Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Ed Howard Leads the Way at Riverview
Ed Howard and David Avitia each smashed a three-run HR (Howard's a high-flying bomb over the right-centerfield fence, and Avitia's a big fly down the LF line), Yohendrick Pinango singled twice, doubled, and scored a run, Brett Bateman reached base four times (three walks and an HBP), stole a base, and scored a run, and SP Marino Santy hurled three innings of one hit / shutout ball, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants Hi-A affiliate) on Field # 6, and Javier Castillo drilled an RBI triple and a sing
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Javier Assad Dominates Smokies at Riverview
SP Javier Assad walked across the street from Sloan Park to the Cubs backfields, and, pitching for the AAA Iowa Cubs squad and facing the AA Tennessee Smokies, hurled five innings (50 pitches - 34 strikes) of one-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts and 7/1 GO/AO, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad squad game action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
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Paris & Yon Take Out the Trash at Riverview
Kyren Paris smacked a solo HR and Edwin Yon belted a two-run HR, leading the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels AA affiliate) to a 7-4 victory over the Tennessee Smokies (AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) in Cactus League Spring Training Minor League Camp game action Saturday afternoon on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
Pete Crow-Armstrong singled twice, drove-in two runs, and scored another, and Bryce Ball collected three singles and scored a run for the Smokies.
There was only one home game played on the Riverview backfields on Saturday, as the Iowa Cubs - Salt Lake Bees AAA game was played in the stadium (Sloan Park).
Here is the abridged box score from the game played on Field #6 (Cubs players only):
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Sierra Salami Too Much for Giants to Swallow
Jonathan Sierra slugged a grand slam HR and walked and scored, and Ismael Mena drilled a two-run double, walked twice, and scored a run, leading the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs' Lo-A affiliate) to a 10-5 drubbing of the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Thursday afternoon on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
Victor Bericoto belted a two-run triple and scored a run for the Giants in a losing cause.
The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair.
There was only one home game on the Riverview backfields on Thursday, because South Bend played Eugene in the stadium (Sloan Park).
Here is the abridged box score from the game on Field #6 (Cubs players only):
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Mervis Long-Ball Helps Cubs Split at Riverview
Matt Mervis slugged a two-run HR and drove-in another run with a FC, Reggie Preciado clubbed an RBI double and scored a run, and James Triantos drilled an RBI single and scored a run, helping the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) defeat the Tri-City Dust Devils (Hi-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels) 6-4 on Field #6, and four pitchers combined to toss a one-hitter as the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Lo-A affiliate) cruised past the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) 7-1 on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training Opening Day game action Friday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
The game on Field #6 was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair, and the game on Field #5 was called after six innings of play.
South Bend CF Christian Franklin (Cubs 2021 4th round draft pick - U. of Arkansas) had to be carted off the field after he was beaned on the top of the head by a fly ball in the top of the 5th inning of the game on Field #6.
Here are the abridged box scores from the games (Cubs players only):
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Pelicans Know the Way to Beat San Jose
Yohendrick Pinango doubled and scored in the 2nd, walked and scored in the 4th, and drilled a two-run single in the 8th, and three pitchers combined to hurl a four hitter, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) defeated the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) 5-1 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Tuesday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Casey Schmitt belted a solo HR in the top of the 1st inning to account for the lone Giant run.
Myrtle Beach DH Matt Mervis left the game after tweaking something in his lower body while running the bases in the bottom of the 6th.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
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Cubs Cruise Past Timber Rattlers at Sloan Park
Chase Strumpf drilled a two-run single and a triple and scored twice, and Yonathan Perlaza drove-in three runs with two run-scoring singles, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers Hi-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Monday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Cubs 2019 1st round draft pick RHP Ryan Jensen got the start for the Cubs and once again was unable to get through his second inning of work, throwing 34 pitches in just 1.1 IP (only 44% strikes) and walking three. His FB velo was 95-98 and his SL velo was 89-90 in his first inning, but the FB velo was down to 93-95 and the SL velo was down to 87-88 by the time he left the game with one out in the top of the 2nd.
Jensen is a two-pitch pitcher with command issues who has a significant decrease in velo after throwing just one inning, so as of right now he would appear to project as a one-inning power-reliever (and that's only if he can command his pitches for that one inning).
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
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Flying Squirrels Distract Smokies Hitters at Sloan Park
SP Ronnie Williams tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with four relievers to hurl a four-hitter, Ricardo Genoves drilled an RBI single and a double, and Drew Robinson smacked a solo HR, helping the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants AA affiliate) edge the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 3-2 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Sunday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Smokies SP Peyton Remy fanned seven Flying Squirrels (six swinging) in just 3.2 IP, and Christopher Morel crushed a two-run HR to the top of the LF berm in the bottom of the 9th to account for the two Tennessee runs.
C. Morel continues to get reps in the outfield (he played CF again tonight), although he also does still play 3B occasionally.
D. J. Wilson and Nelson Maldonado were moved up to AA Tennessee from Hi-A South Bend before the game. I don't know if the Maldonado move is permanent or if it relates to Tyler Durna being moved-down to South Bend from Tennessee and Alfonso Rivas not yet being active, and the D. J. Wilson move-up almost certainly relates to Brennen Davis being in concussion protocol.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
Amaya Walks It Off at Sloan Park
Tyler Payne cracked a solo HR in the bottom of the 2nd inning to put the Cubs on the board, and then Miguel Amaya tripled and scored in the 7th and belted a game-winning walk-off solo HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, earning the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics AA affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
J. J. Schwarz clubbed a game tying solo HR for the RockHounds in the top of the 9th to necessitate Amaya's heroics.
This was Miguel Amaya's first game action since being sent to Minor League Camp from the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend last week. He was sent to Minor League Camp after Tony Wolters agreed to accept an Outright Assignment to the ATS.
Veteran MLB LHRP Adam Morgan saw his first game action of 2021, tossing a 1-2-3 twelve-pitch inning with two strikeouts (FB 91-93, SL 81-82, and CH/CV 76-78). The Cubs signed the 31-year old to a minor league contract this past off-season, and while he did receive an NRI to Spring Training, he did not pitch in any MLB Cactus League games.
But RHRP Robert Stock was the highlight of the day pitching-wise, throwing two shutout innings and striking out four (swinging). He threw 28 pitches (75% strikes!) including 12 FB and 16 SL, and all 12 FB were 99 MPH or better (five at 99, four at 100, and three 101 MPH). Stock was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Boston Red Sox last December, and was sent outright to the minors in March.
INF Luis Vazquez was moved-up to the Tennessee squad from the South Bend squad to replace Brennen Davis (who was hit in the face with a pitch yesterday).
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
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Smokies Speed on Display at Sloan Park
Zach Davis led off the 1st inning with a HR, doubled, walked, and stole two bases, Delvin Zinn collected three singles, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Connor Myers belted a two-run HR, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) and the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels AA affiliate) played to a 6-6 tie in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Thursday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Brennen Davis left the game after being hit on the side of his face with a pitch. He was on his hands and knees for a couple of minutes before leaving under his own power, but there was quite a bit of blood left behind on home plate.
Here is the abridged box score fom the game (Cubs players only)
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Recent comments
crunch (view)
SF snags b.snell...2/62m
Cubster (view)
AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.
Arizona Phil (view)
The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24).
However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time).
Arizona Phil (view)
Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.
Arizona Phil (view)
For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024:
* bats or throws left
Angel Cepeda, INF
* Miguel Cruz, P
Yidel Diaz, C
* Albert Gutierrez, 1B
Fraiman Marte, P
Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B)
Derniche Valdez, INF
Edward Vargas, OF
Jeral Vizcaino, P
And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.
Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect.
F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season.
The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher).
Arizona Phil (view)
DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically.
Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).
Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day.
Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.
The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster
Arizona Phil (view)
Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required.
They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).
If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.
If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option).
Childersb3 (view)
Phil,
Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?
Arizona Phil (view)
In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!
And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).