2019 Missions at Milwaukee Brewers’ big league spring training

Miguel Sanchez pitching for the Missions at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Miguel Sanchez pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium during the summer of 2019.
The San Antonio Missions were the Triple-A farm club of the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2019 season. These players were in uniform for the Missions two summers ago and went to the Brewers’ big league camp for 2021 spring training:

PITCHERS
No. Player

50 Ray Black
66 Zack Brown
39 Corbin Burnes
37 Adrian Houser
64 Thomas Jankins
47 Angel Perdomo
70 Miguel Sanchez
35 Brent Suter
38 Devin Williams

CATCHERS
No. Player

26 Jacob Nottingham

INFIELDERS
No. Player

18 Keston Hiura
21 Travis Shaw

OUTFIELDERS
No. Player

78 Corey Ray
15 Tyrone Taylor

* 2019 Missions manager Rick Sweet is listed as an instructor

Tyrone Taylor playing for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium during the 2019 season. - photo by Joe Alexander
Tyrone Taylor playing for the Missions at Wolff Stadium during the 2019 season

Brewers’ player pool loaded with last summer’s Missions

The Missions' Adrian Houser pitches against the Redbirds on April 9 at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander`
Adrian Houser, pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium in 2019, is part of the Milwaukee Brewers’ player pool announced Monday.
The Milwaukee Brewers announced their initial player pool for the 2020 Major League Baseball season.

The pool includes these position players from the 2019 San Antonio Missions:

Milwaukee Brewers player pool includes these position players from the 2019 San Antonio Missions:
C David Freitas
C Jacob Nottingham
IF Keston Hiura

These pitchers who saw action with the 2019 Missions are also included in the Brewers’ player pool:

Ray Black
Zack Brown
Corbin Burnes
Adrian Houser
Brent Suter

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

Former Missions trip wraps up at Wrigley Field

Former San Antonio Missions second baseman Keston Hiura playing for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 30, 2019, at Wrigley Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Former Missions second baseman Keston Hiura playing for the Brewers against the Cubs on Aug. 30, 2019, at Wrigley Field. – photo by Joe Alexander
The third and final game of my trip to catch up with some former 2019 San Antonio Missions players was on a sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.

It was a tough day for the former Missions. Keston Hiura started at second but suffered a hamstring strain and went on the injured list the next day.

Hernan Perez started at third base. Trent Grisham and Cory Spangenberg both got in the game late.

Former Missions pitchers Ray Black and Jay Jackson each threw one scoreless inning in relief.

Game photos taken from my seat in Section 225.

Missions beat OKC to stay close in playoff chase

The San Antonio Missions' Tyler Austin (right) and Tyrone Taylor celebrate after Austin's two-run homer in the third inning on Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyler Austin (right) and Tyrone Taylor celebrate after Austin’s two-run homer in the third inning on Friday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions got key hits and shutout pitching through eight innings to beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-2 on Friday at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions remain 1 1/2 games behind the Round Rock Express in the Pacific Coast League American Southern Standings. Round Rock beat New Orleans 3-2 on Friday.

Tyler Austin hit a two-run homer in the third inning, his second home run and fourth extra-base hit since joining the Missions on Aug. 16.

Nate Orf drove in the Missions’ first run with an RBI single in the second inning.

Troy Stokes Jr. added an RBI single in the sixth inning to bring in the Missions’ final run.

Missions starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson (8-2) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his season ERA to 3.34.

Angel Perdomo and Miguel Sanchez combined to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. Freddy Peralta kept the Dodgers scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Dodgers scored both of their runs in the top of the ninth off of Missions reliever Ray Black.

Brewers pitcher Ray Black during his time with the Missions

Ray Black pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Ray Black pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Ray Black’s tenure with the San Antonio Missions was short.

The 29-year-old relief pitcher was called up to the majors on Wednesday after appearing in four games for the Missions, including two games at Wolff Stadium.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander pitched 4.0 innings for the Missions and did not allow a run. He gave up one hit with five strikeouts and one walk.

Black was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday and made his Brewers debut the same day. He pitched a scoreless sixth inning in a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed one hit with no walks or strikeouts.

Black came to the Brewers organization in the July 31 trade that sent the Missions’ Mauricio Dubon to the San Francisco Giants organization.

Before being traded, Black appeared in 23 games for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats with a 5.16 ERA and two games for the Giants with a 4.50 ERA.

Last season he pitched in 26 games in relief for the Giants with a 6.17 ERA, and also 26 games in relief at Triple-A Sacramento with a 3.16 ERA.

Uniform note:

In the Missions’ Aug. 3 home game, Black wore No. 38.

In the Missions’ Aug. 5 home game, Black wore No. 20.

Tyler Saladino returns, Missions homer their way past Grizzlies

Tyler Saladino singled and eventually scored the winning run in the eighth inning Monday afternoon at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Tyler Saladino singled and eventually scored the winning run in the eighth inning Monday afternoon at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions hit four home runs including three in one inning to beat the Fresno Grizzlies 9-8 on Monday afternoon at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions trailed 6-0 early in the game but narrowed the gap when Tyrone Taylor hit a three-run shot in the third inning, his eighth homer of the season.

The Missions took an 8-6 lead with four runs in the fifth inning. Troy Stokes Jr. hit a solo home run, his eighth of the season. Jacob Nottingham hit a two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Jake Hager hit a solo home run, his eighth of the season.

The Grizzlies scored single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings to tie it 8-8.

The Missions took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. Tyler Saladino led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor. Saladino scored the winning run when David Freitas singled to right and Grizzlies right fielder Jose Marmolejos mis-handled the ball, allowing Saladino to advance two bases.

Missions reliever Angel Perdomo (3-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Ray Black pitched the ninth inning to earn his second save withthe Missions.

NOTES

  • Monday’s game was Saladino’s first action in a Missions uniform since being called up by the Milwaukee Brewers on June 28.
  • Missions pitcher Jimmy Nelson had his second strong appearance in a row in relief. He threw 1 2/3 innings with no runs, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts
  • Black, who came to the Brewers organization from the San Francisco Giants in a deal at the MLB trade deadline, hit 101 MPH on the stadium radar.

  • Hernan Perez finishes another Missions win in extra innings

    The Missions' Hernan Perez connects with the ball for the winning hit in the 12th inning Saturday night at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
    The Missions’ Hernan Perez connects with the ball for the winning hit in the 12th inning Saturday night at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
    For the second straight night the San Antonio Missions didn’t score through nine innings.

    And for the second staight night the Missions came through in extra innings for the victory.

    The Missions scored once in the 10th inning and twice in the 12th to beat the Fresno Grizzlies 3-2 on Saturday at Wolff Stadium.

    Cory Spangenberg singled and drove in Blake Allemand to tie the game 2-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 12th. David Freitas walked to put runners on first and second.

    Hernan Perez singled to left to score Spangenberg and win the game.

    Missions starting pitcher Zack Brown went six scoreless innings and gave up four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Relievers Ray Black and Jake Faria both pitched one scoreless inning each.

    The Missions’ Deolis Guerra (3-0) pitched the 11th and 12th innings to earn the win.