High-A Myrtle Beach announced Wednesday afternoon two of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system received a promotion. The Cubs sent SS Gleyber Torres and OF Jeffrey Baez from Low-A South Bend to High-A Myrtle Beach.
Gleyber Torres is considered the No. 1 prospect in the organization. Torres was the youngest player in the Midwest League and became the youngest player in the Carolina League with his promotion.
Jeffrey Baez is a very exciting player in the system that has not received the recognition that other prospects in the organization have the last two years. The ‘other’ Baez was the Cubs Minor League Player of the Month for July.
Along with Torres and Baez, SS Carlos Penalver was sent from Myrtle Beach to Double-A Tennessee. And OF Kevin Brown was returned to Triple-A Iowa.
Gleyber Torres and Jeffrey Baez were in the starting lineup for Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night. The Pelicans beat the Nationals 4-2. Baez went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Torres batted ninth and was 0-for-2 with a walk and a fielding error.
Gleyber Torres
SS Gleyber Torres topped all expectations this year with the South Bend Cubs. The 18-year old earned the promotion to High-A Myrtle Beach.
Torres showed steady improvement in the field while putting together a consistent season at the plate.
In 119 games for Low-A South Bend, Torres batted .293/.353/.386 with 24 doubles, five triples, three home runs and a .739 OPS. Torres followed up a .312/.381/.390 slash line in the first half that included 11 doubles, two triples and a home run for a .770 OPS with a .275/.324/.382 line after the break.
Torres will finish out the minor league season with High-A Myrtle Beach. After a short break, Torres will report to Arizona for Fall Instructs.
Gleyber Torres was a Midwest League All-Star and the Midwest League Prospect of the Year.
• Gleyber Torres’ Page on MiLB.com
Jeffrey Baez
OF Jeffrey Baez turned a sensational second half into a promotion. Baez had a bad first half. The 21-year old Baez batted .190/.262/.268 in his first 48 games with five doubles, two triples and a home run for a .530 OPS.
Jeffrey Baez caught fire after the break and hit close to .400 in August (.393/.415/.556/.970). Baez was hitting .348/.369/.536 in 53 games with 12 doubles, three triples and eight home runs for a .905 OPS before the promotion.
In 101 games for Low-A South Bend, Jeffrey Baez hit .284/.324/.427 with 17 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and a .751 OPS. Baez swiped 34 bases. (34-for-44 in stolen base attempts).
• Jeffrey Baez’s Page on MiLB.com