NEWSLETTER
The Cubs’ first overall pick in the 2017 draft made his professional debut for the Eugene Emeralds yesterday. It wasn’t a great opening effort for the left hander by the results, and it unfortunately came on the road so we don’t have any video of the game. Still, it is good to see that he is in action.
As expected, the Cubs appear to be limiting his pitch count. College pitchers tend to work a lot of innings before the draft rolls around, and the Cubs do not want to overload his left arm right away. That means Little was lifted after throwing just 35 pitches yesterday, and I think we can expect him to remain on some sort of a pitch count going forward.
In terms of results, Little only walked one and struck out only one, but he did register four groundouts to just one fly out. He allowed runs in his first two innings, but finished his night with a scoreless third.
It is possible that the Cubs will move Little up to South Bend later this summer, but I would not be surprised if he stays put. Regardless, if his mechanics look good to the Cubs in the spring, he could be a candidate to jump up to Myrtle Beach for the start of his first full professional season.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 2, El Paso 1
The Cubs came out ahead in the rare Pacific Coast League pitchers’ duel.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Montgomery 4, Tennessee 3
Despite the final score, Underwood didn’t have a bad game.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Carolina 4, Myrtle Beach 1
Until the late innings, this was also a pitchers’ duel.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
The Cubs had the day off.
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 7, Salem-Keizer 6
Eugene won in Little’s debut.
Rookie: AZL Cubs
Giants 6, Cubs 2
The Cubs were out hit sixteen to six.
Other Notes
