Right-hander Trey Supak and infielder Ronny Rodriguez both cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the Brewers earlier in the week, per a team announcement. They’ve been assigned outright to Triple-A San Antonio. Because they were outrighted to Triple-A rather than to the alternate training site, neither will remain in the club’s 60-man player pool. They’re both still controlled by the Brewers beyond 2020, however, even though they’re no longer on the 40-man roster.
The 24-year-old Supak spent most of the 2019 campaign in Double-A, where he notched a terrific 2.20 ERA ball with 6.9 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, 0.44 HR/9 and a 44.8 percent grounder rate over the life of 122 2/3 innings. That performance came in a pitcher-friendly environment and wasn’t fully backed by fielding-independent metrics (3.14 FIP, 3.59 xFIP), but it was a promising showing overall. He was hit much harder in a brief stint at the Triple-A level, but Supak has yet to have much experience at that stage of the minors.
The Brewers are likely pleased that the righty went unclaimed, as he’s long been ranked as one of the better arms in a thin minor league system. Clearly, the team now feels that others within the system have surpassed him, but they’ll now be able to continue to work on his development in future seasons. Supak has a minor league option remaining beyond the current season, but that wasn’t enough for another club to place a claim at this point, apparently.
Rodriguez never got into a game with the Brewers after coming over from the Tigers via waivers this winter. The 28-year-old is a versatile utility piece with a bit of pop but overwhelming on-base issues, as can be seen in his career .221/.254/.396 batting line. Rodriguez did swat 14 big flies in 294 MLB plate appearances last year, but those on-base woes clearly limit his value.
Klentak should be fired simply for not picking up Supak
Really surprised no one claimed Supak.
Obviously the rest of the teams know that, what may be gold in a weak Brewers system, is trash in all others. Even the Pirates didn’t want him back.
You never know how a guy is going to turn out, so I think it’s kind of foolish to pass judgement on his ability at this point. Brandon Woodruff was always labeled as a potential “back-end” starter with an average fastball coming up through the minor leagues and was never a highly ranked prospect. Now he’s one of the hardest throwing starters in MLB and looks to be a potential top of the rotation guy. Neither Jacob DeGrom or Shane Beiber were ever expected to be much. No one ever gave Kyle Hendricks any kind of shot and he’s turned out to be pretty good too.
Point is, it never hurts to take a chance on a guy who’s had any kind of success in the minors, especially for pitching starved teams like Pittsburgh. Frankly I’m shocked that the Brewers took the chance of losing him and I’m glad they didn’t. Chances are probably pretty high that he won’t be any huge success, but why not give it a shot when they only have to pay the guy minimum wage or less?
Hey Steve, neither of those guys are controllable by the Brewers beyond 2020, as they will both be minor league free agents.
that’s true actually, which is an interesting wrinkle with Supak’s situation. gotta wondet if they add him right back this offseason after they lose some of their rentals.
Minor League free agency only kicks in if the player is not on the 40. So the question is why no team thought Supak was worth that spot. It’s hard to see the Red Sox, Pirates, etc. being in that situation, but again, we don’t know the whole enchilada. Possible non-projectability in the eyes of evaluators, possible behavioral issues, could be lots of stuff.
He’s 24, throws 88-92 and is listed at almost 270 pounds. There’s nothing that distinguishes him from other minor leaguers other than the fact that he was a high pick in 2014.
Well his weight definitely does.
Supak is from a little town known as La Grange
I hear it’s tight most every night…but now I might be mistaken. They got a lot of nice girls…
He should lose 40 lbs and try to gain some velo
Maybe this experience will give him the necessary incentive to try that lol
Hey was curious whatever happened to Ortiz that we traded to Baltimore?
In 2 seasons he has a 10+ ERA.