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Brewers top pick to start Minor League career in the Fox Cities

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Garrett Mitchell – Photo Courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers 2020 first-round draft pick Garrett Mitchell will begin his pro baseball career in the Fox Cities with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Mitchell was the 20th overall pick by the Brewers out of UCLA.  The centerfielder had an outstanding spring with the Brewers in Phoenix, playing in 22 games and hitting .355 (11 for 31) with one home run, six RBI, three stolen bases and .973 OPS.

The performance likely had the Brewers feeling good about having Mitchell skip Low-A Carolina and proceed to Wisconsin.

It’ll be Mitchell’s pro debut after his rookie season last year was cancelled by the pandemic.

 

Brewers Extend Invites To 2021 Minor League Affiliates

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The Milwaukee Brewers have extended invitations to four Minor League teams to become affiliates in Major League Baseball’s new player development structure.  Receiving invitations are the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A), Biloxi Shuckers (Double-A), Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A) and Carolina Mudcats (Low-A).

Nashville previously served as the team’s Triple-A affiliate from 2005-14, winning the Pacific Coast League championship in 2005.  The Sounds play their home games at First Horizon Park in downtown Nashville, which opened in 2015.

Biloxi has served as Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate since 2015, while Wisconsin has been the organization’s Low-A club since 2009.  The Brewers purchased the Carolina Mudcats in 2017. [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…]

Minor League teams waiting for season to be canceled (AUDIO)

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Fox Cities Stadium

As Major League Baseball and the players association continue to negotiate a possible return to the field this summer, minor league teams have been left behind with little hope of a baseball season.

The Milwaukee Brewers single-A affiliate, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are among the teams around the country that are expecting to hear of a cancellation to the season soon.

Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav told WRN on Monday that there’s no way minor league teams could have a season without fans in the stands.  Zerjav said they’re already losing money and it would be worse playing games without fans.

The Timber Rattlers officially opened back up on Monday, but Zerjav said they’re focussing their efforts on finding other ways to generate revenue, other than playing baseball games.

The Timber Rattlers home field (Fox Cities Stadium) has banquet facilities and has hosted weddings in the past.  They’re cooking up fish fry’s on Friday nights and doing other meal deals for fans.  They also own and manage the Northwoods League team in Fond du lac (Dock Spiders) and Zerjav is confident that team will start play on July 1.

In the meantime, the Rattlers are waiting for Major League Baseball to pull the plug on their season.  Zerjav said it’s not a matter of if, but more likely when.

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav said there’s too many things stacked against minor league teams to play this season :15

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav says they can’t afford to play games without fans :07

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav said it hasn’t happened yet, but cancellation is pretty much a done deal :09

COVID-19 forcing teams to take extra measures

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The Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are one of a handful of community-owned Minor League Baseball teams.  In these trying times, the Timber Rattlers, through Appleton Baseball Club, Inc., a non-stock and not-for-profit corporation is asking its fans to help out.

The Timber Rattlers, who compete in the Midwest League, are offering individuals the opportunity to purchase Membership Certificates in the team.

Proceeds raised by the sale of Memberships will help ensure the baseball team is around for years to come and to assist the club while waiting and hoping to play baseball during the 2020 season.

The Membership Certificates cost $50 plus a handling charge and are currently available through a link on the team’s website.  There is a $25 renewal fee each year if fans wish to continue as Members on an annual basis.

Members receive voting rights, a commemorative Membership Certificate, a complimentary ticket to Opening Day as well as a ticket, picnic and photo with the team at the game on Sunday, August 23.

Money raised will go toward business operations and stadium improvements.  Timber Rattlers Membership is not stock.  The value does not go up and there are no dividends.

As a Minor League Baseball team, the team is not responsible for paying the players and coaches, but is responsible for all f unctions of running the  baseball club, including ticket sales, marketing, stadium operations, food and beverage, employee compensation and benefits, team travel and other team related expenses.  The Timber Rattlers employ 29 full-time staff as well as over 400 season staff.

 

Erickson returns to manage Timber Rattlers

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Matt Erickson

The Milwaukee Brewers announced their minor league coaching staffs on Thursday and Appleton native Matt Erickson will return to manage the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a ninth straight season.

Erickson, who was the Timber Rattlers hitting coach in 2009 and 2010, has been with the Rattlers since the team’s affiliation with the Brewers began.  The Timber Rattlers have been to the Midwest League playoffs three times under Erickson’s direction.  Wisconsin won the 2012 Midwest League Championship with Erickson at the helm.  He is the longest-serving manager in the history of Appleton Professional Baseball.  His regular season record with the Rattlers is 536-574 (.483).

Erickson will be joined by former Brewers relief pitcher Jim Henderson, who pitched for the Timber Rattlers in 2009.  He was named the Timber Rattlers pitching coach for the 2019 season.  Dave Joppie, who managed the Kane County Cougars in 2004 and 2005, enters his third season in the Brewers organization as the hitting coach of the Rattlers.

Henderson made his MLB debut on July 26, 2012 against the Washington Nationals, the organization with which he started his pro career.  Henderson appeared in 111 games over three seasons with the Brewers and collected 31 saves.  He pitched in 44 games for the New York Mets in 2016, his final season in the majors.  This will be his first full-season as a coach in the Brewers minor league system.

AUDIO: Matt Erickson is glad to be back for a 9th season with the Timber Rattlers :22

Brewers announce roster moves

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Keon Broxton rejoins the Brewers – File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

The Milwaukee Brewers will open a two-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.  Freddy Peralta (2-0) will make his Miller Park debut for the Brewers.

Earlier today, the Brewers announced that center fielder Lorenzo Cain has been placed on the 10-day disabled list (left groin strain).  The move is retroactive to June 24th.  They recalled center fielder Keon Broxton from AAA Colorado Springs to take his place.

The Brewers also released left-handed relief pitcher Boone Logan.

Left handed starter Zach Davies will also make his next rehab start on Friday night with the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Rattlers relocate after snowstorm

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Nearly two feet of snow that has blanketed Northeastern Wisconsin has forced the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to do some shuffling with their schedule.

The Timber Rattlers were scheduled to open a home series on Tuesday against Kane County after wrapping up a series in Peoria on Sunday.  Instead, the Rattlers will remain in Peoria, using Dozer Park for their series with Kane County.

“This is a tough situation for everyone in the area and it would have been impossible to play any games at Neuroscience Group Field this week,” said Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav.  “You have to get creative when one of the worst snowstorms in the history of Wisconsin hammers you before the start of a homestand.  This was the best option.”

“We want to thank Peoria general manager Jason Mott and his staff for being open to hosting these games,” said Zerjav.  “It is incredible to be part of a league where teams step up to help out in situations like this.”

The three-game series between the Rattlers and Cougars at Dozer Park will begin with game one on Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Wisconsin will stay in Peoria through next Sunday when they wrap up another series with the Chiefs.  Wisconsin will return to the Fox Cities after Sunday’s game to begin a seven-game homestand on Monday, April 23.

Garza’s rehab assignment shifts to Midwest League

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With Colorado Springs running into some wet weather in Nashville, Matt Garza’s rehab assignment was shifted to Class A Wisconsin where the Timber Rattlers were opening a series in Clinton, Iowa in a Midwest League matchup with the Lumber Kings.

Garza, who has been sidelined since suffering a strained right groin in his final spring-training start, got the start for the Timber Rattlers on Monday night.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out eight.  Garza threw 88 pitches in Wisconsin’s 5-4 loss.

No word  yet on when Garza will rejoin the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Timber Rattlers see their season come to an end

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midwest-league-logoThe Wisconsin Timber Rattlers saw their 2016 season come to an end on Thursday night, falling to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 3-1 in the Midwest League playoffs.

The Kernels won the best 2-of-3 series by sweeping the first two games.  They advance to face the Clinton LumberKings in the best-of-three Western Division Finals.

Wisconsin finished 71-69 in the regular season and 0-2 in the postseason.