On the short list of guys who could emerge as impact prospects from the Cubs’ farm system is Eugene OF Nelson Velazquez.
The 19-year-old 2017 5th round pick struggled to start the season, but has been making more consistent contact lately. And when he does make contact, we get this:
There is no doubt that this guy has massive power. That was his fifth homer for Eugene. I suspect we’ll see quite a few more before the season is out.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa was rained out.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee was also rained out.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Potomac 5, Myrtle Beach 1
On a windy, rainy day, the Pelicans trailed all game long.
Erich Uelmen: 5.2 IP, 4 R, 12 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Paulino: 3.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K
Aramis Ademan: 1 for 3, BB
Jhonny Pereda: 2 for 4, BB
Tyler Alamo: 2 for 4
Jose Gutierrez: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Low A: South Bend Cubs
Quad Cities 2, South Bend 1
The Cubs had some chances, but never got an extra base hit.
Erling Moreno: 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Jake Steffens: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Zach Davis: 2 for 4, SB
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Salem-Keizer 6, Eugene 2
Eugene remains eleven games under .500.
Riley Thompson: 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Faustino Carrera: 5 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 5 K
Stephen Ridings: 1 IP, 3 K
Riley McCauley: 1 IP, 2 K
Luis Vazquez: 1 for 4, 2B
Luis Diaz: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SB
Nelson Velazquez: 1 for 4, HR
Luke Reynolds: 2 for 4
Erick Gonzalez: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Cubs One 5, Royals 2
The Cubs are half a game out of first.
Justin Steele: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Corey Black: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Peyton Remy: 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 6 K
Edmond Americaan: 3 for 4, 2 SB
Jimmy Herron: 1 for 4, HR
Alexander Guerra: 1 for 2, HR, 2 BB
Yonathan Perlaza: 1 for 4, 3B
Yovanny Cuevas: 1 for 3, 3B
Rookie: AZL Cubs 2
Cubs Two 5, Dodgers 4
A two run rally in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference for the Cubs.
Blake Whitney: 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Sucre Valdez: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Ivan Medina: 1 IP, 2 K
Reivaj Garcia: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Cole Roederer: 3 for 5, 2 2B
Kevin Zamudio: 2 for 3
Miguel Pabon: 1 for 2, 2 BB
Other Notes
In case you were curious: while the Cubs could have matched the other prospects that the Dodgers gave up in the Manny Machado trade, they have no one in the system comparable in trade value to outfielder Yusniel Diaz right now. That means, if the Cubs were going to match or top the Dodgers’ offer, they would have had to trade off the Major League roster, *and* the Orioles would have had to be fine with that. Given the state of the Orioles rebuild… as in, it hasn’t really started yet… taking back anyone on the Major League roster probably wasn’t a great move for Baltimore. Moreover, the Cubs’ big league pieces all felt like the wrong guys to give up in a rental trade. In other words, the Cubs were very long shot. But we knew that going in, and we knew the fit might not have been right anyway.
The end of the first half of the season for the Arizona League is somewhere in the first part of next week, likley Monday or Tuesday. That gives Cubs 1 a little more time to close that half game lead the D-backs have and to shake off Giants Orange who are right beside them in the standings. If the Cubs can finish in first, they will be the first team in the farm system to secure a playoff slot this season.
Justin Steele has completed four rehab starts for Arizona now, and he has pitched well in all four. I suspect he’ll move up the ladder for at some point in the near future. Corey Black likely won’t be too far behind him.
First baseman Rafael Mejia was credited with a steal of home for AZL Cubs 1 last night. I really, really wish we had video from the Arizona Rookie League.
NEWSLETTER
