Jacob Rogers among Seven Minor League players released by Cubs
The Cubs released seven players from the system as the Opening Day rosters for the minor league affiliates come into focus.
The Cubs released 1B Jacob Rogers, RHP Jasvir Rakkar, RHP Fernando Cruz, LHP Luis Parra, RHP Tayler Scott, 2B Angelo Amendolare and RHP Corbin Hoffner according to the PCL, Southern League, Carolina League and Midwest League transaction pages.
The Cubs selected Jacob Rogers in the 40th round of the 2012 draft. It was actually the second time the Cubs current regime drafted Rogers, the Red Sox selected him in the 29th round four years earlier. The 26-year old first baseman had a good year and played a combined 129 games for High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee. Rogers batted a combined .249/.352/.388 with 23 doubles and 13 home runs for a .740 OPS. Outside of Anthony Rizzo, Rogers was the best defensive first baseman in the organization.
RHP Fernando Cruz re-signed with the Cubs in the off-season after pitching in three levels (High-A Myrtle Beach, Double-A Tennessee, Triple-A Iowa) in the system a year ago. Cruz was 3-4 in 32 games, five starts, with a 5.64 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. Cruz allowed 50 runs, 43 earned, on 72 hits with 34 walks and 58 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings.
Jasvir Rakkar had a very good season splitting time with Low-A South Bend and High-A Myrtle Beach. The 24-year old right hander (turns 25 on April 27) was 3-3 in 41 relief appearances with a 2.87 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Rakkar pitched in 38 games for the Pelicans and allowed 18 runs, 15 earned, on 44 hits with 10 walks and 37 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.
LHP Luis Parra signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in the off-season. Parra was 9-8 in 28 games, 12 starts, in the Rangers system with a 6.02 ERA and 1.85 WHIP.
RHP Tayler Scott was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. Scott advanced to Double-A Tennessee last season, appearing in 15 games. Scott was 4-1 with a 5.23 ERA and 1.67 WHIP for the Smokies. The 23-year old right hander was a combined 6-3 in 26 games with one start between the Pelicans and Smokies with a 3.83 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
The Cubs selected RHP Corbin Hoffner in the 14th round of the 2012 draft. Hoffner made 22 appearances for Short Season Eugene and Low-A South Bend last season. Hoffner was a combined 1-0 with nine saves, a 1.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. In 19 games for South Bend, the 22-year old was 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 1.13 WHIP after allowing four runs on 22 hits with nine walks and 16 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.
2B Angelo Amendolare played in three levels in the system last season after being selected in the 27th round of the draft. Amendolare batted .271/.388/.318 in 30 games with a .706 OPS. Amendolare played in eight games for the Iowa Cubs and was 3-for-15 with a walk and three strikeouts.