Chicago Cubs Around the Farm 17th Edition: 8/26/22

Let me start off by saying this game featured incredible performances by Matt Swarmer (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 5 SO) and John Hicks (2/2, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI). Both are also 28 and 32 respectively with MLB experience. Theoretically, as you look at the performances Friday, you can make a case for Swarmer who has only made a few MLB experiences.

Still, I’d rather highlight the 23-year-old right-handed reliever who no one in the minors can hit as the Biggest Yes for Iowa. Call it ageism if you want. It isn’t a real award. I also have Estrada ranked as the Cubs’ 19th-best prospect, so I have a vested interested in being right about him.

Estrada is Rule 5 eligible, so the Cubs need to determine if they want to protect a flame-throwing reliever who has the potential to be a high-leverage, closer type. I’m hoping Chicago finds a way to bring up Estrada by the end of this season to see what he can do.

Biggest Yikes: Darius Hill — 0/4, 2 LOB

Darius Hill has captured the attention of Cubs fans this season because of what he can do with his bat. It’s hard to bat nearly .350 at any level of professional baseball, and the 25-year-old has been hovering around that for Triple-A Iowa this season. Of course, when your whole thing is that you can be relied upon to make contact and get on base, going 0/4 out of the leadoff spot isn’t great. Hill is my 24th-ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system, but you need more out of Hill than leaving runners in scoring position and never getting on base in a one-run game.

Double-A Tennessee Smokies: 6-2 Victory Over Rocket City Trash Pandas

Biggest Yes: Walker Powell — 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 R, 5 SO

Walker Powell just continues to dominate on the mound. Bryan’s Tweet above spells it out incredibly clearly. Not only has Powell dominated, he has just gotten better and better. We’ve written about it before, but Powell still hasn’t had a WHIP above 0.99 in any league this year as he has ascended from Low-A Myrtle Beach to Double-A Tennessee.

As arms get shuffled around at the end of the year and guys across the farm get their cup of coffee in the Bigs, it will be interesting to see if the Cubs promote Powell to Triple-A Iowa. Remember, as exciting as Powell’s numbers have been, he’s 26 and has mostly pitched out of the bullpen. He’s not a guy you need to keep lower in the system to develop; the Cubs need to see what he can do.

Biggest Yikes: Yonathan Perlaza — 1/4, 3 SO, 3 LOB

Perlaza was just here a couple of editions ago, so this continues a trend we’re not thrilled about. I have Perlaza 35th in the Cubs system, mostly due to his power. The 23-year-old mashes. The problem is that Perlaza is always looking to mash. He doesn’t adjust much, and he swings freely. While Powell had the game locked down on the mound, you still want to see Perlaza producing more at the plate.

High-A South Bend Cubs: 4-5 Loss to Western Michigan Whitecaps

Biggest Yes: Pete Crow-Armstrong — 2/4, R, SB

This was not a game with a ton of stand out performances. Mostly, Crow-Armstrong gets this Biggest Yes award because he was one of a couple of players to, well, perform solidly. Crow-Armstrong got on base, he stole his 17th bag of the season for South Bend (30th on the year), and he scored. It’s cool to see PCA, the Cubs’ top prospect, performing at such a high level at the plate and on the base paths. While I’m not sure if he sees Double-A Tennessee this season, he should at least start there next year.

Biggest Yikes: Jordan Nwogu — 0/4, BB, 3 SO, 4 LOB, SB

Nwogu was far and away the Biggest Yes of the entire farm Thursday. He hit three home runs in a dominating show at the plate. Friday, however, was the opposite for my 28th-best prospect in the Cubs’ system. Nwogu tried to do damage, but he continuously faltered. Yes, he took a walk. Yes, he stole his 16th base of the season. Still, he struck out 75% of the time and left four stranded on base.

Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 5-6 Loss to Augusta GreenJackets

Biggest Yes: Moises Ballesteros — 2/5, 2B, HR (2), 3 RBI

Back-to-back Biggest Yes awards for Ballesteros! This time around, the 18-year-old was the DH and delivered according to his job description. He’s my 21st-best prospect in the Cubs’ system, and he may just keep rising this season. After another great game Friday, Ballesteros’s slash line is up to .303/.418/.500 with an OPS of .918. That is crazy good (albeit in a 19-game sample size). Buckle up for the next several seasons, Cubs fans, because Ballesteros seems poised to keep making his way up the farm on the strength of his bat.

Biggest Yikes: Ethan Hearn — 0/4, 2 SO, 3 LOB

Hearn continues to play with my heart strings. Every once in a while, he has a game that makes you think the bat may finally be coming around. Then, he gives you a game like this which reminds you that it isn’t. Yes, he’s just 21, but his approach at the plate (a concern when he was drafted) really hasn’t improved. Hearn is going to give you more defense than offense in general, but he’s going to need to turn the bat around as other catching prospects continue to develop well in the Cubs’ system.