinite thanks to God for another chance one of our players and scouts Alcides Melendez, Fernando Veracierto and Manny Batista to believe in our players.

 

The Brewers don't have a Venezuelan academy nor field a Venezuelan Summer League team (all the kids go to the Dominican complex), but they have a strong scouting presence there, and in recent seasons, several of the higher-end Latin talents in the system hail from Venezuela, so signings like this are always welcome news. Similar to the other signings listed above, we'll wait on the media guide and/or prospect blurbs from Baseball America if warranted.

 

As for the Brewers' search beyond the Dominican, let's remember that RHP Carlos Luna, who earned Dominican Summer League All-Star MVP (and season-long All-Star honors) was signed out of Panama in July 2013 and broke out in his second pro season.

 

NOTE: The Venezuelan Summer League no longer exists, not enough teams wished to maintain full complexes given the tenuous nature of the government there.

 

***

 

Those signings didn't make it into the media guide, as the Brewers explained to me, because the age verification and other paperwork was still being vetted this spring. But now those three players have their new MiLB.com roster pages.

 

One signing we had might have fallen through:

 

Harold Chirino, 17 years old (1/12/1998) from Pueblo Nuevo, Venezuela; no details on height, weight, listed as a RHP

[Mass Haas]

Here's a re-post about two other players that were reported on this offseason, but again, didn't make it into the media guide. Each of these players now is listed on their own MiLB.com player page.

 

***

 

Once again, we have little more than a name to go on, but apparently the Brewers have signed Dominican catcher Luis Avalo to a contract (Twitter).

 

Guessing that Avalo is the young man with the catching gear on in this photo, but that's not a guarantee.

 

The signing occurred early enough, we believe, that there should be some tidbits in the upcoming media guide. He'll be a name to look for when the Dominican Summer League begins play.

 

And with any luck, we'll look back on this post when Avalo is your 2021 Opening Day starter behind the plate, after a blistering minor league career.

 

We now learn that Avalo was an $80,000 signing.

 

***

 

OK Brewers, keep stocking 2016's Dominican Summer League team.

 

Another signing, the latest a 6'2" LH-hitting Dominican outfielder with the awesome name of "Yorki Franco", as per the January 12th transactions on the Brewers' site.

 

This tweet provides a sweet picture --

 

[Mass Haas]

Here's the March 7th post --

 

The Brewers announce two more signings -- unlike some of the prior signings in the link above where we may have gleaned a photo or an agency announcement, there doesn't appear to be anything on the interwebs related to these two players. We'll learn only as their statistics are built up this summer.

 

RHP Johan Dominguez, 6' 4"/190, recently turned 20 (1/18/1996); Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

 

RHP Daniel Acosta, 6' 1"/185, soon to turn 19 (2/27/1997); Bonao, Dominican Republic

 

Now remember, along with the eight signed this fall and winter, the Brewers announced seven signings last summer --

 

SS Luis Avila, Venezuela

 

RF Bryan Connell, Panama

 

SS Aaron Familia, Dominican Republic

 

CF Jesus Lujano, Venezuela

 

SS Luis Manon, Dominican Republic

 

C Moises Perez, Venezuela

 

C Jose Sibrian, Venezuela

 

Sibrian netted an invite to Fall Instructional League as he was the No. 29 international prospect for July 2. His bonus was $550,000. Lujano's bonus was $450,000.

 

So there should be at least 15 new players on the DSL squad this summer, perhaps Sibrian will begin in Maryvale.

 

We did find some video and photos on these players last summer and linked to them in four posts beginning here.

 

Add yet another -- 22-year-old 6'3", 190 lb. Dominican RHP Miguel Sanchez, as per the Brewers.

 

Turned 22 on New Years' Eve, decidedly late to be making a pro debut -- if he does debut in the Dominican Summer League as expected, he'll be about three years older than the average teammate and/or competitor.

 

It's going to be huge year of turnover on the DSL squad -- latest signing just announced:

 

Dominican RHP Jenri Montas, 19 years old, 6'3", 200

 

That means a minimum of 17 Latin players will debut in 2016.

[Mass Haas]

We'll get a note into the Brewers, shouldn't be too much to worry about, but it's unusual that player pages were created for many new players, but not the three in red above, SS Luis Avila, and the two higher-end bonus signings, Sibrian and Lujano.

 

Avila was in the media guide, Sibrian and Lujano were not.

[Mass Haas]

Players mentioned for the first time and officially in the fold --

 

RHP Freisis Adames

 

OF Jose Pena

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have made official the promotion of four pitchers to Maryvale from the Dominican Summer League --

 

22-year-old RHP Rodrigo Benoit moves up after three DSL seasons, with his most recent being pretty spectacular (2.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, although low K totals).

 

21-year-old RHP Junior Flores has toiled for four seasons in the D.R., and the numbers aren't very pretty, but the Brewers see something that gets him stateside.

 

23-year-old RHP Juan Diaz got a late start to his pro career, all 42 appearances in his two seasons have been out of the pen.

 

22-year-old RHP Nattino Diplan (apparently no relation to the Timber Rattlers' Marcos, based on our prior inquiries) has also posted weak numbers over three DSL seasons, but a promotion given the numbers normally indicates faith in a "big arm".

[Mass Haas]

We realize one of the bigger questions fans may have is regarding the starting spot for catcher Jose Sibrian, mentioned above, and whether he'll begin his career in the Dominican or stateside, considering he took part in fall instructionals in Arizona. No word on that as of yet.

[Mass Haas]

ROSTER: Here is what the Brewers show currently for their DSL squad

[And That]

Three players on that roster were born in 1999... oi vey.

 

On the flip side, Osmel is still not the oldest player on the roster.

 

Surprised that Luna, Nova, Otano, and Feliciano are all still in the DSL.

[FVBrewerFan]

We must remember being ready as a player and being ready as a person are two different things. Moving to the u.s. is a huge step for these guys.

[And That]

While it is true that the players need to have some baseline level of maturity to be considered for the move stateside, talent and performance are still the overiding factors. The Brewers have developed programs to assimilate Latin players into American culture, and with so many Latin players in the Brewers system, there are always people to lean on.

 

Good to see Luna, Nova, and Otano moved stateside after all. Thought Feliciano might go too due to his physical maturity, but apparently not yet.

[Mass Haas]

One signing we had might have fallen through:

 

Harold Chirino, 17 years old (1/12/1998) from Pueblo Nuevo, Venezuela; no details on height, weight, listed as a RHP

 

Chirino is on board, just waiting his MiLB player page, he's 6'2, 173.

[Mass Haas]

From last July 2nd --

 

Brewers Agree To Sign No. 29 International Prospect Jose Sibrian

July 2, 2015 by Ben Badler

 

The Brewers have agreed to sign Venezuelan catcher Jose Sibrian, the No. 29 international prospect for July 2. His bonus will be $550,000.

 

Sibrian, a 16-year-old righthanded hitter, is 6 feet, 175 pounds and hasn’t been catching for long but has already earned praise for his defense and plus arm. He trains with Jose Montero.

 

Baseball America subscribers can access a complete scouting report on Sibrian.

 

We have confirmed that Sibrian will begin his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, he won't be 18 years old until October; it was great to see that the Brewers' top money signing from last summer was in Maryvale for fall instructionals.

[Mass Haas]

Bryan Torres, who was announced as a catcher upon his signing late last July but played all of his six DSL games in the outfield, is expected to be catching in 2016.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Melvin Tejada, a 21-year-old four-year Brewer, who had a good season in the DSL in 2014 but did not see action last summer, will be placed on the restricted list. No details, but normally that's a sign of failure to report, allowing the Brewers to retain his rights.

[Mass Haas]

A new Dominican Summer League Brewers photo gallery has been posted (click this link for the full gallery) from action vs. the Angels' kids earlier this week. Unfortunately, the photos aren't captioned, and although we know uniform numbers, nobody turns their backs for the camera here!? Is that Jose Sibrian (12) or Bryan Connell (32) at bat?

 

Included are these two nice shots for Brewers fans who can dream on these young men --

 

http://www.dominicansummerleague.com/www/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/782016/ILC_5292.JPG

 

http://www.dominicansummerleague.com/www/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/782016/ILC_5290.JPG

[Mass Haas]

From Saturday 8/27's Link Report --

 

The DSL Brewers finish 26-44.

 

See how they compared in league pitching and league batting.

 

As for any individual hopefuls, it seems to be a lean year.

 

Individual Stats

 

First-year RHP Miguel Sanchez, who will be 23 in December, made just two DSL appearances, was bumped to Maryvale, and is now helping Wisconsin in their playoff push.

 

Another first-year pro, RHP Johan Dominguez, faded a bit late, but had a fantastic season (1.05 WHIP). Really like the fact the Brewers are giving chances to slightly older pitchers who may not have debuted earlier for family or other reasons. Not every future big league contributor needs to be signed at 17 and added to the 40-man at 22.

 

The Brewers seemed to do well identifying those who would do well as starters. Including Dominguez, RHP's Joaquin De La Cruz, Harold Chirino, and Henry Medina fared well with nice WHIP's and BB/K ratios, although no Brewer pitcher showed strikeout dominance and innings from LHP's were few and far between. No star like 2015's Carlos Luna (now rehabbing Tommy John).

 

***

 

Offensively, corner OF Jay Feliciano made his way to Maryvale early on, which was expected.

 

Second-year infielder Javier Castillo, just 18 years old, posted a fine .677 OPS.

 

Despite hitting just .226, 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher Moises Perez slugged ten doubles and seven home runs among his 33 hits. He outshined more heralded newcomer Jose Sibrian (.562 OPS in 32 games, who was slowed by various injuries, it seemed).

 

A few others showed some OBP savvy despite anemic batting averages, so there may be something to build on.

 

But otherwise, and please chime in if a particular player or stat stands out to you, it didn't seem to be a particularly fruitful season at the academy on the island.