Two very well-deserved, and very predictable – in a good way! – awards today for the Cubs, as the minor league player of the year and pitcher of the year are the guys you would have expected if you’ve been paying attention to Bryan’s adoration.
Congratulations to OF Brennen Davis and RHP Cory Abbott, the #Cubs Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year! #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/x7wDj5SS0S
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 16, 2019
Davis, 19, erupted in his first full year in the farm system after the Cubs took him in the second round last year. He hit a whopping .305/.381/.525 (160 wRC+) in the Midwest League, despite being years younger than most of his competition, and despite being challenged with a full-season assignment in his first full year in the organization. He became Bryan’s top prospect in the farm system by the end of the year, and it did become very hard to argue with that designation.
Oh, and Davis just helped the South Bend Cubs capture the Midwest League title.
Abbott, 23, was dominant in his first year at AA, particularly in the second half: 9 starts, 53.2 IP, 1.17 ERA, 68 K, 19 BB. The guy did not allow more than three hits in any of his final 11(!) starts.
I know that Brailyn Marquez will deservedly get some commentary here – Jack Patterson, too – but from end to end, and given how absurdly dominant he was for the second half, Abbott is a perfectly appropriate choice for the minor league pitcher of the year.