Jim Goulart

RHP Mark Williams (stats) -- Brevard (tweet)

The Brewers announced four player releases: 24-year-old infielder Carlos George (career stats) had a five-year run in the system after being drafted in the 46th round in 2008 out of a Bronx high school. Hamstring issues limited him to just 26 games in 2011 at Wisconsin, where he saw action over the past three seasons. George saw action in CF in ten games last season, but the offensive numbers just never came around with the Rattlers. Still to this day the only "Maverick" to play affiliated pro ball, RHP Maverick Lasker was the Crew's 5th round pick out of a Phoenix high school in 2008 (career stats). Lasker missed all of that rookie draft season with a back muscle strain, which unfortunately would be an issue for him in later years, including 2012. Still just 23, hopefully he can enjoy a healthy life minus the back issues. Lasker's 2009 Maryvale debut resulted in an All-Star season, but Lasker peaked level-wise in 2011 with 14 Brevard County starts, struggling to a 5.74 ERA there. RHP Joel Pierce always had a soft spot in my fandom as I felt as though I helped convince the Brewers to sign him, (7th round, 2010). Pierce (career stats), only turned 20 this past December. Last August Pierce was interviewed by Steve Wendt (audio link, scroll to the right to August 16th) after he had a nice six-week stretch. Unfortunately, Pierce wasn't able to warrant a Timber Rattler assignment this spring. RHP Michael White, 23, was drafted twice by the Brewers -- 33rd round in 2008 out of a Tennessee high school and again in the 13th round in 2010 out of community college. Noted for being long and lean (6'6", 172), White's numbers (career stats), and apparently his spring efforts, didn't gain him another opportunity with Wisconsin. Wishing all these guys well with any future baseball efforts, we've seen released players find their way back to affiliated ball and even the major leagues before (Craig Breslow, Dane De La Rosa come to mind -- Tom Wilhelmsen, although he was obviously a unique case...)

And yes, this is tentative, as Mark noted, but it already includes the Kyle Heckathorn to Nashville adjustment, so it's very likely the actual Opening Day Stars' roster.

The players jumping to the AA level for the very first time -- congrats to them: Pitchers: Greg Holle, Taylor Jungmann, Thomas Keeling (L), Casey Medlen, Andy Moye, Alan Williams (L) Catcher: Shawn Zarraga Infielders: Jason Rogers, Nick Shaw, Shea Vucinich, Mike Walker *** Rotation guess (not necessarily in the order it's been set up): Nelson, Jungmann, Pena, Moye and Lowe? Nice bullpen flexibility with the three southpaws, big years for them, that path is always open for big league clubs... If Robinzon Diaz is at AA, then Blake Lalli's going to be needed in Nashville, not Milwaukee. No pure center fielder, T.J. Mittelstaedt will play everywhere, although he's never played CF. The other three OF's have experience in CF, but limited compared to their corner time.

Huntsville Stars' pitching staff to feature trio of Milwaukee's top prospects Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Change is the only constant in minor league baseball, but the Huntsville Stars' arrival this week may beg for a box full of those "Hello, My Name Is..." lapel stickers. Of the 25 players on the tentative opening-day roster, only 10 have played previously in Huntsville. Of the four position players on that list, they combined for only 261 games of experience last year. The roster does not include Jed Bradley, the former Huntsville High pitcher and a first-round pick out of Georgia Tech. He'll start in Brevard, where he was 5-10 last year before going onto the disabled list late in the season. The Stars fly from Phoenix to Nashville on Monday with their Class AAA brethren, the Nashville Sounds, then bus to Huntsville that afternoon. They face Alabama A&M in a 6 p.m. exhibition game on Tuesday, then hold a workout Wednesday before opening the season Thursday in Chattanooga. Huntsville's home opener is April 10 against Jacksonville. Not only will the Stars be somewhat unfamiliar to fans, they're also a bit unfamiliar to manager Darnell Coles. Because of the World Baseball Classic and a rash of injuries left the Milwaukee Brewers shorthanded throughout much of spring training, more minor league players had big-league opportunities. But the trickle-down was that many of the players eventually assigned to Huntsville were working with Mike Guerrero's Nashville club while Coles had many players in his Huntsville lineup that are now at Class A. However, Coles spoke optimistically of his pitching staff, which includes three of Milwaukee's top 20 prospects, according to mlb.com. Taylor Jungmann (No. 3 prospect) was 11-6 at Brevard County in 2012. Former Alabama pitcher Jimmy Nelson (No. 9) divided the year between Brevard and Huntsville. Ariel Pena (No. 20), acquired in the late-season trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Angels, had seven appearances for the Stars. There could be a little power in the lineup as well, Coles suggested. Outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard, healthy after a pair of fluke injuries, had 75 homers in his first four pro seasons. Third baseman Mike Walker had 12 homers and drove in 75 runs for Brevard last year. The tentative opening day Stars' roster: Pitchers: Brian Garman (L), Greg Holle, Taylor Jungmann, Thomas Keeling (L), Arcenio Leon, Johnnie Lowe, Santo Manzanillo, Casey Medlen, Andy Moye, Jimmy Nelson, Ariel Pena, R.J. Seidel, Alan Williams (L). Catchers: Robinson Diaz, Adam Weisenburger, Shawn Zarraga. Infielders: Ozzie Chavez, T.J. Mittlestaedt, Jason Rogers, Nick Shaw, Shea Vucinich, Mike Walker. Outfielders: Kentrail Davis, Brock Kjeldgaard, Rene Tosoni.

As mentioned in the post above, Kyle Heckathorn (not on the 40-man) got an unexpected bump up from AA to AAA, and Josh Stinson was the reason why, as noted by Josh himself in this twitter conversation. And someone will get a bump up to AA, High-A, and A, all because of this waiver claim. Just goes to show how fluid the final rosters can be right up to the final moments.

Yes, Oakland could now try to sneak Stinson through waivers themselves if they wanted to free up a 40-man roster spot. The A's can stash Stinson at AAA all season because this is the final of his three option years. Unless they waive him off the 40-man, he remains on theirs. Notice how the Brewers came this close to sneaking Stinson through waivers to have as depth at Nashville. All the NL clubs passed on him, and Oakland would have been one of the final AL clubs to get a chance to grab him based on last year's record.

Via Mike Vassallo -- RHP Josh Stinson has been claimed off waivers by Oakland. The #Brewers' 40-man roster now stands at 39. Bummer...just don't like losing talent, regardless of ceiling.

I will cover Huntsville for all of April (which seemingly leaves TC07 with what appears to be a very entertaining Rattlers team). I do feel strongly that for our readership sake (as well as our own interests), things get shaken up on the first of each calendar month. We'll see if anyone steps up by end of April which would allow me to step back a bit. As always, among the daily four Link Reporters, we should always post last-minute unavailabilities and such. Life will always have a way of causing the occasional Link Report assignment detour, naturally.

Fireballer RHP Damien Magnifico (2012 stats) -- Wisconsin (tweet) Solid 2012 Maryvale debut for INF Jose Sermo (stats) -- on to Wisconsin for the just-turned 22-year-old

2B Chris McFarland (2012 stats) - Wisconsin (tweet)

Via BrewCrewBall: Mike Vassallo reports that Marco Estrada, John Axford and Jim Henderson are all pitching in minor league camp today, and the pitchers that will follow Lohse to the mound are all minor leaguers. So who might that be? Via the team's media notes: MINOR DETAILS: Joining the team today from minor-league camp: RHP Jim Hoey (#37), RHP Chris Jakubauskas (#39), RHP Michael Olmsted (#36), RHP Jesus Sanchez (#36), RHP Josh Stinson (#13), LHP Travis Webb (#95), OF Lance Roenicke (#5), INF Nick Shaw (#6), OF Rene Tosoni (#81) and C Adam Weisenburger (#9).

More updates from the Brewers Player Development Twitter Timeline. My last reminder for this in 2013, although we'll link to their noteworthy info when possible. Not sure what they have planned for the minor league regular seasons, but even if you're not on Twitter, just add that link to your favorites and check it as you wish. If you're on Twitter, it's an obvious follow fo readers of this forum.

At least one Brewer tweeted out his assignment, but since has deleted it, so I'm guessing management has indicated that may be a no-no for now.

RHp Greg Holle (career stats) to Huntsville via his tweet

Indications are that we will begin to see some formal minor league roster announcements as early as Friday 3/29 or Saturday 3/30. Feel free to link to any formal notices you see here. As you might know, we use the "Your 2013" threads to post and link to feature stories that are outside the scope of game activity covered in the Daily Link Report. One thing folks will notice this year is that we'll be providing less of the "link PLUS copy-and-paste" and just going with links in many of our threads. While in the long-term, this will impact the archive aspect of the site as some of those links go dead down the road, it will also make it much easier for all providing the news, as formatting the copy-and-paste was among the more tedious and time-consuming aspects of the forum each day. These threads have become among the most popular for viewing here, and we look forward to kicking them off formally.

Indications are that we will begin to see some formal minor league roster announcements as early as Friday 3/29 or Saturday 3/30. Feel free to link to any formal notices you see here. As you might know, we use the "Your 2013" threads to post and link to feature stories that are outside the scope of game activity covered in the Daily Link Report. One thing folks will notice this year is that we'll be providing less of the "link PLUS copy-and-paste" and just going with links in many of our threads. While in the long-term, this will impact the archive aspect of the site as some of those links go dead down the road, it will also make it much easier for all providing the news, as formatting the copy-and-paste was among the more tedious and time-consuming aspects of the forum each day. These threads have become among the most popular for viewing here, and we look forward to kicking them off formally.

Indications are that we will begin to see some formal minor league roster announcements as early as Friday 3/29 or Saturday 3/30. Feel free to link to any formal notices you see here. As you might know, we use the "Your 2013" threads to post and link to feature stories that are outside the scope of game activity covered in the Daily Link Report. One thing folks will notice this year is that we'll be providing less of the "link PLUS copy-and-paste" and just going with links in many of our threads. While in the long-term, this will impact the archive aspect of the site as some of those links go dead down the road, it will also make it much easier for all providing the news, as formatting the copy-and-paste was among the more tedious and time-consuming aspects of the forum each day. These threads have become among the most popular for viewing here, and we look forward to kicking them off formally.

Indications are that we will begin to see some formal minor league roster announcements as early as Friday 3/29 or Saturday 3/30. Feel free to link to any formal notices you see here. As you might know, we use the "Your 2013" threads to post and link to feature stories that are outside the scope of game activity covered in the Daily Link Report. One thing folks will notice this year is that we'll be providing less of the "link PLUS copy-and-paste" and just going with links in many of our threads. While in the long-term, this will impact the archive aspect of the site as some of those links go dead down the road, it will also make it much easier for all providing the news, as formatting the copy-and-paste was among the more tedious and time-consuming aspects of the forum each day. These threads have become among the most popular for viewing here, and we look forward to kicking them off formally.

Tyrone Taylor will be with the Rattlers (not a surprise). So guys are getting good, bad, or indeifferent news today, it seems.

2009 2nd round draft pick OF Max Walla (career stats - .681 OPS in four pro seasons out of a New Mexico high school) tweeted today that he'll be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a "rebroken hand". In 2012, Walla, a LH bat and arm, was sidelined to begin the season with a fractured left index finger. Walla only turns 22 April 12th -- this is likely going to be a Brevard County year for him, although the numbers haven't met the early hopes and expectations. Last year was his first spent above the rookie ball (Maryvale - Helena) level.

Positive follow-up story today...

Based on Darnell's 24-to-48 hour note above, it looks like the affiliates would probably release rosters Saturday the latest.

Huntsville Stars opening-day roster to be finalized soon, manager Darnell Coles says By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- When the Huntsville Stars go to work in their spring training game today, it'll be between 82 and 88 degrees. Which means they could have nearly as much adjustment to chilly Huntsville as Huntsville will have to the Stars when they arrive next week. Manager Darnell Coles' Stars are in the final days of spring training, and final cuts still remain. Coles said early this morning that "I'll know my team in the next 24 to 28 hours." The Stars' first appearance of the year at Joe Davis Stadium will be a 6 p.m. exhibition game against Alabama A&M on April 2. The Southern League season opens April 4 at Chattanooga. Huntsville's first home game is April 10 against Jacksonville, beginning a 10-game home stand. Though Coles could not commit to any names before the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league staff makes its roster decisions today and Thursday, it does appear the 2013 roster will likely be full of players who are new to the club or who had only brief appearances last season. Taylor Jungmann, the Brewers' top draft pick in 2011, with a reported $2,525,000 signing bonus, is expected to anchor the pitching staff. He was 11-6 at Class A Brevard last year, with a 3.53 ERA. He's listed by Baseball America as the Brewers' No. 3 prospect. Based on last season's Class A Brevard team, it would seem first baseman Jason Rogers, second baseman Nick Shaw and Florida State League All-Star third baseman Mike Walker would be most in line for a promotion, and the versatile T.J. Mittlestaedt (44 games in Huntsville after a late call-up) would in the lineup. Brock Kjeldgaard will be a familiar name. The big outfielder played in 48 games with Huntsville last year before breaking a finger, then suffered a broken foot in the Arizona Fall League, in which he was off to a .385 average with four homers and nine RBIs in seven games. Adam Weisenburger, rated by Baseball America as the organization's top defensive catcher, would seem in line to be the No. 1 catcher in Huntsville. He was with the Stars for 47 games in 2012. The top three 2012 Stars position players -- first baseman Hunter Morris, second baseman Scooter Gennett, outfielder Josh Prince -- will start the season in Nashville, barring unforeseen circumstances. Morris was given a look at first base by the Brewers this spring, but batted only .120 with one homer. Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke told reporters, "when you look at a guy coming from Double-A, if he just goes off in the spring, you may think, 'You know something? Maybe he can handle this.' "He was definitely a name that we thought of, but it's not like I was thinking he was going to be our guy. "He needs to go to Triple-A and continue to improve on his defense, and then have another big year offensively." Outfielder Khris Davis, who played in only 44 games for the Stars because of injury, is making a strong bid to stick with the Brewers, batting .296 with a team-high six homers and 15 RBIs in 24 spring training games. "You know how he was when he was tearing it up for us," Coles said, referring to a stretch in which he had four homers in four games in late July. "He's been doing that all spring in big-league camp." It's been a more disjointed spring than usual, complicated first by the World Baseball Classic in which a number of Brewers and Milwaukee farmhands were participants (Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, Yovani Gallardo, Hiram Burgos among others), then by injuries. So freakish is the injury list, general manager Doug Melvin had to be treated for a scorpion bite. Corey Hart, the Southern League MVP in 2003 for the Stars, had knee surgery in January. Mat Gamel, with a star-crossed career, is lost for the season after tearing his ACL. Infielders Jeff Bianchi and Taylor Green have both had hip injuries; Bianchi missed the Classic because of his injury and Green was just placed on the 15-day disabled list. Also going on the DL Tuesday was pitcher Mark Rogers, who had been in line for one of the starting rotation jobs. He is having problems with his right shoulder that has cost him velocity the last couple of weeks. The Brewers' top pick in the 2004 draft, he's only had eleven big league appearances (four in 2012) and missed 2007-08 after surgeries.

Three minutes with Scott Boras via MLB Network Radio