Not to double-dip into the Wrath, but …
Mark Gonzales just reported that Jacob Hannemann, the Cubs’ third round pick out of BYU, has a slight tear in his right (non-throwing) elbow. Hannemann missed most of July at short season low-A Boise with an undisclosed injury, came back for a few games at the end of the month, and hasn’t played since July 25. I am wondering if this elbow injury is new (since July 25, anyway), or if it was the issue all along. The 22-year-old center fielder was hitting .290/.313/.468 for Boise over just 14 games.
The injury, which will not require surgery (but still figures to keep Hannemann out for the better part of the rest of the year), is particularly ill-timed, not unlike Jorge Soler’s injury. Like Soler, Hannemann hasn’t played a whole lot of baseball in the last few years, having served a Mormon mission before starting at BYU. He hit quite well there this year as a freshman, but, because of the layoff, you’d like to see him getting in as much action as possible right now. Further, because he’s already 22, you’d also probably have preferred to see him reach full season ball by the end of this year.
The Cubs clearly liked Hannemann a great deal, taking him at the start of the third round this year, and paying him well over slot ($1 million) to sign. Hopefully he can play in instructional ball this Fall, or maybe even a Winter League. Either way, he’ll remain a prospect to watch next year.
(UPDATE: I don’t have it in my heart to blast you with three consecutive bits of Wrath, but Josh Vitters reinjured his woeful hamstring, per Tommy Birch, and may have to go back on the DL. Again again again.)