Right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott had an outstanding 2019 season at Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies. He made 26 starts, pitched 146.2 innings and struck out 166 batters, recording a 3.01 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.
The 23-year-old was a second round pick of the Cubs in 2017 and figures to potentially make his MLB debut as soon as 2020. Abbott capped off his incredible 2019 season by leading almost every pitching category in the Southern League last month.
The righty made six starts in August, went 3-1 with a 0.98 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 50 strikeouts and held batters to .107 batting average.
Congrats on the Pitcher of the Month honors!
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old shortstop tore it up at rookie ball, as Luis Verdugo was named Player of the Month in the minors for the Cubs.
Verdugo, 18, batted .395 (30-for-76) with four doubles, two triples, five homers, 22 runs scored and 23 RBI in 19 games in August with the Cubs’ Mesa 2 team in the Arizona League. He drew four walks contributing to a .439 OBP and posted a 1.136 OPS. He led the league in August in batting average, RBI, OPS and hits, while finishing second in slugging (.697). The right-handed batter hit safely in 14 of 19 games, including six games with at least three hits and a 5-for-5 performance, August 7 against AZL Giants Black.
Still way too early to make any proclamations about Verdugo, but so far you have to love the results.
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