Lots of movement in the minors:
Iowa lost: RHP Zach Hedges (to TN), 2B Christian Donahue (to SB), RHP Shae Simmons (to waivers), and RHP Duane Underwood (to CHC)
Iowa gained: RHP Craig Brooks (from TN), 3B Jason Vosler (from TN), RHP James Norwood (from TN)
Tennessee lost: Brooks, Vosler, and Norwood (to Iowa)
Tennessee gained: Hedges (from Iowa), LHP Wyatt Short (from MB)
Myrtle Beach lost: Short (to Tennessee)
Mytle Beach gained: LHP Manuel Rondon (from SB)
South Bend lost: Rondon (to Myrtle Beach)
South Bend gained: Donahue (from Iowa)
Jason Vosler moving up to Iowa is the biggest news here, but don’t sleep on Wyatt Short making it to Double A. Vosler had spent 221 games over three seasons in Double A, and he leaves the level with a 2018 wRC+ of 129. He’s a patient left-handed hitter with pretty good power (12 HR this year) who probably isn’t going to hit for average. Short was drafted in 2016 and reaches Double A after just 22 games (31.2 IP) for Myrtle Beach. He’s either closed or worked in high leverage spots since he joined the system, and he brings 27 career saves to the Smokies. After striking out 10.80 K/9, he’s right now on a trajectory that could take him to Wrigley one day.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 4, New Orleans 3
It was a bullpen day for Iowa, but it was an effective one.
Brad Markey: 2.2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Craig Brooks: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K
Alberto Baldonado: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
James Norwood: 1 IP and a line of zeroes
Dakota Mekkes: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Victor Caratini: 2 for 4
Ryan Court: 1 for 4, HR
Craig Brooks: 1 for 1
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 11, Mobile 3
Eddy Martinez drove in five to lead Tennessee’s offense.
Duncan Robinson: 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 4 K
Wyatt Short: 2 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
Zack Short: 3 for 5, 3B
Ian Rice: 0 for 1, 3 BB
Trent Giambrone: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 SB
Eddy Martinez: 2 for 4, HR
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Pelicans were rained out.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
West Michigan 4, South Bend 2
I think this Darvish guy could be pretty good. We should keep an eye on him.
Yu Darvish: 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 5 K
Javier Assad: 3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K
Roberto Caro: 2 for 5, 2 SB
Jared Young: 2 for 4
Miguel Amaya: 2 for 5, 2B
Delvin Zinn: 3 for 4
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Boise 7, Eugene 2
The Emeralds are now a game under .500.
Jose Albertos: 2.2 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K
Sean Berry: 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Dalton Geekie: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Fernando Kelli: 0 for 2, 2 BB, 2 SB
Kwang-Min Kwon: 1 for 3, BB, 2 SB
Rafael Mejia: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Cubs One 5, Indians 1
The Cubs had some chances, but couldn’t get the hits clustered to produce runs.
Riger Fernandez: 3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Fauris Guerrero: 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 K
Clayton Daniel: 2 for 4, 3B
Josue Huma: 1 for 4, 2B
Yovanny Cuevas: 1 for 4, SB
Rookie: AZL Cubs 2
Cubs 2 had the day off.
Other Notes
Jason Vosler batted fifth in his Iowa debut. He went 0 for 4 and struck out three times.
If he could tune down the strikeouts a bit and increase the walks a touch, Trent Giambrone could emerge as a really interesting prospect. The right-handed hitting Tennessee second baseman isn’t a big guy, but he already has 9 home runs to go with his 17 stolen bases. That mix of power and speed would play up even more with some slight improvements to his .252/.313/.440 line. In June he’s hitting .274/.312/.534.
Jose Albertos also uncorked four wild pitches.
Fernando Kelli is up to nine stolen bases already, and he’s already leading the Northwest League in that category.
In what has almost become an annual tradition, Baseball America was asked which draft picks immediately became their teams’ top prospect. Good news – the Cubs were not one of the answers. I think the Cubs’ first round pick Nico Hoerner will be in the discussion when I re-rank the Top 40 after the trade deadline, but right now I don’t think he’ll be in the top spot. The top spot will be different, though.
NEWSLETTER
