Arizona Phil's Archives

9/17 UPDATE: 

SS Zack Short (replacing Nico Hoerner) and RHRP Scott Effross have been added to the Mesa Solar Sox roster. 

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8/28 UPDATE #2: 

One pitcher still TBA, but here are the Cubs assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox (AFL):

Miguel Amaya, C 
Nico Hoerner, INF
Jordan Minch, LHRP  
Keegan Thompson, RHSP  
Erich Uelmen, RHSP 
Jared Young, 1B-OF
TBA, P 

Jamie Vermilyea, Pitching Coach 

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8/28 UPDATE #1: 

The Cubs have assigned SS Nico Hoerner to the Mesa Solar Sox.  

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8/26 UPDATE: 

Cubs (South Bend) Pitching Coach Jamie Vermilyea has been named pitching coach for the Mesa Solar Sox. (The Cubs are responsible for providing the MSS pitching coach in 2019). .  

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7/31 ORIGINAL POST: 

The 2019 Arizona Fall Schedule has been announced.

An unsigned player under club control who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration.

Also, any unsigned player with at least two years but less than three years of MLB Service Time who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time during the previous season can qualify for salary arbitration as a so-called "Super Two" if the player is among the top 22% in MLB Service Time of players in that group (rounded to the nearest whole number). And if  two or more players are tied with the same MLB Service Time just above the "Super Two" threshold, all of the players with that accrued MLB ST would get "Super Two" status even if that means the number of players with "Super Two" status exceeds 22%.   

UPDATED 9-9-2019 

Here is the Cubs 2019 post-season roster eligibility list:  

POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY RULES 

A club's Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st.

A club's Active List (25-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).

So with the Cubs selecting the contract of LHRP Danny Hultzen from AAA Iowa today, Hultzen becomes the Cubs first 2019 Draft-Excluded Player.  

In addition to being a Draft-Excluded Player (which limits what the Cubs can do with him in the off-season, especially after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft), Hultzen is also out of minor league options (so he can't be optioned to Iowa if he doesn't make the Cubs 2020 Opening Day 25-man roster), and he can elect free-agency if he is outrighted (because he has been outrighted previously in his career).

UPDATED 7/13: 

Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.

As things stand right now at the 2019 MLB All-Star Break.... 

The following Cubs have used up their last minor league option year in 2019 and thus will be out of options come Spring Training 2020 (presuming they are still on the Cubs 40-man roster):

7/5 RE-POST: I posted this about three months ago, but here it is again since we are within a month of the 2019 MLB trade deadline... 

4/9 ORIGINAL POST 


There were a couple of changes of note made to MLB Rules in 2019 (they were officially approved this week), one pertaining to Trade Assignment Waivers and the MLB Trade Deadline, and the other with regard to Outright Assignment Waiver claims. 

One change was reported (with much fanfare but without much detail) in the media, but the other one was not reported at all.

So here they both are (in somewhat greater detail).  

Sad news at Sloan Park Saturday night as informatiion was received that long-time Cubs Dominican Republic Area Scout Carlos Reyes was struck and killed by a car in Santo Domingo on Friday. 

Reyes was one of four Cubs Dominican Area Scouts (the Cubs also have a Dominican Scouting Coordinator). He was hired by the Cubs about twelve years ago after newly-hired Scouting Director Tim Wilken significantly expanded the Cubs international scouting foot-print (the Cubs previously had one Area Scout covering all of the Dominican Republic).  

Reyes signed dozens of Dominican players over the years, including OF Eloy Jimenez, INF Arismendy Alcantara, RHP Jose Rosario, RHP Pedro Araujo, OF Jonathan Sierra, RHP Yunior Perez, INF Luis Diaz, RHP Benjamin Rodriguez, and RHP Luis Ramos.

Per statistics compiled by the World Health Organization in 2016, the Dominican Republic has the highest rate of traffic-related fatalities per 100,000 population of any country in the Americas (Belize is a distant second). Cubs minor leaguers RHP Jose Zapata and OF Kevin Encarnacion (both signed by Reyes) were almost killed (and had their playing careers effectively destroyed) after being involved in a roll-over car crash in the Dominican in January 2014, and another Cubs minor leaguer (not signed by Reyes) -- 16-year old SS Vicente King -- was killed in a motorcycle crash in the Dominican in April 2017, less than two months before he was scheduled to make his pro debut in the DSL.  

6/16 UPDATE:

With just minutes left before the midnight (Eastern) deadline, the Cubs signed two more 2018-19 J-2 IFA (both from Mexico), bringing the total number of 2018-19 J-2 IFA signed by the Cubs to 39, including 21 since the Cubs acquired $750K in ISBP space from the Baltimore Orioles this past April in return for allowing the Orioles to keep 2017 Rule 5 draft pick RHRP Pedro Araujo.    

Here is what I saw this week from Craig Kimbrel's Spring Training in June at the Cubs Mesa facility:  

2019 AZL Opening Day is this coming Monday (6/17).

6/12 UPDATE/CHANGES: 

SS Luis Vazquez has been moved-down to Eugene from AAA Iowa and C Marcus Mastrobuoni has been reinstated from the South Bend 7-day IL and so his rehab assignment at Eugene has been canceled.  

C-1B Danny Zardon has been moved up to Eugene from AZL Cubs #1, and SS Luis Verdugo has been moved down to AZL Cubs #2 from Eugene.  

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6/9 ORIGINAL POST 6/9: 


The Northwest League begins play this coming Friday (6/14). 

Here is the provisional 2019 Eugene Emeralds Opening Day roster (subject to change). 

In most cases 2019 draft picks will be initially assigned to one of the Cubs two AZL squads.

 

CUBS 2019 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (6/3)

1st ROUND (27) 
Ryan Jensen, RHP  
R/R, 6'0 180, Age 21 
Fresno State  
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin   
COMMENT: Bulldogs Friday starter... 2019 Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year... 12-1 with a 2.88 ERA & 1.09 WHIP, 82 hits allowed (only three HR), 27/107 BB/K in 100 IP, 16 games (15 GS) with one CG shutout in 2019... features a mid-90's FB that touches 98 and has run & sink... also features a plus-hard SL and a usable CH, but is primarliy a FB/SL pitcher... a "late bloomer" who had significant command issues in 2017-18 but obviously he improved his control in 2019... worked out of the bullpen in 2017 before moving to starting rotation in 2018...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,570,100 

2nd ROUND (64) 
Chase Strumpf, 2B 
R/R, 6'1 191, Age 21 
UCLA 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Bat-first infielder with below average range and a below-average arm that limits him to playing 2B only... hit 363/475/633 with 12 HR & 53 RBI and 23 doubles in 58 games in 2018 and was named All-Pac 12 and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a sophomore and was named a first-team pre-season All-American by Baseball America going into his junior year, but he had a disappointing 2019 campaign (289/431/469 in 53 games) although he was 7th in the Pac-12 in walks... hit 26 HR and 44 doubles and collected 121 RBI in 166 career games at UCLA over the course of three seasons... played for Duluth in the summer collegiate wood-bat Northwoods League in 2017 and hit 335/425/549 with six HR & 32 RBI and 15 doubles in 44 games...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,050,300

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DAY TWO (6/4)  

3rd ROUND (103) 
Michael McAvene, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 210, Age 21 
U. of Louisville
COLLEGE JR  
AREA SCOUT: Jacob Williams 
COMMENT: Cardinals closer... posted 2.67 ERA & 0.79 WHIP with 16 hits (three HR) allowed and 9/46 BB/K over 30.1 IP in 21 games in 2019... was recruited as a SP but was moved to bullpen after undergoing TJS in 2017... missed most of the 2017-18 seasons... features a 92-95 MPH four-seam FB that touches 96-97 and a plus-SL, but FB was clocked at 100 MPH in ACC tournament last month... doesn't use his CH much after moving to the pen... was suspended four games this past weekend after arguing a ball-strike call with an umpire in an NCAA Regional game... was a college teammate of Cubs minor league RHP Riley Thompson (Cubs 2018 11th round draft pick- U. of Louisville)...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $565,600

4th ROUND (132)
Chris Clarke, RHP 
R/R, 6'7 212, Age 20 
USC 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Began season as set-up guy but inherited the closer job when previous USC closer was moved to starting rotation... had TJS in HS and still has difficulty throwing on back-to-back days. so he's more of a multi-inning type "fireman" who can close out a game than a more-conventional one-inning closer... 1.03 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and .170 OppBA with 32 hits (only two HR) allowed and 18/60 BB/K in 52.1 IP for Trojans in 2019... features 92-95 MPH two-seamer with sink and a plus-CV (which is his swing & miss pitch)... a true scholar-athlete who graduated from HS when he was 16...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $426,600 

5th ROUND (162)
Josh Burgmann, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 205, Age 21 
U. of Washington 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Sandy 
COMMENT: Huskies Friday starter... finished tied for 2nd in strikeouts in Pac-12 Conference in 2019... posted a 4-6 record with a 3.99 ERA & 1.39 WHIP with 88 hits (9 HR) allowed and 22/101 BB/K in 79.0 IP (14 GS) for Huskies in 2019... extreme strike-thrower with outstanding command... pitched for Canadian 18U Junior National Team in 2014-16...attended Vauxhall Baseball Academy in Alberta (Canada) and was selected by STL in 30th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... had TJS in 2017... worked out of u-dub bullpen during rehab season in 2018 before developing a put-away slider and moving into starting rotation in 2019... features full array of starter's repertoire (low-90's FB, SL, CV, and CH)... was a college teammate of Cubs minor league INF Levi Jordan (Cubs 2018 29th round draft pick - U. of Washington)... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE:  $318,200

6th ROUND (192)
Ethan Hearn, C 
L/R, 6'1 195, Age 18 
Mobile Christian School - Mobile, AL 
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Mississippi State 
AREA SCOUT: Alex McClure
COMMENT: Top high school catcher in the draft and #3 catching prospect behind only #1 overall pick Adley Rutschman (Oregon State) and 1st round (9th overall) pick Shea Langeliers (Baylor)... has plus-arm and plus-power... receiving needs work...  will require significant overslot bonus to sign (probably $1M+)... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $247,000

7th ROUND (222) 
Brad Deppermann, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 190, Age 22 
U. of North Florida 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SR)
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark  
COMMENT: Ospreys Friday starter... Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year... led conference in strikeouts... posted 6-5 record with 2.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and .217 OppBA, and allowed 76 hits (five HR) and 24/108 BB/K in 95 IP in 2019... was selected by Cubs in 31st round of 2014 draft out of East Lake HS (Tarpon Springs, FL) but did not sign... has likely agreed in advance to a substantially underslot signing bonus so that Cubs can re-allocate balance of #222 bonus slot value toward Hearn's bonus...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $194,400

8th ROUND (252)
D. J. Herz, LHP 
R/L, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Terry Sanford HS - Fayetteville, NC 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Rated the #2 HS pitching prospect in North Carolina... three-sport star in HS (football QB, basketball SG, and baseball LHP)... 0.50 ERA with 17/106 BB/K in 56.1 IP at TSHS in 2019... features 88-91 MPH FB but has touched mid-90's in showcases... also features an inconsistent hard-slider and he has had command issues from time-to-time... will almost certainly require over-slot bonus to sign... might be difficult for Cubs to find enough excess bonus slot values elsewhere in top 10 rounds so that both Hearn and Herz can be signed (TBD)...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $162,700

9th ROUND (282) 
Tyler Schlaffer, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 180, Age 18
Homewood-Flossmoor HS - Flossmoor, IL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: UIC 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty 
COMMENT: Two-way player in HS (RHP/SS)... features 90-93 MPH FB that touches 94, mid-70's CV, and a plus-CH... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $149,800

10th ROUND (312) 
Wyatt Hendrie, C 
R/R, 5'11 195, Age 20 
Antelope Valley College 
JC FRESHMAN  
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Athletic catcher with a plus-arm (43% CS in 2019) and above-average speed (14 SB)... was OF in HS but was converted to catcher at AVC... hit 410/479/610 with two HR & 26 RBI, ten doubles and ten triples, and 16/23 BB/K in 38 games (166 PA) for the Marauders in 2019... has compact swing and flat swing-plane...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $142,200

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DAY THREE (6/5)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-40 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). 

11th ROUND (342)
Mack Chambers III, SS 
B/R, 5'11 170, Age 19 
Seminole State 
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: Ty Nichols
COMMENT: Hit 404/489/565 with 8 HR & 64 RBI, 21 doubles, and four triples, 34/27 BB/K, 14 SB (4 CS) for Trojans in 2019... played for his father (Mack Chambers Jr) at Seminole State... was HS teammate of Cubs 2018 6th round draft pick RHP Kohl Franklin at Broken Arrow HS in Broken Arrow, OK...  

12th ROUND (372)
Hunter Bigge, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 205, Age 20 
Harvard 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Matt Sherman 
COMMENT: Posted 4.37 ERA & 1.56 WHIP and allowed 119 hits in 119.1 innings with 64/120 BB/K over the course of three seasons at Harvard... two-way player (RHP/3B) first two seasons at Harvard... hit 296/362/466 in 79 games as position player... became full-time starting pitcher 2019... hit 280/368/378 and posted 3.14 ERA with 47 hits allowed and 18/52 BB/K in 51.2 IP (10 GS) for Duluth in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2018...  best pitch is 94-96 MPH FB... also has average CV... has had command issues throughout his college career... projects as a reliever in pro ball... National Merit Scholar in HS (Los Gatos HS - Los Gatos, CA)...  

13th ROUND (402)
Porter Hodge, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 230, Age 18 
Cottonwood Senior HS - Murray, UT 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Utah 
AREA SCOUT: Steve McFarland 
COMMENT: Led his HS to Utah 5-A state championship in 2019... 19-3 with 1.50 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, allowed 82 hits (no HR) with 60/163 BB/K in 130.2 IP (30 games - 20 GS - 10 CG - 6 shutouts) over course of career at CSHS... 

14th ROUND (432)
Ryan Reynolds, 3B 
B/R, 6'2, 215, Age 21 
U. of Texas 
COLLEGE  JR 
AREA SCOUT: Steve Riha 
COMMENT: Hit .272/394/397 with four HR & 32 RBI, 11 doubles, 30/30 BB/K in 54 games for Longhorns in 2019... Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2019... Rawlings Perfect Game HS All-American Honorable Mention in 2016... hit 289/418/400 for Santa Barbara in California Collegiate League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2017 and 227/308/364 for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (the premier summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2018... son of ex-MLB RHP Shane Reynolds...  was college teammate of Cubs minor league LHP Josh Sawyer (Cubs 2018 16th round draft pick - U. of Texas) and was a HS teammate of Cubs minor league INF Jake Slaughter (2018 18th tround draft pick - LSU) at Ouachita Christian HS (Monroe, LA)... 

15th ROUND (462)
Zach Bryant, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 210, Age 21 
Jacksonville University 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Dolphins closer... allowed 20 hits (no HR) with 19/44 BB/K in 31 IP (28 games) for Jacksonville in 2019... was second in saves in Atlantic Sun Conference... transferrd to Jacksonville from Daytona State College (88 hits and four HR allowed with 36/94 BB/K in 87.2 IP and 45 games at DSC 2017-18)... was selected by Cubs on his 21st birthday...

16th ROUND (492)
Johzan Oquendo, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 180, Age 18 
Leadership Christian Academy - Guaynabo, PR 
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Broward College 
AREA SCOUT: Edwards Guzman
COMMENT: Features 91 MPH FB... was HS teammate of Cubs minor league INF Miguel Pabon (Cubs 2018 34th round draft pick)...

17th ROUND (522)
Tanner Dalton, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 195, Age 22 
Sacramento State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin 
COMMENT: Hornets closer... posted 2.50 ERA and 16 saves with 73 hits (five HR) allowed and 34/110 BB/K in 100.2 IP (61 games) over the course of two seasons at Sac State... owned & operated a landscaping & snow removal business in Alberta (Canada) before enrolling in the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 2016... went 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA for Lethbridge in Western Baseball Major League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2016... transferred to Sacramento State in 2018... 

18th ROUND (552)
Alex Moore, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 205, Age 22 
Lander University 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart
COMMENT: Bearcats Friday starter... went 4-4 with 5.32 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, allowing 68 hits (two HR) with 33/84 BB/K in 69.1 IP for NCAA D-2 Lander in 2019 after going 2-5 with a 6.20 ERA while allowing 62 hits with 25/65 BB/K as a SP/RP "swing-man" in 2018... 

19th ROUND (582)
Adam Laskey, LHP 
R/L, 6'3 205, Age 21 
Duke 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Rated a Top 10 round talent and was the Blue Devils Friday starter at the start of the 2019 season but missed most of the season with injury... went 1-0 with 6.00 ERA and .277 OppBA, allowing 13 hits (no HR) with 10/13 BB/K in 12 IP in 2019 before being shut-down in April... was 2018 Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-0 with 1.19 ERA with 11/26 BB/K in 31.1 IP for Falmouth (Cape Cod League is the premier summer collegiate wood-bat league)... Rawlings/Perfect Game third team All-American and was rated the #150 HS prospect in USA and the #6 prospect in NJ in 2016... was selected by SF in 31st round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

20th ROUND (612)
Darius Hill, LF
L/L, 6'1 190, Age 21 
West Virginia  
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Jacob Williams 
COMMENT: Hit 304/365/511 with 6 HR & 38 RBI, 22 doubles, 18/30 BB/K, in 52 games for Mountaineers in 2019... named to All-Big 12 Freshman team in 2016... Louisville Slugger first-team All-American at Jesuit College Preparatory School (Dallas, TX) in 2015... has below-average arm & below average speed...  

21st ROUND (642)
Nelson Maldonado, LF 
R/R, 5'10 195, Age 22 
U. of Florida 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Played 3B in HS but was a DH/LF in college... Hit 335/397/581 with 10 HR & 43 RBI, 14 doubles, and 21/32 BB/K in 55 games for Gators in 2019... was known as a short-stroke high-contact hitter prior to 2018 season (hit .400 in SEC games and put-up a .449 OBP for the full-season in 2017) before altering his swing and showing more XBH power in 2018-19... hit 308/444/517 with 4 HR & 22 RBI and 11 doubles for Madison in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) after his freshman season in 2016... 

22nd ROUND (672)
Elian Almanzar, RHP 
L/R, 6'4 210, Age 19 
Florence-Darlington Tech 
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Went 4-0 with 4.73 ERA, allowing 28 hits (no HR) with 26/30 BB/K in 26.2 IP (10 games - 9 GS) for Stingers in 2019... projectable-but-raw RHSP with promising 89 MPH FB... secondary pitches need work... 

23rd ROUND (702) 
Manny Collier, CF 
R/R, 5'10 170, Age 18 
Westwood HS - Mesa, AZ
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: South Mountain CC 
AREA SCOUT: Steve McFarland 
COMMENT: HS football star (WR) at Westwood... baseball is his second sport and so he is very raw... also is basketball PG... has plus-plus speed... below-average arm... moved to Arizona from Chicago when he was nine... Westwood HS is located about a mile from the Cubs UAPC at Riverview Park in Mesa so the Cubs know all about Manny Collier and he knows all about the Cubs...  

24th ROUND (732)
Grayson Byrd, INF 
L/R, 6'3 205, Age 22 
Clemson 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart
COMMENT: Hit 326/405/604 with 15 HR & 56 RBI, 14 doubles, and 25/40 BB/K in 56 games for Tigers in 2019... transferred to Clemson in 2016 after spending freshman year at LSU... played SS in college but projects as 2B-3B in pro ball... son of ex-MLB RHP and current Atlanta Braves announcer Paul Byrd... member of 18U USA Junior National Team in 2012 but was assigned to Team USA Developmental Team... selected out of HS by Atlanta Braves in 39th round of 2014 draft but did not sign...  

25th ROUND (762)
Zac Taylor, CF 
R/R, 6'1 185, Age 23 
U. of Illinois 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SR) 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty 
COMMENT: First-team All-Big Ten in 2019... led Big Ten in stolen bases in 2019... hit 321/405/612 with 10 HR & 29 RBI, 12 doubles and three triples, 31/38 BB/K, and 23 SB, in 53 games for Illini in 2019... transferred to Illinois from U. of Houston after 2016 season... selected by MIN in 36th round of 2018 draft but did not sign... graduated from Downers Grove South HS (Downers Grove, IL) in 2014...   

26th ROUND (792)
Jacob Olson, INF 
R/R, 6'0 200, Age 22 
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Hit 258/336/512 with 13 HR & 37 RBI, 14 doubles, 15/40 BB/K, and eight SB, in 56 games for Gamecocks in 2019..  hit 308/333/495 for Chatham in Cape Cod League (the premier summer collegiate wood-bat league) after sophomore season in 2017...  versatile & athletic defender who can play anywhere in the infield & outfield... spent freshman season at West Georgia Tech and was named to GCAA first-team in 2016... was selected by AZ in 39th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

27th ROUND (822)
Cayne Ueckert, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 23 
McNeese State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Trey Forkerway  
COMMENT: SP/RP swing-man... posted 3-3 record with 6.04 ERA & 1.76 WHIP, with 59 hits (three HR) allowed and 30/48 BB/K in 50.2 IP (18 games - 10 GS) for Cowboys in 2019... went 3-3 with 25 K in 42.2 IP (11 games) for Anchorage Bucs in Alaska Baseball League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2018... transferred to McNeese State from Panola College after sophomore year... 

28th ROUND (852)
Chris Kachmar, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 180, Age 22 
Lipscomb University
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Alex McClure
COMMENT: Bisons Friday starter... went 9-3 with a 3.61 ERA, 78 hits (7 HR) allowed, with 41/94 BB/K, in 94.2 IP (15 GS) in 2019... spent freshman year at Fairleigh-Dickinson University, then transferred to Palm Beach State College, and then transferred to Lipscomb from PBSC after sophomore year...  

29th ROUND (882)
Jake Washer, C 
R/R, 6'0 220, Age 23 
East Carolina 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Johnny Bench Award semi-finalist in 2018... hit 285/385/481 with 19 HR & 87 RBI, 19 doubles, and 60/101 BB/K, in 121 career games at ECU... 17% CS as a catcher for Pirates in 2019... was named WPAC Player of the Year in both his junior and senior years in HS... 

30th ROUND (912) 
Bryan King, LHP
R/L, 6'1 184, Age 22 
McNesse State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Trey Forkerway 
COMMENT: Lefty reliever... 4-1 and a 3.44 ERA, with 46 hits (four HR) allowed, and 22/50 BB/K in 49 IP in 2019... was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American after impressive debut season in 2016 but struggled as a SP in both his sophomore and junior seasons (too many walks allowed in 2017 and too many hits and HR allowed in 2018) before being moved to the bullpen in 2019... college teammate of Cubs 27th round pick Cayne Ueckert... 

31st ROUND (942)
Shane Combs, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 219, Age 22 
Notre Dame 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty  
COMMENT: Little-used righty reliever... posted a 4.70 ERA & 1.89 WHIP and allowed 10 hits (no HR) and 19/17 BB/K in 15 IP (14 games) for the Fighting Irish in 2019... was rated the #2 high school RHP in Massachusetts as a HS senior in 2015... had TJS in 2015, did not pitch in 2016, and appeared in only five games (combined) in 2017-18... 

32nd ROUND (972)
Bryce Windham, IF-OF 
L/R, 6'1 190. Age 22 
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: High-contact bat-first utility player who can play just about anywhere (2B-3B-SS-LF-CF-RF)... hit 343/465/419 with 44/13 BB/K, and nine SB for the Monarchs in 2019...  played QB and led Saint Mary Catholic Central HS to Michigan state high school football championship in 2014...  

33rd ROUND (1002)
Ryan Ritter, SS 
R/R, 6'1 170, Age 18  
Lincoln Way East HS - Frankfort, IL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Austin Peay State 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty
COMMENT: Hit .500 with three HR & eight doubles for the Griffins in 2019... 

34th ROUND (1032)
Nolan Letzgus, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 175, Age 18 
Heritage HS - Ringgold, GA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Walters State CC  
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart 
COMMENT: Posted 3-1 record, 0.72 ERA, and .136 OppBA, with 14 hits allowed and 12/48 BB/K in 29 IP (6 GS) for the Rams in 2019... FB 88-92 T-94, CV 79-81, CH 79-80, and SL 80-82... outstanding all-around athlete who served as the DH when he wasn't pitching, was a star WR & KR on his HS football team, and he plays basketball, too (10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in his senior yesr)...  

35th ROUND (1062)
Hunter Patteson, LHP 
L/L, 6'4 170, Age 19 
Vero Beach HS - Vero Beach, FL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: UCF 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Posted 6-1 record, 0.96 ERA, and 1.06 WHIP, with 21 hits allowed and 18/77 BB/K in 51 IP (10 GS) for the Fighting Indians in 2019... features 84-87 T-89 FB, and mid-70's CH and SL...    

36th ROUND (1092)
Jayson Hoopes, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 190, Age 18 
St. Augustine Prep - Buena Vista Township, NJ 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Virginia  
AREA SCOUT: Matt Sherman
COMMENT: Features 89-92 T-94 FB and a mid-70's CV.. switched his college commit from Wagner to UVA prior to the draft... 

37th ROUND (1122) 
Jaylon McLaughlin, CF
B/R, 5'11 165, Age 21  
U. of Nevada 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin 
COMMENT: Speedy defense-first CF from Santa Monica, CA... hit 289/348/381 with 4 HR & 38 RBI, 10 doubles and five triples, 29/89 BB/K, and 32 SB (5 CS) in 111 career games over the course of three seasons in Reno... was selected by NYM in 38th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

38th ROUND (1152)
Marc Davis, 3B/RHP 
R/R, 6'3 190, Age 19 
Florida Southwestern State College  
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Cubs drafted him as a 3B but he was the closer at FSW... 2.96 ERA with 15 hits (no HR) allowed and 16/41 BB/K in 24.1 IP for the Bucs in 2019... he was a two-way player (1st team All-State as SS/RHP) at South Gwinnett HS in Georgia, however...  

39th ROUND (1182)
Mason Auer, CF/RHP 
R/R, 6'0 185, Age 18
Kickapoo HS - Springfield, MO  
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Missouri State 
AREA SCOUT: Ty Nichols 
COMMENT: A two-way player in HS, Auer is projected as a CF at higher levels depite displaying a 96 MPH FB (also a CV and CH) off the mound... hit .321 with two HR & 15 RBI at the plate and went 6-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 78 K in 10 GS for the Chiefs in 2019... 

40th ROUND (1212) 
Mac Bingham, CF 
R/R, 5'11 190, Age 18 
Torrey Pines HS - San Diego, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: USC 
AREA SCOUT: Alex Lontayo
COMMENT: Was also the star RB on his HS football team... 

Eddy Julio Martinez reached base on a HBP, tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored, and collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly, Yonathan Perlaza tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Oswaldo Pina ripped a two-run double and a single, and SP Brendon Little tossed two perfect innings and combined with five relievers on a two-hitter, as the Cubs "A" team defeated the Giants Orange squad 5-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

The Cubs 2017 1st round draft pick out of SCF - Sarasota-Manatee, Little saw his first game action of the season after suffering a lat strain in his first "live" BP session the first week of Minor League Camp in March. And Little didn't miss a beat, either, easily retiring all six Giants he faced (P-2, F-8, K * F-9, 4-3, 5-3) on just 14 pitches. He displayed a 92-94 MPH FB, a plus-CV, and a CH, and he had command of all three of his pitches and threw all three pitches for strikes. In fact he was so efficient that after he finished his two innings, he was sent down to the bullpen to throw an additional 15 pitches (five FB, five CV, and five CH). So things are looking up for Little. 

Prior to the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1, RHSP Keegan Thompson (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL since April 11th) threw a two-inning "sim" game on Field #5. 

Here is the abridged box score from the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1 (Cubs players only):