All across the four time zones and seven teams that make up the Cubs’ minor league organization (the stateside portion of it, anyway), exactly one game was played yesterday. Fortunately it was a win.
So since we have a slow day, let’s take a look at new player in the organization. Eugene’s Dalton Geekie was drafted in 2015 by Atlanta out of a small college in Georgia in the 22nd round. Braves fans seemed to like the signing after the draft, particularly the fact that the 6’5″ Geekie hadn’t pitched much in high school and was a two way player in college. A big, athletic, inexperienced pitcher with plenty of miles left on the arm and a decent fastball to build around is a nice player to find in the 22nd round.
Geekie proceeded to throw fewer than 70 innings with the Braves, never got higher than Low A, and missed the entire 2017 season with arm surgery. He was released by the Braves in March. He then signed on with the Lake Erie Crushers in the independent Frontier League, struck out three batters over two innings of work, and was signed by the Cubs in May.
I assumed when I saw his name pop up on Eugene’s roster that he was an injury bounce back guy (the Cubs have a few in the system every year). What I didn’t expect was that, even in a system awash with pitching prospects in the lower levels, he would emerge as Eugene’s closer.
Geekie is exactly the sort of pitcher the Cubs like to grab on these sorts of low risk rebound signings. The only thing that doesn’t make sense to me right now is why Atlanta let him go so soon after arm surgery. Whatever the reason, he now joins a system that has made an effort to develop relievers in recent years. I suspect he’ll stick with Eugene all season, and we’ll see how he looks after that.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa had the day off.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee is on their All-Star break.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach is on their All-Star break.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend is on their All-Star break.
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 4, Hillsboro 3
The Emeralds won their road opener.
Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Cubs 1 was rained out.
Rookie: AZL Cubs 2
Cubs 2 had the day off.
Other Notes