Thanks to accomplishing things almost no Low-A pitchers do, and a late-season bump to High-A that showed no signs of a challenge, Cubs pitching prospect D.J. Herz is a virtual lock to win himself Pitcher of the Year honors in the Cubs’ farm system, as well as find himself ranked in the organization’s top ten.
For today, though, he’s getting a different top ten plaudit: top ten status in Baseball America’s new Low-A East prospect list.
Herz comes in at number 10, which may not sound all that impressive for a level with three different leagues, but you have to keep in mind how crazy loaded that particular league is. Herz is immediately behind Ronald Acuña Jr.’s brother and the guy who was taken 5th overall in this year’s draft. It’s a dense group, mostly full of top 100 types.
Herz pitched just 10.1 innings in his pro debut in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season, but he didn’t look rusty in his first full season.
The 20-year-old lefthander excelled with Myrtle Beach before a promotion to High-A on Sept. 2. He used his three-pitch mix to overmatch Low-A hitters while striking out 14.4 per nine innings. Herz uses a crossfire delivery that gives his fastball deception, and he sits in the low-to-mid 90s, with one manager calling the pitch electric.
Herz’s changeup is his best secondary offering, and it’s a pitch that earns plus grades. He has worked to improve his curveball, turning the pitch into an average offering.
You didn’t have to watch much of Herz this year to see how tough he was on hitters. The delivery, arm slot, extension, and pitch movement were clearly too much for hitters (hence Herz’s obscene strikeout totals). The dude posted a strikeout rate over 40% at both Myrtle Beach and South Bend. At just 20, and having come into the season with almost no pro experience, it’s not like he was too established for the guys at Low-A or High-A, either.
Herz will rank as one of the few best Cubs pitching prospects this offseason, and then will likely head back to High-A South Bend to open the 2022 season, with a good shot to get the bump in-year to Double-A. He was signed way over slot as an 8th rounder back in 2019, so good job so far, Cubs. And good job, D.J. Herz!
D.J. Herz Leads the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to a No-Hitter, Max Bain Tosses Six No-Hit Innings Of His Own in South Bend – https://t.co/xWrEDX7pWA pic.twitter.com/sdF0QMZJcw
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 24, 2021