2019 Opening Day Minor League Rosters

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Bertz]

 

Holy horsefeathers that Iowa lineup is bad, and I'm a big Zack Short fan

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Holy horsefeathers that Iowa lineup is bad, and I'm a big Zack Short fan

 

The prediction of no Davis or Roederer at South Bend is surprising. I expect at least one of them to break camp.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.thecubreporter.com/03192019/lester-goes-six-backfields-and-ademan-belts-solo-hr

 

Ademan went 2/3 with a homer and a single. Amaya went 1/2 with a double and a HBP.

[Tim]

That starting OF for MB is ugly

All the OF's above South Bend are pretty brutal. The guys who had some promise in the past have not lived up to it. The rest of them have a 4th or 5th OF ceiling.

[Brian]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[PackLandVA]

Wasn't Eddy Martinez supposed to be something?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil predicts the outfielders at all four levels: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262547#comment-262547

 

The catchers: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262548#comment-262548

 

And the infielders: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262549#comment-262549

 

He also doesn't think Davis and Roederer will make full season ball. Morel is also a long shot for South Bend, sadly.

 

At least he thinks Hoerner will start at AA.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Man horsefeathers short season, challenge them

[Hrubes20]

Arizona Phil predicts the outfielders at all four levels: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262547#comment-262547

 

The catchers: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262548#comment-262548

 

And the infielders: https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262549#comment-262549

 

He also doesn't think Davis and Roederer will make full season ball. Morel is also a long shot for South Bend, sadly.

 

At least he thinks Hoerner will start at AA.

 

It would be a tad disappointing if neither Davis nor Roederer started in full season ball. Hopefully Artis kills it at SB early on and gets promoted to MB, with one of these guys taking his spot.

[CubsWin]

I got no problem with Davis, Roederer, Morel, etc. starting the year in ExST and then Eugene. Davis and Morel are still quite raw and would benefit from the opportunity for the type of instruction they can get in Mesa.

 

Roederer started off red hot hitting .373/.475/.647 in his 1st 13 games which allowed him to finish with a solid slash line (275/.354/.465), but finished the year hitting .220/.280/.363 in his last 23 games. He could stand to get coached up as well.

 

All 3 are just 19 (Davis and Roederer will be so all season), and if they are killing it in ExST, can always start off in SB before the start of the short season leagues if the brass thinks they're ready. If any or all of them progress like a top prospect can, there's no reason why they couldn't be in AAA by the time they're 21 or 22. Given the Cubs current youth and depth of position players at the major league level, that works for me.

 

I get (and share) the desire and excitement to see them play full season ball right away (and if the FO starts them there, all the better), but I'd rather see them prove it and put up great numbers in Eugene first than struggle in South Bend the way Velazquez did last year. Not only would that aid in their development, but putting up good to great numbers in short season before being promoted in the 2nd half would likely make them more attractive trade bait than struggling in SB and having to be sent down.

[craig]

I got no problem with Davis, Roederer, Morel, etc. starting the year in ExST and then Eugene. Davis and Morel are still quite raw and would benefit from the opportunity for the type of instruction they can get in Mesa. ....

 

I get (and share) the desire and excitement to see them play full season ball right away ..., but I'd rather see them prove it and put up great numbers in Eugene first than struggle in South Bend ....

 

Agree. What matters is developing them long-term. I'm not that keen on sending them to the Midwest league in april. It's freezing cold, half the games are rained/frozen out, and they're going to be overmatched, so I think there's a real risk that these young, raw, warm-weather kids will just get dominated there. I don't think doing badly and undermining confidence serves development well. Obviously if they go and are themselves dominating, that would be unexpected and especially exciting, but I don't see the risk-reward being desirable. Of course I defer to the Cubs wisdom; if they do get placed there, for sure I'll be fascinated and hopeful. But the Cubs in general have been a super-rusher organization, so *if* the kids don't get promoted despite the Cubs being rather rush-oriented, I think that will reinforce my idea that they probably really aren't ready yet.

 

I also kind of think practicing every day with all of the facilities and resources in Mesa, is probably more useful than driving around on buses to Grand Rapids and Beloit, and sitting around in hotels during April weather-cancelations. In Midwest league, I don't think they spend as much time practicing or teaching; mostly it's the games. I suspect in Mesa there is a lot more time for practicing and drilling and working on stuff, and the facilities are advantageous.

 

I'd like to see them in daily box-scores, especially so if they're getting hits and doing well. But my curiosity as a fan doesn't really determine development!

 

I don't think getting beaten up in full-season really helps anybody's trade value.

 

I also think that if guys really are ready, they'll do very well in XST and reaffirm that they can stay really ready and consistently excel down there. If so, May or June are fine times to pull them up to South Bend.

[craig]

My general view would be that unless a guy is needed for the big-league team, I'd normally prefer to have a guy excel at one level for a somewhat sustainable time prior to jumping them. And I'd generally prefer not to skip levels.

 

An experienced and capable college draftee skipping up to Myrtle, that's a little different and I'm OK with that, as they attempted with Lange and Thompson last spring. If Richan skipped to Myrtle, for example, I'd have no problem with that.

 

With Hoerner, I admit I'd be kind of excited/intrigued if they skip him right up to AA. But I'd be pretty hesitant to do that, and I don't see the value. I'd start him lower, and let him excel for a month in A-ball before considering jumping him to AA. If he's ready for AA, there is no harm done in letting him excel in A-ball for a while first.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

It was admittedly against an amateur Canadian team, but:

 

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]CUBS PITCHERS:

1. Yunior Perez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 32 pitches (22 strikes)

3. Jose Albertos: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 26 pitches (12 strikes)

4. Jeremiah Estrada: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 19 pitches (12 strikes)

6. Danis Correa: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 12 pitches (6 strikes)

 

 

While the Eugene/Mesa squad was playing the Langley Blaze on Field #4, South Bend & Myrtle Beach (on Field #5) and Iowa & Tennessee (on Field #6) played four-inning intrasquad games.

 

SOUTH BEND:

Derek Casey (four innings)

 

MYRTLE BEACH:

Erling Moreno (two innings)

Ivan Medina (one inning)

Carlos Vega (one inning)

 

TENNESSEE:

Bailwey Clark (three innings)

Jake Steffens (one inning)

 

IOWA:

Jen-Ho Tseng (four innings)

 

So Erling Moreno is finally throwing in a game (although only two innings)m and it appears that Bailey Clark is being stretched-out to start.

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/262576#comment-262576

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Looks like some injuries/setbacks we didn't know of:

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]Here is how the Cubs starting pitching is trending at Minor League Camp as of this morning (Thursday 3/21). There will be changes before the affiliates leave town in about ten days, but here is how things stand right now:

 

IOWA

STARTING ROTATION RIGHT NOW:

1. Jen-Ho Tseng

2. Duncan Robinson

3. Michael Rucker

4. Tom Hatch

IN PROGRESS:

5. Matt Swarmer (missed start with blister issue)

6. Trevor Clifton (began ST in I-Cubs bullpen but is now getting stretched-out)

7. Colin Rea (is now piggy-backing with Clifton)

DELAYED:

8. Alec Mills (has lower back strain at MLB Camp & cannot be optioned until healthy)

9. Adbert Alzolay (is in REHAB THROWING PROGRAM at Minor League Camp)

HAS BEEN RELEASED:

Christian Bergman

 

TENNESSEE

STARTING ROTATION RIGHT NOW:

1. Cory Abbott

2. Alex Lange

3. Keegan Thompson

4. Tyson Miller

5. Ian Clarkin

IN PROGRESS:

6. Justin Steele (was a bit behind but is now getting stretched-out)

 

MYRTLE BEACH

STARTING ROTATION RIGHT NOW:

1. Bryan Hudson

2. Javier Assad

3. Ryan Lawlor

4. Brendan King

THROWING BULLPENS ONLY:

5. Erling Moreno

6. Paul Richan

LIMITED ACTIVITY:

7. Erich Uelmen

SHUT-DOWN:

8. Brendon Little

 

SOUTH BEND

STARTING ROTATION RIGHT NOW:

1. Yovanny Cruz

2. Faustino Carrera

3. Derek Casey

4. Riley Thompson

5. Cam Sanders

6. Eury Ramos

7. Zach Mort

THROWING BULLPENS ONLY:

8. Brailyn Marquez

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]Best Cubs pitchers FB velo at the Langley game:

 

Yunior Perez 93-96 (a beast... absolutely unhittable... obviously)

Danis Correa: 91-94 - T-95 (also threw a couple of nice secondaries)

Jeremiah Estrada: 92-94 (struggled with FB command the deeper he got into inning)

 

Jose Albertos couldn't command his FB at all so he threw a lot of CV and CH (which were excellent)

 

[CubsWin]

Some well-informed speculation on upcoming rosters from AZ Phil:

 

Because they played in the Eugene/Mesa game today, it is likely that three Tennessee infielders (Hodges, Peguero, and Sepulveda) are in flux (that is, they will be assigned to either Myrtle Beach, South Bend, or EXST, but it is still TBD). And so it appears that 3B Robel Garcia (who has had a great ST) and utility infielder Jhonny Bethencourt will join 1B Jared Young (who has also been playing LF), 2B Christian Donahue (who has had a very good Minor League Camp), and SS Nico Hoerner as the Smokies infielders.

 

Jimmy Herron and Andy Weber played in the Eugene./Mesa game, so they will probably not remain with Myrtle Beach, but whether they will be assigned to South Bend or EXST is still TBD. Also, Wladimir Galindo (Myrtle Beach) has been playing only 1B for the last several days, so he may be moving off 3B (again, TBD). That could possibly open up 3B for either Jesse Hodges or Luke Reynolds at Myrtle Beach.

 

And note that Kevonte Mitchell was moved down from Tennessee to Myrtle Beach, Grant Fennell was moved down from Myrtle Beach to South Bend, and Brennen Davis and Christopher Morel (among others) were moved down from South Bend to Eugene/Mesa this morning, but CF Cole Roederer and 3B Fidel Mejia (as well as C Jonathan Soto, who is still with the Myrtle Beach squad) are still very much in play for the South Bend Opening Day roster (TBD), and OF Nelson Velazquez still remains a candidate for the Myrtle Beach Opening Day roster (once again, TBD).

 

And finally, although he is signed to a 2019 minor league player contract, the plan right now is for Yasiel Balaguert to be the hitting coach at AZL Cubs #1. He just got assigned to Carmelo Martinez's Eugene/Mesa (EXST) coaching staff.

[CubsWin]

AZ Phil reports Yovanny Cruz was sitting 94-96 in an intrasquad game today.

 

With Cruz (19), Marquez (20) and Thompson (22) expected to start in SB (with Marquez having a piggy-back until he's fully stretched out or staying behind in ExST), that would be a fairly interesting rotation to follow. Faustino Carrera (20), Derek Casey (23, 2018 9th rounder) and Cam Sanders (22, 2018 12th rounder) appear to be the others rounding out the rotation for now.

 

Depending on the years they have, Cruz and Marquez are candidates for back end of the top 100 next season, I would think. Nice to have some upside pitching in full season ball for a change.

 

There appears to be some moderate upside right behind them. Danis Correa (19), Jeremiah Estrada (20), Yunior Perez (20) who I've always had an irrational hope for, and Kohl Franklin (19) should all be in the Eugene rotation.

 

And my guess/hope is Richard Gallardo (17), Joel Machado (17), Misael Garcia (18 next month), Luis Rodriguez (19), Jorge Remon (18) and Luis Devers (19 next month) will all start in the AZL.

 

Here's hoping Gallardo and someone else from that Eugene/Mesa group emerges as legit this season to form the next wave of upside arms behind Marquez and Cruz.

[Hrubes20]

Did anyone ever get information on what is ailing Little?

[CubsWin]

Did anyone ever get information on what is ailing Little?

Asked AZ Phil if he's heard anything and the answer was nope. If he doesn't know, nobody (outside the organization) does...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

AZ Phil reports Yovanny Cruz was sitting 94-96 in an intrasquad game today.

 

With Cruz (19), Marquez (20) and Thompson (22) expected to start in SB (with Marquez having a piggy-back until he's fully stretched out or staying behind in ExST), that would be a fairly interesting rotation to follow. Faustino Carrera (20), Derek Casey (23, 2018 9th rounder) and Cam Sanders (22, 2018 12th rounder) appear to be the others rounding out the rotation for now.

 

Depending on the years they have, Cruz and Marquez are candidates for back end of the top 100 next season, I would think. Nice to have some upside pitching in full season ball for a change.

 

There appears to be some moderate upside right behind them. Danis Correa (19), Jeremiah Estrada (20), Yunior Perez (20) who I've always had an irrational hope for, and Kohl Franklin (19) should all be in the Eugene rotation.

 

And my guess/hope is Richard Gallardo (17), Joel Machado (17), Misael Garcia (18 next month), Luis Rodriguez (19), Jorge Remon (18) and Luis Devers (19 next month) will all start in the AZL.

 

Here's hoping Gallardo and someone else from that Eugene/Mesa group emerges as legit this season to form the next wave of upside arms behind Marquez and Cruz.

 

Same place that mentioned Cruz’ uptick in velocity mentioned Albertos was down to 89-91 in 1 inning of work.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CubsWin]

AZ Phil reports Yovanny Cruz was sitting 94-96 in an intrasquad game today.

 

With Cruz (19), Marquez (20) and Thompson (22) expected to start in SB (with Marquez having a piggy-back until he's fully stretched out or staying behind in ExST), that would be a fairly interesting rotation to follow. Faustino Carrera (20), Derek Casey (23, 2018 9th rounder) and Cam Sanders (22, 2018 12th rounder) appear to be the others rounding out the rotation for now.

 

Depending on the years they have, Cruz and Marquez are candidates for back end of the top 100 next season, I would think. Nice to have some upside pitching in full season ball for a change.

 

There appears to be some moderate upside right behind them. Danis Correa (19), Jeremiah Estrada (20), Yunior Perez (20) who I've always had an irrational hope for, and Kohl Franklin (19) should all be in the Eugene rotation.

 

And my guess/hope is Richard Gallardo (17), Joel Machado (17), Misael Garcia (18 next month), Luis Rodriguez (19), Jorge Remon (18) and Luis Devers (19 next month) will all start in the AZL.

 

Here's hoping Gallardo and someone else from that Eugene/Mesa group emerges as legit this season to form the next wave of upside arms behind Marquez and Cruz.

 

Same place that mentioned Cruz’ uptick in velocity mentioned Albertos was down to 89-91 in 1 inning of work.

Yeah, I saw that, too. Don't know what's up with him, but not holding out hope at this point. There's a reason he wasn't including in the above post about upside arms... :(

[CubsWin]

Wow, AZ Phil had Lange solidly projected in the AA rotation. I wonder if there's a corresponding move coming like one of Rucker, Swarmer or Hatch going from Iowa to Tennessee.

[CubsWin]

Per AZ Phil, C-1B Michael Cruz, 1B Tyler Alamo, INF Austin Upshaw, and OF Luis Ayala have been released.