Jim Goulart

ARTICLE: Brewerfan.net frequenter Josh Flickinger writes about 6'6" LHP Cameron Roegner for the Beloit Daily News, includes multiple quotes

Via WBAY: Brief video glimpse at the Rattlers' road game *** PHOTOS: Some Rattlers sneak into the River Bandits' gallery, including a leaping Tucker Neuhaus, mis-identified in the caption *** Quad Cities' Taylor Jones on Wisconsin starter Zack Brown -- "Their starter was doing the right things (the first time through the order)," Jones said. "His pitches looked pretty crisp and sharp. He was throwing the ball where he wanted. ... Once we came around a second time, we had a better idea of what we were doing."

Via KKTV: Video highlights from the Springs and Ryan Cordell comments

In this Christian Murdock photo from the Gazette, somehow Tim Dillard seems particularly blessed, don't you think?

Sky Sox prospects flash talent in victory Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette Ryan Cordell fouled off a pitch off the end of the bat and the Sky Sox outfielder's fingers paid the numbing price on a frigid night at Security Service Field. "I told the catcher, 'I don't know if I'm going to be able to hold onto my bat,'" Cordell said. He then slammed the next pitch over the left-field wall. "Maybe I should try to do that more often," added Cordell, whose first two Triple-A at-bats included an RBI double and the solo home run. Cordell's blast and a 2-1 Colorado Springs victory over Omaha in Thursday's season opener provided a fitting glimpse at a collection of touted - if yet unvarnished - prospects and hinted that this group's raw ability might sometimes be enough to help it through some stretches that don't go perfectly to script. The best example was starting pitcher Josh Hader, considered Milwaukee's No. 2 prospect and a top-35 player in the minor leagues. Hader cruised through the first two innings, striking out three of the first six batters as a 95 MPH fastball from the left side proved overpowering. But then his control wavered, as to be expected as fingers grow cold for a pitcher who's been tossing for the past eight weeks in the Arizona's 80-degree weather. But Hader coaxed a double play to escape a jam in the third, then stranded runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth en route to five scoreless innings that included just one hit, six strikeouts and five walks. "He struggled with (his control), but you could tell he had his composure and he had control of what he was doing," manager Rick Sweet said. "He didn't just blow up. He stayed focused and made pitches when he had to." Cordell provided all the run support, but other top prospects contributed. Center fielder Lewis Brinson had a single, drew a walk and stole a base. Right fielder Brett Phillips went 1-for-3 in his first game at this level. The Sky Sox out hit Omaha 8-2. Then, this new team celebrated together. "It's a new group of guys and this is their thing," Sweet said. "Every team I've ever had, they come up with something when they win. They come up with a song or they've got something going on. I saw they pulled out the ball. This is not a spur of the moment thing, they put some thought into this." BRINSON LEAVES WITH INJURY Sky Sox center fielder Lewis Brinson, the top prospect in the Brewers' organization, left Thursday's season opener after a stolen base in the fifth inning. Brinson slid headfirst into second base and immediately called for a trainer to look at his left (non-throwing) pinkie before exiting. Sweet said the team wouldn't know the extent of the injury until X-rays were performed on Friday. Brinson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base from the leadoff spot. He was also picked off in the third inning.

Standout shortstop is a boost for the Biloxi Shuckers, announcer says By Daniel Dubuisson, Special to the Sun Herald With this season’s version of the Biloxi Shuckers, spectators really will need a scorecard to keep track of the players. The Milwaukee Brewers’ Double-A affiliate will see a lot of turn over with a few crowd favorites moving up and a passel of potential stars joining the team. But even with these changes Chris Harris, communications director and game announcer, still feels optimistic about the new season. “We’re going to have a lot of players that should be playing at a higher level,” Harris said. “That makes us look a lot better on paper.” One of those potential stars is Mauricio Dubón, a 22-year-old shortstop acquired in a trade with Boston. Last year, Dubón hit .339 with a .909 on base slugging percentage (OPS) and stole six bases for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox Double- A affiliate. Baseball America called him the best defensive player in Boston’s 2013 draft and if called up, he would become the first native Honduran to play major league baseball. His presence on the Shuckers’ infield will provide something that Harris says the team was missing last year. “We lacked consistent play up the middle and didn’t make some of the plays we should have...but his glove is really good and I’m looking forward to seeing him in action,” Harris said. The clubhouse takes a hit with the loss of star outfielder Brett Phillips. A fan favorite for much of the last two seasons, he is now on his way up to Triple-A. “The second most popular guy in the entire Milwaukee Brewers organization right now is Brett,” Harris said. “He is considered one of the premier young outfielders.” The Shuckers kicked off their inaugural season back in 2015 with a 54-game road trip, so fans had to support them from afar. Some baseball-starved fans actually followed them, going from ballpark to ballpark to take in the games. The completion of MGM Park meant the team finally had a place to call home. “When we finally arrived at the field, it was kind of like a rallying cry for everyone,” Harris said. Since then, the Biloxi Shuckers have been a symbol of recovery for coast residents post-Katrina. The team made it to the finals of the Southern League playoffs in their first season and had a winning record in 2016. Now Harris says he’s excited to get on with the new season. “I’m ready to get back into the grind. It’s a brutal schedule. We play 140 games total but when we get into that routine, it’s a lot of fun.”

Shuckers take third straight season opener with 6-2 win over Biscuits on Thursday Aaron Wilkerson struck out eight over 5.2 innings to pick up the win Angel Ortega was 2-for-4 on Thursday night a two-run single in the fourth inning (Michael Krebs photo) Biloxi Box Score As usual, we suggest you read the game summary linked above, and then we'll try and supplement notes about the box score link. Chris Harris also provided the audio highlights at the summary. Shucker batters fanned 16 times -- for those scoring at home that's Sky Sox 10 K's, Shuckers 16, Rattlers 15. Game summary mentioned 4-of-5 on the basepaths, looks like it was 3-for-4. Jacob Nottingham was on base three times, adding an HBP to his two singles. Victor Roache was also plunked, he was the DH. (Four of the ten Southern League teams are American League-based). Allemand, Iskenderian, and Charles didn't see action. Aaron Wilkerson is going to love (and likely dominate) the Southern League, an 8-to-0 K-to-BB night here. Tristan Archer deserved his first crack at AAA, and despite allowing a run in his two innings here, was effective as all three Biloxi relievers retired the baserunner(s) they inherited. Biloxi Game Log Angel Ortega bailed out Clint Coulter for the early lead -- Biloxi Top of the 4th Michael Reed walks. Victor Roache hit by pitch. Michael Reed to 2nd. Dustin DeMuth strikes out swinging. Jacob Nottingham hit by pitch. Michael Reed to 3rd. Victor Roache to 2nd. Clint Coulter strikes out swinging. Angel Ortega singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Justin Williams. Michael Reed scores. Victor Roache scores. Jacob Nottingham to 3rd. The four-run 8th to make it a 6-1 score at the time -- Biloxi Top of the 8th Mauricio Dubon strikes out swinging. Johnny Davis singles on a line drive to right fielder Justin Williams. Michael Reed singles on a line drive to left fielder Granden Goetzman. Johnny Davis to 3rd. With Victor Roache batting, Johnny Davis steals (1) home. Michael Reed steals (1) 2nd base. Victor Roache reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Michael Reed scores. Victor Roache to 2nd. Pitching Change: Jordan Harrison replaces Brad Schreiber. Dustin DeMuth singles on a line drive to right fielder Justin Williams. Victor Roache to 3rd. Jacob Nottingham singles on a ground ball to center fielder Cade Gotta. Victor Roache scores. Dustin DeMuth to 2nd. Clint Coulter walks. Dustin DeMuth to 3rd. Jacob Nottingham to 2nd. Angel Ortega grounds into a force out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to second baseman Riley Unroe. Dustin DeMuth scores. Jacob Nottingham to 3rd. Clint Coulter out at 2nd. Angel Ortega to 1st. Javier Betancourt strikes out swinging.

AUDIO: "Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson sits down with Chris Mehring before the first game of the 2017 season."

If you're wondering, Travelocity tells us that a one-way trip from Biloxi to Helena can be had for about $1,025, involving three flights and just over 12 hours of travel time .

BP Milwaukee: Interesting storylines to watch *** You'll find the Sky Sox and Mudcats on this impressive list of Top 10 talent-laden MLB affiliates.

WilsonTimes.com article includes quotes from Isan Diaz, Lucas Erceg, and Trent Clark.

AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM Wed. 4/5: Post-game show includes a chat with Adam McCalvy. At the 53:00 minute mark, listen to Wily Peralta post-game. You can find the McCalvy interview as a stand-alone here.

Just a reminder to those of you coming to the Link Report via a Twitter link, that the Minor League Forum in which this resides contains multiple threads you'll also find of interest, including the "Your 2017 _____" affiliate threads that contain feature articles and non-game specific news.

Article includes a video interview -- Harrison looking for breakout season with Timber Rattlers Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent GRAND CHUTE - He played perhaps the roughest, toughest game of them all in high school and Monte Harrison seldom had football-related injuries. Surprisingly, the non-contact sport of baseball has been a different and frustrating experience for the talented 21-year-old outfielder. Harrison and his Wisconsin Timber Rattlers open the 2017 Midwest League season Thursday night on the road against the Quad Cities River Bandits, and the Kansas City native is looking for a breakout year following two consecutive injury-plagued seasons. A second-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 draft, Harrison split the 2015 season with the low Class A Timber Rattlers and Helena before his summer ended in the Pioneer League when he broke his left ankle during a late-July game. Harrison opened 2016 with Wisconsin and played 75 games with the Rattlers before missing a majority of the season’s second half with a hamate fracture in his left hand. “I wasn’t a guy that was known for injuries in high school,” said Harrison on Tuesday during Media Day at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. “But, you know, you can’t really do anything to take care of bones besides drink milk. My mom harps on it so I’m going to start drinking a little more of that.” The Brewers don’t care if Harrison sports a milk mustache this season. They’re just hoping the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Harrison stays healthy and makes a jump in terms of development. Following a solid season of rookie league ball with the Arizona Brewers in 2014, Harrison hit just .148 in 46 games with Wisconsin in 2015, but batted an impressive .299 with 14 stolen bases in 28 games at Helena before breaking the ankle. He struggled again hitting for average with the Timber Rattlers in 2016, batting just .221 in 267 at-bats, but showed some pop (six home runs, 32 RBI) and speed on the basepaths (eight steals). Is this the season that Harrison puts it all together and turns potential into production? Harrison has youth, experience and an intriguing skill set on his side. Despite his minor league struggles, he is still only 21 and has 204 professional games under his belt. He also has a big, explosive body and the Brewers like the combination of speed and power that he offers. Harrison had a solid spring training and feels like he’s starting to figure out the game. Harrison was a highly recruited wide receiver at Lee’s Summit West High School in Missouri and committed to Nebraska to play football and baseball before agreeing to a $1.8 million signing bonus with the Brewers in 2014, $700,000 more than the recommended slot value. “I’ve learned to slow myself down a bit and just play the game,” said Harrison. “I had always been a guy that was kind of rowdy, playing football and stuff. But baseball is a different type of atmosphere and just playing it has definitely calmed me down.” It’s made for a more mature, less anxious Harrison, who is improving as a student of the game. “Before I got drafted, I didn’t really know much about baseball,” Harrison said. “I thought I did, but in reality I really didn’t. I’ve learned about the game every day by really listening to coaches and players and big leaguers. That’s definitely done a lot for me.” Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson noticed a different Harrison in spring training, one with more focus and urgency. “His spring training was a little more business-like,” said Erickson. “You could see some of the maturity and growth, not only as a player, but as a professional. His preparation in spring training was really good. He was as consistent as I’ve seen him. Hopefully, he carries that into the season.” Harrison is still a top-30 Brewers prospect. He’s rated by Baseball America as the 20th best prospect in the Milwaukee organization and 22nd by MLB Pipeline. “It’s good to have him back and hopefully he can stay healthy,” said Erickson. “He’s a tremendous athlete.” As one of the most experienced players on the team, Harrison plans to take on more of a leadership role this season. He is the sixth oldest of the position players and Harrison just laughs when reminded of his veteran status. “It’s weird because Pax (trainer Jeff Paxson) and I were talking and he asked me, ‘Did you ever think you’d have to grow up this quick?’ I was like, ‘No, I always thought I’d be the youngest on the team.’ But everything happens for a reason and the Brewers have great plans for me. But anyone who calls me grandpa, we’re definitely going to have a problem.”

All the 2016-2017 Offseason Transactions were detailed in this thread. Today the four full-season affiliates need to get down to 25-man active roster status. We'll work on finding out about several farmhands who would normally be on a full-season team but aren't listed at all currently. We'll probably learn of some injuries or perhaps releases (hopefully minimal) at some point.

AUDIO via the Drew Olson Show on the Big 920 Wed. 4/5: Bill Schroeder (go to the 27:00 minute mark) *** AUDIO via the Drew Olson Show on the Big 920 Wed. 4/5: Tom Haudricourt (go to the 01:14:00 hour/minute mark) *** AUDIO via WTMJ's Matt Pauley Wed. 4/5: Game highlights via the radio broadcast of the Brewers' 6-1 win over the Rockies

2017 Sky Sox Media Guide, 172 pages strong

Bumping as the response has been very quiet so far -- not silent, but too quiet. Please consider contributing, even on a very part-time basis, thanks.

With a fastball that Baseball America ranks as the best in the Brewers' system, Brandon Woodruff is confident he can navigate the tough venue. "I'm sticking with what I have," he said. "I guess my pitch arsenal can play at this level and I think it can play at the big leagues. I'm just going to stick with my strengths and see where it takes me." Sky Sox manager Rick Sweet shares Woodruff's optimism. "He's got an explosive fastball," Sweet said. "He commands his pitches well. He should do very, very well here." *** The rest of the Colorado Springs Gazette article details the story of Woodruff losing his brother in last summer's ATV accident, introducing that news to the local Sky Sox fans.

Two photos at link... Plenty of buzz follows Dubon into Shuckers’ opener By Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun Herald On a Shuckers roster full of players familiar to fans at MGM Park, Mauricio Dubon stands out as the biggest arrival for the 2017 campaign. The speedy shortstop with a gifted bat was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers in December through a trade with the Boston Red Sox. Shuckers manager Mike Guerrero got excited when he saw video clips of Dubon when he first learned that he would be joining the Brewers’ system. After spending the spring working with Dubon, Guerrero is even more impressed. “He’s a supermarket. He’s got everything to offer,” Guerrero said. “He can do everything. There is no limit to him. I hope everyone stays healthy because there are a lot guys here that have a lot to offer. “Defensively, (Dubon) is really good. He’s a shortstop, but he can move around and play second, play centerfield. Offensively, he can hit. He showed last year that he can hit and steal bases.” Dubon, 22, has hit at every level as he’s climbed the minor leagues. He played 62 games at Double-A Portland last season and batted .339 with six homers and 40 RBIs. His career batting average is .306. “He brings a lot of energy and instincts to play the game,” Guerrero said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him play the whole year. Hopefully, we’ll turn him into a big leaguer.” If he does make the climb to Milwaukee, he will become the first Honduran-born player ever to reach the big leagues. “It’s a blessing. I love it. I love that attention,” Dubon said of the possibility of representing his native country in the Major Leagues. “There are not a lot of times you hear a name and they’re the first one to do something. I’ll work hard for it and I’ll get it.” Dubon, who spent his junior and senior years of high school in Sacramento, California, appears set to bat out of the leadoff spot when the Shuckers begin the season at 7:05 PM on Thursday at Montgomery. Biloxi’s home opener is set for April 12 against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. With 30 steals in each of his last two seasons, Dubon should put plenty of pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses this season. He had 19 at-bats with the Brewers during spring training and hit an impressive .368 with three RBIs with two runs scored. The 6-foot, 160-pound Dubon believes his spring was a productive one. “I learned so much from (manager Craig Counsell and bench coach Pat Murphy),” he said. “I learned a lot from Jonathan Villar and Jesus Aguilar. They taught me a lot by just listening to them.” Early rotation Right-hander Aaron Wilkerson will be the starting pitcher for the Shuckers in Thursday’s season opener in Montgomery, Alabama. He split time between Double-A and Triple-A last year, going 8-9 with a 3.73 ERA in 28 games. Jorge Lopez will get the start on Friday while Taylor Williams and Jon Perrin appear set to split duties on the mound on Saturday. Luis Ortiz will be the starting pitcher on Sunday and Angel Ventura will get the ball on Monday. “I think we’ve got four or five guys that give us an opportunity to win a ball game,” Guerrero said. Lonely lefty Nick Ramirez, who is making the switch from first base to relief pitcher this season, will be the only lefty on the Shuckers’ pitching staff this season. That doesn’t mean Ramirez will be busier than his other bullpen mates. “We’ve got to be smart,” Biloxi pitching coach Chris Hook said. “This is the first time he’s done this in a while so we’re going have to be conscious of that and just make sure we’re staying in constant communication with him and see how he’s feeling. I don’t think we’re going to go crazy. He’s going to let us know how he feels and we’ll adjust day by day.”

AUDIO via WTMJ Wed. 4/5 AM: Jeff Levering *** AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM Wed. AM 4/5: Jerry Augustine *** AUDIO via the Bill Michaels Show Wed. 4/5: "Seth Everett, our National Baseball Insider, weighs in on the discussion on how a rebuild should work. Can you put an actual timetable on it? Is he confident Brewers ownership will shell out the money if the team is in a situation to win?" *** AUDIO via Brewers.com: Radio highlights / lowlights from Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Rockies, immediately followed by Craig Counsell's postgame press meeting *** AUDIO via Brewers.com Wed. 4/5: Latest "Brewers on Tap" with Lane Grindle includes chats with COO Rick Schlesinger, GM David Stearns and RHP Corey Knebel *** A great listen for all the minor league diehards out there -- AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Podcast, Episode Nine, Wed. 4/5 "Kyle Lobner and Chris Mehring talk about Media Day for the Timber Rattlers in the last Preseason Podcast."

A great listen for all the minor league diehards out there -- AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Podcast, Episode Nine, Wed. 4/5 "Kyle Lobner and Chris Mehring talk about Media Day for the Timber Rattlers in the last Preseason Podcast." *** Also --- Rattlers Experience, Familiarity on Display at Media Day Kyle Lobner, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

ARTICLE LINK - Gindl and Halton return as a tag team to their 2016 indy league club.

Yes, should see him fairly soon.

Story, linked earlier, now includes VIDEO quotes from RHP Thomas Jankins and LHP Cameron Roegner Zack Brown excited to start season opener Tim Froberg, Appleton Post Crescent GRAND CHUTE - His roster gets blown up and rebuilt each spring, so Matt Erickson never knows in April what type of season lies ahead for his Wisconsin Timber Rattlers teams. Two years ago, a teen-dominated Timber Rattlers squad won a mere 50 games, finishing a whopping 39 games below .500. Last season, the Rattlers made an impressive 21-game jump in the win column and returned to the Midwest League playoffs. Can the Rattlers maintain last year’s momentum with so many new pieces to the 2017 puzzle? That’s a question that will be answered in the coming months, but fresh starts never bother Erickson and he seems comfortable with his club’s talent level for the Midwest League season that starts Thursday night on the road against Quad Cities. “The unique part about this is that each year, we come back from spring training with a new crop of kids,” said Erickson on Tuesday during Media Day at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. “It’s an important deal. We have to develop within the Brewers organization and it’s an exciting time to be in player development with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hopefully, this is going to be another taste of what we’re going to get down the road in Milwaukee.” Eleven players who have spent previous time with the Timber Rattlers, including high draft picks Tucker Neuhaus and Monte Harrison, will lead the team, while high-ceiling prospects like infielder Gilbert Lara, catcher Mario Feliciano and outfielder Demi Orimoloye will make their Rattlers debuts. “I see a lot of talent, a lot of good baseball players,” said Harrison. “The younger guys are going to have to learn the ropes just like we had to, but they’re smart and they’ll get used to it.” Erickson coached his new team for 14 games during Milwaukee’s recent spring training and the squad won about half of those contests. Erickson, an Appleton native who is starting his seventh year as Timber Rattlers manager, is the longest-tenured manager in the Brewers’ farm system. “It looked like we have a ballclub that can take care of the baseball,” said Erickson. “We had some solid starting pitching and we did a nice job defensively. Some days we were a little better than others with the bats, but that’s to be expected here at the lower levels. I’m very excited about the possibilities of this ballclub.” Player development is the No. 1 priority of minor league coaching staffs, but every manager and coach wants to win ballgames, too. Erickson said that team chemistry — something that is hard to develop with ever-changing rosters — will be a key to any success the Rattlers have. “Each year and each team is different,” Erickson said. “The chemistry that is built within the clubhouse is something that we try and mold, but it’s really up to the players each year. There’s talented kids that enter that clubhouse each year. Some clubhouses are better than others. Those better clubhouses tend to have better success on the field.” Erickson will have a couple of new faces on his coaching staff. Steve Cline is the new pitching coach, while Hainley Statia takes over as hitting coach. Cline has spent the last 16 years in the Brewers organization as the pitching coach with the rookie league Arizona Brewers. “Steve has an abundance of experience within the Brewers system and has worked at the lower levels, so he probably knows these pitchers better than anyone because he’s worked with them the last couple years,” said Erickson. Statia, 31, played as an infielder in the Angels and Brewers systems. “Hainley is a fresh face,” Erickson said. “I believe last year was Hainley’s first full season as a hitting coach. A lot of passion there, a lot of energy. It will be good to have him on our staff as well.” Getting the ball: Zack Brown, a 22-year-old right-hander, will be the Rattlers’ opening day starter Thursday at Quad Cities. “We feel good with him on the mound for the first pitch of the season,” Erickson said. “He had a very good spring training. I saw four of his starts and he was pretty dominant in three of them, and he showed some toughness in the one that he struggled a little bit in.” Brown, a fifth-round pick by the Brewers in the 2016 draft, is in his second season of pro ball. He made two starts with Helena last year before finishing the season with the Rattlers, where he compiled a 1-2 record with an ERA of 3.00 in nine games and four starts. Brown had 29 strikeouts in 33 innings with the Rattlers. “Coming from Helena, it’s a little different pitching-wise,” said Brown. “Guys are a little more patient. They’re not going to sit on the fastball as much. You have to hit your spots. “I’m excited about pitching opening day. It’s the first game of the season and, yeah, there will be jitters. There are jitters in spring training. But I think I’ll be fine.” Jankins to start home opener: Another right-hander, Thomas Jankins, will start the Rattlers’ 4:05 p.m. home opener Saturday against Quad Cities. Jankins, 21, was a 13th-round pick of the Brewers in 2016 and also spent the second half of his first professional season with Wisconsin, going 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight games and seven starts. “I’m very comfortable here since I was here last year,” said Jankins. “I don’t know if that’s a big advantage, but it’s not going to hurt knowing how the field plays and how the environment is. It’s a great honor (to start the home opener) and hopefully we can give the fans a good show. I’m sure there will be a little bit of adrenaline pumping through me Saturday. I think it will be more excitement than nerves.” Big crowd anticipated: Erickson said roughly 3,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday’s home opener and with warm weather expected for the weekend, he anticipates a big opening weekend crowd. “Up here as the weather breaks, the baseball season is a sign of spring coming and warmer days ahead,” Erickson said. “It will be a fun opening day for sure.”