Minor League Placements for 2025

[craig]

You're a believer!  Hopefully his 3.65 xFIP over 26 innings while making adjustments, hopefully those adjustments lock in and make him a good pitcher now and in future.  

Four pathways possible:

1. He makes it and he's good.
2. He makes it and he's bad.  
3. He gets sent down.  You're a believer: If he's as good as you think, and obviously a big-league worthy guy, he should dominate in AAA.  If so, he'll be back soon enough.   
4. He gets send down.   But doesn't really do that well.   

To me the question isn't really where he starts.  It's whether he's actually good.  If he's good, he'll be with the Cubs either all year or most of it.  That would be great.  I hope so.  I just hope he's made some adjustments that make him into a sustainably good pitcher who will help the Cubs. 

[allen6510w]

 

Notes (mostly) from AZPhil

Updated lineup scenarios that account for injuries to Christian Olivo, Ismael Mena, Brett Bateman, and Geuri Lubo. 

 

Michael Carico is catching - hopefully his injuries are behind him 

Jaylen Palmer is playing both OF and 3B this spring. 

Cole Mathis mostly (completely?) DH so far. 

Jose Escobar and Carter Trice are being giving opportunities to play OF

 

[craig]

Is Brody McCollough injured as usual?  

[allen6510w]

As you likely know, Brody is in the rehab group at minor league camp.  I'm sure we'll know more soon. 

[allen6510w]

A few days ago, Arizona Phil listed 31 pitchers who are being stretched out for possible use as starters this year.   Can you name them? 

1.     This well traveled journeyman has pitched for the Ishikawa Million Stars and Pericos de Puebla. 

2.     Drafted in 2022, Baseball America’s #34 Cub prospect this offseason, posted a 20/36 K/W when he debuted in 2024. 

3.     This oldster had a 0.168 BAA in 61 DSL innings spread over 2023-2024. 

4.     In 2021, he was unanimously named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the year. 

5.     He spent his Junior and Senior years in the Texas A & M bullpen. 

6.     This diminutive lefty started 16 games for VCU last year. 

7.     This 6’6” righty was the Southland Conference pitcher of the year in 2024. 

8.     This tall lefty missed most of his Junior year in college with arm trouble but impressed during three starts in the Cape Cod league this past summer. 

9.     This native of Venezuela was signed in January 2021 but has yet to pitch in a full-season league. 

10.  He signed for $25K out of a graduate school in Arizona. 

11.  After his senior year in college, two shut out starts in the Cape Cod league helped him get noticed. 

12.  After a slow start, this righty had a 1.46 ERA in his last 8 DSL starts last year. 

13.  He was named First-Team All-MAC in 2023 after finishing his senior year 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA and leading the RedHawks' staff in wins.

14.  He was the only teenager at the Cubs Bridge / Instructs last August and he threw 30% more innings than any other pitcher there.

15.  Signed out of Temple CC, In 2022, he pitched for Fort McMurray in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), Canada’s pre-eminent summer baseball league. 

16.  He first touched 100 as a 16-year old. 

17.  This righty was named to the mid-season DSL all-star team in 2024, his second year in the league. 

18.  He was an ESPN 4-start football recruit as a senior in HS but quit football to focus on baseball after his freshman year in college 

19.  As a senior in HS, he would have ranked as the top prep prospect in Illinois if he hadn’t transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.,

20.  In 2021, he debuted in high-A but was promoted to AA after 4 starts, a 32/1 K/W and 1.25 ERA

21.  The son of a famous Cardinal, he started lighting up the radar guns after spending time on the development list in 2024. 

22.  He was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the year in Baseball despite playing in only 5 games. 

23.  A Yale graduate, he had just enrolled at Notre Dame for grad school when the Cubs called. 

24.  As a sophomore he and a fellow minor league starter on this list were the Friday and Saturday starters for Arkansas. 

25.  After failing to get drafted he struck out 44 batters in 24 innings for the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore League 

26.  He had perhaps the best stuff and the worst command of any Cubs ACL starter last year. 

27.  Working on a “splinker” this year; he started 36 games for South Carolina. 

28.  The “Cubs top DSL prospect of 2023” according to Arizona Phil, he earned a late season promotion in 2023 to the ACL and spent nearly all of last year in low-A. 

29.  His wife is a former UCLA women’s basketball player. 

30.   This Venezuelan native who went to high school in Florida played in the AFL in fall 2024. 

31.  This California native was named the Big West freshman pitcher of the year in 2022. 

 

 

 

[CubinNY]

1 hour ago, allen6510w said:

A few days ago, Arizona Phil listed 31 pitchers who are being stretched out for possible use as starters this year.   Can you name them? 

 

1.     This well traveled journeyman has pitched for the Ishikawa Million Stars and Pericos de Puebla. 

2.     Drafted in 2022, Baseball America’s #34 Cub prospect this offseason, posted a 20/36 K/W when he debuted in 2024. 

3.     This oldster had a 0.168 BAA in 61 DSL innings spread over 2023-2024. 

4.     In 2021, he was unanimously named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the year. 

5.     He spent his Junior and Senior years in the Texas A & M bullpen. 

6.     This diminutive lefty started 16 games for VCU last year. 

7.     This 6’6” righty was the Southland Conference pitcher of the year in 2024. 

8.     This tall lefty missed most of his Junior year in college with arm trouble but impressed during three starts in the Cape Cod league this past summer. 

9.     This native of Venezuela was signed in January 2021 but has yet to pitch in a full-season league. 

10.  He signed for $25K out of a graduate school in Arizona. 

11.  After his senior year in college, two shut out starts in the Cape Cod league helped him get noticed. 

12.  After a slow start, this righty had a 1.46 ERA in his last 8 DSL starts last year. 

13.  He was named First-Team All-MAC in 2023 after finishing his senior year 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA and leading the RedHawks' staff in wins.

14.  He was the only teenager at the Cubs Bridge / Instructs last August and he threw 30% more innings than any other pitcher there.

15.  Signed out of Temple CC, In 2022, he pitched for Fort McMurray in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), Canada’s pre-eminent summer baseball league. 

16.  He first touched 100 as a 16-year old. 

17.  This righty was named to the mid-season DSL all-star team in 2024, his second year in the league. 

18.  He was an ESPN 4-start football recruit as a senior in HS but quit football to focus on baseball after his freshman year in college 

19.  As a senior in HS, he would have ranked as the top prep prospect in Illinois if he hadn’t transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.,

20.  In 2021, he debuted in high-A but was promoted to AA after 4 starts, a 32/1 K/W and 1.25 ERA

21.  The son of a famous Cardinal, he started lighting up the radar guns after spending time on the development list in 2024. 

22.  He was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the year in Baseball despite playing in only 5 games. 

23.  A Yale graduate, he had just enrolled at Notre Dame for grad school when the Cubs called. 

24.  As a sophomore he and a fellow minor league starter on this list were the Friday and Saturday starters for Arkansas. 

25.  After failing to get drafted he struck out 44 batters in 24 innings for the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore League 

26.  He had perhaps the best stuff and the worst command of any Cubs ACL starter last year. 

27.  Working on a “splinker” this year; he started 36 games for South Carolina. 

28.  The “Cubs top DSL prospect of 2023” according to Arizona Phil, he earned a late season promotion in 2023 to the ACL and spent nearly all of last year in low-A. 

29.  His wife is a former UCLA women’s basketball player. 

30.   This Venezuelan native who went to high school in Florida played in the AFL in fall 2024. 

31.  This California native was named the Big West freshman pitcher of the year in 2022. 

 

 

 

Nope

[allen6510w]

10 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Hmmm….

5: Evan Aschenbeck

6: Christian Gordon

7: Brooks Caple

16: Nazier Mule

18: JP Wheat? AZPhil mentioned him sitting 98-100 too IIRC

21: McGwire

26: Miguel Cruz?

27: Will Sanders

24: Noland?

Alright its alot…

AZPhil had these updates today:

Lugo was solid in the DSL last year including a 31/22 BB:K and .421 OBP, L/L CF/OF

Thanks for the update on Lugo.  He is a few months younger than Robin Ortiz who was also on the bubble for a promotion to Mesa this year.  Robin and marginal prospect Darlyn DeLeon could still be added to Mesa. 

5) He spent his Junior and Senior years in the Texas A & M bullpen. (Evan Aschenbeck)

6) This diminutive lefty started 16 games for VCU last year. (Christian Gordon) 

7) This 6’6” righty was the Southland Conference pitcher of the year in 2024. (Brooks Caple) 

16) He first touched 100 as a 16-year old. (Nazier Mule) 

18) He was an ESPN 4-start football recruit as a senior in HS but quit football to focus on baseball after his freshman year in college (Connor Noland) 

24) He and Jaxon Wiggins (#24 on the list) were the Friday and Saturday starters for Arkansas. 

21) The son of a famous Cardinal, he started lighting up the radar guns after spending time on the development list in 2024. (Mason McGwire) 

26) He had perhaps the best stuff and the worst command of any Cubs ACL starter last year. (Miguel Cruz) 

27) Working on a “splinker” this year; he started 36 games for South Carolina. (Will Sanders) 

[allen6510w]

 

As you are aware, Cody Poteet was DFA but could choose to stay in the Cubs organization.

Chris Flexen likely has an opt out option or two or three but the date of any are unknown. 

[Bertz]

16 minutes ago, allen6510w said:

 

As you are aware, Cody Poteet was DFA but could choose to stay in the Cubs organization.

Chris Flexen likely has an opt out option or two or three but the date of any are unknown. 

I vaguely recall the Athletic saying there was an expectation Flexen would stay in the org.

[Jason Ross]

AZ Phil recently reported that Long is getting a lot of work at 3b on the backfields. I wonder if the Cubs are prepping more of a "rotation" at 1b - with Ballesteros, Caissie and Long rotating in off of RF, C, 3b and DH respectively. 

[allen6510w]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

AZ Phil recently reported that Long is getting a lot of work at 3b on the backfields. I wonder if the Cubs are prepping more of a "rotation" at 1b - with Ballesteros, Caissie and Long rotating in off of RF, C, 3b and DH respectively. 

Thanks.  I hadn't heard Caissie was getting time in the infield.   That would certainly add flexibility; OF Greg Allen could stay in the organization too. 

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, allen6510w said:

Thanks.  I hadn't heard Caissie was getting time in the infield.   That would certainly add flexibility; OF Greg Allen could stay in the organization too. 

He  hasn't gotten time yet but I would suspect he will - call it a guess - but he gives the Cubs a LHH option there and he has the size/bat. Especially as he comes off a surgery. It would allow the Cubs a LHH 1b option if Busch goes down without having to pigeonhole Moises Ballesteros into 1b or take away from his dev, and while I like Long, assume the org is higher on Caissie than Long currently.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

4 hours ago, allen6510w said:

 

As you are aware, Cody Poteet was DFA but could choose to stay in the Cubs organization.

Chris Flexen likely has an opt out option or two or three but the date of any are unknown. 

From what I’ve heard, I’d be floored if Poteet stays in the org.

[Jason Ross]

31 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

From what I’ve heard, I’d be floored if Poteet stays in the org.

Oh really? I had a feeling he might stick around due to his association with Zombro and the Cubs somewhat-thin SP depth chart (with Assad, Horton, and Birdsell currently unavailable to fulfill an MLB SP role for various reasons). A bit of a bummer, but not one I'd ruminate over, either. 

[allen6510w]

Also, I "re-forgot" that David Bracho is on the 60-day DL. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Good to see Caissie is healthy.

[Jason Ross]

Franklin on the I-Cubs IL is interesting. Mostly just for me. I refuse to give up the dream. 

[Bertz]

19 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Good to see Caissie is healthy.

Luke Little too.  I knew both guys had gotten into a few games this spring but wondered if they'd both be a week or three behind.

And I could have seen the team go either way with Long at either Iowa or Tenn.  He demolished Tenn but it was only 200 PAs.  Great to see him open at Iowa.

[allen6510w]

Arizona Phil is reporting that Yahil Melendez did not make Myrtle Beach's opening day roster and that Eriandys Ramon was demoted from South Bend to take his place.  Yahil had a 0.401 OPS versus lefties last year (earning much concern from Arizona Phil) and a 0.923 OPS versus righties,  Ramon's demotion suggests that some of the moderate hype about him over the winter could be misplaced but may simply mean Jefferson Rojas is ready to go as these moves also pave the way for the Cubs to move Jefferson Rojas off of the DL soon.  I assume Rojas will start at Daytona as he is rusty and also struggled there last year.  That will free up Christian Hernandez to play 2B or perhaps a bit of CF if Ismael Mena remains on the DL or if the Cubs get frustrated with the bevy of corner outfielders auditioning for the CF job at Daytona this spring.  They could also demote Parker Chavers from AA to fill the CF spot, as Bret Bateman is close to coming off of the DL. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Smokies opening roster is out:

No Gray or Wiggins.

[Bertz]

Good lord that's awful.  I don't know that we've had an affiliate this bad since the farm was at its nadir in 2019.  Hopefully Gray and Wiggins are at South Bend and not the IL.

[Rex Buckingham]

Is Will Sanders the only legit "prospect" on that roster?  Murray and Ramirez and Armstrong are guys worth keeping an eye on on, but I don't think anyone but Sanders (and maybe not even him?) is someone you'd seek out to see what they've been doing

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jaxon Wiggins at South Bend. No Drew Gray or Erian Rodríguez.

Burl Carraway healthy again,

[allen6510w]

2 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

The Smokies opening roster is out:

No Gray or Wiggins.

That roster only contains 26 players.   Presumably they will add another IF (Howard?) and perhaps another starting pitcher soon.  Gray's control in 2024 was so poor that I wouldn't be too disappointed with him starting in high-A again; looks like Grant Kipp may have beaten him out for a spot. 

 

[Bertz]

58 minutes ago, Rex Buckingham said:

Is Will Sanders the only legit "prospect" on that roster?  Murray and Ramirez and Armstrong are guys worth keeping an eye on on, but I don't think anyone but Sanders (and maybe not even him?) is someone you'd seek out to see what they've been doing

Ramirez is legit as well.  He's been an age darling for a while and there was some EV data posted recently that was encouraging in terms of ceiling.

I haven't sat down and done a list in a while, but I'd guess Sanders and Ramirez would land in my 15-20 range and no one else would crack 30.  Leigh, Scalzo, and Armstrong have big league relief profiles.

But yeah, it's pretty bleak.  The good news is there's a log jam at Iowa, so potentially that missing wave of talent doesn't have to be felt too much as it'll take time for the org to work through the guys there.