Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-29-21

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

LF I. Miller 1/4, 2 R, BB, K, outfield assist at second base

2B D. Strange-Gordon 0/5, 3 K

3B A. Avelino 3/5, RBI, E (2, throw)

SP T. Miller 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2-2 GO-FO

RP R. Stock 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1-2 GO-FO

RP T. Megill 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1-0 GO-FO

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

 

Tennessee lost 5-4 (10 innings) Box Score

 

DH M. Amaya 0/4, BB, 3 K

RF D. Hill 2/5, R, 2 K

2B G. Byrd 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 3 K, 2B (8)

SS C. Morel 1/4, K, 2B (2)

SP M. Swarmer 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 4-5 GO-FO, E (2, pickoff)

RP M. Rodríguez 1+ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3 HBP - left game with apparent injury

RP B. Leeper 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

South Bend lost 3-1 Box Score

 

SS D. Zinn 1/3, BB, SB (18), E (4, fielding)

CF B. Davis 1/4, 2B (2)

DH C. Strumpf 1/4, 2 K

RF N. Velázquez 1/4, K

LF B. Beesley 1/3, R, K, 2B (1)

SP C. Kachmar 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HBP, 2 WP, 4-4 GO-FO

RP B. Carraway 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach PPD - Inclement Weather

[CubsWin]

It's still a little early to be definitively singing the praises of the Cubs pitching development infrastructure, but the returns thus far sure look promising.

 

In the majors, Alzolay rebuilt his repertoire in a matter of weeks last season and is now flourishing. Dillon Maples rebuilt his delivery, and he's put up his best K/BB% since 2017 in AA and his best WHIP of his pro career so far. Tommy Nance was signed out of the Indy leagues and has been developed into an effective (and thus far dominant) major league reliever. Justin Steele looks like he's a legit major leaguer, and Keegan Thompson has been passable to date.

 

But it's the early looks at minor leaguers that are even more encouraging to me. Cam Sanders and DJ Herz are in the midst of what look like breakout seasons. Sanders' K% has gone from 19.6% in Low-A in 2019 to 28.4% in AA while his walk rate has dropped from 12.4% to 9.5% and his BAA from an already really good .194 to an even better .179. Herz has gone from an 8th rounder with upside to proving it in Low-A as a 20-year-old.

 

A group of 8 relief prospects have taken big steps forward. 2019 27th rounder Cayne Ueckert, who is dominating AA, is the biggest revelation, while Eury Ramos and Ethan Roberts (who've been on the radar) have taken clear steps forward. Converted CFer Brandon Hughes has emerged in High-A, while 2020 UDFAs Ben Leeper in AA and Joe Nahas, Bailey Reid and Scott Kobos in Low-A have all gotten off to better than expected starts to their pro careers.

 

And, of course, I'd be remiss not to mention that Jose Albertos is back and pitching well.

 

While it's already been an encouraging start to the long awaited 2021 season as far as the pitching development/lab goes, we've yet to see the first of Brailyn Marquez, Kohl Franklin and Chris Clarke. Plus, slower, but not completely discouraging starts, for Ryan Jensen, Burl Carraway and Max Bain have a chance to show further development in the coming months as well.

 

I can't wait to see what transpires...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

He struck out the side in the 9th. 11 pitches, 10 for strikes,

[Bertz]

 

He struck out the side in the 9th. 11 pitches, 10 for strikes,

 

 

Holy horsefeathers

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Crap: