2021 Arizona Instructs

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Fall Instructs begins today. Here is the roster: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09192021/2021-cubs-arizona-instructional-league-roster

 

There are a few interesting pitchers who missed the season with injury:

 

Michael McAvene

Koen Moreno

Benjamin Rodríguez

 

Also:

 

The top four DSL Cubs position player prospects (SS Cristian Hernandez, C Moises Ballesteros, INF Pedro Ramirez, and OF Frank Hernandez) have been added to the Cubs AZIL roster (see updated roster in post above).

[Bertz]

Do we know where Riley Thompson is? I thought he was a "hurt but no surgery" guy but with how many injuries there were to keep track of in April maybe I got him mixed up with somebody else.

 

Also, I'm hoping this is good news for Kohl Franklin and Brailyn. I'd think them not being here is a sign they're going to be in the AFL?

[Bear Cub]

No Jordan Wicks either.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

First AZ Phil recap has more than just the Triantos HR (he also walked): https://www.thecubreporter.com/09222021/cubs-pitchers-fan-17-and-triantos-goes-yard-literally-fitch

 

1. Tyler Schlaffer: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 3/3 GO/AO, 48 pitches (39 strikes)

2. Drew Gray: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 50 pitches (29 strikes)

 

Lol:

 

Cubs 2021 2nd round draft pick James Triantos clobbered a line-drive solo HR over the LF fence and into the backyard of a house on the north-side of 8th Street

[Tim]

2. Drew Gray: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 50 pitches (29 strikes)

Didn't even induce a single ground out.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thursday at instructs: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09232021/angel-18-hit-attack-too-much-cubs-instructs

 

Cubs 2021 7th round pick Parker Chavers singled, doubled, and scored a run, Cubs 2020 1st round pick Ed Howard singled twice and scored a run, and Owen Caissie (acquired from the Padres in the Darvish trade) and Miguel Fabrizio collected RBI singles for the Cubs in a losing cause.

 

Cubs 2020 4rh round draft pick 6'8 220+ LHSP Luke Little threw mainly a 93-97 FB with an occasional CV and CH mixed-in but pitched mostly from behind in the count, issuing two walks, hitting a batter, and throwing a WP (and surrendering a towering three-run HR) in 2.1 IP of work, LHP Angel Rodriguez was able to throw strikes with a 90-91 MPH FB, CH, and CV mix, but was pounded to the tune of five singles, a double, and a triple in just 2.2 IP, Cubs 2021 14th round draft pick RHRP Frankie Scalzo featured a 93-95 MPH FB but sometimes hung his SL and was hit hard and allowed a HR and five singles, and Cubs 2020 2nd round draft pick LHRP Burl Carraway had very poor command of both a 92-93 T-94 FB and a CV (he threw only 44% strikes and labored to complete his one inning of work).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Today at Instructs: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09252021/pitchers-whitewash-cubs-fitch-park

 

Cubs SP Luis Devers hurled three innings of no-run / no-hit ball for the Cubs. Not counting 2021 draft picks who spent time in Mesa during the course of the ACL season, Devers was (by far) the ACL Cubs top pitching prospect, and probably should be considered one of the Cubs Top 15 pitching prospects going into the 2022 season.

 

Triantos went 1/3 with a double while playing error-free ball at second base

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yesterday at Instructs: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09272021/angel-8th-inning-explosion-dooms-cubs-diablo

 

1. Michael McAvene: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 27 pitches (15 strikes)

2. Daniel Palencia: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 1 BALK, 35 pitches (20 strikes)

3. Burl Carraway: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)

4. Dominic Hambley: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 3/0 GO/AO, 17 pitches (7 strikes)

 

Catcher Casey Opitz (Cubs 2021 8th round draft pick) threw-out all three runners who tried to steal against him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Rough day at Instructs. Cubs haven't scored in 3 games now: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09282021/cubs-encounter-rockie-road-instructs

 

Parker Chavers laced a single and a double for the Cubs in a losing cause.

 

Chris Clarke: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 5/2 GO/AO, 46 pitches (28 strikes)

Bailey Horn: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/3 GO/AO, 24 pitches (17 strikes)

Tyler Schlaffer: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 5/2 GO/AO, 52 pitches (35 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The first time we see Koen Moreno in a box score: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09292021/fabrizio-alcantara-and-moreno-give-cubs-red-blues-instructs

 

Miguel Fabrizio clubbed an opposite-field line-drive two-run HR over the left-centerfield fence, singled, walked, and stole a base, Kevin Alcantara belted an RBI double and an RBI triple and scored a run, Parker Chavers singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, and SP Koen Moreno tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts, as AZIL Cubs Blue blanked AZIL Cubs Red 4-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Wednesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

 

1. Koen Moreno: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 36 pitches (25 strikes)

1. Luke Little: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 52 pitches (30 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The first time we see Koen Moreno in a box score: https://www.thecubreporter.com/09292021/fabrizio-alcantara-and-moreno-give-cubs-red-blues-instructs

 

Miguel Fabrizio clubbed an opposite-field line-drive two-run HR over the left-centerfield fence, singled, walked, and stole a base, Kevin Alcantara belted an RBI double and an RBI triple and scored a run, Parker Chavers singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, and SP Koen Moreno tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts, as AZIL Cubs Blue blanked AZIL Cubs Red 4-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Wednesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

 

1. Koen Moreno: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 36 pitches (25 strikes)

1. Luke Little: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 52 pitches (30 strikes)

 

False alarm. Apparently Phil was mistaken:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.thecubreporter.com/10012021/cubs-bush-whacked-angels-diablo

 

SP Luis Devers tossed four innings of shutout ball and struck out eight, allowing four hits (all singles) and no walks, and picked-off two baserunners, for the Cubs in a losing cause.

 

1. Luis Devers: 4.0 IP, 4 H., 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 PO, 1/1 GO/AO, 51 pitches (37 strikes)

2. Burl Carraway: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (9 strikes)

 

Luis Devers showed a 91-93 FB with sink, a knee-buckling 75-76 CV that got 20+ swings & misses, and a 79-82 straight-CH that he had some difficulty throwing for strikes. Seven of his eight strikeouts were swinging and six of those and the one called punchout were with the CV, and three of the four hits he allowed were singles off the FB. He has really good cmmand of his CV and probably would like to throw it on almost every pitch. He has good command of his FB, too, but it's more of a weak-contact inducing two-seamer. Overall he threw 73% strikes and was behind in the count only twice (he faced 13 hitters). He also made two perfect pick-off throws, picking one of the runners off 1st base and the other runner off 2nd base.

 

Burl Carraway FB 93-95 and SL 82-83, both with hign RPMs. He bounced his breaking ball several times, however.

 

Dominic Hembley 77-79 CV and an 86 FB. HR was off the FB.

 

Eury Ramos 95-96 FB, 85-86 SPLIT, and 83-85 SL, bounced splitter and breaking ball and FB got squared-up (he allowed a double and a triple off the FB)

 

Ryan Jensen added to the Instructs roster.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://twitter.com/billazbbphotog/status/1445145522973470721?s=21

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://twitter.com/billazbbphotog/status/1445145522973470721?s=21

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/10042021/altuve-ballesteros-u-s-debut-big-hit-salt-river-fields

 

Brayan Altuve (Cubs 2019 IFA signing - $1M bonus) drilled a game-tying RBI single in his first U. S. AB in the top of third inning and belted a two-run triple off the left-centerfield wall and scored a run in a four run fifth, Luis Verdugo drilled RBI singles in consecutive innings (one in the fourth and one in the fifth), Kevin Alcantara (acquired from the Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo trade) singled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another, Cubs 2021 4th round draft pick Christian Franklin singled twice, walked, and scored a run, Matt Mervis singled twice and scored a run, Cubs 2021 2nd round pick James Triantos singled, walked, and scored a run, Moises Ballesteros (Cubs 2021 IFA signing - $1.5M bonus) clubbed a PH double into the RF corner in his first U. S. AB, and Cubs 2021 9th round pick LHP Chase Watkins fired three innings of one-hit no-run ball out of the pen, helping the Cubs defeat the Rockies 7-3 in AZ Instructional League game action Monday afternoon on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale. AZ.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Triantos doubled and homered: https://www.thecubreporter.com/10082021/triantos-goes-deep-and-cubs-pitchers-fan-16-angels-riverview

 

Good pitching too:

 

1. Michael McAvene: 2.0 IP, 1 H. 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (25 strikes)

2. Daniel Palencia: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 30 pitches (20 strikes)

3. Luke Little: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 0/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (28 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Not a great Saturday: https://www.thecubreporter.com/10092021/appreciate-cub-gifts-fitch-park

 

A's pitchers limited the Cubs to just three hits and retired the last 14 Cubs hitters (including seven by strikeout).

 

The Cubs committed five errors in the field and Cubs pitchers issued nine walks.

 

Christian Olivo tripled and scored in the third and Moises Ballesteros doubled and scored in the fifth to account for the two Cub runs.

 

Triantos went 0/4.

 

Dakota Chalmers: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1/4 GO/AO, 55 pitches (30 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.thecubreporter.com/10122021/timely-hitting-helps-cubs-edge-angels-diablo

 

1. Kevin Alcantara, RF: 1-4 (K, BB, F-8, F-9, 1B)

3a. Pablo Aliendo, C: 1-4 (2B, K, FC, K, R)

3b. Moises Ballesteros, C: NO AB

4. Bryce Ball, 1B: 1-2 (1B, BB, F-8, BB, R, RBI)

6. Reggie Preciado, DH: 1-4 (K, K, L-5, 2B, R, RBI)

7. Yeison Santana, SS: 1-4 (L-3, F-9, F-8, 1B, RBI)

 

1. Tyler Schlaffer: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 20 pitches (11 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Koen Moreno actually made his pro debut today: https://www.thecubreporter.com/10132021/rockies-rock-too-heavy-cubs-lift

 

Felix Stevens clubbed a moonshot HR high over the LF fence and Luis Verdugo drilled a two-run single to account for the three Cub runs.

 

Owen Caissie and Felix Stevens finished 1-2 in average exit velo for ACL Cubs in 2021, for anyone who might think Stevens is a non-prospect.

 

1. James Triantos Jr, 3B: 1-4 (F-9, 1B, L-8, 5-4 FC)

3. Christian Franklin, LF: 0-3 (K, 2-3, K, BB)

8. Felix Stevens, RF: 1-3 (5-3, 4-3, HR, R, RBI)

 

1. Koen Moreno: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 17 pitches (12 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Final Instructs Stats: https://www.thecubreporter.com/10212021/2021-cubs-az-instructional-league-final-stats