While Brett touched on Adbert Alzolay’s start in this morning’s Cubs Bullets, I want to emphasize what a big deal it was for him to make it through seven innings. When healthy, Alzolay has usually found a way to be successful over the last four seasons, but the bugaboo has always been those later innings (and third time through the order). It’s what I might deem one of the last two steps in his development, showing the in-game endurance to make it through 22-27 batters. And then the last one? For me it’s re-implementing that changeup, which can flash nasty, as a fully integrated secondary offering.
Let’s break down the day in the minors for the Cubs.
Five Stars of Cub Farm, 5/22.
HM. Tyson Miller. Season debut comes with 1 relief inning. 0 R, 2 K.
5. Jonathan Sierra. 💣.
4. Grayson Byrd. Comfortable in AA.
3. Peyton Remy.
2. Cam Sanders. Upper 90s quality starts are fun.
1. Tyler Durna. Three doubles.
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) May 23, 2021
Honorable Mention: Holy cow was it good to see Tyson Miller back on the mound for the I-Cubs last night. He pitched a scoreless eighth in a 7-1 loss, showing his usual plus cut on a 92-94 four-seam fastball. I want to see the breaking ball more before I comment on the possible enhancements to that pitch, but thought I saw some, and he also showed the changeup that was his preferred secondary in the bigs last year … A couple relievers with solid outings last night that have been really good lately: Manny Rodriguez in Double-A and Brandon Hughes in High-A … Iowa first baseman Patrick Wisdom missed the start of the season when his wife had a baby, and when he returned opened the season in an 0-for-14 slump. Safe to say he’s busted out of it, reaching base in 10 of 13 plate appearances in the last three games, including three home runs and last night’s RBI double … Leftover note from Friday: 2019 seventh-round pick Brad Deppermann made his season debut for South Bend on Friday, touching 98 mph during two scoreless innings.
Five: Jonathan Sierra
The lone home run on the farm last night. Kudos to the left-handed Sierra for getting one off a southpaw, too, doing a great job getting his hands in on an inside fastball. It did make me notice that Sierra actually had a significant platoon split in 2019, struggling to a 546 OPS against RHP but lighting up lefties with a 903 OPS.
Four: Grayson Byrd
Filling in at Double-A due to the injuries to Jared Young and Alfonso Rivas, the 2019 24th-round-pick is looking exceedingly comfortable in Tennessee (despite just 11 career PA in A-ball). Yesterday was his best game yet, with two doubles, a walk and a sacrifice fly in four plate appearances. Byrd now has a five-game hit streak, reaching base at least twice his last four times out. When Young and Rivas return, Byrd probably heads back to A-ball, but he’s putting his name on the map as someone who needs developmental attention going forward. And that’s no small feat.
Three: Peyton Remy
Updated season numbers after a quality start last night: 20.2 IP, 17 H, 3.48 ERA, 7 BB, 25 K, 4 HR-A. He’ll have to figure out a way to lower the home runs, but everything else has been really good. Let’s go through the eight strikeouts.
- Baby slider on the outside corner
- Right-on-right changeup middle-in
- Fastball upstairs
- High-outside slider (a little cutter-y)
- Plus changeup in dirt
- 2-seam fastball high and away to LHH
- Solid changeup lowish and away
- Fastball up on ninth pitch of AB
Remy’s changeup has been his biggest step forward, but he’s also done a good job separating the movement on his slider and curveball. I still expect he’ll finish this season in Double-A.
Two: Cam Sanders
I mean how can you not like this guy.
If you haven’t noticed, I’m a fan of Cam Sanders.@PitchingNinja pic.twitter.com/K5aG0Hw076
— Caleb Webb (@calebgwebb) May 22, 2021
Sanders was up to 98 with the fastball last night, about 93-98 overall, touching 97 plenty of times. He did a nice job pitching backwards to right-handed hitters, starting with early-count sliders and finishing with high fastballs. Lefties got more early-count fastballs and a mix of all his secondaries. I still think Sanders’ changeup is the best of those options, and I’d like to see it implemented some against right-handed hitters, too. But I don’t mean to sound nitpicky, because what Sanders is doing represents one of the best breakouts on the farm this year. His fastball command was very solid last night, with the two walks coming on full-count breaking balls where Sanders refused to give in.
As I mentioned on Twitter last night, Sanders is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, but he seems a lock to be added to the 40-man roster prior to then (to protect him from selection). The start-to-start consistency is what I find most exciting, and I’m just more and more comfortable projecting Sanders as a helpful MLB contributor with each outing.
One: Tyler Durna
We walked about Tyler Durna’s early-season BABIP problems a few days ago, but he’s starting the good kind of regression to the mean, with three doubles last night. The BABIP still sits at just .179, but between Durna’s plus defense, good batting eye and fantastic contact skills, I’m sure the Cubs front office can look beyond the ugly batting line. We’re going to have to see some power to project Durna into the Majors at that position, but his contributions to his clubhouses in the minors are valuable as well.
After a Chase Strumpf leadoff single in the ninth inning last night, Durna hit this huge double to set up the South Bend win. Dayton responded by intentionally walking Nelson Velazquez – the hottest hitter in the farm system – and then Yonathan Perlaza drew a bases loaded walk-off walk.
Tyler Durna’s 3rd Double of the game pic.twitter.com/yfi75OfbAM
— Jordan Miller (@Miller_MiLB) May 23, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
14 strikeouts for the pitching staff and a walk-off win in the 9th. So yeah, you don't want to miss these highlights.Highlights, get your highlights here!https://t.co/TJRxn31n6I pic.twitter.com/u6sdty8Ghm
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) May 23, 2021