Chicago Cubs: Top 3 minor league players of the month

The Chicago Cubs have completed their draft and look to keep developing their prospects. Let’s look at three prospects who had the best month of June.

The month of June was an exciting one for the Chicago Cubs. In the first week, the team selected 40 new prospects in the 2019 MLB Draft. Highlighted by infielder Chase Strumpf, flamethrowers Michael McAvene and Ryan Jensen, and the best high school catching prospect in Ethan Hearn, the Cubs did well in addressing team needs and look for most of them to get going soon.

As for guys that are already in the system, let’s look at how each affiliate has been doing. The Iowa Cubs find themselves in a really unique spot. They are atop the Pacific Coast League American Northern division with a record of 45-35 but are 28-12 on the road.

Double-A Tennessee is 9.5 games back of first in the Southern League North division with an overall record of 38-39. They are recently on a four-game win streak and feature several promising position and pitching prospects.

High-A Myrtle Beach has been pretty bad, if I am being honest, this season. The sit in dead last of the Carolina League Southern division with an overall record of 24-51 and are 29.5 games back of first place. The team only has a couple of position prospects to watch in Aramis Ademan and Miguel Amaya.

And finally Single-A South Bend is just 7.0 games back of first place in the Midwest League Eastern division with a record of 40-35. There’s a lot to like in the Cubs lowest full season affiliate. With guys like Brennen Davis, Tyler Durna, Brailyn Marquez and Faustino Carrera, the South Bend Cubs have a lot going for them.

Let’s check out the top three prospects for the month of June.

1. Robel Garcia, 2B (Iowa)

Robel Garcia has been all the rage for the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate this season. In 24 games this month, he slashed 0.287/0.357/0.667 with 9 home runs and 17 RBI’s.

Garcia spent most of his career traveling the world playing for Team Italy and was discovered when they stopped to play an exhibition game in Mesa, Arizona. The Cubs liked what they saw and signed him on the spot.

He began this season in Double-A Tennessee and was promoted after just 22 games. Between the two affiliates, he’s slashing 0.295/0.375/0.618 with 21 home runs and 57 RBI’s.

With the recent struggles at second base for the big league club, Garcia is a perfect candidate to get called up soon.

2. Tyler Durna, 1B (South Bend)

Tyler Durna has been a relatively unknown name for the Chicago Cubs Single-A affiliate thus far. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of the University of California, San Diego.

He finished the 2018 season playing for short-season Eugene and in the Arizona Fall League. Between the two, he slashed 0.272/0.391/0.798 with 1 home run and 15 RBI’s.

The first basemen has been great for South Bend this season, and especially in the month of June. He slashed 0.364/0.443/0.545 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI’s in 22 games. Durna appears to be blocked by Anthony Rizzo for the time being so he could end up being a great trade piece one day.

3. Alex Lange, P (Tennessee)

Alex Lange was selected 30th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft out of LSU and finished his year in short-season Eugene. There he tossed just 9.1 innings and struck out 13 batters while walking just 3 batters. He spent all of 2018 with High-A Myrtle Beach, making 23 starts while striking out 101 batters and just 38 batters to the tune of a 3.74 ERA.

Lange had a rough start to the year with Myrtle Beach, but he was great in June. He made 4 starts split between High-A and Double-A while striking out 22 batters to just 6 walks.

His 2.52 ERA was the best among Cubs affiliates who tossed the most innings. This is excellent news for the Cubs as they look to develop pitchers. They’ve recently called up Adbert Alzolay who has been solid in two appearances.

It’s far too early to make a determination on Alzolay but it’s encouraging that they can rely on some of their young pitchers when they deal with injuries. Let’s hope these guys can stay hot in July.