Ro Mueller

The glory of small sample spring training K rates (% of PAs): Wiemer 33.3%, Dunn 28.6%, Perkins 28.6%, Chourio 27.3%, Black 26.3%, Mitchell 23.5%, Miller 16.7%, Turang 13.3%, Haase 0.0%. :)

As far as potential early health concerns, I’m guessing LHP Darrell Thompson, INF Freddy Zamora and C Brian Navarreto are each dealing with something, given their absence in being called to MLB spring training games. We know Navarreto’s winter league season ended early due to a hand injury that he tried to suffer through for a few games. No idea about Thompson and Zamora. RHPs Easton McGee and Coleman Crow each had Tommy John surgery (May and August 2023, respectively), so I don’t expect to see McGee until late this season and Crow until (maybe) winter ball.

- RHP Roman Perez released by DSL Brewers-1 The 23-year old was signed in May 2022 from the Dominican Republic, producing an identical 6.45 ERA, 10.9 K/9 rate and 22.1 IP in each of his 2022 and 2023 seasons in the DSL to go with an average 1.88 WHIP. He also converted 9 of 12 save opportunities over the 2 years. We wish Roman success in his upcoming endeavors.

I’m not sure Hudson has enough different pitches to shift to starting, but it IS odd to see any reliever face 9 batters this early in spring. He hasn’t thrown more than 48 pitches in any major or minor league game since early 2019. I’ll content myself with being happy we have a material upgrade over Small, Claudio and Andrews. He attributed last year’s success in part to an improved slider.

- RHP Arielbi Gonzalez released by Low-A Carolina (such a gut punch) - RHP Yonawil Florimon released by DSL Brewers-1 - LHP David Dominguez released by DSL Brewers-2 21-year old RHP Arielbi Gonzalez from the Dominican Republic signed as an international free agent in June 2021, rocking the DSL the same year: 2.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 in 43.1 IP (10 starts in 11 games). He kept up the terrific work in Arizona in 2022 (3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 in 44.2 IP), earning a promotion to Carolina in August 2022, where he made three rough appearances on bizarrely limited rest. Arielbi then spent the entire 2023 campaign on the injured list. We pray he’s fully healthy again and wish him success with his next endeavors. 21-year old RHP Yonawil Florimon from the Dominican Republic signed in September 2022, making 16 relief appearances in the DSL last year: 4.50 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 11.5 K/9 in 22 IP. He also converted 3 of 5 save opportunities. We wish Yonawil best of luck in whichever opportunities come next. 20-year old LHP David Dominguez from the Dominican Republic signed in March 2022, registering encouraging numbers in relief in the DSL that year: 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 in 26.1 IP. Unfortunately, his control got away from him as he repeated the DSL level in 2023, walking 20.9% of batters faced as he put up a 4.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 11.3 K/9. Good luck to David in his next opportunity, inside or outside of baseball.

Interesting speculation by Curt Hogg on Brock Wilken possibly starting the season in AAA, but perhaps he's acting the part of overly-excited fan.

Devin Williams, Aaron Ashby and Jacob Misiorowski are all scheduled to pitch against the Dodgers today. Yee haw!

With scheduled off days on March 29, April 1 and April 4, I guess we won't really need a 5th starting pitcher until April 9 (and maybe a 6th starting pitcher on April 10). I'm not exactly sure of injured list rules - maybe we can place Miley on the injured list some days before Opening Day (March 28), with the hope of activating him by April 9th or 10th.

C Jose Sibrian is a Tiger:

Wiemer may need some time to get used to the new swing. Eric Brown Jr. struggled for several months after major swing adjustments. I really think it’s okay if Joey loses half the year in AAA and the Development List, if that’s what it takes to figure it out. I’m still convinced that he has all 3 options remaining after being optioned for less than 20 days last year.

From this article (translated with Google Translate), it appears that RHP Nolan Blackwood may head down to Mexico if he doesn't settle well in the Brewers' organization.

RHP Nolan Blackwood signed and assigned to AAA Nashville RHP Kevin Herget signed and assigned to AAA Nashville OF Duncan Garcia released by ACL Brewers INF Jonatan Guzman released by ACL Brewers 20-year old OF Duncan Garcia from the Dominican Republic signed with the Brewers in January 2021, putting up reasonably encouraging offensive numbers over two seasons in the DSL (.719 OPS with 7 HRs, 34 SBs in 355 PAs) and one season stateside in the ACL (.741 OPS with 1 HR, 7 SBs in 74 PAs). After being principally a corner outfielder in the DSL, he shifted primarily to center field in 2023, which appeared to signal growing prospect stature. However, an injury in late July 2023 saw him placed on the 60-day injured list and his road with the Brewers has now come to an abrupt end. We hope that Duncan is fully recovered and ready to successfully tackle his next opportunities in life. 20-year old INF Jonatan Guzman from the Dominican Republic also signed in January 2021, but didn’t debut until June 2022 in the DSL, struggling to a .588 OPS in 138 PAs that year, while playing a mix of second and third base. Promoted to the ACL in 2023, his numbers were nearly identical while exclusively playing second base: .571 OPS in 63 PAs. He homered once in each season and also stole nine bases as a Brewer. We wish Jonatan well in his next adventure, whether in baseball or in other noble pursuits.

Are you trying to do such an amazing job that you convince the brass to send you to Arizona every February? Well, I think it's working. Fantastic reports and nuggets here and on Twitter. Bravo!

Thanks for this. I've been looking for something like this on Junis to feel confident about his addition to the rotation. It's similar to how I felt about Bryse Wilson last year, when you wrote a similarly helpful article. Junis and Hall look like massive X factors that can easily make or break our season. Go Brewers!

It’s always fun to try to interpret the Spring Training playing time tea leaves. My over-reaction from Game One is that 22-year old RHP Edwin Jimenez will join Manager Joe Ayrault in the move up to AA Biloxi.

- RHP Christian Mejias released by AA Biloxi The 24-year old Venezuelan joined the Brewers on a 2-year minor league contract in December 2022 after spending 7 seasons in the Astros organization. Despite only playing half a season of High-A ball with the Astros, the Brewers thrust him into a starting pitching role at AA Biloxi in 2023 and it was unfortunately (understandably?) a struggle: 6.90 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 9.1 K/9 in 121.1 IP. Christian threw respectably in the Venezuelan Winter League, but apparently a mutual separation was in order. We wish him success wherever he’s headed next, including on the ball fields if that remains his mission.

Weeks had an interview a few days ago, although it's a light one that doesn't really dig into his focus areas at Spring Training - minutes 22-37 of the February 21 podcast labelled Black History Always Special on 101.7 The Truth

I'll put this out there just to see how wrong I'll end up being: C - Contreras 100, Sanchez 50, Haase 12 1B - Hoskins 135, Bauers 17, Black 10 2B - Turang 71, Ortiz 51, Miller 21, Monasterio 19 3B - Black 97, Ortiz 24, Monasterio 21, Frelick 20 SS - Adames 90, Turang 47, Ortiz 25 LF - Yelich 90, Frelick 65, Chourio 5, Perkins 2 CF - Chourio 65, Wiemer 50, Mitchell 40, Frelick 5, Perkins 2 RF - Mitchell 50, Frelick 40, Wiemer 40, Chourio 29, Perkins 3 DH - Sanchez 50, Yelich 47, Contreras 30, Chourio 11, Black 10, Hoskins 8, Bauers 6 SP - Peralta 29, Rea 29, Junis 29, Miley 26, Hall 24, Gasser 11, Ashby 11, Ross 3

I think that we could turn this into a nice little competition, including starting pitchers, injuries, trades. Submission deadline midnight before opening day...something like that. I hope that we get a lot more than 210 combined starts from Frelick and Black, but we'll see.

And now RHP Dalvin Bodre has signed, completing the 35-player international signing class announced last month

I’ve been concerned that the lack of urgency to get this across the line (and thus into camp) signaled an injury setback (e.g. new medical procedure). As such, I’ll be thrilled if Sanchez is healthy enough to hit and catch to start the season.