Cubs name C/1B Victor Caratini Minor League Player of the Month … RHP Thomas Hatch is the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June The Cubs named recently promoted Victor Caratini and High-A Myrtle Beach right-handed pitcher Thomas Hatch the organization’s Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June, respectively. This marks Caratini’s second-consecutive organizational Player of the Month honor. Victor Caratini, 23, was called-up to the Cubs on June 28 after … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 12/29/16
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...]
Minor League Ball’s Top 20 Cubs Prospects for 2017
Minor League Ball released its ranking of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system. And the list, headlined by Eloy Jimenez, looks a lot different than it did a year ago. The 20-year old outfielder Eloy Jimenez tops John Sickels ranking of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system. Jimenez is the only Grade A prospect in the organization, right now, according to Minor League Ball. Jimenez had an excellent year, one that started with Low-A South Bend and recently ended with an AFL Championship. … [Read more...]
Cubs Weekend Headlines: A Much-Needed Win, A Much-Needed Break and a Bunch of Rumors
The Cubs ended the weekend and the ‘first half’ of the season with a much-needed win against the Pirates, a 6-5 victory with Kris Bryant driving in Matt Szczur with the game winner. The Cubs righted the ship and snapped the five-game skid. The Cubs will spend the All-Star break seven games ahead of the second place Cardinals and 7 ½ up on the Pirates. Joe Maddon’s team is 53-35 after the first 88 games of the season, that’s a .602 winning percentage. Even with the recent struggles, the Cubs … [Read more...]
Cubs Announce Signing of Thomas Hatch, 20 Draft Picks
The Cubs made it official Friday and announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Thomas Hatch, the team’s third round pick (104th overall) of the 2016 draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to multiple reports, the Cubs signed Thomas Hatch for $573,900. Overall, the Cubs have signed 21 selections to date in advance of the July 15 signing deadline, including each of the club’s first eight picks in June’s draft: RHP Thomas Hatch, RHP Tyson Miller, RHP Bailey Clark, RHP Chad … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: A Big Series in Pittsburgh and Other Cubs News
The Cubs have three games left on the schedule before the All-Star break. And Joe Maddon’s team could use a good weekend in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. The Cubs are struggling in all phases of the game, no one is denying that. Even with the recent problems, the Cubs enter play Friday night in Pittsburgh with an eight game lead over the Cardinals and 8 ½ games in front of the Pirates (nine games in the loss column) in the division. Joe Maddon has Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester on the hill … [Read more...]
Cubs Weekend Headlines: A Win on the Fourth, A Major Call Up, Lots of Rumors and Draft Signings
Joe Maddon’s team wrapped up the holiday weekend with a win over the Reds and snapped its four-game skid. The Cubs had a tough time in New York against the Metropolitans. Even with dropping four in a row, the Cubs are a first place team. The Cubs will begin play on July 5 with a 52-30 record, a half-game better than the Giants for the best record in the NL and nine full games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central. The Cubs .634 winning percentage is tops in baseball. Joe Maddon’s … [Read more...]
Cubs Sign Third Round Pick RHP Thomas Hatch
Cubs agree to terms with third round draft pick right-handed pitcher Thomas Hatch According to a report from Mark Gonzales that was confirmed by Thomas Hatch, the Cubs have signed the team’s third round pick in last month’s draft. Hatch is scheduled to fly to Arizona on Tuesday, take a physical and officially sign his contract. Updated – July 7, 10:00pm CDT – According to Jim Callis, the Cubs signed Thomas Hatch for $573,900, which is full slot value for the team’s third round pick. The … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Cubs News and Notes on the Last Sunday in June
It’s the last Sunday in June and the Cubs will begin play with a double-digit lead in the division. The Cubs have 48 wins (48-25) on the season, tied with the Giants (48-28) and Rangers (48-27) for the most victories in the majors. The Cubs .658 winning percentage is still tops in the game. And for as ‘bad’ as Joe Maddon’s team has played, the Cubs are 13-10 this month. Joe Maddon is not really concerned about his team and the Cubs losing five of the last six games after sweeping the Pirates. … [Read more...]
Cubs Weekend Headlines: One Big Broom, Lots of Homers and Web Gems, Debuts and Rumors
What a weekend for Joe Maddon’s team. The Cubs swept all three games from the Pirates. And Sunday’s finale was an unforgettable game thanks to five home runs, Kyle Hendricks and Willson Contreras launching the first pitch he saw in the big leagues for a two-run homer. Willson Contreras and Albert Almora Jr. contributed to two of the three wins in their first games at Wrigley Field. Javier Baez put on a show in the field and on the bases. And he was also pretty good at the plate. The Cubs … [Read more...]