Well, a lot has changed since the Arizona Fall League Rosters were announced on August 27th. Javier Baez is no longer on the roster because of both physical and mental exhaustion after a long season in which he hit .282, 37 HR, 111 RBI in 130 games. Baez played in last years Arizona Fall League, so he didn’t have much of an off-season last year. Arodys Vizcaino was also replaced on the roster, so the Cubs staff can keep a closer look on his rehabilitation from Tommy John Surgery in the Instructional League. Replacing Baez and Vizcaino are IF Wes Darvill and P Lendy Castillo. 

For a recap of the Roster and Overview of the League take a look at my prior blog post: http://chicagocubsprospects.mlblogs.com/2013/08/27/arizona-fall-league-rosters-announced/

 

With the AFL Opening Day on Tuesday, I’m going to preview each player representing the Cubs on the Mesa Solar Sox roster. I’ll begin with the Pitchers:

Dallas Beeler: A 41st round draft pick in 2010 is on the roster to give the Cubs a last look to see if he should be added to the 40 man roster. Beeler will be Rule V Draft eligible for the first time this off-season. The 24-year old RH Pitcher has spent the last 2 season with the Double-A, Tennessee Smokies. Due to an injury this year he was limited to only 54.2 IP, in 9 starts. He ended with a 4-2 record with a 3.13 ERA. Beeler struck out 35 batters while walking 19, hitters hit .214 off of him.  Beeler has an injury history and in 2010 he had Tommy John Surgery. After the 2011 season he was ranked as the Cubs #12 prospect according to Baseball America and also had the best control in the organization. In 2012 his stock declined after posting a 2-6 record with a 4.24 ERA. He also gave up 166 hits in 136 innings. Beeler is a big guy who stands at 6’5 and weighs in at 205, and could help the Cubs out of the bullpen in the future. 

Lendy Castillo: Was selected in the Rule V Draft in 2011 from the Philadelphia Phillies. This was only his 4th year pitching as he is a converted infielder after 3 seasons in the Phillies organization. Castillo had a rough major league season in which he posted a 7.88 ERA, giving up 24 hits, in 16 IP. He struck out 13 batters and walked 12 out of the bullpen. This year the lanky RH pitcher split time between the Low-A Kane County Cougars and Single-A Advanced Daytona Cubs. The 24-year old was 4-5 with a 5.87 ERA in 84.1 IP, giving up 99 H, 76 Ks, 39 BBs. Castillo started 5 games this year for Kane County but he projects more as a reliever in the future. He is still young especially considering he has only pitched for 4 years, the AFL will give the Cubs a good look and Castillo along with helping him develop as a pitcher against some top prospects in the league. 

Matt Loosen: A 23rd round draft pick in 2010 was the FSL pitcher of the week twice this year after throwing a no hitter for the Daytona Cubs. Loosen is eligible for the Rule V Draft and the AFL stands as a testing ground to see if he deserves protection on the 40 man roster. Loosen who is 24 and stands at 6’2 205, is a RH pitcher who had a strange season in 2013. Loosen dominated the FSL to the tune of a 5-2 record and a 1.83 ERA. Loosen has 2 Complete Game Shutouts in his 9 starts and struck out 56 batters in 54 IP and only allowing 17 walks. Loosen had trouble though in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies where he was 3-3 with a 6.14 ERA. He struck out 60 batters in 66 IP, but showed control issues by walking 48 batters. His line between the 2 teams was: 8-5, 4.28 ERA, 120 IP, 95 H, 116 K, 65 BB. Baseball America projects him as having a #4 starter ceiling. I am looking forward to see how his stuff plays in the AFL after having success in the FSL and struggling in the Southern League. 

Armando Rivero: The Cubs Signed Rivero to a $3.1 M signing bonus earlier this year after he defected from Cuba. The 25 year old made it all the way to Double-A Tennessee this year. The AFL will serve as more time for Rivero to develop because he only threw 30.1 innings this year. Rivero split time between the Kane County Cougars, Daytona Cubs, and Tennessee Smokies this year. He made 20 appearances out of the bullpen and posted a 4.15 ERA. He struck out 45 batters in those 30 IP while walking 12! Rivero projects to help out the bullpen in 2014 and his $3.1 M signing bonus shows what the Cubs think of him, that is a lot of money for an international prospect. Since he was signed as a 25 year old he wasn’t subject to the international spending limits.