Jim Goulart

Dig down into this for the Lara paragraphs

This double the highlight of a 1-for-4, two K night as his team fell 10-3, OPS still .990 OPS

In what is believed to be his final winter league game for 2025, Jadher Areinamo is playing shortstop Sunday for the first time this winter season (all other 31 starts at second base). No problem, he'll just do this: Oh, and he's 2-for-2 (so far), batting .364 with a 1.121 OPS in a historical season for a rookie in Venezuela.

Resurrecting this July post to indicate that Will Childers grandfather Terry Childers had an eight-year minor league catching career, one of those years (1972) in the Brewers system! Sadly, Terry passed in 2013 at age 66. Still, quite the three-generation legacy and connection.

The player who charged the mound on that 3-0 inside pitch (he wasn't even officially hit) has not been in affiliated ball since 2018 - 31-year-old Sandber Pimentel. Good luck with that office meeting postgame, Victor.

Eventful night for 40-man roster RF Steward Berroa in the D.R. He led off the game with a double and would score. He earned an outfield assist in the 5th, though it was of the 9-3-5 variety. Berroa finished the game with .327/.463/.519 night (.982 OPS in 68 plate appearances). Unfortunately, Berroa would strike out in each of his four remaining at-bats, and despite his fine season to date, his golden sombrero was chronicled thusly. My goodness, tough online crowd! Despite the sombrero, Berroa still has more walks/HBP's (14) than K's (11). (Looks like there is a "golden sombrero GIF" as well). And by the way, Berroa did not swing at that final pitch in the 4th K. But wait, there's more - thankfully it was nothing like the charging the mound madness seen in the post just above this one, but benches did empty as Berroa must have been nearly plunked. We don't see the pitch here, but you'll see Berroa quickly shuttled to the lower-right of the screen and kept from the scuffle. Finally, Berroa was featured in an online personal background story out of the Dominican Republic, and since there is no paywall, a translated version is provided here (original link). Steward Berroa escaped from Las Cañitas crime He grew up in a very hostile and marginalized environment, but that was not an impediment to reach the Major Leagues by Moisés Mejía, Santo Domingo "You first see it on the PlayStation, then in your mind, then you dream it, and when it comes true it becomes life's greatest satisfaction." With those words of Steward Berroa himself, a dream began to take shape that many consider impossible for a young man born in a marginalized neighborhood, marked by violence and need. But he, with faith, discipline and courage, believed that this dream was worth it. Steward was born and raised in Las Cañitas, a neighborhood in the National District where daily life, a little more than a decade ago, was defined by crime, gang fights, robberies, and a harsh reality for any boy with big dreams. At least that's how he remembers it. "There were times when one sometimes had to run away because there were a lot of troubles and the tigueres at times were fighting every day," Berroa told Listín Diario. That was the atmosphere: danger and risk, a very easy path to the negative, even when he got involved in "boys' fights". "Sometimes I had some fights but nothing that has to do with matters of crime or bad roads. I have always been very obedient to my parents and a boy from my house, I have never liked problems and things on the street," said the pimentoso player. That sense of rootedness, of respect for his parents, was key. Many in his environment took another course, but Steward decided to dream differently. Tryouts without breakfast Steward's path to leave Las Cañitas was not a red carpet. He made dozens of tryouts, and even 'got into' some that were not for him, but as a 'joseador', what he was looking for was an opportunity, no matter how minimal or small it was. On some occasions, he even did tryouts without breakfast. "Sometimes it was in toothpaste that one went to the play. If they went to see a player there, I would sneak in, if there was a trip for a tryout, I would also be there. I never gave up. It's a process. Nothing is given away. Everything you get is based on effort," Steward emphasized. Major League Baseball That effort led him to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016 and little by little, climb until he knocked on the door of the dream that every player has as a longing: to debut in the Major Leagues. On June 23, 2024, it became a reality. Berroa was called up by Toronto and achieved the glory of wearing a Major League uniform. "I was surprised when they called me that I was going to move up to MLB. I mean, that's something you expect and thank God I was doing well in the minors, but in any case that news surprises even the most prepared," Berroa said. The first thing he did was call his parents: "First it went to daddy and then to mommy. Daddy is less expressive, although I know he was very emotional inside, but Mommy did go crazy, she cried, she jumped. It made me feel very proud of that moment." Lidom In addition to playing in the Major Leagues, Berroa has maintained his participation in Dominican winter ball. Last season he played for the Leones del Escogido, a team with which he was crowned champion, but then he was traded to the Águilas Cibaeñas. "In my short career I have learned that this is a business. Obviously, it took me many beautiful experiences with the Escogido, especially the championship we were able to win and the friendships I made. But now we are in the Eagles, representing the culture of what this historic team means and thank God we are doing a good job," said Steward With the Cibaeño team, Berroa has received the opportunity and has responded very well with his game. In 23 games played this year, Berroa is batting .340, with two home runs, 16 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 12 walks, seven RBIs, three doubles and a .484 OBP, being an effective leadoff hitter in a team that has had the first half of the season in league history. "I try every day to learn good things and above all to learn about myself. What can I do differently to be able to impact in more and more ways with my game. Learn from the coaches, the veterans and take everything I learn to the Major Leagues," he added. Berroa came to the Eagles in exchange for fellow outfielder Alex Canario, who with the Reds has a .135 average, one home run, eight runs scored and six RBIs in 20 games.

Tuesday 11/25: Via David Gasper's "Brewers Daily" YouTube page: "Digging Through Freddy Peralta Trade Ideas" *** Wednesday 11/26: Via David Gasper's "Brewers Daily" YouTube page: "Cards Trade Sonny Gray - Arenado Next?" Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Do Brewers Need to Find Themselves Another CF in the Offseason?" Via the "View from Bernie's Chalet" Podcast: "Jason & Hyatt discuss Jake Bauers and the six arb eligible players tendered contracts, FanGraphs top 47 prospect list, the 2026 giveaway items, answer listener questions & give thanks to the Brewers and listeners." *** Thursday 11/27: Via David Gasper's "Brewers Daily" YouTube page: "Dylan Cease Signs with Blue Jays for 7/210" Locked on Brewers with Chuck Freimund - "Paul Francis "Sully" Sullivan of 'Locked on MLB" and Chuck break down the Brewers' postseason struggles, analyze the NL Central landscape, and pinpoint Milwaukee’s biggest offseason needs"

Young man is on fire, would love to see this confidence carry over this spring - That Eduardo Garcia HR part of a 2-for-4 night which included this two-RBI single: Garcia's first game this winter playing first base - well, he's hitting like one (.924 OPS, as seen at the link above).

Lone hit on a 1-for-5 night stroked solidly: "Two-run RBI double by Andruw Monasterio (Winter League stats at link) that ends Erick Leal's performance in the game and extends the home team's lead against Leones del Caracas."

June 14, 2023 - RH reliever Taylor Floyd is identified as the PTBNL in the April 30th trade for Trevor Megill. (Cash considerations also went to the Twins). Floyd turns 28 in December. Somewhat surprisingly, he has yet to be assigned to AAA in his career. After pitching for the Mariners at the AA Texas League in 2025 - actually Floyd has pitched exclusively in the Texas League since leaving the Timber Rattlers the day of the trade - Floyd's new organization for 2026 is Cincinnati (new minor league deal).

Chourio-Watch now set for the 2nd week of December --

Jeferson Quero (DH’ing) and SS Eduardo Garcia (double) each reached base twice in Lara’s 4-3 loss in Venezuela (box score).

Guess what folks, the Cardinals announced this week they had re-signed the Hancel with a "c" to a new minor league deal this week. So, the Brewers do indeed get Hansel with an "s", perhaps a major injury sidelined him the past two years or he impressed in a workout resurrecting his career. Let's repost what we wrote above so you can be sure to learn about him! *** Brewers sign 23-year-old RHP Hansel Rincon, as per the Brewers official transaction page. The Dominican native was signed by the Diamondbacks at age 17 in September of 2019. He took a traditional early career path in the Arizona system, debuting in 2021 post-Covid season in the Dominican Summer League, before moving to the Arizona Complex League for 2022 (combined 25 appearances, 17 starts) with major mound struggles in that first stateside season. Things improved a bit in a repeat of AZ Complex in 2023 (WHIP dropped from 1.64 in '22 to 1.32). Rincon even made a random emergency two-inning relief appearance for AA Amarillo that year before ending his season back at the complex with two more appearances, as evidenced in his B-Ref page linked above or his MiLB Player Page here. Listed at 6'1", Rincon did toss three effective innings vs. the Brewers AZ club in that 2023 season (box score). The D-Backs released Rincon in the spring of 2024 and there's no record of him having pitched the last two seasons.

You know, it's quite possible the Brewers signed the pitcher who has been idle since 2023, and their Transaction Page is accurate. It would make a lot more sense if they signed Hancel (MiLB Player Page), who has made 108 career appearances (96 starts), including nine games at the AA level in 2025 with solid peripherals (59 K in 47.1 IP, 1.27 AA WHIP). I guess we'll see!

For now, read this Player of the Month write-up from June on Hancel Rincon, who had enough time to qualify for minor league free agency this month.

Wow that was a good write-up, Jim, but the Brewers (or basically the MLB/MiLB mechanism) linked to Hansel Rincon on the Milwaukee transaction page when they should have (maybe?) linked to Hancel (with a “c”) Rincon, and yes, both were STL farmhands (and are not brothers). Time for a new write-up later, sigh, on this pitcher

Brewers sign 23-year-old RHP Hansel Rincon, as per the Brewers official transaction page. The Dominican native was signed by the Diamondbacks at age 17 in September of 2019. He took a traditional early career path in the Arizona system, debuting in 2021 post-Covid season in the Dominican Summer League, before moving to the Arizona Complex League for 2022 (combined 25 appearances, 17 starts) with major mound struggles in that first stateside season. Things improved a bit in a repeat of AZ Complex in 2023 (WHIP dropped from 1.64 in '22 to 1.32). Rincon even made a random emergency two-inning relief appearance for AA Amarillo that year before ending his season back at the complex with two more appearances, as evidenced in his B-Ref page linked above or his MiLB Player Page here. Listed at 6'1", Rincon did toss three effective innings vs. the Brewers AZ club in that 2023 season (box score). The D-Backs released Rincon in the spring of 2024 and there's no record of him having pitched the last two seasons, although bizarrely, if you read these writeups from Viva El Birdos, it's as if he did. Identity change? NOTE: Viva El Birdos referenced the wrong Rincon, setting me on my rabbit hole journey tonight, as you'll read below.

That's two lead Pitching Coaches pilfered - Nashville's Justin Meccage to the MLB Giants. O'Neal will be focusing on complex-level arms.