Minor League Musings

[craig]

$55

[allen6510w]

 

... from Baseball America (Josh Norris)'s write-up on the DSL all star-game.  I must admit I'm stunned that the Cubs released him before giving him a shot on the mound. 

Breyner Figuereo signed with the Cubs in 2025 as an outfielder but was released after the season. The Rangers scooped him up and converted him to the mound, where he’s flourished. The lefty works with two pitches—a four-seamer that sits at 96 mph and has topped at 99 mph, and a slider in the mid 80s that has been poison on opposing hitters. Figuereo’s breaking ball has garnered a miss rate north of 61%, which helps mask the fact that he needs to throw his heater for strikes a bit more often. The lefthander got hit a little bit in the early going, but overall he’s punched out 22 hitters in 10.1 innings. If you’re counting, that means that all but nine of Figuereo’s outs this season have come on strikes. Five of the eight walks he’s allowed came in one outing. Otherwise, he’s struck out 19 and walked just three over his remaining nine innings.

 

 

[allen6510w]

Also, as some of you are aware, the Cubs released RF/CF Joan Delgado earlier this week.   When signed he was 5’11” 165 Lbs R/R (Birth date 200412) [2022-VZ] In 2022, he posted a 0.250/0.327/0.398 line in 94 DSL PA.  In 2023, Joan returned to the DSL where he moved from 3B to OF and  showed increased power finishing with a 0.274/0.337/0.465 line in 168 PA with 9 SB in 12 attempts and a 57/11 K/W; he made the DSL all-star team.  Joan opened 2024 in the ACL where he posted a 0.281/0.364/0.538 line (0.902 OPS) in 187 PA with 16 SB in 18 attempts and an alarming 65/19 K/W.  Joan began April 2025 in Mesa’s rehab group.  After returning he posted a disappointing 0.194/0.284/0.320 line (0.604 OPS) in 116 PA with a 43/10 K/W.  In 2026, Joan returned to the ACL yet again and posted a solid  0.311/0.394/0.647 line in 137 PA, a 50//14 K/W, & 11 SB in 12 attempts before getting released on July 16^th possibly to make room for 2026 signees.  As this was Joan’s 5^th year in the Cubs organization he would have been eligible to be a MiFA at the end of 2027.   So it made sense to release him, but I’m sure it was hard for him to take given how well he played this year (ignoring the K column).  The clock can be brutal for International signees. 

[Bertz]

Sharma this AM

Quote

Prior to the draft, Kaleb Wing was probably the organization’s second-best pitcher and would have been a valuable trade piece for a controllable starter. But he has an injury that is likely to sideline him for the rest of the season.

*sigh*

[Bertz]

I'd be really curious to hear from the team side how they'd evaluate someone like James Triantos

On the one hand, he's about 900 PAs into his AAA tenure and still hovering right around league average for total offensive output.  Not great.

On the other hand he's doing a lot of things right

- His GB rate, long his biggest issue, is down to a roughly average 43%

- His chase rate is down to just a hair below 30% (slightly worse than average) and his z-swing is way up

- His power numbers are poor but not awful, a ~14th percentile barrel rate and a ~29th percentile hard hit rate

- His contact numbers are great, ~90th percentile

- He is at this point because of his speed I believe he is considered a good baserunner, good defensive 2B, and solid defensive 3B and OFer

- He's still just 23.  In an org with a less crowded infield he'd almost certainly be a big leaguer before his 24th birthday

So like when you're projecting how he'll be as a major leaguer, do you take his wRC+ and apply an adjustment (e.g. knock 25 points off)?  Or do you take each of his component skills, adjust those for MLB, and try to back into a slashline?  Feels like those approaches would lead to very different results

[mul21]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'd be really curious to hear from the team side how they'd evaluate someone like James Triantos

On the one hand, he's about 900 PAs into his AAA tenure and still hovering right around league average for total offensive output.  Not great.

On the other hand he's doing a lot of things right

- His GB rate, long his biggest issue, is down to a roughly average 43%

- His chase rate is down to just a hair below 30% (slightly worse than average) and his z-swing is way up

- His power numbers are poor but not awful, a ~14th percentile barrel rate and a ~29th percentile hard hit rate

- His contact numbers are great, ~90th percentile

- He is at this point because of his speed I believe he is considered a good baserunner, good defensive 2B, and solid defensive 3B and OFer

- He's still just 23.  In an org with a less crowded infield he'd almost certainly be a big leaguer before his 24th birthday

So like when you're projecting how he'll be as a major leaguer, do you take his wRC+ and apply an adjustment (e.g. knock 25 points off)?  Or do you take each of his component skills, adjust those for MLB, and try to back into a slashline?  Feels like those approaches would lead to very different results

He feels like one of those guys who bounces around and struggles at a few organizations at the MLB level, then suddenly pops a 4 WAR season or three once he hits 27 and figures things out at that level.

[Bertz]

40 minutes ago, mul21 said:

He feels like one of those guys who bounces around and struggles at a few organizations at the MLB level, then suddenly pops a 4 WAR season or three once he hits 27 and figures things out at that level.

Yeah that's basically Adam Frazier and feels like a very reasonable comp.  Triantos has more speed but alsoas a righty won't be as easily slid into a platoon in years where the bat is lagging more.

[macarthur31]

On 7/13/2026 at 8:54 AM, mul21 said:

It baffles me that something like this can happen.  Aren't these guys getting thorough physicals at the beginning of each season that would include a vision check, seeing as it's a kind of important thing to have dialed in as a hitter?

Came across this again, and checked out his splits 6/10/26 - 7/19/26

133 PA

6.0% BB Rate / 21.1% K Rate (Through 6/9/26 it was 2.2%/32.4% BB/K)

.295/.338/.467,

.806 OPS

.368 wOBA

115 wRC+

 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

4 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

I assumed Bailey was out for the year. 

[Bertz]

53 minutes ago, macarthur31 said:

Came across this again, and checked out his splits 6/10/26 - 7/19/26

133 PA

6.0% BB Rate / 21.1% K Rate (Through 6/9/26 it was 2.2%/32.4% BB/K)

.295/.338/.467,

.806 OPS

.368 wOBA

115 wRC+

 

 

This is maybe the most fun story on the farm right now.  It's this or Jace Beck's ascent.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

14 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I assumed Bailey was out for the year. 

Yeah, he is. And I doubt Blomker will pitch too so this is just a procedural move.

I do think Sorrell will get some game action.

[lfg26]

8 hours ago, Bertz said:

I'd be really curious to hear from the team side how they'd evaluate someone like James Triantos

On the one hand, he's about 900 PAs into his AAA tenure and still hovering right around league average for total offensive output.  Not great.

On the other hand he's doing a lot of things right

- His GB rate, long his biggest issue, is down to a roughly average 43%

- His chase rate is down to just a hair below 30% (slightly worse than average) and his z-swing is way up

- His power numbers are poor but not awful, a ~14th percentile barrel rate and a ~29th percentile hard hit rate

- His contact numbers are great, ~90th percentile

- He is at this point because of his speed I believe he is considered a good baserunner, good defensive 2B, and solid defensive 3B and OFer

- He's still just 23.  In an org with a less crowded infield he'd almost certainly be a big leaguer before his 24th birthday

So like when you're projecting how he'll be as a major leaguer, do you take his wRC+ and apply an adjustment (e.g. knock 25 points off)?  Or do you take each of his component skills, adjust those for MLB, and try to back into a slashline?  Feels like those approaches would lead to very different results

I'd feel a lot better about him if he could double his BB% rate. His current BB% is pretty terrible and I feel like that could really up his game.... kinda like we've seen PCA do in the last couple months. 

[Post Count Padder]

Jace Beck was a minor league Rule 5 guy right? Did we notice something in his mechanics or were the Mets not having him throw a good pitch mix?

[Tryptamine]

16 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Jace Beck was a minor league Rule 5 guy right? Did we notice something in his mechanics or were the Mets not having him throw a good pitch mix?

Based on stats, it looks like they just took his BB% from out right awful to tolerable. The Ks have always been there.

[CubinNY]

Cubs picked up Greg Jones on waivers. I remember when he was a thing while playing for the Biscuits 

[Jason Ross]

👀

 

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

👀

 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

I missed last night's game so if there was an injury that was apparent everyone will have to excuse me: but I do wonder if someone like Ramirez tweaked something (I remember them worrying about a swing of his) or if because of a trade...

(I'll guess the former however)

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

👀

 

Good for him!

Given the way Alcantara's been used James is probably a bit better of a roster fit in Shaw's absence.

Choosing to assume this is not because of a secret injury.

[squally1313]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

I missed last night's game so if there was an injury that was apparent everyone will have to excuse me: but I do wonder if someone like Ramirez tweaked something (I remember them worrying about a swing of his) or if because of a trade...

(I'll guess the former however)

I was trying to make up some outrageous injury but good call on that Ramirez swing, I'll put my money there. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Could also just be sending KA back down

[Jason Ross]

24 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Could also just be sending KA back down

Could be. My only hesitancy on that is Pedro is worse from the right side and Triantos is rocking a .291 wOBA against lefties this year. Neither feels super strong as a "guy who hits lefties". 

[Bertz]

There was an article last year where they talked about the team wanting to call guys up and just let them hang out and get comfortable even if they mostly ride the pine.

The dogshit performance of last year's bench kind of scuttled that but I think we're seeing some this year.  Triantos could be up for a reason but it could just be vibes.  

[Jason Ross]

Posted this in the Triantos thread as well, but per the Cubs transactions page:
- Triantos recalled to Chicago
- Alcantara optioned to Iowa
- Pomeranz assigned to Iowa