Today, we feature another handful of Cubs’ prospects, including one recently added to the team’s 40-man roster and another who, despite an injury that sidelined him for most of last season, is rapidly moving through the system.
Let’s get to work.
LHP Tsuyoshi Wada: Wada, a dominant pitcher in nine years in the Japanese professional league from 2003 to 2011, was recently added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster and has registered a successful season with the AAA Iowa Cubs. In 210 games pitching in Japan (207 starts), Wada, 33, produced a record of 107-61, an ERA of 3.13 and a WHIP of 1.148. His BB/9 innings of 2.5, his SO/9 of 8.3 and his SO/BB ratio of 3.36 were all exceptional.
His success in his homeland convinced the Baltimore Orioles to sign Wada in December of 2011.
However, Tommy John surgery wiped out almost all of Wada’s first season with the Orioles, and after a disappointing 2013 pitching for the team’s AAA affiliate, Wada was not re-signed. He never pitched for the Orioles’ big league team.
The Cubs agreed to a minor league deal with Wada prior to the season, and he has been Iowa’s most successful starter. In 15 appearances, Wada has tossed 92.1 innings. He has yielded 85 hits and 24 walks, leading to a WHIP of 1.181. His ERA of 2.73, BB/9 innings of 2.3, SO/9 innings of 9.1 and SO/BB ratio of 3.88 justified the Cubs’ decision to elevate him to the 40-man roster.
Wada has an unorthodox delivery whereby he delays the release of his pitch while keeping his throwing arm behind his body, a similar tactic to that used by ex-Cub Rick Sutcliffe. Wada’s fastball tops out at 92 MPH and can often fall into the mid to high 80’s, but he throws an above-average slider and changeup.
With Cubs’ pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel likely to be traded before the deadline, Wada should get an audition in the Cubs’ rotation later this season.
RHP Marcus Hatley: Hatley, 26, is a case of perseverance paying off. A 39th round selection in the 2006 draft and a survivor of Tommy John surgery, Hatley is finally succeeding in Iowa’s bullpen after two unsuccessful stints there in 2012 and 2013. It appears fortuitous to the Cubs that Hatley, left unprotected, was not selected in the Rule Five Draft last season.
In 2012 with Iowa, after having succeeded at every level below, Hatley produced an ERA of 8.22 and a WHIP of 1.565 in 15.1 innings. In 2013, Hatley’s ERA for Iowa was 4.22 and WHIP 1.430 in 42.2 innings.
2014 has been a watershed year for the big-right-hander who throws a fastball in the mid 90’s with excellent downward movement complemented by an average slider and curveball. In 26 relief outings covering 30 innings, Hatley has yielded just 19 hits and seven walks while fanning 41. He has produced an exceptional WHIP (0.867) and ERA (2.40). The control problems that plagued Hatley throughout his career have not been a problem this season, as evidenced by a career-best 2.1 BB/9. Yet his strikeout prowess has not been affected by his newfound command, as he is fanning 12.3 batters per nine innings.
If the Cubs trade RHP Carlos Villanueva and either LHP Wesley Wright or James Russell before the deadline, Hatley, along with teammates Armando Rivero, Zach Rosscup and Blake Parker, would be in the running to join the Cubs’ bullpen. At a minimum, look for the Cubs to add Hatley to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from being scooped up in the Rule Five Draft.
2B Stephen Bruno: A 7th round selection in 2012, Bruno, 23, has bounced back from Tommy John surgery last season to help lead the AA Tennessee Smokies. Furthermore, the stocky 5’9 right-handed hitting Bruno has hit well at every level where he has played in his first three years in the system.
Bruno spent his debut season of 2012 with short-season A Boise. In 292 plate appearances, the plucky Bruno hit .361 (2nd best in the Northwest League), cranked out 19 doubles (3rd), three triples and three homers and racked up 37 RBI. He produced an OBP of .442 (also 2nd in the league).
Before his season was spoiled by injury, Bruno hit .362 in 79 plate appearances with a .436 OPB for High A Daytona last year.
In 233 plate appearances through June 27 for AA Tennessee, Bruno is averaging .299 with a .378 OBP. He has smacked 16 doubles, three triples and homers apiece and driven in 23 runs.
In addition to 2B, his best fielding position, Bruno has also played all three outfield positions, SS and 3B during his professional career.
OF Rubi Silva: Silva, who was signed by the Cubs in 2010 after he defected from Cuba, is spending his second season for AA Tennessee, which was a somewhat curious choice by the Cubs’ brass after he put together a solid 2013 campaign. After a terrible start this season, the left-hand hitting Silva has bounced back and appears to be on track to duplicate last year’s production.
In 490 plate appearances last season, Silva, who recently turned 25, averaged .284 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 15 homers, 52 RBI and a .483 slugging percentage. He tied for second in the Southern League in triples and fourth in doubles.
In 299 plate appearances through June 27, Silva is hitting .256 with 12 doubles, four triples, six homes, 38 RBI and a .394 slugging percentage. His walk percentage has increased from 3.7% to 5.4%, and in his last ten games, covering 40 plate appearances, Silva is hitting .375 with two homers, 10 RBI and a .575 slugging percentage.
Like his teammate Bruno, Silva sports tremendous defensive versatility, having played all three outfield positions and 2B during his minor league career.
Check back next week for more Cubs analysis and a feature on one of the Cubs’ best prospects whom few take serious notice of.