Bleacher Bums Forum

MB Pelicans pitchers struck out 19 batters tonight.

Drew Gray faced 10 batters and struck out seven.

Santy with 8 Ks in 4 IP.

After two frustrating walk-off losses we really needed to win, there's some comfort focusing on the minors and good things going on there.

Craig is right about IF Breslow and team get "wildmen under control" in Jackson Ferris and Drew Gray, we will really have something. 

Ferris (still age 19)  has 51 IP   (32 BB) for Myrtle, but only given up 34 hits, with 71 Ks. BAA is .189. Only 1 HR allowed. 

Gray (age 20)              24.2 IP  (21 BB, 18 H at MB with ZERO HR allowed,    with 40 Ks. BAA is .205. 

There are other very impressive young guys we might well have something in IF they can improve control, including Marino Santy (age 21).

Another lefty, Santy is shorter (5'11), but only allowed 1 HR in 72 IP, while he's fanned 96. BAA is .194, but 58 BB in 72 IP, so work to do.

Michael Arias is starting to get hit in high A, but he's fanned 104 in 75 IP (46 BB) and can bring serious heat.  Only 2 HR allowed. 

Of course, Cade Horton's stats are still borderline ridiculous - 84.1 IP, 58 H, almost 5:1 K ratio (114 Ks / 24 BB), 0.97 WHIP, .190 BAA.  2.77 ERA.

Finally, there's 6'8" LH Luke Little (age 23) who must improve control, but he's now at AAA and hasn't gotten hit hard yet on his way up.

Little's season numbers are great, other than 42 BB in 63.2 IP.  But only 1 HR and 40 H vs 105 Ks and .179 BAA. 2.12 ERA.  C'mon Breslow!

Some of the above won't make it due to health or failure to adapt and improve.  But the greater the inventory, the greater the odds!

A great example is Javier Assad, now 26. He looked like just a guy in minors, but has been unbelievable at MLB as we know (including last night).

Assad's MiLB numbers were nowhere near what's he done in MLB (e.g. 542 IP MiLB - .269 BAA, 1.37 WHIP; 127 MLB - .229 BAA, 1.27 WHIP)

And Assad's MLB numbers this season are even more eye-popping than his 2-season MLB numbers: 2023: 2.69 ERA (vs 2.82),    1.18 WHIP)

Developing pitching is an inexact science at best, but it feels llke Cubs inventory is FAR better than it's been. Wish they were all ready NOW!

Decades of being "all in" have tended to deflate the optimism of most diehard Cub fans, but I think you're correct about the next season(s), P2.

Things may change a lot if we can't re-sign Bellinger, but I generally agree there are good reasons for optimism going forward.

Unusual start for Arias today - 4 IP, only 1 K, 1h, 1ER, 0 BB.

Hughes got into Iowa’s game, 1-1-0-0-1.  Reportedly Burdi and Brown may pitch as well.

PCA with consecutive 4 K games this weekend.

He gets a chance at three in a row Golden Sombreros on Tuesday.

Baseball America has come out with their tools ratings in the various leagues.

Haydn McGeary was named best defensive first baseman in Southern League.

Wouldn’t necessarily read too much into that. Been reading BA since 1980s and sometimes there just any candidates of note at 1B defensively (or other low defensive spectrum spots). Have to pick somebody. Maybe McGeary actually is good there—I have no idea—but would not assume that from this. Still, kind of interesting, yes.

The slumping South Bend team has only scored 26 runs, but it is only the 5th inning, so they might put up respectable numbers yet.

48 total bases.

Wow.

Jackson Ferris, 19, our over-slot 2nd rounder, had another terrific performance last night: 5IP  1H  0ER 0R 0BB  6Ks.

According to Bleacher Nation, "Ferris was making his pro debut in full season ball as a high school draft pick. That was an aggressive and challenging assignment, yet Ferris responded by posting a 3.38 ERA (3.28 FIP) over 18 starts and 56.0 innings. He struck out 32.5%, walked 13.9%, gave up just ONE home run, and allowed a .177 average against.

Low-A hitters couldn’t really hit him. The consistency and command are where he’ll need to make his next developmental steps, but to do what he did at his age without any pro experience coming into the year … it’s very impressive stuff.

It more than justifies the Cubs having treated him like a first rounder last year, and should have him clearly in the Cubs’ top ten prospect group, even as densely crowded as it is."