Ed Howard (photo by Stephanie Lynn)
AAA
Game Recap
Another rough outing for Cory Abbott. He punched out 9 (missing bats hasn’t been an issue), but walks (2) and home runs (4) have been. He allowed seven runs in just 4.1 IP.
Top Performers
Ethan Roberts: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (3.09)Brendon Little: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (0.00)Tommy Nance: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (2.51)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Abbott may be struggling in the Iowa rotation, but a couple of relievers are making a case to join him on the 40-man roster. Former 1st rounder Brendon Little has found some consistency and improved stuff with his permanent move to the pen. He’s hitting 96-97 mph and pairing it with a put away slider. He’s yet to give up a run in 5 games with Iowa. Righty Ethan Roberts generates as much spin as anyone in the org, and is a polished strike thrower on top of it. Both guys are Rule 5 eligible this offseason. I wouldn’t be shocked to see one or both given a roster spot before the end of the year and get a cup of coffee in the Chicago pen once they finish getting a look at some older guys.
Tommy Nance returned from a month long stint on the IL with a scoreless inning.
AA
Tennessee CANC
High-A
Game Recap
The Max Bain rebound tour remains in full swing. No walks (heck yeah), and six Ks for him over 5 innings. Since stepping away for a week and simplifying his approach, he has responded with a 2.96 ERA, just 15 hits allowed in 24.1 IP, and a 27/8 K/BB ratio in 5 starts.
Top Performers
Yonathan Perlaza: 3-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB (.269)Pablo Aliendo: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, SF (.222)Yohendrick Pinango: 2-5 (.400)Bryce Ball: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB (.190)Max Bain: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB< 6 K (5.65)Tyler Santana: 2 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, K (W, 1-0, 4.15)Bryan King: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K (S, 1, 4.67)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Get Yonathan Perlaza (.269/.349/.455) to Tennessee as soon as that club is ready to get back into action. Please. Over his last 64 games he has failed to reach base or drive in a run just 8 times and is batting .288/.365/.494 (131 wRC+). Over his last 30 games he’s been even better: .352/.423/.602 (176 wRC+).
Luis Vazquez extended his on base streak to 19 games.
The step up to High-A hasn’t proven too big for 19-year old Yohendrick Pinango (.279/.330/381 in 89 games between MB/SB) so far. He has a hit in all 5 games with South Bend, and two hits in each of his last 3.
Low-A
Game Recap
Ed Howard backed up another very good outing by D.J. Herz with a bases loaded walk in the 3rd to drive in the winning run, and then hit a three run homer in 6th to provide plenty of insurance for the Pelicans.
Don’t sleep on Ed Howard’s power. He’s got bat speed, and though he’s on the lean side, the kid is strong.
Gotta get more experience against CV/SL before he can break out at the plate but he’s got the tools to be a good offensive player (to go along with his potential + D at SS) https://t.co/Jxy7ijxQof
Top Performers
Ed Howard: 1-2, HR (4), R, 4 RBI, 2 BB (.212)Josue Huma: 2-3, RBI, BB, CS (1) (.146)Casey Opitz: 1-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB (.313)Christian Franklin: 1-3, R, 2 HBP, SB (1) (.125)D.J. Herz: 5.1 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K (W, 3-4, 3.43)Bailey Reid: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (3.80)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Ed Howard (.212/.274/.303) continued his recent hot streak at the plate. He now has hits in 10 of his last 11 games (.382/.463/.618, 187 wRC+) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 6 R, 14 RBI, 4/7 BB/K.
I know D.J. Herz (105 K in 65.2 IP, .152 average against) is far from a finished product. He’s inefficient, his command and control are not up to the standards needed to get out advanced hitters consistently, but his stuff is simply too good to be fully challenged by A-ball hitters as well. I really wish the Cubs send him to South Bend for the rest of the year so that he is forced to refine and work through some struggles (even when he is pitching well), because as of now, when he throws strikes he is simply mowing down the opposition. There is a legit chance Herz ends up with 4 above average or better pitches. His FB/CV/CH all flash plus right now, and I assume they will ask him to add a slider at some point. Given how well he spins a curve he may be able to get by without another breaking ball, but a slider could also end up being a lights out pitch for him. If the lefty can refine his command he’s got top of the rotation stuff. If he doesn’t he could still end up as an inconsistent backend starter who dominates when he’s locked in, or a shutdown reliever.
ACL
Top Performers
Miguel Fabrizio: 3-4, 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB (1) (.354)Felix Stevens: 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI (.293)B.J. Murray Jr.: 2-4, 2 R, RBI (.136)James Triantos: 2-4, 2 R (.292)Flemin Bautista: 1-3, RBI, SF (.188)Angel Gonzalez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (10.53)Walker Powell: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (0.00)Johzan Oquendo: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (W, 3-2, 3.60)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
The Cubs fell behind 9-0 in the game before mounting a furious (and successful 11-run rally over the final 2 innings.
2021 UDFA Walker Powell and 2020 5th round pick Luke Little both made their pro debuts on the mound. Powell struck out the side in his inning of work. The 6’8″ lefty Little, hit 99-100 on the gun, and accomplished the rare 4 punchouts in a single inning. He only had the opportunity to pull it off because of his control issues, unfortunately (BB, HBP, 2 WPs, 2 R, 1 ER, and he added a throwing error on top of it all).
DSL
Cristian Hernandez (.267/.382/.402) doubled and reached three times. He’s 7-for-13 with 4 doubles, a triple, 3 BBs, a HBP, and 10 runs scored over his last 4 games (.538/.647/1.000, 320 wRC+).
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Daily Cubs Minors Recap
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