Jim Goulart

About those December Brewer releases -- LHP Brandon Presley turned 22 in November. Presley was drafted in the 22nd round in 2017 out of a Florida junior college (Florida Southwestern State). Here was the school's press release upon the signing of the 6'7" southpaw, who repeated Helena in 2018. Presley walked 26 and threw eight wild pitches in his 39.2 pro innings, but also struck out 41. *** Another "big guy", listed at 6'5", 240, RHP Roberto Delgado was drafted in the 28th round in 2017. Like Presley, Delgado bypassed Maryvale but repeated Helena in 2018. The Oklahoma City University product made strides in 2018 (2.73 ERA in 26.1 IP), but his H/IP and K/IP were not strong. The 22-year-old has made six recent appearances in the Puerto Rico Winter League. *** INF Kenny Corey was yet another drafted in 2017 (36th round out of UC-Santa Barbara). He turns 24 in February. Corey dominated much younger Arizona Rookie pitching to the tune of a 1.042 OPS in 29 games that first summer, and completed his first pro season in Helena. Corey began 2018 in extended spring training (shoulder discomfort) before joining the Timber Rattlers on June 5th, and remained on their roster, posting a .616 OPS split between second base and designated hitter. He was involved in a triple play immediately upon joining Wisconsin, which you can see and read about here. *** C Johan Mojica, a Puerto Rico native, turned 23 in October. He signed as an undrafted free agent out of Grambling State shortly after the 2017 draft. Just three games into his pro career, he had surgery for a broken hamate bone, the rare farmhand who announced his surgery via Twitter conversation. In 2018 Mojica spent significant time at AA Biloxi, but as their bullpen catcher. He was activated for three games in the season's final week, but Mojica's Brewers career ends after just six hitless AB's. *** RHP Nestor Batista is a tall (6'5") Dominican native who made nine Dominican Summer League relief appearances in his debut 2017 season, last pitched on July 13th of that campaign, and missed all of 2018. The Brewers did not mention a specific injury in their 2018 media guide. Batista turns 22 in April. *** 1B/3B Rafael Brito (Dominican Republic) is another player who began his career in 2017, a common theme in this post. Like many of the non-announced bonus signings, the leash tends to be shorter. Brito just turned 20 last October, but his two teenage DSL seasons (both on the co-op team with the Indians' farmhands) presented a unique profile. He posted just a .203/.246/.315 line, but only fanned 39 times in 336 AB's. Brito also committed 16 errors in 47 games at third base. Brito also made a pitching appearance in each of his seasons. *** Switch-hitting 2B/SS Luis Manon (Dominican Republic) turns 20 on January 5th. He signed during the July 2nd international period back in 2015, but did not debut until the 2016 season. In 94 DSL games over the 2016-17 summers, Manon posted a .180/.290/.236 line - he did manage one pro HR despite that slugging percentage. Manon missed all of 2018 with an undisclosed injury. *** An "older" DSL rookie who turned 21 in July of his debut season, RHP Claudio Mota (Dominican Republic) made just two relief appearances with the DSL Brewers before a transfer to the Indians co-op squad for 18 more. Despite a 6'3" frame, Mota's 20 walks and just 15 K's in 38 innings were not impressive. *** C/1B/RHP Joel Munoz (Dominican Republic) turns 22 the day after Christmas. Signed as part of the 2017 July 2nd international class, Munoz posted only a .475 OPS in just 45 2017 DSL AB's. To begin 2018, Munoz made three appearances as a pitcher. He would appear in two additional games as a DH after his final pitching appearance, then he was suspended on July 7th for the remainder of the season. The suspension was never listed by MiLB as a drug-or-PED related incident, and the Brewers did not post any update of their own. An interesting but brief journey with the Crew... *** C/1B Moises Perez, out of Venezuela, had a three-season run with Milwaukee. The 20-year-old, seen here at signing time 2015, showed real promise in his debut DSL season in 2016, posting a .226/.339/.438 line (.777 OPS, seven home runs as a 17-year-old). Perez only found 78 plate appearances, including just 15 in 2018, in two subsequent Maryvale summers. Injuries must have contributed to that, not detailed by the Brewers front office. *** RHP Ricardo Velasquez, another Venezuelan, just completed his 2nd pro season in the DSL, and only turned 19 in August. He posted a 2.83 ERA in 2018 over 41.1 innings as a multi-inning reliever, allowing only 32 hits. But he walked 27 and hit an additional ten batters. Velasquez was noted as the closer in this memorable game Toby noted as a DSL special (tweet, box score).

Brewers hire a "minor league development coach".

22-year-old RHP Carlos Luna, who dazzled in his 2nd pro season in the Dominican Summer League, missed the next two full seasons (Tommy John), and then fared well (0.95 WHIP) in Maryvale last summer, is reportedly pitching well in relief in his native Panama (certainly one of the less-documented pro winter leagues).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AJPkJa-zrk&feature=youtu.be

Have an hour to spare? Christmas gift from the Brewers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ48h_b-kao

Friday December 21st: Via MLB Network Radio's "MLB Roundtrip with Perfect Game": Daron Sutton interviews 2018 Timber Rattlers' catcher Payton Henry Thoughtful and well-spoken, you'll learn why the Brewers are so high on this young man.

Thursday December 21st: AUDIO via WTMJ's Brewers Weekly: "Matt Pauley talks with new Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, discusses the new MLB-Cuba agreement, and dives into the market for infielders that the Brewers might be looking at." The Hook audio link is also available individually. *** Friday December 22nd: AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM's Morning Show: Adam McCalvy Via MLB Network Radio's "MLB Roundtrip with Perfect Game": Daron Sutton interviews 2018 Timber Rattlers' catcher Payton Henry Thoughtful and well-spoken, you'll learn why the Brewers are so high on this young man.

Tom Haudricourt's Baseball America chat transcript

VIDEO REPORT on McKinley's hire

Tuesday December 18th: AUDIO via Brewers.com: "Lane Grindle chats with Brewers GM David Stearns after the Winter Meetings." AUDIO via Brewers.com: "GM David Stearns struck a last minute deal before heading home from Vegas. MLB.com's Dani Wexelman (@DaniWex) and Brewers reporter Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) break down the benefits of adding Alex Claudio to the bullpen and how big of a powerhouse the NL Central will be in 2019." AUDIO via ESPN Milwaukee: "Sophia Minnaert recaps the MLB Winter Meetings and talks soup with Bryan Dee and Greg Matzek."

LHP Nick Ramirez (Signed minor league deal with Detroit 12/18)

Quotes from David Stearns on the two-team Maryvale update

Sunday December 16th: AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: "The Winter Meetings have come to an end and the Brewers make one move but leave Las Vegas still looking to fill some holes. Matt looks at the acquisition of Alex Claudio and what kind of impact it might have on the Brewers. Brew Crew Ball Managing Editor Kyle Lesniewski joins Matt to give his take on the trade and also dive into the off-season overall. AUDIO via the Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast: "JP and Ryan were joined by Paul Noonan this week to discuss the Brewers trip to the Winter Meetings, the Alex Claudio trade and the latest rumblings around the hot stove." *** Monday December 17th: AUDIO via 97.3's "Double Team" Show: Tim Dillard of the Texas Rangers' organization (go to the 68:25 minute mark) AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM: Latest episode of "Hot Stove Weekly" includes a talk with former Brewer Paul Wagner

Article Link: Zach Clark nets an honor for his week's work Down Under.

Initial post in this thread updated: RHP Tim Dillard (Signed minor league deal including big league camp invite with Texas 12/17)

VIDEO from the Winter Meetings: David Stearns on MLB Hot Stove *** Friday December 14th: AUDIO via the Reviewing the Brew Podcast: Winter Meetings Recap

While it was hard to not appreciate the 2018 Dominican Summer League stats of RHP Wilber Perez, who was the add-in piece to join LHP Kodi Medeiros to the White Sox for RHP Joakim Soria, Perez just wrapped up his age 20 season. There was another Brewers' "Wilber" who was more impressive. Listed at 6'3", 170, RHP Wilber Diaz pitched most of 2018 as a 17-year-old, and he posted a 0.79 WHIP in his first 26.2 pro innings. Here's a tweet indicating that Diaz has signed with Leones del Caracas in his native Venezuela. One would think that this is almost like a "future" Winter League contract, but perhaps we'll see him in a box score before the winter season wraps up.

Yet again

I don't plan on giving daily Orlando Arcia winter league updates, but hey, as long as he continues his hot start - a 2-for-3 night with a walk Thursday. After four games, 7-for-17, 2B, HR, just one K (and the one walk), and a 1.092 OPS.

TWEET with more info: The Brewers farmhand and 2018 Timber Rattlers OF has been waiting for a game like this Down Under: 3-for-5, 2B, HR, outfield assist

Thursday December 13th -- AUDIO via WTMJ's Morning News: Tom Haudricourt AUDIO via WTMJ's "Brewers Weekly": "Matt Pauley talks about the Brewers activity (or lack thereof) at this week's Winter Meetings, the trade for reliever Alex Claudio, and more"

Milwaukee Brewers make two selections in minor league phase of Rule 5 Draft A couple new prospects to keep an eye on By Kyle Lesniewski, BrewCrewBall Player Pages: Julio Garcia C Alexander Alvarez

Home run #4 in 17 games for 19-year-old switch-hitting Aussie catcher Alex Hall on Thursday.