NEWSLETTER
While I believe that it is possible to overvalue strikeout rates as a method of evaluating minor league pitchers, there is no denying that a higher strikeout rate is nice to have. And it probably comes no surprise that the leader (min 30 innings) in the Cubs’ farm system in strikeouts per nine innings is their best pitching prospect: Dylan Cease.
But I would lay long odds that not a one of you would be able to name the rest of the top five. In fact, if we limited it to just starting pitchers (min one start) I still don’t think most of us would get more than one name right. And that’s probably a good thing. We have a brand new crop of pitching prospects emerging in the low minors right now to get to know, and in many cases the Cubs are aggressively moving these prospects up the system. Some of these prospects will fizzle out in higher levels, but some could be future Cubs in a year or two, and some of them may turn out to be parts of trades.
Dylan Cease leads the system with a K/9 of 14.09, and right behind him is Dillon Maples (13.28). Maples is having a resurgent year that could, with some improvements to his control, have him on the fast track to Chicago. Next up is 2016 draftee Dakota Mekkes (13.13). Mekkes, like Maples, is a reliever with some control issues who is being promoted aggressively. Fourth overall and second among starters (min one start) is Michael Rucker (12.80), a guy whose walk rate of just 1.86 BB/9 is almost as impressive as his strikeout rate. As is the case with the rest of these pitchers, Rucker has already been promoted this season. And rounding out the top five is Craig Brooks (11.87).
Maples should be a familiar name if you’ve been around Cubs fandom for awhile, as he was a former well regarded draft pick who has been plagued by injuries and control issues. Mekkes should be familiar as well; we talked quite a bit about him after the 2016 draft. Rucker and Brooks, though, have both received several mentions in the Daily but otherwise have not gotten much prospect attention. If they continue to perform like this through the remainder of the season, I suspect both will be on a lot of Cubs’ prospect lists over the winter.
As for the top five among just starting pitchers … think it over. You already know the top two (Cease and Rucker). See how many more names you can come up with before the end of the article.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa had the night off.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies are on their All Star break.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Pelicans are on their All Star break.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
The Cubs are on their All Star break.
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Boise 4, Eugene 1
Five walks and seven hits only turned into one run for the Emeralds.
Other Notes
