Brewers International Signings to Debut in 2018

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have 31 players as of this post date (March 25th) who are set to debut in 2018, nearly all will be within the Dominican Summer League, although a few of the higher profile signees may kick off in Maryvale this June. As others sign before the start of the DSL season, we'll add to the thread with additional posts.

 

The players come from seven countries, and the list below if grouped by country, with signing bonus info where known.

 

Hopefully, somewhere within this large group, we'll someday look back on this thread and point to it about a Brewer All-Star, or dare say, a Hall of Famer.

 

Here's hoping...

 

Venezuela:

 

SS Jose Arteaga ($20,000) - Signed 7/1/17, switch-hitter, 5'8", 155, 1/25/01 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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RHP Kleiber Bordones - Signed 10/2/17, 6'3", 175, 10/12/00 (17 as of the start of the DSL season), 2016 photo below

 

 

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SS Daniel Castillo ($140,000) - Signed 7/2/17, switch-hitter, 5'11, 150, 1/25/01 (17 as of the start of the DSL season, same birthday as fellow shortstop Jose Arteaga above)

 

Instagram photos

 

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C Jesus Chirinos - Signed 7/30/17, RH bat, 6'0", 165, 7/27/01 (16 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

We knew of Chirinos' signing earlier, but now we learn he is a catcher. Read about his unique connection to a past Brewer farmhand.

 

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RHP Leoner Colina ($15,000) - Signed 7/4/17, 5'11', 165, 10/1/00 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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OF Oswal Leones - Signed 10/2/17, B/T: L/R, 6'0', 165, 10/6/00 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

Here is Leones as a 13-year-old receiving a mini HR derby trophy from Omar Vizquel -

 

 

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C Andres Melendez ($325,000) - Signed 7/2/17, RH bat, 5'10", 150, 5/21/2001 (will have just turned 17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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OF Carlos Rodriguez ($1,355,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T L/L, 5'10", 150, 12/07/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

BrewCrewBall discussed the signing at the time.

 

Brief video via Baseball America

 

 

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RHP Moises Ruiz - Signed 10/15/17, 6'2', 170, 3/10/98 (20 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

How's your Spanish?

 

 

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SS Luis Silva - Signed 7/8/17, RH bat, 6'0, 178, 7/6/01 (16 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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C Luis Valderrama ($10,000) - Signed 7/2/17, RH bat, 5'10", 150, 10/11/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

Valderrama is pictured on the left here. To the right is LHP Davison Gonzalez, who made his Brewers pro debut in 2017.

 

[Mass Haas]

Dominican Republic:

 

OF Francis Casado ($300,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T R/R, 5'11", 170, 10/30/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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OF Jeicor Cristian ($340,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T L/L, 6'3", 175, 5/31/2001 (will have just turned 17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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OF Larry Ernesto ($1,700,000) - Signed 7/2/17, Switch-hitter, throws right, 6'2", 175, 9/12/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

BrewCrewBall discussed the signing at the time.

 

 

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SS Alberis Ferrer ($60,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T R/R, 6'1", 150, 12/17/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

NOTE: Some initial reports listed Ferrer's last name as "Perez".

 

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OF Juan Frias ($50,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T R/R, 6'0", 175, 11/7/2000 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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SS Francis Gonzalez - Signed 10/4/17, Switch-hitter, 6'1", 174, 3/9/2000 (18 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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C Farlyn Manon - Signed 7/17/17, RH bat, 5'9", 178, 10/22/1996 (21 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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RHP Claudio Mota - Signed 2/6/18, 6'3", 194, 7/19/1997 (20 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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RHP Alexis Ramirez - Signed 2/3/18, 6'2", 170, 7/20/1999 (18 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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RHP Dantel Ramirez - Signed 11/14/17, 6'0", 170, 1/7/1999 (19 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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RHP Cristian Sierra - Signed 7/2/17, 6'3", 180, 4/1/1998 (20 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

Brewers minor leaguer suspended 72 games for PEDs

 

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LHP Joandris Tolntino - Signed 2/3/18, 6'1", 201, 11/21/1999 (18 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

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OF Alwinson Valdez ($80,000) - Signed 7/2/17, B/T R/R, 6'3", 175, 4/1/2001 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

[Mass Haas]

Mexico:

 

RHP Victor Castaneda - Signed 7/4/17, 6'0", 178, 8/27/1998 (19 as of the start of the 2018 season)

 

Technically, Castaneda was signed as a minor league free agent, not an international free agent, as he was pitching as an 18-year-old last summer in the Mexican Summer League (nine games, four starts, as linked above).

 

The Mexican League is considered between AA and AAA by many, and Castaneda, to me, is one of the most interesting farmhands to follow entering 2018.

 

 

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RHP Santiago Elizondo - Signed 8/16/17, 5'9", 142, 10/25/1999 (18 as of the start of the 2018 season)

 

 

 

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[Mass Haas]

Australia:

 

C Alex Hall - Signed 12/6/17, Switch-hitter, 5'11", 181, 6/8/1999 (will have just turned 19 as of the start of the AZL season)

 

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Infielder Jess Williams - Signed 12/7/17, B/T: L/R, 5'8", 145, 5/31/1999 (will have just turned 19 as of the start of the AZL season)

 

Both Aussie youngsters were followed closely within our 2017-2018 Winter League Thread, and their season-long numbers within the Australian Summer League can be found at their linked names above.

 

Perth Heat duo Jess Williams, Alex Hall sign MLB deals with the Milwaukee Brewers

 

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Bahamas:

 

SS Orveo Saint - Signed 3/2/18, 6'2", 190, 11/10/1999 (18 as of the start of the AZL season)

 

Briefly discussed in a recent transaction thread post

 

Twitter account

 

[Mass Haas]

Panama:

 

RHP Ariel Vega - Signed 11/7/17, 6'2", 190, 4/4/2001 (17 as of the start of the DSL season)

[Mass Haas]

Brazil:

 

OF Vitor Watanabe ($200,000) - B/T: L/R, Signed 7/7/17, 5'7", 155, 4/21/2001 (will have just turned 17 as of the start of the DSL season)

 

http://www.theplayoffs.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/vitor-watanabe-mlb-768x576.jpg

 

[82brewcrew82]

So I assume that the co-op team they had last year will be a Brewer team this year. Either that or are we going to see a a lot of guys coming state side and/or a lot of guys getting released? Maybe a third team? Just trying to figure out where all these guys are going to play.

[And That]

I currently count 50 players projected to start the season in the DSL. That's probably enough for two full clubs with another 5-10 tryout signings prior to the start of the DSL season. It's also not too many to not have another shared club in 2018. They could go either way with it.

[82brewcrew82]

If the player index page at all correct I count 73 players listed as DSL players. I know a few are probably stateside but good grief that is a lot of players that need playing time.

[And That]

Haven't looked at the player index page recently but there are currently 56 players officially rostered either with the DSL or DSL2 (co-op) club. Of those 56, one is injured and will miss most to all of the 2018 season (Luis Cordero). Other players may have undisclosed injuries. There are 6-10 players that have at least a decent shot at moving stateside summer of this season. They include Freisis Adames, Luis Avila, Bryan Connell, Johan Dominguez, Francis Florentino, Yorki Franco, Jose Parra, Maiker Pinto, Edwin Sano, and Bryan Torres.

 

There will also be some releases.

 

So it seems like there are a lot of players, but really there's not a huge roster crunch at the moment, assuming the second DSL club remains in play.

[Mass Haas]

From @BrewersPD --

 

"We will have one DSL team and another co-op team with the Indians. Same as last season."

[Mass Haas]

Latest signing turns 17 on July 5th -- Dominican OF Jhonny David (Video takes over for slide show at 1:15 minute mark)

 

David was 15 at the time of the video shoot

 

 

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2015 Tweet from the Academy

 

Baseballs used at the academy of Astin Jacobo in San Pedro de Macoris in Dominican Republic. #BaseballIsLove

 

 

[liveforoctober]

Is the above picture of baseballs to show us how badly baseballs get battered around while playing or how poor the equipment is that these kids use?

[And That]

Is the above picture of baseballs to show us how badly baseballs get battered around while playing or how poor the equipment is that these kids use?

Yes.

[Mass Haas]

Believe we're up to 37 debuting professionals in 2018, Brewers sign two more, we won't be sure of country of origin or vitals until MiLB.com Player Pages are created:

 

RHP Jhoan Cruz, turns 18 on May 31st

 

RHP Leony Rosario, not 18 until October 21st

[And That]

Both assigned to the DSL roster, which for the time being has 38 players. That's including the 12 guys who signed "future" contracts last year, all of who will need to be activated prior to the first game of the DSL season, which is June 2nd. DSL roster limit is 35.

 

So we'll see at least 3 cuts/transfers/DL moves off of the roster in the next few weeks.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Alis Atagua turned 17 last March.

 

He is set to be international debuting Brewer #38 in 2018.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Jhoan Cruz, turns 18 on May 31st

 

We learn that Cruz is a Dominican native, listed at 5'9", 147.

 

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RHP Alis Atagua turned 17 last March.

 

We learn that Atagua is a Venezuela native, 6'1", 160.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Leony Rosario, not 18 until October 21st

 

We learn that Rosario is a Dominican native, listed at 6'1", 198.

[Mass Haas]

Just in time for the season for the latest signee, 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher Eduin Lugo