Ro Mueller

Canada led Colombia 4-2 before tacking on 4 more runs in the 8th inning for an 8-2 victory. DH Tyler Black went 0-for-4 with a walk and stolen base for the Canucks, though two of his groundouts topped 106mph.

Korea and Japan were tied 5-5 through the middle innings before Korea’s bullpen lost control in a 3-run 7th inning in Tokyo. Japan prevailed 8-6. Attendance: 42,318.

Taiwan blasted the Czech Republic 14-0 to kick off Saturday action in Tokyo. Attendance: 40,522. Terrin Vavra of Menomonie, Wisconsin went 1-for-3 with a double in defeat.

The US led 7-1 after 5 innings, but it tightened to 8-5 as they entered the 9th. A 7-run outburst pushed the final score to 15-5 over Brazil. 2B Brice Turang went 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and 2 SBs in front of 30,825 fans in Houston.

Freddy Zamora had an early RBI double and Stiven Cruz tossed a 1-2-3 5th inning (Marte ground out, Soto K, Guerrero ground out), but he conceded a double and 2-run homer in the 6th inning. The D.R. rolled from there to a 12-3 win over Nicaragua in front of a crowd of 35,127 in Miami.

Puerto Rico got the clutch hits in a 5-0 win over Colombia, who went 0-for-10 with RISP. The game was played in front of 18,793 fans in Puerto Rico. Old friends Jose Quintana, Martin Maldonado and Bryan Torres saw action.

Hopefully his 2-run homer and 3 innings manning 3rd base are signs that Mike Boeve has found his pre-injury form. He hadn’t played 3rd base since the August 2024 injury, then saw all of his year-over-year offensive numbers fall after returning to action in May 2025. Here’s to a big rebound year for Mr. Boeve in 2026!

Entering the 8th inning, Mexico had been out-hit 6-2 but was tied 1-1 with Great Britain in part thanks to Joey Ortiz’s defense. Jonathan Aranda’s 3-run homer opened things up as Mexico ultimately won 8-2. Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and RBI in front of 29,724 fans in Houston.

Old friends Abdiel Mendoza and Javy Guerra each tossed a scoreless inning for Panama, but they fell 3-1 to Cuba in their opening game in Puerto Rico.

Venezuela defeated the Netherlands 6-2 in front of 19,542 fans in Miami. William Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk while catching for the winners. He also nearly hurt his hand.

Japan kicked off its pool play by crushing Taiwan 13-0. Some guy named Ohtani doubled to lead off the game, then jacked a grand slam the next inning. He might have a future.

Australia handled their business again, this time defeating the Czech Republic 5-1. Alex Hall had a late homer.

To me, the most interesting decisions are: 1) MLB or AAA pitchers: I figure Henderson and Harrison will be up, Gasser and Yoho will be down. 2) AAA vs. AA batters: Thinking Pratt and Wilken are up, while Lara, Luke Adams and Burke are down. 3) Potential opt-out: Reese McGuire probably has a big decision to make. I think he’ll bolt. Lineup: 2B Williams, CF Lockridge, SS Pratt, 3B Wilken, 1B Black, LF Baddoo, C Quero, RF Berroa, DH Leonard. Bench: R-Rodriguez, Zamora, Murray, G. Jones, J. Adams, Hurtubise. SP: Gasser, Sproat, Crow, Drohan, C-Rodriguez, Kuehner. Pen: Yoho, McGee, S-Peralta, Rom, Hunt, Bukauskas, Waguespack, Childers, Holub, Pannone, Stallings, Fitzpatrick, Strzelecki,

South Korea easily handled the Czech Republic (11-4) in the other WBC game of the day. Former Brewer Jahmai Jones homered for victors.

Bummer that Frank Cairone can’t participate this year, but hopefully he’s making a phenomenal, full recovery and can play next year. Prayers going his way regularly. Josh Knoth (last played August 2024) is also a missing name from our Top 30 prospects. I hope he’s on course to start the MILB season nonetheless.

Morrison, Owens, Thompson and Payne have not yet been called into Major League camp to participate in Spring Training games, so I’m thrilled to see their names on the list.

This year the Brewers have two Spring Breakout games: - March 20 against the Mariners at 4:10pm CT at American Family Field - March 22 against the A’s at 3:05pm CT at Hohokam Stadium (Mesa, AZ) The preliminary 40-man player pool is salivating: PITCHERS (20) Ryan Birchard, RHP, NR Jesús Broca, LHP, NR Will Childers, RHP, NR Coleman Crow, RHP, No. 27 Jaron DeBerry, RHP, NR Ethan Dorchies, RHP, No. 20 Brian Fitzpatrick, LHP, NR Michael Fowler, RHP, NR Tyson Hardin, RHP, No. 19 Blake Holub, RHP, NR Tate Kuehner, LHP, NR Bishop Letson, RHP, No. 9 Mark Manfredi, LHP, NR Bryce Meccage, RHP, No. 21 Jacob Morrison, RHP, NR Braylon Owens, RHP, NR J.D. Thompson, LHP, No. 16 Wande Torres, LHP, NR Brett Wichrowski, RHP, NR Craig Yoho, RHP, No. 29 CATCHERS (3) Marco Dinges, C, No. 10 Jeferson Quero, C, No. 8 Matt Wood, C, NR INFIELDERS (11) Luke Adams, 1B/3B, No. 13 Eric Bitonti, 1B, No. 26 Blake Burke, 1B, No. 18 Daniel Dickinson, 2B, No. 30 Brady Ebel, SS, No. 15 Andrew Fischer, 3B, No. 6 Jesús Made, SS/2B, No. 1/MLB No. 3 Luis Peña, INF, No. 2/MLB No. 26 Cooper Pratt, SS, No. 4/MLB No. 64 Brock Wilken, 3B, No. 22 Jett Williams, SS/2B, No. 3/MLB No. 51 OUTFIELDERS (6) Josh Adamczewski, OF, No. 11 José Anderson, OF, NR Handelfry Encarnacion, OF, NR Luis Lara, OF, No. 12 Braylon Payne, OF, No. 14 Josiah Ragsdale, OF, NR

Ready or not, the 2026 World Baseball Classic is already underway. Australia defeated Taiwan 3-0 in the opening game. Yes, that’s former Brewer Minor Leaguer Alex Hall batting cleanup for the Aussies.

Brock Wilken playing first base in the 6th inning?

99.8mph from Sproat in the first inning of his first Spring Training game!?! Holy moly!

I assume Adamczewski will be AA Biloxi’s starting left fielder in April. All of his field time is on the grass and there’s a lack of outfielders for the AA level. Plus, we’ve not seen Payne or Ragsdale in ST action yet (or Dinges), suggesting to me that they’re pegged for High-A Wisconsin. Of course some things can change. I’m just trying to read the tea leaves.

- RHP Fabian Reyes released by DSL Brewers Gold - RHP Jesus Molina released by DSL Brewers Gold Reyes, 21 years old from the Dominican Republic, was signed in June 2024 and had a great first season in the DSL: 1.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP with 21 Ks in 16.2 IP in 13 relief appearances. Unfortunately, he crashed back to Earth in 2025, again in the DSL: 7.94 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 24 Ks in 17 IP in 15 games in relief. We wish him luck in his next opportunity. Molina, 20 years old from Venezuela, unfortunately never got to make his official debut with the Brewers. He signed in April 2025 and went on the 60-day injured list in June 2025. We hope that he's fully healthy and wish him well.

Ramon Rodriguez had last played on May 16 last year, suffering a “devastating non-contact lower-leg injury” at that time, but returned to game action yesterday!: 3 innings behind the plate and 1 plate appearance. Welcome back Ramon!

Yesterday, I was encouraged to see Edwin Jimenez pitch the 7th inning (K. 2 fly outs). Now 24 years old, his last regular season game was in May 2024, though he did toss 8.1 innings in the recent Arizona Fall League. Now today, I’m pleased to see that Jesus Flores is available. Turning 21 next month, Flores missed the last 2 months of the 2025 campaign with an injury and was on the 60-day injured list to end the season.