Amazingly, the Cubs organization won two games last night, within 11 minutes of each other, both featuring 10th inning, three-run, walk-off home runs. I’m sure you know about the one in Chicago.
But let me tell you about the crazy, prospect-laden 12-9 game that happened in Tennessee. Let’s start with how it ended:
Christopher Morel completes the @smokiesbaseball rally by launching a three-run homer into the East Tennessee night. pic.twitter.com/VEplUsDkoE
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 9, 2021
— Tennessee Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) September 9, 2021
That home run capped a pretty epic game for utility prospect Christopher Morel, who logged his fourth consecutive game with an extra-base hit, and in his last 21 games is hitting .289/.349/.592. As he told Marquee, “I got power, you know.” Morel actually had three extra-base hits in this one, with doubles in the first and fifth innings.
He was also his typical electric self in the field, highlighted by a diving stab-turned-unassisted double play saving a run in the ninth inning. He also made a nice play throwing out a runner at the plate on a soft ground ball in front of him, and another one on a chopper that required his plus-plus throwing arm. Dude is something special in the field.
The lead changed hands four times in this one, with Tennessee responding in the bottom half of the sixth and ninth innings when Chattanooga briefly took leads. In the sixth, the comeback came off the bat of Nelson Velazquez, who kept his slugging percentage in Double-A above .600 as he crossed the 100-PA threshold. What a run it’s been for the Cubs Minor League Position Player of August. I actually think this breakout has not received the attention it deserves: Velazquez has actualized his tools and the Majors should be in his sights.
Nelson Velazquez knows what to do with a cement mixer pitch. pic.twitter.com/vCN3VL7YH7
— Itsacon (@thats_so_cub) September 9, 2021
Then, trailing 9-6 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Smokies found the long ball again. Brennen Davis led the inning off by jumping on a 96 mph fastball on a line drive home run to center field that got out in a hurry. And Bradlee Beesley followed with a really pretty swing of his own to tie the game.
Lucky No. 13.
Brennen Davis goes yard for @smokiesbaseball pic.twitter.com/vYdEcaQAwo
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 9, 2021
Shouts also to Tim Susnara and Edwin Figuera for each reaching base four times, and Delvin Zinn scored twice and made a beautiful play in the field. This really was one of those games that had it all.
Slide. Stop. Sling.
Highlight-reel moment from @Cubs prospect Delvin Zinn. pic.twitter.com/EezHNWvCus
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 9, 2021
… although you really have to squint to find good pitching in there.
Bryan Hudson and Samuel Reyes both get credit for five outs and retired each hitter they faced. Hudson was the most visually impressive, and continues a really nice second half. Since the calendar flipped to July: 25.1 IP, 18 H, 2.49 ERA, 8 BB, 26 K. And left-handed hitters aren’t slugging their weight against him on the season. Hudson is due to be a minor league free agent at the end of the season, given how far he’s come developmentally, I sure hope the two sides find a way to reunite in 2022.
Hudson gave way to Burl Carraway, who did not have any command, but was able to pitch around a walk and a single and make it through a scoreless inning. The same cannot be said of Dauris Valdez, making his second appearance back with the Smokies after a three-month stint on the Injured List. Valdez was up to 99 mph in this one, but it lacked life and was hit all over the yard. Valdez gave up five singles, a double and hit a batter versus getting just one out. Carraway and Valdez are two guys where you hope an offseason of mechanical smoothing will make for 2022 breakouts. They certainly possess the stuff.
All in all, this game was everything you want out of minor league baseball: prospects, weird baseball, fun.