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
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
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
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
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
thanks for the farm report.
who are the legitimate prospects for this year?
Jackson, Gaub, Colvin?
Blake Parker?
Cashner?
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.
Hak-ju lee got off to a good start a rbi and 2 hits pretty good