Article: Minor League Recap, Opening Weekend: And We're Back!

[Jason Ross]

With all of the excitement of the homer opener, the sweep of the Rockies and taking two of three from the Dodgers, it would be entirely understandable if you missed that this weekend was also the first weekend of a full Cubs minor-league slate. How did the young Cubs fare?

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Iowa Cubs (4-2)
Opening up their home schedule against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Iowa Cubs took four of six to start their time in Iowa off right. While they didn't blow the barn doors off of the Tiger's Triple-A affiliate, they did win some close affairs and avenged an opening series loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers.

🔥Pete Crow-Armstrong: 112 wRC+, 16.7 K%, 5.6 BB%, 1 HR, 2 2b, 2 3b: Yep, that's how you start a season off the right way. With improved K% numbers and a .265 ISO, the electric centerfielder is showing that improvement on the plate approach side of things is underway, and the power isn't lost with it. The only "not so great" thing to come out of the first bit of the season for PCA: he was strangely pulled in the game on Sunday in between innings. Without a clear injury or place on the Cubs MLB organization, this is worth a slight monitor.

🔥Owen Caissie: 141 wRC+, 36.1 K, 16.7 BB%, 3 2b: The K% isn't great, but considering his age, the adjustment at the new level, and already facing a few tough lefties, this is a pretty good start for the outfielder. He's walking well, and he's hitting lefties better than righties to start the season. Probably needs some cleanups, and there will be bumps in the road...but all-in-all a solid first week and change.

🔥Cam Sanders: 3.00 ERA, 4.38 xFIP, 29.6 K%, 18.5 BB%: Okay, okay, okay...hear me out. Yes, the walk rate is sucky, but it's better than it's been. He's had a handful of solid outings so far, and while we can never expect Cam to be a massive strike thrower, the amount of stuff he has is good enough that he just needs to be not the "worst at throwing strikes in Triple-A" like he was last year. Still a lot of work to be done here, but with a 36.8% K% on the year against RHH...there could be a role for him in the bullpen sometime this summer if he can continue to slightly improve his walk rates.

🥶BJ Murray: 25 wRC+. 40 K%, 14.3 BB%, 1 2b: It just wasn't a great start for the switch-hitting third baseman. That's okay! Kid is at a new level, and if this game were easy, I'd be hitting .300 and getting paid myself. No cause for panic, let's let him get adjusted. 

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Tennessee Smokies (2-1) 
Like all of the rest of the Cubs MiLB affiliates other than Iowa, Tennessee only had a three-game set, taking two of three against the Rocket City Trash Pandas punctuated by a 7-0 shutout on Saturday. Cade Horton has yet to make a start, and the team goes on the road to play the Chattanooga Lookouts next week for their first trip away from home.

🔥Kohl Franklin: 4IP, 4 K, 0 BB, 0 ER, 0 R: Every time I feel like I'm out, he drags me right back in. In a big "make it or break it year" for the right-hander, Franklin came out firing, going 12 up, 12 down with 4 punchouts. Kohl has always had every tool in the bag but has always struggled to put it all together. One four-inning outing isn't enough to make me a full believer again, but it's the right way to start.

🔥Matt Shaw: 277 wRC+, 22.2 K%, 22.2 BB%, 1 HR: Literally couldn't come up with a better weekend for the 2023 first-round selection. Shaw, transitioning to third base, absolutely looked like a world-beater. With limited run in Double-A, Shaw has put up 9 extra-base hits in just his first 80 plate appearances. If he keeps this up, he'll be in Iowa shortly. 

🔥Michael Arias: 2 IP, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 ER, 0 R: Announced before the minor league season got underway, the recent Rule-V addition to the 40-man roster, Arias showed what kind of potential he has in this role. Arias struggled at the tail end of the 2023 season in South Bend with walks, so only one walk in his first two innings is a good initial look. Arias has the kind of stuff that could rocket him through the system as a right-handed-hitter-neutralizer out of the pen.

🥶Jameson Taillon: 2.2 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 4 R, 3 ER: Working his way back from injury, Sunday just wasn't Taillon's best result. That's not to say we should be worried, just that he got touched up a bit. Remember, this is his spring training as much as it is his rehab, so these kinds of things don't necessarily mean much. Taillon is on pace to meet back up with the Cubs shortly, perhaps with their upcoming series in Phoenix. 

🥶Moises Ballesteros: 46 wRC+, 12.5 K%, 12.5 BB%: Not a great first weekend for Big Mo in Tennessee. Ballesteros is just 20 and is learning a new level, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him get off to a bit of a cold start. He struggled in his first 22 plate appearances at the end of last year. Much like everyone, it's best not to get too high or low on any of these kids through April. On the positive, he made a nice play in the field! 

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South Bend Cubs (1-2)
Not the greatest opening weekend for the South Bend Cubs, who dropped two of three against the Quad Cities River Bandits. After grabbing a 3-1 win in their opening, the Cubs dropped their next two, getting shut out on Sunday. They travel back to South Bend for their home opener this week against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

🔥Drew Gray: 3 IP, 6K, 3 BB, 0 R, 0 ER: Getting the opening day nod, the former IMG graduate Drew Gray had a day to remember. Striking out six of the possible nine outs, Gray flashed why he's been considered a breakout candidate. With the Cubs dealing Jackson Ferris for Michael Busch in the offseason, Drew Gray has become one of the top lefties in the system. The walks need to be cleaned up a bit, but great first go!

🤷‍♂️Jefferson Rojas: 127 wRC+, 40 K%, 13.3 BB%, 1 HR: I'm giving him the push here. On one hand, he's had a few K's and the slash line isn't special. On the other hand, he's freaking 18 and hitting home runs in high-A. Neutral weekend all in and all, but that he's already flashing power at this level is a good sign.

🥶Koen Moreno: 2.2 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER: Not great, Bob. The former fourth-round pick in 2020 has struggled mightily at times and his promotion to High-A did not go great in his first showing. Hopefully, it's a speed bump and Moreno can find some of that pre-draft magic that got him a scholarship offer to UCLA.

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Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1-2) 
And opening series of highs and lows with a 9-2 win on Saturday sandwiched by blowout losses on Friday (3-10) and Sunday (2-10). Myrtle Beach will move to Columbia next week to take on the Columbia Fireflies in what hopefully amounts to a better series for the Pelicans.

🔥Juan Bello: 3.1 IP, 7 K, 3 BB, 0 R, 0 ER: A wonderful debut for the 20-year-old pitcher. Striking out seven over just a tad more than three innings was a statement. Bello has only been stateside for a hot minute, picking up just 4.1 innings in Arizona last year with the Complex League. Keep an eye out, though, as this first start suggests there might be something to watch.

🔥Cristian Hernandez: 162 wRC+, 14.3, 14.3% BB, 1 2b: Great start for the repeater! Yes he's 20 and yes he's repeating, but all things considered, Hernandez getting off the ground running would be a good thing. Last year and the year prior were disappointments, but there's plenty of time for the shortstop to find some of that glory. 

🤷‍♂️Carter Trice: 119 wRC+, 46.2% K, 23.1% BB, 1 2b: Really good walk rates coupled with six strikeouts in his first weekend in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle is a tough place to hit, and it's only three games, so no worries. With that said, the Cubs would also like to see Trice, a former NC State Wolfpack and someone who played his college ball in the ACC, hit the ground running and move quickly up the ladder. 

🥶Christopher Paciolla: 7 wRC+, 30,8 K%, 0 BB%: Woof. The Cubs were reportedly really high on Paciolla, taking him third in the 2022 draft, but the bat has yet to take off for the 20-year-old. He's struggled in his time in the Complex, posting a somewhat uninspiring .726 OPS last year, and has started his time in Myrtle pretty rough. With some hope, this is just a blip and we're all laughing at the end of the season. Remember, it's just three games.

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Is there someone you think I forgot to highlight? Who do you think had a good week? A bad week? Let us know in the comment section below

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[CubinNY]

277 wRC+, 22.2 K%, 22.2 BB%, 1 HR: 

 

LOL, I will never get to see Shaw when they come to Montgomery this summer. 

[Jason Ross]

Kohl Franklin promoted to Triple-A. I assume, mainly, because I gave him the 🔥 emoji.