Chicago Cubs: Check in on this year’s Arizona Fall League

Chicago Cubs: Zack Short and Jared Young struggling

The club has two infield prospects down in Arizona in Zack Short and Jared Young. Short spent his 2019 season at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs while Young played his season at Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies.

Short found it tough going in Iowa this season, finishing with a .211/.338/.414 line with six home runs and 17 RBI in 41 games. He struggled to curb his strikeout rate, seeing it rise to 31.3 percent. So far through his first few games in the AFL, Short is slashing just .208/.367/.375 with a home run and a two RBI. Sill only 24 years old, Short has shown flashes of brilliance. He may not be the answer for the long-term, however.

Regarding Jared Young, he is another guy who is similar to Short when it comes to his up-and-down production. Last season, in 123 games for the Smokies, Young slashed an uninspiring .235/.297/.319 with five home runs and 57 RBI. He posted a .287 wOBA with an 80 wRC+.

Unfortunately for Young, he is riding the struggle bus in the AFL. Through his first four games, Young has just one hit in 16 at-bats. He is sporting a .063/.118/.063 line with a sole RBI. The positive spin for Young is his lack of strikeouts. In the 16 at-bats, Young has struck out only one time. As is the case with Short, Young may not, unfortunately, find a spot with the big league club. Hopefully, though, he can turn it around heading into next season.