The Brewers announced that utilityman Nate Orf and righty Ariel Hernandez were each outrighted to Triple-A after clearing wavers. The move on Orf will open a 40-man spot for today’s acquisition of Xavier Cedeno; Hernandez had recently been designated for assignment.
In other news, the Milwaukee organization has added veteran utilityman Emilio Bonifacio. He had been playing on the indy ball circuit after failing to land with an affiliated organization this spring and will now head to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Orf, 28, earned a brief first look at the majors this year after two consecutive quality seasons at the Triple-A level. He’s a .305/.389/.447 hitter in 1,344 career plate appearances at the highest level of the minors, with only 17 home runs but a healthy combination of 134 walks against 190 strikeouts. Clearly, though — given that he cleared waivers — there are some questions as to whether Orf will really ever be able to carry that sort of output into the show.
As for Bonifacio, the signing offers a chance for him to extend his streak of eleven-straight seasons with at least some MLB action. He hasn’t seen much time in any of the past three campaigns, producing a cringeworthy .169/.204/.201 batting line in the 169 plate appearances he has received in that span. But Bonifacio has been at least a passable hitter at times in the past and was producing a strong .842 OPS in the Atlantic League. More importantly, he has long rated as an outstanding baserunner and can play just about anywhere on the diamond. That makes him a flexible asset for the Brewers to have on hand in case a need arises.
Cue the Milwaukee sportswriters to lament Orf falling off the 40 man.
Really? Emilio Bonifacio?
September pinch runner? Not really worth the 40 man spot though
I’d imagine emilio is more about having experience for the sky sox post season run since the brewers will be bringing up some guys on the 1st like saladino. just my opinion but i think they’d have to suffer some injuries before bonifacio got a 40 man spot.
Are we actually going to make a move or just pretend to make a move? ♂️
You just call my man Emilio “cringeworthy”?
Well a .405 OPS isn’t necessarily pretty to look at.
Keep him away from the braves.
In before ray derek
He’s garbage. Another infielder with no play to put him.
2 no namers for 2 no namers, Brewers are the best team in the NL now anyway with the additions of Gio and Grandy.