NEWSLETTER
In the run-up to the big league Cubs game last night, I was messing around on Twitter, as I do, and I swear to you, I could not scroll for two minutes without a new Cubs prospect home run popping up. They were everywhere, all within a really small window of time!
Just look! Look at all the dingers (and all these guys are recommended follows if you like minor league content):
Ed Howard, meet the Tiki Hut pic.twitter.com/eVjt7nf60w
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) April 21, 2022
Nelson Velasquez just hit his third home run in two days pic.twitter.com/MSNBXykR0b
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) April 21, 2022
How about an easy 450 to center field for Christopher Morel? pic.twitter.com/IMc6V9vFaM
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) April 21, 2022
Darius Hill grand slam! pic.twitter.com/fDDYE9xpgb
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) April 21, 2022
Nelson Maldonado dinger. I can’t keep up with all these home runs in Tennessee pic.twitter.com/wvYUjeiQ8j
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) April 21, 2022
Chase Strumpf also homered, but no video on that one. Nelson Velazquez (175 wRC+), Darius Hill (190), and Nelson Maldonado (228) are now putting up ridiculous slash lines at Tennessee. There is funky stuff going on for each (Velazquez’s strikeout rate is still near 40%, Hill’s BABIP is likely lucky .421, and Maldonado’s ISO is an impossibly high .448), but what remains true regardless of the funk at the margins: all three are hitting the absolute crap out of the ball right now, and all three have a case for getting time soon at Iowa.
There were a number of other great stories throughout the farm system, including D.J. Herz’s start at South Bend, which Bryan is getting into soon. But also these:
I present to you: Caleb Kilian getting Albert Almora to ground out pic.twitter.com/JN68AkW4Lg
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) April 21, 2022
18 batters faced tonight for Kilian
4 strikeouts
1 walk
1 infield fly
1 fly ball to outfield (double)
11 ground balls (2 singles, 1 ROE, 8 outs (incl 2 GIDP)) https://t.co/YbYzYMUvNK— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) April 22, 2022
For the second consecutive night, Alfonso Rivas is your @EMCInsurance Player of the Game. pic.twitter.com/k5qWTObQ6w
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 22, 2022
Walker Powell earned the win for Myrtle Beach against Delmarva Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/apPezqDXKI
— Stephanie Lynn (@SRL590) April 22, 2022
Most improved pitcher in the system this year is a Myrtle Beach reliever Jake Reindl who struck out all three in the eighth and might do the same in the ninth. This pitch is just nasty pic.twitter.com/rgDWbNDGah
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) April 22, 2022
