Minor League Musings

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Adàn Sánchez 2022 DSL clips:

 

 

 

 

 

And this one before he was a Cub:

 

[Bertz]

 

This is really great timing with us finally having a strong prospect loaded Iowa team

[Bertz]

 

Hopefully Arias opens the year at MB

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CubinNY]

He's going to jump PCA in the rankings this year.

[Tryptamine]

He's going to jump PCA in the rankings this year.

 

In a system with a ton of depth and lots of solid to good but unspectacular prospects, Alcantara is the guy who has the ceiling to be a superstar. There are others with big ceilings, but no one with proximity to the majors and his ceiling.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The announcement is a little light on specifics, but it looks like MiLB.tv is getting folded into MLB.tv, so if you have MLB.tv you'll be able to watch minor league games through that app/subscription too: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-tv-has-new-feature-in-2023

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Cristian Hernandez, SS, Cubs

 

Hernandez was one of the Cubs’ most ballyhooed young prospects in recent years and showed flashes of his talent this past summer in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. His biggest issue right now is plate discipline, and he struck out a little more than 30% of the time in his stateside debut. Hernandez’s power is prodigious and easy and would be amplified a bit more with a more refined hit tool. He’s got a decent chance to stick at shortstop depending on the way his body develops, but his power and plus arm would easily allow him to stick at third base if such a move were necessary.

 

Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs

 

After a lengthy college season, Horton didn’t throw at all as a pro. That was true for both the regular season and instructional league. His overall body of work includes just one collegiate season—53.2 innings in 2022 with Oklahoma—but he shined in the postseason thanks to a pitch mix that includes a double-plus fastball and wipeout slider at the front of a four-pitch mix. Despite the small sample size, feedback from executives and evaluators during our Top 100 Prospects process placed him as a contender for a spot on the list.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[craig]

....

Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs

 

...53.2 innings in 2022 with Oklahoma—but he shined in the postseason thanks to a pitch mix that includes a [highlight=yellow]double-plus fastball[/highlight]and wipeout slider at the front of a four-pitch mix. Despite the small sample size, feedback from executives and evaluators during our Top 100 Prospects process placed him as a contender for a spot on the list.

 

I admit I've kinda wondered: in world where every RHP touches 98 and many rest 93-95, was Horton's fastball actually anything special? Velocity-wise, I got the sense that it was good but not extraordinary.

 

But "double-plus" sounds pretty significant. I assume his movement and spin are more outstanding than the velocity?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

....

Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs

 

...53.2 innings in 2022 with Oklahoma—but he shined in the postseason thanks to a pitch mix that includes a [highlight=yellow]double-plus fastball[/highlight]and wipeout slider at the front of a four-pitch mix. Despite the small sample size, feedback from executives and evaluators during our Top 100 Prospects process placed him as a contender for a spot on the list.

 

I admit I've kinda wondered: in world where every RHP touches 98 and many rest 93-95, was Horton's fastball actually anything special? Velocity-wise, I got the sense that it was good but not extraordinary.

 

But "double-plus" sounds pretty significant. I assume his movement and spin are more outstanding than the velocity?

 

Here’s the Prospects Live description of his FB from their draft write ups:

 

A true sophomore, Horton has a metrically appealing fastball and a high-spin power breaking ball that gave hitters fits at the end of the 2022 season.

[craig]

In addition to the "Metrically appealing" factor, and the velocity factor, I think the third factor is command. A lot of Ryan Jensens throw hard but don't command it well. Cubs obviously believe Horton has the potential to be a control artist with his fastball.

[Bertz]

[Backtobanks]

 

He certainly is muscular @ 5'11" and 195 lbs.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Bertz]

 

It'd be really cool if Cam started having a weapon against lefties

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Hrubes20]

 

Looks like they are still babying him. Probably a wise choice, given that injury.

[Bertz]

 

Do we think contacts/improved vision can help with throwing strikes or is this (pun intended) just eyewash?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Do we think contacts/improved vision can help with throwing strikes or is this (pun intended) just eyewash?

 

Probably nothing, but I guess it's possible that the sunlight sensitivity was negatively affecting some elements of his concentration/fine motor control. I wouldn't put much stock into him getting a control bump from being able to see the target in hi def though.

[Rex Buckingham]

 

Do we think contacts/improved vision can help with throwing strikes or is this (pun intended) just eyewash?

 

Probably nothing, but I guess it's possible that the sunlight sensitivity was negatively affecting some elements of his concentration/fine motor control. I wouldn't put much stock into him getting a control bump from being able to see the target in hi def though.

 

an old NSBB favorite seemed to think they benefited him as a hitter...

 

https://vault.si.com/vault/2005/06/06/taking-the-red-eye

[Bertz]

[Bertz]

 

 

Let's horsefeathering go!

[craig]

Love that! Pleasantly surprised this quickly.

[Rex Buckingham]

Even if it's just running, etc. that seems like a big surprise. If he can get into games this summer, that's good news

 

edit: Named After Maddux shared on Twitter that Canario messaged him and it's not legit.

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by abmillis