This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy’s Brewers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
This week was a reminder of the value of having a Minor League affiliate in your own backyard.
Rehabbing veterans Jose Quintana and Brandon Woodruff started for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Quintana returned with raves about the renovated facility at Neuroscience Group Field in Appleton, Wis., about 90 miles north of American Family Field.
“Really, really nice,” Quintana said. “That was High-A? I don’t remember playing in stadiums like that. I think at some point they need to get that facility as a Triple-A.”
Per tradition, Quintana made sure his temporary teammates were well-fed by footing the bill for Chipotle prior to Tuesday’s game. Dinner that night was already catered, so Quintana instead made plans for the boys to enjoy Outback Steakhouse later on this homestand.
It was a small price to pay for good hospitality, both from the Fox Valley fans and from the Timber Rattlers, who renovated their ballpark in time for the 2023 season and took cues from the Brewers’ '19 makeover of American Family Fields of Phoenix, said president and CEO Rob Zerjav.
Some of those familiar touches include letting in as much natural light as possible, like the roll-up door in the weight room that lets in fresh air and allows easy movement out to an agility field like the one the Brewers use in Spring Training. The locker room was designed as a sanctuary for players, separate from the coaches’ locker room and dining area. The team also expanded accommodations for female staff.
“We had to bring it up to standards, but since we were doing it, we wanted to do it right,” said Zerjav, who started with the Timber Rattlers as an intern and is in his 29th season with the team. “In my world, I feel like it is the nicest home clubhouse in all of Minor League Baseball.”
The Brewers have had a player development contract with Wisconsin since 2009, first as a Class A affiliate and then High-A since Minor League Baseball’s reconfiguration in ‘21. The ballpark originally opened in 1995 when the team was a Seattle Mariners affiliate. Today it has a capacity of 5,900.
“It’s a big league setup, for sure,” Brewers GM Matt Arnold said. “I do think it could function as a Triple-A ballpark. It’s got that kind of environment and quality of facilities. And it’s a great experience for the fans. I would encourage everybody to take a trip up there if you love baseball and you love the Brewers.”
If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a big leaguer.
“Sometimes it’s important for guys just to get their work in and build up their workload,” Arnold said. “It depends on the circumstance, depends on the player and the situation. Sometimes the convenience of being close to home is big for a player. They can drive up there and be back home in Milwaukee the same night.”
The weather can be a factor as well. That was the case this week, when the Brewers were able to slot Woodruff’s outing into a good window on Wednesday afternoon. It worked out just as planned, with the right-hander completing his seven-inning, 74-pitch outing just as the rains came and washed out the final two innings.
“Woody is the perfect example, because there was weather in Indianapolis [where the Triple-A Nashville Sounds played this week]. We looked at [Double-A] Biloxi and we looked at Wisconsin, and we can map it down to time of day. If it’s a close call, sometimes it’s best to just keep them in the backyard here.”
Before he departed, Quintana made sure Timber Rattlers manager Victor Estevez knew how good he has it.
“I was joking with him, ‘Wow! What an office you have!” Quintana said. “Huge office for a Minor League manager. That’s bigger than [Pat Murphy's office in Milwaukee]. Not even close.”