Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 06/26/09

Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro were named to the roster for the upcoming XM Radio Futures Game during All-Star weekend in St. Louis on Thursday. The Futures game is a showcase of the best young talent in the minor leagues. Geovany Soto participated in 2007 and Welington Castillo was the Cubs' lone representative a year ago.

The Cubs made a notable roster move on Thursday. John Gaub was promoted to Triple-A Iowa and many think he could be with the big league club in the second half. The southpaw was 3-1 with four save in 26 games with the Smokies and posted a 2.83 ERA with 17 walks and 40 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.

Rebel Ridling hit 12 home runs and won the Home Run Derby on Monday during festivities leading up to the Midwest League All-Star game. Ridling hit five longballs in the final round to take the title.

Due to the Cubs early game on Thursday against the Tigers, here is the latest from the farm on a Friday ...

Here are the standings for the Cubs' system only:

(click on image to enlarge)

Boise Hawks - Class A Short Season

Monday 6/22 - Boise 5, Tri-City 7

Losing Pitcher: Andres Quezada (0-1)
Offensive Star: Hak-Ju Lee: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Tuesday 6/23 - Boise 1, Salem-Keizer 6

Winning Pitcher: Jeffry Antigua (0-1)
Offensive Star: Sean Hoorelbeke: 2-for-4, 1 run

Wednesday 6/24 - Boise 3, Salem-Keizer 5

Thursday 6/25 - Incomplete

Boise's Team Stats

Peoria Chiefs - Class A

No Games Monday through Wednesday - All-Star Break

Thursday - Chiefs 1 - Timber Rattlers 4

Losing Pitcher: Justin Bristow (3-3)
Offensive Star: Josh Harrison: 2-for4, 1 double, 1 RBI

Video of Rebel Ridling

Peoria's Team Stats

Daytona Cubs - Class High A

Monday 6/22 - Doubleheader Monday for the D-Cubs

Game 1: Cubs 10, Lakeland 2

Winning Pitcher: James Leverton (4-7)
Offensive Star: Brandon Guyer: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 1 double, 2 RBI

Game 2: Cubs 5, Lakeland 4

Winning Pitcher: Todd Blackford (1-0)
Offensive Star: Tony Campana: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 double

Tuesday 6/23 - Cubs 1, Lakeland 2

Losing Pitcher: Dustin Sasser (4-2)
Offensive Star: Starlin Castro: 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 SB

Wednesday 6/24 - Doubleheader Wednesday for the D-Cubs

Game 1: Cubs 3, Lakeland 2

Winning Pitcher: Todd Blackford (1-0)
Offensive Star: Tony Campana: 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Game 2: Cubs, 5, Lakeland 6

Losing Pitcher: Dan McDaniel (3-5)
Offensive Star: Jake Opitz: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Thursday 6/25 - Cubs 4, Fort Myers 6

Losing Pitcher: Ryan Searle (5-6)
Offensive Star: Tony Campana: 4-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI

Daytona Cubs' Team Stats

Tennessee Smokies - Class AA

Monday 6/22 - Smokies 2, Montgomery 0

Winning Pitcher: Jay Jackson (4-3)
Offensive Star: Russ Canzler: 2-for-4, 1 RBI

Tuesday 6/23 - Smokies 0, Montgomery 1

Losing Pitcher: Marcos Mateo (1-5)
Offensive Star: Doug Deeds: 2-for-4

Wednesday 6/24 - Smokies 6, Montgomery 0

Winning Pitcher: Casey Coleman (7-3)
Offensive Star: Tyler Colvin: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 1 double, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Thursday 6/25 - Smokies 4, Montgomery 8

Losing Pitcher: Hung-Wen Chen (3-6)
Offensive Star: Marquez Smith: 2-for-4. 1 Run, 1 Triple

Tennessee Smokies' Team Stats

Iowa Cubs - Class AAA

Monday 6/22 - No Game Scheduled

Tuesday 6/23 - Postponed due to rain

Wednesday 6/24 - Cubs 2, New Orleans 5

Losing Pitcher: Neal Cotts (1-1)
Offensive Star: Steve Clevenger: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 double

Thursday 6/25 - Cubs 5, New Orleans 4 in 10 innings

Winning Pitcher: James Russell (2-0)
Offensive Stars: Sam Fuld: 4-for-5, 2 runs, 1 double; So Taguchi: 3-for-4, 1 double, 3 RBI; Chris Robinson: 2-for-5, 1 run, 1 triple; Steve Clevenger: 2-for-5, 1 run, 1 double

Iowa Cubs' Team Stats

Grant

Hak-ju lee got off to a good start a rbi and 2 hits pretty good

Aaron

This was the list earlier this year of our top prospects:

Scout.com Top 20 Cubs' Prospects:

1. Josh Vitters - 3B

2. Jeff Samardzija - RHP

3. Andrew Cashner - RHP

4. Welington Castillo - C

5. Jay Jackson - RHP

6. Ryan Flaherty - SS

7. Mitch Atkins - RHP

8. Tyler Colvin - OF

9. Kevin Hart - RHP

10. Micah Hoffpauir - 1B/OF

11. Esmailin Caridad - RHP

12. Brandon Guyer - OF

13. Marcos Mateo - RHP

14. Jovan Rosa - INF

15. James Russell - LHP

16. Dan McDaniel - RHP

17. Chris Carpenter - RHP

18. Aaron Shafer - RHP

19. Ryan Acosta - RHP

20. Matt Cerda - C

I would say it should look like this, based on how they've fared this year (some aren't even with us anymore, like Acosta):

Aaron's Top 20 Cubs' Prospects:

1. Josh Vitters - 3B

2. Jay Jackson - RHP

3. Andrew Cashner - RHP

4. Jeff Samardzija - RHP

5. Josh Harrison - IF/OF

6. Tony Thomas - IF

7. Tyler Colvin - OF

8. Starlin Castro - IF

9. Kevin Hart - RHP

10. Jon Gaub - LHP

11. Blake Parker - RHP

12. Darwin Barney - IF

13. Marcos Mateo - RHP

14. Hak Ju-Lee - INF

15. Chris Archer - RHP

16. Chris Huseby - RHP (would be higher, except still at low-A, but 27 2/3 IP, 39 K's, and just 2 walks!!!! tells me he's finally fulfilling his promise as a bonus baby)

17. Chris Carpenter - RHP

18. Kyler Burker - OF

19. Steve Clevenger - C

20. Ryan Flaherty - IF

honorable mentions would be:

POSITION PLAYERS- Doug Deeds, Chris Robinson, Brad Snyder (injured), Campana, Lalli, Guyer, Chirinos, Ridling, Camp

PITCHERS- Rhee (injured...he'd rank near the top, but his rehab after TJ has gone slowly, so I've left him off), Stevens, Reinhard, Carillo, Papelbon, Williamson, Beliveau, Perkins (throws gas), Searle, McDaniel, Caridad, Mathes, Coleman, Maestri, Buchter

Most of the players I included in honorable mention have excellent stats this year, but either haven't shown much in the past, or are too old at their respective levels to be considered a true "prospect" right now.