Cubs Den

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Morel blasts 3 homers and Young homers and doubles twice during doubleheader; Howard with 4 hits; Assad tosses 6 shutout, Williams with 5

Christopher Morel (photo by Rikk Carlson)

I’m running a little behind this morning, so I am going to cut out the game descriptions and just leave a statistical summary, but the affiliates went a combined 6-0 yesterday. And there were big days across the board. Of special note is the continued improvement by Christopher Morel. His season is turning into a prime example of process before results. His plate discipline and pitch recognition looked improved over 2019 since the start of the season, but it took almost a month into the season before it began translating into success on the field. Morel has been contributing at the plate over the last month, and seemed on the verge of a breakout, and well… that may have come last night. He is starting to become the multi-positional, all-around athlete, and offensive threat I imagined when I first watch him a few years ago.

My guy Christopher just keeps on doing exciting things. https://t.co/46ll90z6ba

— Michael Ernst (@mj_ernst)

July 2, 2021

x3 https://t.co/fTIJz6Opws

— Michael Ernst (@mj_ernst)

July 3, 2021

AAA

Iowa 5, Indianapolis 2

Top Performers

Alfonso Rivas: 2-4, HR (1), R, RBI, BB (.172)

Tony Wolters: 2-5, HR (2), R, RBI (.294)
Nick Martini: 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI (.231)
Abiatal Avelino: 2-4, R, BB, SB (8) (.253)

Trent Giambrone: 1-3, RBI, 2 BB (.229)
Michael Hermosillo: 1-4, HBP (.346)
Trevor Williams: 5 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER,BB, 3 K (W, 1-0, 0.00)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Trevor Williams worked five shutout innings in his latest rehab outing. He also did not allow a run his first appearance. After working 5 innings I would imagine he will be ready to rejoin the rotation soon. Perhaps the nice performance by Alec Mills last night will prompt the Cubs to give Williams another turn down in Iowa, but I doubt it, especially with Arietta struggling. They may need Mills to piggyback (or replace) Jake.

He didn’t contribute much to the offense last night, but Nico Hoerner did add a single, meaning he has a hit in all 5 of his rehab appearances. He too appears nearly ready for a return to Chicago.

Tennessee 9, Rocket City 2 (Game 1)

Tennessee 2, Rocket City 0 (Game 2)

Top Performers

Christopher Morel: 4-6, 3 HR (7, 8, 9), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB (.224)
Jared Young: 3-5, 2 2B, HR (1), 2 BB, SB (1) (.400)

Tim Susnara: 2-3, 3B, HR (2), 2 R, RBI, BB (.417)
Chase Strumpf: 1-5, HR (3), R, 2 RBI, BB (.170)
Darius Hill: 2-4, 2 R, RBI (.298)

Nelson Maldonado: 2-6, BB (.274)
Brennen Davis: 1-5, 2B, BB (.235)
Javier Assad: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (W, 1-3, 3.95)

Cayne Ueckert: IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (S, 3, 2.37)
Dakota Chalmers: 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 4 K (0.00)
Juan Gamez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (4.66)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

It is easy to forget Jared Young was the Cubs Minor League player of the year in 2018, and then followed it up with a strong performance during spring training in 2019. His very difficult 2019 season at AA seemed to wipe out all momentum he had gained as a prospect, and that was only intensified by the lost 2020 campaign. Now, 2018 was a different time in the Cubs system. There was very little high end talent at the start of that season, and Young was one of the few guys capable of hitting even 15 home runs. At 25, and having missed the start of the year, it is hard to call him anything but a long shot at this point, but he also shouldn’t be forgotten. There is some pop in his left-handed bat and the ability to play the corner outfield and first base. That makes him a potential shuttle candidate in the future if his bat can continue to rebound.

High-A

South Bend 5, Lake County 3

Top Performers

Nelson Velazquez: 1-2, HR (9), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB (.285)

Bradlee Beesley: 1-3, 2B, R, BB, SB (12) (.253)
Edmond Americaan: 1-4, 2B, R (.176)
Derek Casey: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 K (W, 4-5, 3.69)

Eduarniel Nunez: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (8.00)
Eury Ramos: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (S, 4, 3.05)

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 7, Down East 2

The wheels. The pop.@Cubs No. 5 prospect Ed Howard’s tools were on full display in his first career four-hit game. pic.twitter.com/kLkykSIszu

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline)

July 3, 2021

Top Performers