Misc. Offseason Updates - AFL, Winter Leagues

[Jim Goulart]

 

[ARobsBrewCrew]

Debated on whether to put this in the offseason news or transaction thread (I propose perhaps a separate thread for non-transactional injury news and questions that I/others can try to answer?), but I’m happy to share something positive to get our baseball minds briefly off of more serious things that have had our attention in recent days- RHP Jack Hostetler made some throws today for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.  He should be on track to return to game action late in the 2026 season, but, of course, that timeline is very fluid at this point.

[wiguy94]

4 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Debated on whether to put this in the offseason news or transaction thread (I propose perhaps a separate thread for non-transactional injury news and questions that I/others can try to answer?), but I’m happy to share something positive to get our baseball minds briefly off of more serious things that have had our attention in recent days- RHP Jack Hostetler made some throws today for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.  He should be on track to return to game action late in the 2026 season, but, of course, that timeline is very fluid at this point.

We should just make an annual thread dedicated to you. The 2026 ARobsBrewCrew Notes and Tidbits thread and pin it with the top threads on the minor league forum. Then you have a clear space where you can share this type of info.

[Ro Mueller]

5 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Debated on whether to put this in the offseason news or transaction thread (I propose perhaps a separate thread for non-transactional injury news and questions that I/others can try to answer?), but I’m happy to share something positive to get our baseball minds briefly off of more serious things that have had our attention in recent days- RHP Jack Hostetler made some throws today for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.  He should be on track to return to game action late in the 2026 season, but, of course, that timeline is very fluid at this point.

Greatly appreciate ALL the updates you’re able to provide. Value-added in every respect.

[Jake McKibbin]

54 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

We should just make an annual thread dedicated to you. The 2026 ARobsBrewCrew Notes and Tidbits thread and pin it with the top threads on the minor league forum. Then you have a clear space where you can share this type of info.

I think this might be a great shout tbh, there's been times I've trawled through forums to find notes and tidbits you've been able to share

[Ro Mueller]

In Dominican Republic Round Robin play on Tuesday, OF Steward Berroa entered as a pinch runner for Aguilas in the 8th inning, stole third base and scored on an error as they grabbed a 6-3 lead. He stayed in as the right fielder as his team held on for a 6-5 win.

The team is 4-4 in Round Robin play with 7 games remaining, trailing Toros and Estrellas by 2 games each.

[Ro Mueller]

Andruw Monasterio has concluded his Winter Ball season in Venezuela: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

On Wednesday, Steward Berroa entered in the 7th inning with Aguilas trailing 10-1.

He walked in his sole plate appearance, played center field and right field as his team fell 17-1, which looks more like a Canadian football score.

[Jim Goulart]

Thursday's Dominican Box Score:

A 2-1 win for Steward Berroa's club - 1-for-4 with a double, leading off and seeing action in both corner outfield spots. A record of 5-5 in Round Robin play, six games remain.

 

[Ro Mueller]

In the DR, Steward Berroa’s Aguilas earned a key 3-1 victory over Toros to cut the deficit to 1 game in the standings. Berroa led off and played both corner outfield spots, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

In Venezuela, Eduardo Garcia was a 9th inning pinch hitter (K’d) and played left field as Cardenales raised its Round Robin record to 3-0 with a 13-6 win over Bravos.

[Jake McKibbin]

Just been chatting to a few birdies, keep a very close eye on Josiah Ragsdale this season. Some of his off-season bat speeds sound really impressive given his draft profile

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Just been chatting to a few birdies, keep a very close eye on Josiah Ragsdale this season. Some of his off-season bat speeds sound really impressive given his draft profile

Very encouraging but not surprising, honestly. Spencer and I spoke to his readiness and pro ready approach in his limited time with the Mudcats post-draft. He could very easily be a fast riser on approach and preparedness alone - improved bat speed is a wonderful "Hold up." development.

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia’s making the most of his first start in Round Robin play in Venezuela: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double, walk and 2 RBIs while playing first base as Cardenales routed Bravos 21-9 in Venezuela to improve their Round Robin record to 4-0. They've 12 games remaining, before the top two teams compete for the championship.

In the Dominican Republic, Steward Berroa went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base while leading off and playing left field, but Aguilas fell 8-3 to Leones. Their Round Robin record is now 6-6, sitting 1 game behind Toros in 3rd place with 6 games remaining.

[snoogans8056]

19 hours ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Just been chatting to a few birdies, keep a very close eye on Josiah Ragsdale this season. Some of his off-season bat speeds sound really impressive given his draft profile

After that Packer game I’m clinging to literally any positive sports news I can. Thanks for these (and ARob too).

[wibadgers23]

21 hours ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Just been chatting to a few birdies, keep a very close eye on Josiah Ragsdale this season. Some of his off-season bat speeds sound really impressive given his draft profile

I don't have his stats in front of me but didn't he have a good showing in his (limited) Brewers debut?

[sveumrules]

6 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

I don't have his stats in front of me but didn't he have a good showing in his (limited) Brewers debut?

There was some good with a .300 batting average and more walks than strikeouts over his 92 PA with Carolina.

He was also a little old for A ball as a college draftee and and only had one XBH to go along with his twenty singles, so definitely needs to swing harder/add bat speed to improve upon his current 5th OF kind of profile.

[Ro Mueller]

In the D.R., Steward Berroa went 2-for-5 with a triple, walk, 2 RBIs and a stolen base in Aguilas’ 9-3 victory which brought them into a tie for 2nd place. He led off and played both corner outfield spots.

In Venezuela, Eduardo Garcia went 0-for-3 with an HBP and a K while playing first base in Cardenales’ 11-inning 5-4 loss. He appears to have stayed on the basepaths, but not returned on defense after the 8th inning HBP.

[Ro Mueller]

Aguilas went small ball to grab a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Gigantes in 11 innings, keeping them tied for second with 4 games remaining in the Dominican Republic Round Robin.

OF Steward Berroa led off and played left field, going 0-for-2 with a walk, 2 stolen bases and 2 sacrifice bunts.

[Jim Goulart]

51 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

Aguilas went small to grab a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Gigantes in 11 innings, keeping them tied for second with 4 games remaining in the Dominican Republic Round Robin.

OF Steward Berroa led off and played left field, going 0-for-2 with a walk, 2 stolen bases and 2 sacrifice bunts.

Combined regular season and round-robin Berroa stats prior to Tuesday's game:

GP 34 | AB 127 | H 35 | R 29 | RBI 14 | BB 23 | SO 30 | AVG .276 | OBP .387 | SLG .449 | OPS .836

[Jake McKibbin]

Developing Baseball (@developingbaseball) • Instagram photos and videos

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

---

55 likes, 3 comments - developingbaseball on January 14, 2026: "The facilities we work with have some absolute flame throwers. Here’s...

Swipe across, Bryce Meccage touching around 97 mph this off-season apparently 

[Jim Goulart]

Dominican Box: Despite Steward Berroa (RF) and his two singles and sacrifice bunt (one caught stealing as well), his Aguilas club dropped to 8-7 in round robin play with a 3-0 loss.

 

[Tedaldtada]

It’s probably just a function of a tight budget and minor league free agent decision bottlenecks BUT what if the Brewers are also planning on doubling down on the aggressive placement of their players to backfill the holes at AAA and AA currently? That would be interesting. They were young at all levels last year and it wouldn’t surprise me if we continued to be this year. 

[Ro Mueller]

2 hours ago, Tedaldtada said:

It’s probably just a function of a tight budget and minor league free agent decision bottlenecks BUT what if the Brewers are also planning on doubling down on the aggressive placement of their players to backfill the holes at AAA and AA currently? That would be interesting. They were young at all levels last year and it wouldn’t surprise me if we continued to be this year. 

Our High-A club really struggled in 2025, giving them fewer players ready for AA ball, in my opinion. That’s why I was partly surprised that we didn’t protect Hedbert Perez or Garrett Spain in the MILB portion of the Rule 5 draft.

But yeah, I assume we may push several key hitting prospects to AAA (Pratt, Wilken, Lara, Adams), limiting PAs for AAA veterans a bit more than usual.