Minor League Spring Training

[damuelle]

We've got three MILB Brewer games against the Mariners today. Here are the lineups from Brewers Player Development on Twitter (@BrewersPD):

 

Shuckers:

1 - Lopes - 2B

2 - Spanberger - 1B

3 - Castro - RF

4 - Wilson - 3B

5 - Palma - LF

6 - Aguilar - CF

7 - Devanney - SS

8 - Diaz - C

9 - Hamilton - DH

10 - Francis - P

 

Extras: Lutz, Turang, Henry, Medina, Castillo, Lujano, Cabrera, Parra, Erceg

Pitchers: Beckman, Kirby, Alvarez, Vennaro, Webb

 

T-Rats

1 - Mitchell - DH

2 - Howell - CF

3 - Dillard - 1B

4 - Kahle - C

5 - McClanahan - RF

6 - Garcia - 3B

7 - Holt - 2B

8 - Castillo - LF

9 - Coca - SS

10 - Castaneda - P

 

Extras: Campbell, Pinero, Bello, B. Diaz, H. Perez

Pitchers: Sunitsch, Adames, Chirino, Floyd, Reifert, Garcia, Guerrero

 

Mudcats

1 - Cipion - RF

2 - Cantrelle - SS

3 - Rodriguez - CF

4 - Warren - DH

5 - McGee - 3B

6 - Miller - C

7 - Hardin - 1B

8 - Valerio - 2B

9 - Doston - LF

10 - Vassalotti - P

 

Extras: Wilson, Gray, Wiemer, Jaraba, Roa, Hall

Pitchers: Lemons, Gillis, Knarr, Uribe, Walters

[damuelle]

It’s terrific seeing Nathan Kirby (2015 competitive balance pick before 2nd round) and Caden Lemons (2017 2nd round pick) listed as available pitchers, as both missed the 2019 season with injuries.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Lucas Erceg is actually listed as a available pitcher. It appears he is attempting to make it as a two-way player. He was a guy who hit 95+ as a pitcher at Menlo College, and was being looked at as a pitcher by some teams, so this wouldn't be completely out of the blue.

[damuelle]

That'll be an interesting transition for Erceg (thank you for the insight!). It also explains why he didn't get any PAs in 2021 MLB Spring Training and wasn't sent to the Alternate Site with other players destined for AAA Nashville, despite registering 406 PAs at AAA San Antonio in 2019. I wonder whether he'll break camp with the AA Biloxi team in 2 weeks as a 3B/P or stay back at Extended Spring Training for additional pitching work.

[damuelle]

One 'AA' Brewer game today against the Padres. Here's the lineup:

 

1 - Lutz - DH

2 - Turang - SS

3 - Castro - RF

4 - McClanahan - 3B

5 - Spanberger - 1B

6 - Devanney - 2B

7 - Aguilar - CF

8 - Kahle - C

9 - Lujano - LF

 

Pitchers: Small, Jarvis, Murphy, Garabitos

[damuelle]

Three Brewer MILB games against the Dodgers today:

 

[attachment=0]April 19 MILB Rosters.jpg[/attachment]

[damuelle]

I think one of the more interesting decisions for the team is which 2B to pair with SS Turang at AA Biloxi. The lack of a 2020 MILB season deprived players of critical innings and the organization from seeing their main middle infield prospects in action, e.g.:

- Gabe Holt (23) - 2019 7th rounder has only logged 50 innings (Zero above Rookie ball) in MILB after playing a lot of OF in college

- David Hamilton (23) - 2019 8th rounder was injured in 2019, so is yet to play in minors

- Freddy Zamora (22) - 2020 2nd rounder is yet to play in minors, DID play in 2021 MLB Spring Training, but his name hasn't been listed in any 2021 MILB Spring Training games yet (nursing an injury?)

- Hayden Cantrelle (22) - 2020 5th rounder is yet to play in minors

- Cam Devanney (24) - 2019 15th rounder logged 505.1 MILB innings at SS in 2019, but Zero innings at 2B and hasn't played above Rookie level

- Yeison Coca (21) - played 591.1 innings at 2B and 388 innings at SS at Wisconsin (then Low-A) in 2019, but didn't hit at all (OPS .589)

- Antonio Pinero (22) - played principally SS in 2019, split between Rookie and Low-A, while also struggling with the bat (OPS .516 in Low-A).

- Felix Valerio (20) - acquired as part of 2019 Keon Broxton trade to Mets. Principally a 2B, but hasn't played above AZL-Rookie ball.

 

One of these players could surprisingly start the year at AA, whilst Weston Wilson (26 - most often 3B/1B/OF) also fills some innings. That would then leave the remaining seven(!) key prospects splitting playing time at 2B/SS for High-A Wisconsin and Low-A Carolina, with the Brewers hoping for some EARLY break-outs.

[CheeseheadInQC]

There was a report someone that I'm forgetting right now that the Brewers liked what they saw both in his indy league season and instructs from Hamilton that they were considering starting him in AA. You also might get a sink-or-swim type scenario for one of the guys entering year six in the minors, Coca or Pinero.

 

I imagine a couple of these guys will end up playing a decent amount of third base in the lower levels as well. I believe Garcia is the only real third baseman in the A/A+ mix and even he could potentially be a candidate for AA with the expanded roster size.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I think one of the more interesting decisions for the team is which 2B to pair with SS Turang at AA Biloxi. The lack of a 2020 MILB season deprived players of critical innings and the organization from seeing their main middle infield prospects in action, e.g.:

- Gabe Holt (23) - 2019 7th rounder has only logged 50 innings (Zero above Rookie ball) in MILB after playing a lot of OF in college

- David Hamilton (23) - 2019 8th rounder was injured in 2019, so is yet to play in minors

- Freddy Zamora (22) - 2020 2nd rounder is yet to play in minors, DID play in 2021 MLB Spring Training, but his name hasn't been listed in any 2021 MILB Spring Training games yet (nursing an injury?)

- Hayden Cantrelle (22) - 2020 5th rounder is yet to play in minors

- Cam Devanney (24) - 2019 15th rounder logged 505.1 MILB innings at SS in 2019, but Zero innings at 2B and hasn't played above Rookie level

- Yeison Coca (21) - played 591.1 innings at 2B and 388 innings at SS at Wisconsin (then Low-A) in 2019, but didn't hit at all (OPS .589)

- Antonio Pinero (22) - played principally SS in 2019, split between Rookie and Low-A, while also struggling with the bat (OPS .516 in Low-A).

- Felix Valerio (20) - acquired as part of 2019 Keon Broxton trade to Mets. Principally a 2B, but hasn't played above AZL-Rookie ball.

 

One of these players could surprisingly start the year at AA, whilst Weston Wilson (26 - most often 3B/1B/OF) also fills some innings. That would then leave the remaining seven(!) key prospects splitting playing time at 2B/SS for High-A Wisconsin and Low-A Carolina, with the Brewers hoping for some EARLY break-outs.

This is a good post on an interesting topic. I have been wondering this myself. The Brewers have a ton of middle infielders/3B in the lower minors but are really barren at AAA/AA. They could have easily signed minor league FA to fill SS but they never did. My guess is they plan to push a lot of these college guys quickly through the minors. I had guessed Holt would pair with Turang due to age, but I did not realize how old Devanney was. He was really good at adv rookie ball in '19 too. Hamilton is also older but I assumed the injury would hold him back. Hopefully he is fully recovered. Another thing to consider is that the Latin players (D. Castillo, E.Garcia, Parra, and Jaraba) are all stateside so they will need to get AB/innings at those same crowded positions.

[CheeseheadInQC]

This is a good post on an interesting topic. I have been wondering this myself. The Brewers have a ton of middle infielders/3B in the lower minors but are really barren at AAA/AA. They could have easily signed minor league FA to fill SS but they never did. My guess is they plan to push a lot of these college guys quickly through the minors. I had guessed Holt would pair with Turang due to age, but I did not realize how old Devanney was. He was really good at adv rookie ball in '19 too. Hamilton is also older but I assumed the injury would hold him back. Hopefully he is fully recovered. Another thing to consider is that the Latin players (D. Castillo, E.Garcia, Parra, and Jaraba) are all stateside so they will need to get AB/innings at those same crowded positions.

 

It is going to be interesting to see who gets pushed up to AA if they keep 13 position players because you probably aren't just looking at one from that list. Assuming none are needed to fill AAA (and that I'm not forgetting anyone), you've got a AA core of Henry, Spanberger, Turang, Castro, Lutz, Aguilar, Palma, Wilson and, if healthy given that I don't think he has played a game yet, Fry. I could see Diaz making it as either a second or third catcher. Erceg could be there or he could be needed to fill out the AAA roster. That leaves at least two spots open, possibly more.

[HiAndTight]

One 'AA' Brewer game today against the Padres. Here's the lineup:

 

1 - Lutz - DH

2 - Turang - SS

3 - Castro - RF

4 - McClanahan - 3B

5 - Spanberger - 1B

6 - Devanney - 2B

7 - Aguilar - CF

8 - Kahle - C

9 - Lujano - LF

 

Pitchers: Small, Jarvis, Murphy, Garabitos

 

Really wish there were some updates on what guys looked like.

 

Is Small maintaining that uptick in velocity, how's Turang hitting. Really looking forward to the start of the season for these guys.

[Lathund]

I too would love more information. But there is at least this, scouting reports on 10 prospects including 2 Brewers. I suspect it's subscriber only though

 

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/66274/tuesday-morning-ten-pack-bobby-miller-jarred-kelenic-brennen-davis/

 

Talks about Ashby; Impressive movement on all his pitches, just needs to keep his slider and curve separate. Says the whiff ability will decide whether he's a mid-rotation or back-end starter.

 

Also talks about a Brewer I had never heard of! John LaRossa, signed out of indie ball last year. 96-97 mph with life, and an impressive slider. The Brewers Indie ball pitcher project continues!

[damuelle]

Three MILB Brewer games against the White Sox today. Here are the line-ups:

 

[attachment=0]April 20 MILB Rosters.jpg[/attachment]

[Smichaelis9]

Here’s a nice MLB.com article talking about Mitchell, Ashby, Hedbert and some others time in extended spring and the alternate site.

[RollieTime]

Haven’t seen Hedbert Perez in a lineup for a few days. Is he healthy?

[damuelle]

Three MILB Brewer games against the Angels today. Here are the lineups:

 

[attachment=0]April 21 MILB Rosters.jpg[/attachment]

[brooks_quichenick]

Haven’t seen Hedbert Perez in a lineup for a few days. Is he healthy?

 

No sign of Hedbert again in either of today's lineups.

[Madhawk23]

I see that the Brewers PD Twitter account just sent out a video of Joe Gray hitting an oppo Grand Slam on Monday. Nice to see, but I wish they could send out more of these little video snippets from these games.

[CheeseheadInQC]

And the award for getting me intrigued about a prospect I didn't know existed until the spring training rosters came out goes to ...

[Smichaelis9]

And the award for getting me intrigued about a prospect I didn't know existed until the spring training rosters came out goes to ...

Looks like he got a bit of a write up by Baseball America in the 2019 International Review. They said "Another lower-dollar player to note is Venezuelan righthander Yujanyer Herrera, who signed when he turned 16 on Aug. 17. He's one of the youngest players in the class but has already reached 93 mph with more physical projection remaining in his 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame and good feel for a changeup for his age."

 

So a 17 year old that is likely sitting low 90's, maybe touching mid-90's with a solid changeup? Uh yeah, count me in as extremely intrigued as well.

[damuelle]

We've got three MILB Brewer games against the A's today, before a scheduled OFF day tomorrow. Here are the lineups:

 

[attachment=0]April 22 MILB Rosters.jpg[/attachment]

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Good news for those hoping to catch a Garrett Mitchell sighting in Appleton:

 

 

Better get there quick, though, cause if he performs anywhere close to how he did in Spring Training, his stay may be brief.

[damuelle]

I'm surprised to see pitcher Leo Crawford (our return in the Corey Knebel trade to Dodgers) listed as available for the 'AA' spring training game in Arizona, as he'd been at the Alternate Site in Appleton with the 'AAA' players. Perhaps he'll be starting in Biloxi instead of Nashville. He's young (24), but I was hoping he'd already conquered 'AA'.

[DR28]

Gotta imagine minor league rosters will be set pretty soon? Minor league OD is 5/3 or 5/4 I believe.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I'm surprised to see pitcher Leo Crawford (our return in the Corey Knebel trade to Dodgers) listed as available for the 'AA' spring training game in Arizona, as he'd been at the Alternate Site in Appleton with the 'AAA' players. Perhaps he'll be starting in Biloxi instead of Nashville. He's young (24), but I was hoping he'd already conquered 'AA'.

Depending on health, the Brewers have 18-21 pitchers who you could make a good case should be in AAA. There just isn't room for everyone.