Cubs Minor League Daily: More Awards For Cubs Prospects

August 9, 2016, by Luke Blaize Chicago Cubs

In additional to Eddy Martinez and Jose Paulino being named the organizational Player and Pitcher of the Month for July, three other prospects picked up some accolades yesterday.

In the Pacific Coast League, southpaw Rob Zastryzny was named Pitcher of the Week in the Pacific Coast League after striking out out thireen over eleven scoreless innings last week. In those two starts he allowed just two hits, walked one, and posted a GO/AO of 2.80. His run of good pitching actually covers fifteen innings; he hasn’t given up a run since July 23rd in Memphis.

Meanwhile, Pelicans swept the Pitcher and Player of the Week honors in the Carolina League.

Jeffrey Baez hit .391/.400/.957 (yes, that’s a slugging of .957) for the week, thanks in part to three home runs, two doubles, and a triple, to claim Player of the Week honors. He also extended his league-leading steals total to thirty three.

Trevor Clifton needed just one game, a game in which he didn’t allow a hit until a double in the eighth inning, to pick up his Pitcher of the Week award. He struck out six in that game.

Add together the award for Baez and the previous two weeks won by Yasiel Balaguert and the Carolina League Player of the Week award has lived exclusively in the Cubs organization for the past three weeks. No wonder the Pelicans have surged into first place.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 3, Oklahoma City 2
The Cubs’s bullpen totaled six strikeouts in three innings of work to lock down the win.

Drew Rucinkski: 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Miguel Mejia: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 K
Corey Black: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Kristopher Negron: 2 for 4
Jeimer Candelario: 2 for 4, 2B
Tim Federowicz: 2 for 3, 2B
Taylor Davis: 2 for 3
Munenori Kawasaki: 1 for 2, SB

Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Montgomery 5, Tennessee 3
The Smokies were scoreless after seven, but their late rally wasn’t quite enough.

Brad Markey: 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 8 H, 3 K. All four runs scored in the second.
Jack Leathersich: 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 K
Trey Martin: 1 for 2, 2 BB, SB
Victor Caratini: 1 for 4, 2B
Ben Carhart: 1 for 4, HR
Lane Adams: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Carlos Penalver: 3 for 4

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach had the day off.

Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 3, Great Lakes 1
South Bend picked up win number seventy.

Jose Paulino: 7 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Greyfer Eregua: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Dillon Maples: 1 IP, 1 H
Eloy Jimenez: 1 for 4, SB
Matt Rose: 1 for 4, 2B
Tyler Alamo: 2 for 3, 2B

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 4, Vancouver 3
The Emeralds walked it off with an RBI double in the ninth.

Bryan Hudson: 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K. The walks were down and the strikeouts were up. I like this direction.
Dakota Mekkes: 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 K
Robert Garcia: 3 for 5, 2B
Yeiler Peguero: 3 for 4, 2B
Chris Pieters: 2 for 4, BB
Wladimir Galindo: 1 for 4, 2B, BB
Tyler Payne: 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB
D.J. Wilson: 1 for 4, 2B

Rookie: Arizona Cubs

Arizona had the day off.

Other Notes

Whenever Double A or Triple A prospects are discussed at this time of year, one common question is “Will he be called up in September?”. In the case of Zastryzny, I think the only thing that would prevent it is the Cubs’ roster crunch. If they can find a way to get him on the 40 man, it makes all the sense in the world for him to eat a spot start or a few innings out of the pen while getting a taste of the majors in September. Barring a remarkable collapse, the Cubs’ goals in September will include keeping their players healthy and rested for the playoffs; Zastryzny can help with that.
So can Pierce Johnson, who has been pitching pretty well in a relief role. Johnson is already on the 40 man, so roster crunch considerations are already taken care of in his case. Spencer Patton and Gerardo Concepcion also seem like plausible candidates to return to Chicago. Giovanni Soto has pitched well at times in Iowa, and he could be a possibility as well.
On the positional side, Munenori Kawasaki, Jeimer Candelario, and Albert Almora should all be locks to return to the majors, as should be Tommy La Stella (assuming he is still in the minors when September roles around). All of them are already on the roster. If space can be found, it could also makes sense to go ahead and bring up Ian Happ. It would be starting his clock a little early, but that can probably be accounted for when he heads to Iowa for awhile next year. Getting him a taste of the majors and a list of things to work on during that 2017 stay in Triple A could pay long term dividends.
If you are not familiar with Jose Paulino, then check out the below highlights of his seven strikeout performance for South Bend. You’ll start to get a sense for his stuff as well as his willingness to attack hitters at the bottom of the strike zone.