Misc. Minor League Alumni News & Notes - 2025 Version

[Jim Goulart]

Turns 28 in December, nets another camp invite, and gets one of the first Bob Nightengale offseason mentions.

Baseball Reference

 

[Jim Goulart]

2017-2022 RHP Robbie Hitt, who topped out at Biloxi, is going back to his college days as the new pitching coach at Quinnipiac (CT).

[TURBO]

Independent journalist Francys Romero reports that veteran right-hander Cody Ponce is interested in returning to Major League Baseball for the 2026 season.

 

The 31-year-old hurler won the pitching triple crown in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2025, posting a scintillating 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 252/41 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings in 29 starts for the Hanwha Eagles. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic has noted that the Giants are among the teams that are interested in the right-hander — who hasn’t pitched in a big league contest since 2021.

 

 

Source: Francys Romero

[Ro Mueller]

53 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Independent journalist Francys Romero reports that veteran right-hander Cody Ponce is interested in returning to Major League Baseball for the 2026 season.

 

The 31-year-old hurler won the pitching triple crown in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2025, posting a scintillating 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 252/41 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings in 29 starts for the Hanwha Eagles. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic has noted that the Giants are among the teams that are interested in the right-hander — who hasn’t pitched in a big league contest since 2021.

 

 

Source: Francys Romero

Cool. Ponce also just led his team to a win in the deciding 5th game to reach the best-of-7 Korean Series: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

This is wonderful for Cody - I/we highlighted him early in the KBO season when he was very strong out of the gates. Heck, I hope the Brewers give him a look. What a story that could be!

I'll be honest, tho, the Brewers (Helena/T-Rats) alum most on my mind last night was one LHP Anthony Banda. Certainly not his bright shining moment. Certainly wish that outcome had happened via a Brewers bat.

 

[Jim Goulart]

An affiliate alumni post? Yes, and memories.

 

[Jim Goulart]

As we typed on March 25th of this year --

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 (MiLB Player Page, now 28) 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 five (!) Brewers rookie-level seasons (Dominican Republic for three seasons, the now-defunct Pioneer League for two), primarily catcher and then corner infield in his Crew 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, where he added outfield play to his mix.

Last September 7th (2024), 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.

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Thursday 11/6 Update:
 

"X" Thread here:

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Old friend OF Carlos D. Rodriguez lost his surprising 40-man roster spot with Atlanta having not cracked the big leagues for a debut in 2025. He’s a minor league free agent now after posting weak numbers in his one Braves minor league season. He’ll turn 25 in December.

[Joseph Zarr]

2024 friend of the Sounds and Brewers bullpen, RHP Enoli Paredes, who last year pitched with the Braves Gwinnett Stripers, will join the Orioles organization in a Minor League deal with an NRI to Big League Camp:

 

[Jim Goulart]

Bryan Hudson was fun — for a while…

 

[biedergb]

19 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

Bryan Hudson was fun — for a while…

Yes he was. Dang. Chambers looks like he could be one that got away.  Although he was coming back from arm surgery when we drafted him, right?

Oh well. We got about a good season for Hudson not bad for a 20th round pick.

[Jim Goulart]

Technically not a "minor league" alumnus, but --

 

[wiguy94]

Cam Devanney is headed to the NPB.

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Seeing Jadher 40 Man'd is awesome but it truly is bittersweet for this ol vet Brewers fan. I always steadfastly believed in the player. From very very early I could tell he just had a different feel for the game most Brewers players lacked. I saw the Brewers overly heavy 'Swing Decisions' rationale for keeping him back at High-A a bit strange and a wee silly given all the strides he was making with power and the general qualities of the player as a free formed pseudo savant. Defensively, he was absolutely gold glove caliber. Anywho, it is what it is yet again. Extremely happy for the player. The Rays know they have a good One.

I guess I'll always remember that One big hit Danny Jansen had before the Brewers were swept in embarrassing fashion by the Dodgers. 

(No I won't 😅)

[Jim Goulart]

I think we're going to have to establish a "Shane Smith-like follow" thread for Jadher in 2026 and beyond - more fireworks Wednesday night

 

[Jim Goulart]

In addition to Drew Avans news, catching up on other alumni:

Organization #4 for Antoine Kelly (MKE-TEX-COL), yet to make his MLB debut, turns 26 in December. 

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Je'Von Ward re-upped with the Blue Jays. He just turned 26.
 

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RHP Daniel Missaki, 29 years old, re-upped with the Rangers. Though he was one of the three lottery tickets in the Adam Lind trade that netted Freddy Peralta, Missaki never formally appeared in a Brewers affiliate game due to injury.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Good to see Alex Jackson likely lock in solid wages (estimated $1.8 million) for the first time: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Franchise number 5 for Joey Wiemer: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

It is the year 2025 and two MLB teams just traded for C Alex Jackson and OF Joey Wiemer. On the same day, more or less!

 

[sveumrules]

10 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

It is the year 2025 and two MLB teams just traded for C Alex Jackson and OF Joey Wiemer. On the same day, more or less!

 

If the Brewers are "dumpster divers" and other teams are intentionally acquiring players out of OUR dumpster, does that make them "double dumpster divers" ?? 

[Joseph Zarr]

12 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

If the Brewers are "dumpster divers" and other teams are intentionally acquiring players out of OUR dumpster, does that make them "double dumpster divers" ?? 

All I can say with near certainty is C Alex Jackson will likely go through a prolonged slump littered with massive swings and misses this season in his back-up role BUT he will also likely hit an absolute pull shot NUKE at some point. I can see that brief crack high aftermath now between Falvey and Zoll up in their Box:

[Ro Mueller]

OF Carlos Rodriguez joins his third club: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[ARobsBrewCrew]

LHP Adam Seminaris, part of the trade (with RHP Janson Junk and RHP Elvis Peguero) that sent Hunter Renfroe to the Angels, has signed a minor league deal with the Phillies for 2026.  The southpaw spent the ‘25 campaign in the Mariners organization; 3.02 ERA in 125.1 IP with their AA affiliate.