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A savior?  No.  Possible major league pitching depth?  Maybe.  More is better.

Theo et al will likely CONTINUE to find ways to build strong pitching staffs, whether by FA or otherwise...Leal may help!  Or maybe not. 

Our minor league pitching hasn't produced yet; however, what's also true is that - clearly - our front office has strongly prioritized drafting and developing every-day players rather than pitchers...and it's likely many other front offices now wish they'd done the same!

I wouldn't throw in the towel on Leal or our overall pitching pipeline.  Leal - and the pipeline - may produce in a year or two or three.  Of course, with pitching, it's rather hard to predict.

Hoerner turned a double into a triple and Giabronne with some nice nice two strike hitting to get the ball in play and drive him in.

Hoerner: 1-5, 3B, E

Giambrone: 3-5, 2B, RBI, SB, E

Clark: 2-4-0-0-1-1

The Arizona Fall League championship game will be on the MLB network Saturday at 2:08  CST (and replayed later).

The Mesa Solar Sox are 1½  games back of Salt River with two games to play.  Both games are against last place Surprise.  The ½ game is due to a tie.

The Mesa and Salt River both won so the Solar Sox won't be playing in the AFL championship game on Saturday afternoon.

By Jim Callis MLB.com @JimCallisMLB
Nov. 15th, 2018

MESA, Ariz. -- "Both Nico Hoerner and the Cubs were excited to see how he'd fare in his first taste of pro ball after they drafted him 24th overall in June. But his pro debut lasted just 14 games before he strained ligaments in his left elbow diving for a ball in July.
One of the purposes of the Arizona Fall League is to help prospects make up for lost at-bats and innings. Hoerner took full advantage of the opportunity, emerging as one of the best hitters in the developmental league despite his lack of pro experience. He concluded his season with a three-hit day on Thursday, stroking a pair of doubles and driving in three runs as his Mesa Solar Sox outlasted the Surprise Saguaros 11-10.
Hoerner said he was thankful to the Cubs for giving him the opportunity to play in the AFL. The only other 2018 draftee in the league this fall was Mesa right-hander Calvin Coker, a 15th-round pick by the Athletics.
"They trusted me a lot," Hoerner said. "They knew I'd make the most of it, whether the results were great or not, I'd make the most of it development-wise. That was my goal going into it, and I think I did a good job of that."
After batting .327/.450/.571 with two homers and six steals in 14 games across three levels during his truncated pro debut, Hoerner hit .337/.362/.506 with a homer and a steal in 21 games for the Solar Sox. He tied for the Fall League lead with four triples, ranked second with 30 hits and placed third with 45 total bases.
During his time in Arizona, Hoerner stood out with his ability to handle the bat and use the entire field. The Stanford product also showed glimpses of sneaky power. Some scouts question whether his actions and arm fit better at shortstop, where he spent most of his time with Mesa, or at second base, but there are no worries about his ability to produce at the plate.
Hoerner said the Fall League helped him learn what he needed to improve going forward. Though he had a lot of success at the plate, he also drew just two walks versus 16 strikeouts in 94 plate appearances.
"I feel like I understand already what I do that works for me at this level, but also things I really need to work on and got exposed in some ways," Hoerner said. "So for me moving forward, it helps my offseason knowing what I need to work on a lot. Pitch selection and approach, not so much I need to revamp my swing or anything but just getting to know how pitchers work and focusing on my strengths."

This is from mid-november but not sure if posted here before.

BA 2018 Cubs Draft Review:

Best Pure Hitter:  OF Cole Roederer (2s) showed an advanced feel to hit for a prep player, including an ability to use the whole field and a willingness to hang in against lefthanders. He showed an intriguing combination of power and speed in his pro debut … The Cubs liked Stanford SS Nico Hoerner (1) for his ability to put bat on ball. He whiffed no more than 29 times in each of his three seasons. He also showed an his ability to make every at-bat competitive. His pro debut was cut short by an elbow injury just one game after a promotion to low Class A South Bend.

Best Power:  Southern Miss 3B Luke Reynolds (10) took a circuitous path to the draft, but he has plus raw power now and put forth a 1.250 OPS in his final season in college … OF Brennen Davis' (2) strength, athleticism and lofted swing path also give him chance to develop above-average home run power as he gets older.

Fastest Baserunner:  OF Edmond Americaan (35) greatly improved his game with one year at Chipola JC. His toolset includes 70-grade speed, which he used to steal 11 bases in a 30-game pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League … Liberty OF D.J. Artis (7) isn't far behind Americaan, clocking in with plus speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

Best Defensive Player:  The Cubs got a polished infielder when they took INF Andy Weber (5) out of Virginia. Weber, who spent time at shortstop, third base and second base during his time with the Cavaliers, has smooth hands, a quick transfer and an accurate arm that rates as a 60 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

Best Athlete: Davis also starred in basketball in high school, earning defensive player of the year honor in his home state of Arizona. His mother, Jakki, was a long jumper at the University of Washington.

Best Fastball: Louisville RHP Riley Thompson(11) ran his fastball up to 98 and sat in the 93-94 mph range in his pro debut. More than that, the Cubs say the pitch showed the carry and ride through the zone that makes the pitch play better when it's thrown in the upper part of the strike zone.

Best Secondary Pitch:  RHP Paul Richan (2s), taken out of the University of San Diego, has a full four-pitch arsenal and earns high marks for his ability to vary the shape and velocity on his slider. He can throw the pitch for strikes and chases and will do so to both sides of the plate.

Best Pro Debut: Hoerner was trending this way before his season was cut short, but Roederer takes the honor for his excellent turn in the AZL. Roederer ranked No. 7 on BA's AZL Top 20 list for his all-around blend of skills.

Most Intriguing Background: Both of Weber's parents are violinists, and his father plays professionally with the Cleveland Orchestra … In addition to his basketball background and athletic bloodlines, Davis also owns a pet goat and two pet llamas named Marco and Polo.

Best Late-Round Pick: The Cubs had long been intrigued by Americaan, whom they nabbed in the 35th round and signed for a round-high $208,950. The figure was also the highest bonus in their class after the seventh round.

The One Who Got Away: LHP Mitchell Parker (28) and RHP Tyler Ras (33) are a pair of projectable pitchers who may blossom in college.

Will the Cubs add anybody other than Steele to the 40-man roster tomorrow?