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Brewers sign first round pick

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced the signing of their first round draft pick, outfielder Garrett Mitchell, taken with the 20th overall pick out of UCLA.

The team had already announced the signing of their other four picks, making the Brewers 5-player class complete.

The 21-year-old Mitchell was drafted by the Oakland A’s in the 14th round in 2017 out of high school but chose to attend UCLA, where he led the nation with 12 triples during his sophomore season and went on to hit .349 that season.  Mitchell was hitting .355 in the spring when the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Brewers to open 60-game season in Chicago against rival Cubs

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced their 60-game schedule for the 2020 regular season, which begins against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, July 24.  Following three games against the Cubs, the Brewers will travel to Pittsburgh to complete their six-game road trip against the Pirates.

The Brewers will play their home opener on July 31, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Brewers are scheduled to play 30 games each in Milwaukee and on the road, with 40 games against division opponents and 20 Interleague meetings with American League Central Division teams.  The Brewers will play Interleague matchups in Milwaukee with Kansas City (3 games), Minnesota (3 games), Detroit (2 games) and the Chicago White Sox (2 games).

The Brewers schedule features a 10 game homestand from Monday, Aug. 24 to Wednesday, Sept. 2 against the Reds, Pirates and Tigers.  The teams longest road trip runs from Thursday, Aug. 13 to Sunday, Aug. 23 and features 10 games in 11 days against the Cubs, Twins and Pirates.

The 2020 regular season concludes in St. Louis on Sunday, Sept. 27, the finale of a seven-game trip that begins with a three-game set in Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 21.

Prior to the start of the 2020 regular season, the Brewers will play an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field at 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.

 

Two Brewers test positive for COVID-19

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced Monday that two players, infielder Luis Urias and pitcher Angel Perdomo, tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Counsell said both players tested positive before last week’s intake for summer camp.  They’re both asymtomatic and are currently in COVID-19 protocol.

It’s another setback for Urias, who was acquired by the Brewers in the offseason in a trade with the San Diego Padres.  Urias sat out all spring after surgery on his left hand for a broken hamate bone.  Urias had worked his way back from the injury and was set to see his first Cactus League action when games were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 26-year-old Perdomo got off to a great start in the spring, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit over four innings.

It’s a minor setback for both and Counsell said the Brewers expect them to contribute to the team this season.

 

Braun could play beyond this season (AUDIO)

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Ryan Braun – (File Photo) UPI/Bill Greenblatt

When the Milwaukee Brewers started spring training back in February, veteran Ryan Braun was preparing for what appeared to be his final season.  But that was then.  Braun told reporters on Saturday that several factors have him considering at least one more season in 2021.

“To start with, we’ll only play 60 games instead of 162 games, so obviously at this age and where I’m at in my career, it’s very appealing to me to have the option to DH for a decent percentage of my at-bats,” Braun said.  “And this season will be an experience like we’ve never experienced before.

“So at this point, I feel like it’s more likely that I play another year than I anticipated a few months back.”

Braun is entering the final year of the five-year, $105 million extension he signed with the Brewers back in 2011.  The deal includes a $15 million mutual option for 2021 with a $4 million buyout. [Read more…]

2020 Minor League Baseball Season canceled

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Fox Cities Stadium

Major League Baseball has informed Minor League Baseball that it will not be providing its affiliated Minor League teams with players for the 2020 season.  As expected, the result forced Minor League Baseball to officially cancel its 2020 campaign.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner.  “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable entertainment.”

The cancellation of the season comes at a difficult time for Minor League teams, many of which are simply trying to stay afloat financially.

“Each club is different as you know, but overall, we are in need of some help,” said O’Conner.  “We’ve [Read more…]

Brewers sign four of their five draft picks

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Photo from Zavier Warren’s Twitter page @ZavierWarren

The Milwaukee Brewers signed four of their five 2020 draft picks to contracts on Monday.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers signed second-round draft pick, shortstop Freddy Zamora (Miami-Florida) to a deal worth $1.15 million.  They signed third-rounder, catcher Zavier Warren (Central Michigan) to a deal worth $575,000.  Outfielder Joey Wiemer (Cincinnati) was the Brewers fourth round pick and got $150,000 to sign.  Fifth-round pick, shortstop Hayden Cantrelle (Louisiana-Lafayette) received $300,000 to sign.

All four draft picks signed for less than their slot recommendations, leaving the Brewers more money to sign their top pick, outfielder Garrett Mitchell (20th overall pick).

Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week he was confident the team would sign all five it its draft picks.  The deadline to sign draft picks to contracts is August 1.

Brewers announce their 2020 summer camp roster

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced their 2020 summer camp roster on Monday.

The list includes a total of 45 players, 23 of which are pitchers, 12 infielders, six outfielders and four catchers.  In addition, nine players are non-roster invitees, including outfielder Keon Broxton and 2018 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Zach Brown.

Major League teams will start the 2020 season with 30-man active rosters.  Two weeks later, the roster is reduced to 28 players with a final reduction to the 26-player roster limit a month into the season.

All other players will be on the clubs taxi squad, working out and staying ready if needed by the Major League club. [Read more…]

Brewers set to return for extended spring training, prepare for season (AUDIO)

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Milwaukee Brewers players will begin arriving at Miller Park in the coming days with intake testing for COVID-19 beginning Wednesday.  Players will then undergo the usual physical exams prior to taking the field for the first full-squad workouts on July 4.

“It’s exciting for all of us to be able to talk about a season,” said Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns on Friday.  “We know it’s going to be an unusual season and a different looking season.  But it’s going to be a baseball season nonetheless.  That’s something that is meaningful to all of us.

“We have a lot of work left to do.  There are going to be many changes we’ll face going forward to get through this season.  But this is a positive start.”

Stearns told reporters in a Zoom webinar that their biggest challenge will be to keep the players safe and healthy. [Read more…]

Baseball’s long break finally set to end

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After months of negotiating that looked as if no good results would come, Major League Baseball’s players and owners have agreed to get the game going again.  Players will report for resumption of spring  training July 1 with a 60-game schedule set to begin July 24.

The players union had informed MLB that it would not accept the latest offer from management, forcing commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a season.  From that point, the players agreed on the COVID-19 protocols put forth by the league.

The shortened season will include the Designated Hitter in both leagues.

Schedules are expected to feature regional play.  The Milwaukee Brewers would continue to play teams in the NL Central, as well as contests against teams from the American League Central.

The postseason will consist of 10 teams, instead of 16 which was being discussed.  Without an agreement on a negotiated season, additional playoff teams went by the wayside.

The deal means no regular season games will be played into September as baseball is concerned about a second wave of COVID-19 in the fall.

Brewers select UCLA center fielder with top pick in 2020 MLB Draft

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The Milwaukee Brewers may have gotten a steal with their first round pick in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

UCLA center fielder Garrett Mitchell was projected as a top 10 pick in the draft, so the Brewers were certainly excited to see him fall to 20th in Wednesday night’s opening round.

There was some speculation that teams considered him a risk because he has Type 1 diabetes, but that didn’t scare the Brewers away.  Mitchell learned of his condition when he was eight years old and has learned to live with it.

The Brewers selected prep pitcher Dylan Covey with their top pick in 2010.  He was discovered to have Type 1 diabetes in his draft physical, decided to pass on the Brewers and attend college.

Mitchell is considered a top defensive center fielder with speed and batted lead-off for the Bruins.  he hit .349 during his sophomore season and led the nation with 12 triples.  This past season, Mitchell was off to a .355 start when the Bruins season was suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the second time Mitchell was drafted.  He went in the 14th round of the 2017 draft but decided instead to go to UCLA.

The Brewers have four more picks on the second and final day of the draft on Thursday.