Cubs Minor League Daily: More Roster Shuffles, Marquez Looks Great, Much More

Another day, another round of roster shufflings in the Cubs’ farm system. I think this is the third major round since the draft, and still don’t think we’re quiet done yet. There are some notable promotions in this round, though.

Iowa:
Add: OF Chris Coghlan (from the DL)
Lose: C Ali Solis (to the DL)
Add: OF Trey Martin (From TN)
Lose: RHP Dillon Maples (to CHC)

Chris Coghlan finally makes his long awaited return to Iowa after an extended period rehabbing in Arizona. Joining him will be Trey Martin. Martin, long one of the best defensive outfielders in the system, put up some pretty good offensive numbers for the Smokies this season (wRC+ 110, 7 HR, 12 SB). If he can handle Iowa, he could set himself up as future defensive fifth outfielder in the majors.

Tennessee:
Lose: OF Daniel Spingola (released)
Add: OF Connor Myers (from MB)
Lose: OF Trey Martin (to IA)
Add: C Erick Castillo (from DL)

Connor Myers is another fantastic defensive outfielder – possibly the best I’ve seen other than Albert Almora, himself – but he hadn’t done much with the bat for Myrtle Beach. He looked better this year (wRC+ 89), and that was enough to get him a shot at Double A. This is another guy whose glove is so good that his bat only has to be just barely enough to stick around at the back of a bench for him to reach the majors.

Myrtle Beach:
Lose: OF Connor Myers (to TN)
Add: OF Zach Davis (from SB)
Add: OF Roberto Caro (from SB)

Roberto Caro clobbered Midwest League pitching in 2017 (154 wRC+), but did only okay against the Carolina League (73 wRC+). After destroying the Midwest League to open 2018 (182 wRC+) he heads back to the Carolina League. About that inflated wRC+… that’s despite just one homer. He’s hitting .375/.460/.555 and has one homer. Eight doubles and six triples account for the extra bases. He also has 17 steals.

South Bend:
Lose: OF Roberto Caro (to MB)
Lose: OF Zach Davis (to MB)

South Bend lost two outfielders and picked up no one. They have 24 men on the roster now, including three outfielders (with one on the disabled list) so they may not need to add anyone. Then again, we may see some more movement in the next few days.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Memphis 13, Iowa 2 Game suspended on Saturday.
Memphis 6, Iowa 1
The bats were largely quiet as the Cubs were swept.

Eddie Butler: 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Kyle Ryan: 3 IP, 2 H, 5 K

Mark Zagunis: 1 for 4, 2B

Ryan Court: 1 for 5, 2B

Jacob Hannemann: 1 for 3, SB

Game Two

Duane Underwood: 5.2 IP, 4 R, 11 H, 1 BB, 7 K

Dakota Mekkes: 1.1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Mark Zagunis: 1 for 1, 2B

Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 5, Chattanooga 3
This was the fifth straight game in which Robinson allowed two or fewer runs in his start.

Duncan Robinson: 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K

Scott Effross: 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB

Jake Stinnett: 1 IP, 1 K

Charcer Burks: 1 for 5, HR, BB

Ian Rice: 2 for 4, 2 2B

Jesse Hodges: 1 for 3, 2B, BB

Eddy Martinez: 1 for 3, HR, BB

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 6, Potomac 1
As is usually the case when the Pelicans win, it was the pitching that was the star in this one.

Bryan Hudson: 4 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 2 K

Ryan Kellogg: 3.1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 K

Casey Bloomquist: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K

D.J. Wilson: 1 for 4, BB

Aramis Ademan: 2 for 5

Jhonny Pereda: 2 for 4

Kevonte Mitchell: 1 for 4, 2B

Austin Upshaw: 2 for 3, 3B, BB

Luis Ayala: 3 for 4

Low A: South Bend Cubs
Dayton 5, South Bend 2
Cubs pitching piled up eleven strikeouts in this one.

Javier Assad: 5.2 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K

Ben Hecht: 1.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Enrique De Los Rios: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Brandon Hughes: 2 for 4

Rafael Narea: 2 for 5

Jared Young: 2 for 5, 2B

Austin Filiere: 2 for 4

Christian Donahue: 1 for 3, 2B, BB

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 3, Everett 1
Eugene 2, Everett 1
The Emeralds break a long losing streak by sweeping a doubleheader.

Brailyn Marquez: 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K

Luis Aquino: 1 IP, 1 BB

Kwang-Min Kwon: 1 for 3, SB

Nico Hoerner: 2 for 3, 3B

Nelson Velazquez: 1 for 2, HR

Game Two

Paul Richan: 2 IP, 1 H, 5 K

Stephen Ridings: 2 IP, 1 K

Sean Barry: 2.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Fernando Kelli: 1 for 2, 2B, BB

Nico Hoerner: 1 for 1, 2 BB, 2 SB

Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Giants Orange 4, Cubs One 3
The Giants did not score after the third inning, but the Cubs could not quite comeplete their comeback in the late innings.

Jesus Tejada: 4 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Chi-Feng Lee: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Alonso Garcia: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Clayton Daniel: 1 for 5, 2B

Alexander Guerra: 2 for 4, 2B

Jamie Galzan: 1 for 4

Orian Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B

Rookie: AZL Cubs 2
Cubs Two 9, Padres 3
Cubs pitching struck out fifteen Padres.

Yovanny Cruz: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Sucre Valdez: 4.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 9 K

Grant Fennell: 1 for 2, BB, SB

Fidel Mejia: 2 for 2, BB, 2 SB

Ezequiel Pagan: 2 for 3, BB, SB

Alonso Gaitan: 2 for 4, 3B

Other Notes

The Iowa Cubs are now carrying seven outfielders: Wynton Bernard, Stephen Bruno, Chris Coghlan, Jacob Hannemann, Trey Martin, Bijan Rademacher, and Mark Zagunis. Given that they carry no first baseman, at least one of those guys will playing at first on a regular basis. Iowa also makes use of the DH a lot, so carrying seven outfielders isn’t necessarily as crazy as it sounds on the surface.

Victor Caratini made some comments to Des Moines reported Tommy Birch that I suspect will rub some folks the wrong way.

Victor Caratini believes there's nothing left for him to accomplish in Triple-A. So, what's got to happen for him to get back to the big leagues? Caratini: "Get lucky." https://t.co/Rbc5jw3kPo #Cubs

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 1, 2018

Reading the full comments in the article, though, I agree with him. He doesn’t have anything to accomplish in Triple A. He’s a better hitter than others currently on the Cubs’ bench, and I don’t really have any problems with his work behind the plate. Sure, there things he can polish, and I don’t doubt that he’ll continue to polish them. But he could do that in side sessions in Chicago just as easily. I have no problems with Caratini’s comments. I think he accurately assessed his situation, and by playing hard daily while in Iowa he’s handling it correctly. Eventually the Cubs will call him back.

I understand why the Cubs sent him to Iowa, but I don’t think it has anything to do with Caratini or unlocking any futher potential. I see Caratini as a good offensive backup catcher. I suspect some are hoping that with additional time in Iowa he’ll blossom into a starting catcher that the Cubs can trade for a premium return, but I just don’t see it.

Brailyn Marquez, according to the radar gun referenced by the radio feed, was still throwing in the mid 90s at the end of his night. And he looked really good:

Count 'em up! Brailyn Marquez records 8 strikeouts in 6 innings to fuel the Emeralds to a 3-1 win! pic.twitter.com/ejjLpQhFfc

— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) July 2, 2018

The Cubs scouted Tennessee Tech quite a bit, as we found out when they drafted Tennesee Tech closer Ethan Roberts in the fourth round. While scouting Roberts, I suspect they saw some of catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea and liked what they saw enough that Kaleiwahea signed as a non-drafted free agent and is already catching for Eugene.

Paul Richan, one of the Cubs’ three second round picks from June, struck out five batters over two innings for Eugene in his professional debut.