Jim Goulart

New contacts (again) this week for Jake --

AUDIO via MLBPipeline: Monte Harrison at the 01:34 minute make *** AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Soundcloud: "Kyle Lobner and Matt Erickson are back from Arizona and they talk with Chris Mehring about their experiences during Instructional League, Kyle's latest "Frosty Microbrew", and the MLB Playoffs."

Tuesday's action recap from Miller Park Prospects (with a shout-out to Nate Orf in Venezuela within their combo post)

VIDEO TWEET from Venezuela: Our first look at Julio, a wonderful few seconds here considering all the young man has been through

Miller Park Prospects - Monday's AFL game, with a bit of winter ball tossed in

Chris Harris with a Biloxi Mailbag

Concussion protocol, as per Adam McCalvy

Up to 21 now, the latest: INF Francis Gonzalez, turns 18 in March, switch-hitter RHP Moises Ruiz, a Brazilian who turns 20 next March

AUDIO via the Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast Mon. 10/16: "It's Minor League awards time. Ryan and J.P. give their picks for Position Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Breakout Player and Short Season/Rookie Ball Player of the Year."

AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast Sun. 10/15: "The off-season for the Brewers continues but Brewers Extra Innings, The Podcast rolls on! As Matt continues his 2017 in review, he is joined by Kyle Lobner to get his take on the 2017 campaign. Matt also will get you updated on the Brewers prospects who are playing in the Arizona Fall League." *** AUDIO via WTMJ's Sports Central Mon. 10/16: Ryan Braun

Dominican box: Catcher Tyler Heineman 2-for-4 in his debut, his first hit a bunt single That was it for Sunday, Venezuela was idle.

Saturday Box Score -- Salt River fell to 2-3 after a 12-1 loss Saturday. Thankfully, no Brewers pitched in the blowout loss. Monte Harrison led off in RF (1-for-4, two K's). That was one of only two Rafters hits in the game. 3B Lucas Erceg was 0-for-2 (BB, K) and was charged with an error. CF Corey Ray was 0-for-3 (one K), and is off to a 1-for-13 start, and admittedly, it's mostly unfair to point out such a tiny four-game sample, but many of us were hoping he'd have a positive beginning to the fall campaign. No game on Sunday.

The only new names on Dominican League rosters among current Brewers are catcher Tyler Heineman on the Leones del Escogido squad, where he'll share playing time with Boston's Blake Swihart and the Yankees' Wilkin Castillo. Also, young utility infielder Wendell Rijo is on the Toros del Este team. The number of former Brewers from over the years on rosters is too many to count, you'll see them as you peruse box scores this winter (Rob Scahill got a save Saturday). As for Saturday in the Dominican, only one game saw a current Brewer in action, and it was Kyle Wren (LF, 0-for-3, leading off, pulled late in a blowout loss). RHP Angel Ventura's winter debut was "wildly" uneven -- Ventura is scheduled for minor league free agency five days after the World Series, and the Brewers have yet to announce any post-season minor league free agent re-signings, so we may not be following Ventura in detail for very long here. Estrellas Top of the 3rd Jason Leblebijian grounds out, shortstop Michael De Leon to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Mike Ford grounds out, second baseman Miguel Gomez to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Hector Gomez singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Kyle Wren. Gabriel Guerrero singles on a line drive to left fielder Kyle Wren. Hector Gomez to 2nd. Pitching Change: Angel Ventura replaces Jair Jurrjens. Fernando Tatis hit by pitch. Hector Gomez to 3rd. Gabriel Guerrero to 2nd. Audry Perez hit by pitch. Hector Gomez scores. Gabriel Guerrero to 3rd. Fernando Tatis to 2nd. Socrates Brito grounds out sharply to first baseman Yamaico Navarro. Estrellas Top of the 4th Junior Lake lines out to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. Ryder Jones doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. Jason Leblebijian called out on strikes. Mike Ford called out on strikes. Estrellas Top of the 5th Hector Gomez walks. With Gabriel Guerrero batting, passed ball by Jhonatan Solano, Hector Gomez to 2nd. Gabriel Guerrero flies out sharply to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. With Fernando Tatis batting, wild pitch by Angel Ventura, Hector Gomez to 3rd. Fernando Tatis walks. Pitching Change: Jonathan Aro replaces Angel Ventura. Audry Perez flies out to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. Pitching Change: Leyson Septimo replaces Jonathan Aro. With Socrates Brito batting, wild pitch by Leyson Septimo, Hector Gomez scores. Fernando Tatis to 2nd. Socrates Brito triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. Fernando Tatis scores. Junior Lake singles on a line drive to left fielder Kyle Wren. Socrates Brito scores. Ryder Jones hit by pitch. Junior Lake to 2nd. Jason Leblebijian singles on a ground ball to center fielder Arismendy Alcantara. Junior Lake scores. Ryder Jones to 2nd. Mike Ford flies out to right fielder Jose Marmolejos. *** Venezuela Box: 3B Nate Orf 0-for-2 before being pinch-hit for in the 7th with his team well behind *** Venezuela Box: You go, Javier Betancourt. It was only one plate appearance for the red-hot second baseman, but an RBI pinch-hit single in the 8th was huge in his team's one-run win. *** Venezuela Box: Just three days after a 2.1 inning effort in which he allowed only one unearned run, 24-year-old RHP Wuilder Rodriguez was even better (perfect, in fact) over 2.2 frames -- Caribes Bottom of the 4th Cesar Valera grounds out, shortstop Carlos Penalver to first baseman Carlos Garay. Pitching Change: Wuilder Rodriguez replaces Robert Zarate. Denis Phipps strikes out swinging. Luis Jimenez strikes out swinging. Caribes Bottom of the 5th Michael Crouse flies out to center fielder Ericson Leonora. Erick Castillo flies out to center fielder Ericson Leonora. Carlos Tovar flies out to right fielder Osniel Madera in foul territory. Caribes Bottom of the 6th Juan Hernandez grounds out, first baseman Carlos Garay to pitcher Wuilder Rodriguez. Keyder Aristigueta strikes out swinging. Edwin Garcia lines out to shortstop Carlos Penalver.

Reliever Tayler Scott, traded to Texas for Jeremy Jeffress at the deadline, was eligible to be a minor league free agent this fall, but has decided to re-sign a minor league deal for 2018 offered by the Rangers, no word if a big league camp invite is involved. As you'll see at the link above, Scott was immediately bumped from AA (Biloxi) to AAA Round Rock after the trade, and did not exactly shine in 12 outings. The Rangers will overlook that relatively small sample and keep him in the organization.

Baseball America - Erceg Working On Adding Polish On Both Sides Of The Ball

Frosty Microbrews: Smaller Roster, More Individual Focus at Instructional League By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast Sun. 10/8: "It's been a week since the Brewers season came to an end. While missing the playoffs is a disappointment, there is no doubt the team took major steps forward. The 2017 review continues as Matt is joined by Adam Rygg of The Brewer Nation and FanRag sports. Brad Ford of Brew Crew Ball will join Matt for the third and final part of the Minor League review." Enjoy the full show, but Brad's minor league discussion begins at the 55:30 minute mark.

As we await word to find out if RHP Angel Ventura will re-sign a minor league deal with the Brewers, or be added to the 40-man, or be allowed to seek minor league free agency, we will note he's on Kyle Wren's Dominican team, and we'll likely see him in an upcoming box score.

Double dose of Shuckers Voice Chris Harris -- VIDEO via WLOX AUDIO via "27 Outs Baseball" - go to the 06:20 minute mark for the start of the formal interview, although listen just prior for more kind words about Chris from the hosts

Dominican Box as that league began action on Friday -- RHP Jorge Lopez allowed two runs in four innings, walking one and striking out three in his team's 9-3 victory. On the opposing squad, CF Kyle Wren was 0-for-3 (BB, K), leading off, and had an eventful night in the field, with an error and an assist. *** Venezuela Box - Big 3-for-4 night for 2B Javier Betancourt in his team's 7-1 win, including a double. Javy's 6-for-11 with two walks in the early going. *** Venezuela Box - Nate Orf, playing third base and batting 2nd, 1-for-4 in his team's 1-0 loss. Nate is 7-for-14 with a walk after four games.

Instructionals wrapped up on Friday and Saturday this week, and as per this tweet from Chris Kusiolek, 20-year-old Pioneer League All-Star RHP Nelson Hernandez was carted off the field Friday after a ball struck his neck. Hernandez, a Venezuelan native, began his Brewers career in 2014 at the age of 17, and in his two Dominican Summer League seasons, each and every one of his 33 appearances was as a starter, showing what the organization thought of him. Last year was spent in Maryvale, and he was the Helena Brewers' most impressive starter in 2017, keeping in mind the ultra-offensive environment in Big Sky country. While it can be said Hernandez gets too much of the plate, he has walked only 42 in 231 innings in his pro career, and it was clear he'd be penciled in to a Timber Rattler rotation spot in 2018 if healthy. Hopefully we can get an update from the Brewers on Hernandez. We're all aware of the very serious situation facing another 20-year-old Venezuelan farmhand, infielder Julio Mendez, who was transported back to a hospital in his homeland weeks after a pitch struck him in his chest and caused a life-and-death cardiac event. In Mendez' case, the family has asked for respectful privacy.

VIDEO: Corey Ray CF catch on Thursday *** Friday's Box Score: Lucas Erceg 1-for-4 as the DH (see two-run double here); 1B Jake Gatewood 0-for-4, two K's. RHP Nate Griep's inning in the 6-4 win -- Scottsdale Bottom of the 7th Pitching Change: Nate Griep replaces Kirby Bellow. Brantley Bell strikes out swinging. Chad Tromp singles on a ground ball to left fielder Anthony Santander. Kevin Kaczmarski grounds into a force out, third baseman Ryan Mountcastle to second baseman Steve Wilkerson. Chad Tromp out at 2nd. Kevin Kaczmarski to 1st. Blake Trahan strikes out on a foul tip.

Thursday's Recap via Miller Park Prospects

AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast Sun. 10/8: "It's been a week since the Brewers season came to an end. While missing the playoffs is a disappointment, there is no doubt the team took major steps forward. The 2017 review continues as Matt is joined by Adam Rygg of The Brewer Nation and FanRag sports. Brad Ford of Brew Crew Ball will join Matt for the third and final part of the Minor League review." *** AUDIO via the Milwaukee Tailgate Podcast Mon. 10/9: "With the 2017 season in the books, J.P. and Ryan give their picks for Brewers MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player. Steve, Ryan and J.P. also discuss players in arbitration, and how they enjoyed the Miller Park renovations." *** AUDIO via Brewers.com Wed. 10/11: "MLB.com's Matt Waymire and Brewers reporter Adam McCalvy relive their favorite Brewers' memories from the 2017 season" *** AUDIO via "Titletown Takes" Podcast Wed. 10/11: Brent Suter (go to the 16:20 minute mark) *** AUDIO via the Bill Michaels Show Thurs. 10/12: Seth Everett