2023 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Joseph Zarr]

7 hours ago, Mass Haas said:

NOT A TRANSACTION, just a note (we'll see):

RHP Lance Lusk, 24, had a nice 2022 at Sam Houston State, and then the independent Atlantic League, as shown at the link.

Brewers are relentless in pursuing off-the-radar (pun semi-intended) fireballing relief arms.

Lusk hits 96 MPH within this clip:
 

 Good luck to Lusk and the Brewers regarding the showcase / tryout.

The Atlantic League is definitely considered the 'cream of the crop' when it comes to Indy Leagues - often showcasing MLB caliber players (present and former) trying to get back to the Big League or rehabbing their bodies or image for whatever reasons. It's exciting to see another possible under-the-radar arm with a chance to show his talents! 

[Joseph Zarr]

1B/DH Luke Voit was signed to a Minor League FA contract with an invite to spring training.  He has been assigned to the Sounds.

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Tyler Naquin was signed to a Minor League contract with an invite to spring training. He has been assigned to the Sounds.

Matt Arnold continues to add competition across the depth of this roster.

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

The Brewers have dipped into the independent ranks yet again, and yes, it's for a pitcher yet again.

More congratulations to the soon-to-be 23-year-old from a former college wood bat league club:

Here's the press release from Boise, a team in the MLB Partner Pioneer League:

Chase Costello Signs with Milwaukee Brewers Organization

***

Costello pitched for Louisiana State in 2019 and then made three appearances in the very truncated 2020 Covid-truncated season. Costello never formally pitched for Stetson University, but transferred to LSU for the 2019 season.

Costello's LSU Player Page to learn about his pre-LSU background and more

In 2021, Costello pitched for the Williamsport Crosscutters in the MLB Draft League. In this July 2021 Twitter thread counting down the league's Top 50 Pitching Prospects for the 2021 MLB Draft, Costello was listed at #4:

Costello would not be drafted in 2021, leaving LSU in 2022 for St. Thomas (FL), an NAIA school, and then followed that up posting his best statistical numbers to date in the 2022 Florida Collegiate Summer League with Sanford.

The Baseball Reference page doesn't pop outside of that 2022 summer league stint, but clearly both Boise and now the Brewers were comfortable providing professional opportunities. Two 2021 videos here:

Costello gives thanks to several including development guru Eric Cressey in this Instagram post.

Congratulations to Chase!

[Joseph Zarr]

The Brewers have signed 17-year-old Venezuelan RHP Argenis Aparicio (listed 6'0" 180 lbs) to a Minor League contract. They have assigned him to the DSL Brewers 1.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

Minor League Spring Training report dates:

03/04 pitchers and catchers
03/11 position players 
03/15 games

[Joseph Zarr]

Two reported transactions were officially submitted to close February:

LHP Darrell Thompson was officially assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers

(If you recall, Thompson was signed as a Minor League FA in late October of 2022)

And the Brewers signed 19-year-old Venezuelan RHP Yeferson Tales to a Minor League contract. He will pitch for the DSL Brewers 1.

[Joseph Zarr]

3/15/2023: Optioned to the Nashville Sounds

• RHP Janson Junk
• RHP Cam Robinson
• LHP Ethan Small

3/15/2023: Optioned to the Biloxi Shuckers

• RHP Abner Uribe

[Jim Goulart]

Link to the RHP Javy Guerra trade acquisition thread in the Major League Forum

Discussion there on the trade of RHP Victor Castaneda to the Rays as the PTBNL. Continue discussion there if you wish.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 2/21/2023 at 7:28 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

1B/DH Luke Voit was signed to a Minor League FA contract with an invite to spring training.  He has been assigned to the Sounds.

AND, adding to this Loop:

As per MiLB transactions, 1B/DH Luke Voit was officially released by the Nashville Sounds but it would appear there is more to what's going on:

Stay tuned...

Update: (3/19) The released transaction has been removed as from the transaction ledger as of today. It would appear the Brewers are trying to find a way to get Voit on their roster in the coming week.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

Copying this here as well for those that do not follow some of the other threads as much:

 

Not sure if anyone had reported this earlier, but RHP Ryne Moore underwent Tommy John surgery last summer.  He is now playing catch from 40 feet and is about 6 weeks from getting back on the mound.  Of course, game action is still a ways off, but a mid season return is the goal. 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Trevor Tietz was released from Low-A Carolina

The 22-year old Watertown, Wisconsin native was signed as an undrafted minor league free agent in July 2021 out of Jefferson College, Missouri. After throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings for ACL Brewers Gold in 2021, the hard-throwing (~94mph) Tietz made Low-A Carolina’s opening day bullpen in 2022. An extremely rocky start saw him holding a 7.53 ERA through 25 games (28 2/3 IP), 16 at Carolina and 9 after a demotion back to the ACL. However, he then managed a complete turnaround in the second half of the season, producing a 1.17 ERA over his final 18 games (23 IP) – 10 in the ACL, 8 in Carolina. Most notably, Tietz struck out 72 batters in 51 2/3 innings of work (12.5 K/9) in 2022. We wish Trevor success on his next opportunity.

[Joseph Zarr]

4 hours ago, damuelle said:

RHP Trevor Tietz was released from Low-A Carolina

The 22-year old Watertown, Wisconsin native was signed as an undrafted minor league free agent in July 2021 out of Jefferson College, Missouri. After throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings for ACL Brewers Gold in 2021, the hard-throwing (~94mph) Tietz made Low-A Carolina’s opening day bullpen in 2022. An extremely rocky start saw him holding a 7.53 ERA through 25 games (28 2/3 IP), 16 at Carolina and 9 after a demotion back to the ACL. However, he then managed a complete turnaround in the second half of the season, producing a 1.17 ERA over his final 18 games (23 IP) – 10 in the ACL, 8 in Carolina. Most notably, Tietz struck out 72 batters in 51 2/3 innings of work (12.5 K/9) in 2022. We wish Trevor success on his next opportunity.

Was just coming here to post his release. Alas, I was so happy to see you had beat me to it adorning it with those informational tidbits that you do so darn well. I wish him the best moving forward. He showed signs of an effective relief pitcher last year. I sincerely hope he pulls it together.

[Joseph Zarr]

The following players were officially optioned to the Nashville Sounds yesterday (3/21):

OF Blake Perkins
RHP Elvis Peguero
RHP Jake Cousins
C Payton Henry

The following players were re-assigned to Minor League camp as well:

1B/DH Jon Singleton
INF Eddy Alvarez
OF Skye Bolt
INF Andruw Monasterio
INF/OF Josh VanMeter

 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Four minor league players were unfortunately released today, with the first on a list being a surprise:

- LHP Leoni De La Cruz by Low-Carolina
- OF Oswal Leones by ACL Brewers Blue (though he played mainly at Low-A Carolina last year)
- RHP Andy Garcia by ACL Brewers Blue
- LHP Junior Castillo by ACL Brewers Blue

[Joseph Zarr]

That is odd with De La Cruz. Hopefully, everything is alright there with his health and with his family. He had a very solid year between the ACL and Carolina in 2022. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

That is odd with De La Cruz. Hopefully, everything is alright there with his health and with his family. He had a very solid year between the ACL and Carolina in 2022. 

He might have fallen victim to a numbers game. Ton of pitchers competing for spots on the two A ball rosters.

[Ro Mueller]

Here are some notes on the four men released today. We wish them success in their next endeavors, inside and outside of baseball:

LHP Leoni De La Cruz – 24 – De La Cruz was an older international free agent signing out of the Dominican Republic in June 2021, similar to how we picked up RHP Miguel Sanchez in 2016. Over two seasons, Leoni handled all challenges in the DSL, ACL and Low-A Carolina with aplomb, registering a combined 2.19 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 over 70 innings pitched. I’d expected a promotion to High-A Wisconsin to start this season, but instead Mr. De La Cruz is a surprising spring release.

OF Oswal Leones – 22 – Corner outfielder Leones was an international free agent signing out of Venezuela in November 2017 and got off to a quick start with a solid 2018 DSL campaign: .763 OPS, 3 HR, 28BB/25K ratio. A rough first season stateside in 2019 (.566 OPS in ACL), then 2020 wipeout, was followed by a bounceback 2021 ACL repeat year: .791 OPS, 16BB/22K ratio, though with no homers and only one stolen base. He opened the 2022 season at Low-A Carolina, but it was tough sailing (.560 OPS through 222 PAs), with the Brewers ultimately sending him back to Arizona for his final 9 games.

RHP Andy Garcia – 21 – Yet another international free agent signee, Garcia came aboard in September 2020 from the Dominican Republic. He skipped DSL ball and started 14 of his 20 games in the Brewers system over two years, both of which are signs that the team thought that Mr. Garcia had solid potential. Unfortunately, the results didn’t come through, as he posted a 7.03 ERA in 2021 and 7.22 ERA in 2022, including 51 walks vs. 67 Ks in his 60 2/3 innings over the two campaigns.

LHP Junior Castillo – 20 – Signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in May 2021, Castillo started 7 of his 13 games in the DSL that season, recording a solid 3.05 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, though with only a 7.8 K/9 ratio. He moved to the bullpen at ACL Blue this past season, upping his K/9 ratio to 9.9, but nothing else went right: 11.42 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 27 walks in 17 1/3 innings.

[Jim Goulart]

Brewers yet to announce the release of RH reliever Kent Hasler, but this tweet from his performance coach indicates the 27-year-old has indeed been let go.

Hasler was excellent to begin 2022 at Wisconsin before being bumped to a cameo Nashville appearance in June. Three days later came a transfer to AA Biloxi where Hasler settled in for the balance of the season.

This spring saw Hasler invited to big league games on a few occasions and he retired the one batter he faced upon entering.

Hasler was signed by the Brewers in May of 2021. He had three summers of independent ball under his belt after his Louisiana Tech college career. Hasler was actually inked in February of 2020 by the Diamondbacks, but the pandemic saw his affiliated dream take a pause when Arizona released him just two months later.

Hoping Kent lands another spot in short order.

This is an indication Monday (perhaps Sunday) could be a rough day on the formal release announcement front.

[Joseph Zarr]

Another surprise before our 2023 season. It's never easy to see these young men move on. Best of luck to Kent.

I tend to agree with his performance coach here: this 'should' be quite an easy pick-up given what he's showed to date in affiliated ball. And (sighs), what a difference a year makes. Last year he was coming into the affilited regular season after successful appearances on the Brewers spring training mound. He quickly became Ayrault's lead set-up man for closer Cam Robinson. He never found that dominant form he displayed in High-A after was promoted, BUT, hopefully he showed enough promise that he is signed quickly. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Hasler.

[Joseph Zarr]

As the Brewers spring training edges closer to it's finality, we have more roster moves:

• INF Abraham Toro and RHP Tyson Miller have been optioned to the Nashville Sounds

[Joseph Zarr]

Keeping current post-Luke Voit signing:

• The Brewers have outrighted INF/LF(?) Keston Hiura to the Nashville Sounds

[brewmann04]

On 2/16/2023 at 3:55 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

The Atlantic League is definitely considered the 'cream of the crop' when it comes to Indy Leagues - often showcasing MLB caliber players (present and former) trying to get back to the Big League or rehabbing their bodies or image for whatever reasons. It's exciting to see another possible under-the-radar arm with a chance to show his talents! 

 

On 2/16/2023 at 3:55 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

The Atlantic League is definitely considered the 'cream of the crop' when it comes to Indy Leagues - often showcasing MLB caliber players (present and former) trying to get back to the Big League or rehabbing their bodies or image for whatever reasons. It's exciting to see another possible under-the-radar arm with a chance to show his talents! 

Did the Brewers ever add him?

[Joseph Zarr]

44 minutes ago, brewmann04 said:

 

Did the Brewers ever add him?

Great ?. Unfortunately, no. Lusk re-signed with the now Lexington Counter Clocks (South Division of the Atlantic League - they were the Lexington Legends as recently as the 2022 season) mid March. Hopefully he can get into affiliated ball some time this year, however. I believe he'll be managed by former MLB catcher Barry Lions in 2023 as well as pitching coach Cameron Roth (who managed Lake Erie of the Frontier League awhile back).

[Jim Goulart]

Cameron Wagoner B-Ref Page - 11th round RHP and a Brisbane Bandit this past winter
 

(This was expected but is indication players are starting to be told their 2023 destinations.)