Geuri Lubo belted a game-tying solo HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs and Rockies played to a 3-3 tie in Arizona Instructional League game action Friday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
SP Luis Devers and five relievers combined to hurl a two-hitter (both hits were singles), but four errors, five walks, and three WP helped the Rockies score three runs that erased an early 2-0 Cub lead.
SP Juan Bello tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, Zyhir Hope singled leading off the game and scored on a bases-loaded 4-6-3 DP, Drew Bowser crushed a towering solo HR in the 2nd, Adan Sanchez and Carter Trice belted back-to-back home runs with two outs in the 4th, and Sanchez, Trice, Bowser (RBI), and Reggie Preciado stroked consecutive singles, Jose Escobar drew a walk with the bases loaded to force-in a run, a third run scored on a 6-4-3 DP, and Zyhir Hope roped a two-out single to right to plate the fourth and final run of the
Skyler Messinger laced a double and an RBI single and scored a run, Bryant Betancourt and Jesus Bugarin each drilled a two-run single, and Andy Perez singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, helping the Rockies edge the Cubs 5-4 in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.
Geuri Lubo belted a solo HR and Zyhir Hope reached base four times (two singles, an E-4, and an HBP), stole a base, and scored two runs for the Cubs.
Geuri Lubo singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another, Josh Rivera laced an RBI double, and Luis Devers, Alfredo Romero, and Yenrri Rojas combined to hurl a two-hitter, helping the Cubs defeat the Diamondbacks 4-1 in Arizona Instructional League game action Saturday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
The game was called after seven innings of play.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
AZIL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Leonel Espinoza, CF: 0-2 (F-8, K, 2-3 SH, F-8 SF, RBI)
Kenny Castillo blasted a three-run HR in the bottom of the 1st, Alexander Benua hammered an RBI triple and scored in the 1st, walked in the 3rd, singled, stole two bases, and scored a run in the 6th, and singled and scored in the 8th, Yerald Nin cracked a bases-loaded bases-clearing double in the 8th, and Juan Aparicio singled twice, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, as the Diamondbacks scored early and often en route to a 13-5 thrashing of the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsd
2023 CUBS ARIZONA INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER
LAST UPDATED: 9-12-2023
* bats or throws left
# bats both
50 players
NOTE: Not all players have reported
PITCHERS: 30
Juan Bello
* Daniel Brown
Garrett Brown
Raino Coran (ex-OF)
Nick Dean
Luis Devers
Kenten Egbert
Will Frisch
* Carlos Garcia
Landon Ginn
Dominic Hambley
Ty Johnson
Scarlyn Lebron
Shane Marshall (ex-C)
9/12 UPDATE:
The Cubs have released RHP Edwin Uceta.
He was claimed off waivers from the Mets on August 18th, and then was sent outright to AAA Iowa on 8/26.
He was eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA post-2023.
Christopher Paciolla blasted a two-run home run and Mason McGwire, Branden Noriega, and Luis A. Reyes combined to hurl a two-hit shutout, as the Cubs blanked the Giants 4-0 in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
Zyhir Hope led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a triple and scored, Alexis Hernandez collected two RBI singles, Geuri Lubo drilled an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, and SP Alfredo Romero tossed three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs defeated the Athletics 4-1 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Friday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
The Cubs are now 1-4 through their first five Instructs games.
Nate Nankill belted a solo home run, Nelson Beltran and Darlyn Montero stroked RBI singles, and SP Nathan Dettmer and four relievers combined to hurl a six-hit shutout, as the Athletics blanked the Cubs 6-0 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Thursday morning at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
Dario Laverde drilled an RBI double and a single, John Wimmer doubled, singled, and scored a run, Capri Ortiz singled twice and stole three bases, and SP Yendy Gomez hurled three innings of no run / no hit ball, leading the Angels to a 6-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" Labor Day game action Monday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
Yerald Nin drilled a two-run double, singled twice, and scored a run and Jakey Josepha singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in another, leading the Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Saturday morning on Whirlwind Field at Talking Stick at Salt River Fields, east of Scottsdale, AZ.
Batting RH versus a RHP, Reggie Preciado (no longer switch-hitting) clubbed a solo HR over the LF fence to account for one of the three Cub runs.
A club's Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st.
A club's Active List (26-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).
A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS).
Capri Ortiz doubled in the 1st, reached base on an error and scored in the 3rd, singled and scored in the 5th, hammered a two-run double in the 6th, and stroked a sacrifice fly in the 7th, Landon Wallace singled twice, doubled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Edgar Alfonso ripped three singles, scored three runs, and drove-in two more, John Wimmer doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, and Caleb Ketchup doubled, walked twice, and scored a run, helping the Angels batter the Cubs 19-7 in Arizona Instructional League Opening Day game action Wednesday morning on Field # 3 at t
CUBS 2023 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS
DAY ONE (7/9)
1st ROUND (13)
Matt Shaw, SS
R/R, 5'11 185, age 21
U. of Maryland
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year... was also named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and won the Brooks Wallace Award as the top shortstop in college baseball (previous winners include Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, and Alex Bregman)... broke the Terrapins career HR record in just three seasons... average exit velo was 107 (albeit with a metal bat)... hit 341/445/697 with 24 HR & 69 RBI, 20 doubles, and 80 runs scored in 62 games (317 PA), with more walks than strikeouts (43 BB and 42 K), plus eight HBP... 14% walk-rate and 14% K-rate... has above-average speed... 18 stolen bases (only one CS) in 2023... began college career as a second-baseman before moving to shortstop as a sophomore... has a below-average arm and so he projects to be a second-baseman or possibly a left-fielder in pro ball... played for Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League (top summer collegiate summer wood bat league) in 2022, hit 333/421/485, and was named Cape Cod League Player of the Year...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $4,848,500
2nd ROUND (N/A)
NOTE: Cubs 2023 2nd ROUND pick was forfeited after signing Qualified Player Dansby Swanson
2nd ROUND / COMPENSATION PICK (68)
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP
R/R, 6'6 225, age 21
U. of Arkansas
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Missed 2023 season after undergoing right elbow UCL transplant (TJS) in May... repertoire includes FB 94-95 T-97, a mid-80's SL, a CH, and a 12-6 CV... touched triple digits with his FB as a reliever (part-time closer) as a freshman at Arkansas in 2021 and again later that year with Team USA... was the Saturday (#2) starter behind Cubs 2022 9th round pick RHP Connor Noland in his sophomore year (2022) at Arkansas, but had a disappointing season, going 6-3 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, allowing 65 hits (including 11 HR), .253 OppBA, with 43/82 BB/K, seven HBP, and 12 WP, in 66.0 IP... however, he was projected to be the Razorbacks #1 SP in 2023 after showing improved command & control in fall practice... played baseball and basketball in HS (Roland, OK)...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,101,000
NOTE: Compensation Draft pick was awarded after St. Louis Cardinals signed Qualified Player Willson Contreras
DAY TWO (7/10)
3rd ROUND (81)
Josh Rivera, SS
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22
U. of Florida
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: 1st Team All-SEC... one of the top-rated college seniors in the draft... was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (top college shortstop)... hit only 254/351/429 with nine HR in 2022 and was not drafted as a junior, but then hit 348/447/617 with 19 HR & 72 RBI, 18 SB (4 CS), and more walks than strikeouts (46 BB and 35 K - 15% BB-rate and 11% K-rate) for Gators in 2023... is an above-average defensive SS... has only average speed, but he is an above-average baserunner with a high baseball IQ... played for Chatham in the Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) after sophomore season in 2021 and hit 248/318/325... was drafted by Padres out of IMG Academy in 22nd round in 2019 but did not sign...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $872,400
4th ROUND (113)
Will Sanders, RHP
L/R, 6'6 230, age 21
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Was the Gamecocks #1 (Friday) starter in 2022 when he went 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, allowing 84 hits (14 HR), with 31/91 BB/K, in 89.1 IP... was projected as a potential top half of 1st round pick coming into 2023 season, but stock dropped after disappointing season that ended with a season-ending foot injury... went 4-4 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, allowing 54 hits (11 HR), with 26/77 BB/K in 62.2 IP in 2023 before season ended early... throws from a 3/4 arm slot and features a 92-94 MPH T-98 FB that was battered by college hitters in 2023 (opponent OPS over 1.000), but he gets swing & miss with his CV... CH is his best pitch... was named to SEC All-Freshmen Team and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team in 2021.. was a reliever and teammate of Cubs 2nd round (compensation) pick Jaxon Wiggins with Team USA after freshman season in 2021... was named an Under Armour All-American at Woodward Academy senior year in HS...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $591,800
5th ROUND (149)
Michael Carico, C
L/R, 6'0 190, age 20
Davidson
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Was rated the consensus #2 college catching prospect coming into the 2023 season, but season was cut-short after 21 games after he suffered a season-ending broken wrist in March... was hitting 350/514/688 with seven HR and six doubles at the time of his injury... led NCAA D-1 in OBP and HBP in 2022 when he hit 406/559/843 with 21 HR & 57 RBI, 21 doubles, 46 BB and 35 K, and 26 (!) HBP in 54 games (272 PA)... won an ABCA / Rawlings Gold Glove and was named an ABCA / Rawlings and Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American and Baseball America Third Team All-American in 2022... hit 263/482/447 for Rochester in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... was invited to Team USA training site in 2022 but did not make the final roster after too much swing & miss versus high-velo FB while facing quality "live" pitching... has a high-angle uppercut swing, and an average arm from behind the plate...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $416,900
6th ROUND (176)
Alfonsin Rosario, OF
R/R, 6'2 210, age 19
P27 Academy (Lexington, SC)
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Chipola JC
COMMENT: Native of Dominican Republic... has above average speed, a plus-plus arm, plus bat speed, raw HR power, and lots of swing & miss... throw from outfield was clocked at 101 MPH at Perfect Game National Showcase in 2022... brother Eguy is an infielder in Padres organization...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $325,600
7th ROUND (206)
Yahil Melendez, SS
L/R, 6'3 165, age 17
B You Academy (Caguas, PR)
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Rice
COMMENT: Rated the second best SS prospect and the sixth best prospect overall out of Puerto Rico in 2023 draft by Perfect Game...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $254,500
8th ROUND (236)
Brett Bateman, CF
L/L, 5'10 170, age 21
U. of Minnesota
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Was named Golden Gophers MVP in 2023... high-contact "singles hitter," lead-off man, and centerfielder... has above-average speed but absolutely no HR power... hit 320/404/373 with no HR, 22 doubles, 61 BB & 58 K, 42 SB (12 CS) in 127 games (556 PA) over the course of three seasons at Minnesota... hit 332/412/386, 29 BB & 18 K, with 26 SB (2 CS) in 58 games (234 PA) in two seasons (2021-22) playing for Willmar in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league)... is presently hitting 500/519/587 in 13 games (53 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League... was named 2nd Team All Big Ten in 2023... Academic All Big Ten in 2022... father is a college baseball coach...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $203,600
9th ROUND (266)
Jonathon Long, 1B
R/R, 6'0 210, age 21
Long Beach State
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: 2nd Team All Big West in 2023... hit 317/408/543 with 26 HR & 105 RBI, 32 doubles, and 65 BB and 117 K in 132 games (576 PA) over the course of three seasons at The Beach... has below-average speed... hit a disappointing 197/296/239 with no HR, one double, and one triple, with 18 K in 32 games (83 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... played 3B at Orange HS...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $179,400
10th ROUND (296)
Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP
R/R, 6'2 170, age 20
Temple CC
JC SOPH
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COMMIT (TRANSFER): Angelo State (D-2)
COMMENT: Went 7-4 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP, allowing 46 hits (three HR), with 29/56 BB/K, in 63.2 IP (15 G - 13 GS -3 CG) for Leopards in 2023... features a 92-97 FB, a 79-83 SLURVE, and a low-80's SPLIT... was 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing 30 hits (one HR), with 20/76 BB/K in 56 IP (14 G - 5 GS) for Fort McMurray in WCBL (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... spent freshman year at San Bernardino Valley JC, going 5-4 with a 6.90 ERA, allowing 55 hits (two HR) in 45.2 IP for the Wolverines, but despite the high ERA he was named to ACMD All Conference 2nd team... will transfer to Angelo State if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $168,300
DAY THREE (7/11)
NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $150,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP).
11th ROUND (326)
Zyhir Hope, CF
L/L, 6'0 193, age 18
Colonial Forge HS (Stafford, VA)
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina
COMMENT: One of the fastest players in the draft... also has a plus-arm... lefty hitter with a line drive-stroke... lots of swing & miss in his game right now... has indicated a strong desire to play college ball and he will enroll at the University of North Carolina if he does not sign with Cubs, so Cubs will probably have to offer a bonus well in excess of $150,000 to sign him away from UNC.
12th ROUND (356)
Carter Trice, 2B-OF
R/R, 6'0 200, age 20
North Carolina State
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Spent first two years at Old Dominion before transferring to NC State... played 2B, RF, and LF (mostly RF) at ODU.. was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, a 2nd team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a first-team Freshman All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in 2021 and helped lead the Monarchs to the Conference USA Championship by hitting 358/431/642 with 14 HR & 54 RBI, 17 doubles, and 28/59 BB/K in 57 games (261 PA) ... played for Team USA in 2021 but hit only .056 with one HR and a 39% K-rate... transferred to NC State after his sophomore year, hitting a disappointing 248/348/479 with only six HR in 41 games as a part-time LF for the Wolf Pack in 2023... makes hard contact but also has a lot of swing & miss in his game... played two summers (2021-22) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (collegiate summer wood bat league) and hit only 218/280/324 with just one HR in 84 PA combined over the two seasons...
13th ROUND (386)
Sam Armstrong, RHP
R/R, 6'2 245, age 22
Old Dominion
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Friday night (#1) starter at ODU in 2023... went 9-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, allowing 69 hits (seven HR), with 28/72 BB/K in 77.0 IP (15 G - 15 GS) for the Monarchs in 2023... is currently pitching for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) and has allowed only one hit & one run in 10 IP with 13 K... spent freshman and sophomore years at County College of Morris (JC) in New Jersey...
14th ROUND (416)
Grayson Moore, RHP
B/R, 6'3 215, age 22
Vanderbilt
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Bullpen guy (mostly) for Commodores... went 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, allowed 51 hits (9 HR), with 29/81 BB/K in 59.0 IP (33 games - only 3 GS) over the course of three seasons at Vandy... also has played some outfield in his college career... pitched for Wareham in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, threw 19.1 IP and allowed only 12 hits (no HR), while walking six and striking out 25, and was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team... speaks fluent Spanish and is a member of the National Honor Society...
15th ROUND (446)
Ty Johnson, RHP
R/R, 6'6 205, age 21
Ball State
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Valuable swing-man workhorse (47 games - 28 GS) for the past three seasons... went 15-8 with a 5.39 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, allowing 135 hits (20 HR), with 70/179 BB/K (11.4 K/9), in 157.0 IP for the Cardinals 2021-23 (combined)... pitched for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, and went 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA, allowing 15 hits (two HR), with 15/19 BB/K in 21.2 IP...
16th ROUND (476)
Daniel Brown, LHP
L/L, 6'3 200, age 20
Campbell
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Converted outfielder... Hasn't pitched much at Campbell (four games), but when he has pitched he has displayed a 100+ MPH FB and has been literally unhittable... struck out the side 1-2-3 for the only three outs he recorded this season, but unfortunately he has also walked nine with four WP (albeit no hits allowed) in his other three outings...
17th ROUND (506)
Ethan Flanagan, LHP
L/L, 6'3 205, age 21
UCLA
COLLEGE SOPH
COMMENT: Draft-eligible sophomore... was named to Freshman All-American and PAC-12 All-Conference teams in 2022 when he went 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA & 1.28 WHIP, allowing 49 hits (six HR), with 28/76 BB/K (11.3 K/9) in 25 games (60.1 IP),.. attended Team USA training camp after his freshman season... missed start of the 2023 season with unspecified injury, then went 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA & 1.39 WHIP, allowing 28 hits (three HR) with 16/;31 BB/K in nine games (6 GS)... had TJS as a senior in high school which postponed his college entry by one year (which is why he is a draft-eligible sophomore)... features a 89-91 MPH T-94 FB with tremendous movement, a plus-CH, a SL, and a CV...
18th ROUND (536)
Brian Kalmer, 3B
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22
Gonzaga
COLLEGE SR (REDSHIRT JR)
COMMENT: Began his career at hometown Arizona State but didn't play much, so he transferred to Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Illinois... he was named NJCAA National Player of the Year in his one year playing JC ball, as he led the Warriors to the NJCAA World Series... then he transferred to Gonzaga as a junior redshirt, and hit 358/454/682, with 15 HR & 51 RBI, 16 doubles, and 36 walks and 56 strikeouts, in 52 games (240 PA) for the Zags in 2023... he has plus-power to all fields, but he also has lots of swing & miss in his game (23% K-rate in 2023)... a below-average defender at 3B, Kalmer projects as a first-baseman in pro ball...
19th ROUND (566)
Nick Dean, RHP
R/R, 6'3 180, age 22
U. of Maryland
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: College teammate of Cubs 1st round pick Matt Shaw... a reliable hurler who made all of his scheduled starts, Dean pitched in 43 games (all 43 as a SP) in his college career... was the Terrapins #3 (Sunday) starter in both 2021 and 2022 before getting promoted to the #2 (Saturday) slot in 2023... went 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA & 1.47 WHIP in 2023, while allowing 78 hits (13 HR), with 32/77 BB/K in 74.2 IP (15 games - 15 GS)... the 2023 ERA and WHIP were the highest (worst) of his career (his best season was 2021), as his performance has declined steadily each season... features a 90-93 MPH FB, a swing & miss CH, a slurvy SL and a slow CV...
20th ROUND (596)
Drew Bowser, 3B
R/R, 6'4 225, age 21
Stanford
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: High school teammate of Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong at Harvard-Westlake HS in L. A... played SS, was a three-time team captain, won the Perfect Game High School All American Classic Home Run Challenge at Petco Field in San Diego in 2018, was named a Perfect Game High School All-American in 2019, and played for Team USA 18-U in 2019 and helped lead his team to a silver medal at the WBCA World Cup in South Korea... he was projected to be a potential Top 5 round pick coming out of HS in 2020 (the same year buddy PCA was drafted in the 1st round by the Mets), but he wasn't selected in the shortened (five round) CoViD draft, and so he honored his commitment to Stanford... he played both 2B and 3B at Stanford 2021-23, and hit 287/350/526 with 39 HR & 139 RBI, 38 doubles, and 64/196 BB/K in 175 games (754 PA) over the course of three seasons in Palo Alto... he also played two summers for Yarmouth in the Cape Cod League (2021 and 2022), but he hit only 181/278/234 with one HR and 36 K in 108 PA (33% K-rate) with a wood bat... he is a below-average runner with a plus arm and plus raw power, but the "hit tool" is well below average, and he has difficulty making contact...
Recent comments
crunch 09/24/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)
cubs win...so do MIA and CIN,. ARZ is close to winning (up by 6 in the 8th). total wash of a day.
off day tomorrow then it's the last week of baseball...not an easy one vs MIL and ATL. last-week drama...
crunch 09/24/2023 - 09:47 pm (view)
merryweather puts the first couple guys on with 0 outs...and smyly is up in the pen. back end of the pen situation is a mess.
crunch 09/24/2023 - 09:31 pm (view)
"Coming into the game, they were 0-819 when trailing by nine runs or more." damn.
Charlie 09/24/2023 - 09:48 am (view)
I wonder how many pitchers have missed this much time in a relatively short span with recurring forearm issues and not had it lead to surgery.
Cubster 09/24/2023 - 09:34 am (view)
Historic win for Pirates...
https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-mount-historic-rally-to-beat-reds?part…
Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:02 pm (view)
The deadline for trading players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and players who were outrighted to the minors after signing a 2023 MLB contract was August 1st, but trades involving players on a minor league reserve list are prohibited beginning at 12 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the 2023 MLB regular season (Sunday 9/24) through the last day of the MLB regular season (including a day on which a regular season game is played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).
Arizona Phil 09/24/2023 - 09:41 am (view)
jdrnym:
As you know, the abbreviation "DFA" stands for "Designated for Assignment."
There are three types of assignments:
1. Trade Assignment (when a player is traded from one MLB club to another)
2. Outright Assignment (when a player is sent to the club's minor league Domestic Reserve List after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured).
3. Optional Assignment (when a player is optioned to the minors, subject to being recalled at a later time).
So when a player is Designated for Assignment, the player can either be traded, outrighted to the minors, or optioned to the minors.
Normally a player is not Designated for Assignment and then optioned to the minors, because the club could just option the player to the minors immediately without a DFA.
Back in the day It was not that unusual for a player to be Designated for Assignment so that Optional Assignment Waivers could be secured (Optional Assignment Waivers were required before certain players could be optioned to the minors, and just like the old Trade Assignment Waivers, Optional Assignment Waivers were revocable if a player was claimed).
https://www.thecubreporter.com/why-player-designated-assignment-and-the…
Optional Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2016 and Trade Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2021, so all revocable waivers have been eliminated. What's left are Outright Assignment Waivers and Outright Release Waivers, and both are irrevocable (cannot be withdrawn) once requested.
With the new five option limit whereby a player can be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a given season before Outright Assignment Waivers must be secured (and it - IS - Outright Assignment Waivers that must be secured, even though it is for the purpose of an Optional Assignment), it now might be necessary for a club to DFA a player to clear a spot on the MLB 26-man roster (MLB 28-man roster in September) for another player and to allow for the two days (actually 47 hours) required to run a player through waivers. After the two day "Waiver Claiming Period" concludes (and presuming the player isn't claimed), the player can be returned to the MLB 40-man roster and optioned to the minors (even after being Designated for Assignment). But for that to happen, the player can - NOT - be replaced on the MLB 40-man roster by another player after being Designated for Assignment.
However, in the case of Jordan Luplow, he had - NOT - been optioned to the minors five times in the 2023 season prior to be optioned to AAA St. Paul on 9/18, so the Twins did not need to DFA Luplow in order to secure Outright Assignment Waivers so that he could be optioned to the minors a sixth time. But because he was Designated for Assignment and not replaced on the 40 by another player after the DFA, the Twins could return him to the 40 and option him to the minors even after he was Designated for Assignment, because an Optional Assignment is one of the three types of assignments.
So Luplow was Designated for Assignment even though he didn't need to be, and then the Twins returned him to their MLB 40-man roster and optioned him to the minors a couple of days later (which they can do, since Luplow wasn't replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment). What the Twins did (DFA Luplow and then return him to the 40 and option him to the minors a couple of days later) was within the rules. It's just very odd and doesn't make a lot of sense.
So I will offer what I believe is the most logical reason the Twins did this:
The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they intended to reinstate Chris Paddack from the 60-day IL, but then Carlos Correa suddenly needed to go on the 10-day IL and they recalled Trevor Larnach to replace Correa, but then they probably decided they should keep Luplow on the 40-man roster, too (and on Optional Assignment to AAA), and didn't want to risk losing him off waivers or by him electing free-agency after being outrighted. Luplow has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, so he would had the right to elect free-agency after he was outrighted). Clearly the Twins felt they might need Luplow's RH bat after losing Correa and with Royce Lewis having left a game with a hamstring injury that led to an IL assignment. And that meant that Paddack would remain on his minor league rehab assignment a few extra days, but the Twins will need him in the post-season, not now.
Also, if Luplow was outrighted instead of being optioned, he would no longer be automatically eligible to play in the post-season (except as a possible injury replacement).
Not only did Carlos Correa go on the IL, Royce Lewis went on the IL, too, two days after Correa went on the IL and two days after Luplow was optioned to AAA, so the Twins did in fact end up needing Luplow after all, and recalled him just a couple of days after he was optioned to replace Lewis on the MLB 28-man roster. (So both Larnach and Luplow were recalled within a couple of days of each other, replacing Correa and Lewis on the Twins MLB 28-man roster).
So that's all I've got. That is the only thing that makes sense. The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they had intended to replace him on the 40 with another player (probably Paddack) and hoped that they would be able to run him through waivers and that he wouldn't get claimed and that he would accept an Outright Assignment, but then they suddenly changed their minds because of the injury to Correa and the possibility that Lewis might also have to go on the IL (which did, in fact, happen the next day). Also, with the injuries to Correa and Lewis, the Twins wanted Luplow to remain automatically post-season eligible, which would not be the case if he was outrighted.
Again, the Twins were able to return Luplow to the 40 and option him to AAA because he hadn't been replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment.
crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:00 pm (view)
CIN out here blowing a 9-0 lead they built through 3 innings. 9-9 tie in the 7th.
crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:05 pm (view)
boxburger 10d IL, k.thompson back up. it's his right forearm (again).
crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)
merryweather got out of it, but he loaded the bases with 1 out. of course ross got cuas up in the pen...thankfully he didn't need to come in.
looks like cuas gets the 9th.