Journeymen of Tomorrow: Special Draft Edition

In Minor Leagues by myles37 Comments

The Cubs finally had some picks in the draft and their strategy was extremely straightforward: draft right-handed college pitchers.

3. Tom Hatch, RHP, Ok State

Hatch was the Big 12 pitcher of the year last year. As a redshirt sophomore, he has some leverage to return home, so this isn't likely to be an underslot pick. Hatch is still playing in the Supers right now, so even if he signs quickly, he won't report any time soon. He wasn't very highly regarded, which I like because that means the Cubs saw something other people didn't (?) Hell, I don't know.

4. Tyson Miller, RHP, Cal Baptist

This is a pick made in the same mold as Hayden Simpson. Wait, don't go! I just mean that a D II standout that isn't physically overpowering should go in about the 4th round. From the scouting reports, he's a 4-pitch guy who can get it up to 93. Doesn't walk a lot of people, but probably doesn't have the stuff to get a ton of whiffs. Sound familiar? Oh yeah, that's everyone in our system.

5. Bailey Clark, RHP, Duke

Clark features a 96 mph heater (at peak, sits 93), and a changeup. Pitchers that rely on changeups to succeed usually take a really long time to develop, so I'd imagine Clark will take his sweet time in the system. The stuff indicates that maybe he'll strike out more than 8 per 9 in the majors. That'd be a nice change.

6. Chad Hockin, RHP, Cal State Fullerton

Hockin is strictly a reliever candidate with a huge fastball (97) and a slider and that's it. I don't think he'll sign with the Cubs and will instead return to Cal State Fullerton for his senior year.

7. Michael Cruz, C, Bethune-Cookman

Cruz is the best hitter the Cubs drafted in the first 10 rounds. All jokes aside, he looks like he was not challenged in college, walking 13 more times than he struck out, hitting 16 HR in 200 AB, and even getting 16 HBP (!). No idea if he'll be a catcher in the minors, but the bat seems about as intriguing as a 7th-round pick gets.

8. Stephen Ridings, RHP, Tom Haverford College

The Cubs thought "Treat yo'self" and picked up "Rough" Ridings in the 8th round. Just a flier who dominated DIII and is likely just a $10k bonus guy.

9. Duncan Robinson, RHP, Dartmouth

Org guy who should sign for $10k. Good control, "meh" stuff. Doesn't walk guys, which is good.

10. Dakota Mekkes, RHP, Michigan State

Absurd numbers as the Spartans closer this year. Very erratic, but literally paces the league in K/9 AND H/9. Love this pick as long as they just put him a bullpen and let him climb the ranks.

Round Rock 4, Iowa Cubs 11

Ruggiano's revenge, as he hits a 2-run homer for Round Rock in this one. 

Willson Contreras continues to gently tell Jed Hoyer to call him up. 3-4 with a double in this one. Seriously, call him up already!

Jeimer Candelario went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts in his AAA debut. Hopefully he doesn't become overmatched as he did in his first AA go-round.

The only other extra-base hit was Matt Murton's double. Man, he must feel like shit if the Cubs are REACQUIRING CHRIS COGHLAN as opposed to giving him some play.

Corey Black, a real-life Cubs pitching prospect, saw his first action in this one. He was promoted yesterday. Black needs to work on his walks, but the stuff is unmistakeable. He should strike out more than his fair share, and seems to slot into the 7th or 8th inning role at the major league level. Not a bad return for the corpse of Alfonso Soriano, eh?

Chattanooga Lookouts 6, Tennessee Smokies 2

This team is pretty bereft of prospect talent now that Candelario, Black, and Zagunis are gone. Billy McKinney went 2-4 with a double and an RBI, and that was about it for good offensive performances. Ben Carhart also went 2-4, and he scored a run.

Brad Markey had a quality start in this one, going 6 IP and allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, a HR, and an error. Of course, he only struck out 1. The whole team only had 1 strikeout. This org, man.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1, Lynchburg Hillcats 7

Gleyber Torres hasn't had the offensive year I was hoping. He went 0-4 with a walk, 2 strikeouts, and a run scored. In fact, the team was held to 6 hits with 3 people each notching 2: Rashad Crawford, Jeffrey Baez, and Erick Castillo. They did walk 6 times, including a pair by Ian Happ and Yasiel Balaguert

Jonathan Martinez did not have a great game, but James Pugliese went 3 innings in relief and allowed only a single run. He struck out 3 and walked none.

South Bend Cubs 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 4

The org wasn't shut out!!!

Donnie Dewees went 0-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. He also struck out twice. Eloy Jimenez doubled and had 2 RBIs. Best performance of the night goes to Tyler Alamo, who went 3-4 with a run scored.

I literally did not know Preston Morrison was. The Cubs apparently drafted him in the 8th round last year, and he did really, really well in A- ball in 2015. Like all Cubs' minor leaguers, he only strikes out 7.52 per 9 and walks 3.08 per, but hey, he's in the minors. He had a Cubs pitcher game, going 5.1 IP with 3 ER off 2 walks and, you guessed it, 2 strikeouts.

 

 

 

 

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  16. Rizzo the Rat

    This is the opposite of his last outing where he got tons of strikeouts but couldn’t get batters out otherwise.

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  25. dmick89

    Russell has gotten a little sloppy with that turn. That’s 3 plays in the last week that were either looked at by the other team or in which the runner was called safe on the neighborhood play. Other teams are looking for it. He needs to make it more clear he’s touching the base.

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  33. josh

    dmick89,

    I thought his foot looked like it stuttered on the replay. I felt like he might have gotten it, but maybe it just caught in the dirt. It wasn’t conclusive enough to challenge by any means.

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  34. dmick89

    josh,

    I think he probably got the base, too. I just think he’s going to have to be more convincing in the future. To have it questioned so many times in the past 7-10 days seems like it’s something that teams have begun to question with him on that play. If the runner was called out, there wouldn’t have been enough evidence to overturn.

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  35. Rice Cube

    Seems like consciously fixing the footwork might take him out of his rhythm but shouldn’t take more than a couple weeks to become automatic again.

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