Misc. Minor League Alumni News & Notes

[Joseph Zarr]

And, that wasn't all for Wilson...1-for-1, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SB. AND, took part in RHP Michael Lorenzen's No-Hitter?!? Talk about an absolute storybook debut at the MLB level. SO awesome!

[Joseph Zarr]

Big Jon Singleton went yard twice tonight for Houston in his first start since being called up this past Thursday. 5 RBI. His first MLB homers since 2015. So happy for him.

[biedergb]

This thread makes me sad about the a couple of the worst trades of the past few years

Bush for Kelly. No return at all, and could you image Uribe-Kelly-Williams in the pen next year ;(

And the Daniel Norris for Reese Olson trade. Hated the trade then, hate it more now.

 

We haven't seen too many traded players actually do much (Haniger and Garrett Cooper years ago were a few exceptions), so I guess it's OK to lose a few.

Plus - Topa doing well in Seattle. High risk, but this season high reward.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

How good was that 2022 Sounds squad? My goodness they were stacked. It is a true shame they weren't playing three game series in 2022 - I believe they take Durham in 3. Anywho...

OF Abraham Almonte gets the call-up with the New York Mets: Article Here.

Almonte is definitely a DH or player essentially known for his bat. But, having watched him all of last year's first half before he was shipped to the Red Sox for cash (July 25th), I can say that the bat is extremely formidable. Having played the majority of his season for the Met's Syracuse affiliate, this will be his second call-up in the past 11 days.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[ARobsBrewCrew]

1 hour ago, Mass Haas said:

 

Fourth Brewers (kinda) prospect in the last decade to pass away by my count.  Donny Everett and Charlie Donovan (2015 draftees, did not sign), Andres Melendez (2017 int. signing), and now Familia (2015 int. signing).  Four young, talented individuals taken too soon.  Of course, one is too many.  RIP Aaron

[Jim Goulart]

It was over a decade ago (can't believe it's been 20 years), but the Brewers had embarked on signing players out of Nigeria when this happened:

Minor League Pitcher Dies in Car Wreck

More on this via Baseball Reference and then also the more detailed report out of Africa.

[Joseph Zarr]

Monday is typically my 'What are they up to?" day of the Minor League Baseball week. I found RHP Kent Hasler, finally (!!), in a write up of the American Association's Sioux City Explorers expressly focused on him. He has been working on his MBA via Louisiana Tech online in between tossing the white rat with the skill and savvy we grew to love. Great to see he is still in the game (and familiar organization) while angling toward playing as long as he can while staying in it on the other side of the lines:

Quote

"An MBA can go a long way in the front offices of many ballclubs," he explained. "I'll play as long as I can, but I want to be in baseball for the long haul."

Hasler did rep the Express in the All Star Game, but, the game logs indicate he hasn't pitched since mid-August. And I don't currently seem him on the roster - injury? signed elsewhere? Regardless, as always, I wish him all the best. 

 

 

 

[markedman5]

After being exposed to rule 5 draft(with no takers) looks like Kelly may finally be starting to figure it out

 

[TURBO]

5 hours ago, markedman5 said:

After being exposed to rule 5 draft(with no takers) looks like Kelly may finally be starting to figure it out

 

Man I was disgusted when we gave up on this guy...

[Joseph Zarr]

Seeing all these 2022 Sounds having fantastic seasons in the MLB and MiLB levels has me all kinds of nostalgic for that team and that season. Here's a clip of INF/OF Utility man extraordinaire, Weston Wilson, setting the Lehigh Valley season HR record at Buffalo. Wilson is indeed a big reason LV is tied with Durham atop the International League leaderboard pushing for a coveted three-game match-up with with the first half champion Norfolk Tides. 

[Joseph Zarr]

A lot of really good baseball players struggle to get those call-ups or consistent PT at the MLB level and spend years battling it out at the Triple-A level. It is such an arduous journey. C Jakson Reetz was a big part of my 2022 'Hype Train' with his incredible season for the Shuckers in 2022. He got the late call-up to Nashville but was deep down the catcher depth chart. He played in the Kansas City system since August of 2022, elected Free Agency at the end of that season and then signed back with Kansas City. He was released in mid-June of this summer (as we know, this is often contractually given as an option to the Minor Leaguers or an agreement with the team so a player can land in a better spot - ie OF David Dahl last season by every observable measure or INF Eddy Alvarez this year) when he latched on with San Francisco's Sacramento Triple-A affiliate. He's had another solid season at the dish with a 0.901 OPS and 17 HR knocks in just 248 combined AB's. I continue to wish him nothing but the best.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

I had a "Hey, what's OF Corey Ray up to in 2023?!?" 

It turns out, he's a bench coach for the Cubs' High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. I had no idea. Congrats to Corey as he looks to get his feet wet on the coaching side of the dugout:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Former 2022 T-Rats and Shuckers INF Yeison Coca has latched on to the Atlantic League's North Division first place Lancaster Barnstormers (signed April 26th, 2023) and it certainly appears he's had a high-quality season. Coca has played in 96 G with 351 AB's with a 0.308 BA and 0.783 OPS. He's also swiped 33 bags while only being caught once. He's also fielded to a 0.971 FP% with only six errors in 490 IP. 

Here's hoping he can continue excelling and finds his way back to affiliated ball.

 

[Ro Mueller]

23-year old LHP Pablo Garabitos appears healthy and ready to return to the Dairy State: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

9 hours ago, damuelle said:

23-year old LHP Pablo Garabitos appears healthy and ready to return to the Dairy State: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Not of particular note, but I do admire the determination. LHP Jhofez Mejias just turned 20 years old last month. Mejias was released in April 2023 after just one season in the system in the DSL. Idle for the 2023 season, he lands in the independent Pioneer League, an MLB partner league. This is what we mean when we wish released players well in future endeavors on and off the field.
 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Tyson Miller has signed with the Seattle Mariners. It's been quite the MLB circuit for Miller since he was traded to the Dodgers for cash considerations in early July of 2023 - Seattle will be his fourth MLB team in less than six months.

Regardless, we wish him the best of luck in 2024. Here's hoping he discovers his best form.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[TURBO]

This trade is going to haunt us, along with the Reese Olson to Detroit for Norris.  Just gross...

 

Rangers selected the contract of LHP Antoine Kelly from Triple-A Round Rock.

 

The 23-year-old southpaw came to the Rangers in the 2022 deadline deal that sent Matt Bush to the Brewers. Kelly was a dominant force out of the bullpen at Double-A Frisco in 2023 — compiling a 1.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 69/22 K/BB ratio over 50 2/3 innings of work before finishing out his season with six appearances at Triple-A Round Rock. Expect him to open the season in a high-leverage role at Triple-A Round Rock before eventually making his big league debut with the Rangers.

[Jim Goulart]

2019 Timber Rattler maintains a 40-man spot: