Arizona Phil's Archives

Zyhir Hope led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a triple and scored, Alexis Hernandez collected two RBI singles, Geuri Lubo drilled an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, and SP Alfredo Romero tossed three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs defeated the Athletics 4-1 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Friday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cubs are now 1-4 through their first five Instructs games.

Nate Nankill belted a solo home run, Nelson Beltran and Darlyn Montero stroked RBI singles, and SP Nathan Dettmer and four relievers combined to hurl a six-hit shutout, as the Athletics blanked the Cubs 6-0 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Thursday morning at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

Dario Laverde drilled an RBI double and a single, John Wimmer doubled, singled, and scored a run, Capri Ortiz singled twice and stole three bases, and SP Yendy Gomez hurled three innings of no run / no hit ball, leading the Angels to a 6-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" Labor Day game action Monday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Yerald Nin drilled a two-run double, singled twice, and scored a run, and Jakey Josepha singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in another, leading the Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Saturday morning on Whirlwind Field at Talking Stick at Salt River Fields, east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Batting RH versus a RHP, Reggie Preciado (no longer switch-hitting) clubbed a solo HR over the LF fence to account for one of the three Cub runs. 

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

A club's Active List (26-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).  

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS). 

Capri Ortiz doubled in the 1st, reached base on an error and scored in the 3rd, singled and scored in the 5th, hammered a two-run double in the 6th, and stroked a sacrifice fly in the 7th, Landon Wallace singled twice, doubled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Edgar Alfonso ripped three singles, scored three runs, and drove-in two more, John Wimmer doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, and Caleb Ketchup doubled, walked twice, and scored a run, helping the Angels batter the Cubs 19-7 in Arizona Instructional League Opening Day game action Wednesday morning on Field # 3 at t

CUBS 2023 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (7/9)

1st ROUND (13) 
Matt Shaw, SS 
R/R, 5'11 185, age 21
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year... was also named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and won the Brooks Wallace Award as the top shortstop in college baseball (previous winners include Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, and Alex Bregman)... broke the Terrapins career HR record in just three seasons... average exit velo was 107 (albeit with a metal bat)... hit 341/445/697 with 24 HR & 69 RBI, 20 doubles, and 80 runs scored in 62 games (317 PA), with more walks than strikeouts (43 BB and 42 K), plus eight HBP... 14% walk-rate and 14% K-rate... has above-average speed... 18 stolen bases (only one CS) in 2023... began college career as a second-baseman before moving to shortstop as a sophomore... has a below-average arm and so he projects to be a second-baseman or possibly a left-fielder in pro ball... played for Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League (top summer collegiate summer wood bat league) in 2022, hit 333/421/485, and was named Cape Cod League Player of the Year...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $4,848,500

2nd ROUND (N/A) 
NOTE: Cubs 2023 2nd ROUND pick was forfeited after signing Qualified Player Dansby Swanson   

2nd ROUND / COMPENSATION PICK (68) 
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 225, age 21
U. of Arkansas 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Missed 2023 season after undergoing right elbow UCL transplant (TJS) in May... repertoire includes FB 94-95 T-97, a mid-80's SL, a CH, and a 12-6 CV... touched triple digits with his FB as a reliever (part-time closer) as a freshman at Arkansas in 2021 and again later that year with Team USA... was the Saturday (#2) starter behind Cubs 2022 9th round pick RHP Connor Noland in his sophomore year (2022) at Arkansas, but had a disappointing season, going 6-3 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, allowing 65 hits (including 11 HR), .253 OppBA, with 43/82 BB/K, seven HBP, and 12 WP, in 66.0 IP... however, he was projected to be the Razorbacks #1 SP in 2023 after showing improved command & control in fall practice... played baseball and basketball in HS (Roland, OK)...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,101,000
NOTE: Compensation Draft pick was awarded after St. Louis Cardinals signed Qualified Player Willson Contreras
 

DAY TWO (7/10)

3rd ROUND (81)
Josh Rivera, SS
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
U. of Florida 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: 1st Team All-SEC... one of the top-rated college seniors in the draft... was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (top college shortstop)...  hit only 254/351/429 with nine HR in 2022 and was not drafted as a junior, but then hit 348/447/617 with 19 HR & 72 RBI, 18 SB (4 CS), and more walks than strikeouts (46 BB and 35 K - 15% BB-rate and 11% K-rate) for Gators in 2023... is an above-average defensive SS... has only average speed, but he is an above-average baserunner with a high baseball IQ... played for Chatham in the Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) after sophomore season in 2021 and hit 248/318/325... was drafted by Padres out of IMG Academy in 22nd round in 2019 but did not sign...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $872,400

4th ROUND (113)
Will Sanders, RHP 
L/R, 6'6 230, age 21 
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was the Gamecocks #1 (Friday) starter in 2022 when he went 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, allowing 84 hits (14 HR), with 31/91 BB/K, in 89.1 IP... was projected as a potential top half of 1st round pick coming into 2023 season, but stock dropped after disappointing season that ended with a season-ending foot injury... went 4-4 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, allowing 54 hits (11 HR), with 26/77 BB/K in 62.2 IP in 2023 before season ended early... throws from a 3/4 arm slot and features a 92-94 MPH T-98 FB that was battered by college hitters in 2023 (opponent OPS over 1.000), but he gets swing & miss with his CV... CH is his best pitch... was named to SEC All-Freshmen Team and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team in 2021.. was a reliever and teammate of Cubs 2nd round (compensation) pick Jaxon Wiggins with Team USA after freshman season in 2021... was named an Under Armour All-American at Woodward Academy senior year in HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $591,800

5th ROUND (149)
Michael Carico, C
L/R, 6'0 190, age 20 
Davidson 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was rated the consensus #2 college catching prospect coming into the 2023 season, but season was cut-short after 21 games after he suffered a season-ending broken wrist in March... was hitting 350/514/688 with seven HR and six doubles at the time of his injury... led NCAA D-1 in OBP and HBP in 2022 when he hit 406/559/843 with 21 HR & 57 RBI, 21 doubles, 46 BB and 35 K, and 26 (!) HBP in 54 games (272 PA)... won an ABCA / Rawlings Gold Glove and was named an ABCA / Rawlings and Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American and Baseball America Third Team All-American in 2022... hit 263/482/447 for Rochester in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... was invited to Team USA training site in 2022 but did not make the final roster after too much swing & miss versus high-velo FB while facing quality "live" pitching... has a high-angle uppercut swing, and an average arm from behind the plate... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $416,900

6th ROUND (176)
Alfonsin Rosario, OF 
R/R, 6'2 210, age 19 
P27 Academy (Lexington, SC) 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Chipola JC 
COMMENT: Native of Dominican Republic... has above average speed, a plus-plus arm, plus bat speed, raw HR power, and lots of swing & miss... throw from outfield was clocked at 101 MPH at Perfect Game National Showcase in 2022... brother Eguy is an infielder in Padres organization... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $325,600

7th ROUND (206)
Yahil Melendez, SS 
L/R, 6'3 165, age 17 
B You Academy (Caguas, PR)  
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Rice 
COMMENT: Rated the second best SS prospect and the sixth best prospect overall out of Puerto Rico in 2023 draft by Perfect Game... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $254,500

8th ROUND (236)
Brett Bateman, CF 
L/L, 5'10 170, age 21  
U. of Minnesota 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was named Golden Gophers MVP in 2023... high-contact "singles hitter," lead-off man, and centerfielder... has above-average speed but absolutely no HR power... hit 320/404/373 with no HR, 22 doubles, 61 BB & 58 K, 42 SB (12 CS) in 127 games (556 PA) over the course of three seasons at Minnesota... hit 332/412/386, 29 BB & 18 K, with 26 SB (2 CS) in 58 games (234 PA) in two seasons (2021-22) playing for Willmar in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league)... is presently hitting 500/519/587 in 13 games (53 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League... was named 2nd Team All Big Ten in 2023... Academic All Big Ten in 2022... father is a college baseball coach...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $203,600

9th ROUND (266)
Jonathon Long, 1B 
R/R, 6'0 210, age 21 
Long Beach State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2nd Team All Big West in 2023... hit 317/408/543 with 26 HR & 105 RBI, 32 doubles, and 65 BB and 117 K in 132 games (576 PA) over the course of three seasons at The Beach... has below-average speed... hit a disappointing 197/296/239 with no HR, one double, and one triple, with 18 K in 32 games (83 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... played 3B at Orange HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $179,400

10th ROUND (296) 
Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 170, age 20
Temple CC  
JC SOPH 
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COMMIT (TRANSFER): Angelo State (D-2) 
COMMENT: Went 7-4 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP, allowing 46 hits (three HR), with 29/56 BB/K, in 63.2 IP (15 G - 13 GS -3 CG) for Leopards in 2023... features a 92-97 FB, a 79-83 SLURVE, and a low-80's SPLIT... was 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing 30 hits (one HR), with 20/76 BB/K in 56 IP (14 G - 5 GS) for Fort McMurray in WCBL (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022...  spent freshman year at San Bernardino Valley JC, going 5-4 with a 6.90 ERA, allowing 55 hits (two HR) in 45.2 IP for the Wolverines, but despite the high ERA he was named to ACMD All Conference 2nd team... will transfer to Angelo State if he does not sign with Cubs...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $168,300
 

DAY THREE (7/11)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $150,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 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 (326)
Zyhir Hope, CF 
L/L, 6'0 193, age 18 
Colonial Forge HS (Stafford, VA) 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina 
COMMENT: One of the fastest players in the draft... also has a plus-arm... lefty hitter with a line drive-stroke... lots of swing & miss in his game right now...  has indicated a strong desire to play college ball and he will enroll at the University of North Carolina if he does not sign with Cubs, so Cubs will probably have to offer a bonus well in excess of $150,000 to sign him away from UNC. 

12th ROUND (356)
Carter Trice, 2B-OF 
R/R, 6'0 200, age 20 
North Carolina State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT:  Spent first two years at Old Dominion before transferring to NC State... played 2B, RF, and LF (mostly RF) at ODU.. was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, a 2nd team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a first-team Freshman All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in 2021 and helped lead the Monarchs to the Conference USA Championship by hitting 358/431/642 with 14 HR & 54 RBI, 17 doubles, and 28/59 BB/K in 57 games (261 PA) ... played for Team USA in 2021 but hit only .056 with one HR and a 39% K-rate... transferred to NC State after his sophomore year, hitting a disappointing 248/348/479 with only six HR in 41 games as a part-time LF for the Wolf Pack in 2023... makes hard contact but also has a lot of swing & miss in his game... played two summers (2021-22) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (collegiate summer wood bat league) and hit only 218/280/324 with just one HR in 84 PA combined over the two seasons...  

13th ROUND (386)
Sam Armstrong, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 245, age 22
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Friday night (#1) starter at ODU in 2023... went 9-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, allowing 69 hits (seven HR), with 28/72 BB/K in 77.0 IP (15 G - 15 GS) for the Monarchs in 2023... is currently pitching for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) and has allowed only one hit & one run in 10 IP with 13 K...  spent freshman and sophomore years at County College of Morris (JC) in New Jersey...  
 
14th ROUND (416)
Grayson Moore, RHP 
B/R, 6'3 215, age 22 
Vanderbilt 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Bullpen guy (mostly) for Commodores... went 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, allowed 51 hits (9 HR), with 29/81 BB/K in 59.0 IP (33 games - only 3 GS) over the course of three seasons at Vandy... also has played some outfield in his college career... pitched for Wareham in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, threw 19.1 IP and allowed only 12 hits (no HR), while walking six and striking out 25, and was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team... speaks fluent Spanish and is a member of the National Honor Society...  

15th ROUND (446)
Ty Johnson, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 205, age 21 
Ball State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Valuable swing-man workhorse (47 games - 28 GS) for the past three seasons... went 15-8 with a 5.39 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, allowing 135 hits (20 HR), with 70/179 BB/K (11.4 K/9), in 157.0 IP for the Cardinals 2021-23 (combined)... pitched for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, and went 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA, allowing 15 hits (two HR), with 15/19 BB/K in 21.2 IP...     

16th ROUND (476)
Daniel Brown, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 200, age 20 
Campbell 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Converted outfielder... Hasn't pitched much at Campbell (four games), but when he has pitched he has displayed a 100+ MPH FB and has been literally unhittable... struck out the side 1-2-3 for the only three outs he recorded this season, but unfortunately he has also walked nine with four WP (albeit no hits allowed) in his other three outings...   

17th ROUND (506)
Ethan Flanagan, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 205, age 21 
UCLA 
COLLEGE SOPH
COMMENT: Draft-eligible sophomore... was named to Freshman All-American and PAC-12 All-Conference teams in 2022 when he went 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA & 1.28 WHIP, allowing 49 hits (six HR), with 28/76 BB/K (11.3 K/9) in 25 games (60.1 IP),.. attended Team USA training camp after his freshman season... missed start of the 2023 season with unspecified injury, then went 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA & 1.39 WHIP, allowing 28 hits (three HR) with 16/;31 BB/K in nine games (6 GS)... had TJS as a senior in high school which postponed his college entry by one year (which is why he is a draft-eligible sophomore)... features a 89-91 MPH T-94 FB with tremendous movement, a plus-CH, a SL, and a CV...       

18th ROUND (536)
Brian Kalmer, 3B 
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
Gonzaga 
COLLEGE SR (REDSHIRT JR) 
COMMENT: Began his career at hometown Arizona State but didn't play much, so he transferred to Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Illinois... he was named NJCAA National Player of the Year in his one year playing JC ball, as he led the Warriors to the NJCAA World Series... then he transferred to Gonzaga as a junior redshirt, and hit 358/454/682, with 15 HR & 51 RBI, 16 doubles, and 36 walks and 56 strikeouts, in 52 games (240 PA) for the Zags in 2023... he has plus-power to all fields, but he also has lots of swing & miss in his game (23% K-rate in 2023)... a below-average defender at 3B, Kalmer projects as a first-baseman in pro ball...    

19th ROUND (566)
Nick Dean, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 180, age 22 
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: College teammate of Cubs 1st round pick Matt Shaw... a reliable hurler who made all of his scheduled starts, Dean pitched in 43 games (all 43 as a SP) in his college career... was the Terrapins #3 (Sunday) starter in both 2021 and 2022 before getting promoted to the #2 (Saturday) slot in 2023... went 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA & 1.47 WHIP in 2023, while allowing 78 hits (13 HR), with 32/77 BB/K in 74.2 IP (15 games - 15 GS)... the 2023 ERA and WHIP were the highest (worst) of his career (his best season was 2021), as his performance has declined steadily each season... features a 90-93 MPH FB, a swing & miss CH, a slurvy SL and a slow CV...   

20th ROUND (596)
Drew Bowser, 3B 
R/R, 6'4 225, age 21
Stanford 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: High school teammate of Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong at Harvard-Westlake HS in L. A... played SS, was a three-time team captain, won the Perfect Game High School All American Classic Home Run Challenge at Petco Field in San Diego in 2018, was named a Perfect Game High School All-American in 2019, and played for Team USA 18-U in 2019 and helped lead his team to a silver medal at the WBCA World Cup in South Korea... he was projected to be a potential Top 5 round pick coming out of HS in 2020 (the same year buddy PCA was drafted in the 1st round by the Mets), but he wasn't selected in the shortened (five round) CoViD draft, and so he honored his commitment to Stanford... he played both 2B and 3B at Stanford 2021-23, and hit 287/350/526 with 39 HR & 139 RBI, 38 doubles, and 64/196 BB/K in 175 games (754 PA) over the course of three seasons in Palo Alto... he also played two summers for Yarmouth in the Cape Cod League (2021 and 2022), but he hit only 181/278/234 with one HR and 36 K in 108 PA (33% K-rate) with a wood bat... he is a below-average runner with a plus arm and plus raw power, but the "hit tool" is well below average, and he has difficulty making contact...  

2023 Cubs Cactus League Extended Spring Training - Final Stats

There is no Official Scorer at Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, so all stats are unofficial 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

Geuri Lubo (RBI triple), Dilan Granadillo (RBI single), and Jefferson Rojas (RBI single) contributed run scoring hits to highlight a four-run 9th inning, and closer Gabriel Agrazal struck out Cristian Garcia  (swinging) with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the lead (and the victory), as the Cubs rallied from an early 6-0 deficit to score three in the 7th and four in the 9th and then held on to edge the Angels 8-7 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday evening at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ.  

Daniel Amaral (son of long-time MLB INF-OF Rich Amaral) reached base five times (a single in the 1st, an RBI double in the 3rd, a two-run double in the 5th, a two-run single in the 6th, and a walk in the 7th), collected five RBI, stole two bases, and scored a run, Cuba Bess tripled, walked three times, and scored a run, Francisco Ortiz belted a double, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Juan Castillo ripped an RBI double and scored a run and collected another RBI with a sacrifice fly, SP Manuel Olivares hurled three innings of shutout ball, and the Rockies took advantage of twelve

Ismael Mena, Ed Howard, and Adan Sanchez stroked run scoring singles to highlight a three-run 3rd, Christopher Paciolla belted a solo HR, and Luis Devers, Drew Gray, Kenyi Perez, Scott Kobos, and Gleiber Morales combined to hurl a three-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts, as the Cubs blanked the Angels 4-0 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Tuesday evening on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):  

EXST CUBS LINEUP:

Anthony Scull drilled a solo HR and a single, Luis Eduardo Rodriguez belted two triples, scored a run, and drove-in another, and SP Carson Fulmer and five relievers combined to spin a three-hitter, helping the Angels defeat the Cubs 7-3 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Monday evening at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ.

Jefferson Rojas ripped a monster two-run HR high over the LF fence and onto Westcourt Way to account for two of the three Cub runs (the other run scored as the result of a bases loaded HBP). The Cubs also stole six bases. 

2023 Cubs Cactus League Extended Spring Training Stats  

LAST UPDATED: 5-27-2023 

There is no Official Scorer at Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, so all stats are unofficial 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

Javier Francisco drilled an RBI double in the 3rd inning and picked-up another RBI on a GO in the 5th, Lazaro Morales singled twice, stole a base, and drove-in a run, and Giants batters took advantage of eight walks, three HBP, and a WP to plate six runs despite managing only four hits, en route to a 6-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at the San Francisco Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

Brayan Altuve collected four RBI (two RBI doubles and a two-run single), Ke'Shun Collier reached base five times (three singles and two walks), scored a run, and drove-in another, Jefferson Rojas doubled, walked twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs, Alexis Hernandez drilled an RBI single, walked, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Lizardo Ruiz ripped an RBI single, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, and Christopher Paciolla laced an RBI single, walked, and scored two runs, as the Cubs drubbed the Brewers 12-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Fri