Ro Mueller

The next World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place from March 5-17, 2026 in Miami, Houston, San Juan and Tokyo. 20 countries will participate, with 16 pre-qualified based on their 2023 WBC performance. Japan is the defending champ. 4 additional countries will qualify from contests scheduled from February 21 - March 6, 2025, with these games played in Taipei and Tucson.

Looks like Jorge Alfaro may be our experienced catching depth addition:

Pivotal Game 5 of Indios de Mayaguez’s Best-of-7 semifinal against Caguas saw RHP Justin Yeager give up a rare run as they fell behind 4-2 in the top of the 9th inning. However, they plated 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th and another in the bottom of the 10th to snatch a 5-4 victory and 3-2 series lead. Yeager allowed 3 hits and 3 walks over 2 innings, but still played hero by notching the 2-inning Win. C Ramon Rodiguez’s Senadores de San Juan squad has already qualified for the Puerto Rican final by winning their series 4-1 over Santurce. Over in Venezuela, INF Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales’ squad notched 3 victories to drop their Magic Number to 1 game (with 4 games remaining) to qualify for the Championship. Unavailable-thus-far Jackson Chourio’s Aguilas team and old friend OF Carlos D. Rodriguez’s Magallanes squad both trail Bravos by 2 games for the second spot in the final Here are the latest Winter Season stats for Brewers’ players still active: Puerto Rico: RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 2.25 ERA in 4.0 playoff IP, with 5 H, 4 BB, 2 Ks, 2 Saves, 1 Win; after posting a 1.90 ERA, 23.2 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 27 K, 11 Saves in the regular season C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .650 OPS in 20 playoff PAs with 1 HR and 3 RBIs; after posting a .776 OPS in 77 PAs, 3 RBIs and 1 SB in the regular season C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 6 PAs, 1 RBI in the regular season Venezuela: INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - .909 OPS in 36 PAs with a 2 HRs, 6 RBIs and 2 SBs in 12 Round Robin games; after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season Dominican League: RHP Sam McWilliams (3 games) - Aguilas Cibaenas - 4.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks RHP Deivi Garcia (1 game) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K

This isn’t a ranking, but maybe winning Winter League Reliever of the Year in Puerto Rico merits a note for Justin Yeager here:

We have Wes Clarke's Minor League rights for 3 more seasons and he had one of the highest xwOBAs on our AAA roster last year, yet he feels somewhat forgotten. Any thoughts? Can his defense improve now that's he's a full-time first baseman? Can he blast 30 homers in MLB some day?

Sounds like it worked out perfectly for Rea. He’d have gotten $5.5m if the Brewers had kept him. Instead, he’ll get $1.0m from the Brewers and $5.0m from the Cubs.

After starting the Round Robin phase 6-0, Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales’ team has dropped 3 straight. They’ll be in a dog fight with Bravos and Aguilas del Zulia (Jackson Chourio’s club, if he’s made available to play) over the final 7 games to qualify for the championship. In Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager collected yet another save in a 5-4 victory for Indios to even their semifinal series 1-1 against Criollos. Ramon Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs as Senadores took Game 1 of their semifinal against Cangrejeros, though they were shutout in Game 2. And in the Dominican Republic, Sam McWilliams retired all 4 batters he faced for Aguilas Cibaenas on Wednesday, though they fell 2-1 to drop to an abysmal 1-6 record in Round Robin play.

Got some love for Cooper Pratt (defense) and Jacob Misiorowski (future closer) here, along with mentions of Jesus Made and Braylon Payne, and nostalgia for Jackson Chourio and Prince Fielder.

O Canada: Local MLB prospects Dylan O'Rae and Adam Hall preparing for spring training:

Eduardo Garcia blasted his 4th homer of the Winter League campaign, but Cardenales lost the game late. They still lead the Round Robin phase in Venezuela through 7 of 16 games.

Jake Bauers, Tyler Black, Ernesto Martinez Jr., Wes Clarke… Guessing this ultimately results in an early Bauers opt-out, but let’s see…

Eduardo Garcia’s Cardenales squad has been tearing through the 5-team Round Robin phase in Venezuela, racing out to a 6-0 record with 10 games remaining. The top two teams will qualify for the best-of-7 championship series. Over in Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager’s club clinched first place in the regular season and will start their best-of-7 semifinal on Tuesday. Ramon Rodriguez’s team took 3rd place in the regular season and will play in the other semifinal. Here are stats of Brewers’ players still active in Winter Ball: Venezuela: INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - .991 OPS in 23 PAs with a HR, 4 RBIs and 1 SB in 6 Round Robin games; after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season Dominican League: RHP Sam McWilliams (3 games) - Aguilas Cibaenas - 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K RHP Deivi Garcia (1 game) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K Puerto Rico: RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 1.90 ERA, 23.2 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 27 K, 11 Saves C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .776 OPS in 77 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 6 PAs, 1 RBI

Brewers RHP Sam McWilliams joined Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Republic, facing 3 batters in a regular season game on December 21 (single, BB, sac bunt) and another 2 batters in a round robin game today (sac fly, fly out).

Thanks. I’m not suggesting he’s in the league of Bregman, Bohm or Suarez, but these characteristics seemed reasonable to me: - 16 HR in 518 ABs - Average EV of 89.4 - Overall arm of 85.0 (Savant) - Right-handed hitter - xwOBA of .313 - 41 BB / 121 K

Vierling seems to check a number of boxes reasonably well.

As Andruw Monasterio’s Venezuelan club missed out on the Round Robin round, there are only 4-5 Brewers still active in Winter Ball, but Eduardo Garcia, Justin Yeager and Ramon Rodriguez are each playing prominent roles: Venezuela: INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara - 5-for-10 with a HR, 2 RBIs and SB in 3 Round Robin games, after a 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs in the league’s regular season Dominican League: RHP Deivi Garcia (one appearance on December 26) - Tigres del Licey - 0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K OF Bladimir Restituyo - Aguilas Cibaenas - last played December 17th. It remains to be seen whether Restituyo will play in the Round Robin round, which commences on January 2 Puerto Rico: RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 2.18 ERA, 20.2 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 25 K, league-leading 11 Saves C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .763 OPS in 75 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB

Trailing 4-3 with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning with Eduardo Garcia due up, Cardenales brought in old friend Hernan Perez to pinch hit and he came through in a BIG way:

Here's another key hit from Eduardo Garcia, a solo homer to push Cardenales' lead to 3-1:

RHP Deivi Garcia has joined Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Republic, starting and facing 6 batters (0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K) in his 2024 Winter League debut:

Eduardo Garcia continues to produce, this time with a 4-for-4 game in Cardenales’ 11-7 victory over Tigres in the first game of the 5-team Round Robin round. Garcia played shortstop, smacked a double, stole a base and had a single turn into a little league homer.

Interesting. See if he can sustain last year's success. The EV doesn't signal enough pop though, in my opinion.

It sounds like we’re better off trading for Ramon Urias… But I guess Moncada’s got the solid arm and switch hits, so he’d be the guy from this group.

The Winter League regular seasons are wrapping up, with top teams qualifying for Round Robin rounds. Jackson Chourio played 6 games for playoff-bound Aguilas, but will not participate. Hopefully Eduardo Garcia gets some further playing time with Cardenales. Over in Puerto Rico, Justin Yeager now has 8 saves for Indios. Winter League Stats to Date (for active or recently-active players): Venezuela: OF Jackson Chourio - Aguilas del Zulia - .944 in 22 PAs, 3 RBIs INF Andruw Monasterio - Caribes de Anzoategui (didn’t qualify for Round Robin) - .823 OPS in 190 PAs, 21 RBIs, 7 SBs OF Hedbert Perez (never returned from US visa processing) - Tiburones de la Guaira (lost play-in game, so didn’t qualify for Round Robin) - .858 OPS in 88 PAs, 10 RBIs, 2 SBs INF Eduardo Garcia - Cardenales de Lara – 1.215 OPS in 30 PAs, 11 RBIs, 2 SBs Dominican League: OF Bladimir Restituyo - Aguilas Cibaenas - .353 OPS in 18 PAs Puerto Rico: RHP Justin Yeager - Indios de Mayaguez - 17.2 IP, 4 R, 11 H, 7 BB, 20 K, 8 Saves C Ramon Rodriguez - Senadores de San Juan - .743 OPS in 58 PAs, 3 RBIs, 1 SB C Victor Torres - Senadores de San Juan - .000 OPS in 4 PAs, 1 RBI