• Cubs Convention
  • Interviews
  • MLB Transaction Glossary | Rules
    • Major League Baseball Transactions Glossary
    • MLB Rule 7.13 – Collisions at Home Plate
    • MLB Slide Rule on Double Plays Adopted for 2016 Season
  • Archives
    • Chicago Cubs Online General Info
    • Community Blog Archives
    • CCO Cubs-Metrics
    • CCO Cubs Podcast
    • CCO Feedback
    • CCO Predictions
    • CCO Opinion – You Know Better
    • The CCO Wrigley Perspective
    • Fantasy Baseball
    • The Northside Media Guide
  • Cubstory

Chicago Cubs Online

A Site for The Cubs Faithful Since 2005

  • Home
  • News | Transactions
    • News and Transactions
    • Cubs Regular Season Notes
    • Cubs Spring Training News Reports
    • Cubs Off-Season News Reports
  • Minor Leagues
    • Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 2008 to Present
    • Minor League Transactions Glossary
    • Cubs Minor League Players and Pitchers of the Year 1990 – 2017
    • Minor League Updates – 2005-2007
  • Rumors
    • If The Ivy Could Talk – Cubs Rumors
  • Game Day
    • Let’s Play 2 – Game Recap
    • Talkin’ Cubs Live
    • Cactus League-Spring Training
  • Opinion
    • The CCO, Live from Wrigleyville
    • Notes from the Soap Box
  • 40-Man Roster | Contracts
Chicago Cubs Online > Back to the Minors > Cubs Sending Eight Prospects to the AFL, Including the Big Four of Baez, Bryant, Soler and Almora

Cubs Sending Eight Prospects to the AFL, Including the Big Four of Baez, Bryant, Soler and Almora

August 27, 2013 2:24 pm By Neil 25 Comments

The Cubs future will be on display at the Arizona Fall League, which begins play on October 8. The top four prospects in the system, including the Cubs’ last three top draft picks, were officially named to the Mesa Solar Sox’s roster on Tuesday.

Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Albert Almora and Jorge Soler will play in the AFL along with pitchers Dallas Beeler, Arodys Vizcaino, Armando Rivero and Matt Loosen. Almora was named to the taxi squad and will only be active for games on Wednesday and Saturday.

As expected, the Cubs are using the AFL as a way for players to make up development time they have missed during the regular season, with the exceptions of Javier Baez and Matt Loosen.

Albert Almora, Jorge Soler and Dallas Beeler have missed significant time this year due to injuries and Arodys Vizcaino missed the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery in March of 2012. The Cubs still view Vizcaino as an option for the starting rotation moving forward, they just need to get him healthy and on a mound.

Dallas Beeler has been sidelined with a torn tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand and has been on the disabled list since May 23. Beeler was showing improvement this year prior to the injury.

The Cubs signed Cuban RHP Armando Rivero to a minor league contract back in March and gave him a $3.1 million signing bonus. The 24-year old right hander has shown improvement with each promotion this season. For the year, Rivero is 0-1 in 18 games (Kane County, Daytona and Tennessee) with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP (26 hits, 12 walks, 43 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings).

Matt Loosen is a pitcher to keep an eye on the Cubs’ system. Loosen tossed a no-hitter this year with the D-Cubs but until Monday night, Loosen had struggled at the Double-A level this year.

Albert Almora has been out since August 9 with a groin injury and was recently sent back to his home in Florida to prepare for the off-season. Almora was impressive while he was on the field. In 61 games with Kane County, Almora put together a .329/.376/.466 slash line with 17 doubles, four triples and three home runs for a .842 OPS.

Jorge Soler has been out since the end of June with a fractured left tibia. Soler hit .281/.343/.467 in 55 games with 13 doubles, one triple and eight home runs.

Kris Bryant has not disappointed since he signed with the Cubs just prior to the deadline. In 30 games between Boise and Daytona, Bryant has managed a .349/.395/.670 line with 12 doubles, one triple and three home runs (1.065 OPS) and in 10 games with the D-Cubs, .368/.400/.684/1.084 with three doubles and three home runs.

Javier Baez has put together a special season, especially for a 20-year old. But more importantly, Baez has shown steady improvement all year in the field and at the plate.

In 48 games with the Smokies, Baez has hit .308/.360/.656 with 14 doubles and 18 home runs with 48 RBI and a 1.016 OPS. In 124 games between Daytona and Tennessee, Baez has managed a .287/.347/.583/.930 line with 33 doubles, four triples, 35 home runs and 105 RBI.

One of the many storylines this fall will be where Baez and Bryant play in the field. Both Baez and Bryant figure to be in big league camp next spring on non-roster invites and may be closer to the majors than the Cubs are admitting at this point.

Follow ChicagoCubsOnline on Twitter: @TheCCO and @TheCCO_Minors

Filed Under: Back to the Minors, News and Transactions Tagged With: Albert Almora, Armando Rivero, Arodys Vizcaino, Dallas Beeler, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant, Matt Loosen, Mesa Solar Sox

Archives


Memories of Mr. Cub

A Tribute to Mr. Cub

Forever, THE Cub
What is Eamus Catuli
What is Eamus Catuli?
Lakeview Baseball Club

Subscribe to the CCO

Get Cubs Updates in Your Inbox

Tweets by TheCCO

Stats


Trips to the North Side

Copyright © 2021 5 & 11 Online Productions
Privacy Policy | Commenting Policy | About | Contact
ChicagoCubsOnline.com is not affiliated with the Chicago National League Ballclub

7ads6x98y