Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 7-30-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 5-4 Box Score

 

RF J. Andreoli 1/4, R, HBP, SB (17)

2B T. La Stella 1/4, R, BB, 2 K

3B-1B C. Young 0/3, R, BB, K

CF J. Hannemann 1/3, K

SP R. Zastryzny 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 6-1 GO-FO, 60-44 pitches-strikes

RP J. Leathersich 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-1 GO-FO

RP D. Maples 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 4-2 Box Score

 

2B D. Bote 2/4, 2 R, BB, K

3B J. Vosler 1/4

1B I. Rice 1/2, R, 2 BB

LF C. Burks 2/4, R, RBI, 2 K

SS A. Ely 1/3, RBI, BB

SP D. Underwood Jr 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 7-6 GO-FO, 100-63 pitches-strikes

RP D. Torrez 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO

RP D. Garner 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

 

Myrtle Beach lost game one 4-2 (7 innings) Box Score

 

SS Z. Short 0/5

C PJ Higgins 1/3, R, BB, PB (12)

2B T. Giambrone 2/3, BB, K

3B J. Hodges 1/3, R, RBI, BB, K

DH V. Machin 1/4, RBI, K

LF E. Martinez 1/4, E (2, throw)

1B T. Alamo 0/1, 2 BB, K

SP T. Hatch 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 7-4 GO-FO, 87-57 pitches-strikes, E (3, throw)

 

Myrtle Beach lost game two 3-2 (7 innings) Box Score

 

SS Z. Short 1/3, R, K

2B V. Machin 2/3, 2B (3), CS (1)

DH T. Giambrone 0/2, RBI

3B J. Hodges 0/1, K

LF E. Martinez 0/3, R, K

1B T. Alamo 2/3

SP R. Kellogg 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 6-4 GO-FO, 66-38 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend lost 4-3 Box Score

 

3B A. Monasterio 1/4, R, 2 K

DH A. Mineo 0/4, K

2B A. Upshaw 1/4, R

SS I. Paredes 2/4, K, CS (1) - is there a Detroit Tigers message board I should be posting this on?

CF DJ Wilson 1/3, 2B (10), BB, K

C J. Pereda 2/3, BB

1B J. Martarano 0/4

LF L. Ayala 1/2, 2B (17), SB (18), E (9, fielding), outfield assist at second

SP T. Miller 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 WP, 5-3 GO-FO, 85-58 pitches-strikes

RP C. Hockin 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBO, 1-2 GO-FO

 

Eugene won 9-1 Box Score

 

2B J. Bethencourt 1/5, 2 R, 2B (10), RBI, K

SS A. Ademan 2/5, R, 2B (9), 2 RBI

RF B. Hughes 0/3, R, 2 BB, 2 K

3B A. Filiere 2/4, R, K, E (6, throw)

1B G. Polanco 0/4, K

C M. Cruz 2/4, R, 2B (2), HR (5), 4 RBI

DH M. Amaya 0/4, K

LF C. Carrier 1/2, R, 2B (2), BB, K, HBP, E (1, fielding)

SP B. Clark 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 3-4 GO-FO, 72-42 pitches-strikes

RP A. Rondon 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-2 GO-FO

RP B. Glowicki 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

 

AZL Cubs won 4-3 (11 innings) Box Score

 

CF C. Singleton 2/6, 2 K

LF J. Gutierrez 0/4, 2 K

RF J. Sierra 2/5, RBI

1B R. Romano 1/4, K

2B Y. Perlaza 2/4, 2B (3)

DH K-M Kwon 1/3, 2 K

PH-DH N. Velásquez 0/1, R, K

C K. Zamudio 2/3, RBI, BB, K

SS L. Vázquez 4/5, R, 2B (1), RBI

SP A. Colorado 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 3-3 GO-FO

[CubsWin]

Here's an interesting name to watch. South Bend right-handed reliever Jhon Romero (a squatty but strong 5'11", 195 lbs.) has had a unique progression to his pro career thus far. After starting his pro career late (signing as a 19-year-old), he pitched just 10.1 innings over two seasons in the DSL, and he didn't pitch particularly well giving up 11 hits and 5 earned runs. I don't know if injury led to his lack of usage or what, but after a forgettable first two seasons he was brought stateside for the start of the 2017 season.

 

It's not surprising for a 22-year-old to get promoted from the DSL even after not performing all that well, but what he's done since his promotion is unique. As expected, he started in Mesa pitching just one hitless inning before being promoted to Eugene. For the Emeralds, he held batters to a .151 AVG allowing 8 hits and 3 ER (0 HR) in 15 innings striking out 19 and walking 5 while inducing ground ball outs at a clip of a 2.25 GO/AO. He was brought up to South Bend on July 19th and has allowed just 2 hits, no walks and 9 Ks in 6.1 scoreless innings.

 

So far this season:

 

22.1 IP, 10 H, 6 BB, 28 K, 1.21 ERA, .132 BAA, 0.72 WHIP, 1.53 GO/AO

 

In his last appearance, Romero threw his FB at 93 and showed an impressively sharp curveball. He doesn't appear to be have the stuff of a sure-fire major league relief prospect, but he's got a chance. And to have come out of nowhere like he has this season makes him all the more fun to follow.

[CubsWin]

Another prospect oddity. 2017 12th rounder RHP Ben Hecht out of Wichita State has faced 17 batters while in a Eugene uniform. He's given up 2 hits and walked 2. The other 13 he's gotten out. All by strike out.

[CubsWin]

Maples comes in with a 5-4 lead and pitches a perfect bottom of the 9th for the save. 96-97 on the FB. Sliders ranging between 85-88 with one at 83. Didn't see him throw one curve which is his best pitch. Hadn't previously seen him throw that many sliders. Might be working on it in AAA.

[CubsWin]

ICYMI in another thread, here's a nice article on Maples.

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2017/07/28/how-phone-call-his-father-turned-around-career-chicago-cubs-prospect-dillon-maples/513351001/

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Maples comes in with a 5-4 lead and pitches a perfect bottom of the 9th for the save. 96-97 on the FB. Sliders ranging between 85-88 with one at 83. Didn't see him throw one curve which is his best pitch. Hadn't previously seen him throw that many sliders. Might be working on it in AAA.

 

Is it a slider or a cutter? (Referencing the article that was posted earlier today.)

[CubsWin]

Maples comes in with a 5-4 lead and pitches a perfect bottom of the 9th for the save. 96-97 on the FB. Sliders ranging between 85-88 with one at 83. Didn't see him throw one curve which is his best pitch. Hadn't previously seen him throw that many sliders. Might be working on it in AAA.

 

Is it a slider or a cutter? (Referencing the article that was posted earlier today.)

The two pitches are pretty close, I guess. He can call it whatever he wants, but the pitches he threw last night broke more than a typical cutter like a slider would. The difference between his FB and the pitch in question was about 10-12 mph. Call it what you will, all I know is he was getting a lot of swings and misses with it. Maybe the pitch he threw that was 88 was the cutter and the rest were sliders. In that case, he only threw one of them.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Carasiti hasn't been talked about much and I know he's pretty old but his stuff is nasty and I think he'll compare favorably to Strop. Gets a lot of grounders, that slider is filthy. He has at least 1 K in his last 24 minor league appearances with a 14 K9 in that span and a 2 FIP.

 

Him and Maples figure to be pen fixtures for the next several years.

[Donzo]

Zastryzny was cruising, then the wheels fell off in the 4th.

 

Underwood with a good July. If he can finish the year strong, he'd still be relevant and penciled in as a top starter in AAA in 2018.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Carasiti will be a nice option to have for the Iowa shuttle next year, in fact he should have at least 2018 and 2019 as option years. With Grimm being more of a longshot for 2018 since he's not going to break into the back end of the pen and will be out of options, going to need someone(s) who you aren't counting on for big things but is good enough to earn MLB time. Maples would be in the same boat if he can actually throw the ball in the right direction a little more consistently.