Jim Goulart

Friday 11/28: Via Reviewing the Brew's "Cold Brew Podcast": Guest is Voice of the Biloxi Shuckers Garrett Greene Discussing Bettinger, File, others who missed the 40-man roster cut, and more...

UPDATE: As per this tweet, Jaraba's court filing was denied. It would not appear he'll be playing winter ball in his native Colombia in 2020-2021.

As posted in our Minor League Media Forum -- 11/25: Via the Officially Unofficial Baseball Podcast: "2020 5th round draft selection, former Rajun Cajun and current Milwaukee Brewers prospect, Hayden Cantrelle" Seventy-five minutes of wide-ranging baseball talk...

11/25: Via the Officially Unofficial Baseball Podcast: "2020 5th round draft selection, former Rajun Cajun and current Milwaukee Brewers prospect, Hayden Cantrelle" Seventy-five minutes of wide-ranging baseball talk...

Thursday 11/19: AUDIO via WTMJ: Matt Pauley hosts "Brewers Weekly" *** Sunday 11/22: Via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: Kyle Lobner of the Shepherd Express, Milwaukee Record and Timber Rattlers website is the featured guest. Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast

Not RJ Anderson's best effort with CBS Sports

NOTE: It sucks, bluntly, that these young men didn't get a chance to show anything to management in 2020, but it was no different for all the spring releases as well. Here's a bit of background on each of the latest releases announced by the Brewers -- in the case of international signings, the country of origin is noted at the start of each entry. You folks know me, I always try to accentuate the positive in these release recaps. But because this set included a vast majority of players who did not show enough to or get a chance to play above rookie ball, it was tough here. But a reminder, these guys were good enough to be signed to professional contracts, and they should be credited for that. Surely hard work went into their efforts. *** Before the master list of the latest releases was posted, two names had appeared a couple of days prior. The details on LHP Jose Alberro and RHP Leoner Colina can be found here. *** Venezuelan RHP Wuilder Rodriguez is the "veteran" of this group, having had brief stints in AA Biloxi in both 2017 and 2018. He was called upon for one AAA Colorado Springs start in '17 as well. Rodriguez spent much of 2019 season rehabbing an unknown injury at Maryvale and Rocky Mountain. Well, I'm sure it was known to Wuilder and the Brewers, but unknown to fans. Rodriguez turns 28 in January. When he signed in March of 2015, he was already 22 years old. One year in the DSL, another in Helena, then Rodriguez jumped over low-A ball to have a fine season in Carolina in 2017 (1.63 ERA over 27 appearances, WHIP 0.97). All in all, a productive pro career (thus far) for an out-of-nowhere (surely short-money) older signing. *** The $500,000 2017 5th round draft signing of New Jersey high school 3B Nick Egnatuk (slot value for the 144th overall pick was $349,900) was never a guarantee of future success based on bonus level, but this did not work out. Egnatuk turns 22 next month. Brewerfan Draft Signing Player Profile with Scouting Remarks Brewers select Immaculata's Nick Egnatuk in MLB Draft Meet the Brewers’ 5th Round Pick Nick Egnatuk Nick Egnatuk eager to start professional career Helena Brewers infielder Nick Egnatuk focuses on mental game in Year 2 So there's plenty of background for you there. Egnatuk was moved off third base after committing 15 errors in 26 games in 2018 (.813 fielding %). He only saw action at second base in 45 games repeating the Pioneer League in 2019, with ten errors there. *** Puerto Rico native RHP Luis Gonzalez was drafted in the 8th round in 2018. Gonzalez had a Miller Park workout a few days prior. Here's Jonathan Mayo's tweet and analysis for MiLB.com, including signing info. Gonzalez made seven appearances as a 19-year-old in 2018 (capturing the attention of this Twitter follower), although the overall small sample was rough. Then Gonzalez missed all of 2019 with an elbow strain. It's unclear whether surgery was ever required, does not appear so. Just three weeks ago, Luis was looking back fondly at his debut season. *** RHP Nick Belzer parlayed this Flatground App pitching video into a spot with the independent St. Paul Saints, where he would begin 2019 posting a 1.32 ERA in five starts, netting him a Brewers contract in June. Belzer, nearing 24 years old that August, did what he was supposed to, taming Arizona League rookies with a 1.15 WHIP in 48.2 IP. Belzer never saw action above Maryvale, and at some point the Brewers are going to have to start placing these types of signings directly at the low-A level to get a more realistic view of what they have. Belzer was one of several farmhands to get in work in 2020 Covid-era indy ball, heading back to St. Paul, where he appeared in 13 games (six starts) with a 4.21 ERA in 36.1 IP. *** Dominican switch-hitting 2B/3B/LF Edwin Sano (turns 22 in December) tracked a traditional path (two summers in the DSL, one in Maryvale, one at Rocky Mountain). Sano received plenty of opportunities to improve on his career-best 2018 .731 OPS at Maryvale with the Vibes in 2019, but did not (.698 in the rookie-level mountain setting). In all, a respectable run for a non-bonus baby international signing, and thanks to the Vibes, a web gem captured for eternity. *** Venezuelan RHP Jose Parra, 24 years old next March, signed in March of 2017, two days shy of his 20th birthday. Any signing significantly post the July 2nd signing period would be for short money, so to speak. Parra posted a 2.60 ERA over 62.1 IP in his debut DSL season, facing youngsters two years younger for the most part. So it made sense he'd debut in Maryvale in 2018, but performance dictated he repeat there in 2019, where he tied for the Arizona League lead in appearances (21) and tied for third in saves (5) - Media Guide notes. Parra finished up with three appearances at Rocky Mountain to boot. Parra's career numbers included only 30 walks in 118.2 IP (117 K), but also 15 HBP and 30 unearned runs - rookie level unearned run totals can be maddening, but sometimes the damage has to be limited. *** Venezuelan RHP Joel Pinto signed as an 18-year-old just prior to the start of the 2015 Dominican Summer League season. Pinto would toil three full summers on the island, before splitting 2018 between Maryvale and Helena, and then made 24 relief appearances with the Vibes in a full 2019 stint. Pinto is now listed at 240 pounds in the 2020 Media Guide, which is sixty pounds more than his signing (MiLB.com page) weight. There is a recurring theme within this post, in that lack of strikeouts for Brewer hurlers did not keep them in the organization for spring 2021. Pinto (143 K's, 211.2 career innings) fits that mold. *** Venezuelan OF Anderson Melendez, was a prominent July 2nd signing back in 2016, inking a $400,000 contract as a 16-year-old and earning "best-dressed" honors from Baseball America's Ben Badler. So young, so much trying to project when committing to these kids. Listed at a 6'2", 210 frame in the 2020 Media Guide that provided hope (165 on his MiLB page, never go by that), an age 17 DSL season for the RH batter was followed by two Maryvale stints, with the often-seen collapse in numbers in the first year stateside. Melendez' defensive numbers showed he never committed an error in LF or CF, but nine in 88 career games in right. *** Dominican INF Victor Maria, like Anderson Melendez, was part of the 2016 July 2nd international signing class. Maria signed for a robust $375,000 with music playing in the background. He showed infield versatility and had speed (31 of 39 in SB attempts in his two DSL seasons), but a .332 OBP in 2018 was his only offensive glimmer as he moved up to Maryvale in 2019. A career .212/.292/.262 line again reminds us how signing a 16-year-old is a crapshoot. *** This was not a good day for the 2016 July 2nd international signing class. Hopefully the young men invested wisely, especially considering the dollars translate well in their native countries. Dominican OF (primarily LF) Francis Florentino was a $500,000 signing that day. Like Melendez and Maria, Florentino would debut in 2017 in the DSL, and while he didn't excel, it was enough to get him to Maryvale the following summer, where he would slug only .284 in 95 AB's. It got to the point that in 2019, the Brewers (or a diehard fan in AZ) posted very brief video commemorating Florentino's first home run as a professional. It didn't appear as though defensive numbers were strong, either. Sigh... Is there any hope for the 2016 class? OF (mostly CF) Pablo Abreu signed for $800,000 and has made it to the fringes of the MLB Pipeline Brewers Top 30 with a .241/.322/.366 line with OK speed. Just a .493 OPS in 102 Timber Rattler AB's in 2019, at least it was above rookie ball. So, you decide. Oh, and Jean Carmona ($725,000 bonus) did help get the Crew Jonathan Schoop . Carmona has not been productive at all with the Orioles. *** Venezuelan RHP Henry Medina, a November 2015 signing, turned 23 this past September. Medina was used primarily as a starter to begin his DSL career, and improved over three summers there to the point where he posted an impressive 1.41 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over his thirteen 2018 starts in his age 20 season. However, that came with an insanely low 33 K's in 76.1 IP. Medina then improved the strikeout rate but his other numbers suffered in his 2019 Maryvale debut. From this past May, here's a Spanish language Venezuelan League interview, only pointing out that even at the rookie level, these guys are big deals in their countries, and seeing Medina's smile to open the chat and proudly wearing his Brewers gear during Covid downtime places the releases, like always, in perspective to the player and his family/friends/fans. *** Dominican 2B/3B Victor Vargas only turned 20 this past August. Listed at 5'7", 169, and signed in March 2018, Vargas opened our eyes with an outstanding .302/.414/.438 line, with 16 stolen bases in 23 attempts in his debut DSL season spent primarily as a 17-year-old. That earned Vargas a bump to Maryvale for his age 18 season, where in 31 games and 111 at-bats, he would see all those slash lines literally cut in half. Pretty small sample, first-time stateside, it seems like Vargas would have been a worthwhile candidate to follow in a repeat Maryvale summer if it weren't for this lost season. If I'd nominate a "least favorite" cut, it'd be Vargas. *** RHP Moises Ruiz, originally thought to be from Venezuela but actually a Panama native, signed with Milwaukee in October 2017, having just turned 19. Used mostly as a starter in both his one DSL and one Maryvale summer, Ruiz posted a 1.58 combined WHIP with strikeout rates much too low and a walk rate too high. Occasionally however, Ruiz would light up a Brewerfan Link Report with tantalizing starts as he did in his pro debut, and this DSL gem, as well as what turned out to be his next-to-last Maryvale appearance. *** RHP Seth Beard signed on July 31st, 2019 out of Methodist University in his native North Carolina, as we noted in his initial Brewerfan post. Beard made six relief appearances in Maryvale. Could he have seen action in Low-A or High-A as a 24-year-old this past summer? Sure, but 2020 and all... *** Venezuelan RHP Yostin Villalobos (turned 20 in October) had a solid, consistent debut season in the DSL as his game log shows here. Outside of a significant lack of strikeouts (24 in 47 IP), nice work for an 18-year-old at the time. *** Dominican RHP Starling Javier (turns 20 in December) was initially listed as an outfielder, but there may have been an online error as he only appeared on the mound. In two DSL seasons, Javier walked 56 and hit another eight batters in 29.1 innings. Perhaps outfield would have been a better fit. His final mention within a Link Report was on a rare box score night.

NOTE: It sucks, bluntly, that these young men didn't get a chance to show anything to management in 2020, but it was no different for all the spring releases as well. Here's a bit of background on each of the latest releases announced by the Brewers -- in the case of international signings, the country of origin is noted at the start of each entry -- *** Before the master list of the latest releases was posted, two names had appeared a couple of days prior. The details on LHP Jose Alberro and RHP Leoner Colina can be found here. *** Venezuelan RHP Wuilder Rodriguez is the "veteran" of this group, having had brief stints in AA Biloxi on both 2017 and 2018. He was called upon for one AAA Colorado Springs start in '17 as well. Rodriguez spent much of 2019 season rehabbing an unknown injury at Maryvale and Rocky Mountain. Well, I'm sure it was known to Wuilder and the Brewers, but unknown to fans. Rodriguez turns 28 in January. When he signed in March of 2015, he was already 22 years old. One year in the DSL, another in Helena, then Rodriguez jumped over low-A ball to have a fine season in Carolina in 2017 (1.63 ERA over 27 appearances, WHIP 0.97). All in all, a productive pro career (thus far) for an out-of-nowhere (surely short-money) older signing. *** The $500,000 2017 5th round draft signing of New Jersey high school 3B Nick Egnatuk (slot value for the 144th overall pick was $349,900) was never a guarantee of future success based on bonus level, but this did not work out. Egnatuk turns 22 next month. Brewerfan Draft Signing Player Profile with Scouting Remarks Brewers select Immaculata's Nick Egnatuk in MLB Draft Meet the Brewers’ 5th Round Pick Nick Egnatuk Nick Egnatuk eager to start professional career Helena Brewers infielder Nick Egnatuk focuses on mental game in Year 2 So there's plenty of background for you there. Egnatuk was moved off third base after committing 15 errors in 26 games in 2018 (.813 fielding %). He only saw action at second base in 45 games repeating the Pioneer League in 2019, with ten errors there. *** Puerto Rico native RHP Luis Gonzalez was drafted in the 8th round in 2018. Gonzalez had a Miller Park workout a few days prior. Here's Jonathan Mayo's tweet and analysis for MiLB.com, including signing info. Gonzalez made seven appearances as a 19-year-old in 2018 (capturing the attention of this Twitter follower), although the overall small sample was rough. Then Gonzalez missed all of 2019 with an elbow strain. It's unclear whether surgery was ever required, does not appear so. Just three weeks ago, Luis was looking back fondly at his debut season. *** RHP Nick Belzer parlayed this Flatground App pitching video into a spot with the independent St. Paul Saints, where he would begin 2019 posting a 1.32 ERA in five starts, netting him a Brewers contract in June. Belzer, nearing 24 years old that August, did what he was supposed to, taming Arizona League rookies with a 1.15 WHIP in 48.2 IP. Belzer never saw action above Maryvale, and at some point the Brewers are going to have to start placing these types of signings directly at the low-A level to get a more realistic view of what they have. Belzer was one of several farmhands to get in work in 2020 Covid-era indy ball, heading back to St. Paul, where he appeared in 13 games (six starts) with a 4.21 ERA in 36.1 IP. *** Dominican switch-hitting 2B/3B/LF Edwin Sano (turns 22 in December) tracked a traditional path (two summers in the DSL, one in Maryvale, one at Rocky Mountain). Sano received plenty of opportunities to improve on his career-best 2018 .731 OPS at Maryvale with the Vibes in 2019, but did not (.698 in the rookie-level mountain setting). In all, a respectable run for a non-bonus baby international signing, and thanks to the Vibes, a web gem captured for eternity. *** Venezuelan RHP Jose Parra, 24 years old next March, signed in March of 2017, two days shy of his 20th birthday. Any signing significantly post the July 2nd signing period would be for short money, so to speak. Parra posted a 2.60 ERA over 62.1 IP in his debut DSL season, facing youngsters two years younger for the most part. So it made sense he'd debut in Maryvale in 2018, but performance dictated he repeat there in 2019, where he tied for the Arizona League lead in appearances (21) and tied for third in saves (5) - Media Guide notes. Parra finished up with three appearances at Rocky Mountain to boot. Parra's career numbers included only 30 walks in 118.2 IP (117 K), but also 15 HBP and 30 unearned runs - rookie level unearned run totals can be maddening, but sometimes the damage has to be limited. *** Venezuelan RHP Joel Pinto signed as an 18-year-old just prior to the start of the 2015 Dominican Summer League season. Pinto would toil three full summers on the island, before splitting 2018 between Maryvale and Helena, and then made 24 relief appearances with the Vibes in a full 2019 stint. Pinto is now listed at 240 pounds in the 2020 Media Guide, which is sixty pounds more than his signing (MiLB.com page) weight. There is a recurring theme within this post, in that lack of strikeouts for Brewer hurlers did not keep them in the organization for spring 2021. Pinto (143 K's, 211.2 career innings) fits that mold. *** Venezuelan OF Anderson Melendez, was a prominent July 2nd signing back in 2016, inking a $400,000 contract as a 16-year-old and earning "best-dressed" honors from Baseball America's Ben Badler. So young, so much trying to project when committing to these kids. Listed at a 6'2", 210 frame in the 2020 Media Guide that provided hope (165 on his MLB page, never go by that), an age 17 DSL season for the RH batter was followed by two Maryvale stints, with the often-seen collapse in numbers in the first year stateside. Melendez' defensive numbers showed he never committed an error in LF or CF, but nine in 88 career games in right. *** Dominican INF Victor Maria, like Anderson Melendez, was part of the 2016 July 2nd international signing class. Maria signed for a robust $375,000 with music playing in the background. He showed infield versatility and had speed (31 of 39 in SB attempts in his two DSL seasons), but a .332 OBP in 2018 was his only offensive glimmer as he moved up to Maryvale in 2019. A career .212/.292/.262 line again reminds us how signing a 16-year-old is a crapshoot. *** This was not a good day for the 2016 July 2nd international signing class. Hopefully the young men invested wisely, especially considering the dollars translate well in their native countries. Dominican OF (primarily LF) Francis Florentino was a $500,000 signing that day. Like Melendez and Maria, Florentino would debut in 2017 in the DSL, and while he didn't excel, it was enough to get him to Maryvale the following summer, where he would slug only .284 in 95 AB's. It got to the point that in 2019, the Brewers (or a diehard fan in AZ) posted very brief video commemorating Florentino's first home run as a professional. It didn't appear as though defensive numbers were strong, either. Sigh... Is there any hope for the 2016 class? OF (mostly CF) Pablo Abreu signed for $800,000 and has made it to the fringes of the MLB Pipeline Brewers Top 30 with a .241/.322/.366 line with OK speed. Just a .493 OPS in 102 Timber Rattler AB's in 2019, at least it was above rookie ball. So, you decide. *** Venezuelan RHP Henry Medina, a November 2015 signing, turned 23 this past September. Medina was used primarily as a starter to begin his DSL career, and improved over three summers there to the point where he posted an impressive 1.41 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over his thirteen 2018 starts in his age 20 season. However, that came with an insanely low 33 K's in 76.1 IP. Medina then improved the strikeout rate but his other numbers suffered in his 2019 Maryvale debut. From this past May, here's a Spanish language Venezuelan League interview, only pointing out that even at the rookie level, these guys are big deals in their countries, and seeing Medina's smile to open the chat and proudly wearing his Brewers gear during Covid downtime places the releases, like always, in perspective to the player and his family/friends/fans. *** Dominican 2B/3B Victor Vargas only turned 20 this past August. Listed at 5'7", 169, and signed in March 2018, Vargas opened our eyes with an outstanding .302/.414/.438 line, with 16 stolen bases in 23 attempts in his debut DSL season spent primarily as a 17-year-old. That earned Vargas a bump to Maryvale for his age 18 season, where in 31 games and 111 at-bats, he would see all those slash lines literally cut in half. Pretty small sample, first-time stateside, it seems like Vargas would have been a worthwhile candidate to follow in a repeat Maryvale summer if it weren't for this lost season. *** RHP Moises Ruiz, originally thought to be from Venezuela but actually a Panama native, signed with Milwaukee in October 2017, having just turned 19. Used mostly as a starter in both his one DSL and one Maryvale summer, Ruiz posted a 1.58 combined WHIP with strikeout rates much too low and a walk rate too high. Occasionally however, Ruiz would light up a Brewerfan Link Report with tantalizing starts as he did in his pro debut, and this DSL gem, as well as what turned out to be his next-to-last Maryvale appearance. *** RHP Seth Beard signed on July 31st, 2019 out of Methodist University in his native North Carolina, as we noted in his initial Brewerfan post. Beard made six relief appearances in Maryvale. Could he have seen action in Low-A or High-A as a 24-year-old this past summer? Sure, but 2020 and all... *** Venezuelan RHP Yostin Villalobos (turned 20 in October) had a solid, consistent debut season in the DSL as his game log shows here. Outside of a significant lack of strikeouts (24 in 47 IP), nice work for an 18-year-old at the time. *** Dominican RHP Starling Javier (turns 20 in December) was initially listed as an outfielder, but there may have been an online error as he only appeared on the mound. In two DSL seasons, Javier walked 56 and hit another eight batters in 29.1 innings. Perhaps outfield would have been a better fit. His final mention within a Link Report was on a rare box score night.

It's been a busy day on the MiLB Transaction Pages as teams position players on the AAA level roster, remember they can place up to 38 players there: Well, the maneuvering is in, here's the current AAA level roster of the organization, each player listed is eligible to be taken in the MLB Rule 5 and is also protected from the minor league phase of Rule 5. Notice that Mario Feliciano was placed on the AAA roster immediately after alternate camp broke (as were Payton Henry and others). Obviously, they could be added to the 40-man roster this afternoon. Specific to positioning, just yesterday, 2015 Competitive Balance Pick (post-first round) LHP Nathan Kirby was specifically moved to Biloxi's roster, and RHP Bubba Derby (Khris Davis deal with Oakland along with Jacob Nottingham) was also placed on Biloxi's roster, direct from San Antonio's. Thus, both are eligible to be plucked in the minor league phase of Rule 5. Remember IF/OF Eric Farris years ago? The Brewers somewhat surprisingly exposed Farris to the Minor League Phase in 2012 (he had already played in the big leagues with the Crew, but had been outrighted and the Brewers still owned his rights). Doug Melvin later explained it was a "favor" as opposed to a release, and the Mariners did select Farris, although he never again played at the MLB level. Do you know who was not moved this week to the San Antonio roster from where he had been, on the Biloxi roster? RHP Luke Barker. I am thinking that is outstanding news for Barker's chances of being added to the 40-man today. If he's not, he literally could be plucked in the minor league phase for short money and no limitations. Either that, or that's one heck of an oversight by MiLB's webmasters. Others not listed on the AAA roster today were almost all lower-level youngsters, but you still may see one or two plucked away in the minor league phase. Recent minor league free agent signing Jamie Westbrook Recent re-signing RHP Alec Kenilvort, coming off Tommy John RHP Wuilder Rodriguez and the young'uns RHP Daniel Acosta RHP Henry Medina RHP Jose Parra RHP Joel Pinto OF/3B Edwin Sano Now remember, MiLB's pages aren't perfect, they still list Ryon Healy on the AAA roster, and we know he elected free agency two weeks ago. Infielder Angel Ortega is listed, but he's on the restricted list after not reporting to begin 2018. Take them away and you end up with 35 names (hey, that's room for Westbrook and Kenilvort). So, still not locked in stone, but pretty close.

I just added RHP Luis Contreras to the Rule 5 eligible list. The 24-year-old reached AA Biloxi in his final appearance of his solid debut season. And due to that very random but non-active assignment by the Cubs several years prior, he is a surprise qualifier for Rule 5 this year. Toby's 2019 Twitter thread on Contreras From 7/31/19: AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Soundcloud: "In Wednesday's postgame podcast, Chris Mehring and Kyle Lobner recall the familiar refrain of an early deficit and a late comeback attempt that falls just short. They will also delve into a few of the deadline deals and some performances around the rest of the system. There is also an origin story on new Timber Rattlers reliever Luis Contreras. In the clubhouse comments, hear from Contreras, Matt Erickson, and Antonio Piñero." Thanks guys, for following up so quickly!

Friday 11/20: Via MLB Network's "High Heat": Brian Anderson

Added RHP Brayan Salaya to the eligible list. He'll be 21 years old in February. Salaya signed for $250,000 at the July 2nd, 2016 international signing period.

Wednesday 11/18: Via the Bill Michaels Show: "Bruce Levine, 670 The Score Baseball Analyst, joins the show to talk Cubs, the resigning of Theo Epstein, and more" *** Thursday 11/19: Via Reviewing the Brew's "Cold Brew Podcast": Guest is Wisconsin State Journal sportswriter Andrew Wagner Via CC Sabathia's Podcast: Devin Williams

VIDEO: We know that if the Brewers remain aligned with San Antonio at all, it won't be at the AAA level

Back on February 29th, we placed our annual post on Brewer farmhand injury updates based on the newly released Media Guide. Baseball America reports that the Brewers have released LHP Jose Alberro and RHP Leoner Colina. Alberro was Rule 5 eligible and we'll remove him from that list now. Colina turned 20 on November 1st. This is what we wrote last February: 22-year-old LHP Jose Alberro, who last appeared for Rocky Mountain on July 14h, underwent Tommy John surgery on September 26th, 2019, he'll miss the 2020 season. Here are four tweets from me on Alberro, going back to his effort in a DSL no-hitter. *** Now 19 years old, we had posted previously on Colina: Sigh, we learn that Colina had Tommy John surgery performed on July 25th, 2019. Another who will miss the 2020 campaign, one would think. *** Based on his performance in the DSL at age 17, it would have been hard to conceive Colina's release two years later. Complications in his recovery, perhaps. He was only a $15,000 bonus signing, but had certainly outperformed that in his first pro season.

Will work to keep this updated -- Tweet: Young RHP Santiago Elizondo saw October action in his native Mexico *** Tue. 11/17 Box Score: RHP Miguel Sanchez debuted in the Dominican League, his team was down 3-1 when he was brought in, the game ended up suspended -- Estrellas Bottom of the 7th Pitching Change: Miguel Sanchez replaces Anthony Gose. Jeremy Pena strikes out swinging. Gustavo Nunez grounds out, pitcher Miguel Sanchez to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Eric Filia pops out to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Estrellas Bottom of the 8th Estrellas challenged (play at 1st), call on the field was upheld: Junior Lake grounds out, shortstop Jorge Mateo to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Status Change - Delayed: Rain

Thursday 11/12: AUDIO via WTMJ: Matt Pauley hosts "Brewers Weekly" *** Sunday 11/15: Via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: Brew Crew Ball Managing Editor Kyle Lesniewski is the featured guest Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast

Thursday 11/12: Via Reviewing the Brew's "Cold Brew Podcast": Guest is Will Sammon of The Athletic *** Via 97.3 Milwaukee's Steve Czaban: Former Brewer Paul Wagner (01:25:50 minute mark) - Free iHeart account login may be required

Because prospect fans are hungry for any tidbit of farmhand news, a couple of Spanish-language articles -- Google translate assisted with the italicized text: Now 18-years-old, 2018 Brewers signing ($1.1 million out of Colombia, one of that country's largest bonuses ever) 3B/SS Branlyn Jaraba was at instructional camp. Now that camp is complete, in this article, Jaraba's Colombian winter ball situation is discussed, as he's being prevented from playing: With just a few weeks to go before a new season in Colombian professional baseball begins, Tigres de Cartagena, has news, but not exactly in terms of sport. Now everything is about a resolution that the Cartagena team took out where it does not allow several players to play for this season that is coming. Everything stems from the events recorded last year when these same players refused to play due to lack of payments. On 12/5/19 and 12/6/19 there were games but the players did not appear for the competition. The pending payment that should occur on November 30 was informed that same day after the game in the Municipality of Turbaco, which was the alternate headquarters of the team, that the payment would be made on December 5 since the resources had to be turned over from the United States, but no player wanted to wait and they opted in a one-man manner to withdraw from the tournament, damaging the club and the championship in general and disappointing the fans. Due to the seriousness of the events, the suspension of the aforementioned players must be imposed as a sports sanction so that they cannot act during the 2020-2021 season with our Professional baseball club LOS TIGRES S.A. nor in any other club in competition in the Colombian Professional Baseball championship under any contractual modality, extending the sanction of prohibition to compete in any of the teams of the Winter Leagues affiliated to the Caribbean Professional Baseball confederation with active or passive membership, according to the current regulation of the Winter League agreement ”, this is stated in some sections of said resolution. Faced with the aforementioned resolution, Branlyn Jaraba, one of the players involved and who acted through his legal representative, Senen Jaraba (father), established a legal action against the Tigres and Diprobeisbol team (Professional Baseball Division). "Admit the tutela action instituted against" Los Tigres S.A. and Diprobeisbol for the alleged violation of their fundamental right to due process, good name, information, to life, to the minimum vital and to work ”, it reads in a part of said protection that in the next few days its ruling will be known by the judge in charge. This type of inconvenience creates, once again, uncertainty within the ninth of Cartagena. *** In another recent article, 6'6" LH-swinging 1B Ernesto Martinez ($800,000 bonus in 2017) is highlighted in a lengthy profile piece. The Cuban native, now 21 years old, signed out of the Dominican Republic with ties to France through his father's heritage (yes, Ernesto speaks French as well). Martinez had a solid .802 OPS at Rocky Mountain in 2019, and talks about his initial struggles transitioning to Maryvale from the Dominican Summer League. Before his professional contract, Martínez was about to start his path in baseball in the United States as a pitcher, he was already in that country when an injury to his pitching arm forced him to leave that role to then start the search for the contract as batter in the Dominican Republic. Just when all hope seemed lost, the signature arrived, or as he himself has called it, a magical opportunity. «I cried a lot because I was very desperate, I no longer wanted to sign, until in a clash that they prepared for Cubans and Dominicans I shone; There were the Dodgers, Brewers, White Sox, the Yankees offered me 1.5 million if I waited until Friday but they had offered Luis Robert 22 million and if they signed him they wouldn't sign me; then the Brewers made me an offer of 850,000 plus the school opportunity and I had until Thursday to respond and I decided on their proposal, since it is an organization to raise much easier than the Yankees. He acknowledges that it has not been an easy adaptation to baseball in the United States, everything was different for him than those he had previously faced. «It is not the same baseball, the preparation, the people, the serious work, it is not entertainment, it is the work that you like, but not to entertain you, punctuality, everything impacted me, the level of demand is like being on another level , I felt like a stranger in my first year in the United States that went very badly for me. There are already three seasons in which he has gone through the Minor League system; In 2019 he showed his best records playing for the Rocky Mountain Vibes within the Pioneer League despite the injuries that were afflicting him and not being able to stabilize his game, at the end of the season came his offensive awakening, in which he considers the beginning of his maturity as an athlete. "I think I have already found the solution to increase my offense, I just have to continue implementing it in training, but I feel that I am at an optimal level." After a 2020 in which he could not show this growth due to the cancellation of the Minor Leagues, the young man is focused for the next season. "I am training with the national team in the south of France my old school, old teachers, for next season, God bless me, let's hope that the Coronavirus allows us to play, because I don't know what will happen to the Minor League players" . Listed as a timely and strong hitting player, above presenting a high average, in addition to his defensive contribution in the initial thanks to his size, Martínez feels that he can contribute beyond those qualities with his positive energy within the team where perform. Could it ever be the national team? "The day I have to represent Cuba, I represent it without problems."

Sunday 11/08: Via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: "What was it like to cover the Brewers and the Bucks in these unprecedented times? Bucks studio host Justin Garcia joins Matt as the two discuss their experiences during the respective seasons." Latest Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast *** Monday 11/9: Via WSSP's "Big Show": Adam McCalvy *** Tuesday 11/10: Via the Journal Sentinel Brewers Podcast: Tom Haudricourt Via the Bill Michaels Show: Brewers Pitching Coach Chris Hook Via the “Mike Heller Show”: Tom Haudricourt (go to the 01:46:45 hour/minute mark) - Free iHeart account login may be required *** Former Brewer RHP Rob Wooten is the new AA Pitching Coach for the Reds. He reviews his college and pro career here, as well as his sports performance business venture. I enjoyed the conversation.

Wednesday 11/4: Via Reviewing the Brew's "Cold Brew Podcast": Guest is Rob Friedman, @PitchingNinja on Twitter, discusses the Brewers staff *** Thursday 11/5: AUDIO via OVERTIME with Dave – WKTY in LaCrosse: Hitting Coach Andy Haines (go to the 22:00 minute mark) Via the Journal Sentinel Brewers Podcast: Tom Haudricourt

Make that 17 position players and 36 overall on the 40-man as of Monday 11/2, when Lorenzo Cain was activated from the restricted list.

I've since learned that these three players, who never suited up for the Crew in 2020, were each signed to two-year minor league free agent deals last winter, so despite having enough overall MiLB service time, these names have been transferred to our other thread on Rule 5 protection.

If you speak Spanish, enjoy this new interview with talented RHP Miguel Sanchez, who was a big league camp invite in 2020, and a prospect favorite of many in the Brewer community. He made his pro debut at age 22 and shares his unique baseball journey here. It is true that at YouTube, you can click on Settings --> Subtitles, and choose English, but it's a wild ride if you are looking for a direct translation.

On the newest Brewer, LF (and 2B, but not since 2017) 25-year-old Jamie Westbrook -- Baseball Reference The rare 2B-to-LF conversion, has never played SS or CF MiLB Player Page *** Former D-backs prospect Jamie Westbrook seeks second chance at MLB debut Released by the Giants after COVID-19, Westbrook is intent on making it to The Show By Isaiah Burrows, azsnakepit.com, Jul 28, 2020 .900 OPS in 27 indy ball games this summer *** Giants: Jamie Westbrook could be the surprise of spring training Jeff Young, aroundthefoghorn.com, Jan. 12, 2020 Stance adjustment to generate more power - 35 home runs in 2018-19, 29 of them in the power-stifling Southern League *** Behind the Giants’ rookie talent show, where a few minor leaguers won good money Unfair share of the title?