Minor League Musings

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Chris Singleton, the son of a Charleston AME Church shooting victim, was one of 9 Cubs released today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03242019/cubs-release-nine-minor-league-camp

 

Ryan Court, INF

Austin Filiere, 1B-3B (Cubs 2017 8th round draft pick - MIT)

Evan Marzilli, OF

Carlos Ramirez, RHRP

Jose Rosario, RHRP (Cubs 2008 IFA)

Chris Singleton, OF (Cubs 2017 19th round draft pick - Charleston Southern)

Jake Steffens, RHRP (Cubs 2017 29th round draft pick - U. of Santa Clara)

Chesny Young, INF (Cubs 2014 14th round draft pick - Mercer)

Mike Zagurski, LHRP

[Hrubes20]

Chris Singleton, the son of a Charleston AME Church shooting victim, was one of 9 Cubs released today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03242019/cubs-release-nine-minor-league-camp

 

Ryan Court, INF

Austin Filiere, 1B-3B (Cubs 2017 8th round draft pick - MIT)

Evan Marzilli, OF

Carlos Ramirez, RHRP

Jose Rosario, RHRP (Cubs 2008 IFA)

Chris Singleton, OF (Cubs 2017 19th round draft pick - Charleston Southern)

Jake Steffens, RHRP (Cubs 2017 29th round draft pick - U. of Santa Clara)

Chesny Young, INF (Cubs 2014 14th round draft pick - Mercer)

Mike Zagurski, LHRP

 

I really thought Young was going to be a great supersub for the Cubs. He just never developed even close to average power and his defense wasn't good enough to overcome it.

[Regular Show]

Chris Singleton, the son of a Charleston AME Church shooting victim, was one of 9 Cubs released today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03242019/cubs-release-nine-minor-league-camp

 

Ryan Court, INF

Austin Filiere, 1B-3B (Cubs 2017 8th round draft pick - MIT)

Evan Marzilli, OF

Carlos Ramirez, RHRP

Jose Rosario, RHRP (Cubs 2008 IFA)

Chris Singleton, OF (Cubs 2017 19th round draft pick - Charleston Southern)

Jake Steffens, RHRP (Cubs 2017 29th round draft pick - U. of Santa Clara)

Chesny Young, INF (Cubs 2014 14th round draft pick - Mercer)

Mike Zagurski, LHRP

 

I really thought Young was going to be a great supersub for the Cubs. He just never developed even close to average power and his defense wasn't good enough to overcome it.

 

I always got the impression that the Cubs would trade Chesny Young to the A's for cash or some crappy prospect lol.

[Post Count Padder]

Chris Singleton, the son of a Charleston AME Church shooting victim, was one of 9 Cubs released today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03242019/cubs-release-nine-minor-league-camp

 

Ryan Court, INF

Austin Filiere, 1B-3B (Cubs 2017 8th round draft pick - MIT)

Evan Marzilli, OF

Carlos Ramirez, RHRP

Jose Rosario, RHRP (Cubs 2008 IFA)

Chris Singleton, OF (Cubs 2017 19th round draft pick - Charleston Southern)

Jake Steffens, RHRP (Cubs 2017 29th round draft pick - U. of Santa Clara)

Chesny Young, INF (Cubs 2014 14th round draft pick - Mercer)

Mike Zagurski, LHRP

That's a bummer. I was really rooting for him. Bat never seemed to come along. Hope he gets another shot.

 

Chesny Young is definitely gonna be someone else's Tommy La Stella for a season or two.

[CubsWin]

The Cubs have released LHP Rob Zastryzny and RHP Robert Robbins.

Now 26 (his 27th birthday is tomorrow), Zastryzny was the Cubs 2nd round draft pick in 2013 out of the University of Missouri, and he pitched for the Cubs in parts of three different seasons (including the 2016 World Series Championship season), but he was never able to establish himself at the MLB level.

 

The 24-year old Robbins was signed out of Driveline in Seattle at the same time the Cubs signed Luke Hagerty. Robbins has a mid-90's FB but not much else.

[Post Count Padder]

Bummer about Z. Had hoped he'd be a useful lefty in the pen. Oh well.

[Regular Show]

Per Arizona Phil: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03172019/cubs-release-seven-minor-league-camp-while-hoerner-ademan-move-down-level

 

RELEASED:

OF Chris Carrier (2017 9th round draft pick - U. of Memphis)

C Benny Kaleiwahea (2018 NDFA - Tennessee Tech)

OF Kwangmin Kwon (2015 IFA - South Korea - $1.2M signing bonus)

RHP Brady Miller (2017 23rd round draft pick - Western Oregon)

RHP Nathan Sweeney (2016 32nd round draft pick - Cherry Creek HS - Greenwood Village, CO - $100K signing bonus)

1B-C Franklin Tineo (2014 IFA - Dominican Republic)

1B Kevin Zamudio (2015 IFA - Mexico - $150K signing bonus)

 

We spent $1.2 mil on OF prospect Kwangmin Kwon back in 2015. I didn't really think much of the signing and it was probably more of a lottery ticket type deal. The thing is MLB teams can't really afford to do that kind of thing anymore with the limited IFA pool money each signing period. The Cubs really have to be judicious in how they spend that money now. MLB should increase that pool amount, but I think they're trying to keep it in-line with how much each team roughly spends on the amateur draft.

[Brian]

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[/tweet] Edited March 27, 2019 by Brian

[Regular Show]

Damn, that really sucks. I was worried with how max-effort he was in his throwing sessions.

[Regular Show]

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I'm happy he's starting at AA and he's definitely ready for this level. His rise (and subtle swing changes) has been incredible. Great makeup too.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA’s 11 hitters who stood out this spring: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-11-hitters-who-stood-out-this-spring/

 

6. Nico Hoerner, 2B, Cubs

 

Hoerner looked both confident and comfortable at the plate this spring. In the last game I saw him play on March 7 against the Rockies, he had four at-bats and reached base all four times. He had a bloop, RBI single in his first at-bat, and in his second AB he hustled down the line in 4.0 seconds to beat out a grounder on the left side on the infield from a two-strike count. In his third plate appearance, he smashed a triple to right-center field for what normally would have been a double, but he ran hard with plus speed and good angles around the bases to make it all the way to third. By his fourth at-bat, the Rockies just plunked him for good measure.

 

Hoerner's swing is a bit unorthodox, with his back foot moving and more a natural dip from the right-hand side with a two-handed finish, but he has excellent plate coverage and contact skills. He was not overmatched by any of the Rockies' major league starters or relievers, and he has the makings of a quick mover through the system. You watch Hoerner and you come away liking the way he plays the game. He should move up the Cubs' minor league system quickly.

 

7. Cristhian Adames, SS/2B, Cubs

 

Adames is another Cubs farmhand, but he's no longer a prospect given his age and experience. The 27-year-old was frequently a late-inning replacement early on in spring training, but the switch-hitter made the most of his at-bats. Adames is very patient at the plate, consistently getting himself into hitter counts where he could do damage. Is it possible Adames is just a late-bloomer and has finally started to figure it out? Potentially. But it's also possible that it's a bit of smoke and mirrors, considering he was hitting mostly fastballs against predominantly minor league pitchers late in spring training games.

 

I saw Adames make some strong plays at shortstop, and the chatter in the scouting section is that he could always field it. Adames looks strong, confident and defensively apt enough to play up the middle at either shortstop or second base. The issue with the Cubs, specifically as it relates to Adames, is they have a starting shortstop (Javier Baez) and second baseman (Ben Zobrist) and plenty of utility. On top of that, they have former starting shortstop Addison Russell coming back from suspension. Adames is headed back to the minors, but there is something here.

 

11 pitchers who stood out this spring: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-11-pitchers-who-stood-out-this-spring/?utm_source=BAPR&utm_medium=email

 

4. Dillon Maples, RHP, Chicago Cubs:

 

I was really intrigued by Maples. He was a 14th-round pick in 2011 who made his Major League debut in 2017, but he has only amassed a total of 10.2 innings at the highest level over the past two seasons and carried an ERA over 10.00 as well. I saw Maples back in 2015 and 2016, when he was still in (and repeating) low Class A with the South Bend Cubs. With the stuff he showed in his spring training outing on March 7 versus the Rockies, he won't be pitching for South Bend again any time soon.

 

Maples faced only four batters and gave up a really solid hit to Rockies prospect Colton Welker, but besides that one mistake he struck out two Rockies hitters with an electric 95-97 mph fastball and complimented that with a late and big breaking cutter from 88-92 mph. His slider had similar shape to the cutter and just a touch lower velocity from 83-87 mph. It’s possible that I have misidentified the slider and cutter at the upper 80s velocity—but if so, that’s a good thing. If I’m having trouble identifying it, imagine how the batter standing 60 feet, 6 inches away is feeling. If he brings this kind of stuff during the regular season, Maples could definitely help the Cubs' bullpen.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Nope. Maples is 27, no need to wait and see what he has in store. Cut bait.

[David]

i definitely don't discount the possibility that he can figure out how to avoid walks a little better and be a useful, maybe even valuable, piece of an MLB bullpen for a season or three (and i know you were being sarcastic and referencing the argument in the other thread)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4.0 to first base is basically 70-80 grade speed if accurate, I didn't know Nico's wheels were that good.

[David]

nico is a fun name and a way cooler way to shorten nicholas than "nick," so for that reason alone i hope he is awesome

 

it's a first name only kind of first name

[Hrubes20]

4.0 to first base is basically 70-80 grade speed if accurate, I didn't know Nico's wheels were that good.

 

Nope. Don't believe it. He has below average speed. Or at least that's what I was told late last fall and this winter.

[Regular Show]

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I wish there was a graphic showing the velocity on each pitch. So his control of the fastball still seems to be a problem, but his breaking ball is pretty sick.

[jersey cubs fan]

[CubsWin]

Ha! That's awesome!

 

Fun article on April 1st...

[Regular Show]

https://theathletic.com/902502/2019/04/03/cubs-prospects-to-watch-in-2019-nico-hoerner-brailyn-marquez-miguel-amaya/

 

Theo on Nico:

“We think he deserves to be at Double-A,” said Epstein, the president of baseball operations. “It is an aggressive placement. But he is uncommonly mature and advanced for his age, both with his game on the field and the way he handles things off the field. We believe he can handle it. But we expect him to be at Double-A for – if not the whole year – then the great, great majority of the year.”

 

Adbert Alzolay remains in Arizona, catching up on innings after the Cubs held him back at the beginning of spring training as a precautionary measure. Cubs farm director Jaron Madison said Alzolay is “100 percent healthy now” and on track to join the Iowa rotation in early May.

 

The article also briefly talks about Dakota Mekkes, Alex Lange, Brendon Little, Brailyn Marquez, and Miguel Amaya.

[CubsWin]

FWIW, four Tennessee Smokies pitchers combined for a no-hitter in their exhibition tune-up against Walters State University tonight. Tyson Miller, Michael Rucker, Manny Rondon and Zach Hedges pulled off the minor feat over a pre-planned 7 innings.

 

Nico Hoerner smacked a double and finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.

 

https://www.milb.com/tennessee/news/smokies-hurl-combined-no-hitter-in-exhibition-tune-up/c-305925406

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Iowa’s roster is finally out.

 

Happ, Giambrone and Short headline the position players. Underwood Jr, Swarmer, Robinson and Rea are likely in the rotation with no 5th starter. Clifton when Tseng look like they’re staying in Arizona. Maples, Mekkes, Webster, Duensing in the pen.

 

[CubsWin]

Loads of interesting info coming from AZ Phil today:

 

Albertos FB velo up to 94-95 today (was 89-92 last week) although he still has command issues with it, but CH and CV were very good.

 

Y. Perez FB velo at 94 (down from 96 a couple of weeks ago) but he got a lot of swings & misses with his plus-CV. He is a mountain of a young man (6'4 240+).

 

Albertos threw 3 hitless innings in an intrasquad game today but, as Phil pointed out was still wild throwing only 15 of his 30 pitches for strikes.

 

Also, Richard Gallardo and Carlos Morfa are officially stateside:

 

Today is Minor League Opening Day, and it also marks the official conclusion of Minor League Camp. Extended Spring Training starts next week.

 

However, a number of players who did not attend Minor League Camp but who have been invited to attend Extended Spring Training have already arrived in Mesa, including RHSP Willy Cabrera (pitched in DSL in 2018), LHSP Riger Fernandez (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Emilio Ferrebus (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Richard Gallardo (2018-19 IFA making his pro debut in 2019), RHRP Julio Guante (pitched in DSL in 2019 - DSL eligibility has expired), RHRP Elias Herrera (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Chi-Feng Lee (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Luis Ramos (plitched in DSL in 2018), LHRP (ex-OF) Ruben Reyes (played OF and pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Benjamin Rodriguez (attended EXST last year and then pitched in the DSL), LHSP Luis Rodriguez (pitched in DSL in 2018), LHRP Luis Silva (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHRP Jesus Tejada (pitched in AZL in 2018), LHSP Didier Vargas (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHRP Omar Ventura (pitched in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), C Daniel Diaz (played in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), 2B Revaj Garcia (played in AZL in 2018), INF Ignacio Otano (played in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), SS Luis Verdugo (played in AZL in 2018), and OF Carlos Morfa (played in DSL in 2018 and was the only DSL Cubs player to get invited to AZ Instructs in January).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This is a few days old, but: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/conner-greene-blake-rutherford-among-standouts-on-arizona-back-fields/

 

— He has a long way to go in terms of command and control, but Cubs righthander Riley Thompson already spins the ball at elite rates. One of his curveballs during a minor league scrimmage registered at 3,113 revolutions per minute. For context, the highest average spin rate in the major leagues in 2018 was 3,252 rpm by then-Angels' righthander Garrett Richards.

 

— Also on the Cubs' back fields, righthander Jose Albertos looked solid in a quick burst. The stuff wasn't quite as explosive as in years past, but he blended a 91-92 mph fastball with a diving changeup in the 81-82 mph range. After a rough 2018 season, simply finding the strike zone represented a small step forward.

[CubsWin]

In regards to Clifton, AZ Phil confirms he just being stretched out in Mesa after having been technically demoted from AAA Iowa to short season Eugene.

 

Although he will eventually join the Iowa starting rotation, Clifton has been assigned to the Eugene roster from AAA iowa while he gets stretched-out as a SP at Minor League Camp and (starting next week) Extended Spring Training. (Clifton was moved to the Iowa bullpen when Minor League Camp opened last month).

 

He also disclosed the IL lists for every level to start the season:

 

IOWA: RHSP Adbert Alzolay, LHRP Alberto Baldonado, RHSP Alec Mills, RHRP Junichi Tazawa, RHSP Jen-Ho Tseng, OF Wynton Bernard, and OF Jacob Hannemann were placed on the Iowa 7-day Injured List, and RHRP Casey Bloomquist, LHRP Luke Hagerty, and LHRP Danny Hultzen were placed on the I-Cubs 60-day Injured List.

 

TENNESSEE: RHRP Zach Hedges, RHSP Erick Leal, LHRP Conor Lillis-White, RHRP Tommy Nance, RHRP Jake Stinnett, RHRP Alexander Vargas, INF Gioskar Amaya, and OF Jose Cardona have been placed onto the Tennessee 7-day Injured List, and RHRP Corey Black, C Will Remillard, 1B-OF Yasiel Balaguert, and OF Chris Pieters were placed onto the Smokies 60-day Injured List (however, Remillard, Balaguert, and Pieters will actually be serving as coaches in 2019, Remillard with Tennessee, Balaguert with AZL Cubs #1, and Pieters with AZL Cubs #2).

 

MYRTLE BEACH: RHRP Enrique de los Rios, RHRP Chad Hockin, and RHSP Erich Uelmen have been placed onto the Pelicans 7-day Injured List.

 

SOUTH BEND: LHSP Andres Bonalde, LHSP Brendon Little, C Marcus Mastrobuoni, and OF Jose Gutierrez have been placed onto the South Bend 7-day Injured List

 

That clears up some questions about how the Cubs were going to retain the depth of pitching they had amassed in AAA. Decisions will have to be made if/when Alzolay, Mills, Tazawa, Tseng, Baldonado, Hedges, Leal, Lillis-White and Corey Black are ready to return.

 

Some of you may have heard about Yasiel Balaguert and Chris Pieters becoming minor league coaches for the Cubs. This article was the first time I had heard that once promising, but oft-injured catcher, Will Remillard will also be joining that group.