Cubs Prospects Russell, Vogelbach Struggling in Arizona Fall League

The Chicago Cubs are a team with a slew of young prospects and plenty of optimism heading toward the future, but in the first few games of Arizona Fall League play, things are starting out rough for some of the team’s brightest stars.

Shortstop Addison Russell, who is the fourth-rated prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com, is batting just .182 in 11 at-bats thus far for the Mesa Solar Sox. He does have two RBI and has stolen a base, but his bat has been far from perfect in the early going.

Joining Russell on the struggle train are outfielder Jacob Hannemann, who is just 1-for-10 with four strikeouts, and first baseman Dan Vogelbach, who is now batting a measly .091 with seven strikeouts on the young season.

In Monday’s game, a 2-1 loss to the Scottsdale Scorpions, the Cubs’ prospects once again collectively struggled at the plate. Overall in the game they went 1-for-11, with Russell’s single in the sixth inning being the only hit. Vogelbach struck out twice in the game, and Hannemann struck out with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning to end a potential rally for the Solar Sox.

All of those things are bad, but fortunately for the Cubs, Monday’s game did bring some good news. Russell showed off his elite-level defense on several plays and helped keep the Solar Sox in the game. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Blake Miller muscled a blooper toward the right field foul line. On a dead sprint, Russell was able to get from his spot at second base all the way to the ball, making a running catch and preventing an extra base hit.

In the bottom of the seventh, Russell showed that he has a great arm as well. On a 1-1 pitch, Elias Diaz smacked a ball back up the middle of the diamond just to the right of the second base bag. Sliding on one knee, Russell was able to pick the ball cleanly on his backhand, and from that knee he was able to fire a throw over to first that Vogelbach fielded on one hop and retired the runner.

The news on Russell’s defense isn’t the only good news for the Cubs so far in AFL play. Pitcher Ivan Pineyro has pitched an inning and a third of shutout baseball thus far, walking two batters and picking up a strikeout for the Solar Sox. CJ Edwards has also been solid, starting one game and allowing one earned run and striking out a batter in two innings.

The Solar Sox, whose record currently stands at 1-4, still have plenty of time to turn things around. They will be playing games through mid-November, with the championship game slated for November 15. 

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