Prospects visit Miller Park to accept awards

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers prospects Jason Rogers and Michael Ratterree were on hand at Miller Park on Saturday to accept Minor League awards alongside Johnny Hellweg prior to the first pitch against the Cardinals.

Rogers, a first baseman at Double-A Huntsville, accepted the Brewers' Minor League Player of the Year Award, while Hellweg took home Brewers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors for his time with Triple-A Nashville prior to his big league callup. In addition, Ratterree, an outfielder for Milwaukee's advanced Rookie League Helena team, was presented his 2013 Pioneer League Most Valuable Player Award.

"It's an honor," Rogers said. "It shows how my offseason workouts and stuff, how I've taken it to the season and made adjustments as we go. I'm honored."

Rogers and Ratterree took batting practice on the field prior to speaking with the media in the Brewers' dugout.

But first on the agenda was meeting with Milwaukee players in the clubhouse.

"That's the first thing we did was walk into the clubhouse," Ratterree said. "A couple guys came over and said hi, introduced themselves. It was a truly great experience to come here and meet all the guys, see everything, see what it's like."

Rogers hit .270 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles and 87 RBIs in 133 games at Huntsville this season. The 25-year-old said he is currently working at third base at the Brewers' fall instructional league, and he will also play the corner outfield positions this fall. Rogers played third base at Columbus State University before he was drafted by the Brewers in the 32nd round of the 2010 Draft.

"Man, I'll play wherever," Rogers said. "Whatever gets me to the next level."

Ratterree hit .314 with 12 home runs, 22 doubles and six triples in 65 games in his first season with Helena. Ratterree was drafted in the 10th round of this year's Draft out of Rice University.

The 22-year-old Houston native said Helena's postseason run provided a valuable experience.

"It was my first year of pro ball, and I didn't really know what to expect," Ratterree said. "But I was on a great team with a lot of great coaches and we came up one game short of the championship. It was a fun year. You don't get too many opportunities to go for a championship, so we just enjoyed it."

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke felt the prospects taking batting practice with the big club should provide a confidence boost.

"You're hitting with the other guys and you see you hit balls just as far as they do," Roenicke said. "That should build some. But I think it's just exciting being here in the stadium and hitting alongside the other guys."