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MESA, Ariz. – A pair of Milwaukee Brewers prospects with opening day roster hopes will open the season not in New York, but Nashville.
Infielders Tyler Black and Caleb Durbin were informed they did not make the Brewers roster to open the season and were optioned to Class AAA following Saturday afternoon’s game against the Athletics.
Durbin got an extended look this spring, his first with Milwaukee after being acquired in the Devin Williams trade from the New York Yankees. He has a team-high 59 plate appearances and is batting .250 with a .726 OPS, two homers and seven stolen bases.
While Durbin showed some promise with the bat and ability to create havoc on the base paths, his defense never improved enough, particularly at third base. With a right-handed bat needed for the platoon at the hot corner alongside Oliver Dunn, defense will be paramount for the Brewers.
"I'm really high on him still. I'm higher on him now than I was before camp," manager Pat Murphy said. "I just love the kid, love the way he plays. He's going to help us win games. He's a winning player. You can't say enough about him."
The move to option Black comes as much less of a surprise. The 24-year-old first baseman walked more than he struck out but was batting just .152 with a .606 OPS entering Saturday's game.
The moves put Jake Bauers in an even more interesting position as far as a roster spot goes. The first baseman continued his strong spring with a solo homer to left-center in the fourth inning Saturday – off a lefty, no less. It was Bauers' third long ball of spring training.
At the outset of camp, there was firm competition for the backup job to Rhys Hoskins at first with Mark Canha and Black also in the mix alongside Bauers. But with the former being traded to Kansas City on Friday and the latter optioned Saturday, Bauers remains firmly in the mix.
There is one wrinkle, however.
Bauers' contract contains an upward mobility clause, also known as an assignment clause. The clause allows 29 other clubs to indicate if they are willing to give Bauers a roster spot; if any of them say yes, the Brewers have to call him up or trade him.
"We're pretty close," Murphy said of the decision.
This spring, Bauers is batting .278 with and a .989 OPS. Most notably, he has cut down drastically on strikeouts, whiffing just seven times in 40 plate appearances in Cactus League play. That's a 17.5% strikeout rate, down from 34.1% a year ago and 29.2% in his career.
Manny Margot, who held an opt-out if he was not going to make the team, was released Saturday afternoon, leaving 13 healthy position players in camp to go with 13 available position player spots on the roster.
Still, there remains the possibility of an external addition to the roster as veterans on minor-league deals across the league will be exercising their contract opt-outs over the weekend.
The Brewers also advised Rule 5 draft pick Connor Thomas that he had made the opening day roster. Thomas had a strong showing in camp after being plucked from the Cardinals organization in December and will provide the Brewers with a length option out of the gates. The left-hander must be on the active roster or MLB injured list all season, otherwise he must be put on waivers. If Thomas clears waivers, he could elect free agency rather than be offered back to St. Louis because he was already outrighted once in his career.
José Quintana’s delayed buildup continued with three efficient innings Saturday in which he allowed a two-run home run but had to go to the bullpen for some extra work after throwing only 37 total pitches in the Athletics' walk-off 4-3 win at Hohokam Park.
The left-hander was making his second Cactus League outing. Next up is a minor-league game on Thursday while the big-league club is playing opening day in New York.
Then?
“Let’s see after (Thursday),” Quintana said. “We have it scheduled to get at least five ups, but let’s see how I feel after that next one.”
Quintana indicated he “probably” could pitch in the second series of the season for Milwaukee, but current signs seem to be pointing toward Quintana getting through five innings in a minor-league game before returning. That schedule would tentatively have Quintana opening the Brewers’ series in Colorado on April 8.
“I feel in really great shape,” Quintana said. “I feel in a really good position. It’s time to get in more situations, create those situations.”
Brewers (split squad) vs. Rockies, Sunday 3:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Elvin Rodriguez vs. Colorado RHP Chase Dollander. Radio – 620 AM WTMJ
Brewers (split squad) at Mariners, Sunday 3:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Connor Thomas vs. Seattle RHP Bryce Miller. Broadcast – None.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers option Caleb Durbin and Tyler Black to minor leagues
Continue reading...
Infielders Tyler Black and Caleb Durbin were informed they did not make the Brewers roster to open the season and were optioned to Class AAA following Saturday afternoon’s game against the Athletics.
Durbin got an extended look this spring, his first with Milwaukee after being acquired in the Devin Williams trade from the New York Yankees. He has a team-high 59 plate appearances and is batting .250 with a .726 OPS, two homers and seven stolen bases.
While Durbin showed some promise with the bat and ability to create havoc on the base paths, his defense never improved enough, particularly at third base. With a right-handed bat needed for the platoon at the hot corner alongside Oliver Dunn, defense will be paramount for the Brewers.
"I'm really high on him still. I'm higher on him now than I was before camp," manager Pat Murphy said. "I just love the kid, love the way he plays. He's going to help us win games. He's a winning player. You can't say enough about him."
The move to option Black comes as much less of a surprise. The 24-year-old first baseman walked more than he struck out but was batting just .152 with a .606 OPS entering Saturday's game.
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The moves put Jake Bauers in an even more interesting position as far as a roster spot goes. The first baseman continued his strong spring with a solo homer to left-center in the fourth inning Saturday – off a lefty, no less. It was Bauers' third long ball of spring training.
At the outset of camp, there was firm competition for the backup job to Rhys Hoskins at first with Mark Canha and Black also in the mix alongside Bauers. But with the former being traded to Kansas City on Friday and the latter optioned Saturday, Bauers remains firmly in the mix.
There is one wrinkle, however.
Bauers' contract contains an upward mobility clause, also known as an assignment clause. The clause allows 29 other clubs to indicate if they are willing to give Bauers a roster spot; if any of them say yes, the Brewers have to call him up or trade him.
"We're pretty close," Murphy said of the decision.
This spring, Bauers is batting .278 with and a .989 OPS. Most notably, he has cut down drastically on strikeouts, whiffing just seven times in 40 plate appearances in Cactus League play. That's a 17.5% strikeout rate, down from 34.1% a year ago and 29.2% in his career.
Manny Margot, who held an opt-out if he was not going to make the team, was released Saturday afternoon, leaving 13 healthy position players in camp to go with 13 available position player spots on the roster.
Still, there remains the possibility of an external addition to the roster as veterans on minor-league deals across the league will be exercising their contract opt-outs over the weekend.
The Brewers also advised Rule 5 draft pick Connor Thomas that he had made the opening day roster. Thomas had a strong showing in camp after being plucked from the Cardinals organization in December and will provide the Brewers with a length option out of the gates. The left-hander must be on the active roster or MLB injured list all season, otherwise he must be put on waivers. If Thomas clears waivers, he could elect free agency rather than be offered back to St. Louis because he was already outrighted once in his career.
When will José Quintana be ready?
José Quintana’s delayed buildup continued with three efficient innings Saturday in which he allowed a two-run home run but had to go to the bullpen for some extra work after throwing only 37 total pitches in the Athletics' walk-off 4-3 win at Hohokam Park.
The left-hander was making his second Cactus League outing. Next up is a minor-league game on Thursday while the big-league club is playing opening day in New York.
Then?
“Let’s see after (Thursday),” Quintana said. “We have it scheduled to get at least five ups, but let’s see how I feel after that next one.”
Quintana indicated he “probably” could pitch in the second series of the season for Milwaukee, but current signs seem to be pointing toward Quintana getting through five innings in a minor-league game before returning. That schedule would tentatively have Quintana opening the Brewers’ series in Colorado on April 8.
“I feel in really great shape,” Quintana said. “I feel in a really good position. It’s time to get in more situations, create those situations.”
Brewers spring schedule
Brewers (split squad) vs. Rockies, Sunday 3:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Elvin Rodriguez vs. Colorado RHP Chase Dollander. Radio – 620 AM WTMJ
Brewers (split squad) at Mariners, Sunday 3:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Connor Thomas vs. Seattle RHP Bryce Miller. Broadcast – None.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers option Caleb Durbin and Tyler Black to minor leagues
Continue reading...
