Jim Goulart

As we typed on March 25th of this year -- Obscure but potentially impactful - How about a player who transitioned to center field at the AA level in 2024, posting a .331/.418/.416 line, albeit at age 27? Bryan Torres (MiLB Player Page, now 28) was only 21 when he was plucked by the Giants in the minor league phase of Rule 5 in December 2019, having played all over the diamond in his five (!) Brewers rookie-level seasons (Dominican Republic for three seasons, the now-defunct Pioneer League for two), primarily catcher and then corner infield in his Crew days. He had been a non-drafted player out of Puerto Rico. Torres jumped both A-Ball levels and did fine at AA in his lone San Francisco organization season, but because of the Covid-years, qualified for minor league free agency, finding no takers. Torres would crush independent ball with ironically, the Milwaukee Milkmen, in both 2022 and 2023 (.925 OPS, 1.004 OPS), before someone finally took notice for the 2024 season, that someone being the St, Louis Cardinals, where he added outfield play to his mix. Last September 7th (2024), watch as he made this catch on the same night he went 5-for-5 (more video). Torres' career arc has been fascinating, as his Baseball Reference page shows. St. Louis just placed Torres on their AAA Memphis roster to begin 2025, it'll be his first taste of ball at that level. *** Thursday 11/6 Update: "X" Thread here:

Wednesday 11/5: Via the "Wisconsin Sports Daily Show" with Steve "Sparky" Fifer: "The Journal Sentinel's JR Radcliffe discusses the Brewers catcher situation with Jeferson Quero playing well & William Contreras heading to arbitration. JR breaks down other moves the Brewers made." Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Milwaukee's Postseason Failures Demand Offensive Firepower in Free Agency" Via the "View from Bernie's Chalet" Podcast: "Officially Offseason & Nostradumbass 25' Review" - Jason, Hyatt & Tim chat option decisions, FanDuel TV deal extension, review the Nostradumbass over/under's, answer listener questions on theme nights and giveaways we want to see"

Jeferson Quero singled and walked as the DH on Wednesday, but his Lara team was 0-for-9 with RISP and lost 3-2. Quero's OPS actually dropped from 1.120 to 1.100 through 45 plate appearances.

Surprise loses Wednesday, 7-3 (Gameday / Box) - Four of the five pitchers for the Saguaros were Brewers, they combined to work 7.1 innings, 8 H, 4 R (only 2 ER), 3 BB, 7 K. Click to see the individual lines for LHP's Jesus Broca and Nate Peterson, plus RHP's Edwin Jimenez and Michael Fowler. Three Brewers position players saw action, and none contributed to the misplays that caused the two unearned runs. LF Josh Adamczewski, 1B Luke Adams, and 2B Dylan O'Rae each reached base multiple times as Adamczewski and O'Rae each singled and walked, while Adams singled, was HBP (of course) and reached on catcher's interference. O'Rae stole his 6th base in seven attempts. Surprise next plays Thursday evening at 7:30 Central (stream link).

Tuesday 11/4: Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Brewers Decline Three Player Options - Will Hoskins and Quintana Moves Reshape 2025 Plans?"

In the only winter league game played Monday (Dominican League make-up game), Brewers new 40-man roster LHP Sammy Peralta retired the only man he faced, stranding an inherited runner on second with a groundout. Pitching on consecutive days, Sammy Peralta allowed two inherited runners (1st and 3rd, no outs) to score in the 5th inning - looked like relatively weak contact, especially on an infield hit - game log can be found here. *** In a 15-inning game that saw a combined 21 pitchers in action, RHP Carlos Rodriguez made his 3rd start in the Dominican League, and was again very solid - 5 IP, 4 H (one a double), 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K, now a 2.03 ERA in 13.1 IP. *** Keep cooking, Jeferson Quero! After an outlier 0-for-4, two K Sunday, Quero homered (his 4th in 37 Venezuelan League AB's), singled and drove in three in his 2-for-5, 0 K Tuesday. Quero's home run is one of four highlighted in this package and comes at the 01:39 minute mark. Not the most prodigious blast, but it finds its mark.

LHP Jesus Broca gets the start in Arizona Wednesday for Surprise. You can stream here at 2:30 PM Central.

Crow had extra leverage because he was slated for minor league free agency if he was not added to the 40-man. This is why the Brewers added him now rather than the deadline for 40-man adds on the 18th. We have covered this in detail in our dedicated thread pinned atop the Minor League Forum. Unless Crow was facing a catastrophic injury that contributed to his second half injury absence, he was always going to be added this week.

Not a surprise if you have followed this thread all summer and fall. It seemed evident for quite some time Martinez would not be inked to a third consecutive one-year extension. As for Delgado, was hoping he’d be invited back (and that he’d agree).

This additional post indicates Cruz is expected to also pitch for Nicaragua in the WBC.

Monday 11/3: Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "LA Dodgers didn't care that the Brewers' dominated. Did the Brewers Effort Bite Them?" Via 97.3's Drew & KB: Paul Wagner, former Brewers pitcher and Wisconsin native, talks World Series (go to the 28:00 minute mark)

In the only winter league game played Monday (Dominican League make-up game), Brewers new 40-man roster LHP Sammy Peralta retired the only man he faced, stranding an inherited runner on second with a groundout. Arizona Fall League was idle Monday.

It's a technicality, but due to his big-league service time and 2025 outright, OF Daz Cameron was able to elect minor league free agency after the season, as his status indicates on his MiLB Player Page. It never did appear as an official transaction. Unless we learn otherwise, the players on the list in the initial post (other than Coleman Crow, congrats) reach minor league free agency on Thursday the 6th.

Moving on to --

Must be a misprint - Jeferson Quero 0-for-4, two K's as the DH on Sunday in a 5-4 Lara loss (box).

Sunday 11/2: Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast - "Brewer Fanatic's Spencer Michaelis was in for Paul this week, and the guys started off by discussing what was a fun and competitive World Series, including what the Blue Jays performance means for the "inevitable Dodgers" narrative. After that, they moved on to talking about some offseason priorities, what sorts of moves they are anticipating and, of course, if a Brewer were a tree, what sort of tree would he be?" *** From our Minor League Forum:

Moving on to the Rangers organization but safe to say Turner had a successful two-year run as Hitting Coach of the Mudcats (prior to that, two seasons with the Crew in the Dominican League).

Gameday / Box Score