Milwaukee Brewers: What’s the latest on Winter Ball Leagues?

Pitchers and catcher don’t report until February 13 but that isn’t stopping several Milwaukee Brewers from continuing to play competitive baseball in warmer climates.

We’ll start our run down of Milwaukee Brewers players in Winter Leagues with a deep dive into the performances in the Venezuelan League.

Venezuelan League

Orlando Arcia, SS, Caribes de Anzoategui

In September and October no Brewer was hotter at the plate then Orlando Arica. He has continued to find his swing through the winter in the Venezuelan League. In five games, Arcia is swinging .450 (9 for 20) with a slash line of .500/.700/1.200. The extra base hits have continued as well, with a home run and two double in the last five games. His defense has remained strong as well. He’s collected 10 assists with a .929 fielding percentage.

Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Tigres de Aragua

The Milwaukee Brewers power hitting first baseman went back home to Venezuela for the winter joining the Tigres for six games so far this season. Jesus Aguilar hasn’t found his stroke yet, hitting just .118/.250/.176 in 17 at bats. He has walked three times, hit a double and scored a run while only striking out once.

Troy Stokes Jr., OF, Tigres de Aragua

Recently added to the 40-man roster, Troy Stokes Jr. spent all 2018 season in Double-A Biloxi and shined offensively and defensively. He hit .233/.343/.430 with 109 hits including 23 doubles, six triples, 19 home runs and 58 RBIs while scoring 74 runs. He also was awarded the MiLB Rawlings Gold Glove for his stellar work in the outfield at MGM Park.

Although his winter season appears to be over, since his last game was November 18th, Stokes was busy for the Tigres. In 28 games he hit .298/.391/.447 with 28 hits including two doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs in just 94 at-bats. He showed patience at the plate as well collecting 13 walks. Stokes found his speed too stealing seven bases while not being caught.

Deolis Guerra, P, Navegantes del Magallanes

Deolis Guerra, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 10th, has shown in the winter league why he’s been invited the 29-year-old to Spring Training. In 2018, Guerra pitched in 40 games for the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate with a 3.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 71 strike outs. His stats this winter are a little more impressive. In 24 games Guerra has a 1.78 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 27 strike outs. He is holding hitters to a .214 batting average while sacrificing just six runs in 25 1/3 innings.

Wuilder Rodriguez, P, Tigres de Aragua

The 25-year-old Wuilder Rodriguez spent last season splitting time between High-A Carolina and Double-A Biloxi with mixed success. In 27 games he went 2-1 with a 4.86 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 32 strike outs in 50 innings. Rodriguez has thrown in six games so far this winter with the Tigres, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and has one lone strike out. He last pitched on December 5, going a scoreless innings against the Bravos de Margarita.

Dominican League

Domingo Santana, OF, Tigres del Licey

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Domingo Santana has seen action in just three games this winter with the Tigres, not collecting a hit, but walked twice and struck out four times in seven at bats.

Nate Orf, IF, Leones del Escogido

Like Stokes, Nate Orf’s winter ball season is done as well. In 15 games the utility infielder hit .218/.338/.273 with 12 hits and three walks in 55 at-bats. He started 11 games at 3rd Base for the Leones, collecting 20 assists with a .917 fielding percentage and three errors. It hasn’t yet been determined of Orf’s role with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, but he remains ready to go for any infield position need.

Tristan Archer, P, Leones del Escogido

Tristan Archer played a lot of baseball this past season in Colorado Springs, but signed up to play a few more games this winter with the Leones. His first outing on Dec. 4th was the only night he had a run scored against him. He has gone scoreless since then, totaling in three games a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 2 2/3 innings. Archer will hope to show that he can move past Triple-A and make it to the Milwaukee Brewers roster in 2019.

Aaron Wilkerson, P, Gigantes del Cibao

Aaron Wilkerson was a busy guy this last 12 months. He has pitched in Milwaukee, Colorado Springs, Arizona Fall League, and in the Dominican Republic. In two games with the Gigantes he was roughed up giving up five runs on seven hits in eight innings for an ERA of 5.63. The big righty will start the spring in the Major League camp trying to earn a spot on the Milwaukee Brewers 25-man roster.

Mexican Pacific League

Victor Castaneda, P, Tomateros del Culiacan

The 20-year-old Victor Castaneda has pitched great in six games in the Mexican Pacific League. He has a 1.23 ERA in 7 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts while just giving up one run. He played the 2018 season in Helena and will most likely be with the Timber Rattlers or Mudcats in 2019 if his work this winter is any indication of his potential.

Australian Baseball League

Zach Clark, OF, Auckland Tuatara

The 23-year-old Zach Clark has been in Appleton the last two seasons with the Timber Rattlers. This off season he took his bat to Auckland to play for the Tuatara. For the Rattlers, Clark hit .246/.317/.390 with 94 hits, but with 166 strikeouts. In Auckland, Clark as stayed consistent with his seasonal stats, hitting .242/.277/.323 in 18 games. He has 15 hits with 20 strikeouts in 62 at-bats.

Alex Hall, C, Perth Heat

Like Clark, the Australian born Alex Hall is staying consistent as well with is 2018 stats. In Rookie League, he hit .244/.305/.407 with 21 hits and 20 strikeouts in 27 games. The 19-year-old played stellar defense with the Brewers as he averaged a .993 fielding percentage in 124 innings.

Hall is playing well with the Heat as he is hitting .247/.337/.493 in 20 games. He has 26 strikeouts with 18 hits including three doubles and five home runs. As of posting the Heat are leading the standings with a 14-6 record.

Jess Williams, SS, Perth Heat

Jess Williams, another Australian born player and member of the 2018 Arizona Rookie League Brewers played well during the 2018 season with a .270/.309/.348 line in 39 games. Williams returned home to play for the Heat and has hit .217/.309/.233 in 18 games.

Christian Meister, P, Melbourne Aces

The lone Brewer pitcher in the Australian league, Christian Meister has only pitched in two games this winter, not faring well in his last game on Dec. 14th. In 1.2 innings he struck out three but gave up three runs on three hits and four walks. The 25-year-old only played in 13 games in 2018 in the Rookie League and in Appleton with the Rattlers.

Spring Training is only about two months away, but several players have already gotten a head start. For some, Winter ball serves as a tune up for their off season program, and for others it’s a chance to earn valuable experience. Hopefully, everyone will make it through the Winter season healthy, and ready to go in February.