2019 Opening Day Minor League Rosters

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil has the first minor league camp rosters available: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03072019/2019-cubs-minor-league-camp-rosters

 

Generally speaking, most of these guys will actually end up starting the year one level lower as guys in big league camp get sent down (especially pitchers and catchers).

 

Despite that, it's always a pretty interesting list. Guys who surprised me with how high they are right now are: Luke Haggerty, Miguel Amaya and Aramis Ademan (Iowa) and Edmond Americaan, DJ Artis, Brennen Davis, Jimmy Herron, Fernando Kelli and Jonathan Sierra (Tennessee)

[Tim]

Trying to decide which I'm happier about between Hagerty and Davis. Davis is much more meaningful to the future, but Hagerty is an amazing story.

[Regular Show]

Arizona Phil has the first minor league camp rosters available: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03072019/2019-cubs-minor-league-camp-rosters

 

Generally speaking, most of these guys will actually end up starting the year one level lower as guys in big league camp get sent down (especially pitchers and catchers).

 

Despite that, it's always a pretty interesting list. Guys who surprised me with how high they are right now are: Luke Haggerty, Miguel Amaya and Aramis Ademan (Iowa) and Edmond Americaan, DJ Artis, Brennen Davis, Jimmy Herron, Fernando Kelli and Jonathan Sierra (Tennessee)

 

I don't think your "one level lower" idea is right on most of those players you listed. You're right about that concept, but most of these players will be assigned to lower levels IMO.

 

I don't think Brennen Davis is starting at High-A. That's a really aggressive assignment. I wasn't even sure if he's ready for Low-A. I think Ademan and Amaya definitely start at High-A. Maybe Hoerner too.

 

I have no clue where Hagerty will start the season in the minors. I was thinking High-A with a quick promotion if he's dominating and throwing strikes.

[CubsWin]

Yeah, when it's this early in spring training, this list (that AZ Phil puts out every year) is pretty much meaningless. It's more like working groups than it is a strong indication of where these guys will start or what the Cubs think of them.

 

The one level down thing only comes into play when major league camp gets down to a more manageable size where the guys that are left in camp are basically locks for AAA (or AA) with little risk of being cut entirely.

[Post Count Padder]

I'm really looking forward to following Davis, Roederer and Hoerner this year. Also really cool Hagerty is gonna get a shot in Iowa.

[minnesotacubsfan]

How has Hagerty been in Spring Training? Also, I see him listed to Low A. How are you guys hearing/seeing AAA?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yeah, when it's this early in spring training, this list (that AZ Phil puts out every year) is pretty much meaningless. It's more like working groups than it is a strong indication of where these guys will start or what the Cubs think of them.

 

The one level down thing only comes into play when major league camp gets down to a more manageable size where the guys that are left in camp are basically locks for AAA (or AA) with little risk of being cut entirely.

 

I tried to couch it with the “generally speaking” but, yeah, you guys are right.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Generally speaking, the guys who are throwing 2 innings this early are being groomed to start:

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]TWO INNINGS EACH:

Javier Assad

Derek Casey

Tom Hatch

Brendan Little

Brailyn Marquez

Eury Ramos

Riley Thompson

 

ONE INNING EACH:

Zach Hedges

Pablo Ochoa (April 2018 TJS rehab)

Tyler Peyton

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]TWO INNINGS EACH:

Cory Abbott

Faustino Carrera

Yovanny Cruz

Alex Lange

Riley McCauley

Erling Moreno

Michael Rucker

 

ONE INNING:

Bailey Clark

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.thecubreporter.com/03102019/cubs-pitchers-spin-intrasquad-shutout-riverview

 

James Norwood, Cory Abbott, Yovanny Cruz, and Scott Effross combined to toss a four-hit shutout, Kevin Zamudio drilled a two-run HR, a single, and a double, Nelson Velazquez singled, doubled, and walked, and Chris Carrier smacked a solo HR, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad game action Sunday morning on John Arguello Way at the Rivervierw Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

 

RHSP Matt Swarmer left the game with a finger blister after warming up in the top of the 2nd (he had a 1-2-3 eleven-pitch 1st inning with two strikeouts). He was scheduled to work three innings or throw 45 pitches (whichever came first), but (as it turned out) that didn't happen.

 

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:

1. James Norwood: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (8 strikes)

2. Cory Abbott: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 40 pitches (27 strikes)

3. Yovanny Cruz: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 4/3 GO/AO, 41 pitches (25 strikes)

4. Scott Effross: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 12 pitches (9 strikes)

 

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:

1. Matt Swarmer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (7 strikes)

2. Wyatt Short: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 7 pitches (5 strikes)

3. Ryan Kellogg: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (7 strikes)

4. Zach Hedges: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 17 pitches (13 strikes)

5. Brailyn Marquez: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1/2 GO/AO, 48 pitches (28 strikes)

6. Faustino Carrera: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 3/2 GO/AO, 44 pitches (28 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

On the Minor League side, Brailyn Marquez, the Cubs’ top-ranked pitching prospect, has impressed early. The left-hander reached full-season ball for the first time as a 19-year-old in 2018, making a pair of starts at South Bend after posting a 3.21 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 47 2/3 frames (10 starts) in the Class A Short Season Northwest League.

 

”He was sitting 95-96 mph the other day in his live batting practice,” said Madison. “He’s a big, tall, lanky kid who’s still growing into his frame and understanding how everything works and repeats, so there’s definitely more in the tank. He’ll show you 98s, with the ability to spin a breaking ball and throw a good changeup, but now it’s just about him learning to repeat his delivery enough to have command.”

 

...

 

“Aramis battled and held his own,” said Madison, “and you have to remember it was the first time he’s really ever struggled at the plate. I think he just got kind of lost in his approach and at the same time realized he needs to get stronger.”

 

As a result, Ademan spent the whole offseason at the Cubs’ spring complex, adding strength while also working with Chris Valaika, the organization’s new Minor League hitting coordinator.

 

“He’s continued to make adjustments at the plate, and the ball is already coming off his bat differently this spring,” said Madison.

 

https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/cubs-2019-spring-training-report.html

[CubsWin]

Yeah, when it's this early in spring training, this list (that AZ Phil puts out every year) is pretty much meaningless. It's more like working groups than it is a strong indication of where these guys will start or what the Cubs think of them.

 

The one level down thing only comes into play when major league camp gets down to a more manageable size where the guys that are left in camp are basically locks for AAA (or AA) with little risk of being cut entirely.

 

I tried to couch it with the “generally speaking” but, yeah, you guys are right.

Fair enough, brother.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

3/11: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03112019/cubs-offense-machin-riverview

 

2. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-3 (3-U, K, 1-3)

 

9. Jhonny Pereda, C: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI, PO)

 

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:

1. Riley McCauley: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 31 pitches (15 strikes)

2. Brad Markey: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (7 strikes)

3. Tyler Peyton: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/AO, 9 pitches (7 strikes)

4. Luis Lugo: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)

NOTE: Bottom of the 5th inning was skipped

 

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:

1. Keegan Thompson: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 46 pitches (28 strikes)

2. Ryan Williams: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes)

3. Jake Steffens: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R 1 BB, 0 K, 0/4 GO/AO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)

4. Manuel Rondon: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 14 pitches (9 strikes)

[craig]

Thanks for keeping the Az Phil updates coming. Fun.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Yovanny in South Bend after 1 Eugene start would be fantastic. If Riley Thompson makes the SB rotation, that rotation probably has the three most exciting full season starters in the farm system.

[CubsWin]

According to AZ Phil, the Cubs minor league sim games indicate that Derek Casey and Cam Sanders will begin the year in the South Bend rotation with Trevor Clifton being moved to the Iowa bullpen.

[Brian]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Baseball America[/url]"]Fifteen Players Turning Scouts' Heads At Spring Training

 

Jared Young, 1B, Cubs

 

Scout’s Take: "He was the Cubs' minor league hitter of the year last year, and they brought him into big league camp and he’s hit in the opportunities he’s had. It’s a pure bat-first prospect. I don’t have a lot of history with him, I’m just saying if you’re going in and watching the club you say, ‘OK, this guy is standing out a little bit on the field and now let’s find out some more about him.’ If you’re going really under the radar for a pop-up guy, he’s turned some heads in camp. Just the fact he was a 15th-rounder in 2017 and he’s already playing in some big league games, that speaks well of how he’s progressed so far. He’s played some second, some third, a little bit of corner outfield, but it’s primarily first base. So obviously there is a little bit more pressure on the bat, but that’s the one thing that’s stood out about him so far. He’s put himself on the radar screen.”

 

Others mentioned

 

Nico Hoerner, SS, Cubs

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Oh yeah:

 

 

4. Jose Albertos: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes)

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/03162019/cubs-use-slaughter-rule-tie-snappers-riverview

 

Yovanny Cruz had a good line too.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Notes from Cubs camp on:

 

• Brennen Davis’ revamped swing and added muscle
  
• Nico Hoerner
  
• Miguel Amaya
  
• Brailyn Márquez
  
• Cole Roederer
  
• Christopher Morel
  
• Luis Verdugo
  
• Reivaj Garcia
  
• Jonathan Perlaza
  
• Riley Thompson
  
• Fernando Kelli

[CubsWin]

Oh yeah:

 

 

4. Jose Albertos: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes)

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/03162019/cubs-use-slaughter-rule-tie-snappers-riverview

 

Yovanny Cruz had a good line too.

Can I like this more than once? Like 100 times?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yesterday in the backfields: https://www.thecubreporter.com/03172019/cubs-spend-saturday-fitch-park

 

Andy Weber continues his big spring, and is giving himself a chance to start the year at Myrtle Beach.

 

The most recent big league camp cuts triggered more minor league re-assignments. The most notable, per Arizona Phil: Keegan Thompson back to Tennessee, Bryan Hudson & Erich Uelman to Myrtle Beach and Alexander Guerra to South Bend. Also, Adbert Alzolay moves to the rehab throwing program.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Guys who may be assigned aggressively:

 

Hoerner (AA)

Ademan (AA) - Only because AZPhil threw his name out there, much better bet is Hoerner and it won’t be both

 

Marquez (High A)

 

Morel (A)

Davis, Roederer (A)

Sanders (A, rotation)

Thompson (A, rotation)

Perlaza (A)

 

I’m mostly speculating. Any other candidates?

 

Yovanny Cruz in the A rotation. Andy Weber at high-A. Americaan in A ball.

 

Don’t see those aggressive Ademan and Márquez assignments happening.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just because it needs periodic repeating, Adman had a .563 OPS in 450+ PA at Myrtle Beach, five six three