Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 11

The US Team crushed the World team 9-1 in the annual Futures Game in Anaheim this afternoon. Brett Jackson started for the US team and was 0 for 1 with a strikeout and walk. He was picked off first base on a spectacular throw by Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario. Lee came as advertised. He was 1 for 2 with a slap opposite field single into the gap in left center. He turned a nice 3-6-3 double play but also made an error and hesitated to throw to first on a groundball which led to a single. 

Your choice for the number 20 prospect is infielder Logan Watkins. Watkins is having a rough season in Peoria this year, but you apparently believe in his ability. He's certainly still young enough that he can turn it around. He's certainly a favorite of mine just for the attitude he takes onto the field.

When I started this, I planned to only go to 20 prospects. It's getting harder and harder for me to decide who to throw onto the list and while I'm sure some of us would find the "Rebel Ridling versus Justin Bour" debate interesting, ultimately we're going to be reaching a smaller and smaller audience. Certainly the number of votes in the polls have fallen off dramatically in the past couple of days. Besides, if we went any further we'd have to put Michael Brenly up for a vote and then Bob would tell everyone on WGN to vote for Michael and it would crash the SBNation servers.

So I'm going to end the voting after today's bonus vote for the honor of being prospect number 21.  I thank everyone who participated and hope that it's enlightened most of you a little bit on the Cubs prospects.  Of course, everyone is still encouraged to discuss the Cubs system and champion whichever prospects you like in the comments, whether they were voted on or not.

So entering the final vote is left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley. Raley was a sixth-round last year that got a major overslot bonus of $750,000, which is around what a sandwich round pick might get. Raley was a rare sophomore-eligible player, so the Cub were buying him out of two years of college rather than one.  Raley was a two-way player at Texas A&M and he hasn't really concentrated solely on pitching until signing with the Cubs. He's got four solid pitches and projects out to a #3 or #4 starter in the majors. So far this season he's struggled with consistency. His 4-6 record with a 4.92 ERA doesn't look too good, but it's the result of several good games combined with several games where he got shelled. The hope is that by concentrating just on pitching, he'll eventually develop the consistency needed to cut down on those bad games. Also, he's plenty fast so he could be a valuable pinch-runner one day too.

Iowa Cubs

A two-run walkoff home run by Brad Snyder in the bottom of the tenth put the Iowa Cubs over the top of New Orleans Zephyrs, 2-1.

Thomas Diamond started and pitched only three innings and 42 pitches. He gave up only one hit and faced only one batter over the minimum before getting pulled. He struck out one. I assume Diamond was pulled because he's scheduled to go in the AAA All-Star Game on Wednesday, but with the rumors of him getting a spot start in Chicago, I can't rule that out either.

The game was tied 0-0 going into extras (just like the World Cup!) until Scott Maine allowed a solo home run in the top of the 11th. Maine just pitched the one inning and struck out the other three batters he faced. Unlike the I-Cubs, the Netherlands did not strike back with two goals after Spain scored, however.

Snyder's home run was his 12th on the season. He was 2 for 5. Shortstop Darwin Barney had doubled and scored on the Snyder blast. Barney was 3 for 5.

First baseman Bryan LaHair was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

Day off.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs beat the Clearwater Threshers, 8-7 behind three home runs in the seventh inning.

Starter Chris Rusin had a rough day, allowing four runs on five hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Jeffrey Beliveau pitched two innings, but gave up a two-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game. Beliveau got the win when the D-Cubs came back in the top of the ninth. He fanned four.

James Leverton threw a perfect ninth inning for his first save. He struck out one.

Left fielder Greg Rohan, making his first start for Daytona after his promotion, got the first homer of the four-run seventh. Rohan was 2 for 4 with just the one run scored and one RBI. Then right fielder Smaily Borges went back-to-back with his fifth tater of the year. Borges went 2 for 4 with a triple. He scored twice and had the one RBI.

After a pitching change and one out, shortstop Junior Lake went deep for the third time this year. Lake went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

DH DJ LeMahieu was 3 for 4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

Rained out. DH tomorrow.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were made to feel worthless by the Eugene Emeralds, 9-4.

Austin Kirk started and went 4.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Daniel Keefe had a rough eighth inning. He last only a third of an inning, but he allowed three hits and walked two. All five runners came around to score.

First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 3 with a double.

AZL Cubs

Did not play.