Minor League Musings

[Bertz]

Really encouraging. Probably won't see the third inning of another game this year, but if he's healthy enough to play in the pitch lab that's a huge sigh of relief.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Arias bumping up to MB to close out the season is intriguing.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Another draft pick to full season ball:

 

[PackLandVA]

What’s with that change-up throw to home by Weber!!? Looks like was throwing a fade to the corner of the end zone.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

!!

 

[Bertz]

 

Curious what pitchers get the call

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Amaya off the Tennessee IL

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Bertz]

Awesome, damn near best case scenario, he should get essentially a full month at Iowa. Plus the AFL, and that's ~150 PAs against high level competition we weren't sure he'd be getting this year a few months ago.

 

It's certainly unlikely but opening day '23, would seem to be on the table if he resumes hitting.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs 2022 14th rounder:

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Holy crap did they sign that middle schooler to a futures contract

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Holy crap did they sign that middle schooler to a futures contract

 

lol I had the same thought, he was a senior sign and turns 23 before opening day!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Moisés is starting to get some national attention. He showed up in this week’s BA’s Prospect Hot Sheet (hottest 20 prospects in the minors), along with PCA:

 

16. Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs

Team: Low-A Myrtle Beach (Carolina)

Age: 18

 

Why He’s Here: .400/.464/.640 (10-for-25), 5 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: Ballesteros is one of the most promising prospects in the lower levels of the Cubs’ system. He’s a bigger-bodied player but he can really hit. Scouts who saw him in the ACL and at Low-A see a player with the potential to hit for average and power and at least enough arm to stick behind the plate. He will have to work to keep his body in check to maintain at least a chance at catching in the long term, but his offense might be enough for DH if he gets too cumbersome on defense. (JN)

 

18. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs

Team: High-A South Bend (Midwest)

Age: 20

 

Why He’s Here: .423/.448/.577 (11-for-26), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3 SB, 2 CS.

 

The Scoop: Crow-Armstrong’s 2022 season started great, had a pretty lumpy middle and is finishing even better than it started. When Crow-Armstrong was promoted to High-A South Bend, he had a brutal introduction. In June, he struck out 13 times, walked only once and hit .220. The strikeout-to-walk ratio remains a little too tilted towards whiffs, but everything else has been excellent. Crow-Armstrong has five multi-hit games since Aug. 20 with two three-hit games and a four-hit game. For all the up-and-down nature of his season, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .315/.380/.532 overall this year and has cemented his status as a solid Top 100 Prospect. (JC)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2022/09/01/cubs-prospects-have-some-of-the-best-tools-in-the-minor-leagues/

 

Brett aggregated the Cubs on BA's best tools lists.

 

Southern League Best Power: Alexander Canario

Southern League Best Defensive 1B: Bryce Ball

Southern League Best Defensive 2B: Chase Strumpf

Southern League Best Defensive SS: Luis Vazquez

Midwest League Best Fastball: Daniel Palencia

Midwest League Best Defensive OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong

Carolina League Best Changeup: Luis Devers

Carolina League Best Defensive OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong

 

Strumpf being the best defensive 2B is the only real surprise, in my head I had him as a bat-only profile a la Dan Uggla/Todd Walker. The swing and miss jump this year is still pretty disqualifying given he's still only at AA, but at least if he shows modest improvement or even reverts more to his previous profile of fewer whiffs with fewer XBH, there may be a bench role for him yet.

[craig]

..

...Southern League Best Defensive 1B: Bryce Ball

Southern League Best Defensive 2B: Chase Strumpf..

 

Strumpf being the best defensive 2B is the only real surprise, in my head I had him as a bat-only profile a la Dan Uggla/Todd Walker. The swing and miss jump this year is still pretty disqualifying given he's still only at AA, but at least if he shows modest improvement or even reverts more to his previous profile of fewer whiffs with fewer XBH, there may be a bench role for him yet.

 

Yeah, that's interesting and encouraging. I was also surprised at Ball, I've assumed he was more of a big DH wannabe. Nice to think that *IF* they hit enough, (unlikely), that their defense might not hold them back.

[Bertz]

 

Lots of good stuff in here, some snippets:

 

While the Cubs selecting Horton at No. 7 was initially viewed as a surprise — going off mock drafts, industry chatter and the perception of a hitter-heavy draft class — there have since been indications that Horton wouldn’t have dropped beyond the top 10 picks.

 

One thing Crow-Armstrong is given a lot of credit for by those in the organization is his work ethic. The word “creative genius” was used when describing his ability to use his body and execute specific movements while in the box.

 

That determination and ability to train his body properly led to the needed adjustment. Over his last 25 games, Crow-Armstrong has a 156 wRC+, but most importantly he’s striking out just 16.7 percent of the time while walking at a 6.1 percent rate. The more he handles High-A pitching, the more likely it is that he starts next season at Double-A Tennessee.

 

Another teenager at Myrtle Beach who seems to have quite a higher ceiling is catcher Moisés Ballesteros. The slugger is on the opposite spectrum as Ramírez in both profile and body type. A big focus for Ballesteros in his professional career has been to keep his body in shape as he’s already listed at 195 pounds at just 5-foot-10 and 18 years of age. But like Ramírez, the high-performance group will be working with him closely in Arizona this winter as he’s likely to attend their offseason prospect program, which is growing from around 30 players to possibly closer to 60 participants.

 

Ballesteros crushed ACL pitching on the way to Myrtle Beach, where he’s actually done better in a ballpark that typically suppresses offense to a significant degree. One talent evaluator suggested Ballesteros’ left-handed swing was second only to Crow-Armstrong in the Cubs system. Ballesteros’ approach is quite advanced for his age, and through 23 games in High A, he’s posted a 125 wRC+ and a 14.9 percent walk rate. He’s not showing a penchant for swing-and-miss yet and he has all-fields power.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Herz to the developmental list.

[craig]

Gallardo with 6 hits, 1HR, and 2 walks, and 2 K's through 3 innings. He's at 14 HR's on the year. For South Bend in 6 starts and 27 innings, he's got a 6HR/11K/9BB/27IP.

 

I'm curious what the developmental plan for him will be to try to contain the HR's moving forward, and to try to figure or optimise something that might miss more bats. There is space for lots of different pitching styles, and he'll turn 21 this Wednesday. So there is time to try to figure out some adjustments. At 111 innings, he might have a pretty tired arm by this point, too. So perhaps just coming back next spring with a fresh arm will do his K/HR rate more good than any mechanical optimizations. Perhaps with both some delivery optimizations and a fresh arm, who knows?

[JeffH]

Gallardo with 6 hits, 1HR, and 2 walks, and 2 K's through 3 innings. He's at 14 HR's on the year. For South Bend in 6 starts and 27 innings, he's got a 6HR/11K/9BB/27IP.

 

I'm curious what the developmental plan for him will be to try to contain the HR's moving forward, and to try to figure or optimise something that might miss more bats. There is space for lots of different pitching styles, and he'll turn 21 this Wednesday. So there is time to try to figure out some adjustments. At 111 innings, he might have a pretty tired arm by this point, too. So perhaps just coming back next spring with a fresh arm will do his K/HR rate more good than any mechanical optimizations. Perhaps with both some delivery optimizations and a fresh arm, who knows?

 

Most likely, he's a fringe prospect. Of Tom's three fetishes, I wholeheartedly support Howard, I definitely understand Hearn, but I don't get Gallardo.

[Named After Maddux]

Herz to the developmental list.

 

I’ve heard it’s a quick trip to give him a breather. I’m curious if they do work on anything, but I imagine anything substantial will be tackled this offseason.

[Bertz]

One thing I've been thinking about recently is how all of the player development gains the last two years are kind of re-writing McLeod's legacy.

 

- The 2014 draft (the Schwarber draft), looked good already but with Cease going full Ace and Steele looking pretty mid-rotationy it's now an A+

 

- 2015 had previously looked a bit light, basically just Ian Happ, but Effross turning into a front line reliever and Higgins/Hudson looking like depth guys again you would probably give it a nice bump

 

- 2017 is the big one. A year and a half ago you'd say we probably net some middle relievers out of this draft, but with two first rounders that's kind of a disaster outcome. But now? The top 7 guys plus Brandon Hughes have made it to MLB. Thompson looks like a mid-rotation starter, Lange is a late inning reliever with Estrada looking to join him. Hughes, Little, and Uelmen look like quality middle relief. Nelly Velazquez is probably a fourth outfielder, but if he ends up an everyday player this draft is another A+

 

- 18 and 19 are still too anything definitive, though netting Hoerner has already locked 18 in as at least solid and Davis has a chance to make it a hell of a lot more than that. With Herz hitting the wall at AA, 19 is starting to look pretty bad though. Hodge might have to be the guy if we wanna salvage that draft.

 

But overall it really changes the story. I think we would have said a few years ago that the first half of McLeod's tenure was mostly successful and the second half (save 2018) was mostly not. Now though the results are starting to better affirm the reputation throughout his time.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA’s top 10 ACL prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-arizona-complex-league-top-10-prospects/

 

5. Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs

 

Ballesteros laid waste to the ACL, prompting the Cubs to boost him to Low-A Myrtle Beach on Aug. 2. He’s an extremely powerful hitter with a loose, easy swing that allows him to flick long drives to all sectors of the ballpark. His 5-foot-10 frame is extremely thick already, so he’ll have to stay on top of his conditioning, but the Cubs are excited about his potential.

 

9. Cristian Hernandez, SS, Cubs

 

Easily the most famous player in the ACL on Opening Day, Hernandez spent the season showing flashes of the talent that made him a preseason Top 100 Prospect. He’s got big-time bat speed and power but needs to refine his plate discipline to access those tools more often. Hernandez is a solid defender at shortstop, with upside as high as just about anybody who came through Arizona this summer.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA’s top 10 ACL prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-arizona-complex-league-top-10-prospects/

 

5. Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs

 

Ballesteros laid waste to the ACL, prompting the Cubs to boost him to Low-A Myrtle Beach on Aug. 2. He’s an extremely powerful hitter with a loose, easy swing that allows him to flick long drives to all sectors of the ballpark. His 5-foot-10 frame is extremely thick already, so he’ll have to stay on top of his conditioning, but the Cubs are excited about his potential.

 

9. Cristian Hernandez, SS, Cubs

 

Easily the most famous player in the ACL on Opening Day, Hernandez spent the season showing flashes of the talent that made him a preseason Top 100 Prospect. He’s got big-time bat speed and power but needs to refine his plate discipline to access those tools more often. Hernandez is a solid defender at shortstop, with upside as high as just about anybody who came through Arizona this summer.

 

Pedro Ramírez was amongst 7 other ACL prospects to watch: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/seven-more-arizona-complex-league-players-to-watch/

 

6. Pedro Ramirez, SS/2B, Cubs

 

Ramirez was a standout performer in the ACL who earned a late-season bump to Low-A Myrtle Beach. His ceiling might not be as high as some of the other players who made the league’s Top 10, but his floor is sturdier. He fits in as a player who can bounce around the infield while providing excellent contact skills and present doubles power with a chance for a touch more as he matures and adds strength. He’s an average runner whose arm could fit on the left side as well.

[muntjack]

Who is closing out the season strong? A couple of hitters:

 

 

Perlaza (last 220 PAs)

 

.283/.373/.628 .426 wOBA

 

Nwogu (160 PAs)

 

.289/.358/.611 .422 wOBA

 

I really like that, for both of these guys, the #s aren't propped up by Avg and BABIP. There's real SLG there.

 

On the other end is Pinango (236 PAs)

 

.223/.275/.318 .274 wOBA