Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-25-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 10-6 Box Score

 

DH T. La Stella 2/5, R, K

SS C. Young 1/5, R, RBI, 2 E (5, throw, throw)

CF I. Happ 1/4, R, 2B (3), BB, K

3B J. Candelario 2/4, R, K

C V. Caratini 1/3, 2B (5), 3 RBI

LF M. Zagunis 1/3, R, HR (4), 2 RBI, BB, E (1, fielding)

RF B. Rademacher 1/4, R, 2B (3)

SP W. Perez 5 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 6-3 GO-FO, 90-54 pitches-strikes

RP P. Johnson 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 3-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won game one of their doubleheader 2-0 (7 innings) Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 0/2, BB, CS (2)

CF J. Hannemann 1/3

2B D. Bote 0/3, K

RF Je. Baez 1/2, BB

DH A. Ely 1/2, 2 RBI, BB

SP Z. Hedges 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 14-3 GO-FO, 94-55 pitches-strikes - complete game

 

Tennessee won game two of their doubleheader 1-0 (7 innings) Box Score

 

CF C. Burks 0/2, R, BB, 2 K, SB (5)

RF Je. Baez 0/2, 2 K

2B D. Bote 1/4, RBI, K

3B A. Ely 0/2, K

SP J. Pugliese 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 4-2 GO-FO, 45-23 pitches-strikes

RP D. Berg 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-0 GO-FO

RP D. Torrez 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach won 7-6 Box Score

 

2B B. Flete 2/5, RBI, CS (1)

RF E. Martinez 1/4, 3 K

DH T. Alamo 2/3, 2 R, HR (2), 2 RBI, HBP

SP 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 4-4 GO-FO, 89-55 pitches-strikes

RP J. Norwood 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 0-2 GO-FO

RP P. Araujo 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-0 GO-FO

 

South Bend won 11-6 Box Score

 

2B Z. Short 3/5, 2 R, 2B (3), 2 HR (4), 6 RBI, BB, K

DH Y. Peguero 2/6, R, 3B (1), RBI, 3 K

3B W. Galindo 0/4, R, BB, K

C J. Pereda 4/5, 2 R, 2B (2), RBI, PB (1)

SS I. Paredes 1/5, R, 2B (6), 3 K

CF DJ Wilson 0/4, R, BB, 2 K

SP M. Rondon 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 4-3 GO-FO, 84-45 pitches-strikes

RP D. Mekkes 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO

RP C. Hockin 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2-0 GO-FO

[Tim]

It would be nice if Williams Perez looked like another viable backup option at Iowa.

 

It would be even nicer if De La Cruz had a break out start.

[davell]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Mekkes finally gave up a hit and a run: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB

[davell]

Mekkes finally gave up a hit and a run: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB

 

Well, horsefeathers that horsefeathers.

[Donzo]

Cruz struggled early, but finished strong in the 4th & 5th innings.

 

Happ with a 2B & a BB early in Iowa.

 

Tennessee with two shutouts; a 1 hitter & a 4 hitter... Pugliese started game two, his era is at 0.87- haven't thought about him in a couple years.

[Donzo]

Mekkes finally gave up a hit and a run: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB

 

I can't remember where I read, one of the Cub fan sites, but a guy was predicting Mekkes would be in the majors this year!- interesting...

[craig]

Projectable 18 yr old arms for AZ Cubs today:LHP Brailyn Marquez (6'4",185 ),90-92, SL, CH. Yunior Perez, 6'4",190 (92-94, flashed good CB)

 

That's great. I thought the report on Marquez last fall was that he was even slower than Hudson. I know there had been a report of a 92, but those tops listings are routinely way faster than a guy actually pitches at. If he can actually pitch at 90-92 at his present age, that's really cool.

 

Likewise for Perez. Very fun.

[craig]

Zagunis hit his 4th HR. I thought his scouting on this board has always been as a singles hitter. But seeing him on TV from camp, he's a burly, big, muscular-looking guy. If he can hit HR's to go with all his millions of walks, he'll have a big-league career, even if his defense stinks.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

What's the word on Zack Short? Anything there? I know nothing about him, but he walked a ton last year, and he's hitting for some pop this year, while playing some short, second, and third. He's a college kid, but doesn't turn 22 until next month.

[davell]

What's the word on Zack Short? Anything there? I know nothing about him, but he walked a ton last year, and he's hitting for some pop this year, while playing some short, second, and third. He's a college kid, but doesn't turn 22 until next month.

 

He had a poor junior season in college. Heading into his draft year, he was considered a potential 3rd-5th round pick.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

What's the word on Zack Short? Anything there? I know nothing about him, but he walked a ton last year, and he's hitting for some pop this year, while playing some short, second, and third. He's a college kid, but doesn't turn 22 until next month.

 

He had a poor junior season in college. Heading into his draft year, he was considered a potential 3rd-5th round pick.

 

Interesting. I'll have to keep him on my radar going forward. He seems to have a nice approach, which I love. Any idea how he looks on defense?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered against South Bend. I'm very excited to see him in a couple weeks when I am in South Bend.

[davell]

What's the word on Zack Short? Anything there? I know nothing about him, but he walked a ton last year, and he's hitting for some pop this year, while playing some short, second, and third. He's a college kid, but doesn't turn 22 until next month.

 

He had a poor junior season in college. Heading into his draft year, he was considered a potential 3rd-5th round pick.

 

Interesting. I'll have to keep him on my radar going forward. He seems to have a nice approach, which I love. Any idea how he looks on defense?

 

Very solid defensively. Should not have to move off SS.

[Donzo]

I can't remember where I read, one of the Cub fan sites, but a guy was predicting Mekkes would be in the majors this year!- interesting...

 

I knew I wasn't dreamin' it...

 

https://baseballdraftreport.com/tag/duncan-robinson/

 

 

"10.314 – RHP Dakota Mekkes

 

Dakota Mekkes (374) is the truth. Striking out 15.16 batters per nine as a redshirt-sophomore was only beginning for the 6-7, 250 pound righthander. His first 20 pro innings: 12.15 K/9 and 1.80 BB/9. How does he do? I have no idea! Or, more honestly, I can only make guesses on what I’ve seen, heard, and read. Mekkes’s stuff is what you’ll see out of literally dozens of mid-round college relievers (88-92 FB, 94 peak; average 82-84 SL), but the results point very strongly to their being more to the story. That’s where we start to see what separates Mekkes from the rest. Before we get to that, some earlier praise beginning with this from March 2016…

 

If you read this site and/or follow college ball closely, this might be the first pick to surprise in some way, shape, or form. Mekkes wasn’t a pitcher mentioned in many 2016 draft preview pieces before the start of the season, but the 6-7, 250 pound righty has opened plenty of eyes in getting off to a dominant (16.36 K/9) albeit wild (7.16 BB/9) start to 2016. His stuff backs it up (FB up to 94, interesting SL, deceptive delivery), so he’s more than just a large college man mowing down overmatched amateurs. He’s a top ten round possibility now.

 

Hey, he went in the tenth round! Neat. We got a little bit bolder by April 2016…

 

Any pre-draft list of “fastest moving” potential draftees that doesn’t include Dakota Mekkes is one I’ll look at with a suspicious eye. Mekkes may not be one of the biggest names in college relief, but he’s one of the best. I’ll go closer upside with him while acknowledging his most likely outcome could be a long career of very effective, very well-compensated middle relief. Either way, I think he’s as close to a lock to be a useful big league pitcher as any reliever in this class.

 

With Mekkes, it’s really about how how he maximizes his size and delivery to create all kinds of extension and deception. As he continues to figure out how to repeat that delivery, his command will only keep getting better. I think Mekkes can pitch in a big league bullpen in 2017 if that’s how the Cubs decide that’s what’s best for his development. I stand by that “as close to a lock to be a useful big league pitcher as any reliever in this class” comment."