Position Analysis – High-A Pitchers The CCO’s off-season look at the Cubs’ minor league system continues today. After viewing the possible pitching staff for Triple- and Double-A, we now look at the prospects for High-A. With a rotation that can go eight to nine deep, the pitching squad for Myrtle Beach in 2017 may turn out to be very special. High-A Starters and Relievers The 2015 draft provided several high-end pitching prospects. The foremost of these was eighth round pick Preston … [Read more...]
Cubs 2016 Organization All-Stars
MiLB.com released its Cubs Organizational All-Star Team. And it is headlined by four of the top position-player prospects in the system. Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario and Donnie Dewees stayed on their individual player plans this past season. Happ, Jimenez, Candelario and Dewees put up the numbers on the field to remain at the top of the position-player prospects in what remains a stocked minor league system. MiLB.com pointed out that The World Series Champions, “despite a … [Read more...]
The CCO’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2016 – Trevor Clifton
The CCO’s Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2016 – RHP Trevor Clifton Way back at the beginning of April in the minor league predictions reports, I chose Trevor Clifton as my dark horse candidate for Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year. After being named a Carolina League All-Star, Organization Pitcher of the Month two times, and Baseball America’s High-A Pitcher of the Year, that dark horse came in ahead of everyone else. In what was a spirited competition for the honor, Clifton … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2016 Carolina League Champions
Myrtle Beach Pelicans Win Second Straight Carolina League Championship Myrtle Beach defeats Lynchburg 5-3 to win the Mills Cup Championship Series Entering Wednesday night’s contest with the Lynchburg Hillcats with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, things did not look good for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Starter Preston Morrison was not sharp, surrendering an earned run in the first inning and serving up a two-run homer in the third inning. The home run erased a lead for the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – Minor League Leaders and Awards
Cubs Minor League Leaders and Awards This past season was quite successful for the Cubs in their minor league system. As the year ended on Monday, several players wound up leading their league in a category or were given a particular award by the league. Here is a level by level recap. Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs Infielder Isaac Paredes, Catcher/First Baseman/DH Gustavo Polanco, and left-handed relief pitcher Eugenio Palma were all named to the post-season All-Star Team in the Arizona … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/02/16
As we head into the final weekend of the minor league regular season, the Cubs affiliates were still able to excite. Eugene looked to add to their record season on the pitching of Dylan Cease and Manuel Rondon. South Bend also got some great pitching from Jose Paulino, as did Myrtle Beach with both Preston Morrison and Jeremy Null. But the biggest news had to be Chesny Young, who went 7-for-9 to surge ahead in the race for the Southern League batting crown. With all of the details, … [Read more...]
Cubs Minor League Postseason All-Stars
Cubs prospects INF/OF Chesny Young, C Victor Caratini, RHP Preston Morrison, SS Isaac Paredes, 1B/DH Gustavo Polanco, LHP Eugenio Palma named Postseason All-Stars Six prospects from the Cubs system were recently named Postseason All-Stars by their respective leagues. The Southern League named INF Chesny Young and C Victor Caratini postseason All-Stars. RHP Preston Morrison, who is currently pitching with High-A Myrtle Beach, was recognized by the Midwest League for how he pitched with the … [Read more...]
Myrtle Beach Pelicans Punch Ticket to Playoffs
Myrtle Beach Pelicans clinch playoff berth … Cubs High-A affiliate Myrtle Beach versus Red Sox in Southern Division Championship Series The Myrtle Beach Pelicans will have an opportunity to defend the team’s Carolina League Championship. High-A Myrtle Beach clinched a berth in the 2016 Carolina League Playoffs thanks to the Pelicans’ 2-1 victory over Carolina at Five County Stadium and Winston-Salem's 2-0 loss to Frederick at NYMEO Field at Harry Grove Stadium on Wednesday night. This … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/05/16
Pitching, pitching, and more pitching was the hallmark for the end of the week as Trevor Clifton and Preston Morrison flirted with no-hitters for Myrtle Beach. Zach Hedges was dominant for Tennessee, and Ryan Kellogg tossed a shutout in South Bend. There was even a big performance from Javier Assad in the Rookie League. With highlights from the Northwest League All-Star Game, the Down on the Farm Report catches all that’s thrown at it. Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (30-14) The … [Read more...]
Cubs Top Prospect Watch – 07/26/16
Cubs Top Prospect Watch With the front office making two trades in last seven days to acquire Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery, there was a major shake-up in this week’s Top Prospect Watch. The Cubs traded top prospects Gleyber Torres and Billy McKinney to the Yankees in the Chapman deal. And LHP Carson Sands landed on the disabled list. Catcher Miguel Amaya, pitcher Oscar De La Cruz and outfielder Mark Zagunis take the spots on the Top Prospect Watch previously occupied by Torres, … [Read more...]