Kevin Made (photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Omaha 11, Iowa 5

Game Recap

Despite four home runs, the Iowa offense managed just five runs and couldn’t keep pace with the star studded Omaha attack.

I’m here for the Jared Young power surge. Clobbered. pic.twitter.com/qTIHzd3Wun

August 28, 2021

Top Performers

Ian Miller: 2-3, HR (3), R, RBI, BB, SB (16) (.272)Greg Deichmann: 2-4, HR (2), R, RBI, SB (2) (.203)Jared Young: 2-4, HR (3), R, RBI (.300)Johneshky Fargas: 1-1, HR (2), R, RBI (.293)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Jared Young with a BOMB for the @IowaCubs here in the 7th.

420 feet, 106 mph off the bat.

Third homer in 15 games at the AAA level for Young. Power definitely translates and is quite impressive.

August 28, 2021

AA

Tennessee CANC

High-A

South Bend 4, Peoria 2

Game Recap

Anderson Espinoza shined on the mound, with nine punchouts over four innings. The South Bend bullpen backed him up with excellent work as well, as Danis Correa, Jose Albertos and Eduarniel Nunez combined for six Ks across five shutout innings. In all the quartet struck out 15 while allowing just four hits.

Top Performers

Anderson Espinoza: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K (5.04)Danis Correa: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, HBP, 3 K (1.69)Jose Albertos: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (8.50)Eduarniel Nunez: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (S, 3, 4.60)Bryce Windham: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (.263)Jake Slaughter: 2-3, 2B, R, BB (.260)Luis Vazquez: 2-4, 2 R, SB (5), CS (1) (.327)Yohendrick Pinango: 2-4, 2B (.400)Alexander Canario: 2-4, RBI, CS (4) (.277)Scott McKeon: 1-3 (.157)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

I understand the Padres losing a bit of hope/patience with Anderson Espinoza due to his presence on their 40-man roster and the fact he’s missed the previous four entire seasons due to injury, but it still seems weird that Jake Marisnick was who they decided to pick up in exchange for him. Once one of the game’s top prospects, Espinoza still has a great arm through all the injuries, and you can see the flashes that make him so intriguing. At 23, and still inconsistent in High-A though, the Cubs will need to see some progress from him the rest of this year and in 2022. A move to the pen might do him good. At just 6’0″ he might be one of those guys whose body can’t hold up under the rigors of starting. He could have multiple out pitches coming out of the pen as well, with his changeup already a dominant pitch most times out and his breaking balls coming along nicely. Whether he ends up a starter or reliever, he will need to hone in his command and control.

Low-A

Columbia 5, Myrtle Beach 0

Game Recap

recap

Top Performers

Porter Hodge: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K (9.53)Ed Howard: 0-1, 2 BB, HBP (.209)Kevin Made: 1-4, 3B (.281)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Ed Howard (.209/.266/.289) didn’t record a hit, but he did reach base 3 times to raise his overall batting line for his last 10 games to .375/.432/.531 (161 wRC+).

Another extra base hit to the opposite field for Kevin Made has helped raise his season line to a respectable .281/.303/.365. That is pretty darn good for an 18-year old shortstop in a pitcher’s park. He’s still got to work on his patience at the plate while he matures physically, but there is definite MLB starter material present in the young infielder. He defends above average at both SS and 2B, and should develop into batter with an above average hit tool and 15 home run power. Since July 24th (26 games), Made is batting .349/.360/.486 (128 wRC+). He’s going to be a fast mover through the system. It is possible Made and Howard move up as a tandem, but I also think there is a distinct possibility Made makes a leap ahead at some point (even if Howard is a bit older and has a bit higher ceiling as an athlete). For instance, I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility Made opens at AA next year, or at least gets a midseason promotion there, while Howard spends the majority of the season in South Bend. A lot will depend on how Made’s plate discipline and weight training shape up over the offseason.

Guy loves going the opposite way and I love watching him do it.
Been getting young Edgar Renteria vibes from Made of late. https://t.co/OvgBxqzofY

August 27, 2021

ACL

Reds 5, Cubs 4

Top Performers

Ezequiel Pagan: 2-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (.362)Juan Mora: 1-3, R, BB, SB (6) (.391)Ronnier Quintero: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI (.195)Ismael Mena: 2-4, R, CS (3) (.246)Luis Devers: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K (L, 0-4, 4.02)Rony Baez: 3 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K (4.26)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

A crowded Myrtle Beach outfield situation forced Ezequiel Pagan back down to Mesa to get playing time, but he’s got little left to prove at the ACL level (hitting .362/.385/.681 this year and .276/.349/.359 in 94 career games). He was performing too bad for the Pelicans either (.245/.315/.336 in 39 games), but top prospects Owen Caissie and Christian Franklin got priority over him once they were deemed ready for full season ball. Pagan is unlikely to hit enough to ever sniff the Majors, but he looks like he could forge a decent career as an org outfielder should he choose to stick it out. He’s a solid defender and has solid contact skills at the plate. There just aren’t enough dynamic qualities to his game to get him over the hump.

DSL

Rangers 9, Cubs Blue 5

Rangers 9, Cubs Red 7

Pedro Ramirez (.386/.432/.544) recorded 3 more hits yesterday. The 17-year old shortstop is 10-for-14 over his last 3 games with 2 doubles and 3 triples.