Chicago Cubs 2018 minor league awards
Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Cory Abbott
Level(s): low-A South Bend, high-A Myrtle Beach
Stats: 8-6, 22 GS, 115 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 39/131 BB/K
Righty Cory Abbott was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft out of Loyola Marymount after throwing a perfect game in his draft season. Abbott did not show well in his draft season, showing wear from his collegiate season, so the Chicago Cubs were cautious with his innings in the 2018 season.
Abbott worked on his slider before his final year of college and developed a hard, biting slider that is near the same velocity as his low-90s fastball, working in the upper-80s. Abbott worked on his change coming into 2018 and throughout the season, and that improved third pitch could give him a solid chance as a mid-rotation starter. He will open 2019 in AA and work to build his innings.
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Runners-up
Drafted in the 9th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 out of Dartmouth, 6’6″ righty Duncan Robinson has been leaning on his hard stuff low in the zone during his career thus far. His strikeout rate isn’t great, but he’s been able to handle heavy innings and could be a backend starter quickly, likely opening in Iowa in 2019. He combined in AA and AAA in 2018 for a 3.11 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 24/119 BB/K ratio over 141 2/3 innings.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Matt Swarmer in the 19th round in 2016 out of small Kutztown University. He struggled in 2017, but earned his way into a full-time starting gig by the end of the season. He spent the whole 2018 season in the rotation between high-A and AA, tossing 128 2/3 innings, allowing a 3.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 21/135 BB/K ratio over the season. He could open 2019 in AAA.
A big, 6’5″ righty from California Baptist, Tyson Miller has moved step-by-step through the Chicago Cubs system, pitching in low-A in 2017 and high-A in 2018. He tossed 127 innings for Myrtle Beach with a 3.54 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 35/126 BB/K ratio. He will take that next step to AA in 2019.
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Though the Chicago Cubs do not have a great minor league system, do not underestimate the ability for the Cubs to find production from some of the less-heralded minor leaguers and work their way back to the top in 2019!