Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 7-18-25

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (Central Time):

Iowa vs. Columbus, 7:08 pm
Knoxville at Birmingham, 7:00 pm
South Bend vs. Beloit, 6:05 pm
Myrtle Beach vs. Augusta, 6:05 pm
ACL Cubs at ACL White Sox, 8:00 pm
DSL Cubs Blue vs. DSL Brewers Gold, 10:00 am
DSL Cubs Red at DSL Mariners, 10:00 am

Probable Starters:

Iowa: RHP Brandon Birdsell (2025 AAA debut)
Knoxville: RHP Tyler Schlaffer (11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 8 K, 4 BB)
South Bend: RHP Brooks Caple (34.2 IP, 7.27 ERA, 5.91 FIP, 21 K, 18 BB)

[Donzo]

They're back! Should have a Wiggins sighting in the next couple days.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

18 minutes ago, Donzo said:

They're back! Should have a Wiggins sighting in the next couple days.

Tomorrow.

Schlaffer today.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Both DSL games were suspended or shortened due to rain:

Juan Tomás: 1/2, BB, K - .693 OPS
Luis León: 0/1, BB - .893
Juan Cabada: 0/2, K - .898
Wilfri de la Cruz: 1/2 - .799
Ivan Cespedes 1/2, K - .926

[Bertz]

Alcantara is still out of the Iowa lineup....not great

[Transmogrified Tiger]

32 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Alcantara is still out of the Iowa lineup....not great

He was spotted on the Mesa backfields earlier this week so probably just a matter of a couple days?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Birdsell topped out at 95.5 so far.

4 K, 4 BB, 1 ER through 2.

[Bertz]

12 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

He was spotted on the Mesa backfields earlier this week so probably just a matter of a couple days?

Oh nice, that's very encouraging

[Bertz]

Lumpuy with a double in the MB 1st inning.  It's still SSS enough it could just be a hot streak but this feels like a breakout.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Bertz]

Tyler Schlaffer is shoving again.  I like the movement on the fastball and the slider, but I really don't see how he's doing *this*.  I'd love for a pitch design guy to give us the dirt on him.

[Bertz]

Jostin Florentino with 6 no hit innings, 9 K's and 1 BB

I know the stuff isn't overwhelming... I wonder if the funky arm slot is just too much for the kids in Low A to deal with, even the lefties?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

14 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Jostin Florentino with 6 no hit innings, 9 K's and 1 BB

I know the stuff isn't overwhelming... I wonder if the funky arm slot is just too much for the kids in Low A to deal with, even the lefties?

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Rojas ended up 1/4 with a double in his double-A debut.

[craig]

What kind of velocity does Florentino have?  Well below average, yes?  Not sure it matters if it's always about the movement and break, not the speed.  .  

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, craig said:

What kind of velocity does Florentino have?  Well below average, yes?  Not sure it matters if it's always about the movement and break, not the speed.  .  

I don’t think it is always about the movement and not speed. Lack of velo means he has to be perfect all the time. Yes, he could be good. But it is a lot harder without at least average velo. 

[Bertz]

26 minutes ago, craig said:

What kind of velocity does Florentino have?  Well below average, yes?  Not sure it matters if it's always about the movement and break, not the speed.  .  

I believe 90-92, though with his arm angle I wouldn't be shocked if the models still really like it.  Jose Cuas comes to mind for example.

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

I believe 90-92, though with his arm angle I wouldn't be shocked if the models still really like it.  Jose Cuas comes to mind for example.

Was just about to come here and say that. With his arm slot being where it is, his fastball siting at 90-92 probably has significant movement to it. It looks like it's more of a traditional "two-seam" fastball with glove side run. With the movement on his sweeper, my guess, especially at MB, is that his fastball's shape is solid and creates a really hard decision point for young players because the two pitches are breaking away from each other; one down-and-away from a RHH and the other looks like it should sweep away from them due to how he has a low slot (like the sweeper) but has a bump back into them the other way late enough that they can't adjust.

When I look at the swing decisions from the highlight video, specially from the RHH'ers, they are looking off the plate, each time convinced that fastball is outside. My guess is they read "sweeper" based on arm-slot and the pitch ran back to the outside of the plate and surprised them. I really like where he's throwing that fastball. His sweeper placement on a strikeout to a LHH was...I think very much the result of Low-A. Upper level hitters should bang that pitch (2nd strikeout). 

If he can't add a few MPH to the fastball, RHH middle reliever might be the ultimate route. Get the fastball up to 92-94 and his two-seam is probably just enough to run away from LHH in a pinch, but that Jose Cuas comp stylistically matches up with his current profile! 

[craig]

Thanks for input, guys.  I'm guessing that there's a shot a little more velo will come with age and development?  But as a short slender guy, he doesn't seem like the obvious velocity-projection candidate.  Obviously the Cubs go with a lot of finesse low-velocity pitchers, Taillon, Imanaga, Steele, those are all below-average velocity guys.  But definitely it would be fun if Florentino grows into some and gets up nearer big-league average.  

[CaliforniaRaisin]