Minor League Musings

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Juan Cabada and Juan Tómas have made it to Arizona:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[craig]

Nice that Franklin is healthy and back throwing.  Would be so cool to have a 14th-round-available $200K-available due-to-injury guys end up emerging as a good prospect.  Would be so fun.  

I know he had TJ so upper-body buildup is a priority.  But man, in his picture his left ankle looks like a twig. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Development DL]

Helium watch 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The new Knoxville stadium is even more pitcher-friendly than Myrtle Beach.

[Bertz]

30 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

The new Knoxville stadium is even more pitcher-friendly than Myrtle Beach.

I've been waiting for this to come out.  Not shocking when all the Tyler Schlaffer's of the world popped off at AA, but good confirmation and also an idea of degree.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

3 hours ago, Bertz said:

I've been waiting for this to come out.  Not shocking when all the Tyler Schlaffer's of the world popped off at AA, but good confirmation and also an idea of degree.

Also makes Rojas struggles at AA less concerning.

[JBears79]

Excited to see if Cabada can adjust quickly stateside this season. Got high hopes for him this season.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Do you guys see Cabada/Tomas going to Myrtle right off the bat?

[craig]

I'd guess no? 

• Cabada would be more possible, since he's a kinda balanced, controlled hitter, more likely to be able to stay competitive. 
• Tomas definitely not; he hit .186 in the DSL, with 42K/113AB/1HR.  With contact challenges like that, I think one step to Mesa will be challenging enough.  He'll need some patience.  

[JBears79]

11 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Do you guys see Cabada/Tomas going to Myrtle right off the bat?

Based on how it seems like the Cubs treat IFA prospects, Id guess no. Cabada is a maybe since his plate discipline seems to be somewhat advanced for his age, but I see June as a potential Myrtle Beach Assignment for both if everything is going well.

[allen6510w]

On 12/17/2025 at 2:51 PM, CaliforniaRaisin said:

One Breakout Hitting Prospect For Every Team Hiding Behind Ordinary Stat Lines: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/one-breakout-hitting-prospect-for-every-team-hiding-behind-ordinary-stat-lines/

According to Arizona Phil, Saul was released today. 

[allen6510w]

Some questions I'm pondering this morning: 

1. Will Moises Ballesteros open the season behind the plate at Iowa or will he begin a career as a DH/1B// emergency C type in the majors?

2. Will Owen Ayers pick up where he left off in the AFL?

3. Will Michael Carico’s wrist and other injuries turn out to be career ending?

4. Is Jairo Diaz someone to watch or were his low-A numbers a SSS fluke?

5. Will Ariel Armas continue on track to be a defense-first backup C? 

6. Will Ethan Conrad spend most of 2026 in the OF, at 1B, or at DH?

7. Will Josiah Hartshorn show up healthy and look more like a $2M signee than a 6^th rounder? 

8. Will powerless Kane Kepley continue to walk more than he strikes out against high-A and/or AA pitching? 

9. Will Alexander Ramirez activate his 5:30 power and get enough playing time to threaten the Cubs minor league strikeout record?

10. Will Eli Lovich emerge as a prospect or continue to struggle against class A pitching? 

11. Will Cole Mathis remain at 3B and re-gain his plus exit velocities?

12. Is Fernando Cruz a bust or will his bat come alive during his second crack at the ACL?

13. While Juan Tomas showed “you can walk off the island”*, will he become more aggressive stateside and show more than a major league glove? *if you have a great glove and signed for $$$. 

14. Will Juan Cabada’s quick compact swing produce enough power for him to stay on track to make the majors as a bat-first second baseman? 

15. Will Derniche Valdez remain in the infield, get regular playing time, and show that 2025 was just a nightmare? 

 

[JBears79]

Got another to add to that as I agree with all those.

Will Jaxon Wiggins take another step forward by improving his efficiency and throw more strikes to get that BB rate down?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[JunkyardWalrus]

Anyone know if MiLB is included with the MLB package this year? I feel there used to be a blurb or some suchness in the yearly email about my subscription renewing.

[PackLandVA]

[PackLandVA]

21 hours ago, JunkyardWalrus said:

Anyone know if MiLB is included with the MLB package this year? I feel there used to be a blurb or some suchness in the yearly email about my subscription renewing.

 

 

[JunkyardWalrus]

1 hour ago, PackLandVA said:

 

 

Nice, thanks! 

[Bertz]

Quote

Watching prospects on the backfields may be the most fun part of spring training. The Cubs’ top pitching prospect, Jaxon Wiggins, has put on a few shows early in camp. Already sitting 96 and touching 97, Wiggins has shown why he has one of the best fastballs in the minors. The pitch has induced vertical break of around 19 inches, which is elite and would be among the best in baseball.

From the Athletic this AM.  For reference Shota's at about the same level of IVB amd that's a big part of how he misses so many bats even at just 92-93.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

On 2/22/2026 at 10:23 AM, Bertz said:

From the Athletic this AM.  For reference Shota's at about the same level of IVB amd that's a big part of how he misses so many bats even at just 92-93.

Miz averaged 15.9, so damn!

[Post Count Padder]

Fangraphs talked to Ben Brown about his new two-seamer. Seems like it's looking good so far. He said he learned it from Clay Holmes in the offseason.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ben-brown-pitch-designed-a-sinker-over-the-offseason