2017 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Soundcloud: "It’s Thursday and time for the weekly Chat with Matt on the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson discusses Trey Supak & Cameron Roegner, the week ahead, and more."

 

Trey Supak turns 21 next week, and he gets an early birthday present by getting a bump to Carolina (no corresponding move, yet, Corbin Burnes fans...)

 

Listen at the link above for the thinking behind the transaction.

 

Thank you, Jason Rogers...

[Jose Cardenal1]

Burnes scheduled to start tonight for Carolina. As Mass hints at, this maybe his last turn in A+ before going to AA.

[Greenleaf1]

AA has quite a lot of starters, I'm curious what they're going to do if they're calling Burnes up.

 

At the same time, A+ has a lot of starters too, so you'd think someone would be moving up to make room for Supak.

 

With all the interesting pitching prospects in our system right now, it's weird that our biggest problem seems to be trying to find innings for all of them. Might be time to start considering moves to the bullpen for them, but I don't think they did that midseason with anyone last year, and especially for young guys it might make more sense to wait until the offseason to spring that change on them.

 

Interesting that Lopez appeared in relief yesterday and stunk it up (0.1 IP, 5 runs allowed I think). Someone on Twitter said they were just skipping a start for him, but wonder if he might go on the DL and Burnes would take his spot? No matter what, the hopes of Lopez turning it around and taking Milwaukee by storm have been put on the back burner given his massive struggles of late.

[Mass Haas]

Posted May 21st --

 

Catcher Andrew Susac, w/only 2 PH at-bats since last start on 5/14, to Sky Sox DL. Garrett Cooper (.960 OPS) active, minimum DL stint (hamstring).

 

Tyler Heineman and Rene Garcia will share catcher duties in the meantime.

 

Following up on my tweet Thursday night, Todd Rosiak provides this update --

 

"C Andrew Susac’s DL stint at Class AAA Colorado Springs is for cluster headaches. Not concussion-related. Being treated and progressing."

[bork]

As someone who suffers from cluster headaches I feel his pain. I get them the same time of year every few days for about a month, then they're gone until next year (episodic). Some people have them all the time (chronic). They are excruciating and not a lot of great treatments (oxygen and some nasty drugs. Regular paid meds don't help). I can see him not being able to play,even with treatment, until his cluster period ends.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers make RHP Corbin Burnes' promotion to AA Biloxi official after another fine performance Friday night.

[TURBO]

As someone who suffers from cluster headaches I feel his pain. I get them the same time of year every few days for about a month, then they're gone until next year (episodic). Some people have them all the time (chronic). They are excruciating and not a lot of great treatments (oxygen and some nasty drugs. Regular paid meds don't help). I can see him not being able to play,even with treatment, until his cluster period ends.

 

Are cluster headaches and migraines different things?

[reillymcshane]

As someone who suffers from cluster headaches I feel his pain. I get them the same time of year every few days for about a month, then they're gone until next year (episodic). Some people have them all the time (chronic). They are excruciating and not a lot of great treatments (oxygen and some nasty drugs. Regular paid meds don't help). I can see him not being able to play,even with treatment, until his cluster period ends.

 

Are cluster headaches and migraines different things?

Yes, they are different, even if they have many similar symptoms. Ultimately, they both suck.

 

I have had migraines throughout my life, but I've known cluster headache sufferers.

 

Cluster headache sufferers - from what I understand - often endure a series of really painful headaches - as noted, that can last days or even weeks.

 

Migraine sufferers have the headaches, but also get disoriented, have blurred vision, nausea, and a variety of other symptoms. Migraines are more common - and the severity is really all over the board.

 

Both often get lumped together - and its understandable as they share a lot of the same symptoms.

[Mass Haas]

Well, the Brewers have seen enough of 19-year-old Gilbert Lara in a Timber Rattlers uniform, at least for now, and they've sent him back to extended spring training in Maryvale, technically on the Helena paper roster. Helena opens its season on June 19th, we'll see if Lara is in the lineup there on that date.

 

As you can see at the link above, it's been an absolute mess of a go from an offensive perspective in 2017 for Lara. Overmatched to the point of a .435 OPS (.154/.187/.248 line), with 45 K's in 117 AB's. He did run into three pitches for home runs.

 

Despite nine errors in 29 games at short (none in five games at third base), defensive reports have been generally positive.

 

Before folks panic too much about the $3 million Lara signing, remember the struggles of both Jake Gatewood and Monte Harrison in their initial full-season Timber Rattlers campaigns, and the progress and maturity each of those young men has attained in the season and a half since. At the same time, Lara is undoubtedly, more than ever, a work in progress.

 

In fact, unless Lara had surprised and absolutely shined this spring, perhaps this was the plan all along, to transition Lara back to Arizona a couple of weeks prior to the Pioneer League season, again, similar to what happened to Gatewood and Harrison.

 

Taking his place on the Wisconsin roster is 23-year-old infielder Trey York, the Crew's 9th round pick in 2016 out of East Tennessee State, up from extended spring training.

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi Press Release -- all text via Chris Harris

 

KODAK, TN – The Milwaukee Brewers announced the following roster moves prior to this afternoon’s series finale at Tennessee:

 

• OF Michael Choice reinstated from the 7-day DL

• INF Wendell Rijo transferred to the Rookie Helena roster

 

Choice, 27, was placed on the 7-day DL on May 11 with a hamstring strain and was batting .240 with two doubles and three RBI in six games since being signed by the Brewers on May 5. Choice began the 2017 season with the Baltimore Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides where he played 10 games collecting a .038 batting average and two RBI. The former first round pick (10th overall) of the Oakland A’s has amassed a .271 average over eight professional seasons in the minors with 95 home runs and 394 RBI.

 

Choice was named Oakland’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2013 by Baseball America and was also a Pacific Coast League All-Star with Sacramento. Choice ranked among PCL leaders in RBI (T-2nd, 89), hits (4th, 154), runs (T-4th, 90), at bats (7th, 510), and total bases (T-7th, 227). He also placed second among all A's minor leaguers in runs and hits and ranked third in average (.302). Choice played in the Triple-A All-Star Game in 2013 and was listed as the A's' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America entering the season.

 

Choice has his contract purchased by the A's on September 1, 2013, appearing in nine games the rest of the season, registering his first MLB hit on September 3 vs. Texas, a single off Martin Perez. After the season, Choice was acquired by Texas from Oakland, along with IF Chris Bostick, in exchange for OF Craig Gentry and RHP Josh Lindblom. The 27-year-old outfielder spent 2016 in the Indians organization, batting .246 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI in 71 games for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

 

Rijo, 21, has appeared in five games for the Shuckers batting .143 with a run scored. Rijo appeared in 15 games for the Carolina Mudcats earlier this season, batting .238 (10x42) with five doubles, four RBI, and three stolen bases. Rijo was acquired from Boston, along with Aaron Wilkerson, in exchange for Aaron Hill on July 7, 2015. The La Romana, DR native began the 2016 season with Double-A Portland and transferred to Class-A Salem on June 20. Over 50 games with Brevard County after the trade Rijo batted .202 with one home run, 15 RBI, and six stolen bases. The Red Sox originally signed the 21-year-old as a minor league free agent on July 6, 2012.

[Mass Haas]

Re: Lara

 

Initial post was based on MiLB's transaction pages. While on Helena roster, still possible for Lara to remain with the Rattlers. Looks like Adam McCalvy is following up with an update later this afternoon, so we will await a more official note from him.

[Mass Haas]

Dan Acheson's excellent Colorado Springs pre-game media notes, which we link to each day in the Link Report, told us Sunday AM about Saturday's suspended game --

 

Hiram Burgos then climbed the hill and gave up a leadoff single, tried to pick the man off of first and came up lame with a leg injury…

 

It was just the day before when Dan wrote this --

 

Burgos is in 9th season in professional baseball, all of which have been in the Milwaukee system. Last season he notched 10 wins, which marked the first time a Sky Sox pitcher got to double digit wins since Alan Johnson won 10 in 2010. He was also proficient at picking runners off of first base, nabbing 13…13!

 

Impressive for a right-handed pitcher.

 

Now we learn Burgos' injury lands him on the Sky Sox DL, and Tim Dillard returns from the Helena paper roster/taxi squad to fill the roster spot.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Sky Sox, we learn:

 

RHP Taylor Jungmann transferred from Double-A Biloxi

 

LHP Andy Oliver placed on the disabled list (retro 5/25)

 

We'll see how Jungmann's ERA (and psyche) make out.

[Mass Haas]

To backfill RHP Trey Supak's promotion to Carolina, RHP Jordan Desguin was activated off the Wisconsin DL after the minimum 7-day stay.

[Mass Haas]

Originally posted April 21st --

 

Brewers have signed 26-year-old LH reliever Chris Nunn, a Padres farmhand in the 2012-2015 seasons.

 

His own tweet announces the news.

 

All 176 of the southpaw's pro appearances have been out of the pen.

 

From a spring 2016 report just prior to his San Diego release --

 

"Chris Nunn continues to demonstrate he has the stuff to be a fantastic pen option. The long-armed lefty, who comes from a high three-quarters slot, works easily in the mid-90s and his movement makes him a tough match-up."

 

Nunn, a Tennessee native, was drafted in the 24th round in 2012 out of Lipscomb University.

 

Nunn did not pitch in 2016, but he tweeted the following last September --

 

"Hey guys. I have fractured my face and will likely be having surgery tonight. Say a quick prayer if you can. Thank you. Love y'all."

 

"Thank you everyone for the prayers and support. The surgery was more involved than expected but I should regain full vision in my right eye. I was told there is a chance I would lose my right eye, so a full recovery is a Godsend. What a wake up call. Counting my blessings."

 

For the time being, Nunn, who briefly reached AA in 2015, has been assigned to extended spring training in Maryvale.

 

Check out the BrewCrewBall tweet link which subsequently leads to VIDEO.

 

May 31st update --

 

Matt Eddy of Baseball America indicates Nunn was released, so he never through an official pitch for the organization.

[Mass Haas]

Carolina Press Release --

 

RHP Scott Grist was activated off the DL and RHP Conor Harber was transferred to the Helena Brewers

 

See link for details...

[Mass Haas]

Via the Rattlers' Chris Mehring --

 

RHP Victor Diaz activated from DL

 

RHP Miguel Sanchez placed on DL retroactive to 5/29

[Mass Haas]

Three newly-signed Dominican Summer League players, all inked in late May and from the D.R., click the name for vitals

 

RHP Nestor Batista, turned 20 in April

 

RHP Juan Gomez, turned 20 on May 1st

 

SS Elian Gonzalez, turned 17 in April

 

If you like prototype "size" signings, these are impressive physical young men.

[And That]

Gilbert Lara back to active on the Wisconsin roster already as he's transferred back from Helena. That was a quick break.

 

OF Caleb Whalen placed on Wisconsin's DL.

[NolanBratt]

A few moves today:

 

Jon Olczak placed on the DL.

Conor Harber transferred from Helena to Carolina.

 

 

Colton Cross activated from DL and transferred from Carolina to Wisconsin.

Parker Berberet transferred from Wisconsin to Helena.

[BrewersAA]

Am I really the guy TJ break this!? Brett Phillips called up to the Show, Shaw on paternity leave. Likely a short cup of coffee.

[JDBrewCrew]

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=35332

[And That]

LHP Andy Oliver has been activated from the Sky Sox DL to replace Phillips. Sky Sox now have 14 pitchers and only 11 position players active.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Sky Sox --

 

ADD: C Andrew Susac reinstated from the disabled list

 

DEL: LHP Andy Oliver placed on the temporary inactive list

 

Nice to see Susac apparently has overcome serious cluster headache issues.

[Mass Haas]

At Wisconsin, RHP Aaron Myers goes on the 7-day DL while RHP Miguel Sanchez is activated from that list after a minimum stay.