Yohendrick Pinango (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Omaha 10, Iowa 3

Game Recap

Iowa went with a bullpen day yesterday, and it didn’t go well. Omaha hit four home runs and scored at least once against each of the first five Iowa pitchers to take the mound. The offense kept pace for a few innings, but eventually ran out of steam.

Top Performers

Tyler Ladendorf: 2-4, HR (7), R, 2 RBI (.240)Levi Jordan: 2-2, 2 BB (.214)Brendon Little: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (3.29)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

It sounds like Scott Kobos will be finishing the season with the I-Cubs. Quite a journey for the lefty who opened the year in Myrtle Beach. He’s given up just one run this season and will join Ben Leeper as an undrafted free agent from last year’s abbreviated draft who has already made it to the highest level on the Minors in their first pro season. Super impressive accomplishment by both. They’ve certainly secured invites to MLB spring training next year and put their names in the conversation for call ups at some point. Given neither will have 40-man spots heading into the spring, its doubtful they can push their way onto the Opening Day roster, but they can make it so the Cubs can’t ignore them if they get off to hot starts in Iowa in May.

Most affiliates have wrapped up their schedules for the season, but AAA still has 10 games left. That means dominant LHP Scott Kobos is going to be continuing his incredible season with the I-Cubs. That will make all 4 affiliates for the undrafted first-year pro.

September 20, 2021

Levi Jordan (.245/.321/.403) had a rocky start to his AAA tenure, but he’s really picked up the pace of late. Over his last 12 games he is batting .290/.415/.548 (151 wRC+) with 5 XBH, and a 7/7 BB/K ratio. He has also played successful small ball with a pair of sac bunts and another pair of sac flies. His overall numbers are going to look rather pedestrian this season, and he’s never going to be an offensive force, but Jordan has made big strides since 2019. He’s gotten a little stronger (8 HR in 70 games this year after just 2 in his first 114 career games) while maintaining a good approach at the plate. An injury slowed him down after a strong start in Tennessee, and then he also took a while to adjust once he reached Iowa, so those two periods dragged his numbers down a bit. Don’t be surprised though, if Jordan becomes a productive infielder for the I-Cubs in 2022. I don’t see a full-time big leaguer, mostly because he isn’t a SS, but I have no doubt he could provide some quality at bats should the organization ever need to call upon him in the event of a rash of injuries like we saw this year.

AA

Biloxi 5, Tennessee 0

Game Recap

Not much to report with this game. It never got out of hand, as the Smokies pitched… okay, but the offense didn’t hit for any power (just one double) and couldn’t capitalize when they had runners in scoring position (1-for-10).

Top Performers

Luis Vazquez: 3-4 (.241)Carlos Sepulveda: 1-3, BB (.213)Grayson Byrd: 1-3, HBP (.223)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Nelson Velazquez (.270/.333/.496 with 20 HR total between SB/TN) threw out a runner at home plate. He has now gunned down 12 base runners this year. His arm is a weapon and certainly plays in RF.

High-A

South Bend 5, Quad Cities 4 (10 Innings)

Game Recap

Late game rallies are frequent occurrences in South Bend games. Not only does their offense have a flair for the dramatic, but their bullpen has remained enigmatic all season, despite deploying a bevy of hard throwers.

Yesterday found the Cubs up one heading into the 9th after getting a solid start from 1st rounder Jordan Wicks (1 R, 3 IP) and then receiving good work from Tyler Santana and Gabriel Jaramillo in relief. Jake Washer and Yohendrick Pinango homered to help South Bend build the lead. But Bailey Reid failed to close it out in the 9th, so the game headed to extras.

The most unique home run call you’ll ever see! @MaxThoma delivers it from the ferris wheel!#Cubs #CubTogether pic.twitter.com/28xRZ9lmza

September 19, 2021

The Cubs then pushed across two runs in the top of the 10th on sacrifice flies by Yonathan Perlaza and Alexander Canario. Dalton Stambaugh got the call in the bottom half to try and close the game out again, and though he allowed the inherited runner to score, he stopped the River Bandits from getting any more.

Top Performers

Yohendrick Pinango: 2-3, HR (1), R, RBI (.289)Jake Washer: 1-4, HR (2), 2 R, RBI (.164)Edmond Americaan: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (20) (.202)Jake Slaughter: 2-4, SB (16) (.252)Jordan Wicks: 3 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K (5.14)Tyler Santana: 3 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (1.50)Gabriel Jaramillo: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (3.38)Dalton Stambaugh: IP, H, R, 0 ER, BB, K (S, 1, 3.99)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Nineteen year-old Yohendrick Pinango (.276/.327/.373) put up close to league average numbers in Low-A while making plenty of contact (16.2 K%) and showing enough patience to get by. He’s mostly an opposite field contact hitter who maintains a pretty consistent approach, and just flat out knows how to get the barrel on the ball. But he does flash the occasional power too. He hit only 5 home runs this year, but when he decides to actually turn a pitch, he can do some damage. The Cubs were aggressive posting him to Low-A to begin the year, and then again with his midseason promotion, but Pinango was up to the challenge each time, and put up shockingly similar numbers at both levels, although he was actually even a bit better triple slash in South Bend (.289/.343/.382, 102 wRC+, 11.4 K%). He’s not the highest celing player in the system, but the hit tool is advanced enough that it wouldn’t be shocking to see the him open next season in AA as a 20-year old. I would like to see him get a full season in either AA or AAA, in order to fine tune the approach, helping him either gain a little more patience at the plate, or learn when he can attack in hitter’s counts to more often tap into his pull power.

First High-A HR for Yohendrick Piñango! pic.twitter.com/OoOF2KIlXf

September 19, 2021

Low-A

Augusta 2, Myrtle Beach 1

Game Recap

After the GreenJackets jumped out to 2-0 lead in the 1st off starter Porter Hodge, he settled down over his final three innings, and then the Pelicans pen gave the offense a chance to mount a comeback as they slammed the door shut over the remaining five frames. Unfortunately, the club put up a big 0-for with runners in scoring position. Their only run came on a bases loaded walk by Casey Optiz, which forced home Fabian Pertuz in the 8th.

Top Performers

Porter Hodge: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K (L, 1-1, 3.74)Luis Devers; 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K (6.00)Walker Powell: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (4.50)Jarod Wright: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (3.59)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

I do love watching Casey Opitz (.250/.371/.269 in 17 career games) play catcher. He’s athletic, can block balls in the dirt, has a very good arm. There is MLB quality there for sure. He’s just got to hit… a little. He only got into 16 games with the Pelicans after being drafted in the 8th round this year, but I saw a few glimmers of hope in the switch hitter’s offensive game. He’s never going to be a power hitter, but he did show some patience, and if they can get him to stop hitting the ball on the ground so much he’s got enough pop to put some balls into the gaps.

Casey Opitz defense pic.twitter.com/OzmDYEVgHL

September 19, 2021

Fall Instructs

AZ Phil posted a roster for the Cubs Fall Instructs, which kick off today in Mesa.