Misc. Minor League Alumni News & Notes - 2025 Version

[Ro Mueller]

Putting this in the alumni thread: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

24-year old LHP Pablo Garabitos (25th round pick in 2018; dominant 2022 season in Low-A ball before an injury) has signed with Quebec Capitales of the independent Frontier League.

[Ro Mueller]

29-year old RHP Michael (don’t call me an outfielder) Reed has signed with the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the independent Frontier League.

He played 29 games for AAA Nashville as an outfielder in 2023 before converting to pitching with the Rangers (Arizona Complex League) in 2024.

[Jim Goulart]

RHP Yujanyer Herrera (Nick Mears trade with Colorado) was placed on the full-season IL by the Rockies, expected after the news of his Tommy John surgery shortly after the 2024 season ended.

[Jim Goulart]

Great news for RHP Luis Contreras, among those featured in this MLBTR post.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Great news for RHP Luis Contreras, among those featured in this MLBTR post.

 

Bad news for ol' Nashville and Brewers friend, Jon Singleton.

I've been pining for RHP Luis Contreras to get an actual meaningful MLB bullpen opportunity since he was a Shucker. He had a couple cups of tepid coffee last season but continued his grind with a fantastic season for Sugar Land (where, surely, ol' friend Garrett Greene appreciated his work). Huge for him to make the Opening Day roster. Here's hoping he runs with it!

[Jim Goulart]

Obscure but potentially impactful -

How about a player who transitioned to center field at the AA level in 2024, posting a .331/.418/.416 line, albeit at age 27?

Bryan Torres was only 21 when he was plucked by the Giants in the minor league phase of Rule 5 in December 2019, having played all over the diamond in his four rookie-level seasons, primarily catcher and then corner infield in his Brewers days. He had been a non-drafted player out of Puerto Rico.

Torres jumped both A-Ball levels and did fine at AA in his lone San Francisco organization season, but because of the Covid-years, qualified for minor league free agency, finding no takers.

Torres would crush independent ball with ironically, the Milwaukee Milkmen, in both 2022 and 2023 (.925 OPS, 1.004 OPS), before someone finally took notice for the 2024 season, that someone being the St, Louis Cardinals.

Last September 7th, watch as he made this catch on the same night he went 5-for-5 (more video).

Torres' career arc has been fascinating, as his Baseball Reference page shows.

St. Louis just placed Torres on their AAA Memphis roster to begin 2025, it'll be his first taste of ball at that level.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

Old friend Jake (sometimes Henry) Gatewood has signed with the New York Yankees.  The power-hitting infielder is still chasing the dream and pushing for his first taste of the big leagues after a monster 2024 season with independent Gastonia.

[Jim Goulart]

Detailed and quote-filled article with updates on 2024 Nashville Sounds RHP Darrell Thompson (who asked to be released mid-season), with a tied-in update on fellow former Sound Patrick Dorrian.

[Jim Goulart]

OF Joey Wiemer optioned to AAA by Kansas City. Once 20 days pass, that'll be his final minor league option utilized (so the impact is in spring 2026, not the rest of this season).

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Peter Strzelecki's unfortunate DFA tour has continued in early 2025.

Here's hoping he finds the right situation and the right series of events to make it back into a Big League Pen in 2025. 

[Ro Mueller]

I'm not sure if we caught this earlier: former Brewers' OF Chris Roller signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League

[Joseph Zarr]

On 3/28/2025 at 8:06 PM, Ro Mueller said:

I'm not sure if we caught this earlier: former Brewers' OF Chris Roller signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League

The Atlantic League just got richer. Here's hoping he crushes it and gets another affiliated opportunity. I will always remember 2024 September Chris Roller fondly. Lightning in a bottle.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Two Brewers’ alumni directly affected by these moves: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Carlos D. still in AA…

 

[biedergb]

18 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Carlos D. still in AA…

Odd.  If still with Brewers you would imagine he would be at AAA given the limited depth there. Unless the team was ready to move on anyway. Still this will be his 3rd year at AA

[Jim Goulart]

The Shane Smith MLB debut summary post - link

[Jim Goulart]

We’re always a fan of keeping a uniform on and the dream alive - details at the associated press release here:

 

[Outlander]

Old friend Cam Devanney had a walk off HR for Omaha last night, his 4th HR in 5 games. He is 27 and still hasn't had his shot in the majors, hope it happens this season. Wish he was the one getting a look this season for the Brewers.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Outlander said:

Old friend Cam Devanney had a walk off HR for Omaha last night, his 4th HR in 5 games. He is 27 and still hasn't had his shot in the majors, hope it happens this season. Wish he was the one getting a look this season for the Brewers.

That's 2024 International League Champion, Cam Devanney, Sir:

 

[Ro Mueller]

Old friend Logan Gillaspie (2019 Timber Rattler) gets his next MLB shot: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

It doesn’t look like INF/OF Mark Mathias (2022 Nashville) has played anywhere since August 2023, but he’s now back in the independent Atlantic League: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

On 3/24/2025 at 12:37 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

I've been pining for RHP Luis Contreras to get an actual meaningful MLB bullpen opportunity since he was a Shucker. He had a couple cups of tepid coffee last season but continued his grind with a fantastic season for Sugar Land (where, surely, ol' friend Garrett Greene appreciated his work). Huge for him to make the Opening Day roster. Here's hoping he runs with it!

Contreras gets optioned by Houston after posting an 8.44 ERA through four appearances (5.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR).

[Ro Mueller]

Congrats to Robert Stock (23 difficult IP with Nashville in 2023): 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Congrats to Jason Alexander (Nashville 2022-2023; 71.2 IP with the Brewers in 2022 as well):