Baseball America has published their updated version of the Cubs’ top ten prospects, and it is an interesting list. Victor Caratini tops the list that is mostly pitchers. Isaac Paredes (5), Aramis Ademan (8), and Jeimer Candelario (9) are the other bats on the chart.
On the pitching side, things get really interesting. Tom Hatch (2) beats out Jose Albertos (3) for the top slot, followed by Adbert Alzolay (4), Brendon Little (6), Alex Lange (7), and Oscar De La Cruz (10). That the Cubs top two draft picks make the list is both good (they drafted good pitchers!) and bad (they only had three better pitchers than a guy who lasted until the bottom of the first round?).
The farm system lacks any clear best prospect right now, and I think if BA did this list again next week the order and membership might be slightly different. It is very possible that every major ranking will look very distinct as they roll out, and the same goes for the rankings that come out over the winter.
And if you read that as me saying “The next Top 40 probably doesn’t match the BA rankings”, then you read it correctly.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Nashville 11, Iowa 8 in eleven innings
Iowa’s bullpen has pitched some good games, but this wasn’t one of them.
Seth Frankoff: 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K
Jack Leathersich: 1.1 IP, and a line of zeroes.
Jemile Weeks: 2 for 6, 2 2B
Chris Dominguez: 2 for 5
Jeimer Candelario: 2 for 5, 2B, BB
Stephen Bruno: 1 for 5, HR
Ali Solis: 1 for 5, 2B
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Jacksonville 10, Tennessee 6
A big early deficit doomed the Smokies to a loss.
Preston Morrison: 3 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Jose Rosario: 1 IP, 3 K
Trey Martin: 2 for 5
Ian Rice: 3 for 5, 2 HR
Yasiel Balaguert: 3 for 5, HR
Carlos Penalver: 1 for 4, 2B
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Pelicans had the day off.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 4, Wisconsin 3
The South Bend bullpen was excellent.
Tyson Miller: 5.1 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Marc Huberman: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Mark Malave: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Andruw Monasterio: 2 for 5, 2B
Isaac Paredes: 2 for 5, 2B
Darryl Wilson: 2 for 4, 2B
Chris Pieters: 3 for 4, 2B, SB
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 10, Everett 4
Their playoff hopes needed a win, and the Emeralds cruised to an easy one.
Enrique De Los Rios: 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Jake Steffens: 2 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
Jhonny Bethencourt: 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SB
Aramis Ademan: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, BB, SB
Brandon Hughes: 4 for 5, 2B
Kwang-Min Kwon: 2 for 4
Rookie: AZL Cubs
Cubs 5, Royals 4
The Cubs had lost eight straight prior to this win.
Yunior Perez: 2.2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Jake Stinnett: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Eugenio Palma: 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 K
Jose Gutierrez: 2 for 5, 2B
Marcus Mastrobuoni: s for 4, 2B
Kevin Zamudio: 1 for 4, HR
Other Notes
If you are a subscriber (recommended), that Baseball America article also has postive things to say about David Bote, Jason Vosler, Justin Steele, and Dillon Maples.
Boise lost yesterday, so now it is Eugene and Hillsboro who are tied for first in the South Division; the season ends Sunday. In the event of a tie, the first tie breaker is head to head record. Eugene is 5-1 against Hillsboro this season, so a tie is as good as first place for the Emeralds. Against Boise, though, Eugene is just 1-4. Maintaining that fragile one game lead over Boise is important.
Having beaten up Everett for four of five at home, Eugene now hits the road for Tri-City. Tri-City (17-17) is also fighting for first place in the other division. Eugene is a decent road team (7-6) and Tri-City isn’t super great at home (6-8), for whatever that’s worth.
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