Cubs Prospects Miguel Amaya, Jordan Minch Make AFL’s Fall Stars Game

Some good news came the Cubs’ way this afternoon when the Arizona Fall League announced that catcher Miguel Amaya and pitcher Jordan Minch were named to play in the Fall Stars Game this Saturday. Both have been playing for the Mesa Solar Sox and their production this fall has only enhanced their profiles as potential future Cubs.

Amaya’s selection was pretty much a no-brainer, as he is hitting .321 with a .424 OBP over eight games. He usually plays about twice a week against some of the game’s most elite prospects and he’s more than holding his own. This should be enough to lock down a 40-man roster spot for him come November 20, not that there was much doubt about it.

Amaya slashed .235/.351/.402 with a 122 wRC+ in a notorious pitcher’s park at Myrtle Beach, but this fall hints at things to come. The 20-year-old (21 in March) will be playing in more hitter-friendly locales throughout the Southern League with Double-A Tennessee next season. We should see more power than what we saw this past year, particularly if he can maintain the improved stamina he displayed this season.

Minch, a 26-year-old lefty, got off to a hot start for Mesa and was missing a lot of bats. He has posted a 3.18 ERA with nine strikeouts and just one walk over 5.2 innings as a reliever. While Minch’s future is not written in stone by any stretch, he has raised his stock quite a bit when it comes to how the Cubs and other teams value him.

Amaya and Minch aren’t the only Cubs prospects doing well this fall, and the others have almost three more weeks to show out. Reliever Scott Effross has yet to give up a run and pitcher Erich Uelmen is sporting a 1.13 ERA. Pitcher Keegan Thompson, shortstop Zack Short, and 1B/OF Jared Young have struggled, but maybe they can use the experience to grow.

The AFL will conclude play on October 26.