Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 8-6-22

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (All Times Central):

 

Iowa vs Toledo, 6:08 pm

Tennessee at Rocket City, 6:35 pm

South Bend at Fort Wayne (game one), 4:35 pm

South Bend at Fort Wayne (game two), TBD

Myrtle Beach vs Lynchburg, 5:05 pm

ACL Cubs vs ACL A’s, 12:00 pm

DSL Cubs Blue vs DSL Pittsburgh Black, 10:00 am

DSL Cubs Red at DSL NYY Yankees, 9:00 am

 

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: RHP Javier Assad

Tennessee: RHP Ryan Jensen

South Bend: RHP Kohl Franklin

Myrtle Beach: LHP Luis Ángel Rodríguez

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil referred to him as the best Cubs pitching prospect in the DSL when he was called up to Arizona:

 

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]An eye-popping performance by ACL Cubs RHSP Kevin Valdez versus ACL Athletics this morning at Sloan Park in Mesa.

 

Facing a lineup of A's 2022 draft picks including 1st round pick Andrew Susac and 2nd round pick Henry Bolte that scored 12 runs on 15 hits versus the ACL Brewers Blue on Thursday, Valdez retired all eight men he faced, striking out seven of them (including five swinging). The only out that wasn'r a punch-out was an inning-ending broken bat pop up to shortstop Cristian Hernandez in short LF.

 

Mxing a 90-93 MPH FB with a 74-76 MPH CV, Valdez threw ten pitches in the 1st, (eight strikes),14 in the 2nd (10 strikes), and nine in the 3rd (six strikes), for a total of 33 pitches - 24 strikes (72% strikes), before rreaching his pre-planned pitch limit. He threw 24 FB and nine CV, and got an unbelievable 14 swings & misses on his 33 pitches, nine on his his FB and five on his CV. He throws with a relaxed "no sweat" minimum-effort delivery that makes it seem like he's just playing catch

 

The 20-year old 6'4 Valdez was signed by the Cubs last November and he somewhat unexpectedly emerged as the Cubs #1 pitching prospect in the DSL this year. He received the rare mid-season promotion from the DSL to the ACL that was not related to being an injury-replacement. He is just that good.

 

Today's outing comes just four days after Valdez made his ACL debut versus the ACL Reds. In that game, Valdez was unable to complete even one inning, walking three, allowing a two-run triple, and needing 27 pitches (only 14 strikes) to record just two outs.

[Hrubes20]

Ben Brown about to make his system and AA debut.

[Bertz]

Kohl Franklin has given back the baby steps forward he was starting to make and then some. At least he's making one of the 40 man decisions easier

[David]

Ben Brown is impressive

[Hrubes20]

Brown out after 5. 5IP, 4 H (2 IF hits), 1 R, 2 BB, 9 Ks.

[Tim]

I'm very happy with that trade.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ben Joyce got his pro debut tonight against Tennessee and gave up 4 hits and a run, how did the Angels ever draft Mike Trout