Month: March 2020

Jacob Nottingham, Angel Perdomo returning to Missions

San Antonio Missions and Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jacob Nottingham playing for San Antonio this season at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Jacob Nottingham batted .231 with five home runs and 40 RBIs in 83 games in 2019 with the Missions.
The Milwaukee Brewers optioned five players to the minors on Thursday. Four of those are headed to the San Antonio Missions, including two from last summer’s roster.

Catcher Jacob Nottingham and left-handed relief pitcher Angel Perdomo were both optioned to Triple-A San Antonio. Both were part of the 2019 Missions.

Right-handed pitchers Bobby Wahl and Eric Yardley were also optioned to the Missions.

Wahl, a reliever, missed last season after suffering a knee injury in spring training. He appeared in seven games for the New York Mets in 2018 and also seven games with the Oakland A’s in 2017.

The Brewers optioned right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers.

Angel Perdomo. 2019 San Antonio Missions season at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Angel Perdomo had a 3-2 record and 5.17 ERA in 40 appearances with the Missions in 2019.

Former Padres farm hand Eric Yardley headed back to Missions

Eric Yardley spent parts of five seasons in San Antonio (2014-18) when the Missions were part of the San Diego Padres’ organization in the Double-A Texas League.

The right-handed relief pitcher is headed back to San Antonio as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The Brewers optioned Yardley to the Triple-A Missions on Thursday.

Yardley was with the Padres last season. The Brewers claimed Yardley after the Padres put him on waivers in November.

Yardley appeared in 10 games with San Diego in 2019, all in relief. He recorded a 2.31 ERA with seven strikeouts and three walks in 11 2/3 innings. He also pitched in 43 games with Triple-A El Paso last summer.

Eric Yardley with the Missions

2014 – 4 appearances, 6.0 innings, 3.00 ERA, 0-0 record

2015 – 5 appearances, 7.0 innings, 5.14 ERA, 0-1 record

2016 – 12 appearances, 17.0 innings, 3.18 ERA, 0-2 record, 1 save

2017 – 44 appearances, 61 1/3 innings, 2.05 ERA, 3-1 record, 6 saves

2018 – 34 appearances, 39 1/3 innings, 3.43 ERA, 2-4 record, 0 saves

Looking ahead at the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL draft

With the NFL draft less than a month away, I’m trying to figure out what the Dallas Cowboys will do – especially with their first pick at No. 17 overall.

Most of the NFL mock drafts have the Dallas Cowboys taking a defensive back with their first pick, No. 17 overall. The favorite is cornerback C.J. Henderson from Florida. Also seeing LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton and Alabama safety Xavier McKinney.
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney – YouTube video

I’ve seen a couple of NFL mock drafts that have the Dallas Cowboys taking an edge rusher with the first pick, No. 17 overall – either K’Lavon Chaisson from LSU or A.J. Edpenesa from Iowa.
LSU edge K’Lavon Chaisson – YouTube video

If I’m the Dallas Cowboys, I don’t pick an edge rusher in the first round unless I believe your player is a real game-changer. There will be a lot of edge rushers available in the second round.

There are three receivers in the NFL draft who are rated above everyone else: Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Alabama’s Henry Ruggs. Expect all three to be gone before the Cowboys pick at No. 17.
Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb – YouTube video

I would love to see Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs available for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL draft. Doesn’t seem likely he is still around at No. 17. Most mock drafts I have seen have him picked in the top 10 and even the top 5.
Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs – YouTube video

Expect the Dallas Cowboys to pick a cornerback in the first round of the NFL draft, probably Florida’s C.J. Henderson, Alabama’s Trevon Diggs or LSU’s Kristian Fulton.
Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson – YouTube video

Look for the Dallas Cowboys to pick an edge rusher in the second round and offensive lineman, focusing on center, in the third round of the NFL draft.
Florida edge Jabari Zuniga – YouTube video

Missions player possibilities for 2020

Missions outfielder Tyrone Taylor chases down a fly ball at Wolff Stadium last summer. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions outfielder Tyrone Taylor chases down a fly ball at Wolff Stadium last summer.
If and when the 2020 major league and Triple-A seasons get underway, here is a look at who might be playing for the San Antonio Missions:

These Milwaukee Brewers transactions from March list players the big club sent to San Antonio:

Brewers optioned 3B Ryon Healy to Missions.
Brewers optioned 2B Mark Mathias to Missions.
Brewers optioned SS Ronny Rodriguez to Missions.
Brewers optioned C David Freitas to Missions.
Brewers optioned CF Corey Ray to Missions.
Brewers optioned RHP Trey Supak to Missions.

The following players have minor-league contracts with the Brewers and were invited to spring training with the big club. They could end up in San Antonio and include six of last season’s Missions:

LHP Clayton Andrews
RHP Zack Brown
3B Andres Blanco
3B Lucas Erceg
C Payton Henry
RHP Thomas Jankins
RHP Mike Morin
C Mario Feliciano
RHP Drew Rasmussen
RHP Miguel Sanchez
LHP Ethan Small
RHP Aaron Wilkerson
1B Logan Morrison
C Tuffy Gosewisch

Other 2019 Missions who were in the Brewers’ minor league spring training were:

P Bubba Derby
C Skyler Ewing

Outfielder Tyrone Taylor had his 2019 season with the injured slowed by injuries. He is on the Brewers’ 40-man roster by wasn’t playing in spring training while he recovered from surgery.

Update on Friday, Feb. 27, 2020:

The Milwaukee Brewers optioned the following players to the San Antonio Missions:
C Jacob Nottingham
LHP Angel Perdomo
RHP Bobby Wahl
RHP Eric Yardley

Missions watch: Ray Black

Ray Black pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in a Feb. 23 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. - photo by Joe Alexander
Ray Black pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in a Feb. 23 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. – photo by Joe Alexander
One in a series of brief looks at players with ties to the San Antonio Missions as we get ready for the 2020 baseball season.

Ray Black had a brief stretch with the San Antonio Missions last summer as a relief pitcher.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization in a trade-deadline deal on July 31 that saw the Missions’ Mauricio Dubon go to the the San Francisco Giants organization.

Black made six appearances for the Missions, allowing only one earned run. He gave up one hit with nine strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings.

He finished the season with Milwaukee. Black made 15 relief appearances for the Brewers and had a 5.14 ERA.

Black started 2020 spring training with the Brewers’ big club in the Cactus League. He appeared in two games before being sidelined by an injury.

Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on March 10 that Black has a sore back but the issue isn’t considered serious.

Black was originally drafted by the Giants in the seventh round in 2011. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and made 26 relief appearances for the Giants that season.

Ray Black pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in a Feb. 23 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. - photo by Joe Alexander
Ray Black pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in a Feb. 23 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. – photo by Joe Alexander

Trinity vs. New Jersey City U. baseball photo gallery

Trinity's Jack Wisniewski had two hits including a home run, scored twice and had three RBIs in a victory against New Jersey City U. - photo by Joe Alexander
Trinity’s Jack Wisniewski had two hits including a home run, scored twice and had three RBIs.
Trinity outlasted New Jersey City University 7-5 in 10 innings on Tuesday on the Tigers’ home field.

Junior third baseman Jack Wisniewski hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to win the game.

Missions watch: David Freitas

David Freitas of the 2019 San Antonio Missions with the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2020 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. - photo by Joe Alexander
David Freitas with the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2020 spring training game.
One in a series of brief looks at players with ties to the San Antonio Missions as we get ready for the 2020 baseball season.

David Freitas led the San Antonio Missions in hitting last season with a .381 average.

Freitas hovered around the .400 mark for much of the summer while playing catcher and first base in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

Freitas, who will turn 31 years old on March 18, was a 15th-round draft pick in 2010 and has paid his dues in the minor leagues. He has played in 802 games in the minors with a .289 average and 73 home runs.

He played in his first major league game in 2017 with the Atlanta Braves. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-hander has played in a total of 58 games in the majors including 16 at the end of the last season after being called up by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Freitas went to 2020 spring training with the Brewers’ big league crew. He is hitting .211 (4-of-19) in the Cactus League in 13 games.

David Freitas on Twitter

Missions watch: Lucas Erceg

Lucas Erceg of the 2019 San Antonio Missions playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2020 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. - photo by Joe Alexander
Lucas Erceg playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2020 spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
One in a series of brief looks at players with ties to the San Antonio Missions as we get ready for the 2020 baseball season.

One of the best infield arms in the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system belongs to Lucas Erceg.

The 24-year-old from California showed off his skills last summer at Wolff Stadium – primarily as the San Antonio Missions’ third baseman.

What held Erceg back was a season when he struggled to get in an extended groove at the plate. The left-handed hitter batted .218 with 15 home runs in 116 games in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He struck out 102 times in 357 at-bats.

A second-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016, Erceg batted a combined .327 his first professional season in rookie and Class A ball in the summer of 2016.

Erceg is with the Brewers’ big club in 2020 spring training, seeing action at both third base and first base. He has played in 13 Cactus League games so far and is hitting .182 with one home run and five RBIs in 22 at-bats.

It doesn’t look like the Brewers have room for Erceg on their opening day roster, so he appears likely to be back at Wolff Stadium with the Missions a month from now when they open their 2020 season on April 9.

Update: On Monday afternoon, Erceg was one of nine players the Brewers reassigned to Minor League camp. The list also includes pitchers Thomas Jankins and Miguel Sanchez from the 2019 Missions.

UTSA softball overpowers North Texas

Celeste Loughman's grand slam ended UTSA's 9-1 victory over North Texas on Saturday. - photo by Joe Alexander
Celeste Loughman’s grand slam ended UTSA’s 9-1 victory over North Texas on Saturday. – photo by Joe Alexander
The UTSA softball team used three home runs to beat North Texas 9-1 Saturday in a six-inning run-rule game at Roadrunner Field.

Celeste Loughman hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to end the game.

Madison Washington hit a two-run homer in the third inning for the Roadrunners’ first runs of the game. Riley Grunberg hit a solo shot in the fourth inning.

UTSA right-hander Clarissa Hernandez pitched a complete game for the win.

The Roadrunners have hit 29 home runs in their first 23 games of the season. The victory raised UTSA’s record to 14-9.

Missions watch: Mauricio Dubon

Former Missions shortstop Mauricio Dubon playing center field for the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game Feb. 26 at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. - photo by Joe Alexander
Former Missions shortstop Mauricio Dubon playing center field for the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game Feb. 26.
One in a series of brief looks at players with ties to the San Antonio Missions as we get ready for the 2020 baseball season.

Mauricio Dubon was a fan favorite last season at Wolff Stadium.

The flashy shortstop looked like he had a future with the Milwaukee Brewers as he teamed with Keston Hiura in the San Antonio Missions’ middle infield.

But things changed over the summer.

Hiura was called up twice by the Brewers. The second time he was a hit and stayed in the big leagues.

Then, after batting .297 with 16 home runs in 98 games for the Missions, Dubon suddenly changed organizations. The Brewers traded him for pitching acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the 2019 trade deadline.

The Giants slid Dubon over to second base on their Triple-A Sacramento team after the trade.

The 25-year-old from Honduras is with San Francisco’s major league camp for 2020 spring training. The Giants have put his speed to work playing not only middle infield, but also in center field. Maria Guardado on MLB.com lists Dubon as potentially being on the Giants’ opening day roster as a second baseman, shortstop and outfielder.

Dubon is listed as a shortstop on the Giants spring training roster. After his first seven Cactus League games, he is hitting .412 with two home runs in 17 at-bats.

By Lamarr Fields for SportsDGI.com
Mauricio Dubon brings versatility to Giants

By Mark W. Sanchez on KNBR.com:
Mauricio Dubon is winning whatever camp competition he’s in