Kohl Franklin – Picture by Nick Grant

This post came around pretty quickly. It is a little hard to believe that eight games have passed since opening weekend and yet here we are. It’s still very early in the season, so don’t expect a lot of snap judgments, but there are some trends that are happening along with some news I will take a look at it over the next two days. Today will be the more newsy side of the system. Tomorrow will check out who’s hot at each affiliate to start the season.

The Big News of the Week

Kohl Franklin left Saturday’s Iowa Cub game in some serious pain. Little is known at this point about his injury. It could be anything from muscle, bone, tendon, or ligament. A lot can go wrong and we won’t know for a few days. All of us here at North Side Bound wish him well and hope he has a speedy recovery.

In just 6 innings, Kohl was off to a great start has he had not allowed a run yet this year and looked to be fulfilling his promise. I, as a fan, am prepared for the worst but I am still hoping for the best.

Pipeline News

Let’s go to MLB Pipeline.

They published an article about the top 10 teams in all of the minor leagues. The Cubs placed two in the top 10 and were the only organization to do so. The Tennessee Smokies came in number two, and rightly so, while the Iowa Cubs were at the 10 spot. Here is what Pipeline said about the loaded Smokies team at number two: 

As a system, the Cubs boast six Top 100 prospects, the most in baseball. It stands to reason that one of their affiliates would also lead the way in Top 100 prospects on a single team, and that happens to be Tennessee with four in Cade Horton (MLB No. 24), Matt Shaw (No. 50), Kevin Alcántara (No. 60) and James Triantos (No. 68). That’s a promising mix of a club ace (Horton) and three legit bats (Shaw, Alcántara, Triantos). Cubs’ No. 7 prospect Moises Ballesteros also got some Top 100 consideration as a bat-first catcher as he heads to the Southern League for his age-20 season, and Michael Arias (CHC No. 12) gives the Smokies another arm with three above-average pitches.

And then there was this from Pipeline as well.

The Rosario Buzz in Mesa

It appears OF Alfonsin Rosario is drawing rave reviews for his power, athleticism, and defense out in Extended Spring Training. Here is what Arizona Phil said about him in a comment.

Alfonsin Rosario probably should be included among the Cubs Top 30 prospects, I would say. It’s not just the HR power, but he also has a plus-arm that’s good enough for RF, the range to play CF, and the speed to steal bases and score from 1st on a double and from 2nd on a single. (Alfonsin’s older brother Eguy is an infielder with the San Diego Padres, so he’s got MLB bloodlines, too). 

That is some pretty good hype for a kid just beginning his first full year of baseball and is still only 19.

And with that hype comes pressure.

For me, I just want to see him play. I am in no rush to get him to Myrtle Beach. Let him go at it in Mesa, develop, and dominate there.

In Case You Missed It

The South Bend Cubs have a new alternate jersey in powder blue that I kind of dig. They wore it last Sunday in Davenport. I always thought a red alternate to go with the red SB cap would look really cool as well.

Transactions This Week

Normally, April is a pretty quiet time except for injury moves. Not this year. The Cubs have been pretty busy the first couple weeks of the season moving guys around in part to poor performance at the major league level as well as some guys getting healthy in Arizona and getting back into full season action. Here are the additions for each team.

Iowa – Kohl Franklin and Porter Hodge moved up from Tennessee. Jameson Taillon is doing a rehab stint, OF David Peralta is now healthy and was added. Keegan Thompson and Daniel Palencia went to the majors while Jose Cuas came down. Brennen Davis went off to South Bend to begin his rehab. Walker Powell and David Bote were both placed on the 7-Day IL.

Tennessee – They lost Hodge and Franklin. Matt Thompson was a yo-yo as he went up to Iowa and back down in a week. The now healthy Felix Stevens was sent to Tennessee to begin the year.

South Bend – With Stevens and Davis in tow, the Cubs lineup now looks a little different. Unfortunately, pitcher Grant Kipp went on the 7-Day IL while Luis Devers was officially activated after getting healthy in Arizona. Joe Nahas went up and back down to Iowa for just two days.

Myrtle Beach – Pitcher Jeral Vizcaino joined the club along with catcher Frank Hernandez. David Avitia went on the IL along with Nazier Mule. I am not sure why the Mule move did not happen sooner as he stayed in Arizona when spring training ended.

Poll of the Week

We will talk about Mr. Preciado some more tomorrow in “The Breakdown!”

Draft Prep

For the past couple of years, at this point of the season, I’ve normally put out a five round mock draft . I’ve been pretty busy lately with Scholastic Bowl. I also stepped up to do the ACES competition, formally known as WYSE, where one of my students got third place in state in computer science. I thought that was a pretty good day. But I digress…

Anyway, I am close to rounding out the outline for my five round mock draft. In other words, I have rounds one through four done and I just need to select a fifth round pick. The next step will actually be adding some quotes, and some video before I publish it. That article will probably come out next week as I will be in Beloit for four of the next six games. 

As for who I picked, it’s going to be different from my 3.5 rounder from earlier this spring except at the top. I will still roll with Dakota Jordan. He is a pure monster at the plate. So, selections 2 through 5 are going to change a lot.

Look for that post in the future!

Coming up on North Side Bound.

Outside of “The Breakdown,” I’m not sure what’s going be coming out next. I have a couple articles that are not fully written. Maybe I will get to them today or Tuesday. 

Currently, there are no plans to do a daily recap post yet. I am actually enjoying not having to stress about getting that done every school night. I’m thinking there may be something once school gets done and that will probably be more of a preview than a recap. It would come out in the middle of the afternoon and go over last night’s action and preview the games that night or afternoon. And it would also include any transactions for the day. We shall see.

Jam of the Week

Drama by Yes might be one of the most underrated albums of all-time. If you love bass guitar, this album is a master class in rhythm from Chris Squire. Every song is just brilliant including this one, “Tempus Fugit.”