Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-29-18

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 5-3 Box Score

 

1B-3B T. Davis 1/4, RBI, K

RF M. Zagunis 1/4, 2 K

C C. Gimenez 1/4, K; defense: 2/3 CS

3B C. Young 2/3, K

SP A. Mills 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 7-2 GO-FO, 91-55 pitches-strikes

RP R. Rosario 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-2 GO-FO

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

 

Tennessee won game one 3-2 (7 innings) Box Score

 

LF Je. Báez 1/3, 2B (6), RBI, K

2B T. Giambrone 1/3, R, HR (1), RBI, BB

RF E. Martinez 0/3

SP T. Hatch 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 5-2 GO-FO, 75-50 pitches-strikes

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

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

 

Tennessee won game two 3-2 (7 innings) Box Score

 

RF Je. Báez 3/3, 2B (7), RBI

2B T. Giambrone 0/3, K

3B J. Vosler 0/3, K

DH E. Martinez 1/3, R, 2B (3), K

C I. Rice 0/2, R, BB, K

LF C. Burks 1/3, R, RBI, 2 K

SP O. de la Cruz 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 10-4 GO-FO, 92-67 pitches-strikes - complete game

 

Myrtle Beach won 5-3 Box Score

 

1B A. Upshaw 2/5, R, K

C J. Pereda 2/4, R, 3B (1), RBI, K

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

LF K. Mitchell 0/3, K

SS A. Ademan 0/4, K

SP M. Swarmer 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 0-4 GO-FO, 87-58 pitches-strikes

RP B. Clark 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 4-1 GO-FO, 46-27 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend lost 9-4 Box Score

 

RF B. Hughes 2/4, 2 RBI, K

SS R. Narea 0/4, RBI, K

3B A. Filiere 1/3, BB, K

1B M. Amaya 2/4, R, 2B (7)

CF C. Singleton 1/3, RBI, BB, K, SB (1)

2B Y. Peguero 0/3, 2 K

SP J. Albertos 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 0-2 GO-FO, 57-22 pitches-strikes

RP J. Camargo 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 HBP, 1 WP, 1-3 GO-FO, 46-26 pitches-strikes

RP M. Rodriguez 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP

[toonsterwu]

For no great reason, I'm actually intrigued with Swarmer. Admittedly, on the old side of things, for A+, so it's sort of make or break, but he was in the pen last year, and the Cubs moved him into the rotation, and he has a starter's arsenal (2/4, slider, change) and throws strikes. He's added weight since college, so a couple years back, he didn't look like much, but it's low 90's and topping out, what 93 on the 4 seamer? There was that article a few months back where he thought he could add close to another 20 pounds on his frame, and if so, that could portend a bit more velocity.

 

Has to move fast, as at some point, the age is going to be a sore point, but if he gets to AA as a starter this year, there might be a smidgen of something there. Ceiling probably isn't more than a 4/5 type starter, if I'm being honest, and it's probably more middle reliever, but just the fact that they think they can add another 20 pounds, meaning a 30-40 pound gain from his college days, plus his performance so far ... it's mildly intriguing.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bailey Clark promoted to Myrtle Beach.

[davell]

Dillon Maples last 4 outings.....

 

4IP 3H 0R 0ER 0BB 10K

 

I think that's decent.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bailey Clark promoted to Myrtle Beach.

 

Figured that was coming with Camargo getting promoted to South Bend.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Albertos’ lack of control this season has been such a disappointment.

[davell]

Albertos’ lack of control this season has been such a disappointment.

 

Another start or two, with no improvement, I think it's then time to send him back to EXST.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bailey Clark promoted to Myrtle Beach.

 

I really would like to see him get a shot at starting.

 

[Hrubes20]

Albertos’ lack of control this season has been such a disappointment.

 

Another start or two, with no improvement, I think it's then time to send him back to EXST.

 

For sure. He's close to entering "Duane Underwood" territory for me as a prospect watcher, in that he's going to have to string together 3-4 terrific starts in a row for me to even get a little excited.

 

Amaya, on the other hand, is killing it. Awesome to see.

[Hrubes20]

Bailey Clark promoted to Myrtle Beach.

 

I really would like to see him get a shot at starting.

 

 

I missed that he was promoted. That's a great debut.

[CubsWin]

Amaya, on the other hand, is killing it. Awesome to see.

I know, good lord.

 

He's hitting .292/.370/.538 with 7 doubles and 3 HR with above average walk and K rates (8 walks against 13 Ks in just over 70 PAs). For a guy who is a talented defensive catcher, just turned 19 a month an a half ago, this is an impressive start to full season ball.

[CubsWin]

Despite putting up dominant performances as a reliever at Michigan State, Dakota Mekkes was a prove-it-at-every-level guy for me because of the lack of mid-90s velocity on his fastball. Reports said his FB played up because of deception in his delivery and his stride and 6'7" frame causing him to release the ball a little closer to the plate. Still, I was (and am) wait and see. But that might be changing. He still needs to improve his walk rate, but these are his career numbers thus far:

 

60 G, 102.2 IP, 53 hits, 2 HR, 44 BB, 132 K, .151 AVG, 0.94 WHIP, with a 1.05 ERA.

 

Now most of that was against A ball hitters which can be argued is a similar talent level to college, but he's doing the same thing in AA in the early going this year. Continued dominance in the Southern League this season will go along way towards him being considered a viable major league MIR prospect.

 

This has been your #MekkesWatch report for April 2018.

[Donzo]

De la Cruz, Albertos, and Hatch all with outings that made me glad they drafted Lange.

 

What?

[toonsterwu]

Mekkes is a big dude. Watching that delivery has always been ... weird. He's consistent, and has such a huge step, and the ball sort of seems like it doesn't pop at the right angle, as the landing and delivery ...

 

He's a good relief profile. I think, best case, he ends up something like Luke Gregorson, who ended up popping as a solid closer, but Gregorson was probably a bit overlooked for awhile.

 

I'm happy for Bailey Clark, but admittedly, a bit disappointed. This says to me it's a fast-track pen thought, and while that might be his future, I would've liked to see him get some starts. I guess after last season's command issues, and his college track record, plus the delivery, the Cubs might've made up their mind on his path. I guess it's still possible for them to pivot, but okay.

 

Solid start for Swarmer. Considering what he was, and what he is now, it's one of the nice developmental stories in the system, for me. If he can get to AA this year, the age becomes less of a sore point (age 24 in AA isn't that bad).

 

It's still too early, but I wonder what internal measuring sticks the Cubs are using to judge Ademan.