Joseph Zarr

In the words of the great De'vondre Campbell Sr.: My answer to my fans is... <walks off the stage...didn't want to talk today>

RHP Cody Ponce (of the famed 2019 Trade Deadline RHP Jordan Lyles acquisition) stays in the KBO signing a 1 year $1 Million deal with a $200K signing bonus with the Hanwha Eagles. He joins RHP Mitch White in the 'Former Brewers Million Dollar KBO Men' club. Despite decent peripherals, Ponce really struggled to keep men off base in 2024 in the parent League: More HERE

Obviously, a lot of tools to work with and get excited about. I've looked behind the curtain since the announcement. I still have one question with the age and injury history: Has his development peeked? Let's hope he stays healthy so we can find out.

It would appear the San Francisco Giants have re-upped LHP Ethan Small on a Minor League deal (he had previously been non-tendered as he did not qualify for arbitration) according to Baseball America. Small will look to bounce back after an injury filled (two separate 60-Day IL stints) 2024.

That is incredible. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

So, what you're saying is you took a Peek under the hood and you liked what you you found.

Not to mention trading for two of them in Robert Moore and Hendry Mendez (really nice bounce back healthy campaign last year) just last year. Payton is an awesome guy and a really solid backstop with an underrated bat to boot. Phillies get another quality former Brewer. You love to see it!

It's always encouraging when I you come away from a comment based in observation and you don't feel like a moron. Thank you for the small shot of validation. After today's goings on, I may have needed it. 😅

When I watched Thomas face the Sounds (on well more than one occasion - as a reliever and then as a starter later in the year) the pitch that stuck out to me the most is the change-up. That's where I would butter the bread, so to speak, as the strikeout pitch. I don't know what the peripherals or the charts say about the pitch - ie, I haven't even looked into how often he threw it as a whole or how often he even threw it vs the Sounds 😆 - but I can tell you, from my vantage point and recollection and game notes, that was the pitch that impressed the most in the times I saw him in 2024.

A Final homage to another sweet Prince gone to another Kingdom:

OK, excited to learn about these new players. This is definitively an area where the Brewers tend to cook.

Man, I am taking hits left and right today. I just waxed poetic on Briceno in our last Mudcats pod. At least he goes to the Twinkies. There is solace. Just a very very solid baseball player. I will forever be salty he got zero AB's vs Fredericksburg. I may need some counseling after today.

It would appear Musgrave is back off of IR? I would have gotten this in to y'all sooner but, to honor this transactional news, I took a poor angle and then tripped and fell on the way to my laptop. I hope you understand.

I did not, no. That is a word above my 'in the trenches' pay grade. 😅

They did take a Low Velo lefty. Starting pitcher by season's end with the Redbirds tho he began relieving last year. Change up is his pitch - at least in in the outings I saw vs the Sounds. Throws several fastballs but they all sit 89-92ish if I recall correct.

It just gets worse doesn't it? This doesn't even get into...ok I'm getting into it...trading RHP TJ Shook for LHP Tyler Jay and now also rostering LHP Tyler Jay over Smith...and oh wait...we have the open spots, regardless. Matt Arnold right now: Our unanimous GM of the Year (well deserved) essentially traded RHP's TJ Shook and Shane Smith for INF Vinny Capra and LHP Tyler Jay. That's a zesty and contentious end-of-the-roster maneuver. I pride myself I can get worked up about this.😅

Damn you.

I will say this: The Brewers are carving out a very meaningful presence in the UDFA department. They've now added (and lost Mr. Smith, obviously - for now, at least) a RHP Shane Smith, RHP Chase Costello and a RHP KC Hunt. Here's looking to you RHP Miles Langhorne

Very happy for the player. Shane Smith has always been willing to sit down with Seth for some very open and earnest interviews. Very happy he is getting a streamlined opportunity to enter an MLB clubhouse and pitching staff. AND, I'm not going to lie at the present time this one stings. I will never understand why an org like the Crew would leave him unprotected. He is a pitcher that profiles as essentially capable in any role. And, he's a guy who just felt like was only tapping into what he could become. Today is a bittersweet day for this Minor League Link reporter.

Like Duplantier above, closing this loop for the time being: RHP Deivi García was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds today (as was to be expected)

Closing of the current loop here for now: RHP Jon Duplantier was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds (as was to be expected)

I'm from up Nort! I say everything wrong. 😘

He can handle it in a pinch. It's not a super natural fit. He won't hurt you there because he's just a very good athlete but he really doesn't have the ideal arm to make it work over the long term. I think we have to be realistic here: Collins has played well over 400 games in the Minors. He has 13 starts at 3B. He could fill in for a game here and there, no doubt. But, is he a serious 3B candidate in the ongoing contemplations and lineup prognostications? I don't think so. The topic being overlooked in general, however, is Collins can absolutely step in and play 2B should they move Turang to SS. It's his best position, defensively, by a pretty good amount. Throughout his Minor League career 2B and LF were near equals in terms of exposure and innings. In my humble opinion, 2B is his best position by a significant stretch. His athletic traits play well there. Is he Turang? Absolutely not. But, he's also not Tyler Black. Collins has been my guy on this board since the summer of 2023. AND, this being said, I might be crazy, but I still live in a world where I allow myself to see Cooper Pratt surprise us all and make it to the Bigs by mid-summer. Obviously, this all depends on how the hands are dealt and what 'The River' card is when that deadline nears BUT that young man is 100% a manager's dream. He is 100% every inch of the 'steal of the draft' he was touted on draft day and by the organization's top development peeps. I'll continue to be comfortable envisioning a possibly more aggressive path than I originally did if I continue seeing what I did all of last year in his first full-season as a Brewer.