For 2022 - Birthday Status Thread

[Jim Goulart]

3/7/22:

 

Happy 31st Birthday, RHP Justin Topa!

 

MLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

MiLB Player Page

 

***

 

For players in the Brewers organization who have made their big-league debut, there will be multiple feature stories that have been published documenting their journeys. Justin Topa is certainly among them.

 

From our forum in March 2019:

 

RHP Justin Topa has been signed and assigned to the Biloxi roster. Originally a 17th round pick of the Pirates in 2013, he was released by the club in April 2017, played indy ball in 2017, was signed by the Rangers in June of last year, pitching in A+ and AA for them, and then became a free agent again last November. Here's a scouting report from a few years ago.

 

***

 

In early August of 2020, Topa was assigned to the Alternate Training Site, one step closer to a big league debut.

 

August 31st, 2020 Adam McCalvy tweet: Topa to the big leagues!

 

From his hometown perspective, one of the first articles to provide quotes after the callup:

 

Justin Topa's Road to the MLB

 

9/4/20:

 

Via Lane Grindle's "Brewers on Tap": "Episode 183 features Justin Topa" (go to the 08:30 minute mark)

 

Stage not too big, lights not too bright - that was the forum's consensus on Topa in 2020 and heading into 2021

 

***

 

Tuesday 2/9/21:

 

Via "The Road to the Bigs Show" hosted by MLB's Taylor Motter: Justin Topa

 

A fantastic hour-long watch (or listen) with Topa detailing his pro baseball journey. Rate it PG-13 for language if in the office but do find time. Favorite story, 52:00 minute mark, intro's - "Hi, I'm Christian." "Yeah, no sh%t"

 

Sunday 3/7/21 (recorded February 26th):

 

Via the "Turn a Pair Baseball Podcast": Extended chat with RH reliever Justin Topa

 

***

 

Via McCalvy on 3/29/21 after an ineffective Topa spring training:

 

"Justin Topa has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Brewers are recommending rehab, but still expect Topa to miss at least half of the season. Topa is exercising his right to a second opinion."

 

In mid-June, Topa began throwing bullpens in Arizona. He began a formal Maryvale rehab a month later (two appearances). After another week, it was on to AA Biloxi (four more effective outings). Have rehabbing arm, will travel - Nashville as of July 31st.

 

August 11th - a welcome return to the big league roster, but...

 

A scoreless inning at Chicago was followed two days later with a five-run bummer in Pittsburgh. Back to Nashville for six effective appearances, and then a September callup.

 

Two more ineffective MLB games, however --

 

“The flexor tendon is involved; they’re determining the UCL involvement and options after that,” Craig Counsell said. “It’s rough news for Justin, for sure. He’s been through a lot of this before. Obviously, when it keeps happening, it’s just frustrating. Incredibly frustrating and difficult to process.”

 

We are hopeful the rehab since has gone well (3rd Tommy John surgery averted), though Topa, on the 40-man roster, has not been able to directly confer with the Brewers training staff since December 1st.

 

The only media regarding Topa since the end of the 2021 season is this late October 20-minute interview. At the 15:00 minute mark Topa discusses his injury-impacted 2021, including his target of being ready to go in what I understood to be early in the calendar year 2022, based on his comments -

 

 

***

 

On Wednesday 3/9 we'll have a brief note on one of the 33 Brewers' international class signees from this past January.

 

The next formal post will be Thursday the 10th when we check in with yet another productive 2021 Carolina Mudcat -- so many of them were just that, productive!

[Jim Goulart]

3/9/22:

 

Happy 17th Birthday, LHP Jose Meneses!

 

Just signed on January 15th out of Venezuela, Meneses is listed at 6'1", 150.

 

As per MLB.com, his signing bonus was $10,000.

 

It's believed Meneses is on the left in each of these photos - I accidentally typed "RHP" in the first caption.

 

Twitter #1 / Photo #2

 

We should see a DSL debut for Jose this summer, southpaws always a welcome sight.

 

***

 

As promised in the prior post, it's off to Carolina memories tomorrow, Thursday the 10th.

[Jim Goulart]

3/10/22:

 

Happy 21st Birthday, C Darrien Miller!

 

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

A 2019 9th round pick out of Clovis, CA High School ($297,500 bonus, pick 283 value $149,500), Miller's LH bat showed both pop and on-base ability while making the most of his 204 plate appearances (160 AB's) with Low-A Carolina in 2021. He had to share time with switch-hitting C/INF Zavier Warren and another switch-hitter in Alex Hall.

 

Miller had gotten his feet wet in 20 games in Maryvale as an 18-year-old prior to the lost 2020 campaign.

 

Here are a couple of draft-day scouting reports via our yearly official draft pick thread - plus a Mark Teixeira swing comp.

 

A reminder what a great job Brewers current Manager of Social Media Brad Ford did while with BrewCrewBall. Love his questions and Miller's answers in this post-draft Q&A.

 

VIDEO Tweets:

 

Note - We'll be able to embed tweets upon moving to the new Brewerfan platform - for now, click away, worth the looks!

 

First pro home run

 

Serious evasion skills

 

Not so serious "1990's Challenge Game" skills

 

An epic night - three home runs! Home run #3 again, but with audio

 

And the blasts in slo-mo for swing analysis, nice

 

The Mudcats clubbed TEN grand slams in 2021, and four players had two apiece.

 

Here was granny #10, walk-off style, courtesy of Miller.

 

Because of the somewhat limited playing time, Miller's monthly offensive splits were pretty unique, and given the small samples, power came in bunches. Hello July, hello September - and a final line of .263/.419/.419 (.838 OPS).

 

***

 

We should mention that the Mudcats catchers really struggled in the stolen base department last summer, including Miller. Darrien threw out only 13% of opponents, and it was a racetrack - 116 stolen bases in Miller's 50 games behind the dish. It is true the league experimented with limited step-offs and pickoff throws, but the numbers were not acceptable.

 

Which is why it's very heartening to see the efforts Miller put in this past offseason - cool video here.

 

One would think that Miller has earned a bump to High-A Wisconsin for 2022, as with all the conjecture at this point on the calendar, it's "we'll see" until a few more weeks pass and rosters are finalized. But no doubt, this is an exciting prospect to follow...

 

***

 

Come back tomorrow (Friday the 11th) for a very talented but completely different in every way, pair of Brewers on the farm. Fun duo coming up.

[Jim Goulart]

3/11/22:

 

Happy 18th Birthday, CF/2B Jackson Chourio!

 

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

Though Chourio's official signing was January 15th, 2021, clearly he'd been associated with the Brewers for quite some time prior via Baseball America in September 2019:

 

Chourio, 15, is a lean, athletic player (6-foot-1, 155 pounds) who has split time between shortstop and center field. While he's not as physically developed as some of the other top players in the class, he's a plus runner who projects to stay in the middle of the diamond and hits the ball with surprising carry, generating loft and backspin to make him a potential power/speed threat from the right side of the plate. Chourio, whose younger brother Jaison is also a notable outfield prospect for the 2021 class, is expected to sign with the Brewers. He's represented by Cesar Suarez. NOTE: Jaison would sign with the Cleveland Guardians.

 

And $1.9 million later, Chourio was a Brewer.

 

June 2021:

 

VIDEO via @BrewersPD: International signing bonus baby OF Jackson Chourio in Maryvale (extended spring training)

 

Once the Dominican Summer League season was finally set to begin, the Venezuelan youngster left Arizona and made his pro debut on the island on July 12th.

 

Though hitless in his first five games, Chourio then embarked on an eight-game hit streak that set him on the course for his very good .296/.386/.447 (.883 OPS) rookie campaign.

 

Chourio struck out in only 17.6% of at-bats, walking (23 times) nearly as often (28 K's). He stole eight bases in 11 attempts.

 

Defensively, there were 32 starts in CF and six at second base.

 

This past winter, the still 17-year-old played in twelve games (all starts) with Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League (.536 OPS in 49 AB's). The average age of position players in the league was over eleven years older. The VWL team had Chourio play at second base i all but one of those games.

 

This was one of the most exciting video clips we saw all winter from any source.

 

And this is an enjoyable two minutes plus:

 

Highlights from Chourio's DSL season, capping it off with a walkoff HR celebration -

 

 

Simply put, the Brewers heavy investment in Chourio looks extremely promising, and his stateside debut in 2022 will be one to watch for sure.

 

***

 

Come back tomorrow (Saturday the 12th) for two more birthday greetings, including one for a 2021 breakout player.

[Jim Goulart]

3/11/22:

 

Happy 30th Birthday, RH reliever Luke Barker!

 

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

Before we get into the growing-in-legend #FreeLukeBarker call for action (action on several fronts, by the way), let's all just enjoy the numbers linked above, numbers posted since Barker signed with Milwaukee in November 2016 after five years at Division II Chico (CA) State followed by a year in the independent Frontier League.

 

Beyond the ERA's and WHIP's at each and every level, it's the rate number per nine innings - H, BB, K, they're all pretty much impeccable.

 

Brewer fans, let's not forget about Barker's loose ties to your local quarterback --

 

April 2017 - Timber Rattlers pitcher Barker inspired by hometown legend Aaron Rodgers

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

July 2017 - Luke Barker is Blazing His Trail

BY Noah Nofz, BP Milwaukee

 

May 31st, 2018 - "Free Luke Barker" is born (courtesy of our own Toby)

 

Exploits described in the Biloxi 2018 All-Star Game announcement

 

July 2019 - Chico State baseball’s all-time saves leader Luke Barker grinds his way to AAA

Chico State's all-time saves leader has earned his master's degree, an all-star appearance and now a promotion to AAA

By Justin Couchot, Chico Enterprise-Record

 

Fantastic quote-filled read there...

 

***

 

VIDEO Tweets:

 

July 2017 after a promotion to High-A Carolina

 

June 2018 while spending all season at High-A

 

***

 

January 2021 after the lost Covid season -

 

Via KPAY 1290: An extended audio chat with RHP Luke Barker The early and final portions of the podcast focus on his pro career, but worth a listen in its entirety

 

June 1 – RH reliever Luke Barker]June 2021 - Nashville Pre-Game Audio Interview with Jeff Hem[/url][/b]

 

July 2021 - Brief (two-minute news report)

 

***

 

Entering his 6th season of Brewers team control, it's clear that Barker's late start to his pro career, combined with his stellar mound efforts, have led to a bit of a perfect storm of frustration for fans and Barker alike.

 

Barker did not go claimed in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, but at that point had only 17 games at the AAA level.

 

Another excellent season in 2021 in Nashville - there are 20 teams in AAA East, one reliever was placed on its year-end All-Star Team - Luke Barker.

 

So then in the cruelest of ironies, on the eve of this birthday post, this happens, are you kidding?!

 

In 2021, AAA players with no 40-man roster time saw their weekly minimum salaries increase to $700 a week, we'll generously call it $18,000 - $20,000 yearly. That number "700" adds to the irony, as $700,000 is the new minimum MLB salary given the terms of the new CBA.

 

There is no greater jump in pay grade than going from AAA to MLB - nearly 40 times over. You can't compare it to going from pre-arbitration to arbitration or obtaining big league free agency after six big-league years. There's nothing close to multiplying your salary times 40 and gaining with it all the perks of the big-league lifestyle. Give credit to those like legendary manager Rick Sweet for handling a AAA clubhouse.

 

As seen via his Twitter timeline (have to love the byline title of "Part-Time Seasonal Intern"), Barker has been increasingly vocal in his efforts to educate, and in advancing the causes of groups like Advocates for Minor Leaguers. Often done with sarcastic wit, none of his posts are mean-spirited, they are simply the truth in an effort to advance a cause, which happens to include his own betterment in life, at this point much-warranted.

 

No doubt Barker is in minor league camp now (somehow not a formal invite to big league camp, which is now all askew with delays anyway), and he'll do all he can to impress yet again.

 

But it'd be nice for Luke's sake with the latest Rule 5 Draft now vanished, if somehow Barker made his way into the myriad of trade talks about to take place with bullpen-starved teams.

 

Good luck, Luke.

[Jim Goulart]

3/12/22:

 

Happy 19th Birthday, INF Alexander Perez!

 

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

Ah yes, the "other" big-money Perez signing from the 2019 international draft class (hello to Hedbert, by the way).

 

Alexander Perez, like Hedbert Perez a Venezuelan native, was signed for $600,000, just $100,000 less than Hedbert.

 

Among the few scouting reports available at the time --

 

"Hit well in games in Venezuela. Expands zone at times, but generally solid approach. Makes a lot of contact, good plate coverage. Power has shown flashes as he's gotten stronger. Good chance to stay at short with a solid-average arm and good athleticism."

 

The RH-hitting bat made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 after missing out, like so many others, on organized ball in 2020.

 

Perez started 22 times at third base (seven errors), 12 times at shortstop (two errors), and four times at second base (zero).

 

Things started especially well in the tiniest of samples, as this Link Report comment shows --

 

18-year-old Venezuelan SS Alexander Perez is sporting a .556./.615/.889 line after his first four pro games, and to be honest, I'd be happy if every Brewer signing was a shortstop out of Venezuela. Hyperbole, but only a bit.

 

As you saw in the stat line links kicking off this post - .214/.309/.286 (.609 OPS), it wasn't a raucous debut season. K'd in 25.7% of at-bats, but also showed an eye for balls and strikes. Perfect in seven stolen base attempts.

 

For his age 19 season in 2022, one would think Perez may get bounced to Maryvale based on his signing bonus, though a second DSL season may be of benefit.

 

 

***

 

Another pair of birthdays on Sunday the 13th. Not quite sure when those greetings will post on the new Brewerfan platform, let's see how the next 24-48 hours shake out.

[Jim Goulart]

3/12/22:

 

Happy 22nd Birthday, INF Joe Gray, Jr.!

 

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

 

Baseball Reference lists him as "Joe Gray" - we so rarely see that without the "Jr."

 

So youthful in our 2018 Official Draft Day thread where you'll find every imaginable pre-draft scouting report on the 2nd rounder

 

(Photo: Chris Todd)

 

"We were real excited to add him at pick 60 because there was some considerations of him going well before there. We were pretty excited that we were able to sign him. Great kid, too. Real outgoing, gregarious kind of kid."

 

Signed for $1,113,500 (full pick 60 value)

 

Who in the Brewers organization was Gray most excited to meet upon signing?

 

***

 

Perhaps it's best if we focus on the present as Gray has been the subject of feature articles at JSOnline and The Athletic in recent days.

 

Depending on your subscription status with those two worthwhile pieces, here's Adam McCalvy:

 

After sheep rodeos and health woes, Joe Gray Jr. ready to ride

No. 9 prospect on 2022: 'My goal is to be in Biloxi'

 

***

 

Via FanGraphs - A November 2021 Conversation

 

VIDEO/Article: Via the Arizona Fall League

 

Fantastic VIDEO: We loved hearing from Joe Gray Sr. last summer, a must-watch

 

VIDEO interview with the Voice of the Mudcats' Greg Young

 

Hopefully you've read enough about the pneumonia, the hamstring issue, enough so to make sense of those 2018/2019 rookie level numbers linked above.

 

Need to include calls from Greg and Chris Mehring --

 

Mudcats

 

Timber Rattlers

 

But for old times' sake, we'll wrap up with a walkoff HR video memory via the Rocky Mountain Vibes - "Let's Get Toasty, Folks!"

[Jim Goulart]

Catching up after the cutover to the new site -- there were no birthdays Monday 3/14:

3/13/22:

Happy 25th Birthday, RHP Christian Tripp!

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

The Brewers signed Tripp on July 1st of 2021. He was the Mets' 13th round pick in 2018 out of the University of New Mexico.

Tripp had been a reliever exclusively until his most recent 2021 independent league tenure (four starts). Perhaps it was this video that helped catch the Crew's attention -

“We thought he would have a real shot of getting picked up but we didn’t know how quick it would be," Florence Y'alls manager Brian White told the Enquirer. "It happened all of a sudden. One morning the Brewers just randomly called and said they wanted to purchase his contract, so that was pretty quick."

After acclimating with five Maryvale appearances, Tripp (listed at 6'7", 240) would move on to Carolina for the balance of the season, starting three of his ten Mudcats appearances. He walked 20 and threw five wild pitches in 25.1 innings, but also K'd 33.

Tripp had made 33 relief appearances in the Mets' system prior to his May 2020 release, a victim of the roster-cutting across baseball once the pandemic took hold.

Tripp will need to show better command in camp this month. If he does, a Timber Rattlers assignment is within his (lengthy) reach.

[Jim Goulart]

3/13/22:

Happy 25th Birthday, OF Garrett Whitley!

MiLB Player Page (Baseball Reference page always linked above in the birthday greeting)

On December 15th, the Brewers signed Whitley to a minor league deal with a big league camp invite. Whitley was the 13th overall pick out of a New York high school by Tampa in the 2015 draft ($2,959,600 bonus), two picks prior to the Crew selecting OF Trent Grisham (then known as Trent Clark).

Whitley has only 31 games at the AAA level (all last season). Labrum surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder cost him all of 2018, and the 2020 pandemic season saw him sneak in 44 AB's in independent ball.

You'll find solid insights within our brief discussion thread upon his signing by the Brewers.

Just prior to that pandemic season, this two events happened (GIF video also at the 2nd link):

For this Rays player, justice means more than national anthem

Rays Prospect Garrett Whitley Takes Foul Ball to the Face

This is a very good read from June 2021 -

BISCUITS RETURN: WHITLEY BACK AFTER INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO INJURY, COVID

***

Later today, we'll complete our catch-up with two Wednesday, March 15th birthday greetings.