For the second straight week Pelicans’ first baseman Yasiel Balaguert has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week. His weekly line of .406/.412/.719 included a pair of home runs. For the month of July Balaguert hit .339/.380/.542, but strikeouts continued to be a bit of an issue. His 30 strikouts in month helped contribute to his season K% of 22.7%. That isn’t terrible for a slugger in A ball, but it is also a sharp increase over what he posted last season (15.9%).
Joining Balaguert with weekly honors isEloy Jimenez. Jimenez put up a ridiculous weekly line of .600/.607/1.080 with four doubles and a pair of homers. In the second half of the season Jimenez has a line of .346/.377/.579 with four homers. If he keeps that up over the the final month, Jimenez is going to be entering some very elite territory in the off season prospect rankings.[adinserter block=”1″]
Don’t forget that August is the final month of the minor league season. If you haven’t made it out to the ballpark to see a minor league game or two, your time is running out. The season wraps up around labor day, and then we are in the playoffs.
We only have video of one of Zastryzny’s strikeouts, his final one to end the fifth. Check it out here.
The pitcher the Cubs gave up at the deadline yesterday, Jesus Castillo, was a candidate to make the mid-season Top 40 list. Through 33 innings, this 20 year old right hander had piled up 38 strikeouts on his way to a 3.27 ERA. He was pitching in Eugene, so most of his promise was projection, but there was promise there. That said, he is exactly the kind of guy that the Cubs have quite a few of and who makes perfect sense to include in a trade for a rental (assuming rental trades are ever a good idea, and at best I think the jury is still out on that).
Castillo has been traded before. He came to the Cubs, along with Erick Leal, in the Tony Campana trade. Campana provided the Diamondbacks with a total of -0.1 bWAR after that trade, so assuming Joe Smith produces any positive value whatsoever (his current season bWAR is 0.4), the Cubs have soundly won the Campana trade if we just flip Castillo with Smith on that tally. And that is before we factor in Leal, who is emerging as a very nice pitching prospect in his own right.
Whew. That game was kinda dumb, but I tell you, the ending sure was fun. And also weird! So, to set the stage, the Pirates and Cubs' offenses could do nothing all day long. The game was still 0-0 in...
This guy. What do I even say? I was already kinda buzzy when Brennen Davis homered again - a grand slam - for the fifth time in six games, and sixth time in eight games. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/1791967453888598441 Truly...
What matters most is that the Cubs won the game. And it was a fun ending, too. So I'm happy. But I also do feel a little frustrated - or concerned might be the better word - as I'm sure...
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When the Chicago Cubs traded Jake Slaughter to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Tyson Miller, they needed to open a spot on both the active roster and the 40-man roster. They did that in one move by designating reliever Richard...
First, a quick update I kept out of the headline: Nico Hoerner is not in the Cubs lineup today, as he continues to deal with left hamstring tightness. The Cubs have now blown past the maximum IL backdate optimization, which...
Sports Saturday around the Taylor household, so it's time to run all over to soccer fields and baseball fields and dance centers. First, Cubs Bullets ... Kyle Hendricks may not have made a load of terrible pitches in yesterday's game...
For six hitless, profoundly dominant innings, Paul Skenes today looked like the best pitching prospect I've seen since maybe Stephen Strasburg. The other two who came to mind as I watched were Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez. Those three, when...
Elly De La Cruz continues to dazzle and the Yankees want Juan Soto in New York for the rest of his career. That and more in today's MLB Notes! Elly De La Cruz's Four Steal Night Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly...
The Iowa Cubs mashed four home runs and scored 10 runs, as Cade Horton made his best start at Triple-A on Thursday. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report | May 17, 2024 Triple-A Iowa Cubs...
The Philadelphia Phillies (32-14), with Aaron Nola on the mound and trying to sweep the series, host the Washington Nationals (20-23) who will counter with Trevor Williams, at 1:35 PM ET on Sunday.The article below will provide you with everything...
Looking for a series sweep, Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles (28-14) play the Seattle Mariners (24-21) on Sunday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the...
On Sunday, looking for a series sweep, Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians (28-17) face Ryan Jeffers and the Minnesota Twins (24-20), with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 PM ET at Progressive Field.Keep scrolling to find out all the details...
Christopher Morel and the Chicago Cubs (26-21) host Connor Joe and the Pittsburgh Pirates (21-26) on Sunday, with first pitch at 2:20 PM ET.Find out how to watch the Chicago-Pittsburgh matchup below.When is Cubs vs. Pirates and when does it...
The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers take the court in a decisive Game 7 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks are favored by 2.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ABC...
This guy. What do I even say? I was already kinda buzzy when Brennen Davis homered again - a grand slam - for the fifth time in six games, and sixth time in eight games. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/1791967453888598441 Truly...
Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (32-15) host the Chicago White Sox (14-32) on Sunday, with first pitch at 1:35 PM ET, and the Yankees looking for a series sweep.Keep reading to find out how to watch the New...
Isaac Paredes and the Tampa Bay Rays (24-22) visit Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays (19-24) at 1:37 PM ET on Sunday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the Tampa...
The Miami Marlins (14-32), led by Bryan De La Cruz and aiming for a series sweep, host Pete Alonso and the New York Mets (20-24) at 1:40 PM ET on Sunday.The article below will provide you with everything you need...
The San Francisco Giants (21-25), with Jordan Hicks on the hill and aiming to sweep the series, host the Colorado Rockies (15-29) who will counter with Dakota Hudson, at 4:05 PM ET on Sunday.If you're trying to watch this game,...
NEWSLETTER
For the second straight week Pelicans’ first baseman Yasiel Balaguert has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week. His weekly line of .406/.412/.719 included a pair of home runs. For the month of July Balaguert hit .339/.380/.542, but strikeouts continued to be a bit of an issue. His 30 strikouts in month helped contribute to his season K% of 22.7%. That isn’t terrible for a slugger in A ball, but it is also a sharp increase over what he posted last season (15.9%).
