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Cade HortonMoises BallesterosMatt ShawOwen CaissieKevin AlcantaraCristian HernandezJaxon WigginsJames TriantosJefferson RojasAngel CepedaJonathon LongCole MathisBrandon BirdsellRonny CruzNazier MuleWilfri De La CruzJuan TomasIvan BrethowrWill SandersDerniche Valdez

Yes, there's a lot of reasons why is not a prospect but just for fun here are seven reasons he could be 1) He is from VZ and not the DSL - perhaps he had less reps as a youngster 2) In 2021, he had an 0.180 ISO in the DSL. 3) He missed 2022 with an injury but was still intriguing enough to be added to the AIFL roster. 4) He began 2023 in the DSL but was quickly promoted to the ACL after hitting 2 HRs in 8 ABs. 5) In 2023, he posted a 0.339/0.420/0.446 line in the ACL earning a late season promotion to low-A. 6) While he put up pedestrian numbers last year in low-A (0.260/0.379/0.428) he did fight injuries. 7) Yes, he's 22 but was 21 when the month began.

A look at the MiL position players who are off to a good offensive start this spring.

"Michael Carico's catcher's mitt is brown and black — but his glove is gold. The Davidson standout and Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year has earned a Gold Glove from the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings. He's the only catcher on the nine-player national team and Davidson's first-ever Gold Glover. In 364 defensive chances as a sophomore, Carico totaled 338 putouts and 24 assists and just two errors for a .995 fielding percentage. He threw out eight would-be base-stealers. Carico just completed a record-breaking offensive season, while helping the Wildcats to a program-best 43-13 record and their first outright regular-season conference title. Among many statistical highlights, Carico led the nation with a .559 on-base percentage, hit .406, slugged .843 and set the Davidson single-season mark with an A-10 leading 21 home runs. He also set single-season school records with 71 runs scored, 43 extra-base hits, 166 total bases, 26 hit-by-pitches and with the on-base and slugging percentages." .. from a June 22, 2022 article on Davidson Wildcats baseball -

Crazy indeed, and you didn't even mention Ben Leeper. "Carraway cemented himself as the top reliever in the 2020 draft class when he made five appearances for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and didn't allow a run. Carraway is a pure reliever with a slight frame and a “violent” high-effort delivery ..." Burl was shut down in 2022 after a May 21 outing with an elbow fracture. Burl did not pitch for the Cubs in 2023 and spent 2024 on the full-season IL. Will had TJ surgery on March 1, 2022, spent 2023 on the DL before debuting in the AZ instructional league in late September 2023. He opened 2024 on the 60-day DL before appearing in his first game on June 8. After 2 ACL starts he was moved up to low-A where he pitched twice before going on the 60-day DL. Koen is on the 60-day DL.

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.

Thursday, 12:35 p.m. ET -- Iowa Cubs (CHC) @ Indianapolis Indians (PIT) It’s been an inconvenient opening week for Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler (MLB No. 14), who had his season debut twice pushed back due to postponements. He is scheduled once again to take the ball in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Iowa. The precocious right-hander will face a Cubs lineup anchored by four Top 100 prospects: Owen Caissie (CHC No. 3/MLB No. 52), Moises Ballesteros (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 67), James Triantos (CHC No. 5/MLB No. 71) and Kevin Alcántara (CHC No. 6/MLB No. 88). No small task.

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.

That's funny. I just checked my list and I have Rodriguez #21 and Sanders #22. I was pretty disappointed when I thought he was going to be moved to the bullpen earlier this spring. I was surprised when he didn't get any prospect love and probably would have moved him down a few spots because of that ... Sanders is #25 on BA's list. Oft-injured McCullough is #23 on my list, with Sam Armstrong #26.

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

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.

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.

Thanks for the insight. Yes, his K/IP may be untenable (35 in 50 IP in AA versus 66 in 66 high-A IP). However, he did lower his HR/9 (2/50 IP in AA versus 5 / 66 IP in high-A), lower his BAA (0.202 versus 0.221), lower his W/IP (14 in 50 AA IP versus 22 in 66 high-A IP), and increase his ratio of ground outs to air outs (1.24 in AA versus 0.84 in high-A) upon promotion to AA last year. So I'm not too worried about his K/IP fall off. Of course, I also recognize that few minor league pitchers grow up to be top or mid-level starters.

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)

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.

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

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

LHRP Daniel Brown 6’3” 200 Lbs (200210) [2023-16, Campbell $150K] In 2022, Daniel gave up 4 runs on 0 hits, 4 walks, 2 BB, and 5 wild pitches over two appearances without recording an out. In 2023, in 4 games (1.0 IP), Brown had 4 wild pitches, 9 walks, and 3 strikeouts while giving up 6 earned runs. Again, he did not give up a single hit... because no one ever really needed to swing against him. So why was Brown drafted? He touched 100 in an outing against Marshall. Daniel did not pitch for the Cubs in 2023. In 2024, he did not debut until the ACL Continuation Camp in mid-August when in his first appearance, he allowed three walks, one HBP, and five WP all while not recording an out; his FB topped out at 94. Daniel was released on March 3 of 2025 before appearing in an official Cub minor league game.

Versatile Jaylen Palmer (3B, 1B, and LF in 2024) signed with the Cubs a few weeks ago and could be given an opportunity to win the 3B job at Iowa. From 2020-2022, he was one of the Mets #15-20 prospects. Power, some speed, but many K's. It'll be interesting to see if the Cubs promote Robin Ortiz from the DSL, go with the older but less exciting Darlyn De Leon, or another option. Darlyn made the mid-season DSL all star team last year in his 3rd year in the DSL. Matt Thompson, who was hard to hit last year in AA but had marginal control, was released by the Cubs last week. Hopefully, the early release helps him find a new opportunity. Chris Flexen may have an opt out clause. Arizona Phil, who knows about 15x as much about baseball as me, put out a projected AAA starting rotation a few days ago SP: Pearson, Wicks, Brown, Kilian, Poteet, Noland, and eventually Assad, Horton, and Birdsell;

Yes, if he breaks camp with South Bend he will keep his status as a "dart". After thriving in the ACL (0.226 ISO), he became more passive at the plate and struggled after being promoted to Myrtle Beach last summer. Will be interesting to see if he settles in at a position (3B?) or continues to move around the infield.

Thanks. I'm sure you're right about the "quite a bit different" part. I also hope Horton will start the year in the AAA rotation but was wondering if they would hold him back a bit so that he is strong in September. Makes sense to also start Brown there too given the roster is full.

It'll be interesting to see if Cade Horton is stretched out as a starter or converted to the bullpen. Nate Pearson could also be stretched out as a AAA starter. Other possibilities include Walker Powell and Brad Keller. The health status or roster status (DSL or US) is in question (for me at least) for players in italics. Several of the possible starters could be converted to the bullpen of course. In fact, several of them are so wild it is probably more likely than not. Several projected rookie level starters and/or position players could end up spending 2025 in the DSL - again. We'll see.

With February a few hours away -

FWIW (not much) I currently have Bello ranked as the #23 Cub prospect. He was a low-A starter last year and has a low 90s FB with a lot of run and a good curve. 91/28 K/W in 89.2 IP with a 0.225 BAA and 5 HRA.

While Baseball America did have Zyhir at #52, they also list him as a candidate (6 were listed although I'm sure they have a longer list than that) to be #1 next year: "Similarly, Hope would have to have a MiLB Player of the Year-caliber season to vault to No. 1, but that’s not an implausible ask. He has massive power potential with a chance to hit for average as well. As a bat-first outfielder, he’d have to vault multiple levels while showing exceptional performance. Hope has the ability to pull that off."