AZ Fall League - Rosters, Schedule, Streaming, etc.

[nate82]

I didn’t see a thread yet for this but then again I didn’t look all that hard.

I am not sure on the pitchers who will make it but I think Wilken and Pratt are locks on the positional side.

Beyond Pratt and Wilken I am not all that confident in predicting anyone else.  This feels like a weird year as it was rather easy the last few years to list out 10+ who I thought would be locks for a spot.

[biedergb]

Is Pratt a lock? Sometimes players who played the full season do get time off, but I know it also is a time for top prospects to go and play with other top prospects.

I would imagine for the pitchers it comes down to health.

For the lost seasons - Woodward, Birchard come to mind if healthy. But beyond that who knows?

Other position players - Hedbert Perez who needs more playing time to figure out if he is a prospect or now, and I wonder if we send a catcher (Wood, Miller) to focus on the catching game.

[wiguy94]

23 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Is Pratt a lock? Sometimes players who played the full season do get time off, but I know it also is a time for top prospects to go and play with other top prospects.

I would imagine for the pitchers it comes down to health.

For the lost seasons - Woodward, Birchard come to mind if healthy. But beyond that who knows?

Other position players - Hedbert Perez who needs more playing time to figure out if he is a prospect or now, and I wonder if we send a catcher (Wood, Miller) to focus on the catching game.

Agree pretty much across the board. Also don't think Wilken is remotely a lock. I could see them wanting him to put his disappointing season behind him and not extending it another few weeks in the AFL.

[biedergb]

10 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Agree pretty much across the board. Also don't think Wilken is remotely a lock. I could see them wanting him to put his disappointing season behind him and not extending it another few weeks in the AFL.

That was my initial thought. Or if cleared he could get reps without the caged helmet.

So agree -  not a lock, but of the higher end prospects, given that he had a disappointing season that started out with an injury (some missed time) I could see that being an option for him.

Really I think this year rather than just a "finishing school in the AFL". the may use it as a make up for missed time, if healthy.

[nate82]

I think Wilken is a lock because of the injury.  I believe the Brewers will want him to get more at bats.  The at bats being what they want him to get and results won’t matter.  He missed a good amount of time this year.  So the at bats mean more than the results.

[wiguy94]

6 minutes ago, nate82 said:

I think Wilken is a lock because of the injury.  I believe the Brewers will want him to get more at bats.  The at bats being what they want him to get and results won’t matter.  He missed a good amount of time this year.  So the at bats mean more than the results.

He's had 475 PA this season which is 7th most in our entire minor league system.

[jay87shot]

I think Marco Dinges would be a good idea since he is kind of transitioning to the catcher spot. Blake Burke wouldnt be bad as a draft pick either to make up for the couple weeks he has missed. Since the AFL usually is a hitter friendly place I would send Wilken. I think it is more likely that he has success and can put a positive spin on the year. If things go poorly he basically goes into the offseason with the same mindset. 

Birchard and Woodward are good choices. I wouldn't mind sending Bishop Letson since we have been so conservative with him I don't think another 10 innings against good competition wouldn hurt (maybe to a lesser degree Knoth).

From a personal interest I would like to see a guy like Braylon Payne, Made, or Pena but I understand each off those guys would be stretches. 

 

[Playing Catch]

I always think about the guys that missed time due to injury. I'm not sure of their availability but some thoughts are Quero, Felix Valerio, Boeve, Coleman Crow, Brandon Knarr, Edwin Jimenez, Birchard.

Some guys due to piqued curiosity... Russell Smith, I liked the Hedbert Perez thought.

I don't see a lot of other guys, so maybe one of the young guys do get a shot, like the Pratts, the Laras.

I'll bet Boeve goes. I'm imagining the brass wondering if he could be a contender for 3rd base next season.

[Madhawk23]

Glad you started this thread, as I was just thinking about AFL rosters this past weekend.  

Can someone remind me what Boeve's injury was that ended his season?  Would he even be able to play in the AFL due to the injury?  If he can, then I would almost put him in the "lock" category with all of the time that he missed this year.  

With Wilken - I'm in the camp that you just have to let him get some time off at the end of this Biloxi season.  In many ways this has been somewhat of a "lost" season for him, as it has really gone south after that promising month of July.  I think he needs to hit a reset button going into next year, and not sure if sending him to the AFL right after the season gets done is a good idea. 

Hedbert seems like a no-brainer pick as well.  I'd almost be floored if he's not on the roster.  

Would love to see Dinges or Burke sent to the AFL this year, but is it typical to have recent draft picks included?  With their long seasons (both college and minors), I wonder if they'll want to get these guys some rest?  Burke has missed a bunch of AB's though recently, so he might be a different story? 

Not sure what arms we'll send?  Do we know the status of Crow?  Would love to see him get some action down there, but it all depends of course on how he's recovering.  

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't think Wilken is going in any way shape or form. Get through the playoffs. Restore. He's also a new dad so I would be pretty near certain the org would pay attention to this. He needs to work out in the off-season. Keep swinging. Stay home with the family. Come back healthy and strong and mostly put 2024 in the rear view mirror. AFL games are just not needed here. Despite the injury plenty of AB's in-season.

Names I would keep an eye on (via my own sentiments or rumblings I've heard):

OF Hedbert Perez
LHP Brian Fitzpatrick
RHP Jason Woodward
OF Luis Lara
INF Eduardo Garcia
INF Ethan Murray
INF Mike Boeve
RHP Blake Holub
RHP Yerlin Rodriguez
RHP Tyler Bryant
RHP Chase Costello
RHP Ryan Birchard


 

[wiguy94]

While we were just talking about the Arizona Fall League, who do we think is getting sent to Australia to play for Brisbane this offseason? Last year I think we only sent 2 or 3. Typically we only send players who have played in A and A+.

[Ro Mueller]

This isn’t exactly star power, but we may be thinking:

- Hedbert Perez - missed most of season
- Eduardo Garcia - outfield time
- Mike Boeve or Kay-Lan Nicasia (if either is healthy)

I still can’t believe we sent 7th year, low-K, high-usage Joseph Hernandez as our starting pitcher last year. Weird.

For pitchers, I’ll guess:
- Brian Fitzpatrick (if healthy) or Mark Manfredi
- Tyler Bryant
- Chase Costello
- Jake Polancic (if healthy)

[Playing Catch]

In terms of guys that would be fun to follow (yes, yes, Joseph, I know that they are ALL fun to follow), I want to see Boeve, Woodward, Yerlin, Birchard, and why not? Ernesto Martinez Jr.

I VERY much want to know if Boeve and/or EMJ are legitimate 40-man options for next season.

Edit to question... Would EMJ have to be placed on the 40-man before AFL? What are the dates?

[Joseph Zarr]

15 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

This isn’t exactly star power, but we may be thinking:

- Hedbert Perez - missed most of season
- Eduardo Garcia - outfield time
- Mike Boeve or Kay-Lan Nicasia (if either is healthy)

I still can’t believe we sent 7th year, low-K, high-usage Joseph Hernandez as our starting pitcher last year. Weird.

For pitchers, I’ll guess:
- Brian Fitzpatrick (if healthy) or Mark Manfredi
- Tyler Bryant
- Chase Costello
- Jake Polancic (if healthy)

Man, speaking of Costello, he threw a sinker last night with 19" of movement. It caught even Javik Blake by surprise. He continues to be one of my favorites. RF Connor Scott botched a tricky diving catch in RF to open his second inning of work. He didn't blink. He didn't blink when that same hitter easily took 3B off of C Darrien Miller. He was cool and calm. Just buckled down. Such an underrated bullpen arm. I could very much see him going the route of a RHP Shane Smith. 

I continue to wonder if Bryant will actually be sent to Australia ala Meeker and Gardner. I want to see him in the AFL scenarios but the Brewers have sent those mid-season Indy singing bullpen arms to the Aussie League of late.

[wiguy94]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Man, speaking of Costello, he threw a sinker last night with 19" of movement. It caught even Javik Blake by surprise. He continues to be one of my favorites. RF Connor Scott botched a tricky diving catch in RF to open his second inning of work. He didn't blink. He didn't blink when that same hitter easily took 3B off of C Darrien Miller. He was cool and calm. Just buckled down. Such an underrated bullpen arm. I could very much see him going the route of a RHP Shane Smith. 

I continue to wonder if Bryant will actually be sent to Australia ala Meeker and Gardner. I want to see him in the AFL scenarios but the Brewers have sent those mid-season Indy singing bullpen arms to the Aussie League of late.

I've been calling Costello poor man's Yoho for a couple months now. Feel like it's a fitting description of him.

[sveumrules]

6 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

I've been calling Costello poor man's Yoho for a couple months now. Feel like it's a fitting description of him.

Six pitchers in the Brewers system with at least 30 IP and an xFIP under 3.00 this year are...

Yoho (1.90), KC Hunt (2.32), Sam Gardner (2.44), Yorman Galindez (2.75), Shane Smith (2.89) and Chase Costello (2.92).

[Joseph Zarr]

11 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Six pitchers in the Brewers system with at least 30 IP and an xFIP under 3.00 this year are...

Yoho (1.90), KC Hunt (2.32), Sam Gardner (2.44), Yorman Galindez (2.75), Shane Smith (2.89) and Chase Costello (2.92).

Man, Gardner is really really good. Amazing how easily he coasts under-the-radar. It's really awesome to see him come into this regular season after absolutely dominancing in Australia and just hit the ground running. The injuries were a bummer but it certainly doesn't minimize how fantastic he has been. He's easily one of the most "If he can execute like this at Triple-A?" guys tossing that pillow around. His breaking ball is a truly filthy pitch. 

[Joseph Zarr]

24 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

I've been calling Costello poor man's Yoho for a couple months now. Feel like it's a fitting description of him.

The cool thing about Chase is he regularly sits 93-95 mph. And, it just feels like he can easily land at 95-97 mph as he matures a little more. He absolutely has the build. He's a formidable presence on the mound, as you know. He's only 24 years old and it just feels like he's just starting to get who he is as a pitcher in pro ball. We have to remember, he was pitching for the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer League after kind of a collegiate journeyman route. This is only his second season in the org. The Brewers just find those arms. It's uncanny.

[Jastro]

Here is the group going to AFL:
Brewers (Peoria): Brock Wilken, 3B (No. 7); Luis Lara, OF (No. 16); Juan Baez, 3B/2B (No. 27); Coleman Crow, RHP (No. 30); Ryan Birchard, RHP; Will Childers, RHP; Mark Manfredi, LHP; Nick Merkel, RHP

https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2024-arizona-fall-league-rosters#nlcentral

[Jake McKibbin]

Coleman Crow was always expected, but can't wait to see him in action, Reports of a very talented arm if he can stay healthy with a big IVB fastball

[Joseph Zarr]

Very surprised re: Wilken. Very excited about Crow (tho, if we go off of Henderson's AFL back when we shouldn't expect a ton of PT - any exposure is good exposure, however). Big opportunities for Lara and Baez. Hopefully, Manfredi continues to get high-leverage relief moments. Big opportunities for Merkel and Childers to build on their bullpen resumes. Assuming, of course, the starter coverage for Biloxi was emergency fill-in. I don't know how to feel about Birchard's season at present given how much of a literal struggle it has been. I simply hope he improves and walks less batters in his opportunities. I feel we are baby stepping here. Has to un-level his heater and find more meaningful ride. Has to find accuracy in and around the zone.

Very surprised Hedbert isn't getting an opportunity but given the numerous defensive lapses we witnessed late at Wisconsin he may have forced the pivot. I had heard he was a near shoe-in a month ago - and, as we know, things change.. Now, I wonder if he doesn't go to Australia - a step down in competition but much needed PT regardless.

[Ro Mueller]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Very surprised Hedbert isn't getting an opportunity but given the numerous defensive lapses we witnessed late at Wisconsin he may have forced the pivot. I had heard he was a near shoe-in a month ago - and, as we know, things change.. Now, I wonder if he doesn't go to Australia - a step down in competition but much needed PT regardless.

My predictive power is apparently Nil, but I’ll guess Walling, Timmerman and Costello for the Aussie league. We should hear in about a month.

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Playing Catch]

That's a fun group to follow!

It wouldn't be the worst thing to get Wilken out of Biloxi for a month and see if he can find some consistency. Who knows? If he performs like Clarke did last year, perhaps he'd still be an option at 3rd out of Spring Training. That would be awesome!

[Playing Catch]

21 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Now, I wonder if he doesn't go to Australia - a step down in competition but much needed PT regardless.

I'll bet he plays in Venezuela.