Cory Abbott (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)
AAA
Game Recap
This season certainly hasn’t gone the way Cory Abbott hoped, but we are seeing signs of late of the pitcher we all hoped he be this year. Last night he turned in his finest performance of the season. He struck out ten over six shutout innings. Most importantly, he allowed just two walks, and obviously no home runs as well. Those two factors have been the issue for him this season.
The pen wasn’t able to complete the shutout, but the offense managed to give the staff plenty of breathing room thanks to a four-run 1st, featuring back-to-back homers by Trayce Thompson and Abiatal Avelino.
Top Performers
Cory Abbott: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K (W, 3-6, 6.40)Abiatal Avelino: 3-3, HR (5), R, RBI, HBP (.267)Trayce Thompson: 1-4, HR (19), R, 3 RBI (.231)Taylor Gushue: 1-3, 2B, R, BB (.228)Greg Deichmann: 1-3, BB (.239)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Make it 2 straight wins for Cory Abbott. It has been a very trying season, but it is looking like he can head into the offseason on a high note at least. The righty has missed plenty of bats this year, just like he always has, but his walk and home run rates rose dramatically this year in AAA/MLB. His command and control were simply not up to the task. Maybe he can use his recent success as a springboard for a turnaround season in 2022. The Cubs really need some reliable SP depth in Iowa next year, and it would be ideal if Abbott can provide it.
The 19th home run of the season by Trayce Thompson tied him with Nelson Velazquez for the organizational lead.
AA
Game Recap
Ryan Jensen pitched his best game thus far in AA, allowing just one run across five innings, while punching out five. Graham Lawson got lit up out of the pen, and the offense could barely muster anything, so his efforts went unrewarded.
Top Performers
Ryan Jensen: 5 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 5 K (3.46)Bryan King: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (2.25)Christopher Morel: 0-2, R, 2 BB, SB (16) (.217)Bradlee Beesley: 0-2, 2 BB, CS (1) (.111)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Over his last 43.1 IP (10 G), Ryan Jensen has posted a 2.28 ERA while allowing just 26 hits and 15 walks. It took a while to find his groove this year, but the results have been steadily improving, and they’re beginning to match his stuff. Next season it will be important for him to show he can be more efficient and work deeper into games.
Another day, another scoreless outing by Scott Kobos (3-0, 0.33 ERA overall). The lefty has appeared in 20 games across 3 levels this season. He’s given up a run just one time. And that happened to be in his first game back after a six week IL stint midseason. His stuff doesn’t appear completely overwhelming, and he does walk a decent number of guys, but hitters from both sides of the plate simply seem to not be able to pick up the ball out of his hand. He’s allowed just 13 hits over 27.2 IP (.135 AVG against). I’m looking forward to doing a deeper dive on him once the season is over in order to try and identify what has made him so successful this year.
High-A
Game Recap
First round pick Jordan Wicks once again looked good in a brief opener roll for South Bend. This time he did pitch into the 2nd inning. Max Bain eventually took over, and despite walking 6 batters, he worked through the traffic to hold Beloit to just one run in 4.2 innings.
Bryce Ball homered, and the combo of Yonathan Perlaza and Yohendrick Pinango in the 2nd and 3rd spots in the lineup helped spark the offense. They each had two hits, Perlaza scored both times he reached, with Pinango driving him home each time, and also bringing home leadoff man Scott McKeon once. McKeon reached three times.
Top Performers
Bryce Ball: 1-3, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, BB (.203)Yohendrick Pinango: 2-4, 3 RBI (.305)Yonathan Perlaza: 2-4, 2B, 2 R (.276)Scott McKeon: 0-2, R, BB, 2 HBP (.158)Jordan Wicks: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (0.00)Max Bain: 4.2 IP, 4 H, R, 6 BB, 6 K (W, 5-8, 5.18)Eduarniel Nunez: 2.1 IP, H, R, 3 BB, K (S, 5, 4.50)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Infielder Scott McKeon exited after being hit by a pitch for the second time during the game.
Low-A
Charleston 12, Myrtle Beach 1 (Game 1)
Myrtle Beach, Charelston PPD (Game 2)
Game Recap
Game 1 proved to be a tough outing for starter Tyler Schlaffer (3 IP, 6 R). He’d been pitching very well heading into this start, but he didn’t have good control. Things only got worse for the Pelicans when Jose Almonte relieved Schlaffer. He also gave up six runs, but across just 1.1 innings.
Top Performers
Ed Howard: 1-2, RBI, SB (7) (.219)Owen Caissie: 1-3, 2B, R (.234)Peter Matt: 1-3 (.211)Sheldon Reed: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, K (3.00)
ACL
Cubs 6, Giants 0 (7 Innings)
Top Performers
Luis Devers: 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (W, 2-4, 3.33)Rony Baez: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (3.38)Ezequiel Pagan: 2-3, 3B, 2 R, RBI, HBP (.333)Kevin Alcantara: 1-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI (.324)Ronnier Quintero: 1-3, 3B, R (.191)Parker Chavers: 1-3, 2B, R, SB (1) (.333)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Parker Chavers, the speedy centerfielder the Cubs selected in the 7th round out of Coastal Carolina, quickly showed off his skills in his pro debut yesterday. Not only did he double in three trips to the plate, but he already swiped his first bag as well. He is expected to be among the fastest players in the system.
Ezequiel Pagan‘s numbers in the ACL are extremely impressive: .333/.364/.691. I can’t see him sustaining that type of power at higher levels, and he’ll probably need to increase his walk rate, but still… he’s had a very impressive season when given consistent playing time down there. It’s unfortunate the high number of OF prospects in Myrtle Beach forced him back down to Mesa.
These aren’t from yesterday, but they are some nice pics of the swings for James Triantos and Kevin Alcantara during home runs they hit recently:
#cubs @JamesTriantos with his 3rd HR in #ACL action. 09-02-2021. pic.twitter.com/fGbHbs5VgP
Pix from #cubs Kevin Alcantara’s 4th HR. 09-03-2021. pic.twitter.com/oM3ZSTb9xk
DSL
Cristian Hernandez (.293/.403/.447) reached base in 4 of his 5 plate appearances, with a double, two singles and a walk. He didn’t hit much the first few weeks of the season, though he did draw a high number of walks. The bat has come around though. Since August 5th (21 games) the 17-year old SS is batting .338/.432/.595 (177 wRC+) with 5 doubles, a triple, and 4 home runs. He’s scored more than once per game as well (26 R).
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Daily Cubs Minors Recap
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