AAA

Iowa 2, Indianapolis 1 (Game 1)

Iowa 6, Indianapolis 4 (Game 2)

Game Recap

Justin Steele continued his impressive conversion back to a starting pitcher. Right now, he is showing no fear attacking hitters. He believes in his stuff (and why shouldn’t he?). Though his control still wavers on occasion, leading to walks, it isn’t because he is trying to nibble at the edges of the zone. He used to have issues repeating his delivery, but Steele’s always been a good athlete, and now that he is stronger he seems to be putting that issue behind him. He reached 80 pitches over 5 innings (second consecutive 5 IP start), so if he takes any more turns in the Iowa rotation, I think it would be one at the most. But I think he is ready for a return to Chicago.

At the start of the year many assumed Cory Abbott would be the young starter putting himself in position to take over a spot in the Chicago rotation. Although he was injured for most of the 2020 season at the South Bend alternate site, he was coming off a very good 2019, leading the Cubs organization in strikeouts, and earning Minor League Pitcher of the Year with AA Tennessee. He reported to spring training in great shape this season, but his season has just not gone as expected. Abbott has continued to strike batters out, but he’s also been hit harder than he’s ever been. Some of it is command related, but it also seems like batters are picking the ball up out of his hand better this year.

I’ll have to dig a little deeper in the near future on why things have gone sideways for him in 2021, but at least he didn’t give up any homers last night and the I-Cubs were able to overcome his struggles (4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 9 K) in game two. Ethan Roberts earned the win with 1.1 shutout innings in his AAA debut, and Scott Effross earned his first career AAA save.

The offense didn’t do much in game one, as Justin Steele actually drove home both runs with on a single in the 4th inning, but the bats came alive in game two. Abiatal Avelino continued his rebound after a slow June at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Alfonso Rivas walked walked three times and also drove in two on a double. Nick Martini tripled home two runs as well.

Top Performers

• Justin Steele: 5 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 8 K (W, 2-0, 1.32)
• Ryan Meisinger: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (S, 3, 4.08)
• Ethan Roberts: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (W, 1-0, 0.00)
• Scott Effross: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (S, 1, 4.88)
• Alfonso Rivas: 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 3 BB (.267)
• Abiatal Avelino: 3-5, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB (.284)
• Trayce Thompson: 2-4, R, RBI (.224)
• Ian Miller: 1-3, R, BB (.278)
• Greg Deichmann: 0-4, R, 3 BB, SB (1) (.200)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Abiatal Avelino (.284/.356/.405) got off to a solid start in May (.286) before falling off a cliff in June (.186), but he’s been on fire since the calendar turned to July (.357/.403/.529). He’s continued his hot streak into August (.364/.500/.636). His wRC+ over his last 25 games is 158. He’s also been a solid defender all across the infield.

Still just 26, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Cubs re-sign him in the offseason to provide depth in Iowa again next season. Avelino wasn’t overwhelmed at the plate in his limited MLB shots with San Francisco, he just ran out of options and couldn’t break through full-time before he became a Minor League free agent. As we’ve seen with Patrick Wisdom, and to a lesser extent with Sergio Alcantara, sometimes it clicks a little later and there may still be a breakthrough coming. The Cubs really did do an excellent job securing all three of these players last offseason. While the team did eventually fall out of the race, without Wisdom and Alcantara bolstering the infield in May/June when the Cubs encountered a swath of injuries, the Cubs could have been buried a lot earlier in the year.

Take out Alfonso Rivas‘s first seven games at the end of June when he was still shaking off some rust, and he’s been an absolute on-base machine for Iowa in his 30 games since (.300/.453/.490, 153 wRC+, 18.8 BB%/17.2 K%)

AA

Montgomery 13, Tennessee 1 (Game 1)

Montgomery, Tennessee PPD (Game 2)

Game Recap

A 2 hour and 39 minute rain delay ruined the Cubs debut of starting pitcher Caleb Kilian. A breakout prospect from the Giants system included in the Kris Bryant trade, Kilian dominated in High-A and AA before coming over to the Cubs, but after the rains began falling four batters into the 1st inning the Smokies did not send him back out after the layoff.

Once the game resumed… well, let’s not dwell on that. Brandon Hughes was really good in relief. That’s about it.

Top Performers

• Brandon Hughes: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K (2.19)
• Nelson Velazquez: 1-3, RBI (.333)
• Carlos Sepulveda: 1-3 (.237)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Nelson Velazquez and Jake Washer got bumped up to AA. Velazquez earned his promotion with an inconsistent but productive first half in South Bend. He’s been a lefty killer at the very least, and the Cubs are going to need to start moving some outfielders up from Mesa and Myrtle Beach soon. Washer got the nod, I assume, because Bryce Windham is nearing a return to South Bend.

High-A

Peoria 5, South Bend 2

Top Performers

• Yonathan Perlaza: 2-4, HR (9), R, RBI (.252)
• Jake Slaughter: 2-4, 3B, R, SB (11) (.271)
• Anderson Espinoza: 3 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 4 K (L, 0-2, 4.83)
• Alexander Vizcaíno: 0.2 IP, H, 2 R, 2 BB, K (27.00)
• Matteo Bocchi: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 9 K (3.30)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

New acquisitions Anderson Espinoza and Alexander Vizcaíno made their organizational debuts. Espinoza is still working his way back (31.2 IP this year) from multiple injuries which have kept him off the mound since 2016 (!). He was once considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. Still just 23 years old, there is arm strength and a very good changeup to work with, but Espinoza is already on the 40-man roster so he’ll need to stay healthy and make a jump next year. He’ll definitely be a guy to watch during instructs this fall (or maybe even in the AFL should the Cubs go that route).

Alexander Vizcaíno has been a slow developer in the Yankees system, whose stuff has always exceeded his results, but he seemed to be breaking through in 2019. Unfortunately the 2020 layoff came at an awkward time for him and potentially killed some developmental momentum for him. He opened 2021 on the shelf with a shoulder issue, but began getting back into action just prior to the Anthony Rizzo trade. Like Espinoza, Vizcaíno is already on the 40-man, and features an impressive fastball/changeup combo. It will be important for both to stay on the mound and refine their breaking pitches in 2022 in order to stay on track as potential starting pitchers.

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 4, Columbia 3

Game Recap

Matt Mervis and Ethan Hearn homered and the Pelicans got a tremendous relief effort by recently demoted Tyler Suellentrop and ascending prospect Danis Correa.

Suellentrop has good velo and movement on his breaking ball, but he battled command and control issues in South Bend. He was pretty dominant in his first go around with Myrtle Beach and was so again in his first performance back with the team last night (6 K in 3 IP).

The same kind of dominance was on display by new closer Danis Correa, who has now punched out 41 batters in his 24 innings this season. He’s always had a powerful arm, but health and inconsistent breaking ball held him back in previous years. The undersized righty has been healthy and throwing better secondaries this year.

Top Performers

• Matt Mervis: 3-4, 2B, HR (9), 2 R, RBI (.209)
• Ethan Hearn: 1-2, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, BB (.191)
• Luis Verdugo: 1-4, 2B, RBI (.173)
• Tyler Suellentrop: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K (W, 1-0, 1.15)
• Danis Correa: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K (S, 1, 1.88)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Manuel Espinoza has been placed on the developmental list. The Cubs are no doubt throttling the innings for the 20-year old righty. I’ll be curious to see who takes his place in the Pelicans rotation. They already placed Jeremiah Estrada on the IL earlier this week.