Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-17-18

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 3-2 Box Score

 

2B D. Bote 1/5, R, K

1B E. Navarro 1/4, RBI, 2 K, E (2, fielding)

RF M. Zagunis 2/3, 2B (2), RBI, BB, K

C T. Davis 0/2, 2 BB

DH J. Hannemann 1/4, K, SB (2)

3B R. Court 0/3, BB, 2 K

SP A. Mills 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 4-4 GO-FO, 93-55 pitches-strikes

RP M. Roth 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 3-0 GO-FO, 61-37 pitches-strikes

 

Tennessee won 6-1 (10 innings) Box Score

 

SS Z. Short 0/4, R, BB, 2 K

LF C. Burks 1/5, R, K

3B J. Vosler 0/4, RBI, 2 K, HBP

C I. Rice 0/4, R, K

DH J. Hodges 0/4, K

SP D. Robinson 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 8-3 GO-FO, 82-54 pitches-strikes

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

 

Myrtle Beach lost 6-2 Box Score

 

CF DJ Wilson 0/3, BB, CS (2)

C PJ Higgins 1/3, 2B (2), BB, K; defense: 0/2 CS

3B W. Galindo 1/4, R, 2B (3), 3 K

LF K. Mitchell 1/2, R, 2B (1), RBI, BB

DH A. Upshaw 0/2, BB, K

SS A. Ademan 0/3, SB (1)

SP K. Thompson 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 3-4 GO-FO, 56-39 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend lost 3-2 Box Score

 

CF C. Singleton 0/5, 3 K

2B J. Bethencourt 1/4, K

1B J. Young 2/4, 2 R, 2B (3), HR (2), RBI

3B A. Filiere 1/3, RBI, BB, 2 E (4, fielding, throw)

C M. Amaya 1/3, BB; defense: 0/2 CS

RF B. Hughes 0/3, BB, K, CS (2)

SS Y. Peguero 2/3, 2B (1), BB, K

SP C. Abbott 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4-5 GO-FO, 58-42 pitches-strikes

RP B. Little 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2-2 GO-FO, 40-21 pitches-strikes

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]CHILDERSb3: Luis Vazquez is an above-average defender at SS right now and an emerging hitter with developing power. He will almost certainly be the starting SS at Eugene when the NWL begins play in June, and he could very well finish the 2018 season at South Bend (as happened with Aramis Ademan last year).

 

Along with OF Nelson Velazquez (who has been on the DL since the last week of Minor League Camp), 3B Christopher Morel, LHSP Brailyn Marquez, and RHSP Jeremiah Estrada, Vazquez is one of the Top 5 Cubs prospects presently at EXST. He is a legit prospect.

[CubsWin]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]CHILDERSb3: Luis Vazquez is an above-average defender at SS right now and an emerging hitter with developing power. He will almost certainly be the starting SS at Eugene when the NWL begins play in June, and he could very well finish the 2018 season at South Bend (as happened with Aramis Ademan last year).

 

Along with OF Nelson Velazquez (who has been on the DL since the last week of Minor League Camp), 3B Christopher Morel, LHSP Brailyn Marquez, and RHSP Jeremiah Estrada, Vazquez is one of the Top 5 Cubs prospects presently at EXST. He is a legit prospect.

Yep!

 

Also from AZ Phil:

Not counting pitchers who are rehabbing at Extended Spring Training, Marquez and Estrada are clearly the Cubs top two pitching prospects at EXST, and the duo will likely be at the top of the Eugene starting rotation when the NWL begins play in June.

It'll be interesting to see if Morel starts the season in Eugene as well. Jonathan Sierra and Jose Gutierrez should fill out the OF along with Velasquez. An infield of Morel at 3B, Vasquez at SS, Zinn at 2B and Hildago at 1B wouldn't be boring. Personally, having Luis Diaz at 2B instead of Zinn would spice it up a lot more. Fernando Kelli could surprise in CF over Gutierrez. He's been hitting consistently in ExST as well as stealing bases at a solid clip (almost every game).

 

If we go off of innings pitched at Mesa last year, the rotation will likely include Marquez, Estrada, Carrera, Ridings and Colorado. (Jesus Camargo is currently at ExST, but I expect he'll be in South Bend before the short season year begins.) There is reason to believe, however, that 2017 mid-season DSL call ups Emilio Ferrebus (20) and Danis Correa (18) could displace Ridings and Colorado. If they do, that would give Eugene it's youngest rotation since becoming a Cubs affiliate with an average age of 19. The Cubs usually don't do that. There's almost always a college arm or two in their rotation, but Jaron Madison did just say this (per the Athletic):

 

“We have a lot of young players in the system now,” Cubs farm director Jaron Madison told The Athletic. “All of our affiliates will be on the younger side, which is something that we take pride in. We don’t go out and sign a bunch of six-year free agents just to try to win games at the minor-league level.

We'll see how young they'll go in Eugene. I'd say the chances are against it given that there will be two AZL teams this year, but if these prospects are as talented as some reports are making out, the Cubs haven't been afraid to let the cream rise and challenge some of their younger prospects by having them skip a level.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Brendon Little got kicked out of the SB rotation, came in to relieve Abbott, and walked two guys before recording an out.

 

I’m not sure he got kicked out of the rotation seeing as this is their first game in 4 days. They had to skip Uelmen turn too.

[Hrubes20]

Brendon Little got kicked out of the SB rotation, came in to relieve Abbott, and walked two guys before recording an out.

 

Decided to walk another, just for good measure. At least Abbott was solid.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/04172018/cubs-spin-two-hitter-over-rocks-riverview

 

LHPs Didier Vargas and Riger Fernandez and RHP Yovanny Cruz made their U. S. debut in today's game, working one inning a piece. All three pitched in the DSL last year.

 

...

 

CUBS LINEUP:

1. Luis Verdugo, DH-SS: 2-4 (1B, K, F-9, 1B, R)

3. Christopher Morel, 3B-DH: 0-3 (E-5, 4-3, K, BB, R, SB, PO)

 

CUBS PITCHERS:

3. Jesus Camargo: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/3 GO/AO, 22 pitches (16 strikes)

6. Didier Vargas: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (11 strikes)

7. Riger Fernandez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 9 pitches (6 strikes)

8. Yovanny Cruz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes)

[CubsWin]

Brendon Little got kicked out of the SB rotation, came in to relieve Abbott, and walked two guys before recording an out.

I knew he was destined for the pen! It's early yet, but I nominate this for post of the year.