craig

Reid nice. He's college, but he pitched 19 innings at OK State and then 88 at Abilene Christian. Not a lot of innings, and Abilene Christian isn't the highest level of competition. Coming right in and throwing strikes, I think that's pretty cool. Fun to see a fast start for him.

That wouldn't be too far below average, right? Average last year was around 94.5 overall in mlb, yes? (Including lefties, and starters...). Average for RH relievers was 95.6, I think? So might be a bit soft-toss for a reliever, but if command or spin was good, might have a playable fastball?

Some of Kepley's hits have seemed hard-hit enough to me? Like, he's not swinging for HR's, because he's probably not going to lift them that far. But he doesn't look like Madrigal, he's driving the ball enough to keep the outfielders honest, unlike Madrigal.

Does Caple have any velocity?

Kepley XBH alert as well. He's got two doubles, both hit to RF. I think of him as a pure oppo guy, so I love to see him using RF. Heavy singles guy in college, and Myrtle too, so love getting some XB. Lot of innings to go, but Cubs on pace for a sweep. Do it!

4 HR. Non-HR's, he's 3-for-26 with 9K. BABIP is a little low, at 3-for-17. Last 3 games, 5K's and zero non-HR hits. Small sample for sure, but some Patrick Wisdom vibes early.

wont be Riley. The Biochemist who signed for $1K is up with the Cubs!

Wow! I thought he's primarily a finesse curveballer, with some control. If he's actually got good fastball, he's got a shot to be an actual prospect. Then I'm fired up for sure! I loved the pick, and was surprised he was available for only slot. But yeah, if he's 3+ innings and almost 50 pitches already, he must be pretty healthy. If he's an offspeed guy, but his fastball isn't bad, why not be good.

interesting that Erian Rodriguez used in relief. i'd thought he might be the only other young prospect beside Martinez-G.

I'm interested in Jerzembeck. if anybody gets any velocity readings on him, I'd be really curious. soft-toss finesse lefty? Or at this point might he have a competitive fastball?

Interesting that Martinez-G is getting start. Not sure that means anything, other than may as well give the best young prospect careful, controlled, scheduled innings. Relievers like Palencia and Little were starting through AA also. In a sense, 1st-inning is always kinda higher leverage than a 6-1 game in the 8th inning. Would be fun to see him show progress and have success.

Not often that the top-3 guys take 10 walks plus an HBP, and reach base 14 times. Crazy! Bummer that Cabada didn't make it. I read somewhere that while Reid was very effective, his fastball was still mostly only 91-93. Had hoped there would be some some jump, but that doesn't sound like any.

That would be so cool if all three of Long, Alcantara, and Ramirez hit the ball hard and racked up some HR's. Go go go.

Interesting that Riley will start. Probably just a bullpen day. But I might have thought Velasquez might start. Obviously Charlie Barnes has already pitched in relief, maybe once everything gets rolling he will. Would be fun to have Riley get locked in. His stuff is good enough, I think, if his command could be consistent enough. Maybe getting some innings is just the thing, and getting a handful of 3-4 inning starts will help him?

Ethan Roberts with a couple of pitches up in the 94-ish range. Obviously still sub-par for a RH reliever. But a guy with good location and good movement with his other stuff can be effective with a 94 fastball. Best wishes to him!

How fast was he looking?

Yeah, makes sense. Not that Kipp back to AA is exactly unfair. 4.22 at super-pitcher-friendly Knoxville at age 26 isn't that compelling for promotion.

When will Iowa release it's roster, I wonder? I think the pitching could be quite interesting and good. Assad-Wiggins-Sanders-Noland-Velasquiz-Kipp, with Wright and Wicks on IL, that could be a pretty good group. Gavin Hollowell, Ethan Roberts, Luke Little, and Ryan Rolison, Snider, Corbin Martin, Brigham, seems like a pretty good group of relievers, too. Should be a lot of competition for roles and for callup when needed.

True. Well stated, and thanks for the encouraging stats showing improvement as year progressed. Helpful and hopeful. I'm just thinking for most anyone we discuss here, most could already hit quite well in A-ball, better than .673 OPS? And/or most also have a much more favorable age/league profile? Arias is 23, coming off .673 in A. For him to reach Gomes-level hitting is a long-shot for sure. But baseball development is a funny game and sometimes improbably outcomes happen. Would be really fun if he could develop into the kind of hitter who could play as a #2 catcher in the majors.

It would be kinda awesome if Amaya, Moises, Ayers, and Armas all worked out, though. Being internally well-stocked at catcher, for depth as well as starters, would be super awesome.

Not to belabor, but Gomes hit 137 big-league HR and had a career OPS of .706, BA .246. That's in the major leagues, not awful. Armas had .673 OPS and .234 BA in A-ball. So more overwhelmed by A-ball pitching than Gomes in the majors. Whole lot of improving to promote three levels to the majors and have his bat be playably antiawful. Hope it happens. Not saying it can't; but most guys who are anti-awful enough to play in the majors were comfortably above average in A ball.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7144516/2026/03/25/chicago-cubs-breakout-prospects-2026/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=212065&source=dailyemail For pay. Sharma lists 5 "breakout" candidates, and doesn't include Conrad given the injuries. "What other young players could join Crow-Armstrong as key pieces to future winning Cubs teams? ..... But for now, here are five Cubs prospects who could break out in 2026." The 5: Wiggins, Ramirez, Rojas, Hartshorn, and..... Arriel Armas. Armas the most surprising inclusion. Some notes: Ramirez: "But the Cubs believe the power will come. It showed up in the spring, but it’s dangerous to take too much away from those results. The Cubs have adjusted Ramírez’s posture at the plate, which they believe will help him catch the ball out in front and lift it in the air a little more." "Even if he doesn’t develop power, many believe this is a major-leaguer who can help with a great glove and contact skills." Armas, I'll copy the whole bit: "A deep cut in the system who deserves a mention because many within the organization have sung his praises. The defense is already up to snuff with Armas. Pitchers and coaches rave about him as well. He frames, has a strong arm, knows the scouting reports, understands how to handle a staff and seems very advanced in many areas defensively. On offense, he’s incredibly strong. He’s been on the ground a lot, pushing too much in his swing. But they believe he has the skills to get to at least average on offense. The Cubs believe he’s a hidden gem who not enough people are talking about." Pipeline has him at #20, and also loves his defense. For his offense, they have "Armas ...has a sound right-handed stroke and a decent approach, but he struggles against changeups and is hapless against breaking balls. He showed some aptitude for launching balls to his pull side in 2025, but he doesn't barrel enough to provide more than 8-10 homers per season." Hartshorn: "If one were to take a quick poll of Cubs executives and coaches across the organization as to who will end up on top 100 lists that already isn’t on them, Hartshorn would likely be the name heard most.... A thickly built player with deceptively great athleticism, Hartshorn just looks like he belongs when he steps in the box. A switch-hitter who can play all over the outfield — though he’ll be given a lot of time in center to start — he has an advanced approach at the plate and has quickly proven to be a very knowledgeable hitter who has all the physical traits teams look for."

Wiggins has been a strike-thrower. If his fastball improved a little bit, the combo of good location with improved velocity is appealing.

Wing had some 95+ fastballs, though. Not fast by big-league norm. But not bad for a fastball with good ride; and for a kid who's been 19 for only a few months, and who probably has physical maturation left.

It's command and consistency. The slider moves plenty enough.