The Arizona Fall League got underway last Tuesday. The Cubs have eight players participating in the AFL and two of the organization’s top prospects had a good first week.
Jeimer Candelario went 5-for-5 with three doubles, two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored on Friday. Candelario started at third base and batted third for manager Mark Johnson.
Willson Contreras also went yard Friday in Mesa’s loss to Surprise. Contreras played first base and batted fifth in the Solar Sox lineup. Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.
Candelario and Contreras were a combined 7-for-9 on Friday with three doubles, three home runs and five RBI.
Candelario has played in three games and is 8-for-10 with four doubles, two home runs and a walk. Candelario currently has an .800/.818/1.800 slash line with a 2.618 OPS.
Contreras is 3-for-12 in three games with a home run and two walks (.250/.357/.500) for a .857 OPS.
Mesa’s season resumes Monday at Sloan Park against the Scottsdale Scorpions
Jeimer Candelario
Jeimer Candelario played in 128 games between High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee this season. Candelario hit a combined .277/.339/.431 with 35 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs for a .770 OPS.
The 21-year old switch-hitting third baseman put together a good year after struggling in 2014. Between Low-A Kane County and High-A Daytona, Candelario hit only .223/.288/.379/.667 in 125 games with 29 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs.
Candelario began this past season with High-A Myrtle Beach. In 82 games with the Pelicans, Candelario batted .270/.318/.415 in 82 games with 25 doubles, three triples and five home runs for a .733 OPS.
Candelario excelled with Double-A Tennessee after his promotion. Candelario hit .291/.379/.462 with 10 doubles, a triple and five home runs for a .841 OPS. And he was sensational in the field.
Jeimer Candelario is only 21 years old (Nov. 24, 1993) and he’s shown the tools that will get him to the big leagues.
• Jeimer Candelario’s Page on Baseball-Reference
Willson Contreras
Willson Contreras had a breakout season at the plate and won the batting crown in the Southern League. The Cubs named Contreras the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year.
Willson Contreras batted .333/.413/.478 in 126 games with 34 doubles, four triples and eight home runs for a .891 OPS. Contreras had 57 walks and 62 strikeouts in 521 plate appearances.
Contreras will be in big league camp this spring.
• Willson Contreras’ Page on Baseball-Reference
Jeimer Candelario and Willson Contreras will be added to the 40-man roster by the Nov. 20 deadline for teams to file reserve lists for the Major League and minor league levels.