2019 Minor League Transaction Thread

[And That]

Brewers PD also announces that RHP Austin Rubick has been released. The 20th round pick has struggled with command during his career, including 18 walks in just 5 2/3 IP with Colorado Springs this year.

[JDBrewCrew]

Brewers Player Dev

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@BrewersPD

3h3 hours ago

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Moves:

LHP Daniel Coulombe has been signed to a minor league contract.

 

OF Corey Ray reinstated from the AAA IL & transferred to Biloxi.

 

RHP Griep transferred to Biloxi.

 

OF O'Neill & RHP Nattino Diplan have been released.

[Mass Haas]

At San Antonio:

 

OF Tyrone Taylor's injury-plagued season continues, on the IL retro to 7/9.

 

RHP Jon Olczak on the 7-day IL.

 

***

 

Catcher Robie Rojas back to the Rocky Mountain paper roster. In effect, Rojas resumes his role with Biloxi as taxi squad / bullpen catcher.

 

***

 

19-year-old OF Pablo Abreu, on Wisconsin's IL since his last game on April 12th, is on rehab assignment with Maryvale's "Gold" team.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Danny Coulombe has been signed to a minor league contract, as noted above.

 

Did he ask for his release from the Yankees? 42 K's in 22.2 IP this year. All the career numbers at the link.

 

Having pitched in MLB only for the West Coast Dodgers and A's, has there been a more anonymous 153 career big league appearances in terms of current recognition by Brewer fans?

[Mass Haas]

OF Tyrone Taylor's injury-plagued season continues, on the IL retro to 7/9.

 

Unsure if it's related to the collision with Trent Grisham in the prior San Antonio game last Sunday, but this brief tweet thread shows that video again and updates other potential injury news from that game.

[Mass Haas]

19-year-old RHP Cam Robinson, who was brilliant in his July 2nd outing but otherwise had struggled with Rocky Mountain, was sent to Maryvale Gold, and had a rough appearance in his 2019 Maryvale debut Sunday night.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Mudcats:

 

The Brewers today announced the transfer of LHP Cody Beckman to Rocky Mountain and reinstatement of catcher Nathan Rodriguez from the IL

 

***

 

Certainly nothing to do with Beckman's performance, just his availability based on recent use. As is the case with so many Rocky Mountain paper moves, Beckman continues to stay with the Mudcats.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Jon Olczak actiavated from the 7-day IL as Burch Smith headed to Milwaukee. Convenient, one wonders about the phantomness of the IL stint.

 

At Rocky Mountain, LHP Blake Lillis, with an injury history (missed all of 2017 with ulnar neuritis), was placed on the Vibes' 7-day IL. Lillis had made only one appearance this year, a 4.1 inning start back on June 16th. No word on the nature of this new injury.

 

22-year-old Dominican RHP Daniel Acosta, in his first season stateside after three Dominican Summer League season, has shined in seven short Maryvale relief appearances, and he was rewarded with a flight to Colorado Springs to join the Vibes.

[Mass Haas]

Another indy ball grab, this one with two years of affiliated experience.

 

Cousins Joining Brewers

 

SCHAUMBURG, IL — It is with great pleasure that the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League announce that the Milwaukee Brewers have purchased the contract of right-handed relief pitcher Jake Cousins.

 

Cousins joined the Boomers at the end of May following his release from the minor league system of the Washington Nationals. The West Chicago, Ill. resident, who starred at Wheaton Academy, was instantly slotted into the back end of the Schaumburg bullpen. Cousins sported a 1-2 record with an ERA of 0.47 during his time with the club. The righty allowed just one earned run over 15 outings spanning 19.1 innings. Cousins held opponents to a .174 average while walking three and striking out 18. The first-year Boomer notched 11 scoreless appearances and struck out at least one batter in 11 appearances as well.

 

Cousins was originally chosen in the 20th round of the 2017 draft by the Nationals out of the University of Pennsylvania, spending two years with the Nationals. Cousins was honored three times with all-conference recognition by the Ivy League with a first team choice in 2017, a second team nod in 2015 and an honorable mention selection in 2014.

 

Cousins, who is currently in Arizona awaiting his assignment, is the second player from the Boomers to have his contract purchased this season, joining Landy Rodriguez. Rodriguez joined the Reds earlier this month and owns 14 strikeouts over nine innings of work in a pair of starts for the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League. Other former Boomers active in the affiliated ranks include Garrett Kelly (Cubs), Alec Kenilvort (Brewers) and Tom Colletti (Padres).

[Mass Haas]

Via the Mudcats:

 

The Brewers today announced the transfer of LHP Cody Beckman to Rocky Mountain and reinstatement of catcher Nathan Rodriguez from the IL

 

***

 

Certainly nothing to do with Beckman's performance, just his availability based on recent use. As is the case with so many Rocky Mountain paper moves, Beckman continues to stay with the Mudcats.

 

That was Monday.

 

On Thursday, the Brewers reversed the transactions, Beckman active again, while Rodriguez, one of the four essentially bullpen/emergency catchers across the full-season landscape, goes back to the injured list.

[Mass Haas]

In an odd coincidence, both of the Dominican Summer League rookie RHP's name "Chourio" were placed on the 60-day injured list on the same day Wednesday, ending both of their seasons.

 

Juan Chourio, age 17, made four relief appearances this summer for the co-op w/Indians squad, none lasting longer than an inning, and last pitched on June 13th.

 

Wilkerman Chourio, age 18, made his pro debut and only appearance to date back on June 4th for the full Brewers team. He walked three and allowed a run in his one inning.

 

Both Chourio's were born in the same city in Venezuela - newly-added photos at the links.

[Mass Haas]

Luis Aviles Jr. Activated From IL, Johan Belisario Promoted to Triple-A

Shuckers Make Pair of Roster Moves Prior To Start of BayBears Series

 

***

 

Drew Smyly opts out and Shelby Miller activated at San Antonio.

[Mass Haas]

At Rocky Mountain, LHP Blake Lillis, with an injury history (missed all of 2017 with ulnar neuritis), was placed on the Vibes' 7-day IL. Lillis had made only one appearance this year, a 4.1 inning start back on June 16th. No word on the nature of this new injury.

 

That was on 7/16. Lillis has subsequently been placed on the 60-day DL. Bummer for the still just 21-year-old.

 

***

 

Brewers reach into the independent ranks yet again, RHP Dylan Prohoroff gets his contract purchased from the Windy City Thunderbolts (Crestwood, Illinois) of the Frontier League, as per the league's transactions page.

 

An 8th round pick of the Pirates in 2016 out of Cal-State Fullerton, the now-24-year-old opened his pro career at an aggressive full-season ball placement at low-A West Virginia, where he repeated in 2017, combining for 61 appearances, all in relief.

 

Prohoroff opened 2018 with the same affiliate yet again in 2018, but only made three appearances. He'd spend the balance of the season on the disabled list, haven't determined the cause just yet.

 

Pittsburgh released him in spring training this year, and then Prohoroff latched on to the independent opportunity.

 

Prohoroff has a pending assignment to the Timber Rattlers, it appears.

 

http://www.milb.com/images/669124/generic/180x270/669124.jpg

 

After six relief appearances (8 IP, 1 ER), Prohoroff has been shifted to the Rocky Mountain roster.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Danny Coulombe has been signed to a minor league contract, as noted above.

 

Did he ask for his release from the Yankees? 42 K's in 22.2 IP this year. All the career numbers at the link.

 

Having pitched in MLB only for the West Coast Dodgers and A's, has there been a more anonymous 153 career big league appearances in terms of current recognition by Brewer fans?

 

Formally added to the San Antonio roster on Friday.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Shuckers we learn that:

 

INF Luis Aviles Jr. has been placed on the IL, while C Skyler Ewing has been transferred to Biloxi from San Antonio.

 

***

 

Aviles had been on the IL from 7/8 to 7/18, so this is essentially back-to-back stints, no word on the injury nature or severity.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Shelby Miller to the 7-day DL retroactive to 7/19 at San Antonio.

[And That]

INF Alberis Ferrer and LHP Keiner Alfaro swap DSL clubs, with Ferrer headed to the main club and Alfaro off to the co-op.

 

RHP Johan Belisario made another spot start for the Missions, but has since been shifted back to the Biloxi roster.

 

RHP Aaron Wilkerson and C David Freitas both have been placed on San Antonio's Temp Inactive List.

 

OF Tyrone Taylor was activated off of the Missions' IL (again), and RHP Zack Brown was activated off of the Temp Inactive List.

 

RHP Jacob Barnes was also activated from the Missions' IL, with fellow RHP and probably-not-injured Jon Olczak going on the Missions IL.

[And That]

CF Carlos Rodriguez promoted from the AZL to Rocky Mountain.

[And That]

RHP Robbie Hitt transferred from Wisconsin to Carolina.

 

3B Gabriel Garcia places on the Wisconsin IL.

 

SS Antonio Pinero transferred from Rocky Mountain to Wisconsin.

 

RHP Luis Contreras transferred from the AZL to Wisconsin.

[And That]

RHPs Trey Supak and Devin Williams promoted from Biloxi to San Antonio.

 

RHP Johan Belisario returns to Biloxi from San Antonio and RHP Justin Topa is back with Biloxi after a long stint on the Carolina roster.

[And That]

INF Cam Devanney promoted from the AZL to Rocky Mountain.

 

OF Reidy Mercado promoted from the DSL to the AZL Blue squad.

[Mass Haas]

18-year-old RHP Jian Yi transferred from AZL Brewers Blue to AZL Brewers Gold.

 

***

 

San Antonio RHP Aaron Wilkerson activated from the Temp Inactive List.

[Mass Haas]

18-year-old Venezuelan 2nd-year-pro (first-year stateside) RHP Leoner Colina has been placed on the Maryvale Blue 60-day DL. He last pitched on July 1st and only pitched in two outings this summer. He really limited the earned runs and was trusted with a starting rotation spot (13 starts) in his rookie DSL campaign in 2018 as a 17-year-old.

[Mass Haas]

18-year-old Venezuelan 2nd-year-pro (first-year stateside) RHP Leoner Colina has been placed on the Maryvale Blue 60-day DL. He last pitched on July 1st and only pitched in two outings this summer. He really limited the earned runs and was trusted with a starting rotation spot (13 starts) in his rookie DSL campaign in 2018 as a 17-year-old.

 

Also hitting the 60-day DL is recently-turned 18-year-old corner OF and 2nd year pro Jhonny David. Last week his team assignment was moved from the DSL to Maryvale, but apparently that was due to rehab of some sort. David posted a nice but small sample (12 game, 35 AB sample) .797 OPS as a 16/17-year-old in his rookie season last summer on his native island, but has yet to suit up in 2019.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Luis Contreras transferred from the AZL to Wisconsin.

 

To remind folks about the Contreras signing this spring from the independent United Shore League --

 

“In the offseason, (Eastside Manager) Paul Noce told us he found a pitcher that would be a perfect fit for the USPBL and Luis Contreras was exactly that,” said Director of Baseball Operations Justin Orenduff. “He arrived at the USPBL with a tremendous work ethic, passion for learning, and embodied what it means to be a pitcher. Contreras throws three pitches for strikes and can elevate his fastball with high spin which made him the league leader in strikeouts. We look forward to his success in the Brewers organization.”

 

Contreras, a native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., struck out a league-best 39 batters in 23.0 innings pitched. He finished with a record of 2-2 and earned one save. Contreras combined for a one-hit shutout on May 25th against the Utica Unicorns.

 

“The league, staff, crowd and fans makes the USPBL a great experience for a bunch of players that want to keep fighting for their dreams,” said Contreras. “I want to thank the entire USPBL staff and Sandy (Wilton) for placing me in the host family program and giving me the opportunity to meet my new family, the DiLoddo’s.”

 

 

***

 

Although a native of Florida as listed above, MiLB.com's Player Page lists the 23-year-old as having been born in Venezuela.

 

Not only that, but the player page lists Contreras as being assigned to the now-defunct Venezuelan Summer League as a Cubs farmhand in May 2015. Contreras would have just turned 19 years old at that time, which makes the note plausible, though it appears he never pitched there.

 

Now that he's with the Timber Rattlers, we'll ask Chris and Kyle to check in as to what happened during that four-year stretch. It's possible that's just an erroneous footnote by MiLB.