The MLB All-Star break is typically the time of year where we tend to see the bulk of the Minor League roster shuffle. At this point, organizations have seen enough and the small sample size alerts are thrown out the window. Half of a season at any particular level is normally enough time for the front office to decide on moving a guy up or down a level in the Minor Leagues.

The 2018 halfway point has been no different. In fact, over the last month or so, we have seen a flurry of roster moves from South Bend all the way up to Iowa. While the number of moves has been impressive, the names that have been moved may be even more crucial to the organization.

Below I’ll give you a rundown of all the moves that have occurred since June 23rd with a brief explanation of why the move is important.

Triple-A Iowa

Jason Vosler leads off this list after he got the call on June 25th and you would be hard-pressed to find a guy that deserves it more than him. The third baseman is following in similar footsteps as David Bote and is a pretty good bet as a sleeper prospect in this system. His big time power is his calling card and he has absolutely mashed during his time in Iowa.

Trey Martin was the next name to get the call to Iowa, making his debut at the turn of the calendar into July. Martin keeps rising through the system, mostly due to his defensive prowess in centerfield. The organization seems to have an impressive glove-first outfielder at each level and Martin is now Iowa’s version. He became a Minor League free agent this past offseason but signed back with the Cubs which is very telling of this team.

Will Remillard is an true organization guy and now he makes his way to Iowa. After Tommy John surgery kept him out of baseball for consecutive seasons a couple years back, Remillard made his comeback in 2017 and received his call to the Triple-A level on July 13th to give the team a total of 4 catchers on the roster.

Double-A Tennessee

Keegan Thompson is one name that is quickly shooting up top prospect lists everywhere. The 2017 draftee out of Auburn already finds himself within spitting range of Chicago after his June 23rd promotion to Tennessee and that is mostly thanks to his advanced approach on the mound. He’s positioning himself to potentially knock on the door to Wrigley next September.

Wyatt Short got the call to Tennessee on June 25th. Drafted as a reliever, the lefty keeps moving through the system with great results in the back end of the bullpen. He will need to keep putting up the numbers to move up to the next level as he doesn’t necessarily project well, but the organization won’t be able to deny the stats he has consistently put up.

Connor Myers’ promotion came on July 1st and it is not a coincidence that it aligned perfectly with the promotion of Trey Martin. With quite possibly the best glove in the *entire system* Myers has shown a tremendously improved approach at the plate following a rough offensive 2017 season. Expect him to follow a path similar to Martin up to Iowa.

PJ Higgins is one of my favorites in the system and he got a promotion from Myrtle Beach to Tennessee on July 12th. Higgins has an impressive hit tool, with his gap-to-gap power coming along nicely this season. I wouldn’t mind to see him get selected as one of the Cubs’ participants in the Arizona Fall League this year.

High-A Myrtle Beach

Erich Uelmen was the first of this group to make the move to Myrtle Beach, as he put up very good number in South Bend. His 3.51 ERA was not even as good as the rest of his numbers would indicate, with a great K-BB ratio and a 2.40 FIP.

Manny Rondon is a guy that I have been keeping an eye on, and June 26th he made the trip down to Myrtle Beach. The former starter was converted to the bullpen this season and has been very successful as the go-to lefty. He is striking batters out at nearly 12 per 9 innings, which is about 4 more than what he was putting up out of the rotation.

Roberto Caro has been the single most impressive hitter in the Cubs system in 2018. A little old for his level at Low-A, the 24 year old put up a ridiculous .375/.460/.555 slash line before getting the call on July 2nd. The mashing has continued in Myrtle Beach and I want to see the organization continue to challenge Caro. He should be in Tennessee.

Jared Young was the next guy that was raking in South Bend to get the call on July 7th. A 2nd baseman by trade, Young has found a home at first base more often this season. He has a very advanced approach at the plate and you would think he is a 10 year MLB vet by the way he works counts. I expect to see him in Double-A to start the 2019 campaign.

Rollie Lacy received his promotion on July 11th after tearing up the lower level as both a reliever and then a starter. His legit 2.02 ERA and 10.6 K/9 in South Bend were good enough for him to begin working out of the rotation at High-A. I think he will continue to work as a starter at least for the remainder of the 2018 season.

Low-A South Bend

Nico Hoerner is the man. After being drafted in the first round in June, Hoerner tore it up in Arizona before getting called up to Eugene and he tore it up even more which lead to his ultimate promotion to South Bend. He is proving that he might have a little more power than we originally thought in addition to his plus hit tool and his glove that will play well at either shortstop or second base. Unfortunately, Hoerner sustained an elbow injury while diving for a ball on defense and will miss the remainder of 2018. He will be a safe bet to rise up through the system quickly and start the season in 2019 back at South Bend, if not Myrtle Beach.

Clayton Daniel is riding a similar path as Hoerner but under completely different circumstances. Daniel was a 31st round draft pick this season as a second baseman but has put up similarly impressive offensive numbers as Hoerner. Called up just a week after the 1st rounder on July 18th, Daniel has played just 22 games at 3 different levels in 2018 but already finds himself at a full season affiliate.

Jake Steffens has worked some serious magic out of the bullpen in Eugene the last 2 seasons and finally got the call to South Bend on July 18th. At 24 years old, Steffens throws heat and mixes a good looking breaking ball into the repertoire as well. He will look to continue his high strikeout (10.26 per 9) and low walk (1.62 per 9) rates as we continues to move his way through the system.

We will continue to keep an eye on several 2018 draft picks as they continue to get shipped from Arizona Rookie ball to Short-Season Eugene and from Eugene up to full season South Bend in the coming weeks.