Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Canario might be the hottest hitter on the planet at this moment; Dermody and Espinoza toss Iowa’s 2nd straight shutout; Mervis homers once, Washer homers twice
Alexander Canario (photo by Todd Johnson)
AAA
Game Recap
A day after Caleb Kilian and Sean Newcomb combined to shutout the Storm Chasers, Matt Dermody and Anderson Espinoza followed suit. The 32-year old Iowa native Dermody has been a nice run of late. He’s gone at least four innings in each of his last seven appearances, and not allowed more than two runs in any of them. It’s been a great rebound (4-0, 1.35 ERA, 33.1 IP, 26 H, 5 R, 9 BB, 32 K) from after he was rocked during a six-start stretch from mid-May to Mid-June.
May be time to start talking about @IowaCubs LHP Matt Dermody as another arm to get called up to the big leagues once the trade deadline dust settles.
Today: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 K, 0 BB Last 7 outings: 33.1 IP, 26 H, 5 ER, 32 K, 68% strikes, 1.35 ERA.
As for Espinoza, he seems to be pitching with greater confidence since making his MLB debut. There’s no question he took a long road to get there after multiple surgeries and years away from the mound, so maybe it’s freed the former top prospect of the doubt of never making it. I think he ultimately settles into a long relief role, but he’s got MLB talent if he can gain greater consistency.
Matt Mervis blasted one home run and was just inches away from a second.
Mervis just missed his second HR of the day. Settles for a 3B (off a lefty). Has hit the ball hard 3 times today. pic.twitter.com/ySTyqoDWrn
Some @MiLB single-season RBI leaders since Y2K.
131 RBI: Marquez Smith (2014)131 RBI: Ryan Howard (2004)127 RBI: AJ Reed (2015)125 RBI: Dylan Cozens (2016)
Again, Matt Mervis on pace for 135 RBI.
Top Performers
Matt Dermody: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K (W, 6-3, 3.94)Anderson Espinoza: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (S, 1, 0.00)Matt Mervis: 2-4, 3B, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI (.231)Zach Davis: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB (.205)John Hicks: 1-3, BB, SB (5) (.255)Nick Madrigal: 2-4, R (.300)Nelson Maldonado: 1-4, R, RBI, BB (.224)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
A good sign: In two games since restarting his rehab Nick Madrigal (.300/.391/.300 in 7 total games at Iowa) has reached first base twice in each.
Cam Sanders has been transferred to the Developmental List. He failed to get out of the 1st in his last start and has struggled overall since getting to Iowa. It is likely the Cubs spotted a mechanical issue they want to work through with him away from game action.
AA
Game Recap
I’m not even sure what to say about what Alexander Canario has been doing of late other than WOW. Yes, he’s hitting homers, but we always knew he could do that. What’s impressing me is he is showing greater patience and plate coverage, so he’s drawing walks and making hard contact more consistently even when pitches are at the edges of the zone. Those were the next step he needed to take in his development, and over this latest stretch he is doing it.
Alexander Canario enjoyed a perfect day at the ballpark.
The No. 18 @Cubs prospect belted his system-best 24th homer on a 4-for-4 afternoon for @smokiesbaseball: https://t.co/oU6ivefQd2 pic.twitter.com/9rncFSVbns
Chattanooga is not going to be sad to see Canario leave town. This weekend, he’s gone 7-for-12 with 2 HRs and 6 RBI. In addition, he has walked 6 times. That’s an OBP of .722
Riley Thompson returned from a stint on the Developmental List to fire three shutout innings. It was a trying first half, coming off a missed 2021 (and obviously 2020) seasons. Hopefully he’s knocked the rust off and yesterday indicates he is ready to take off in the second half. He’s one of the more talented arms in the system, and Rule 5 eligible in the offseason, so the Cubs need to gather a lot of information before the end of the year in order to make an educated roster decision on him.
Walker Powell shined in his four innings of relief as well. He’s been served well by the BABIP dragon since arriving in Tennessee, but he always pitches with better command than most AA pitchers. Not sure the stuff ever gets to be MLB caliber, but he is a big guy and has increased his velo since turning pro, so maybe there’s a little more left in the tank.
Top Performers
Alexander Canario: 4-4, 2B, HR (17), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB (.254)Bryce Ball: 3-5, 2B, R (.282)Jake Slaughter: 1-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB (18) (.320)Bradlee Beesley: 2-5, R, 2 RBI (.212)Yonathan Perlaza: 0-2, 3 BB (.248)Chase Strumpf: 1-2, HBP (.250)Riley Thompson: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (6.48)Walker Powell: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (W, 2-2, 1.59)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Chase Strumpf exited after being hit by a pitch.
Ben Hecht has recovered from 2021 TJS and has rejoined the Smokies. He was pitching very well prior to going down with the elbow issues, so hopefully he can pick up where he left off.
High-A
Game Recap
An unexpected power outburst from the South Bend lineup led the way to 13 runs, and every one of them proved necessary. Jake Washer, the most unexpected HR hitter in the system this season, posted his second two-homer game of the season:
Speaking of Jake Washer @OutOfTheVines pic.twitter.com/9LF5x4Gg0R
Washer, Rinse and repeat pic.twitter.com/CANmMeFaix
As @MaxThoma points out, Jake Washer has the second highest fly ball rate in the system (min. 180 PA). This swing shows exactly why. pic.twitter.com/PBqPNnwSwj
But, he wasn’t the only one to go deep. Jordan Nwogu hit his 7th of tghe season, and then South Bend also received two more from unexpected sources: Yeison Santana hit his first of the year, and Casey Optiz hit the first of his career.
Jordan Nwogu ties the game with his 7th HR of the year. pic.twitter.com/URHyDvVLb9
He knew it too. pic.twitter.com/sLseuhSOht
First professional HR for Casey Opitz! pic.twitter.com/BESBgTXiHY
Top Performers
Jake Washer: 4-5, 2B, 2 HR (12, 13), 4 R, RBI (.301)Yeison Santana: 1-2, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, 2 BB (.255)Jordan Nwogu: 2-5, HR (7), R, RBI (.237)Casey Opitz: 1-4, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, BB (.192)Kevin Made: 3-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI (.250)Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1-5, 2B, R, RBI, SB (7) (.258)Eduarniel Nunez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (3.47)
Low-A
Top Performers
Tyler Santana: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 5 K (L, 7-1, 2.31)Frankie Scalzo Jr: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (4.50)Juan Mora: 1-3, BB, SB (4) (.287)Jacob Wetzel: 1-3 (.209)Felix Stevens: 1-3 (.213)
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Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Canario might be the hottest hitter on the planet at this moment; Dermody and Espinoza toss Iowa’s 2nd straight shutout; Mervis homers once, Washer homers twice
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