Farmhand Injury Updates - Who Will and Won't Be Active To Start 2018

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers' 2018 Media Guide -- some injuries reported previously, many were not:

 

RHP Nash Walters (turns 21 this May), missed the 2017 season with a right elbow strain, and had Tommy John surgery September 19th. The 2015 3rd round pick out of a Texas high school, had been committed to Texas A&M prior to signing.

 

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RHP Devin Williams is entering his 6th pro year, hard to believe, after being drafted in the 2nd round in 2013. He's coming up on the one-year mark of his Tommy John surgery (3/23/17).

 

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RHP Andrew Vernon's last 2017 Timber Rattlers' appearance was August 6th. The 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery shortly after. We had mentioned this on the forum previously; Vernon was selected in the 2016 28th round out of North Carolina Central.

 

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RHP Matt Smith, 24, 34th round 2016 (Georgetown) missed all of 2017, and underwent Tommy John surgery on June 6th.

 

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LHP Luis Cordero (turns 19 in April), started three games for the co-op DSL Brewers/Indians squad last June, in his second pro season. The Venezuelan native underwent Tommy John surgery August 3rd.

 

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RHP Josh Pennington was shut down with a right shoulder strain last August after a nice run of nine Timber Rattlers starts. Definitely a name we have not seen yet in 2018 but hope to see soon.

 

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Sidewinding 26-year-old RHP Tyler Spurlin missed all of 2017 with a right elbow strain. No report of subsequent surgery. Spurlin represented the Crew in the Arizona Fall League after a strong 2016 campaign. Spurlin was an undrafted free agent when he signed in 2013 out of Rice University. He is yet to be listed in a spring lineup posted by @BrewersPD (Brewers Player Development).

 

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LHP Christian Trent, 25 (24th round, 2015, Univeristy of Mississippi) missed all of 2017 due to a left forearm strain. Like Tyler Spurlin, no note of surgery required, and also has not appeared in early lineup postings yet.

 

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LHP Blake Fox, 24 (2016 10th round, Rice), missed all of 2017, and had rotator cuff surgery on his pitching shoulder on June 6th. Darn.

 

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RHP Bowden Francis, 22 this April, was the Brewers 7th round pick last summer out of Chipola Junior College in Florida. Francis only made four Maryvale appearances in 2017, the last being July 19th, before being shut down with a right elbow strain. Thankfully, Francis has appeared in an early lineup listing.

 

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19-year-old SS Jomar Cortes (37th round of a Puerto Rico high school in 2016) missed all of 2017 after undergoing right shoulder surgery on May 25th.

 

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LHP Jake Drossner (24 this May) missed all but one game of the 2017 season due to shoulder surgery on his throwing arm. Back in January, we linked to an audio interview with Jake.

 

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RHP Preston Gainey is entering his 7th season with the Crew. He missed most of the 2017 season (DL'd on 4/23) with what is listed as facet joint irritation. Google tells us that is "pain at the joint between two vertebrae in your spine. The facet joints are the joints in your spine that make your back flexible and enable you to bend and twist." Gainey had missed time in 2016 recovering from a lower back stress fracture. Hoping for the best short-term and long-term prognosis for the 2012 11th rounder from the Naval Academy.

 

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LHP Nathan Kirby's journey back from Tommy John and an additional elbow procedure has been well-documented recently, including this Adam McCalvy piece on the 2015 competitive balance bonus pick.

 

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Speaking of former competitive balance picks, 22-year-old 6th year pro infielder Tucker Neuhaus was placed on the Wisconsin DL on July 22nd and missed the rest of 2017 with a left knee strain. Neuhaus has been posted in early spring game lineups.

 

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RHP Jon Olczak, 24 (21st round, 2015, N.C. State) made three August rehab appearances in Maryvale. He had been sidelined as of June 1st with a right lat strain. Olczak has been listed in early lineups.

 

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20-year-old 2014 bonus baby Gilbert Lara broke his right ankle shortly after his demotion to Helena last July. The infielder is another who has been seen listed in early camp lineups.

 

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Catcher Carlos Leal, now 26, has missed each of the last two seasons due to 2016 right shoulder surgery and subsequent complications. Hopefully we see Carlos in 2018.

 

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Venezuelan RHP Yosmer Leal, 22, has missed the last three seasons, having pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2013 and 2014. Leal initially underwent Tommy John surgery 5/28/15, then had it a second time last June 6th. Leal may be looking at a 4th lost season, although we may see him late in 2018, given the timing.

 

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RHP Jorge Ortega missed the 2017 regular season after August 2016 Tommy John surgery. However, you may remember Ortega made six appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Ortega qualified for minor league free agency, but instead signed a two-year minor league extension contract last October, thus he remains Brewers property for both 2018 and 2019.

 

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20-year-old LHP Blake Lillis (25th round, 2016) missed all of 2017 with "ulnar neuritis" - an inflammation of the ulnar nerve as it passes on the inside of the elbow down to the forearm and hand. Lillis is a welcome sight in early lineup postings.

 

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RHP Carlos Luna underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and missed both that season and the 2017 campaign. The promising Panamanian (check out his 2015 numbers) tweeted in February that he's "good to go".

 

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6'6" LHP Cam Roegner, 24 (22nd round out of Bradley, 2016) saw his 2017 season end as of August 4th with a left elbow strain. Fortunately, crisis averted, he's been listed in early camp lineups.

 

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RHP Daniel Missaki has yet to officially make his Brewers regular season debut after being acquired along with fellow RHP's Freddy Peralta and Carlos Herrera in the Adam Lind deal with Seattle. On his way back from consecutive Tommy John surgeries, Missaki took the mound today (3/20/18) and did well .

 

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19-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jose Sibrian missed all of 2017 after back surgery. Sibrian ($550,000 bonus) has been listed in early camp lineups.

 

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Another young catcher, Puerto Rico native Johan Mojica went on the DL last July after suffering a left hamate (hand) fracture.

 

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Infielder Julio Mendez remains on the mend in Venezuela following a life-threatening cardiac incident after an HBP in Maryvale late last August. That entire episode was covered as best we could respectfully do so in this thread, and we all hope for a full lifestyle recovery for Julio. Mendez was not listed in the latest media guide but we believe is still technically with the organization.

 

***

 

Those are the injury updates for players who headed into the offseason having either missed 2017 altogether or having had their seasons end prematurely. Injuries for players who missed time in 2017 but finished the seasons "healthy" are not listed here but are detailed in the Brewers' media guide.

[clancyphile]

Ortega is a prospect I liked a lot prior to the injury. Hope he bounces back...

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers' 2018 Media Guide -- some injuries reported previously, many were not:

 

RHP Josh Pennington was shut down with a right shoulder strain last August after a nice run of nine Timber Rattlers starts. Definitely a name we have not seen yet in 2018 but hope to see soon.

 

Adam McCalvy --

 

The 2016 trade that sent Tyler Thornburg to the Red Sox for Travis Shaw plus prospects has already been a boon for the Brewers. Josh Pennington is hoping 2018 is the year it gets even better.

 

Pennington, 22, the lone pitcher among the four players sent to Milwaukee in the teams' Winter Meetings swap, is throwing bullpens in Minor League camp after being limited to 10 starts last season by early-season surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow and a late-season shoulder strain. The rehab was nothing new; the hard-throwing right-hander also missed significant time in 2014-15 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

 

"It's been a struggle because I want to be out there," Pennington said. "You don't come into the game thinking, 'I'm going to be rehabbing.' You want to show the organization you can move through levels.

 

"We'll see where I am at the end of Spring Training, but the way I feel right now, there's no reason that I should be missing a terrible amount of time. I'm hoping to get out of here as soon as possible."

 

Pennington logged a 2.97 ERA in 30 1/3 innings over nine starts for Class A Wisconsin last season, so he should be a candidate to see Class A Advanced Carolina this season.

[Mass Haas]

Also from McCalvy --

 

Right-hander Daniel Missaki, one of the then-teenage pitchers acquired in the Adam Lind trade, worked a 1-2-3 inning against a Mariners Class A team on Thursday, his second outing this spring. Missaki, who is trying to come back from two Tommy John surgeries, hasn't pitched a pro inning since 2015.

[Lathund]

Is Mario Feliciano injured? Haven't seen his name in the ST lineups so far (I believe the only Feliciano I've seen there is Jay).

[brewmann04]

great news on Missaki

[Mass Haas]

On March 20th, the initial post in this thread was compiled to summarize the injury status of players who were injured at or near the end of the 2017 season, based on info provided by the Brewers.

 

The list below is those players from that initial list who we have confirmed will begin the 2018 season on medical rehab. We don't have access to "new" injury information, but all listed should be rehabbing the injury posted. Based on the seriousness of some of the injuries/surgeries, most of these names should not surprise:

 

RHP Nash Walters (turns 21 this May), missed the 2017 season with a right elbow strain, and had Tommy John surgery September 19th. The 2015 3rd round pick out of a Texas high school, had been committed to Texas A&M prior to signing.

 

***

 

RHP Devin Williams is entering his 6th pro year, hard to believe, after being drafted in the 2nd round in 2013. He's coming up on the one-year mark of his Tommy John surgery (3/23/17).

 

***

 

RHP Andrew Vernon's last 2017 Timber Rattlers' appearance was August 6th. The 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery shortly after. We had mentioned this on the forum previously; Vernon was selected in the 2016 28th round out of North Carolina Central.

 

***

 

RHP Matt Smith, 24, 34th round 2016 (Georgetown) missed all of 2017, and underwent Tommy John surgery on June 6th.

 

***

 

LHP Luis Cordero (turns 19 in April), started three games for the co-op DSL Brewers/Indians squad last June, in his second pro season. The Venezuelan native underwent Tommy John surgery August 3rd.

 

***

 

RHP Josh Pennington was shut down with a right shoulder strain last August after a nice run of nine Timber Rattlers starts. Definitely a name we have not seen yet in 2018 but hope to see soon.

 

***

 

Sidewinding 26-year-old RHP Tyler Spurlin missed all of 2017 with a right elbow strain. No report of subsequent surgery. Spurlin represented the Crew in the Arizona Fall League after a strong 2016 campaign. Spurlin was an undrafted free agent when he signed in 2013 out of Rice University. He is yet to be listed in a spring lineup posted by @BrewersPD (Brewers Player Development).

 

***

 

LHP Christian Trent, 25 (24th round, 2015, Univeristy of Mississippi) missed all of 2017 due to a left forearm strain. Like Tyler Spurlin, no note of surgery required, and also has not appeared in early lineup postings yet.

 

***

 

LHP Blake Fox, 24 (2016 10th round, Rice), missed all of 2017, and had rotator cuff surgery on his pitching shoulder on June 6th. Darn.

 

***

 

LHP Jake Drossner (24 this May) missed all but one game of the 2017 season due to shoulder surgery on his throwing arm. Back in January, we linked to an audio interview with Jake.

 

***

 

RHP Preston Gainey is entering his 7th season with the Crew. He missed most of the 2017 season (DL'd on 4/23) with what is listed as facet joint irritation. Google tells us that is "pain at the joint between two vertebrae in your spine. The facet joints are the joints in your spine that make your back flexible and enable you to bend and twist." Gainey had missed time in 2016 recovering from a lower back stress fracture. Hoping for the best short-term and long-term prognosis for the 2012 11th rounder from the Naval Academy.

 

***

 

Catcher Carlos Leal, now 26, has missed each of the last two seasons due to 2016 right shoulder surgery and subsequent complications. Hopefully we see Carlos in 2018.

 

***

 

Venezuelan RHP Yosmer Leal, 22, has missed the last three seasons, having pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2013 and 2014. Leal initially underwent Tommy John surgery 5/28/15, then had it a second time last June 6th. Leal may be looking at a 4th lost season, although we may see him late in 2018, given the timing.

 

***

 

RHP Jorge Ortega missed the 2017 regular season after August 2016 Tommy John surgery. However, you may remember Ortega made six appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Ortega qualified for minor league free agency, but instead signed a two-year minor league extension contract last October, thus he remains Brewers property for both 2018 and 2019.

 

***

 

RHP Carlos Luna underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and missed both that season and the 2017 campaign. The promising Panamanian (check out his 2015 numbers) tweeted in February that he's "good to go".

 

***

 

Infielder Julio Mendez remains on the mend in Venezuela following a life-threatening cardiac incident after an HBP in Maryvale late last August. That entire episode was covered as best we could respectfully do so in this thread, and we all hope for a full lifestyle recovery for Julio. Mendez was not listed in the latest media guide but we believe is still technically with the organization.

[Mass Haas]

But there's good news, because there are several players from that initial list who are cleared from rehab and have received Opening Day assignments.

 

Because these assignments are only "98% official overall" -- until the young men get on planes from Maryvale later on Sunday, all assignments are technically unofficial. And as we have seen in the past, the Brewers will likely make liberal use of the "Helena taxi squad" during the regular season, allowing affiliates to have a 3rd catcher on hand, for instance, so it's possible more than 25 players get off those planes at each affiliate. But we can say with some confidence the assignments listed below are accurate.

 

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RHP Bowden Francis, 22 this April, was the Brewers 7th round pick last summer out of Chipola Junior College in Florida. Francis only made four Maryvale appearances in 2017, the last being July 19th, before being shut down with a right elbow strain. Thankfully, Francis has appeared in an early lineup listing.

 

UPDATE: Look for Francis to be in Wiscosnin, and among the starters / tandem starters.

 

***

 

LHP Nathan Kirby's journey back from Tommy John and an additional elbow procedure has been well-documented recently, including this Adam McCalvy piece on the 2015 competitive balance bonus pick.

 

UPDATE: Look for Kirby to be in Carolina, and among the starters / tandem starters.

 

***

 

Speaking of former competitive balance picks, 22-year-old 6th year pro infielder Tucker Neuhaus was placed on the Wisconsin DL on July 22nd and missed the rest of 2017 with a left knee strain. Neuhaus has been posted in early spring game lineups.

 

UPDATE: It's been a long time coming, but Neuhaus reaches High-A, congrats, Tucker.

 

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RHP Jon Olczak, 24 (21st round, 2015, N.C. State) made three August rehab appearances in Maryvale. He had been sidelined as of June 1st with a right lat strain. Olczak has been listed in early lineups.

 

UPDATE: Look for Olczak in the Carolina bullpen.

 

***

 

20-year-old 2014 bonus baby Gilbert Lara broke his right ankle shortly after his demotion to Helena last July. The infielder is another who has been seen listed in early camp lineups.

 

UPDATE: Lara will be back for another chance with the Timber Rattlers to open 2018.

 

***

 

20-year-old LHP Blake Lillis (25th round, 2016) missed all of 2017 with "ulnar neuritis" - an inflammation of the ulnar nerve as it passes on the inside of the elbow down to the forearm and hand. Lillis is a welcome sight in early lineup postings.

 

UPDATE: No longer officially on rehab, but the young Lillis will await a Maryvale or Helena assignment in June.

 

***

 

6'6" LHP Cam Roegner, 24 (22nd round out of Bradley, 2016) saw his 2017 season end as of August 4th with a left elbow strain. Fortunately, crisis averted, he's been listed in early camp lineups.

 

UPDATE: Look for Roegner to be in Carolina, and among the starters / tandem starters.

 

***

 

RHP Daniel Missaki has yet to officially make his Brewers regular season debut after being acquired along with fellow RHP's Freddy Peralta and Carlos Herrera in the Adam Lind deal with Seattle. On his way back from consecutive Tommy John surgeries, Missaki took the mound today (3/20/18) and did well .

 

UPDATE: No longer officially on rehab, but Missaki will await a Maryvale or Helena assignment in June. It's certainly possible he makes a Wisconsin appearance before then, but not to start the season.

 

***

 

19-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jose Sibrian missed all of 2017 after back surgery. Sibrian ($550,000 bonus) has been listed in early camp lineups.

 

UPDATE: No longer officially on rehab, but Sibrian will await a Maryvale or Helena assignment in June.

 

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Another young catcher, Puerto Rico native Johan Mojica went on the DL last July after suffering a left hamate (hand) fracture.

 

UPDATE: No longer officially on rehab, but like Jose Sibrian, Mojica will await a Maryvale or Helena assignment in June.

[Mass Haas]

Unfortunately, several additional players will open 2018 on medical rehab or are simply sidelined with injuries that were not listed in the media guide

 

It's important to note, that except in the case of RHP Aaron Wilkerson(see Adam McCalvy's update here), there is no news at all as to the nature or severity of any injuries.

 

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Dominican Summer League catcher Luis Avalo

 

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2017 Helena LHP Cody Beckman, who was a surprise (and impressive) presence in a couple of big league camp games this spring

 

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IF Javier Betancourt - Betancourt's shooting in Venezuela was documented back in November

 

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RHP Phil Bickford - sorry folks, no new info on the 2015 San Francisco first round pick. Figure this is unrelated to his May 2017 broken hand, one would imagine

 

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IF/OF Kenny Corey -- The 2017 36th round pick saw action at five positions in rookie ball last summer

 

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Dominican Summer League infielder Aaron Familia - Familia was going to have a Maryvale/Helena target anyway, so hopefully he's ready to go in June

 

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Catcher Mario Feliciano The prized 2017 Timber Rattler will be sidelined to open 2018 (as noted above, unknown injury status)

 

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Catcher Mitch Ghelfi

 

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IF Devin Hairston - The 6th round pick from last summer had a walk-off sacrifice fly in a late-spring game for the big league Brewers

 

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RHP Cody Martin -- last summer's 27th round pick out of the University of Tampa

 

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Dominican Summer League RHP Jeison Medina

 

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LHP Drake Owenby -- Owenby was sidelined with left shoulder inflammation with the Timber Rattlers as of July 14th last summer. He was mistakenly not included in the initial post of this thread.

 

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SS Antonio Pinero -- As with all these players, hopefully a minor issue. There was a chance Pinero's 2018 debut was going to be in June regardless.

 

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Catcher Nate Rodriguez, another 2017 Timber Rattler

 

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RHP Jayson Rose -- The 2017 8th rounder out of Utah certainly would have been above rookie ball if good to go

 

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Dominican Summer League OF Luis Valdez -- Once whatever rehab is complete, almost assuredly heading back to the D.R.

 

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OF Je'Von Ward -- Promising 18-year-old 2017 12th rounder out of a California high school

 

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NOTE: In the cases of Feliciano, Corey, and Pinero, it's not 100% clear they are formally in rehab status, or just getting delayed starts for any other potential factor. Each is in camp, however.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy provided an update on Mario Feliciano --

 

Feliciano will be assigned to Carolina in the coming weeks, but he experienced soreness in his throwing shoulder during Spring Training and needed more time in extended camp. He has resumed throwing, farm director Tom Flanagan said.

[Jenkins5]

Chad McClanahan injuried? Was starting day for Wisconsin in Spring until last week... then wasn’t even on any of the benches. Personally hope it’s injury relate (if not serious) over him just failing to make team. His having to repeat Helena isn’t a great sign for the 11th round bonus baby.

[And That]

To the best of my knowledge, McClanahan is not injured. Kenny Corey and Antonio Pineiro are nursing injuries, though they’re not necessarily missing from the Wisconsin roster because of the injuries.

[DR28]

Where did Jon Perrin get assigned to??

 

I dont see him on any of the rosters.

[FVBrewerFan]

From his Twitter page

 

Under his name: "Oklahoma State alum. Milwaukee Brewers part time seasonal apprentice. Advisor-Satya Investment Management. Future lawyer."

 

He has a lot of posts complaining about MiLB pay, so I'm not sure if the "part time seasonal apprentice" is a poke at MiLB, or if he has retired to become a financial advisor.

 

Very confusing when you add the fact he's not showing up on any roster, and no injury has been reported.

[Outlander]

I hope he doesn't retire, he is up to AA and has a pretty decent shot at making the majors now. The Brewers have to make a decision on him to add him to the 40 man after the season as well. He grinded through the lower minors so it would be unfortunate if he quit when you can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel for him.

[And That]

I'm not sure if the "part time seasonal apprentice" is a poke at MiLB, or if he has retired

It's said that for quite awhile, at least a year. It's a joke, sort of.

[Mass Haas]

Where did Jon Perrin get assigned to??

 

I dont see him on any of the rosters.

 

On the "Helena" roster for unknown reason at this time.