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Articles by Todd Johnson
First Person: Finding community in a French lawn game
Todd Johnson competing for Edmonds Petanque this summer. (Photo courtesy Todd Johnson) I like to tell people I’m still a “new player,” but I’ve been playing the French game of petanque for almost two years now. So I’m not sure how long I can keep saying that.
Players of the Year Series: Jackson Brockett Runs Away with Reliever of the Year
When evaluating the bullpen anchor of the system, the case for Jackson Brockett as the Cubs’ Minor League Reliever of the Year is built on pure, unadulterated suppression and an utterly suffocating multi-level body of work. Operating primarily out of high-leverage relief and multi-inning stopper roles across Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend (with a brief taste of Double-A Knoxville), the left-hander put together a stellar 2026 campaign.
Draft Pick Profile: Ariston Veasey Brings a High Octane Arm to the Cubs
Transitioning from a two-way prep prospect and catcher into a full-time collegiate reliever, Ariston Veasey brings a unique brand of athleticism to the pitcher’s mound. His primary asset is his raw ability to miss bats, which he demonstrated with a 12.2 strikeout-per-nine-inning rate during his 2026 campaign at Clemson University.
The May All-Star Team Sees the Return of Some Familiar Faces and Adds Some New Ones
Brennen Davis – Picture by Todd Johnson Welcome to June 1! And that means it’s time for another monthly All-Star team. This month’s squad a little different as it’s a little bit light in the hitting department. In addition, Iowa does not even have a starting pitcher on the squad and there are only five total. In the olden days, I used to pick six starters and eight relievers. Tennessee has 4 relievers and two more that now begin June in Iowa.
Prospect Profile: Juan Bello Looking Like He Might Be a Guy
Juan Bello – Pic via Larry Kave/Myrtle Beach Pelicans One of the big surprises of the 2024 season has been performance of Myrtle Beach pitcher Juan Bello. It was quite a surprise to see Bello be assigned to Myrtle Beach to begin with as he struggled to stay healthy last year in Mesa. But now that he’s fully healthy, Bello is turning into one of the most fun pitchers to watch, and it seems to be every Saturday. Height – 6-foot-1 Weight – 173 lbs.
The Weekly - Baseball Returns, Kilian Deals, Brennen Davis Positives, PCA Dazzles, Videos and Pics Abound, a New Guy in the DSL Signs, and Hagen Smith Stuns | North Side Bound
Caleb Kilian – Pic by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs Oh, baseball is back! It’s only spring training, but it is back! And through two games, the prospects seem to be doing most of the playing. Brennen Davis, PCA, Alexander Canario, Matt Shaw, Bailey Horn, Caleb Kilian, Matt Mervis, Porter Hodge, and more were out there getting in ABs and innings one of the two days. The opener was highlighted by Caleb Killian dealing like 2022 Caleb Kilian.
Prospect Profile - Jefferson Rojas: Wow! Just Wow!
Jefferson Rojas – Picture by Myrtle Beach Pelicans Get ready for some serious content the next three days. This is the first of 11 prospect profiles that will be released over the next three days. Every day at 5:30 AM, Noon, 3 PM, and 5 PM CDST, we will be publishing profiles and updates on several players. We will also have some draft content today, Friday, and Saturday.
Prospect Update - Bryce Windham Is Putting It Together
Bryce Windham = Picture by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs One of my favorite players in the Cubs’ system is Bryce Windham. The former Swiss Army knife from Old Dominion University played a variety of positions in college and came to the Cubs where he played a variety of positions early in his career. However, Windham switched to catching full time in 2022 and is having an excellent season in Iowa in 2023. At almost every level, Bryce has pretty much hit.
The Weekly 6.18.23 - Futures Game Pick, Mock Drafts Galore, and Some Canario News
Ben Brown – Pic by the Iowa Cubs I’m not sure what happened to the first two weeks of June. It was a busy week with all seven minor-league squads playing. I also took a trip to Cedar Rapids for a few days to see South Bend play. And I finally finished cleaning out my basement, something I wanted to do for several years. Needless to say, Goodwill got several donations. In just four days, the first half of the minor league season will be over. It feels like it just started, and it does this every year.
Cubs Sign 3 More Players from Cuba with Their IFA Surplus
Last week, Francys Romero, a baseball writer for MLB, broke the news that the Cubs had signed Cuban pitcher Brander Guevera as an international free agent. A well built kid, the now 20-year-old left Cuba five years ago before signing with the Cubs. This news broke about a week after it was reported the Cubs had about $500,000 Bonus Pool money left to spend in International Free Agency. Yesterday, Romero announced that the Cubs had signed 3 additional players, all from Cuba.
NSB Draft Prep - Todd Johnson’s Cubs 10 Round Mock Draft Goes Heavy on College Guys
Welcome to my third and final mock draft of the 2023 draft season. I previously did a five round mock a couple months ago and then I did a 7 round mock last month. Today, I am doing the full Monty all the way to 10…And I’ll have one extra name to consider, what I like to call Plan B. Fellow NSB writer Greg Zumach also put out his 10 + 2 mock today and you can compare them.
Brailyn Marquez Re-Signs with the Cubs
Picture by Todd Johnson And….he’s back! That’s right, the Cubs re-signed the former lefty phenom to a minor league this morning! No terms were given, but the earlier release freed up a 40 man spot and gave Marquez a new lease on life. The re-signing could mean Marquez could possibly become “a pitching weapon” for the Cubs if he can stay healthy and revert to the form he showed in 2019 when he was hitting triple digits and striking out 10+ a game in South Bend.
Draft Pick Profile - Haydn McGeary Might Be a Human Video Game
Haydn McGeary – Picture by Stephanie Lynn When the Cubs took pitcher Brody McCullough in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB draft, I thought that Jason McLeod had returned to take over the drafting duties from Dan Kantrovitz as McCulloch was a D2 pitcher of the year. Five picks later, the ghost McLeod struck again as the Cubs took 2-time D2 MVP Hayden McGeary from Colorado Mesa. Under Dan Kantrovitz, the Cubs drafting procedures have been more on the toolsy side as well as on the risk side.
Day 2 Draft Preview - 8 Picks, Some Slots, and Some Names the Cubs Could Take This Afternoon
In just a few hours, day two of the MLB Draft will begin. The Cubs will make 8 picks today and you can expect a lot of variety in the type of picks they make. There will be some young prep players mixed with experienced college players and maybe a couple of senior signs to free up some money to help sign Jackson Ferris. Expect those types of selections in rounds 5 or 6 through 10. I will be live blogging beginning at 1 PM in a new post. Just keep updating or refreshing that post throughout the day.
Prospect Update - The Quiet Return of Cole Roederer Is Going Very Well
Cole Roederer – Picture by Micah Manuel When Cole Roederer returned in May after missing just about a year of baseball due to Tommy John surgery, he was put on a rehab assignment with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In four games, Cole hit .467 and looked to be reborn as a hitter playing in new environs. He quickly went to South Bend where he spent the rest of the month and looked a little out of place.
Tuesday Transactions - Will the Worthy Get the Call Today?
I wrote that last night before the Canario promotion news broke. It seemed prophetic at the time. Today could be a busy day in terms of movement in the system as a result of the Canario move. How busy? We are going find out. Over the last two weeks we’ve seen Brandon Hughes, Nelson Velasquez, and Nelson Maldonado move up to Iowa and Dalton Stambaugh and now Canario got the bump up to Tennessee.
Players of the Day for May 7, 2022 - Lots of Good Stuff Happening
Riley Martin – Picture by Todd Johnson Today was a lot of fun at the old ballpark! There was a lot of action throughout the day. South Bend swept a doubleheader this afternoon from Peoria but Iowa lost in St. Paul as they gave up 8 runs in the final three innings. Myrtle Beach just kept thundering away at Salem as they won 9-6. Tennessee fell behind early to Birmingham and just kept grinding away but failed to capitalize on several opportunities leaving an astounding 19 men on base.
The Extended Spring Training Roster Gives Us a Little Preview of What the Mesa Cubs Roster Might Look Like
The last roster to take shape every spring is the one for the Cubs rookie league team in Mesa. Earlier this week Arizona Phil of the Cub Reporter put out who all was in extended spring training. That list also included players that were rehabbing or nursing minor injuries from the four full season affiliates.
Prospect Update - What Might Be Some Options in Building Riley Thompson Back Up?
Riley Thompson – Picture by Todd Johnson The last time I saw Riley Thompson pitch in person, he went five innings, struck out 10 Clinton Lumberkings, and did not allow a hit in leading South Bend to the Midwest League title. That was in September 2019. Here is what Prospects Live said of Thompson after that initial first full season: On the hill, Riley features a fastball that can bump triple digits in short stints and sits 94-96 on the mound. He has a high-spin curve that is a plus pitch at least.
Players of the Day - April 19, 2022: It’s Riley Martin’s World and We are Just Living in It
Riley Martin – Picture by Stephanie Lynn Tonight was about as clear-cut as it gets for Players of the Day. Tonight’s was really the Riley Martin show. The piggyback starter for Myrtle Beach went 4.1 innings tonight and struck out 10 to earn Reliever of the Day. In addition, the Quincy University product only allowed one hit and lowered his ERA to 0.87. I’m not sure why he needs to be in Myrtle Beach much longer. He is dominating more and more each outing.
Roundtable - Who Did We Predict to Be the 2022 Starting Pitcher of the Year in the Cubs System?
Daniel Palencia picture via his Instagram We are getting closer and closer to opening day for the minor-league season. Iowa kicks off next week on Tuesday the fifth while Myrtle Beach, South Bend, and Tennessee debut on Friday the eighth. We’ve been having a little bit of a preseason extravaganza here at North Side Bound as we get ready for the season.
2022 Cubs Affiliate Preview - Iowa Roster in Flux, Should Provide Plenty of Help This Summer
The 2021 Iowa Cubs limped to a 51-78 record, including eight straight losses to end the season. About half of the roster wound up in Chicago down the stretch as David Ross oversaw the most players ever used during an MLB season, so Marty Pevey had to make do with his own high turnover rate. The outlook has done a 180 heading into this season, with Iowa slated to have some of the organization’s top prospects on the opening day roster.
2022 Cubs Affiliate Preview - Tennessee Smokies Trying to Take Next Step
The 2021 season brought mixed blessings for the Tennessee Smokies, who had one of the worst records in the Southern League at 46-63 as they were decimated by injuries to top prospects Miguel Amaya and Brailyn Márquez. But things started cooking when Brennen Davis figured out some things in late June to form a potent one-two punch with Nelson Maldonado. Third baseman Chase Strumpf also was at Tennessee and became one of the system’s better hitters in August after struggling out of the gate.
2022 Cubs Affiliate Preview - Loaded Rotation Only Tip of Iceberg for South Bend
This should be an exciting year for the South Bend Cubs who should have a lot of high-profile prospects when the season opens. They struggled quite a bit throughout last season due to injuries and COVID issues in the system, so continuity was even less reliable than usual. Manager Lance Rymel will be taking over as skipper with Michael Ryan moving up to Tennessee and he’ll have plenty of pitching options to choose from.
2022 Cubs Affiliate Preview
The amount of young talent the Cubs are likely to have in Myrtle Beach this summer borders on the obscene. James Triantos, Kevin Alcantara, Owen Caissie, Reginald Preciado, and Pete Crow-Armstrong will headline an extremely young team that could be joined by Cristian Hernandez at some point in the year. If you have the chance, take a trip to the Grand Strand and watch what is probably going to be the best collection of pure talent in the system this season.
WATCH: North Side Bound’s Pre-Spring Training Draft Q&A
It’s always Draft season here at North Side Bound. Todd Johnson and Greg Zumach are diving in deep to all things MLB Draft, this time on the latest Q&A. In this hour and a half long episode (Note: we promise we’ll shrink that a bit going forward), the North Side Bound duo tackled topics like second-round options, a preview of the upcoming North Side Bound Mock 2.0, and how to assess the bat-first college hitters near the top of the draft.
The Weekly - A Spaces Debut, Kohl Lights Up the Gun, Another Johnson, BA Position Lists, and Busy Season Is in High Gear
As for the big news of the week, North Side Bound debuted on Twitter Spaces this week and it was a lot of fun talking prospects and taking questions from some of you that read our stuff on a daily basis. It was weird hearing people’s voices for the first time, but we had a blast doing it and can’t wait to do it again. We’d like to do one before the season begins on April 5, and, at some point, I’m sure we’ll have a draft space session as well in the next month or two.
2022 MLB Draft Preview: Cubs Could Be in Position to Draft Ace with 7th Overall Pick
With the exact date still to be determined, the 2022 Major League Baseball draft should be happening in as little as five months. For the Cubs, the 2022 draft is going to be an important one. They have the seventh selection in the first round and that prospect could become the face of the system after Brennen Davis moves up to Chicago at some point this year.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt. 10: Outfielders Rule System Now
Over the past year, the Cubs’ outfield position group has really taken off. Part of that has been the development of Brennen Davis, but we’ve also seen improvements from Yohendrick Pinango and Yonathan Perlaza along with prospect du jour Nelson Velázquez. The biggest jump in this group over last year has been the result of the Cubs going out and getting several outfielders in trades the past year.
Cubs 2022 International Free Agency Signing Preview: Bit of Mystery After Big 3
For players living in and around the Caribbean, International Free Agent Signing Day on January 15 is like New Year’s, Christmas, and the Fourth of July all rolled up into one. Many family’s lives are drastically changed with the infusion of signing bonuses, but this may be the final year in which teams are free to sign players on an open market.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 9: Left-Handed Starting Pitching Thin But Mighty
Out of all the positions in the system, left-handed starting pitching is probably the thinnest. At the same time, that’s where you’ll find some of the Cubs’ top talent and we could be looking at the best aspect of the system on a pound-for-pound basis. There are arguably three top-10 prospects in this collection and there’s a fourth who could be there by the end of next summer.
10 Cool Stories to Follow in the Cubs’ MiLB System in 2022
DJ Herz – Picture by Todd Johnson 2022 should be an exciting year in the Cubs’ system. They have a lot of young prospects who should be coming of age before our eyes. For example, lefties Jordan Wicks, DJ Herz, and Drew Gray could reshape how we look at pitching in the system next summer. When I first sat down to plan out this post, I thought it would just be a routine thing.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 7: Shortstops Fell Back Without Real Breakout, That Could Change in 2022
Shortstop was the top position in the Cubs system a year ago, but things can change quickly in the minors. The Cubs went out and acquired several outfielders at the deadline and two of their first three picks in the draft were left-handed starting pitchers. Those acquisitions, along with prospects making leaps in their performances in actual games, pushed what is still an excellent collection of shortstops down in the rankings.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt. 7: Hard-Throwing Right-Handed Relievers Now Flood System
Right-handed relievers shot up the position rankings in the Cubs system in 2021 as the organization totally revamped how it develops arms for the major league level. With Craig Breslow entrenched as assistant GM and director of pitching, a more aggressive approach has led to the sort of velocity increases that were previously only seen in other teams. While the starters are still trying to find their way, relievers dominated Cubs pitching headlines in 2021.
Prospect Stock Watch - Quiet Buzz Building This Winter
I know this is hard to believe, but minor league spring training is just around the corner. Regardless of the MLB labor situation, the minor leagues are going to go ahead full steam in 2022. Only those players who are on the 40-man roster — like Ethan Roberts and Nelson Velazquez — will not be playing until the labor deal is settled. With those things in mind, today’s Prospect Stock Watch features a short list of players who’ve been quietly going about their business this winter.
Chicago Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 6: Right-Handed Starting Pitchers Need to Get Back on Track in 2022
A couple of years ago, right-handed starting pitching was the Cubs’ greatest organizational strength. Unfortunately, things have not materialized as people would’ve hoped in spite of Keegan Thompson and Adbert Alzolay making it to Chicago. Injuries have taken their toll, development has stalled for some, and one pitcher from last year’s group of hopefuls even retired.
Chicago Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 5: Lots of Lefty Relievers at Iowa, Tennessee for One More Year
So far this winter, we’ve covered the Cubs’ organizational depth at second base, third base, first base/DH, and catcher. Today’s review will take us through the wonderful world of left-handed relievers, which the Cubs have a lot of at the upper levels of the minors. This could be considered a strength, but there’s also a bit of uncertainty in the mix.
Chicago Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 4: Miguel Amaya's Injury Creates Opportunities for Other Catchers
For a few years, the Cubs’ minor league catching corps was ranked pretty high in comparison to the other positions in the system. However, things shifted greatly in 2021 and even bigger changes are afoot in the coming year. After trying to rehab what was being called a forearm injury, top catching prospect Miguel Amaya wound up having elbow reconstruction early this month.
Chicago Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 3: First Base Back in Focus, One Move Could Alter Future of Position
Next season is going to be pivotal for first base in the Cubs system. Having Anthony Rizzo meant they didn’t need to worry about the position for many years, but those days are gone and it’s time to recalibrate things. The Cubs started planning for this eventuality back in 2018, starting with drafting Tyler Durna that summer.
Cubs Add LHP Menez and Lose RHP Ocampo in the Rule 5 Draft
Well, the Rule 5 Draft was pretty anti-climatic. The Cubs selected Conner Menez, a lefty reliever from the San Francisco Giants. That’s it, no ond else. The Cubs did lose right-handed pitcher Carlos Ocampo to the Mets. As for Menez, he does have MLB experience pitching parts of three seasons in the major for a total of 42.1 IP. Last year, he threw 14.1 IP in San Francisco with a respectable 3.86 ERA with 15 Ks to only 3 walks.
Prospect Profile - Owen Caissie Has Plenty To Do for 2022
Owen Caissie – Picture by Scott Changnon/Marquee Sports Network 2022 is going to be an exciting year for the Cubs’ minor league system. With new draft picks and new international free agents, the system is brimming with talent especially after some deadline deals at the end of July. However, the one player I am looking most forward to watching play every day was not acquired last summer, but almost a year ago.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt. 2 – Chase Strumpf Leads Way Among Deep, Unproven Third Base Group - Cubs Insider
The Cubs’ depth at third base is going to be much improved next season as they’ll have a solid player manning the hot corner for nearly every affiliate. That’s a far cry from where things stood last year, when it was Chris Morel at the top of the list and then everyone else. But Morel only played 19 games at third base and now appears to be ticketed for the outfield on a more permanent basis.
North Side Bound’s Position Rankings Debut with a Look at 2B
Every off-season, I do a series of posts on the depth of the Cubs’ farm system. I do it at Cubs Central and at Cubs Insider and I always write two different types of posts. For example, at Cubs Central this year I am breaking down each position by examining each affiliate. Over at Cubs insider, I will be doing some categories and analysis. Normally I write the bulk of these position posts in a few days.
Prospect Stock Watch: How Will AFL Affect Outlook for Velázquez, Kilian, Weber, Jensen?
For the past few years at Cubs Insider, I’ve published semi-regular stock watch pieces as a way to tell you about prospects you might want to invest your time and attention to as they rise through the system. This edition is a little different because you should have already heard about the four players in question, but we’re going to take a look at how their respective performances in the Arizona Fall League will impact their rankings in the eyes of evaluators.
Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt. 1 - Second Base Unclear Heading into 2022
This past minor league season was one of the strangest I’ve ever seen. Some of that came from being only five months long, but it was more due to the rash of injuries the Cubs had up and down the organization. Everywhere you looked, somebody was moving around the diamond or to a different level to fill at another position. We even saw Chase Strumpf, last year’s top second baseman, entrenched at third base in Tennessee.
MiLB Free Agency Kicks Off as Cubs Steal Narciso Crook from the Reds
via Reds Minor Leagues.com In a quite move, the Cubs began minor league free agency today by signing OF Narciso Crook who had been in the Reds’ system since he was 17, He was originally born in the Dominican and came to the US to attend Rowan College in New Jersey. At 6-foo-3 and 220, Crook will probably provide some MiLB depth for the big league Cubs until Brennen Davis, Nelson Velazquez, or Chris Morel is ready.
Cubs Prospect Update: What's in Store for LHP Scott Kobos After Surprisingly Dominant Debut Season?
Heading into the 2021 season, no one predicted Scott Kobos would pitch at all four levels of the Cubs’ system. And we’re not talking about an emergency fill-in grabbing a cup of coffee, the lefty reliever dominated at each stop. What made it even more intriguing was that he actually missed a month in the middle of what was already a shortened season. In total, Kobos basically spent about a month at each level.
Nelson Velazquez, Brennen Davis Among 8 Cubs System Storylines That Portend Exciting 2022
Before we start looking forward to the 2022 minor league season, we need to first look back at what happened in 2021. The Cubs spent the summer acquiring 31 new players through the draft, undrafted free agency, and deadline deals that broke up the major league club. That influx of young talent overshadowed a lot of what happened otherwise in the minors, but the season isn’t just what happens in June and July.
It’s Opening Day for North Side Bound!
Thanks for coming to our opening day! Welcome to North Side Bound! This site is meant to be a one stop shop for fans of the Cubs minor league system. We are going to have prospect rankings, articles, profiles, updates, interviews, podcasts, transactions, statistics, and even video and pictures of what’s happening with Cub prospects. We also have a Twitter Account @NSideBound for you to follow as well as a page on Facebook for you to like. North Side Bound. November 1st.
40-Man Roster Issues Complicate How Many Cubs May Protect from Rule 5 Draft
As of this post, the Cubs have 47 players on their 40-man roster. A handful of those players are currently on the 60-Day IL and don’t count towards the total, but that changes as soon as the World Series ends. Five days later, eight of those become free agents. If you’re keeping score at home, that leaves them at 39 players and means the new front office will have a lot of decisions to make.
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