Jim Goulart

Miller Park Prospects - Friday's Photo Gallery

Brad talks to Sthervin Matos, and makes several observations around minor league camp -- Houle, Brennan, Devin Williams, and an injury for intriguing LHP Tyler Alexander LINK

Friday Via WSSP / Bill Michaels: Manager Ron Roenicke Pitching Coach Rick Kranitz Third Base Coach Ed Sedar Caleb Gindl Lyle Overbay

Friday's Media Notes -- MINOR DETAILS: Joining the team today from minor-league camp: 1B Garrett Cooper (#94), INF Brandon Macias (#90), OF Michael Reed (#95), INF Nick Shaw (#91), LHP Brent Leach (#98), RHP Arcenio Leon (#79) and RHP Casey Medlen (#92). Bases-loaded walk for Cooper, strikeout for Reed...

Alumni transaction via Baseball America's Matt Eddy -- Braves release LHP Thomas Keeling, whom they acquired from Brewers in Juan Francisco deal last June.

The Brewers also announced that RHP Andre Lamontagne (career stats) retired. Lamontagne turns 28 on Monday. He was drafted in the 11th round of the less-than-inspiring 2009 Brewers draft. Lamontagne reached AA Huntsville and pitched well there in just his 2nd pro season, but major shoulder issues limited him to just three appearances the following two seasons. This was a worthwhile feature article on Lamontagne from last April, as he began his comeback attempt with the Manatees. Andre was interviewed twice on Manatees broadcasts last spring - audio.

All updates are from @BrewersPD Thursday's action -- Tacoma outslugged Nashville, 10-8. Hector Gomez hit a 3-run HR. Hunter Morris had a double and run scored. Robinzon Diaz was 2x3 Huntsville defeated Jackson, 6-1. Jed Bradley had 3 scoreless IP in relief with 4 SO. Taylor Jungmann went 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 SO Brevard & High Desert tied at 3. The 'Tees scored three off King Felix, who threw 7 innings in this game. Yadi Rivera 2x4, 3B. Mike Garza 2x3 Clinton & WIS tied 1-1. Leonard Lorenzo, Tyler Spurlin, Scott Harkin and Josh Uhen combined for 6 scoreless IP out of pen. Chris McFarland had the Rattlers lone RBI, on a 2B *** Friday's projected rosters Jason Rogers a start at third base...

Alphabetically on the releases specifically announced Thursday, links point to career stats via MiLB.com: 25-year-old RHP Jonathan (Jono) Armold, 30th round, 2012 - Armold was with the Timber Rattlers for all of 2013, tough to overcome being drafted at nearly 23 1/2 years old and then spending most of your rookie summer in Maryvale. Mike Fiers is a rare example, Fiers was nearly 24 when drafted. Helena's Steve Wendt interviewed Armold late in the 2012 season upon his arrival in Montana. 27-year-old C Brent Dean, undrafted out of UCLA, signed in February of 2010 after a brief independent ball stint in 2009 - Dean was also 23 when he signed, and only saw action in 104 games in his four Brewers seasons, often acting as the flex guy/bullpen catcher standing ready on the phantom disabled list. He had pursued undergrad coaching in the past, hopefully he stays in the game in some manner. 22-year-old 1B Adam Giacalone, 16th round, 2012, out of a Kansas community college - Apparently the Brewers focused on Giacalone's .636 OPS to begin his 2013 season at Wisconsin, and not his .842 OPS in 425 Helena at-bats. First base is crowded throughout the system, but this still seems like a tough cut. Similarly profiling and three years older Cody Hawn is still floating around the high-A level. Giacalone was a four-time interview guest of Helena's Steve Wendt in his two years there. 21-year-old 1B/2B/3B Jalen Harris, 41st round, 2011, out of a British Columbia, Canada high school - Harris displayed infield defensive flexibilty and posted a .732 OPS at Helena in 2013. We especially appreciated his inspirational story, as he discussed his past in athletics and how being born deaf had changed his life and his career in this July audio interview with Steve. Just-turned 21-year-old 2B/SS Renaldo Jenkins, 19th round, 2011, out of a Georgia high school - So many days in the extended spring training Maryvale heat for these lower-profile high school draft picks, not an easy route. Jenkins seemed to tighten up his defense after a rough rookie campaign, but the Brewers apparently didn't see a spot for him with the Rattlers this coming summer, even in a utility role. Here's Helena media video/audio of Jenkins. 25-year-old RHP Santo Manzanillo, signed in the fall of 2005 out of the Dominican - Still just 25, really? We'll always have his age 17 numbers in Maryvale: 16.1 IP, 47 walks, 10 HBP! And yet his heater would eventually net him 40-man roster status. Darn that shoulder injury in a 2011 car accdent. 24-year-old OF Ben McMahan, 23rd round, 2011 - The University of Florida product posted an .835 OPS in 109 games as a 22-year-old at Wisconsin in 2012 and is now gone -- yikes, tough crowd. Brevard County 2013 seemed uneven - playing time, nagging injuries, but this still has the feel of a premature drop. 23-year-old RHP Eduard Reyes, signed out of the Dominican in February 2010 - Two and a half years in the DSL, a Maryvale stint, and then some less-than-pretty numbers during a full 2013 Helena campaign. Reyes was suspended for 50 games to begin 2011 for PED use during his rookie season. All his pre-Helena numbers had been promising. (We had commented on Tyler Roberts and R.J. Seidel earlier in this thread when their releases became public.) 24-year-old LHP Taylor Wall, 22nd round, 2012 - Someone's going to have to explain this one to us. The Rice University product posted a 1.15 WHIP in 50.1 innings out of the Wisconsin bullpen in 2013, including a .208 BAA vs. left-handed bats. Given the organization's weak track record of producing servicable LH relief arms, this is a real puzzler. Steve Wendt spoke with Wall twice during his 2012 season there. 23-year-old 1B/DH Jesse Weiss, 36th round, 2013 - Weiss simply couldn't find his way into Helena's lineup last summer, just 15 games (all but two as the DH). Weiss was out of four-year Kenyon College in Ohio, and I know two Midwest League broadcasters who will be very disappointed Weiss won't be a Timber Rattler in 2014 because of a pop culture connection - twitter conversation. Just-turned 24-year-old LHP Alan Williams, signed out of independent ball in May 2011 - This one stings. Williams was immediately dominant upon his signing, striking out 49 in 32.2 innings in his first go-round with the Crew at Helena and Wisconsin. This really looked like it was headed for Brandon Kintzler-type indy ball-find success. 2012 was solid if not as spectacular, and then this happened -- "received a 50-game suspension after a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program on May 21, 2013 while with Double-A Huntsville". If that continued to be a factor in this decision (and we don't know), then it's just a shame for the young man and the organization that it didn't go differently.

Can't believe none of the farmhands tweeted about this -- Via Rotoworld: Felix Hernandez threw seven innings in a minor league game Thursday. King Felix didn't feel like making the trip to Mesa, so he stayed on his turn and pitched against the Brewers' Class-A team. He's lined up to start Opening Day against the Angels on March 31.

Brad's daily Minor League Camp Report includes a Damien Magnifico feature, and several observations, including on Taylor Jungmann and Nick Shaw. More photos! Honestly, between the features, notes, and photos (including even DSL prospects stateside for the first time), has anyone across MiLB done a better job for their organization's fandom?! Kudos, Brad!

Thursday via the Bill Michaels Show -- Scooter Gennett - 15:00 minute mark Marco Estrada Adam McCalvy

Thursday's Box Score via Gameday -- MINOR DETAILS: Joining the team today from minor-league camp: OF Mitch Haniger (#75), INF Brandon Macias (#90), OF Kevin Mattison (#76), INF Pete Orr (#28), OF Tyrone Taylor (#94), C Adam Weisenburger (#71) and RHP Kevin Shackelford (#60). Bold saw action -- Haniger started in right field in place of Ryan Braun and went 1-for-3; 9th inning groundouts for Macias, Taylor.

Just like we did in the fall when there was a batch of players released, we'll post something during the overnight tonight that properly recognizes the following players who were let go today by the Brewers: RHP Jono Armold C Brent Dean 1B Adam Giacalone 1B/3B Jalen Harris 2B Renaldo Jenkins RHP Santo Manzanillo OF Ben McMahan RHP Eduard Reyes C Tyler Roberts (previously noted) RHP R.J. Seidel (previously noted) LHP Taylor Wall 1B/DH Jesse Weiss LHP Alan Williams Best wishes to all these guys, it's a tough business.

Follow all the associated links within this post to get all your MLB Pipeline news for their featured team today (the Brewers), including their updated Top 20.

Cool! Brewers farmhand 3B Mike Walker is in Australia & had two base hits for the Aussies vs. Dodgers in exhibition.

Thursday's tentative rosters

From WTMJ Wednesday night -- (I've been having trouble accessing these WTMJ links for Soundcloud in multiple versions of IE -- they look fine within Firefox, just an FYI...) Ron Roenicke Rickie Weeks Tyler Thornburg

Those big league at-bats by Reed and Stang mentioned in the prior post are among the photos in another fine gallery from Brad Krause, love how Brad is always so detailed in identifying each and every photo subjetc.

Miller Park Prospects -- NEDA LOOKS FOR OFFENSE TO MATCH HIS DEFENSE

Wednesday's Box Score -- MINOR DETAILS: Joining the team today from minor-league camp: INF Brandon Macias (#93), 1B Nick Ramirez (#96), OF Michael Reed (#95), INF Nick Shaw (#90), OF Chadwin Stang (#97), RHP Arcenio Leon (#79) and RHP Casey Medlen (#92). At-bats for Reed (groundout), Shaw (groundout), and Stang (flyout)...

WSSP / Bill Michaels: Jonathan Lucroy

Yovani with Bill Michaels Talks in some detail about "losing his way" after his mother's passing...

Beyond the Box Score -- averaging out many of the rankings for a Top 36

All updates are from @BrewersPD Wednesday is a camp day for Brewer minor leaguers, so there will be no lineups. Games resume tomorrow against the Mariners clubs. Sacramento clipped Nashville yesterday. Greg Golson 2x2, 2B, 3B. Joey Paciorek homered. Josh Prince, Eugenio Velez, and Pete Orr all had two hits. Midland scored in the 9th to edge Huntsville. RHP Drew Gagnon 3 IP, 0 R, 3 SO. RHP Tyler Cravy 3 IP, 0 R, 4 SO. Shawn Zarraga 2 2Bs. Nick Shaw, Cody Hawn, and Steven Halcomb all w/2 hits. Stockton rolled past Brevard County, 11-5. RHP Preston Gainey 3 IP, 0 R, 4 SO. Michael Reed w/solo HR. Cameron Garfield w/2 doubles. Jalen Harris 2 hits, including a 2B. Wisconsin downed Beloit, 6-2. Jose Sermo enjoyed a 4-hit day. Orlando Arcia and Johnny Davis had two hits each. RHP Zach Quintana 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 SO

More Brad photos, just rest your cursor on a photo and see the caption...