Brewers Winter League Thread - 2024-2025

[Ro Mueller]

SS Eduardo Garcia turned a 2-1 Game 4 deficit into a 3-2 advantage with a 2-run 5th inning blast (107mph), as his Cardenales team evened the series at 2 games a piece with an 8-2 road victory: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

In Puerto Rico, C Ramon Rodriguez collected a hit, RBI and walk as Senadores staved off elimination with a 7-5 victory. They still trail the Best-of-9 series against Indios 4 games to 1.

[Jim Goulart]

Though just 22 years old (23 in July), Eduardo Garcia is entering his 7th season in Milwaukee's system, meaning he'd have to play his way onto the 40-man roster prior to next fall (or agree to a minor league extension contract to forego free agency.

Here's the translated text from the post below:

Eduardo García, from "Duaca" Lara state, standing out in this final of the red birds.

He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers at age 16 on October 10, 2018. He debuted with Cardenales de Lara in the 2023 season, having the opportunity to play in only three games. He returned this season but spent most of the games on the bench. In the regular season, Eduardo García hit a .407 batting average, 1.215 OPS, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 11 hits, 5 doubles in 17 games. In the Round Robin, he had 13 hits, 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. In recent games he has shown his great skill with the glove in the SS. Yesterday with a home run he put the Lara Cardinals ahead on the scoreboard. Garcia became the youngest Venezuelan from Cardenales de Lara to hit a home run in the final since Robert Perez (Hedbert's dad) when he hit a home run at age 20 in the 1989-1990 final. Nine Cardenales de Lara players have hit a home run at 22 years old or younger. Although only two Venezuelan hitters and seven imported players had done so. Now the group is made up of three Venezuelan sluggers: Robert Perez, Fred Manrique and Eduardo Garcia.
 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Leading 5-2 in Game 6 of the Puerto Rican Championship Series, RHP Justin Yeager accidentally made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th inning by loading the bases with 2 hits and a walk, then running the count full to Vimael Machin (Orioles), but retired him via fly out as Indios de Mayaguez captured the crown over C Ramon Rodriguez (0-for-3) and San Juan de Senadores 5 games to 1. Yeager tallied 7 Saves and 2 Wins in Indios' 9 playoff victories (including 4 Saves and a Win in the Championship Series).

 

[Joseph Zarr]

So happy for Justin and Eduardo. We didn't get an Aussie group this winter, but these two's collective output is an unexpected and hopeful storyline to help us get to the 2025 season.

[Ro Mueller]

In pivotal Game 5 in Venezuela, Cardenales de Lara stormed back from deficits of 6-2 and 8-7 to defeat Bravos de Margarita 12-9 and take a 3-2 series lead.

SS Eduardo Garcia went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. He was hit-by-pitch and scored to tie the game 8-8 in the top of the 6th inning, then added a sacrifice fly for a 12-8 advantage in the 7th.

[Ro Mueller]

SS Eduardo Garcia and Cardenales de Lara trounced Bravos 9-0 in Game 6 to win the Venezuelan Championship 4 games to 2.

Garcia was in the thick of it again, going 1-for-3 with a 2nd inning sacrifice fly and 3rd inning 2-run homer. What a Winter for the 22-year old!: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Our man is also a popular interview subject: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

More post-game comments from Venezuelan champion Eduardo Garcia: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

The deciding Game 7 of the Dominican Republic Championship Series is tonight, with tensions rising. If we’re lucky, RHP Jesus Liranzo (Escogido) and/or C Jorge Alfaro (Licey) will see action. 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Thanks for all your Winter League efforts in '24-'25, @Ro Mueller!

It's a tedious task, you've been killing it for us all!

[Ro Mueller]

It was a back-and-forth, entertaining Game 7 in the Dominican Republic, with 3B Junior Caminero (Rays) going 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and a tie-breaking solo homer in the top of the 9th inning to give Escogido a 6-5 lead.

Licey put 2 runners aboard against RHP Rafael Montero (Astros) and old friend C Francisco Mejia nearly won the game and series with a 2-out, 2-2 soft liner to right field, but OF Socrates Brito (Korea) corralled the liner to secure Escogido’s Championship.

Though his only series action for Escogido came back in Game 3, recent Brewers’ signee RHP Jesus Liranzo can still call himself a champion. 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

That Final was bonkers. Caminero's game-winning long ball trot was One for the history books. Might have been a 10 minute victory lap filled with machismo to make a grown man weep. I still remember he played in the same Aussie Winter League as Robert Moore and James Meeker. He was a teammate to former Brewer/T-Rat/Aussie League legend, Alex Hall. Let us not forget!😁

[Ro Mueller]

This is a reminder that championship clubs get to represent their country in the Caribbean Series, so some of our guys (e.g. Yeager, Garcia, Liranzo) may have games next week, subject to being made available by the Brewers and selected by the clubs: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

56 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

This is a reminder that championship clubs get to represent their country in the Caribbean Series, so some of our guys (e.g. Yeager, Garcia, Liranzo) may have games next week, subject to being made available by the Brewers and selected by the clubs: 

 

Please let Eduardo Garcia and Justin Yeager continue to feel the impacts of their current Winter League runs. Gotta let them continue to build on this. 👏🏼

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Justin Yeager will indeed be playing for Team Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series next week: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

And INF Eduardo Garcia is also part of the Venezuelan squad which will battle Mexico, Japan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic next week: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Old friends C Francisco Mejia (3-for-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, run) and RHP Brooks Hall (5 shutout innings) led the Dominican Republic to a 2-0 victory over SS Eduardo Garcia (single, 2 Ks) and Venezuela in the opening game of the Caribbean Series.

Mexico whipped Puerto Rico 8-1 in the other contest.

[Jim Goulart]

11 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Old friends C Francisco Mejia (3-for-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, run) and RHP Brooks Hall (5 shutout innings) led the Dominican Republic to a 2-0 victory over SS Eduardo Garcia (single, 2 Ks) and Venezuela in the opening game of the Caribbean Series.

Mejia has signed to play in the Mexican Summer League to begin 2025.

[Ro Mueller]

In their second contest, SS Eduardo Garcia (1-for-3, SB) and Venezuela fell to Mexico 2-1, with 2 ninth innings errors gifting Mexico a late run.

The Dominican Republic also defeated Japan 12-1.

It’s a peculiar tournament format, as 4 of 5 teams will make the knockout round,. Thus, Venezuela is not in too much trouble despite being 0-and-2 with 2 group games remaining.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

8 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

That was a critically important 3-2 win which Justin Yeager (1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 WP, 2 Ks) closed out for Puerto Rico over Japan. Japan lost despite outhitting P.R. 10-4 and stranding a runner at 3rd base in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.

Mexico also defeated the Dominican Republic 2-0.

Mecico and D.R. have qualified for the knockout round, while P.R. (1-1), Venezuela (0-2) and Japan (0-3) each have more work to do.

[Ro Mueller]

Rough start to this afternoon’s Venezuela-Puerto Rico contest for SS Eduardo Garcia: 3 errors in 3 innings, contributing to 3 unearned runs.

But he does have a hit and a run scored. Venezuela trails 5-3 entering the 5th inning.

[Ro Mueller]

Venezuela recovered from their poor start (3 errors, down 5-1) to score 9 unanswered runs and defeat Puerto Rico 10-5. SS Eduardo Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Mexico defeated Japan 7-2 in the other contest.

The Group Stage finishes on Tuesday with Venezuela (1-2) playing Japan (0-3) and P.R. (1-2) battling D.R. (2-1).