According to Baseball America, the Cubs released seven players from the system. RHP Matt Loosen, RHP Brad Renner, LHP Jeff Lorick, 1B Shane Kennedy, INF Alex Tomasovich, OF Shamil Ubiera and OF Charlie White have been released by the Cubs and are eligible to sign with another organization. And four players that spent time in the Cubs’ organization were recently released by other teams: OF Aaron Cunningham (Diamondbacks), LHP James Leverton (Marlins), C Lance Rymel (Rockies) and C Yaniel … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – South Bend Cubs Preview
Minor League Preview – Low-A South Bend Cubs The second installment of a series previewing the 2015 minor league season focuses on the South Bend Cubs. And a brief overall look at the system will precede the team summaries. Please note that the previews are based on current roster assignments and anticipated Spring Training success. All assignments, both as to position and level, are subject to change pending the completion of Spring Training. Click here for the Cubs’ minor league camp … [Read more...]
The CCO Talks Outfield Prospects on South Bend Cubs Radio
Last Wednesday, the CCO’s very own Tom U was invited to talk minor league outfield prospects with South Bend Cubs play-by-play man Darin Pritchett on WSBT in South Bend’s Sportsbeat program. Here are some excerpts from that interview. Darin Pritchett: We are going to focus on some of the better outfielders in the Chicago Cubs minor league organization. At the end, we’ll kick around a couple of players that might end up in South Bend. But let’s talk about a guy that is already debuted in the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 11/13/14
Position Analysis – Left Field The sixth installment of the off-season series to summarize and project how the minor league system looks on a position-by-position basis focuses on left field. Left Field With the parent club seemingly set in the outfield having veterans Chris Coghlan, Justin Ruggiano, and Ryan Sweeney joining Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler, it looks as though Junior Lake will be crowded out. Lake’s hold on the big leagues seems even more tenuous with the organization’s … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on Farm Report – 09/02/14
An 829-game minor league regular season ended Monday with three teams from the Cubs’ system making the playoffs: The Daytona Cubs, the Kane County Cougars, and the Boise Hawks. It took the final days of the season before Daytona and Boise could lay claim to the post-season, thanks to the efforts of hot-hitting shortstops Marco Hernandez and Gleyber Torres. Kane County had the best record in the minor leagues as the Cougars received excellent pitching performances in the final days from Tyler … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/11/14
It appeared as if many of the minor league teams want to get as much baseball in as they can with the season drawing to a close, as doubleheaders and extra innings dotted the landscape. One of the hottest players in the system is Daytona’s Rock Shoulders, who was 6-for-13 with three home runs over the weekend. Iowa is experiencing a power surge, with Kris Bryant, Mike Olt, Manny Ramirez, Jorge Soler and Elliot Soto all with home runs. Shawon Dunston Jr. continues to be an excellent table-setter … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/04/14
The final month of the minor league season started out on a good note for couple of the Cubs’ affiliates and many of the prospects in the system. C.J. Edwards returned to the Smokies rotation while the newest additions to the system, Victor Caratini and Jonathan Martinez had good debuts with the Cougars and helped their new team win a game. Pierce Johnson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Sunday before it was broken up by the Reds top pitching prospect, Robert Stephenson. And speaking … [Read more...]
Cubs Notes from Down on the Farm – 08/02/14
The acquisition of catcher Victor Caratini may not signal the end to 2014 draft selections Kyle Schwarber and Mark Zagunis days as a backstop yet. Nothing will be determined for sure until both Schwarber and Zagunis have an off-season to work with minor league instructor Franklin Font and former catchers/minor league managers Mark Johnson, Buddy Bailey, and Brian Harper. But Caratini now joins a passel of catching prospects in the lower minors, including Will Remillard and Cael Brockmeyer at … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/28/14
Heroes came in all shapes and sizes to end the week as Iowa witnessed the thundering bat of Javier Baez, while Tennessee’s Addison Russell put on his own power show. Russell’s teammate Taylor Davis had a five RBI night, and Daytona remained on a roll thanks to the muscle of Dan Vogelbach. In Kane County, Shawon Dunston Jr. appears to be thriving in the leadoff role, while new faces Charcer Burks and Bryant Flete are hot for Boise. So if you like your baseball with a little pop, see what’s … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/24/14
It was “Promotion Day” Wednesday as several prospects received word that they would be moving up a level. There was some activity leading up to the day, as RHP Juan Carlos Paniagua was promoted to Daytona, while RHP Ben Wells went to Kane County and RHP Dillon Maples reported to Boise. That set in motion “outfielder roulette” as Jorge Soler moved up to Iowa, Albert Almora to Tennessee, Jacob Hannemann to Daytona, and Jeffrey Baez to Kane County. Meanwhile, RHP Kyle Hendricks and LHP Tsuyoshi … [Read more...]