Jim Goulart

Adams stunned that he can chase baseball dream A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser St. James graduate Wilson Adams ran through a whirlwind of emotions from anger to fear and finally elation Saturday. Adams, peeved that he hadn’t been picked in the annual pro draft, and a younger brother decided to vent their frustration on the golf course. On the drive to the course, they witnessed a hit-and-run accident where “my life and someone else’s flashed before my eyes.” Once there, somewhere between the parking lot and the first tee, Adams’ dad called with a startling question: “Did you hear?” “I figured my nephew had said his first words or something, but my dad said, ‘No, you just got drafted,” Adams said, his golf clubs falling at his feet. “I freaked out. I absolutely freaked out.” The Milwaukee Brewers took the right-handed pitcher from UAH in the 32nd round and indefinitely postponed his next round of golf. Adams said he’ll head to Arizona or Helena, Montana — sites of short-season Milwaukee affiliates — in the next few days. “At most, I’m probably going to get $1,000, a handshake and be asked, ‘Do you want to play baseball?’” Adams said. “If somebody had said before the season that I would have that chance, I would have said ‘yes.’ “I can always come back to school, but I can’t always come back to baseball. Now I can focus on the dream I’ve been chasing since I was 4 years old.” Adams, who is two semesters shy of his UAH degree and was out of baseball eligibility, rebounded from a bad junior year to be an ace this season for the Chargers. He was an honorable mention NCAA Division II All-American and was 10-3 with a 2.45 ERA. His 952/3 innings included 84 hits allowed, 29 walks and 101 strikeouts, a mighty stretch from the previous year. As a junior, he threw just 181/3 innings and wasn’t sure he’d even be allowed to play this season. The fall before his junior season, Adams said he was throwing 88-92 mph and had dominated hitters, but he “got lazy” and didn’t do anything over the winter. “I told myself that I needed some rest when I didn’t, and I dropped to 81-85 (mph) and I didn’t know where the ball was going,” said Adams, who didn’t make the same error before this season. “This year, really and truly, wasn’t supposed to happen,” Adams said. “It wasn’t something I was expecting to happen, but I felt I had enough talent to make it happen. “I really pushed myself to make it happen.”

Georgetown Press Release -- WASHINGTON - Georgetown University baseball players Matt Smith (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) and David Ellingson (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands College Park) both heard their names called on Saturday afternoon during the final day of the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. Smith was selected in the 34th round, 1,011 overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers. Ellingson was taken six picks later, 1,017 overall, by the Seattle Mariners. Smith, an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection this year after being named to the first team in 2015, started 13 games for the Blue & Gray during his senior campaign, finishing with a 3-6 record and a 4.52 ERA while recording a team-high 64 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched. His 64 strikeouts rank eighth in Georgetown’s single-season history. Smith went 2-0 during GU’s spring break trip to Florida, with wins over then-No. 15 Florida Atlantic and Penn, and also picked up a victory over St. John’s. Over his final two starts, Smith broke three Georgetown career pitching records. In his start at Creighton on May 6, he passed Tom Bass (’83) for innings pitched and now holds the top spot with 309.2 career frames. When he took the mound in his final start against Villanova on May 13, Smith surpassed Tim Adleman (’10) and Eddie Pena (’05) with his 49th career start. In his final game, he also passed Adleman for the career strikeout lead, finishing his career with 229 strikeouts. “It is surreal,” Smith said. “I’ve worked my whole life to get an opportunity to play baseball at the next level. It has been a stressful process, but I couldn’t be more thankful to have this opportunity.”

LINK “I am very excited for the opportunity to play professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers,” Caleb Whalen said. “This is a dream come true and God has truly blessed me.”

Vintage's Horn drafted in 20th round, but won't be signing with Brewers Appreciative quotes from the young man...

Fantastic opponent announcer reactions lately -- "You've got to be kidding me!" Listen to the celebration talk as well, but no admiring on this one...

Brewers draft former Middlesex star Brennan Price Greg Tufaro, MyCentralJersey.com Former Middlesex High School baseball star Brennan Price, who recently completed his junior year at Felician College as a pitcher and designated hitter, was selected in the 29th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft with the 861st overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. Price, whose fastball topped out in the mid 90 mph range, stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 260 pounds. He posted a 3-3 record, striking out 42 batters while walking 29 over 44 and a third innings. Price batted .336 (55-for-159) with 37 RBI and 25 runs scored. "I think it's a home run of a pick," said former Middlesex head coach Mike O'Donnell, who coached Price, a 2013 graduate. "I think he's got the mental makeup to advance. He hasn't been pitching for all that long and I think he's got lots of room for improvement and to mature as a pitcher where he can gain the feel of some secondary pitches and continue learning how to pound the zone and throw quality strikes." Price, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm as a high school junior, led the Blue Jays to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title that year, belting a memorable pinch-hit grand slam in the late innings that enabled Middlesex to pad its 5-4 lead against Sayreville. Price’s college teammate, Matt Blandino, was also drafted on Saturday. They were the fourth and fifth players to be drafted from Felician in the 17-year history of the Golden Falcon program. Blandino was chosen in the 19th round, a Felician record, by the Cincinnati Reds. He was the 558th overall selection. Fewer than three hours later, Price was selected. Both Blandino and Price were true juniors in 2016 and in their first draft-eligible season of college baseball. They join Andre Randolph (2003) and Jerry Vasto and Scott De Jong (2014) as Felician athletes to be selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Price pitched regularly for the first-time as a collegian in 2016, logging a 5.48 ERA and a .242 opponent batting average. He is a three-time all-CACC and two-time all-region performer as a position player. In three years, Price garnered 141 hits, including 47 for extra-bases, and 105 RBI while playing first base and designated hitter, but it was his potential to develop as a power pitcher that grabbed the attention of professional scouts. In 2016, Blandino and Price helped lead Felician (34-21, 16-4 CACC) to regular-season and tournament championships in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and to its second NCAA Tournament appearance. Blandino, in his first year as a Golden Falcon, set Golden Falcon single-season records for starts (14), innings (100 2/3) and strikeouts (97). He had a 9-4 record and an earned-run average of 2.32, and yielded 79 hits and 16 walks. "Brennan appears to have won the respect of the coaches in our conference," Felician head coach Chris Langan said at the time in a press release. "We had a young line-up (in 2015), and a lot of teams pitched really carefully to him, and he still put up pretty good numbers." O'Donnell said he is "not one bit surprised" that Price was drafted.

LINK includes video interview -- Allemand tearing it up for Timber Rattlers Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

LINK includes video interview -- Allemand tearing it up for Timber Rattlers Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

Will the Milwaukee Brewers entice Brophy's Chad McClanahan away from ASU? Richard Obert, azcentral sports Phoenix Brophy Prep third baseman Chad McClanahan isn't a lock to play next baseball season at Arizona State after being taken in the 11th round of the MLB draft on Saturday by the Milwaukee Brewers. McClanahan, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound, power hitter, has an adviser. He had talked to every major-league team. They'd been told he probably wouldn't sign if drafted beyond the third round. He knows that beyond the 10th round, the money slotted for draft picks wouldn't be enough to steer him away from his scholarship to ASU. But as the 321st overall selection, McClanahan feels it "gives them the opportunity to put money together," to try to entice him to take the pro baseball route out of high school. "We'll probably do some meetings," McClanahan said. "We'll see."

Norwalk High's Gonzalez drafted by Brewers in 24th round By John Nash, The Hour (Norwalk, CT) LINK includes photos NORWALK — Mike Gonzalez received two phone calls from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The first one was the team just checking in on him and how he was doing. The second was to formally welcome him to the club. The Brewers drafted the Norwalk High School right-handed pitcher in the 24th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, taking him with the 711th pick. Gonzalez is believed to be the first-ever high school player from Norwalk to be drafted by a Major League Baseball club. “He called me and I really didn’t have anything to say,” Gonzalez said. “I was in (Brien McMahon baseball player) Hunter Dumas’ basement, just hanging and having fun when they called.” Gonzalez said the team would sit down with him to formally discuss a contract offer in the near future. “They’re going to come down and talk to us about things,” Gonzalez said. “But it’s still what’s best for me and my future. I don’t want to have to struggle (financially) while I’m in the minor leagues.” Over his recently completed senior season, with a lot of eyes on him, Gonzalez was 6-1 with a 1.64 ERA. In 5.1 innings, he struck out 56 and walked 22. He added anywhere from six to eight miles per hour on his fastball, throwing 85 as a junior and get consistently into the low 90s as a senior. Gonzalez was planning to attended Miami Dade Junior College and play for two years there before chasing a Division 1 scholarship offer. How badly the Brewers want him will dictate his future. Mike Porzio, a scout with the Brewers and owner of The Clubhouse, Gonzalez’s current travel club in Fairfield said the club is high on the 17-year-old Norwalk native.

Brewers make emotional pick in 38th round By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel As the 2016 Major League Baseball draft neared its end Saturday afternoon, it got very emotional in the Milwaukee Brewers' "war room," and not because folks were getting tired and wanted it to be over. Amateur scouting director Ray Montgomery asked area scout Shawn Whalen to step to the microphone and announce the Brewers' 38th-round selection over the draft conference call. The name he gave was his son Caleb, a centerfielder at the University of Portland. "I probably felt as good as Shawn," said Montgomery. "But watching Shawn actually announce the pick, and knowing what he's been through, and having his second boy go today, it was a great feeling in the room." It indeed was a banner day for the Whalen family. Shawn's youngest son, Brady, a high school shortstop in Vancouver, Wash., was taken in the 12th round by St. Louis. Asked to describe the day, Shawn said, "Surreal. I can't put it into words without getting emotional. A lot of hard work, a lot of determination, and a lot of support from the people around these guys, because you can't do it by yourself." Adding an extra dose of emotion was the fact Shawn has battled thyroid cancer for two years, having surgeries in March 2015 and again in March of this year. The second surgery was necessary when the cancer spread into lymph nodes. "I appreciate everything that Ray and the Brewers have done to stand by me," he said. "I've had a great support system and I was able to bounce back real quick, because the best therapy I was able to find was down on the field doing my job. "As my mom would say, it's a new normal. You learn to appreciate life, I can tell you that much." Whalen has another son, Seaver, who just finished his junior year at Loyola-Marymount. "He's a pretty interesting player; he just hasn't put it together," said Shawn. "He's a late bloomer. They're all late bloomers, like their dad was."

Former South Western pitcher drafted by Brewers Zach Miller, The Evening Sun (Hanover, PA) South Western graduate Parker Bean was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Bean, a pitcher who graduated high school in 2013 and just finished his junior year playing Division I baseball at Liberty University, was selected in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He received the news while with his family at his parents' home in the Hanover area. “I’m with the people I love the most," Bean said about an hour after his selection. "It’s been a crazy past hour, tons of phone calls, texts, Twitter notifications, all that stuff. I’m just trying to respond to everyone and thank them. It’s an unreal feeling.” Bean appeared in 16 games for the Flames this past season, starting five, while striking out 42 batters in 35 1/3 innings. The Brewers were one of multiple teams that reached out to him Saturday to discuss possibly selecting him, he said. “I didn’t have too many expectations," he said of the draft. "I heard some things here and there, but with the draft there’s a lot of uncertainty. I’m perfectly happy with how it ended up and know it’s all part of them plan. It’s awesome that it finally happened.’ Bean still has one year of college baseball eligibility remaining, so he has the option to either sign with the Brewers or return to Liberty for his junior year and re-enter the draft next year. “We haven’t talked through all the details yet, but I’m definitely leaning towards signing," Bean said. "It’s been a dream of mine, ever since I was a young kid, to play professional baseball and it’s right on my fingertips. It’s exciting, but we’ll see what the next 24 hours holds.”

Tulane Press Release -- NEW ORLEANS – Tulane baseball’s Emerson Gibbs has been selected in the 33rd round (981st overall) of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

College's press release -- University of Alabama-Huntsville's Wilson Adams Selected by Brewers in MLB Draft (32nd round) We learn that "In addition to his postseason accolades, his strong year on the mound also led to Adams being named a semifinalist for the Brett Tomko Award which is presented to Division II's top pitcher."

Yet to appear in 2016 for the DSL club: 2nd year RHP Deymar Alvarado Just-signed RHP Jefry Tamares 17-year-old SS Aaron Familia (Videos posted last July)

Final: DSL Brewers 8, DSL Cardinals 7, eleven innings A walk-off against the dreaded Cardinals? Sign us up! Who cares if it was unearned! DSL Brewers Bottom of the 11th Pitching Change: Brian Pirela replaces Enrique Perez. Marcos Pinero walks. Josue Herrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Wadye Ynfante. Marcos Pinero to 2nd. Yorki Franco strikes out swinging. Luis Avalo walks. Marcos Pinero to 3rd. Josue Herrera to 2nd. Bryan Torres flies out to center fielder Wadye Ynfante. Luis Avila reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Raffy Ozuna. Marcos Pinero scores. Josue Herrera to 3rd. Luis Avalo to 2nd. DSL Brewers Box Score The game's ten combined pitchers walked 16, and struck out 26 (13 K's for each staff). 20-year-old rookie RH reliever Johan Dominguez has been stellar, staff MVP thus far, check out the small sample work at the link. Despite one error here, this group of position players has only committed four errors through six games, that's really something at this level. Ouch -- the holes filled in for the previously slap-happy SS Luis Avila, 0-for-7 in this one. OF Marcos Pinero was 0-for-2 but walked four times. He had a .373 OBP in his 2015 rookie campaign. First pro hit for catcher Moises Perez, 1-for-3 with a walk here. Not so for OF Yorki Franco, now 0-for-8, but did walk in an 0-for-5 game Saturday. DSL Brewers Game Log Five-run inning -- DSL Brewers Bottom of the 5th Edwin Sano doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Luis. Bryan Connell singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Luis. Edwin Sano scores. Bryan Connell advances to 2nd, on a fielding error by left fielder Carlos Luis. Jay Feliciano homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Bryan Connell scores. Marcos Pinero walks. Josue Herrera doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Brian Sanchez. Marcos Pinero scores. Yorki Franco reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Raffy Ozuna. Josue Herrera to 3rd. Moises Perez grounds into a force out, shortstop Raffy Ozuna to second baseman Esequeil Delgado. Josue Herrera scores. Yorki Franco out at 2nd. Moises Perez to 1st. Bryan Torres singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brian Sanchez. Moises Perez to 2nd. Luis Avila strikes out swinging. Edwin Sano grounds out, second baseman Esequeil Delgado to first baseman Julio Rodriguez.

Sorry to see 5th year farmhand Taylor Brennan go, if partly because he was a 37th round community college pick in 2012. Brennan rode a strong OBP/SLG in 2014 as a Timber Rattler to a .778 OPS at a position of need, third base. That 2015 line at Brevard (.665 OPS) was actually pretty solid, as Space Coast Stadium dropped his 2014 HR total of 16 down to 3, but Brennan still managed 32 extra-base hits. 2016 had been a struggle. Good luck moving forward, Taylor, both on the field and off. Taylor Brennan interviews and highlights from MiLB.com - Check them out

From the Biloxi press release -- Gabriel Noriega, 25, has been signed to a Minor League contract for the Brewers and played in 31 games this season for the Mobile BayBears, batting .211 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI. Noriega was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 7. The 25-year-old carries a .255 career average and .963 career fielding percentage over nine professional seasons and 753 career games. Noriega was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2010 and reached as high as the Triple-A level with the M's in 2014, being named a Pacific Coast League All-Star. The native of Venezuela is playing for his third Southern League club having played parts of four seasons with the Jackson Generals from 2011-2014. *** Despite being just 25, Noriega is in his 9th pro season. Shucker announcer Chris Harris will be very familiar with Noriega from their stints at the Mariners' AA level. After seven seasons in the Seattle system, where he was listed on a couple of Baseball America's Top 30 lists, Noriega spent 2015 in the Royals' system, and was in the Diamondbacks' chain in 2016 prior to his release on June 7th. Gabriel Noriega Baseball Reference Page VIDEOS: Various highlights by Noriega over the years via MiLB.com

Series of roster moves announced by the Brewers -- Formal promotion of LHP Josh Hader to Colorado Springs from Biloxi OF Omar Garcia returns to Brevard County from Biloxi IF Gabriel Noriega signed as a minor league free agent, assigned to Biloxi RHP Eric Hanhold placed on the Temporary Inactive List at Brevard County RHP Josh Uhen activated from the Temporary Inactive List at Brevard County 3B/1B Taylor Brennan was released from Brevard County *** More on the Noriega and Brennan transactions will be posted shortly.

More video, you got it -- VIDEO via WLOX, Saturday's game: Tyrone Taylor's HR, Adrian Houser, and newcomer Gabriel Noriega

Friday's 2-1 win --

The Sky Sox had a good opportunity to get on the board in the first, but the Memphis defense shut down the chance. After Orlando Arcia tripled to center, Will Middlebrooks hit a fly ball to left field that he hoped would be a sacrifice fly. But Memphis left fielder Nick Martini made the catch and fired home to catcher Michael McKenry to get Arcia out at the plate trying to score. Wow, would not have guessed Arcia could have been thrown out considering this particular fly ball --

Jaye Chapman held the Redbirds scoreless in the eighth thanks to a great defensive play from Arcia at shortstop that saved a hit. Here you go -- Memphis call: "This guy can play, boys and girls"

Final: Memphis 2, Colorado Springs 0 Sky Sox Shutout 2-0 In Pitchers Duel Despite strong start from Jorge Lopez, Sky Sox fall to Memphis By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox Jerome Williams, really? *** Colorado Springs Box Score 97 pitches for Jorge Lopez (four walks, one K) in his six innings, progress, but not peripheral-friendly... Colorado Springs Game Log

TWEET: Brewers connections Notes on 13th round RHP Thomas Jankins (Connecticut school, but oh yeah, Massachusetts kid )