Jason Adam (photo by Stephanie Lynn)

I apologize for no articles this week. I’ve had a lot on my plate and just couldn’t carve out the time each morning, even with so little action currently happening in the system now that Iowa is the only full-season affiliate still in action.

AAA

St. Paul 3, Iowa 1

Game Recap

Joe Biagini and the Iowa bullpen kept the game close, but the offense just wasn’t able to break through against St. Paul hurlers Charlie Barnes and Beau Burrows, who put together an impressive piggyback outing.

Top Performers

Abiatal Avelino: 2-4, RBI (.269)Brennen Davis: 1-4, 2B, R (.371)Levi Jordan: 1-3 (.218)Joe Biagini: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 5 K (L, 3-8, 5.50)Erich Uelmen: IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (9.17)Marcus Walden: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (4.75)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

The Cubs selected the contract of RHRP Jason Adam and called up RF/1B Greg Deichmann. For Adam, it completes a remarkable in-season comeback. He failed to secure a job in the Chicago pen after an inconsistent spring training performance, Adam went down to Iowa and in early looks appeared to be rounding into form, but a serious ankle injury suffered while shagging fly balls during batting practice looked for all the world that Adam would be out the rest of the season. When the Cubs released him in a cold-blooded move a short time later, I had assumed his time with the organization was over and done. But Adam was quietly re-signed early in the summer and began rehabbing in Mesa. By late summer he was back throwing in ACL games, before finally making a couple of appearances in a return trip to Iowa. He doesn’t appear to have missed a beat coming off the injury and is still flashing the above average four pitch mix that makes him such an intriguing arm. For Adam, it all comes down to consistency. If he throws enough strikes, he is capable of succeeding at the MLB level. Whether he remains on the 40-man or not (possible he gets waived/non-tendered and then re-signed to a MiLB deal this winter), it looks like Adam will once again be in the mix for a bullpen job next spring.

Jason Adam suffered an open dislocation and fracture of his ankle in May.

Today he struck out the side pic.twitter.com/3LODX3BeXi

September 24, 2021

The only remaining 40-man roster players still in Iowa are UT Christopher Morel and RHP Cory Abbott. Morel only just arrived in Iowa after the Tennessee season ended. Abbott suffered through a rough season overall, but he’s begun returning to the form we hoped to see from him in August and September. Once the Iowa season ends, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Abbott called up and see a little action in Chicago, perhaps even a start. The same could be true for Morel. The Cubs currently have several position players on the IL and the versatile Morel would certainly be a benefit as defensive sub and pinch runner off the bench, even if his bat is unlikely to be ready to contribute much at the MLB level at this point.

DSL

Cubs Blue 8, Indians 7

Cubs Red 6, Mets 3

Fall Instructs

Be sure to check out AZ Phil’s writeups of the Fall Instructs action down in Mesa over at the The Cub Reporter (roster). The games kicked off this week and will continue through October 16th. Most of the top prospects from the organization’s lower level affiliates are participating. There are also a couple of rehabbing players from the upper levels (like Michael McAvene) getting some work in as well. A couple of days ago, the Cubs top position player prospects from the DSL (SS Cristian Hernandez, SS Pedro Ramirez, C Moises Ballesteros, OF Frank Hernandez) were also brought over.

Through the first handful of games, it looks like the Cubs are making an effort to get athletic outfield prospect Parker Chavers, and shortstop Christian Olivo some work. The pair of draftees saw little action in the ACL after signing. The Cubs prized prep signing, James Triantos, rocketed a long home run in his one game so far. Ed Howard had a pair of singles in his lone outing.

On the mound, I mentioned McAvene is getting some rehab work in, but the early returns have been rough. He’s struggled to throw strikes and his velo has yet to return according to Phil. On the positive side, Tyler Schlaffer, who made a strong impression during his 2nd half stint in Myrtle Beach fired 4 shutout innings (6 K, 0 BB), and was followed by 3rd round Drew Gray, who added 2.2 shutout innings of his own, while recording all 8 outs via strike out. The young lefty had already punched out 9 over his 4 innings of work in the ACL. I’ll definitely need to keep an eye out for news of him down there. AZ Phil labeled him a Chris Sale look-a-like. I don’t know if that means in terms of physical appearance, delivery, or stuff, so take that for what it is worth. In all, four Cubs pitchers combined to strike out 17 batters that day.