2019 Minor League Transaction Thread

[folly412]

RHP Corbin Burnes from San Antonio to Biloxi

 

I was for shutting him down completely, but this has some merit. Get him a non-juiced ball to throw, a pitcher's league, Bob Milacki is either doing something right down there or just about every pitcher coincidentally has had a lot of success, either of which might be good for him.

[brewmann04]

maybe Milacki should get the major league job come 2020

[Mass Haas]

At Carolina, promising RHP Noah Zavolas hits the injured list, retroactive to 8/14, hopefully just a way to control innings.

 

2018 innings: 38.2

 

2019 innings to date: 133

[damuelle]

Jake Cousins promoted from AZL Blue to Wisconsin. Nationals released the 20th round pitcher after 2 low-MILB seasons, so it’s the Brewers that give him his first shot in Class A. He’s already 25 and immediately becomes the oldest player on Timber Rattlers. Let’s hope his 2019 success at lower and independent levels continues.

 

Scott Sunitsch promoted from Wisconsin to High-A Carolina. Great opportunity for lefty starting pitcher.

 

Noah Zavolas placed on Carolina’s injured list. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but he’s the third starting pitcher to go on the IL (with Ashby, Webb).

[Brewcrewin07]

Joe Alexander

@JoeAlexander210

·

11m

Saw a player I didn't recognize taking infield at third base and BP with San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. Guessing it's Jung Ho Kang. @missionsmilb

@brewers

#missionsmilb #MissionsBaseball #samissions #Brewers #brewcrew #thisismycrew

[brooks_quichenick]

Joe Alexander

@JoeAlexander210

·

11m

Saw a player I didn't recognize taking infield at third base and BP with San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. Guessing it's Jung Ho Kang. @missionsmilb

@brewers

#missionsmilb #MissionsBaseball #samissions #Brewers #brewcrew #thisismycrew

 

[sveumrules]

At Carolina, promising RHP Noah Zavolas hits the injured list, retroactive to 8/14, hopefully just a way to control innings.

 

2018 innings: 38.2

 

2019 innings to date: 133

 

Zavolas did also throw 70 IP at Harvard in 2018, so his workload increase isn't too extreme.

[zagski6]

Jake Cousins promoted from AZL Blue to Wisconsin. Nationals released the 20th round pitcher after 2 low-MILB seasons, so it’s the Brewers that give him his first shot in Class A. He’s already 25 and immediately becomes the oldest player on Timber Rattlers. Let’s hope his 2019 success at lower and independent levels continues.

 

Fun Fact: Jake Cousins is the cousin of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/washington-redskins/second-cousins-nationals-draft-kirk-cousinss-cousin-jake-cousins-20th-round

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi Press Release: Stats at the link.

 

Infielder Luis Aviles Jr. has been activated from the injured list, while catcher Robie Rojas has been transferred to the Rocky Mountain Vibes.

 

***

 

Paper roster for Rojas.

 

Free Robie.

[Mass Haas]

Scott Sunitsch promoted from Wisconsin to High-A Carolina. Great opportunity for lefty starting pitcher.

 

Noah Zavolas placed on Carolina’s injured list. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but he’s the third starting pitcher to go on the IL (with Ashby, Webb).

 

The Carolina press release also includes news on OF Zach Clark and RHP Wuilder Rodriguez.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Jake Cousins promoted from AZL Blue to Wisconsin. Nationals released the 20th round pitcher after 2 low-MILB seasons, so it’s the Brewers that give him his first shot in Class A. He’s already 25 and immediately becomes the oldest player on Timber Rattlers. Let’s hope his 2019 success at lower and independent levels continues.

 

Fun Fact: Jake Cousins is the cousin of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/washington-redskins/second-cousins-nationals-draft-kirk-cousinss-cousin-jake-cousins-20th-round

So they are the Cousins cousins?

[Mass Haas]

From Thursday's Link Report, Maryvale portion:

 

LHP Franklin Hernandez (37th round, 2018) made his season debut with two scoreless innings, good for him. Don't believe we know what held him back in 2019.

 

Just remembered, Hernandez is back from a PED suspension, so the transaction is activation from the Restricted List:

 

Adam McCalvy tweet details - August 24, 2018

 

***

 

Two members of the DSL Brewers have been brought stateside to Maryvale's Blue Squad --

 

Only 18 years old, Panamanian RHP Ariel Vega debuted very late in 2018 with two DSL appearances.

 

RHP Junior Montero, a Dominican native who turns 21 in September yet is still a rookie pro, and he made his stateside debut Thursday: 3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

 

AZL Rangers Top of the 4th

 

Pitching Change: Junior Montero replaces Jhoan Cruz.

Osleivis Basabe flies out to center fielder Arbert Cipion.

Injury Delay.

Defensive switch from left field to center field for Reidy Mercado.

 

(This was the Arbert Cipion departure we highlighted in Friday's Link Report.)

 

Defensive Substitution: YongKang Kou replaces center fielder Arbert Cipion, batting 2nd, playing left field.

Heriberto Hernandez grounds out, third baseman Luis Silva to first baseman Kevin Hardin.

Randy Florentino flies out to left fielder YongKang Kou.

 

AZL Rangers Top of the 5th

 

Yenci Pena singles on a line drive to center fielder Reidy Mercado.

Keyber Rodriguez singles on a line drive to center fielder Reidy Mercado. Yenci Pena to 2nd.

Angel Aponte grounds into an unassisted double play, third baseman Luis Silva to first baseman Kevin Hardin. Yenci Pena out at 3rd. Keyber Rodriguez to 2nd. Angel Aponte out at 1st.

Stanley Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Reidy Mercado. Keyber Rodriguez scores. Stanley Martinez to 2nd. Stanley Martinez advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by center fielder Reidy Mercado.

William Jeffry grounds out, shortstop Jackie Urbaez to first baseman Kevin Hardin.

 

AZL Rangers Top of the 6th

 

Cody Freeman grounds out, third baseman Luis Silva to first baseman Kevin Hardin.

Osleivis Basabe flies out to center fielder Reidy Mercado.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Zion Bannster replaces Heriberto Hernandez.

Zion Bannster singles on a ground ball to second baseman Danny Casals.

Randy Florentino singles on a ground ball to right fielder Anderson Melendez. Zion Bannster to 2nd.

Yenci Pena grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Luis Silva. Zion Bannster out at 3rd.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have signed, we'll call him IF/OF, Carlos Moreno, a 20-year-old Dominican native and RH-bat who was released by the Yankees after his rookie season of 2018.

 

Moreno primarily saw action as a corner infielder last year, but made his DSL Brewers debut in left field today (Friday 8/16 box score, 1-for-3, two K's)

[Mass Haas]

RHP Carlos Herrera, who turns 22 in October, has been placed on the 60-day IL, ending his season.

 

Herrera, acquired alongside Freddy Peralta in the Adam Lind deal with Seattle, will end up with only one appearance in 2019, a rough one-third of an inning appearance in this rehab game in Maryvale on July 8th.

 

No official word on the nature of his apparently pretty serious injury.

[Mass Haas]

At San Antonio --

 

RHP Miguel Sanchez activated from the 7-day IL after a two-week stay.

 

Catcher Tuffy Gosewisch to the Vibes' paper roster (again).

 

The rumored signing of first baseman Tyler Austin, the 27-year-old former big league Yankee, Twin, and Giant, became official.

[Mass Haas]

One catch-up move:

 

Biloxi All-Star 1B Patrick Leonard is on the IL, retroactive to 8/9.

[stalton]

Jake Cousins promoted from AZL Blue to Wisconsin. Nationals released the 20th round pitcher after 2 low-MILB seasons, so it’s the Brewers that give him his first shot in Class A. He’s already 25 and immediately becomes the oldest player on Timber Rattlers. Let’s hope his 2019 success at lower and independent levels continues.

 

Fun Fact: Jake Cousins is the cousin of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/washington-redskins/second-cousins-nationals-draft-kirk-cousinss-cousin-jake-cousins-20th-round

So they are the Cousins cousins?

And do the Cousin cousins own the Cousins shop?

[Mass Haas]

Via Wisconsin's Media Notes:

 

OF Leugim Castillo transferred from Wisconsin to Carolina

RHP Reese Olson transferred from Wisconsin to Rocky Mountain

IF Connor McVey activated from Wisconsin’s IL

RHP Freisis Adames transferred from Rocky Mountain to Wisconsin

 

***

 

The Olson move, like the Adames move before it, of the paper variety.

[Mass Haas]

From Thursday's Link Report, Maryvale portion:

 

LHP Franklin Hernandez (37th round, 2018) made his season debut with two scoreless innings, good for him. Don't believe we know what held him back in 2019.

 

Just remembered, Hernandez is back from a PED suspension, so the transaction is activation from the Restricted List:

 

Adam McCalvy tweet details - August 24, 2018

 

And after that one appearance, Hernandez has been transferred to Rocky Mountain.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

The LG promotion is hardly warranted. I guess they needed an OF at Carolina to replace Z. Clark. On the positive side, LG (499 OPS) is only having a slightly poorer season that Clark (502 OPS). So I guess there is that. Surprised they did not callup Dillard who is having a good season. Maybe they don't want to rush him. L.G. just seems like an odd choice, being that he is still very young (19).

[Mass Haas]

The LG promotion is hardly warranted. I guess they needed an OF at Carolina to replace Z. Clark. On the positive side, LG (499 OPS) is only having a slightly poorer season that Clark (502 OPS). So I guess there is that. Surprised they did not callup Dillard who is having a good season. Maybe they don't want to rush him. L.G. just seems like an odd choice, being that he is still very young (19).

 

My post in Friday's Link Report:

 

Nothing against LG Castillo, that has to be a really cool flight he's making to Lynchburg. But with a .499 OPS in 222 AB's, Castillo (who just recently turned only 20 years old) can join a struggling Mudcats team while others remain with the Rattlers, who are three games out of a wild card spot. We've seen this type of promotion in years past.

[Mass Haas]

From the Frontier League:

 

The long-rumored departure of Miners closer Jordan Brink became official. The Milwaukee Brewers signed Brink, making him the fourth player to exit Southern Illinois stage left in 2019.

 

In 31 games this year, Brink went 2-3 with a 2.04 earned run average and six saves, ascending to the ninth inning role just in time for the Miners’ recent surge into contention. Over 35 1/3 innings, Brink allowed only 23 hits and fanned 55, touching 99 mph with his fastball in a recent appearance.

 

“This could not be more deserved,” Southern Illinois manager Mike Pinto said in a press release. “Jordan has dominated all season. He came in with a vengeance thanks to his work in the offseason and it paid off for him. The Brewers not only got a great pitcher, but a great person to go with it.”

 

After going 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA as a senior at Fresno State, Brink started his pro career in the Cubs’ chain. It didn’t go well. Over parts of three seasons in which he never got out of short-season ball, Brink posted a 3-2 mark and a 3.94 ERA, enduring surgery for a torn labrum to boot.

 

But the 26-year old righty found his command this year, walking only 13, and his velocity was enough for Milwaukee to give him a shot.

 

***

 

This signing came about via Twitter, and specifically @PitchingNinja.

 

Here are the two tweets detailing that.

 

Getting the word out

 

The thank you

[Mass Haas]

Via the Mudcats:

 

8/18: OF Tristen Lutz assigned to Rookie Rocky Mountain from Carolina.

8/18: LHP Aaron Ashby reinstated from Carolina injured list.

8/17: RHP Nelson Hernandez placed on Carolina injured list (as of 8/17).

8/17: OF LG Castillo assigned to Carolina from Low-A Wisconsin.

[Mass Haas]

Catcher Skyler Ewing activated from the Shuckers' IL and then transferred from Biloxi to San Antonio.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers sign soon-to-be 24-year-old switch-hitting OF/IF Randy Rodriguez, a Dominican native and former Dodger farmhand, with only one year of pro ball experience (Dominican Summer League, 2018).

 

Rodriguez made his Brewer debut Saturday with the DSL Brewers.

 

The age factor certainly makes this a unique signing with a week to go in the DSL season.