Get to Know: The Daytona Cubs

AlbyAlby

Any word on when/where we can expect to see him? I can’t find anything.

And let me add to the chorus of thank yous - these are really great to read. I’m excited to see what Castro does this year.

Hey! Thanks for all of these!

Castro jumping 3 levels- wow that is a surprise. I have been critical of the Cubs in the past not moving players fast enough (especially the college guys) but this may be going to far. Hope it works out though!

Positionally

Chirinos and Reed is a pretty bleh minor league catching tandem. The former was an infielder, and some rumors were, they might be grooming Chirinos for a coaching role, while the latter is a former 3rd round pick that just hasn’t panned out.

The infield is intriguing. At first base, Jovan Rosa, one of our last DNF’s, will likely get the majority of starts. I am a huge Rosa fan – he posted a solid line in the MWL, he shows a sweet stroke, and he has some pop. The question is, can he translate those MWL doubles into more HR power. I think he can, and I’ve heard positive things about it. He’ll get some time at 3rd as well, but the former JuCo MI hasn’t shown the ability to stick at 3rd. I know not many will know him … but watch him. If that power comes, he might be a quick move up the ladder.

The guy who will man third is likely Marquez Smith. He’s dabbled at 2nd, and I could see the Cubs trying him in the OF if Vitters forces his way up. This is his 3rd year of pro ball – being in Daytona is okay. He was working with AA for awhile but got demoted when Reynolds came down to play 3rd, according to something AzPhil noted over at TCR. He struck out a bit too much for limited power, and as noted, he isn’t that great of a prospect that a top talent like Vitters couldn’t force him aside.

Russ Canzler is listed in the IF, and will get time at first, but AzPhil noted that he’s been shagging some flyballs in LF. Canzler’s got to be hugely disappointed – he was actually fairly solid in Daytona last year, and getting forced aside at AA for Blake Lalli and perhaps Steve Clevenger, with an occasional Kyle Reynolds? Not a good sign for his future with us.

Nate Samson has a very average glove. Think … well think Theriot with Samson. The ability to play some short, but will never excel defensively at the spot. I do like him, though. Samson will likely handle 2nd this year more, while dabbling at short. He’s a disciplined hitter with limited power that will slap the ball around. I’ve been told that there are some expectations for a bit more power to potentially develop. His future, in a positive scenario, is more likely as a utility guy (if he makes it to the bigs).

Starlin Castro got the huge bump, and I’m just floored. Yes, all the tools are there to excel, but man … this is a huge bump. I know coming out of instructs, the Cubs were really high on Castro/Lake’s improvement, but man … this one just floored me. Considering the huge jump, considering the tougher pitching … I wouldn’t expect too much offensively. If he has a good offensive year, then he’ll jump into a legit top 100 talent. If he doesn’t, it’s not the worst thing.

Marwin Gonzalez is a guy I really, really am intrigued with, but not sure he’ll get enough AB’s to break out. Very toolsy kid who will be the utility guy (playing infield and outfield). He’s got a stroke that, with consistency, I wonder what could happen. Not saying he’s a breakout guy, as he won’t get the AB’s, but don’t be surprised if he suddenly grabs more PT than expected.

Colvin has been DH’ing in XST and will head to Daytona to do that. He may get in a game or two there in the OF, but he’ll probably handle DH most of the time. Expect him to get bumped up as soon as he can handle every day OF duty. Daytona is the right move, besides for the DH opportunity, due to weather. The warmer weather should help him.

The OF contains 2 former fairly high picks in Dylan Johnston and Drew Rundle. Johnston bulked up last year, and it really showed, as the power came across. But he got hurt midseason, limited his AB’s. He’s only 22, so ARL is fine, it’s just he’s been around for awhile. He has to strike out a lot less to realistically become a strong guy to watch, but keep an eye out. I know a lot of folks prefer Rundle much more to Johnston, but I don’t know if the gap is that big. Rundle does have the ability to spot in CF, but realistically, he’s a corner OF. The former overslot guy, 21, struggled for a long time before coming alive in the NWL. But … it’s the NWL and he was bolstered by a little run in July before struggling in August. Yes, I think he’s made improvements, and I’m hopeful he succeeds, as he could be a solid all-around bat, but I want to see more and I’m not holding my breath.

Wyatt was a guy that nearly made Tennessee out of spring last year, started at Daytona, struggled, got demoted, and after a hot streak in Peoria, wasn’t that good as the year progressed. The 24 year old Georgia Bulldog prospect is basically in a make or break year. A bad start … and while I wish the best for everyone, but a bad start and I won’t be surprised if he’s released.

Overall, the lineup looks alright. Expect Samson at the top of the order setting up what could be an excellent middle of the order for High A.

Pitching -

I’ve been touting Dan McDaniel … and I am SUPREMELY ecstatic that he’ll be given a shot to start. I’ve said this before, I think, but I am much more intrigued with McDaniel than I am with Cashner (now, I think Cashner is the better talent … don’t get me wrong on that) because I think McDaniel has a better shot to be a starter. He has a solid 3 pitch arsenal (fast/curve/change)and a developing slider. He runs it in there in the mid-90’s, although maybe he’ll dial it back a bit. You can always move him back to the pen … a power arm should be given a chance to start. He started a bit at Chabot. If it wasn’t for an injury, he might’ve gone much higher, as he had an average year at Chabot, so many thought he’d head to Oklahoma State. We were able to nab him in the 14th round and he became an overslot guy.

Marcos Mateo has some of the best stuff in the system, with a mid-90’s fastball and a hard slider that was more consistent last year. The key will be developing a change that allows him to deal with lefties. To think, we got him for Buck Coats. Don’t worry too much about his “basic numbers” – it’s a matter of seeing his changeup can improve, and that’s something we can’t really know (unless you go daily to Daytona games). Well, I guess the LH split against should be a good indicator, but it isn’t the end all. Short of it is, I guess I’m trying to say I wouldn’t be surprised with a quick bump.

James Leverton was an intriguing 8th round pick from Texas Tech. He was a former 1st/OF guy who’s bat didn’t develop,and moved to pitching. Thus, he’s only in basically been fulltime pitching for a few years. The lefty’s upside is intriguing, and I remember people said he had a loose arm, in a positive way. He runs it in the high 80’s, low 90’s on the fastball. If he can consistently sit in the low 90’s, that’d be really nice. He has a nice circle change coupled, I think, with a 12-6 curve that he picked up this past year. The Cubs are being aggressive with him, so watch him. This might turn out to be overaggressive, but there’s something they like, and for good reasons, as they did with James Russell last year. He really fits nicely with the mold of pitching that Wilken took for us last year.

Searle had excellent performance, and the Cubs must’ve really liked something to be this aggressive, but there was that bad report from BA that really bugged me. At his best, Searle throws high 80’s/low 90’s on the fastball. I think he throws a slider, but I could be having a bad memory. But there was a report on how he wasn’t in the best shape (it was in a Q&A for BA) and how he had makeup issues (again, BA, I’m pretty sure). The arm is intriguing, that’s for sure, and maybe something clicked for him.

Jake Muyco just couldn’t hit, and the Cubs moved him to pitching, where he’s done fine as a pen arm. He’ll sit in the low 90’s, but considering the recent transition, there’s hope he can inch it up a bit. His slider/change are still developing (slider, I think, is ahead of the change). He’s somewhat similar to Blake Parker (another former catcher) as both attack hitters. Muyco should have pretty solid control, so he may be a pen prospect to keep an eye out on. He’s more of a 7th inning type, imo, if he makes it up, unless his fastball jumps some more.

Williamson is the arm we got in the Pie trade. I haven’t thought about him since the trade. IIRC, he is a good athlete with I think, a low-mid 90’s fastball and a decent curve. The Orioles used him as primarily a pen arm, and that’s probably what we’ll do. Vento was a 2007 23rd round pick who has a live fastball that sits is in the low-mid 90’s. He was Peoria’s closer last year. The secondary stuff needs to get better for him to have a shot (slider?). Sommer was a 30th round pick from San Francisco. He was also a collegiate kid who played 2-way, and I believe he started as an OF for us off the top right now. There were good character reports on the kid. I think the lefty is a high 80’s 2 seamer guy with a solid curve and a usable change who showed good control last year.

Sasser was the 21st round pick from East Carolina in 2007. The lefty has had some control issues. IIRC, he’s had Tommy John. I don’t recall what his breaking ball is off the top, but I know his fastball runs in the low 90’s with decent movement. Craig Muschko, a LaSalle product, was our 22nd round pick in 2007. He was a solid pen arm in Peoria in 2008. He throws hard – mid-90’s, and I think he’s touched the upper 90s. Has a decent slider/change combinatin (actually slider is probably ahead of the change). I’d be mildly curious about him starting, but I don’t expect it.

Let’s see, I don’t know much off the top about Alburquerque other than a low 90’s fastball that touches mid-90’s. Odd, you’d think a name like that would stand out. Dolis is a hard throwing big righty coming off TJ. Weight is a concern for Dolis. He can run it up there in the mid-90’s, but he’s got to be more consistent. I think he throws a slider, but I could be wrong, and even if I’m wrong, I don’t think his breaking ball was reported to be much good. David Cales is a smallish righty, our 24th round pick in 2008, born in Illinois (White Sox fan, though), went to University of Missouri for school. He had a decent start to his career last year, and the Cubs were aggressive. 3-quarter delivery, IIRC, and a low 90’s fastball mixed with a solid slider and a change that he throws in once in awhile.

The one name I’ve been trying to figure out in the last day or so is where Jordan Latham is. some suggested he was waived, but supposedly he isn’t. He was an intriguing pen prospect, one of our last DNF’s, good fastball, strong slider, that had a solid year out of the pen. There was some thought we might try to start him. Here’s hoping things are okay for the kid.

As OO noted in another thread, Cashner is still rehabbing from an oblique injury. I’d guess Daytona would be the first pitstop when he comes back.

I think this team can compete in the FSL again. The rotation could be solid, coupled with what appears to be a strong pen.

that Robert Hernandez failed to make it to fullseason. That’s a huge disappointment, considering how promising he was 2 years ago in Peoria.

Jordan Latham is another name that disappeared that I haven’t heard why, along with Justin Sellers.