Brewers Winter League Thread - 2024-2025

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Jackson Chourio has been the story of the last week, exciting fans since joining Aguilas. Will the Brewers allow him to also participate in some playoff games?

Winter League Stats to Date (for active or recently-active players):

Venezuela:

• OF Jackson Chourio - Aguilas del Zulia - 1.089 in 18 PAs, 3 RBIs
• INF Andruw Monasterio - Caribes de Anzoategui - .819 OPS in 180 PAs, 19 RBIs, 7 SBs
• OF Hedbert Perez (not played since 12/6 – renewing US work visa) - Tiburones de la Guaira - .858 OPS in 88 PAs, 10 RBIs, 2 SBs
• INF Eduardo Garcia (not played since 12/5) - Cardenales de Lara – 1.201 OPS in 19 PAs, 5 RBIs

Dominican League:

• OF Bladimir Restituyo - Aguilas Cibaenas - .250 OPS in 17 PAs

Puerto Rico:

• RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 14.2 IP, 4 R, 10 H, 7 BB, 19 K, 7 Saves
• C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .693 OPS in 41 PAs, 1 RBI, 1 SB
• C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 4 PAs, 1 RBI

Mexico:

• LHP Jesus Broca (not played since 11/30) - Algodoneros de Guasave – 12.2 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 10 H, 10 BB, 10 Ks

[Ro Mueller]

"Rafael Álvarez, advisor to the management of the Águilas del Zulia, spoke about possible reinforcements for the Round Robin and the possibility of Jackson Chourio playing in the next round": 

 

[Playing Catch]

I really don't understand the Brewers worrying that much about Chourio playing, other than it's more risky than if they just bubble-wrapped him and locked him up all winter. Go ahead and let him DH, let him play every other day, let him pinch-hit on his off days. Whatever, I just can't imagine him playing some baseball games for his hometown team is worse for him than [insert literally any other offseason activity].

[Ro Mueller]

INF Eduardo Garcia's first plate appearance in 2 weeks went well: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

The Winter League regular seasons are wrapping up, with top teams qualifying for Round Robin rounds. Jackson Chourio played 6 games for playoff-bound Aguilas, but will not participate. Hopefully Eduardo Garcia gets some further playing time with Cardenales. Over in Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager now has 8 saves for Indios.

Winter League Stats to Date (for active or recently-active players):

Venezuela:

• OF Jackson Chourio - Aguilas del Zulia - .944 in 22 PAs, 3 RBIs
• INF Andruw Monasterio - Caribes de Anzoategui (didn’t qualify for Round Robin) - .823 OPS in 190 PAs, 21 RBIs, 7 SBs
• OF Hedbert Perez (never returned from US visa processing) - Tiburones de la Guaira (lost play-in game, so didn’t qualify for Round Robin) - .858 OPS in 88 PAs, 10 RBIs, 2 SBs
• INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara – 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs, 11 RBIs, 2 SBs

Dominican League:

• OF Bladimir Restituyo - Aguilas Cibaenas - .353 OPS in 18 PAs

Puerto Rico:

• RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 17.2 IP, 4 R, 11 H, 7 BB, 20 K, 8 Saves
• C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .743 OPS in 58 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB
• C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 4 PAs, 1 RBI

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia continues to produce, this time with a 4-for-4 game in Cardenales’ 11-7 victory over Tigres in the first game of the 5-team Round Robin round.

Garcia played shortstop, smacked a double, stole a base and had a single turn into a little league homer. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Deivi Garcia has joined Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Republic, starting and facing 6 batters (0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K) in his 2024 Winter League debut: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Here's another key hit from Eduardo Garcia, a solo homer to push Cardenales' lead to 3-1: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Trailing 4-3 with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning with Eduardo Garcia due up, Cardenales brought in old friend Hernan Perez to pinch hit and he came through in a BIG way: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

As Andruw Monasterio’s Venezuelan club missed out on the Round Robin round, there are only 4-5 Brewers still active in Winter Ball, but Eduardo Garcia, Justin Yeager and Ramon Rodriguez are each playing prominent roles:

Venezuela:

• INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - 5-for-10 with a HR, 2 RBIs and SB in 3 Round Robin games, after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season

Dominican League:

• RHP Deivi Garcia (one appearance on December 26) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K
• OF Bladimir Restituyo - Aguilas Cibaenas - last played December 17th. It remains to be seen whether Restituyo will play in the Round Robin round, which commences on January 2

Puerto Rico:

• RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 2.18 ERA, 20.2 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 25 K, league-leading 11 Saves
• C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .763 OPS in 75 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers RHP Sam McWilliams joined Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Republic, facing 3 batters in a regular season game on December 21 (single, BB, sac bunt) and another 2 batters in a round robin game today (sac fly, fly out). 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales squad has been tearing through the 5-team Round Robin phase in Venezuela, racing out to a 6-0 record with 10 games remaining. The top two teams will qualify for the best-of-7 championship series.

Over in Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager’s club clinched first place in the regular season and will start their best-of-7 semifinal on Tuesday. Ramon Rodriguez’s team took 3rd place in the regular season and will play in the other semifinal.

Here are stats of Brewers’ players still active in Winter Ball:

Venezuela:

• INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - .991 OPS in 23 PAs with a HR, 4 RBIs and 1 SB in 6 Round Robin games; after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season

Dominican League:

• RHP Sam McWilliams (3 games) - Aguilas Cibaenas - 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Deivi Garcia (1 game) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K

Puerto Rico:

• RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 1.90 ERA, 23.2 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 27 K, 11 Saves
• C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .776 OPS in 77 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB
• C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 6 PAs, 1 RBI

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia blasted his 4th homer of the Winter League campaign, but Cardenales lost the game late. They still lead the Round Robin phase in Venezuela through 7 of 16 games. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

After starting the Round Robin phase 6-0, Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales’ team has dropped 3 straight. They’ll be in a dog fight with Bravos and Aguilas del Zulia (Jackson Chourio’s club, if he’s made available to play) over the final 7 games to qualify for the championship.

In Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager collected yet another save in a 5-4 victory for Indios to even their semifinal series 1-1 against Criollos. Ramon Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs as Senadores took Game 1 of their semifinal against Cangrejeros, though they were shutout in Game 2.

And in the Dominican Republic, Sam McWilliams retired all 4 batters he faced for Aguilas Cibaenas on Wednesday, though they fell 2-1 to drop to an abysmal 1-6 record in Round Robin play.

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Pivotal Game 5 of Indios de Mayaguez’s Best-of-7 semifinal against Caguas saw RHP Justin Yeager give up a rare run as they fell behind 4-2 in the top of the 9th inning. However, they plated 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th and another in the bottom of the 10th to snatch a 5-4 victory and 3-2 series lead. Yeager allowed 3 hits and 3 walks over 2 innings, but still played hero by notching the 2-inning Win.

C Ramon Rodiguez’s Senadores de San Juan squad has already qualified for the Puerto Rican final by winning their series 4-1 over Santurce.

Over in Venezuela, INF Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales’ squad notched 3 victories to drop their Magic Number to 1 game (with 4 games remaining) to qualify for the Championship. Unavailable-thus-far Jackson Chourio’s Aguilas team and old friend OF Carlos D. Rodriguez’s Magallanes squad both trail Bravos by 2 games for the second spot in the final

Here are the latest Winter Season stats for Brewers’ players still active:

Puerto Rico:

• RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 2.25 ERA in 4.0 playoff IP, with 5 H, 4 BB, 2 Ks, 2 Saves, 1 Win; after posting a 1.90 ERA, 23.2 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 27 K, 11 Saves in the regular season
• C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .650 OPS in 20 playoff PAs with 1 HR and 3 RBIs; after posting a .776 OPS in 77 PAs, 3 RBIs and 1 SB in the regular season
• C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 6 PAs, 1 RBI in the regular season

Venezuela:

• INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - .909 OPS in 36 PAs with a 2 HRs, 6 RBIs and 2 SBs in 12 Round Robin games; after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season

Dominican League:

• RHP Sam McWilliams (3 games) - Aguilas Cibaenas - 4.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks
• RHP Deivi Garcia (1 game) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K

[Ro Mueller]

Justin Yeager grabbed his 3rd save (along with a win) of the series for Indios de Mayaguez, who advance to the Puerto Rican Championship Series. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Indios de Mayaguez has captured the first 2 games of the Puerto Rican Championship Series, winning 5-3 in Game 1, then benefitting from a walk-off error to grab Game 2 by a score of 2-1.

RHP Justin Yeager pitched the 9th inning in both games, though hasn’t been his lights-off self, allowing a harmless run in Game 1 (though still got the Save) and registering his first blown save in Game 2 (though still got the Win).

C Ramon Rodriguez is 2-for-8 in the two defeats for Senadores de San Juan.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Recently-signed C Jorge Alfaro and Tigres del Licey will face Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic Championship Series, with Game 1 tonight.

Alfaro produced an .816 OPS in 33 ABs in LIDOM's regular season, then a .536 OPS in 29 ABs during the round robin phase, totalling 2 HRs alongside a frightening 2 BB / 21 K ratio as he ramps up baseball activity after sitting out the 2024 season.

INF Eduardo Garcia did not play in Game 1 of Venezuela's Championship Series as his Cardenales de Lara squad fell 4-2 to Bravos de Margarita. Garcia had a 1.215 OPS in 27 ABs in LVBP's regular season, then an .881 OPS in 42 ABs in the round robin phase.

RHP Sam McWilliams had two more appearances for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Republic this week, ending his Winter League campaign (as Aguilas did not reach the championship series) with the following combined line: 5.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks.

[Ro Mueller]

Indios de Mayaguez have won 7 playoff games, with RHP Justin Yeager earning 5 Saves and 2 Wins in those games (1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks, Save last night). They now lead the Puerto Rican Championship Series 3-0. C Ramon Rodriguez went 1-for-4 again for Senadores in defeat. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Another nail-biter, another Save for RHP Justin Yeager (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K), as Indios take Game 4 by a score of 2-1 over Senadores. They’re up 4 games to 0 in the Best-of-9 Championship Series in Puerto Rico. C Ramon Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a walk for Senadores. 

Meanwhile, C Jorge Alfaro pinch hit for Tigres del Licey down 3-2 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, but struck out as Leones del Escogido evened the Dominican Republic Championship Series at one game apiece. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

After Cardenales de Lara dropped 2 straight at home to open the Venezuelan Championship Series against Bravos de Margarita, INF Eduardo Garcia saw his first action in Game 3 - starting at shortstop and batting 9th as they won 9-2.

While the box score suggests our man didn’t aid the cause much (0-for-4, caught stealing, error), some fans think he’s the key to stabilizing their defense.