NEWSLETTER
As I typed this, news broke that the Cubs were promoting Matt Mervis from Iowa to Chicago. So, we’ll start this week’s Studs and Duds on the Cubs farm with Mervis, who has been impressive this season. Plus, Kevin Alcántara has been on a heater in Tennessee this week!
Triple-A Iowa Cubs Studs & Duds of the Week
We have to start with Matt Mervis, who was called up by the Cubs today after a solid start to the season. Mervis is hitting .288 with five home runs, 13 RBI, six doubles, 12 walks, and a 1.008 OPS in 18 games for Iowa.
Last 7 | 4 G, 13 AB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, .231/.444/.538/.982
BJ Murray was the Cubs co-leader in hits last week with six, one of which left the yard. Murray also drove in a team-best four runs for the Iowa Cubs last week.
Last 7 | 5 G, 14 AB, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, .429/.600/.714/.1.314
Owen Caissie was on this list for the wrong reasons last week, but he’s reversed course this week and put together a much better week that featured a home run, three runs driven in, and a pair of doubles. He’s tied with BJ Murray for the most hits in Iowa in the last seven days with six and only struck out four times while walking twice.
Last 7 | 5 G, 20 AB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, .300/.364/.550/.914
Jose Cuas had a solid week in Iowa, turning in two relief outings and only allowing one run on three hits and a 1.00 WHIP.
Last 7 | 2 G, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 K, 1 BB, 1.00 WHIP
Pete Crow-Armstrong might need some more time in Triple-A. Like, most of the season. That is fine; there’s no rush for him to be in Chicago. PCA struck out six times this past week, giving him more strikeouts than hits (four) with a .594 OPS.
Last 7 | 5 G, 21 AB, 4 H, 6 K, .190/.261/.364/.650
Double-A Tennessee Smokies Studs & Duds of the Week
Kevin Alcántara has been red-hot over the last seven days, picking up nine hits in 16 at-bats, two of which have left the park for the Tennessee Smokies. It seems that Alcántara’s early-season slump is entirely in the rearview mirror.
Last 7 | 4 G, 16 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI, .563/.588/.1.000/1.588
Matthew Thompson‘s start this weekend was promising. He was once a top White Sox prospect but stalled out in their system. If the Cubs’ development team can find something, they could have an outstanding pitcher on their hands.
Last 7 | 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 4 K, 0 BB
Cade Horton had one start last week, and it was good but not great. Horton allowed one run on three hits in three and a third innings of work.
Last 7 | 1 GS, 3.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 K, 1 BB
James Triantos picked up four hits in four games for the Smokies last week and reached base twice on free passes.
Last 7 | 4 G, 13 AB, 4 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB, .308/.375/.308/.683
Matt Shaw was on this list last week for the opposite reason, but it was a tough week for Shaw, who picked up just two base hits in 16 at-bats and struck out four times.
Last 7 | 5 G, 16 AB, 2 H, 4 K, .125/.300/.125/.425
High-A South Bend Cubs Studs & Duds of the Week
There wasn’t much to write home about from South Bend last week, but Rafael Morel was the standout offensive performer for the High-A Cubs affiliate. Morel picked up six hits in three games for South Bend.
Last 7 | 3 G, 14 AB, 6 H, 1 RBI, .429/.500/.500/1.000
Jefferson Rojas tied for the team-high in hits last week with Morel, as Rojas also picked up six hits for South Bend. Rojas had a pair of doubles and two runs driven in last week.
Last 7 | 4 G, 18 AB, 6 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .333/.368/.444/.812
Brody McCollough (No. 26 on the Cubs Top 30) was one of the few South Bend pitchers who weren’t annihilated last week by Beloit’s hitting. McCollough had one appearance out of the bullpen and tossed two and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out two.
Last 7 | 1 G, 2.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K, 2 BB
Drew Gray (No. 14 on the Cubs Top 30) also didn’t do well, allowing one run on two hits while walking five in two innings of work in his lone start last week.
Last 7 | 1 GS, 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3.00 WHIP
Ed Howard‘s struggles continue, which makes me sad because I was really high on Howard as a prospect and wanted to see him succeed. Howard is playing part-time in A-ball and not well at that rate. Howard was hitless in his six at-bats last week.
Last 7 | 2 G, 6 AB, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, .000/.250/.143/.393
Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Studs & Duds of the Week
Reginald Preciado was the best of a bunch of bad last week for Myrtle Beach. Preciado picked up four base hits and walked twice in three contests, and that was the most hits by any Pelican who played in three or more games. It was a tough week for Myrtle Beach hitters, to say the least.
Last 7 | 3 G, 12 AB, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K, .333/.429/.333/.762
Drew Bowser has a cool name, but he was anything but excellent this week as he managed to pick up one hit in 11 at-bats for the Pelicans.
Last 7 | 4 G, 11 AB, 1 H, 5 K, .091/.389/.091/.480
Nick Dean qualified for both ends of this list this week. On one hand, he struck out eight hitters in three innings of work. However, he also surrendered four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in that span. It’s a mixed bag for Dean, who has shown the ability to miss bats but not the ability to get outs when he doesn’t.
Last 7 | 1 G, 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K
