Kodi

Medeiros

Medeiros surrendered 14 runs on 17 hits with a 9/5 K/BB ratio across 11 2/3 innings (10 appearances) this season at Triple-A Salt Lake. The 26-year-old former first-round selection inked a minor league contract with the Angels during the offseason and has yet to reach the majors.

Medeiros, selected 12th overall by the Brewers in the 2014 MLB Draft, was traded to the White Sox back in 2018 and never wound up making it to the big leagues in Chicago. The 25-year-old lefty posted a pedestrian 5.52 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 37/25 K/BB ratio across 29 1/3 innings over 30 relief appearances last year at Triple-A Charlotte. He represents a relatively low-risk lottery ticket for the Angels.

Medeiros had been designated for assignment. The former first-round pick cleared waivers and will remain in the organization.

Medeiros gets the bump to open up a roster spot for Edwin Encarnacion, whose one-year, $12 million deal with the White Sox became official on Thursday morning. Medeiros, 23, posted an ugly 5.10 ERA in 83 innings last season at the Double-A level. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft out of a high school in Hawaii.

Medeiros spent all of last season at the Double-A level and it looks like he’ll return there to start 2019. He was acquired from the Brewers last year in the Joakim Soria deal.

Medeiros, who was acquired from the Brewers in the Joakim Soria deal, had a 3.60 ERA and 141/67 K/BB ratio in 137 2/3 innings over 22 starts and five relief appearances at the Double-A level this season. He turns 23 in May. The move protects him from December’s Rule 5 Draft.

The No. 12 overall pick in last year’s draft allowed four hits and one walk in the outing, striking out four. Medeiros seemingly has turned things around after a rough start to the season, as he’s pitched to a 2.60 ERA and 29/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 27 2/3 innings over his last five outings. The 19-year-old Hawaiian’s 4.21 ERA through 51 1/3 frames leaves something to be desired, but he’s missing bats at a favorable rate (9.8 K/9) and continues to be tough on opposing hitters, who collectively are batting .224 with zero home runs against the left-hander.

The Brewers have whiffed on a bunch of first-round picks the last five years, and here’s another high-risk selection for them. Medeiros has a great arm, with a moving low-90s fastball and a big-breaking slider, but with an odd delivery and mediocre command, he’s a long shot to reach his ceiling.

Medeiros will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus, as well as an additional $240,000 for school. He’s viewed as somewhat of a risky project due to his odd delivery and inconsistent command, but has a big arm with a well-developed breaking ball.

He tied a career-high with seven strikeouts, coming out after 63 pitches. The 18-year-old southpaw was the No. 12 pick in last year’s draft and is already considered one of Milwaukee’s best prospects. Medeiros will get the ball again Friday against Burlington. We’ll see if he has a higher pitch count this time around.