30-year old LHP Andy Otero from Panama was a terrific find by the Brewers, signing as a minor league free agent in May 2021, serving as a highly dependable starter for AA Biloxi that year and then contributing meaningful long relief innings for AAA Nashville throughout much of 2022.
Originally signed as an international free agent way back in 2009 by the Braves, he was in their system up to 2015, when he was solid in High-A ball (2.58 ERA in 59 1/3 IP) but then disappeared from the baseball scene until some winter league appearances from late 2018 to early 2021.
On a terrible (45-69 - sorry friends!) Biloxi team last year, Otero was a major bright spot, producing a 5-0 record and 2.10 ERA in 51 1/3 IP and an 11.4 K/9, though he struggled mightily when given a chance in AAA (9.15 ERA in 20 2/3 IP).
This year, he did everything asked of him, throwing 68 1/3 IP in 23 appearances (6 starts), with 34 IP in AA (mainly starts) and 34 1/3 IP in AAA (all in relief). The ERA was solid (3.42) and WHIP was respectable (1.38), but his strikeout numbers are down (6.6 K/9).
Presumably not being confident enough to use Otero as a starter or lock-down reliever in AAA ball, the Brewers have made the decision to move on. Thank you Andy Otero for your terrific work. We hope that you find tremendous success in your upcoming conquests, inside and outside of baseball.