Cubs Arizona Fall League updates

Seven Cubs prospects are playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the 2019 Arizona Fall League: Catcher Miguel Amaya (No. 2, MLB No. 90), shortstop Zack Short (No. 9), right-hander Erich Uelmen (No. 24), right-hander Scott Effross, left-hander Jordan Minch, right-hander Keegan Thompson and first baseman Jared Young.

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Here’s a day-by-day look at how Chicago's AFL contingent is faring:

Oct. 25: Mesa 3, Scottsdale 0
Zack Short worked a walk and scored a run in an 0-for-2 showing, bringing his final line to .234/.359/.325. Jared Young (.196) was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

Oct. 24: Salt River 0, Mesa 0
Keegan Thompson spun a gem in his final start for Mesa, tossing four scoreless frames with four strikeouts and two hits allowed. The 24-year-old right-hander finishes the Fall League with a 4.72 ERA in seven starts, during which he compiled 26 strikeouts against six walks in 25 1/3 innings. Scott Effross recorded a strikeout during two perfect frames in relief of Thompson. It was the third straight scoreless performance by the 25-year-old, who owns a 1.80 ERA in 10 Fall League innings.

Cubs No. 2 prospect Miguel Amaya was held hitless for a third time in four games, finishing 0-for-4 for Mesa. Zack Short was the team’s only player to record multiple hits, turning in a 2-for-4 performance that included his fourth AFL double and pushed his average up to .240. Jared Young also hit a double , his second, and reached base via a walk before finishing 1-for-3.

Oct. 23: Mesa 2, Surprise 0
Jordan Minch breezed through his first inning of relief Wednesday before a leadoff triple in his second frame threatened to derail his outing. But after a double play was completed at home plate, Minch was able to lower his ERA to 1.80 after two scoreless innings. He hasn’t allowed a run since Sept. 28, having compiled 14 strikeouts in 10 innings for Mesa. Zack Short roped a single to left field in the sixth during what was a 1-for-3 evening for the shortstop. The Cubs’ No. 9 prospect has seen the ball well against Surprise, having notched four hits in his last three meetings against the club.

Oct. 22: Scheduled off day for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Oct. 21: Mesa 4, Surprise 0
Miguel Amaya delivered a double in his final at-bat for Mesa on Monday to snap out of an 0-for-11 funk at the plate. It was the third double in the Fall League for the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, who’s batting .244 after a 1-for-4 performance. Shortstop Zack Short went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Erich Uelmen issued a walk in both the fifth and sixth inning, but those were the only baserunners he permitted in two innings of run-free work.

Oct. 20: Mesa 8, Peoria 2
Zack Short went 0-for-4 and has seen his average dip to .215 after going 0-for-8 over the past two games. Jared Young stole his second base after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. The first baseman also singled in the ninth and scored twice in his 1-for-3 effort.

Oct. 19: Mesa 5, Peoria 1
Keegan Thompson was electric during the Solar Sox’s win Saturday, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five. Thompson, who credited his changeup as the pitch that helped him turn the corner after some rocky AFL outings, tossed 45 of his 54 pitches for strikes. Thompson struck out the side in the third, but a leadoff triple appeared primed to derail his afternoon. After a pop out and a strikeout, Thompson caught the runner trying to steal home on a throw back to the mound. After just three starts during the 2019 regular season, the victory Thompson earned for Mesa was his first of the calendar year. More »

Jared Young, who homered just five times in 455 at-bats with Double-A Tennessee during the regular season, showcased his power in the fifth when he rocketed a solo shot off Astros top prospect Forrest Whitley. Young had collected just one extra-base hit all fall prior to the blast, but the British Columbia native made his loud contact count. He finished 1-for-4.

Scott Effross lowered his ERA to 2.25 as he pitched around a ninth-inning single to close out the win for Thompson. The right-hander has yielded just one run across eight Fall League frames. Zack Short entered the afternoon holding a modest three-game hitting streak, but saw that go by the wayside with an 0-for-4 performance that included leaving four men on base. His fall average fell to .230.

Oct. 18: Scottsdale 4, Mesa 0
Cubs No. 2 prospect Miguel Amaya is batting .244 for Mesa in the Fall League after his second straight 0-for-4 game. Zach Short, batting fifth and starting at shortstop, went 1-for-3 with a walk and his third Fall League double. He’s batting .246 overall, with hits in four of his past five games. Jared Young went 0-for-2 with a walk. In 10 games, he’s totaled as many hits (six) as walks and strikeouts. Jordan Minch tossed a perfect seventh inning in his fourth straight scoreless appearance out of Mesa’s bullpen.

Oct. 17: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Oct. 16: Scottsdale 3, Mesa 0
Erich Uelmen worked around a leadoff triple to escape his inning of work unscathed. He benefited from an extended rundown that cut down a runner at the dish, lowering his fall ERA to 0.90. The right-hander, who made 17 starts during the 2019 regular season with Class A Advanced and Double-A, has appeared solely out of the bullpen for Mesa and has now reeled off five consecutive scoreless appearances.

Oct. 15: Glendale 4, Mesa 3
Miguel Amaya and Jared Young both went 0-for-4 on Tuesday in Mesa’s loss to Glendale. The duo combined for five strikeouts, as Amaya, who is batting .270 in the Fall League, fanned twice and Young three times. Shortstop Zack Short fared better, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base from the five-spot in the lineup.

Oct. 14: Glendale 9, Mesa 5
Keegan Thompson cruised through the first three innings but ran into a bit of trouble after that, and he was unable to escape the fourth. The 24-year-old was lifted after 3 2/3 innings, having given up three runs on three hits. He also walked two and struck out a pair. Scott Effross took over for Thompson and after giving up a double to the first batter he faced, Effross struck out four in a row. No. 9 prospect Zack Short picked up a pair of hits and finished 2-for-4, but he also showed why some believe he’s the best defensive infielder in the Cubs’ system with a nice diving play at shortstop.

Oct. 13: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Oct. 12: East 4, West 2
Here's how every player performed in the Fall Stars Game. More »

Oct. 11: Mesa 3, Salt River 2
Right-hander Eric Uelmen recorded a pair of strikeouts and ran his fastball up to 95 mph during a scoreless sixth inning out of Mesa’s bullpen. The performance netted the Cubs’ No. 24 prospect his first Fall League win, and overall, he’s pitched to a 1.00 ERA with nine strikeouts in as many innings (five appearances).

Oct. 10: Mesa 9, Salt River 3
Jared Young turned in his first multihit performance of the fall with a 3-for-4 effort. Young has struggled offensively in Arizona and is batting .214 through eight games, but perhaps Thursday’s breakout game will be enough to get him going. In addition to the trio of hits, Young now has hits in three of his past four games. Zack Short went 0-for-5.

Oct. 9: Surprise 12, Mesa 10
Zack Short went 2-for-3 with two singles, three walks, a run scored and two RBIs. It was the shortstop prospect’s second multihit game in the Fall League. Miguel Amaya (MLB’s No. 90 overall prospect) singled in a 1-for-5 day, also scoring a run and driving one in.

Oct. 8: Surprise 6, Mesa 1
Zack Short, the Cubs’ No. 9 prospect, and Jared Young each went 0-for-3 for Mesa in Tuesday’s loss.

Oct. 7: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Oct. 6: Mesa 4, Peoria 2
Miguel Amaya picked up a pair of singles in Mesa’s win over Peoria to improve his average to .321 in the Fall League. The Cubs’ No. 2 prospect was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double in the sixth inning and recorded his second hit when a pair of Javelinas were unable to catch a pop up. Jared Young reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks from the bottom of the lineup, while designated hitter Zack Short finished 1-for-4.

Oct. 5: Mesa 2, Mexicali 1
Scott Effross pitched around two hits to complete a scoreless inning out of the Solar Sox bullpen. He’s yet to allow a run in 4 2/3 innings (four games) in the Fall League.

Oct. 4: Scottsdale 6, Mesa 5 (10 innings)
Zack Short, the Cubs’ No. 9 prospect, scored two runs and hit a double for Mesa. He finished 1-for-4, also drawing a walk in the contest.

Oct. 3: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Oct. 2: Surprise 8, Mesa 7
Miguel Amaya drove in a pair of runs on a bloop single in the bottom of the second inning and ultimately finished 1-for-5. The Cubs’ No. 2 prospect has hits in four of the six games he’s played and is batting .333 in Arizona.

Keegan Thompson has certainly had better nights on the mound. The right-hander gave up six runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings. Southpaw Jordan Minch was firing on all cylinders during his inning of relief, setting Surprise down 1-2-3, including a strikeout to polish off his five-pitch outing, all of which were strikes. He has compiled eight strikeouts through 4 2/3 frames in the AFL.

Oct. 1: Mesa 4, Salt River 0
Zack Short collected one hit in five at-bats, striking out twice. He’s batting .207 on the Fall League season. Short committed his first error of the fall on Tuesday as well. Jared Young ended the game 1-for-3 with a pair of walks drawn, and he also drove in a run via a groundout. The 24-year-old batted .235 with five homers for Double-A Tennessee this season, drawing only 33 walks in 123 games.

Two Cubs pitchers helped the Solar Sox toss a combined shutout. Scott Effross made his third scoreless appearance of the fall, pitching a single inning, allowing only a hit and striking out a batter along the way. Erich Uelmen followed Effross and tossed a pair of frames, striking out three hitters and allowing only one hit. The organization’s No. 24 prospect allowed an earned run in his first appearance of the fall but has been almost perfect in his past two outings, allowing onl a hit and a walk over four run-free innings.

Sept. 30: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Sept. 29: Mesa 7, Obregon 0
Zack Short, the Cubs’ No. 9 prospect, recorded his first multihit game of the Fall League, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and his first double from the two-spot in Mesa’s lineup. Miguel Amaya (No. 2, MLB No. 91) and Jared Young both went 0-for-4 and were the only Solar Sox players to be held hitless on Sunday. Amaya is still batting .375 this fall even after his 0-fer performance.

Sept. 28: Salt River 10, Mesa 3
Zack Short picked up a hit and a pair of walks in five trips to the plate. He’s batting only .150 so far but has six walks in six games played. Jordan Minch tossed two-thirds of an inning in relief, allowing an earned run on two hits.

Sept. 27: Salt River 6, Mesa 1
Outside of one mistake, Keegan Thompson pitched a solid three-inning start for Mesa. The right-hander, who posted a hitless three-inning AFL debut, served up a two-run homer to D-backs prospect Seth Beer in the second inning. Around that, Thompson struck out three batters, issued one walk and allowed three more hits -- all singles.

Sept. 26: Thursday's game between Surprise and Mesa was rained out and will not be made up.

Sept. 25: Mesa 15, Los Mochis 2
Miguel Amaya is batting an even .500 through four AFL games after his 2-for-3 night at the plate. The Cubs’ No. 2 prospect hit his second double of the AFL season in the game, drove in a run and also drew a pair of walks. Jared Young finished 1-for-5, including an RBI single in the second inning.

Sept. 24: Mesa 8, Scottsdale 4
Cubs No. 9 prospect Zack Short connected on his first AFL homer, hitting a fourth-inning solo shot to left field after striking out in his first two at-bats. He would strike out once more in the contest to finish 1-for-4. Miguel Amaya (No. 2, MLB No. 91) singled to left and right field in his first two trips to the plate, respectively, and scored a run as part of a 2-for-4 performance. Jordan Minch, a 26-year-old left-hander, ran his fastball up to 95 mph as he struck out the side during a scoreless seventh inning.

Sept. 23: Scheduled day off for all Arizona Fall League teams.

Sept. 22: Mesa 7, Glendale 6
Zack Short drew a walk, but finished 0-for-4 at the plate and is now batting .077 in the Fall League.

Sept. 21: Mesa 4, Peoria 1
Zack Short walked twice and scored a run, but was held hitless in his other two at-bats. Jared Young finished 0-for-4. Scott Effros gave up one hit as he spun a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.

Sept. 20: Peoria 5, Mesa 1
Keegan Thompson tossed three no-hit innings as the starter for Mesa on Friday night, striking out five while issuing only one walk. The 2017 third-round MLB Draft pick out of Auburn made an incredible debut with Double-A Tennessee back in April, but was then placed on the injured list and would only make a brief rehab appearance in the Arizona League at the end of the season. Erich Uelmen followed Thompson and tossed two innings, allowing the first hit and run of the game when Astros prospect J.J. Matijevic connected on an RBI double in the fifth. He was solid otherwise, finishing his two frames with only that hit allowed plus a hit batsman and picking up a strikeout. Jordan Minch would keep the Cubs’ pitching train rolling, following Uelman and tossing a pair of innings with four strikeouts, but allowing an earned run on an Matijevic home run -- the only hit he would allow -- and issuing a walk.

Sept. 19: Salt River 4, Mesa 1
No. 2 prospect Miguel Amaya (No. 91 in MLB) showed some patience at the plate for Mesa on Thursday with a pair of walks in an 0-for-2 night. The 20-year-old catcher took 54 walks in 99 games this season for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach, giving him a .351 on-base percentage. No. 9 prospect Zack Short started at shortstop, but took an 0-for-4 line with a strikeout. First-baseman Jared Young was 0-for-3 with a walk.

Sept. 18: Scottsdale 5, Mesa 4
No. 2 prospect Miguel Amaya got off on the right foot in the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday as he went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a walk. The No. 91 prospect in Major League Baseball singled home a run in the fifth before bringing home two more with his double in the seventh. The 20-year-old catcher spent the full season with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach, where he hit .235 with 11 home runs and a .753 OPS over 99 games while playing strong defense behind the plate. No. 9 prospect Zack Short went 1-for-3 with a walk.