How's the Future Looking?
The major league team is going through the motions of a 100-loss season and is frankly, boring as hell right now. There's plenty to keep our eyes on if we need a baseball fix, will Castro and Rizzo rebound/improve, is Olt a legitimate starter or just a platoon-mate, can Barney, Schierholtz and Hammel do enough to get some trade value in return and what exactly will Samardzija's trade value be in June/July? But the answers to those questions aren't coming for awhile and neither are the future questions in Baez, Bryant and the rest of the minor leaguers, but I find the hope in their bats and arms far more interesting than the reality of the Chicago High Draft Picks currently playing in Milwaukee.
Javier Baez - early DL trip probably not helping, but currently at 164/207/327 with 21 K vs 2 BB's along with 4 errors.
Kris Bryant - 312/442/597 with 5 HR's, 7 2B and a surprising 5 SB vs 0 CS... 25 K in 77 AB's about the only blemish at this point.
CJ Edwards - 20.2 IP/20 K/8 BB/0 HR and a 2.61 ERA before the injury lightning strike hit with some shoulder issues. No structural damage but in the midst of a 2-week rest period and then probably another 2-3 weeks before seeing the mound barring any setbacks. See him in June hopefully...
Albert Almora - 284/299/405 with 7 K vs. 0 BB's...kind of boring right now.
Jorge Soler - what did he have? A double of Mat Latos and immediately to the disabled list...currently shagging groupies in Arizona I think.
Pierce Johnson - late start to the season and was making his second start of the season as I write this...checking boxscore...8 BB in 4 IP...moving on.
Arismendy Alcantara - 301/310/554...6 SB vs 0 CS, but 20 K vs. 2 BB's. Just one error so far on the season.
Jeimar Candelario - 174/296/290, not really justifying that #8 spot on the BA Top 10 list.
Dan Vogelbach - 234/314/338 - 2 HR's, 9 BB vs 10 K is encouraging.
Arodys Vizcaino - 7 IP/8 K/3 BB/ 0 HR/1.29 ERA and hitting high 90's.
Honorable Mentions
Kyle Hendricks - last outing in Colorado was a bit rough as was his first start of the season, but overall a 4.11 ERA and 29 K in 30.1 IP against just 8 BB's and 0 HR's on season. In-season call-up seems to be looming...
Corey Black - had a great start his last time out (6 IP, 8 K, 0 H) and overall with 16 K in 17 IP and a 2.65 ERA, but 12 BB's to go with it.
Overall, a bit of a disappointing start to the minor league season for the Cubs, but the path to the majors is rarely straight up.
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