cubsmith.bsky.social
Prospecting Since Patterson
261 posts
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Hottovy be special
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And then didn’t even stick it up your (yeah)
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I honestly believe it’s more important that he gets the fastball to viable than a third pitch for now. Both would be, of course, great.
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Why this matters:
MLB in 2025 against pitches with this pitch shape: 215 AVG, 379 SLG, 307 wOBA, 28.5 Whiff%.
Brown in 2025 with this shape: 250 AVG, 375 SLG, 293 wOBA, 18.2 Whiff%.
Brown in 2025 with 4 seam below 96: 378 wOBA.
Brown in 2025 with 4 sm IVB under 18: 414 wOBA.
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87 was definitely the most surprising number in that start!
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Interesting, exciting, planning to watch it back this morning. Brailyn Marquez holds that title now for me, July 25, 2019. Wicks last one in South Bend was really great, Keegan had one in AA before an injury that was amazing, Cade in the playoffs. Those are what come to mind.
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The Cubs call it a day for Horton at 76 pitches. It seems like 75 is the number where he can’t start a new AB when north of that number.
4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB (leadoff hitter), 5 K. 38 CSW%.
Retired last 9 he faced.
The May debut now firmly in his sights.
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I think we’re looking at a spot start call up in 3 weeks or so now.
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It’s something you’ll definitely want him to start inducing, but as he throws plenty of good breakers in the zone early in counts, I would say he does the right things to make that happen, AAA hitters just aren’t appropriately responding.
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Dominant Horton arrives in the fourth, where five fastball called strikes (generally in phenomenal locations) allows him to get hitters on the heels, with 3 strikeouts coming via slider, then fastball, then curveball. Really nice day for that always underappreciated curve.
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Thru 3 scoreless, with Horton at 53 pitches. The fastball has yielded both hits (and both on 2-strike counts) and the walk, the breaking balls have been pretty fantastic. It’s not any form of dominance so far, but it’s certainly a level above competence.
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Horton fights some fastball command that’s just missing armside in the first, but the breaking balls save him, one great curveball and a handful of good sliders. Looked like a pro adjusting and battling from behind.
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LMAO PCA
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I sure feel like I got gorked, man
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Hah, this is quite well said.
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We just talked for an hour about Moises Ballesteros. Sorry bout it.
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That is just some fun violence in that swing right there
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Apologies for wading into a great discussion the two of you are having, but re Kilian, absolutely. That’s a true dead zone fastball, and when the Cubs helped it get to average ride, it then lost the relative cut component, keeping it in dead zone land.
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Caleb came off the field with the trainer in that first outing, so I’m fairly certain your instincts about all his roster machinations revolving around an injury are correct.
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It’s more like a college senior playing against a college sophomore. Average hitter in AA is 23.9 years old.
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Thanks buddy! Some day I’ll figure out what I want from the Internet — 22 years into the hobby and still haven’t at all locked that down — but have a firm grasp on what I want from baseball itself.
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There’s a lot of Colin Rea in what Kipp is showing out there, if you want an idea of the potential we’re talking about. He can support heavy breaking ball usage, probably able to get away with only 30-40% fastballs and not have it hurt him.
In this house, we love an April prospect breakout.
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The Huss heart rankings?
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PCA is definitely on deck as his next favorite
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That’s part of the rust for sure, and also part of the miserable days he’s had to pitch in. Cade’s feel has always been plus, I highly suspect control won’t be a long-term problem.
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Yeah, exactly