Chicago Cubs: Organization's Minor League Players of the Week

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In the debut installment of our new Players of the Week’ segment, we will be diving into all levels of Minor League Baseball to profile the top stars for their respective league.

A new Minor League Baseball season is in full swing, as young prospects attempt to make their mark for the future. Our job here at Cubbies Crib is to bring you all the top producers for the week to help keep their names on your radar.

For each respective league, we will be diving into one top hitter and one top pitcher each week. By doing this, it helps fans understand who the next wave of our young Cubs are as well as what they may bring to the clubs future.

Each of these players is at a different level of progression but could offer the Cubs an option in the near–or distant future.

Chicago Cubs Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Wynton Bernard, OF

Kicking it off is left fielder Wynton Bernard. Having been around the league since the San Diego Padres selected him in the 2012 MLB Amateur player draft, Bernard signed with Chicago on a minor league contract before the 2018 season.

Last year, Bernard played 61 games in Triple-A without much success. This season has been a different story so far, however. Through his first 10 games, Bernard is slashing .286/.348/.571 with a .366 wOBA and 109 wRC+.

This past week, Bernard did enough to earn our first Player of the Week honor. In the past week, Bernard has registered 20 plate appearances, slashing .333/.400/.667 with a 1.067 OPS, two doubles, two triples, and an RBI. He has posted a .424 wOBA and 145 wRC+ in this span. With optimism in turning a corner in 2019, let us hope Bernard can continue mashing on his way to the Show.

Colin Rea, SP

The first pitcher Player of the Week honor goes to Colin Rea, for his two reliable quality starts this past week. Similar to Bernard, Rea is also a former farmhand of the Padres, having been selected the year before in 2011. The Cubs brought Rea in on a minor league contract before this season, and he has been a pleasant surprise.

Over the past week, Rea has made two starts, both times going six innings. In the first start of the week, Rea only gave up one unearned run, walking three, and striking out five. It was good enough to earn him the win versus Oklahoma City. In his second start, Rea gave up three earned runs, however, did not walk a single batter while recording four strikeouts. He received a no-decision.

Rea finished with 12 innings pitched, giving up only three earned runs, one home run and walking three with nine strikeouts, good enough for a 2.25 ERA and the POTW honor from Cubbies Crib.

(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs Double-A: Tennessee Smokies

Robel Garcia, 2B

One of the more exciting stories, Robel Garcia is our Double-A POTW. Having been in professional ball since 2010, Garcia was in the Cleveland Indians system until 2013. A few years later, Garcia went to Italy where he played for three seasons before coming back to the United States and ultimately signing with the Cubs. Thus far, it has been a great decision.

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On the season, Garcia is slashing .375/.500/.875 with two home runs and nine RBI. He has also managed to work himself to both a 20% walk rate and a 20% strikeout rate with a .600 wOBA and 287 wRC+. It seems safe to say he is enjoying Double-A so far.

This past week across four games, Garcia slashed .273/.467/.909 with a ridiculous 1.376 OPS. He posted a .636 ISO with a .584 wOBA and 277 wRC+. Impressively, he struck out only three times, while working four walks and knocking his first two home runs on the season. Cubs fans need to make sure to keep Garcia on their radar moving through this season.

Cory Abbott, SP

Our Double-A starting pitcher POTW honor is bequeathed to Cory Abbott. A former second-round selection by the Cubs in the 2017 MLB Amateur player draft, Abbott has done an excellent job working his way through the system, gaining promotion in each subsequent season.

This season has started no different. Across this past week, Abbott has made two starts, pitching to a 1-0, 1.59 ERA line. In each of his starts, Abbott lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up a single run and walking a batter per game. Impressively, Abbott managed to strike out 15 over the two starts, pitching to a 2.53 FIP and a 32.6% strikeout clip. Part of the next pitching waves for Chicago, Abbott is someone to watch moving forward.

Chicago Cubs Class A-Advanced: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Cam Balego, 1B

While there are many young, fun guys currently at Myrtle Beach, our Class A-Advanced POTW goes to Cam Balego. Another product of the Cubs from the 30th round of the 2017 MLB Amateur player draft, Balego has been making waves so far this season.

Balego appeared in six games this past week and has been mashing. He is slashing .333/.409/.611 with a 1.020 OPS. Mix in the .447 wOBA and 175 wRC+, and we have ourselves an impressive hitter early on in the season. One stat which sticks out is his walk rate to strikeout rate. Balego currently sits on a 13.6% walk rate and has kept his strikeout rate down to an acceptable level of 18.2%.

Not a big power guy, Balego has managed to hit a home run already this season while smoking two doubles to go along with the long bomb. Still just 23 years old, Balego has already been impressive in the system and should continue to be so into the future.

Paul Richan, SP

The Class A-Advanced POTW honor goes to starting pitcher Paul Richan, who has had a phenomenal start to his season. Richan was a supplemental selection by Chicago in this past year’s amateur draft and so far has shown significant signs on the mound.

Richan has made three total starts this season, pitching to a 2-0, 1.32 ERA line. During this past week, Richan made two starts, going precisely five innings in each start while allowing one earned run per game, good enough for a 1.80 ERA. Richan walked five and struck out five, however for the 22-year-old in his first professional season, there have been some great signs, and hopefully, he can continue to produce at a high level moving forward.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport /

Chicago Cubs Class A – South Bend Cubs

Jonathan Sierra, OF

Arriving with the Cubs in 2015 as an undrafted free agent, Jonathan Sierra is seemingly beginning to put it all together, and that is fun for fans. Sierra is just 20 years old which is crazy considering this is his fourth professional season.

In the first two weeks of the young season, Sierra is slashing .291/.328/.400 with a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base. He has done a fantastic job in keeping his strikeout percentage to just 12.1% while posting a .344 wOBA and 113 wRC+ in the process.

Earning the Class-A POTW, Sierra has slashed .280/.308/.480 with a .788 OPS and just an 11.5% strikeout rate. During this time, Sierra posted a .365 wOBA and 127 wRC+. Sierra has hit safely in five of the seven games. For Sierra being just 20 years old, the sky is the limit for the lanky lefty and should be someone fans follow for a long time to come.

Cubs' struggles on first pitch, 2-2 counts. dark. Next

Cam Sanders, P

Last but not least is our Class-A pitcher POTW which goes to Cam Sanders. Another product of the Cubs, Sanders was selected in the 12th round of the amateur draft this past season and within a year already made his way up to Class-A from Rookie level.

Sanders has nonetheless been impressive so far, and that is an excellent sign for the 22-year-old right-hander. On the season, Sanders has seen action in three games, making two starts. So far in his first 15 innings, Sanders has yet to allow a run while giving up just seven total hits and recording nine strikeouts.

In this past week, Sanders pitched ten innings, allowing a mere four hits and striking out seven. He did walk seven as well, however, held opposing hitters to a .114 average and posting a 1.10 WHIP. An exciting young arm, Sanders will look to continue his scoreless streak this upcoming week for South Bend.

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Chicago Cubs: Minor League Players of the Week