Cubs Den

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Abbott strikes out 10; Beesley, Washer, Byrd homer; Estrada dominates again

Jeremiah Estrada (photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Game Recap

A back and forth affair which lasted until the 12th inning. It looked good for the Cubs after Abiatal Avelino tied the game with an RBI single in the 9th and then Michael Hermosillo drove in the inherited runner in the top of the 10th. Sidearmer Scott Effross couldn’t nail it down in the bottom half of the frame though, as he too allowed the inherited runner to score. Neither team pushed across a run in the 11th.

Things looked good once again in the 12th when Dee Strange-Gordon singled home Tony Wolters. The game fell to Ryan Kellogg to nail down. After intentionally walking the leadoff man to set up a double play, Kellogg walked the next batter to load the bases. A walkoff single by veteran catcher Christian Bethencourt drove in a pair.

Top Performers

Michael Hermosillo: 3-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, HBP, SB (5), CS (1) (.351)
Tony Wolters: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB (1) (.286)

Tyler Ladendorf: 2-4, BB (.200)
Abiatal Avelino: 1-3, RBI (.247)
Cory Abbott: 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, BB, HBP, 10 K (5.88)

Michael Rucker: 2 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K (5.90)
Scott Effross: 2 IP, 0 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 2 K (6.16)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Nico Hoerner has collected a hit in each of his three rehab outings. He was removed from the game prior to extra innings. He could return to Chicago soon. And not a minute too early either. The Cubs offense could really use a boost in contact rate.

It’s been a weird season for Cory Abbott thus far. He got himself in great shape during the offseason, and came into the spring with his stuff looking as crisp as it ever has. It has shown in an increased strikeout rate as Abbott has punched out 64 batters in 41.2 IP with Iowa. My hope though, when Abbott showed up “in the best shape of his life,” was that it would translate into better command not necessarily better stuff.

Abbott has never been wild, but his walk rate has never been great either. His issue has always been that he is a control-over-command pitcher. That can work when you have great stuff, but Abbott’s stuff rates more as back-of-the-rotation with occasional stretches where he rates as a mid-rotation guy. But if he continues to miss his spots as often as he is (both in and out of the zone), it creates a poor combo of an extra free runner or two and an extra opportunity or two at hittable pitches in the heart of the plate. Abbott will need to make some progress on both his walk and home run rates before he is ready to take over a rotation spot in the big leagues.

Tennessee PPD

High-A

Lake County 5, South Bend 4 (Game 1)

Lake County 3, South Bend 2 (Game 2)

Game Recap

The Cubs eventually came up just short in game one of the doubleheader, but a late rally centered around a trio of homers by Bradlee Beesley, Jake Washer, and Grayson Byrd seemed to give them some confidence heading into second game. Matteo Bocchi held the Captains in check through five innings and the Cubs offense eventually broke through on a two-run single by Beesley in the top of the 5th. But in an all too familiar circumstance, the South Bend bullpen once again could not hold the lead. Burl Carraway continued his struggles with finding the plate. He allowed three runs on three walks and two hits, while recording just one out.

Top Performers

Bradlee Beesley: 2-6, HR (2), R, 3 RBI (.250)

Jake Washer: 1-3, HR (1), R, RBI (.195)
Grayson Byrd: 2-3, HR (1), R, 2 RBI (.667)
Nelson Velazquez: 3-6, 2B (.282)

Jake Slaughter: 3-6, R (.233)
Jacob Olson: 1-3 (.216)
Matteo Bocchi: 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, HBP, 4 K (2.54)

Bryan King: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (5.40)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

There is no denying the stuff Burl Carraway has. He began his pro career by not allowing any hits for darn near a month. But he also battled a couple of bouts of wildness during that stretch. Unfortunately, as the season has gone on those bouts are increasing in frequency. At times it looks like Carraway has lost all feel for his arm slot (there are likely some underlying mechanical issues which are causing that). While his 24 Ks and just 7 hits allowed in 14 innings showcase his upside, Carraway has now walked an astounding 27 batters as well. The Cubs need to consider sending him back to Mesa while he works his way through his issues.

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 9, Down East 4

Game Recap

The Pelicans followed a four run 3rd with another four runs in the 4th to break this game open. They generated their rally in the 3rd thanks to three extra base hits, capped by a two-run triple off the bat of Jordan Nwogu. In the 4th, they let the Wood Ducks pitchers self destruct, as the drew three walks and got hit by three pitches as well. None of the four runs that inning came via anything but a walk or hit batter. Spotted with such a comfortable early lead, Richard Gallardo was able to coast to a relatively easy win. There were some late fireworks from the pen as well. Jeremiah Estrada continued his impressive comeback from multiple arm injuries by striking out five more batters over two shutout innings. Jake Reindl followed that up by striking out the side in the 9th.

Top Performers

Ryan Reynolds: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP (.266)

Flemin Bautista: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, BB (.206)
Jordan Nwogu: 1-3, 3B, 3 RBI, HBP (.154)
Ethan Hearn: 1-2, 2 RBI, BB, SF (.159)

Jonathan Sierra: 1-3, 2 RBI, BB (.239)
Pablo Aliendo: 0-2, 2 R, BB, 2 HBP (.264)
Richard Gallardo: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (W, 2-4, 5.27)

Jeremiah Estrada: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (0.84)
Jake Reindl: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (7.48)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

In 7 games (10.2 IP) since being added to the South Bend roster, Jeremiah Estrada has mowed down 22 batters while allowing just 6 hits, 5 walks and 1 run. His four seam fastball has been too much for Low-A hitters to handle. After working multiple innings in his last couple of appearances, the time may be approaching for Estrada to move up to South Bend.