Author Topic: On The Farm  (Read 324114 times)

craig

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8670 on: September 26, 2021, 03:32:04 pm »
ben, I don't think the Cubs update actual weights to the websites.  I think the 150-160 lb is still what they listed for him when they signed him as a 16-year-old out of 10th grade.  After 6 years in the system, with natural growth, and with the Cubs workout equipment and nutrition plans, he's not that skinny guy anymore.  He's not likely to naturally mature into much more if any more power than he already has?

Hitting, of course, is the hardest and most rare gift. 

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8671 on: September 28, 2021, 12:11:44 am »
Devers had the most starts of any Cubs SP in the ACL this season and then got a cup of coffee at Myrtle. Was a 2017 Int’l signing and was very good in DSL in 2018 and 2019.

Now at Instructs and AZ Phil latest report on his most recent appearance:

Cubs SP Luis Devers hurled three innings of no-run / no-hit ball for the Cubs. Not counting 2021 draft picks who spent time in Mesa during the course of the ACL season, Devers was (by far) the ACL Cubs top pitching prospect, and probably should be considered one of the Cubs Top 15 pitching prospects going into the 2022 season.

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ben

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8672 on: September 28, 2021, 06:56:34 am »
Craig, you're probably right about Christopher Morel's weight not being updated, but I'd still guess he'd add strength as he doesn't turn 23 until end of June, '22.  The BIG question is, of course, whether he can improve his strike-zone judgment and plate discipline.  Most can't very much.

Brennen Davis refers to C. Morel as "the electric factory." Scouts describe him as having plus speed, power and a plus plus arm.  Some compare him to Baez as a super quick-twitch athlete with extreme exit velos.  Canario probably falls into about the same category.

Most guys are unable to make the necessary adjustments to climb the ladder successfully.  It must be incredibly hard, particularly when facing what MLB pitchers fire at hitters these days.  Still, it will be fun to watch Morel (and Canario) next season to see if, somehow, one or both can become an outlier and improve pitch recognition as they mature.  If so, Cubs will really have something.

craig

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8673 on: September 29, 2021, 07:18:48 pm »
DSL teams didnt play today, but yesterday Ballesteros hit his 3rd HR.  He's got his average up to .276, OBP to .396, and has been hitting better down the stretch.  30BB/24K.  My recall is that he was a bat-first catcher, and wasn't necessarily projected to be a wizard defensively.  So I sure want him to hit.  But *IF* he actually can catch just fine, it would be so awesome to develop a catcher who could hit well, in a post Willson future.  Ballesteros is only 17, so a Contreras-extension still wouldn't mess with Moises' timeline anyway.  Would love to see him pan out. 

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8674 on: September 29, 2021, 07:22:12 pm »
Brennen Davis with a double and three walks today.

Ron

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8675 on: September 29, 2021, 07:28:05 pm »
He seems to be adapting to AAA fairly well.

Deeg

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8676 on: September 29, 2021, 11:01:56 pm »
He seems to be adapting to AAA fairly well.

Never equalled the magic of those first two ABs though...

ben

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8677 on: September 29, 2021, 11:17:26 pm »
Smaller sample size, but Christopher Morel has played well in AAA so far, too.

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8678 on: September 30, 2021, 08:48:40 pm »
DJ Herz is BA #10 prospect in Low A East league:

Herz pitched just 10.1 innings in his pro debut in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season, but he didn’t look rusty in his first full season.

The 20-year-old lefthander excelled with Myrtle Beach before a promotion to High-A on Sept. 2. He used his three-pitch mix to overmatch Low-A hitters while striking out 14.4 per nine innings. Herz uses a crossfire delivery that gives his fastball deception, and he sits in the low-to-mid 90s, with one manager calling the pitch electric.

Herz’s changeup is his best secondary offering, and it’s a pitch that earns plus grades. He has worked to improve his curveball, turning the pitch into an average offering.

The main area of emphasis for Herz is throwing strikes more consistently and pitching deeper into games. He threw five or more innings just four times in 17 Low-A starts, while walking 5.2 per nine innings.

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8679 on: September 30, 2021, 08:56:10 pm »
Cassie, Alcantara, and Triantos are #3,4,6 prospects in BA ACL rankings:

3. Owen Caissie, OF, Cubs

Drafted by the Padres in 2020 and traded to the Cubs that offseason as part of the return for Yu Darvish, Caissie made a loud statement as one of the best hitters in Arizona before a late-August promotion to Low-A Myrtle Beach.

Caissie stands out for his approach at the plate, with feel to hit, a compact bat path and ability to use the whole field. He can hit breaking pitches and projects to have plus power.

”The way he can go oppo with damage is super impressive for his young age,” Cubs manager Lance Rymel said, “and he has a great baseball mind. He loves the game. No one will work harder.”

Caissie is an average runner with an average arm, projecting to be able to handle either corner outfield position.

4. Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs

Alcantara began the season in the Florida Complex League as a member of the Yankees organization but joined the Cubs at the trade deadline when Chicago traded Anthony Rizzo to New York. The lean, lanky Alcantara joined the Cubs and quickly posted an outstanding 1.024 OPS in 34 games.

Alcantara projects to be a total package of tools and performance, with the ceiling of an all-star-caliber center fielder. His swing is balanced and works well despite his long limbs, and he should add more power to what already grades as plus when he fills out his frame. With instincts and confidence in the field Alcantara could become a plus defender with a plus arm, giving him a good chance to stay in the middle of the outfield.

“He’s young and he’s got to keep learning and playing the game,” said Cubs manager Lance Rymel. “You see the tools that he has, and everything will iron itself out when he starts playing more.”

6. James Triantos, SS/2B, Cubs

The Cubs selected Triantos in the second round and went over slot to sign him for $2.1 million. The Virginia high school product looked overmatched in his first couple of ACL games but quickly adjusted to the speed of the game, showing off his plus bat with a strong swing capable of driving balls to all fields with average to above-average power. Triantos saved the best for last, posting a 1.199 OPS in September with a two-homer game in the season finale.

Scouts observed that defensively the game still got too fast for Triantos, questioning whether he will be better suited to second base or third base rather than shortstop, but he’s athletic enough to improve as his career progresses. He showed average speed in his first pro season. Triantos’ makeup is solid, and he projects as a prospect who will play above his tools as he progresses through the system.
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ben

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8680 on: October 01, 2021, 07:59:07 am »
Thanks for that great info re some of our young guys, Reb
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Chris27

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8681 on: October 01, 2021, 09:32:58 pm »
Cubs started Luis Angel Rodriguez at Iowa tonight after he'd been dominant at the lowest levels. It.....didn't go well. Iowa down 18-1 in the 8th.

Make that 22-2.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2021, 09:48:46 pm by Chris27 »

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8682 on: October 01, 2021, 10:47:48 pm »
Cubs started Luis Angel Rodriguez at Iowa tonight after he'd been dominant at the lowest levels. It.....didn't go well. Iowa down 18-1 in the 8th.

Make that 22-2.

Interesting that Cubs gave Rodriguez this start.

Below is a blurb from Cubs Den a couple weeks ago:

“Luis Angel Rodriguez is a left-handed pitcher to keep an eye on heading into 2022. He’s a little older at 22-years old and been in the system for several years, so keep expectations tempered, but he throws a low-90s fastball, a pretty darn good curve, and I also like the speed differential and movement on his changeup. Rodriguez earned DSL pitcher of the year honors back in 2018 when he posted an 0.73 ERA. His delivery is simple, and when he is in rhythm his command is solid. He’s been excellent in a handful of appearances for Myrtle Beach late in the year.”

Reb

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8683 on: October 04, 2021, 01:02:11 pm »
AZ Phil:

Barring injury, I don't think there is any question that Drew Gray will be in the Myrtle Beach Opening Day starting rotation in 2022, probably with Luke Little, Luis Devers, Tyler Schlaffer, and Porter Hodge.

Gray is certainly among the Cubs top ten pitching prospects right now (maybe even top five), in the same group as Brailyn Marquez, D. J. Herz, Jordan Wicks, Caleb Kilian, Ryan Jensen, Kohl Franklin, Riley Thompson, Alexander Vizcaino, and Daniel Palencia

Bennett

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #8684 on: October 06, 2021, 12:16:19 pm »
Mark Gonzales

Cubs minor leaguers RHPs Caleb Kilian, Ryan Jensen, Danis Correa; LHP Brendon Little; OF Nelson Velazquez; 1B Troy Johnston; SS Luis Vazquez, SS Andy Weber selected to play for Mesa in @MLBazFallLeague
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