Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 7-3-18

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 7-5 Box Score

 

LF M. Zagunis 2/3, R, BB

SS C. Young 1/4, R, 2B (7)

1B B. Rademacher 3/4, 2 R, RBI

3B J. Vosler 2/3, R, RBI, K, HBP

C T. Davis 0/3, 2 K

RF J. Hannemann 0/4, 2 K

SP E. Butler 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO, 51-31 pitches-strikes - rehab

RP T. Clifton 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 2 HR, 8-5 GO-FO, 92-64 pitches-strikes

 

Tennessee won 5-3 Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 1/4, R

3B V. Machin 0/3, R, BB, 3 K

SS Z. Short 3/4, 2 R

DH I. Rice 1/4, R

RF E. Martínez 0/4

C W. Remillard 1/3, BB, K

SP T. Hatch 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 3-5 GO-FO, 92-60 pitches-strikes

 

Myrtle Beach won 3-0 Box Score

 

CF DJ Wilson 1/4, RBI

SS A. Ademan 1/4, SB (4)

DH PJ Higgins 1/2, 2 BB

C J. Pereda 0/4, R

3B W. Galindo 1/4, K, 2 E (19, throw, fielding)

2B A. Monasterio 1/2, R, 3B (2), HBP

LF K. Mitchell 0/2, 2 RBI

1B A. Upshaw 0/2, R, RBI

SP A. Lange 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 11-4 GO-FO, 79-49 pitches-strikes

RP J. Paulino 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 4-0 GO-FO, 54-36 pitches-strikes

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

 

South Bend won 6-3 Box Score

 

CF Z. Davis 2/5, 2 R, RBI, SB (20), CS (4)

SS R. Narea 0/4

1B J. Young 2/3, 2B (13), 2 RBI

C M. Amaya 0/4; defense: 2/3 CS

DH M. Cruz 2/4, 2 R, 2B (17), K

3B A. Filiere 0/3

RF B. Hughes 1/2, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB (20)

2B C. Donahue 2/3, R, 2B (11), RBI, BB, E (5, throw)

SP T. Thomas 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 3-1 GO-FO, 79-54 pitches-strikes

RP M. Rodriguez 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Eugene lost 1-0 Box Score

 

CF F. Kelli 1/3, HBP

LF KM Kwon 0/4, K

RF N. Velázquez 1/2, 2 BB

DH J. Sierra 0/4, 2 K

3B L. Díaz 1/4, 2 K, CS (2)

SS C. Morel 2/4

1B T. Durma 1/4

2B L. Vázquez 2/3, CS (2)

SP R. Williams 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 9-3 GO-FO, 75-54 pitches-strikes

 

AZL Cubs 1 won 7-0 Box Score

 

2B J. Huma 0/2

CF Y. Cuevas 2/4, RBI, K

3B L. Reynolds 3/5, R, RBI

RF J. Gutierrez 2/4, 2 R, 2B (2), SB (1)

LF D. Hurd 2/4, 2B (1), RBI, 2 CS (2)

SP J. Steele 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2-2 GO-FO - first official appearance since 2016 Tommy John surgery

RP Y. Perez 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 3-3 GO-FO

RP M. Aguilar 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 2-2 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs 2 in progress Box Score

 

DSL Cubs 1 won 6-2 Box Score

 

DSL Cubs 2 lost 5-4 Box Score

[CubsWin]

Nice to see a good outing from Lange. 5.1 scoreless with just 1 hit and 1 walk thus far.

[Tim]

Justin Steele got the start for AZ1 today. First inning was clean with two k's.

[Tim]

Also rehabbing Eddie Butler got the start for Iowa. It...hasn't gone well so far.

 

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA

Eddie Butler 1.1 5 3 3 2 1 1 23.14

 

 

------- eta

 

He added one more walk to that line and is done. The runners he leaves on 1st and 2nd are his with Clifton coming in.

[CubsWin]

Nice to see a good outing from Lange. 5.1 scoreless with just 1 hit and 1 walk thus far.

Finishes with 6 scoreless, 2 hits, 1 walk, 4 Ks.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Justin Steele got the start for AZ1 today. First inning was clean with two k's.

 

Hah, I was just thinking yesterday that he should be popping up in AZL box scores soon based on Arizona Phil's reports of him on the backfields last month.

 

That's great to see. Hoping he can have a few more outings and then get some work in Eugene by next month.

[Tim]

I'd like to see Davis get back on the field and Roederererer to start playing. Oh, and Nico's finger to be okay.

[CubsWin]

I know Tyler Thomas' scouting reports haven't wowed to date, but he's been putting up the numbers lately.

 

In his last 5 starts: 26.1 IP, 15 H, 3 BB, 35 K, 2.05 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, .163 BAA.

 

He's still a prove-it-at-every-level type prospect, but consider Low-A checked off the list.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs 12th rounder Cam Sanders made his pro debut with AZL Cubs 2. Gave up 3 unearned runs.

[KingCubsFan]

So what does a midseason Cubs top 10 look like? Some mix of (by level):

 

Alzolay

Bote

Maples

Mekkes

de la Cruz

Short

Lange

Ademan

Amaya

Hoerner

Velazquez

Marquez

 

Trades, please!

Gotta think Amaya and Hoerner are at the top of any list.

[ScrubMD]

Gotta think Amaya and Hoerner are at the top of any list.

 

I anticipate Hoerner leaping to top 3 by the end of the season, but for now I’d put Amaya, Ademan, Lange, and maybe Alzolay ahead of him. And as far as anticipating end of season, I think Márquez leap frogs even farther than Hoerner if he keeps doing what he’s doing.

 

It’s also getting more difficult to keep Robinson out of the top 5.

[Regular Show]

Gotta think Amaya and Hoerner are at the top of any list.

 

I anticipate Hoerner leaping to top 3 by the end of the season, but for now I’d put Amaya, Ademan, Lange, and maybe Alzolay ahead of him. And as far as anticipating end of season, I think Márquez leap frogs even farther than Hoerner if he keeps doing what he’s doing.

 

It’s also getting more difficult to keep Robinson out of the top 5.

 

Duncan Robinson will not be in our top 5 lol. I like him, but I haven't read anything about his command and/or stuff ticking up.

 

Anyway, Amaya is the clear #1 prospect in the system for me. Hoerner and Ademan are 2 and 3, but I'm not sure what order. Lange is up there. Gallardo I think is already a top 10 prospect. Marquez and Abbott are both top 10 prospects for me. Mekkes is a top 20 prospect (maybe 15). Roederer and Davis are both top 15 prospects in the system. I like Vosler and would rate him as a top 20 prospect.

 

I'm assuming Bote is no longer considered a prospect anymore. He would rank pretty high in our system.

 

Biggest fallers are Little, Alzolay (falls a little bit due to injuries), Albertos, Oscar De La Cruz and DJ Wilson.

Edited July 4, 2018 by Regular Show

[CaliforniaRaisin]

My top 10 would be Miguel Amaya, Adbert Alzolay, Aramis Ademan, Nico Hoerner, Alex Lange, David Bote, Brailyn Márquez, Oscar de la Cruz and then some combination of Brennen Davis, Cole Roederer and/or Jhonny Pereda.

 

There’s still time to flesh the back end out. Bote will likely graduate this year, there’ll be trades and the NWL and AZL have only just gotten started (Márquez has only had 3 starts so far, maybe a guy like Morel or Kelli breaks out).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Gotta think Amaya and Hoerner are at the top of any list.

 

I anticipate Hoerner leaping to top 3 by the end of the season, but for now I’d put Amaya, Ademan, Lange, and maybe Alzolay ahead of him. And as far as anticipating end of season, I think Márquez leap frogs even farther than Hoerner if he keeps doing what he’s doing.

 

It’s also getting more difficult to keep Robinson out of the top 5.

 

Duncan Robinson will not be in our top 5 lol. I like him, but I haven't read anything about his command and/or stuff ticking up.

 

Anyway, Amaya is the clear #1 prospect in the system for me. Hoerner and Ademan are 2 and 3, but I'm not sure what order. Lange is up there. Machado I think is already a top 10 prospect. Marquez and Abbott are both top 10 prospects for me. Mekkes is a top 20 prospect (maybe 15). Roederer and Davis are both top 15 prospects in the system. I like Vosler and would rate him as a top 20 prospect.

 

I'm assuming Bote is no longer considered a prospect anymore. He would rank pretty high in our system.

 

Biggest fallers are Little, Alzolay (falls a little bit due to injuries), Albertos, Oscar De La Cruz and DJ Wilson.

 

Gallardo, not Machado, right?

 

I think there’s a reasonable argument for Gallardo at least in the top 15, possibly in the top 10, even when you consider how far away he is and how risky teenage pitchers are.

[Regular Show]

 

I anticipate Hoerner leaping to top 3 by the end of the season, but for now I’d put Amaya, Ademan, Lange, and maybe Alzolay ahead of him. And as far as anticipating end of season, I think Márquez leap frogs even farther than Hoerner if he keeps doing what he’s doing.

 

It’s also getting more difficult to keep Robinson out of the top 5.

 

Duncan Robinson will not be in our top 5 lol. I like him, but I haven't read anything about his command and/or stuff ticking up.

 

Anyway, Amaya is the clear #1 prospect in the system for me. Hoerner and Ademan are 2 and 3, but I'm not sure what order. Lange is up there. Machado I think is already a top 10 prospect. Marquez and Abbott are both top 10 prospects for me. Mekkes is a top 20 prospect (maybe 15). Roederer and Davis are both top 15 prospects in the system. I like Vosler and would rate him as a top 20 prospect.

 

I'm assuming Bote is no longer considered a prospect anymore. He would rank pretty high in our system.

 

Biggest fallers are Little, Alzolay (falls a little bit due to injuries), Albertos, Oscar De La Cruz and DJ Wilson.

 

Gallardo, not Machado, right?

 

I think there’s a reasonable argument for Gallardo at least in the top 15, possibly in the top 10, even when you consider how far away he is and how risky teenage pitchers are.

 

Yeah, I meant Gallardo and not Machado. Richard Gallardo is the RHP. I need to get familiar with the new guys in our system.

[davell]

I go Amaya, Alzolay, Lange, Hoerner, Ademan, Bote, Marquez, Abbott, Pereda, Robinson......

 

11-20 goes ODLC, Little, Mekkes, Swarmer, Gallardo, Davis, Roederer, Kelli, Morel, and Zagunis.....

 

And holy horsefeathers, we need some guys to turn it on, because this is laughably weak.

[ScrubMD]

Gotta think Amaya and Hoerner are at the top of any list.

 

I anticipate Hoerner leaping to top 3 by the end of the season, but for now I’d put Amaya, Ademan, Lange, and maybe Alzolay ahead of him. And as far as anticipating end of season, I think Márquez leap frogs even farther than Hoerner if he keeps doing what he’s doing.

 

It’s also getting more difficult to keep Robinson out of the top 5.

 

Duncan Robinson will not be in our top 5 lol.

 

He won’t be ranked high by any publications, but outside of Lange, he’s who I’d bet on to be a valuable major leaguer. 6.92 k/bb in AA and very good results for 2 seasons is good. He seems to be who I thought Rucker was.

 

Right now, after Amaya, Ademan, Lange, Hoerner (I think I’ve already talked myself out of Alzolay) it’s hard for me to find enough ceiling to outweigh probability - until you get down to short season and lower. He’s the Bote of pitchers.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wouldn't sneak Robinson into the top five or probably even the top ten, but probably can Zack Short. He's playing SS showing power and patience in AA to go with some speed and defense. He also stands out for his GO/AO rates in the minors, one of those guys who puts the ball in the air often. I think he's got some breakout potential next year and is a relatively safe bet in this system to wander into the majors at some point.

 

I might go something like:

 

Alzolay - Still give him the top spot just because there's no immediate threat to beat him to the majors even with a non-surgery injury unless you really like weird reliever prospects

Ademan

Amaya - He's still an A ball catcher so I give the edge to the SS in Ademan in rankings, but it's one of those I'd more readily trade Ademan than Amaya situations.

Hoerner

Short

Lange

Gallardo - Seems like the highest ranked amateur pitcher the Cubs have signed so far?

 

After that it all gets very loud...I'd probably go Velazquez and Tyler Thomas just because they seem fine at this point. It would have been nice if Brennan Davis avoided injury to see what he might do.

 

I like Short but don’t think he’s anywhere near a top 5 prospect. His K% has gone up 10% this season without an increase in BB% and only a .020 increase in SLG. He was way more interesting when he’d walk as much as he struck out with similar SLG numbers.

 

Tyler Thomas is a college lefty who works in the upper 80s and is doing well in the MWL. That’s not a top 10 prospect even in this system.

[Cubswin11]

I like Short but don’t think he’s anywhere near a top 5 prospect. His K% has gone up 10% this season without an increase in BB% and only a .020 increase in SLG. He was way more interesting when he’d walk as much as he struck out with similar SLG numbers.

 

I disagree on Short. He would be benefiting from being in a weak system where the most exciting full season performance from a bat is an 18 YO A ball catcher and a AAA 2B/LF, but there's merit since the overall package is a guy who plays SS and has successfully transferred his game to AA. He did see a jump in Ks but otherwise is basically performing the same as last year with more line drives. Plus I'm not sure AA K rate for hitters is as predictive as the pre-AA, or that he finishes the year with a 28% K rate, but even with one there's still defense, patience, power, and some speed to work with all demonstrated at AA. He's shaping up to be a more skilled utility prospect than Bote and should be in the top ten at least.

I feel like one of the main things to look for in stat sheet scouting on prospects is not seeing the K rates jump crazy as the level gets harder

[Donzo]

I was gonna post a top 20 here, but I'll start a separate stand alone thread.

 

I don't see those type of lists threads here anymore, so if it's inappropriate, let me know.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I was gonna post a top 20 here, but I'll start a separate stand alone thread.

 

I don't see those type of lists threads here anymore, so if it's inappropriate, let me know.

 

Yeah, start another thread! We had a small discussion the other day but it would be nice to have a full thread.