Today should be a light day in terms of player movement. I am not expecting much. Next week, though, should be quite the different story as the first half will be over. The organization will use that date as a marker to make changes. We could see lots of moves. When I roll into ABC Supply Stadium in Beloit on Tuesday the 28th, South Bend could have quite the different team. But for today…not so much. Or maybe not. You never know.
South Bend and Tennessee Pitching
Yovanny Cruz spoiled most of today’s big news as he beat everyone to the punch by posting his location last night as “South Bend, Indiana.” So, yeah, that should be fun to see this week!
There are several pitchers who are close to being ready including DJ Herz, Manny Espinoza, Jordan Wicks, and Joe Nahas. The issue with moving pitchers is you have to have a spot for them as well. That’s not really happening right now in Tennessee. Javier Assad is ready to go to Iowa and Danis Correa is also ready having allowed 1 ER the past seven weeks.
Myrtle Beach
I don’t see any moves interfering with their playoff run this week. Adam Laskey is more than ready and Luis Rodriguez probably should go with him to South Bend here in the next week. As for Alcantara and Triantos. I see no problem with letting them stay in Myrtle Beach another month or until the draft picks start coming aboard. Ezequiel Pagan, on the other hand, could move up next week. He’s been outstanding the last six weeks!
Other Position Players
Chase Strumpf is pushing the envelope pretty hard this month along with Matt Mervis in Tennessee. Darius Hill and Narciso Crook won’t stop hitting in Iowa. Yohendrick Pinango is just about ready at South Bend, but he might be the only one there close to moving up.
I did get to see Pete Crow-Armstrong throughout the week last week. He went from having a molded brace on his right forearm on Tuesday to just a wrap on Sunday. He also played catch and did some throwing just fine on Sunday in pre-game. I look for him to be back this week.
About the only major move might be a replacement for Reggie Preciado in Myrtle Beach who was in a big leg brace on his Instagram. That looks to be season ending at first glance.
The following moves were made on Saturday in case you missed them.
*LHP Didier Vargas assigned to ACL Cubs from South Bend Cubs.
*RHP Nicholas Padilla was placed on the Development List by Tennessee Smokies
*RHP Riley Thompson was activated off the Development List
*IF Reginald Preciado was placed on the 7-Day Injured List by Myrtle Beach
So, we shall see what happens today.
7:30 AM
The first official moves are in.
*SS Reivaj Garcia assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs. I like this move a lot. Reivaj is still fairly young at 20 but he seems like he has been around for a while.
*RHP Yovanny Cruz assigned to South Bend Cubs from ACL Cubs (confirmed by MiLB). This is going to be exciting to see whether he is used as a starter, piggyback, long reliever, or back end of the pen guy.
I will check in around noon with the next update.
10:30 AM
Catcher Casey Opitz was placed on the 7 Day IL by South Bend. Considering they are already carrying a Washer, Knight, and Aliendo, I do not expect a corresponding move.
2:30 PM
It’s pretty quiet out there. If something‘s going to happen, it’s probably gonna go down between four and five.
4 PM
Nothing new to report. Myrtle Beach just has the one transaction while South Bend and Tennessee have not added any more moves. Myrtle Beach has already put out their roster for tonight. It’s just a matter of waiting for South Bend and Tennessee to put out theirs.
