Misc. Offseason Updates - AFL, Winter Leagues

[Jim Goulart]

Set to debut shortly in Venezuela with Tiburones de La Guaira is soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP and Nicaraguan native Stiven Cruz, a Timber Rattler and Shucker in 2025.

 

[Jim Goulart]

Gameday / Box Score

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

Gameday / Box Score

Ended up 1-for-2 with 1 RBI (a 2-Out RBI, no less), 1 BB, 1 HBP and 1 SB (his 3rd of the AFL). Surprise pulled out the dub (click Jim's link) 6-4 moving to 12-7. RHP Michael Fowler was the lone Brewers pitcher to appear - a scoreless 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 1 K, and 1 H (his 2nd if the AFL).

 

---

The Sagauros gained back last night's close 8-7 loss to Mesa. LF Josh Adamczewski, earning that nightly third spot in the batting order, went 1-for-3 with 1 BB. 2B Dylan O'Rae also played a full tilt batting 9th. Another impactful load of work at the bottom of the order: 0-for-1, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP, and 1 SB (his 5th). O'Rae was also involved in a defensive DP. RHP Edwin Jimenez closed out the game with two scoreless frames: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, and 1K.

[jay87shot]

Would I be safe to assume O'Rae starts in AA and plays mostly OF with some 2B sprinkled in. He doesn't turn 22 until Februray so there is still plenty of time to put together a good 2026 and rocket back up the organizational depth chart and prospect rankings. He had an advanced eye and speed to burn if he is hitting balls in the 100mph range he could be looking a lot like Luis Lara (a couple years older).

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

Would I be safe to assume O'Rae starts in AA and plays mostly OF with some 2B sprinkled in. He doesn't turn 22 until Februray so there is still plenty of time to put together a good 2026 and rocket back up the organizational depth chart and prospect rankings. He had an advanced eye and speed to burn if he is hitting balls in the 100mph range he could be looking a lot like Luis Lara (a couple years older).

Well, you'd be safe even from the vantage point he was scheduled to start 2025 in Biloxi after finishing 2024 in Biloxi. He lost the regular and post-season opportunity because of that wrist injury. He's really having a very good AFL and that's quite encouraging. He has yet to demonstrate any level of consistent plus play at Double-A but all current signs point to him being more ready than ever to meet that challenge. IF he can carry this success over in 2026 that adds a really nice option for manager Joe Ayrault's daily line up card.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

5 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

I said this at the end of the Triple-A season but let me state the obvious:

Quero is so back. He got quite a bit stronger when he rehabbed that shoulder injury. Noticeable mass added to his frame and now we are consistently seeing the gap-to-gap power. He is no longer just a coveted prospect in my eyes but a bonafide MLB backstop.

[mudbutt]

Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs compared Adamczewski to Corey Dickerson after watching him in the AFL.  Fine by me.

[wallus]

7 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I said this at the end of the Triple-A season but let me state the obvious:

Quero is so back. He got quite a bit stronger when he rehabbed that shoulder injury. Noticeable mass added to his frame and now we are consistently seeing the gap-to-gap power. He is no longer just a coveted prospect in my eyes but a bonafide MLB backstop.

How's the defense?

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, wallus said:

How's the defense?

Just as good as ever and I felt by season's end we saw signs we may actually end up getting most of his arm back. The added muscle really did good things for his presence behind the dish. He really grew up in rehab fir lack of better words.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Surprise Saguaros end their week with a 9-1  rout of Glendale. They improve to 13-7 overall. Their scheduled second game was cancelled.

Still no Dinges. Still no Adams. <sad face>
 

However, I do believe this may have been LF Josh Adamczewski's first awarded clean-up opportunity? He once again did not disappoint: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB (his 4th). The emerging LF'er is finding his scoot in the desert. He now has 17 RBI in desert play. If we factor in his rest days, I do believe we are working with at least a 1 RBI/G average. Might be slightly higher.

2B Dylan O'Rae sat in the nine-hole once again. He struck out three times in a 1-for-4 day at the dish but the lone poke was a big one. He knocked two across with a bases clearing single to left field and was then summarily picked off first base. 

LHP Anthony Flores only managed 18 strikes in his 37 total pitches thrown - allowing 1 H and  walking 3 in 1 1/3 IP. BUT, he struck out 2 and kept the Desert Dogs off the board. Or did he? Well, he can thank his stablemate in one Dennis Colleran who struck out two and left Flores' bases dripping. 

Monday will be another off day. The Saguaros will be back Tuesday to face Salt River in a matinee. 13:30 MST.

[Jim Goulart]

Must be a misprint - Jeferson Quero 0-for-4, two K's as the DH on Sunday in a 5-4 Lara loss (box).

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

Must be a misprint - Jeferson Quero 0-for-4, two K's as the DH on Sunday in a 5-4 Lara loss (box).

I take back everything I observed in the final months at Triple-A Nashville.

[Jim Goulart]

In the only winter league game played Monday (Dominican League make-up game), Brewers new 40-man roster LHP Sammy Peralta retired the only man he faced, stranding an inherited runner on second with a groundout.

Arizona Fall League was idle Monday.

[Jim Goulart]

On 11/1/2025 at 5:17 PM, Jim Goulart said:

Set to debut shortly in Venezuela with Tiburones de La Guaira is soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP and Nicaraguan native Stiven Cruz, a Timber Rattler and Shucker in 2025.

 

This additional post indicates Cruz is expected to also pitch for Nicaragua in the WBC.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

One young stud 1B Luke Adams was back in the line up. Rejoice! The lone Brewer representing in a mid day Surprise 14-8 'W' over Salt River. The Saguaros improved to 14-7 overall and moved within 1 G of first place Scottsdale (16-7 overall).

You can't make this up: back in action for the first time in a week, after a likely nagging minor injury from a HBP, Adams was indeed plunked! 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 HBP, 1 HR (his third of his season). We don't appear to have footage of the blast but let's watch a vintage Luke Adams scurry down the first base line:

Good timing as it appears Adams will be representing Surprise in the AFL HR Derby as well:

 

[Jim Goulart]

LHP Jesus Broca gets the start in Arizona Wednesday for Surprise. You can stream here at 2:30 PM Central.

[Jim Goulart]

In the only winter league game played Monday (Dominican League make-up game), Brewers new 40-man roster LHP Sammy Peralta retired the only man he faced, stranding an inherited runner on second with a groundout.

Pitching on consecutive days, Sammy Peralta allowed two inherited runners (1st and 3rd, no outs) to score in the 5th inning - looked like relatively weak contact, especially on an infield hit - game log can be found here.

***

In a 15-inning game that saw a combined 21 pitchers in action, RHP Carlos Rodriguez made his 3rd start in the Dominican League, and was again very solid - 5 IP, 4 H (one a double), 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K, now a 2.03 ERA in 13.1 IP.

***

Keep cooking, Jeferson Quero! After an outlier 0-for-4, two K Sunday, Quero homered (his 4th in 37 Venezuelan League AB's), singled and drove in three in his 2-for-5, 0 K Tuesday. Quero's home run is one of four highlighted in this package and comes at the 01:39 minute mark. Not the most prodigious blast, but it finds its mark.

 

[Jim Goulart]

Surprise loses Wednesday, 7-3 (Gameday / Box) -

Four of the five pitchers for the Saguaros were Brewers, they combined to work 7.1 innings, 8 H, 4 R (only 2 ER), 3 BB, 7 K. Click to see the individual lines for LHP's Jesus Broca and Nate Peterson, plus RHP's Edwin Jimenez and Michael Fowler.

Three Brewers position players saw action, and none contributed to the misplays that caused the two unearned runs. LF Josh Adamczewski, 1B Luke Adams, and 2B Dylan O'Rae each reached base multiple times as Adamczewski and O'Rae each singled and walked, while Adams singled, was HBP (of course) and reached on catcher's interference. O'Rae stole his 6th base in seven attempts.

Surprise next plays Thursday evening at 7:30 Central (stream link).

[Jim Goulart]

Jeferson Quero singled and walked as the DH on Wednesday, but his Lara team was 0-for-9 with RISP and lost 3-2. Quero's OPS actually dropped from 1.120 to 1.100 through 45 plate appearances.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

On 11/5/2025 at 3:01 AM, Jim Goulart said:

LHP Jesus Broca gets the start in Arizona Wednesday for Surprise. You can stream here at 2:30 PM Central.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Stats for current Brewers:

In Venezuela:

• Jeferson Quero (Cardenales de Lara) - .325 AVG, 1.100 OPS, 4 HR, 16 RBIs in 45 PAs
• Eduardo Garcia (Cardenales de Lara) - .289 AVG, .821 OPS, HR, 7 RBIs, SB in 46 PAs
• Stiven Cruz (Tiburones de La Guaira) – 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks

In the Dominican Republic:

• Carlos Rodriguez (Toros del Este) – 8.1 IP, 2.16 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 9 Ks
• Jesus Liranzo (Toros del Este) – 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 6 Ks
• Sammy Peralta (Estrellas Orientales) – 3.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks
• Steward Berroa (Aguilas Cibaenas) – 5-for-14, double, 4 SBs