This article is part of our John Sickels' Column series.
Cubs trade Derrek Lee to the Braves for prospects Robinson Lopez, Jeffery Lorick, and Tyrelle Harris.
Tyrelle Harris: Harris is 23 years old, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander drafted from the University of Tennessee in the 19th round in 2009. He's quietly had a very nice season, pitching 49 innings combined between Low-A Rome, High-A Myrtle Beach, and Double-A Mississippi, with a 2.90 ERA and a 60:22 K:BB ratio with 38 hits allowed. He has an 88-92 MPH fastball and a very good slider, and projects as a middle reliever in the majors.
Robinson Lopez: The best of the three pitching prospects according to scouts, Lopez is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander from the Dominican Republic, just 19 years old. He has a 4.37 ERA with a 70:43 K:BB in 93 innings this year for Low-A Rome, with 84 hits allowed. Although his numbers are mediocre, Lopez impresses scouts with a low-90s fastball and a potentially above average curveball and changeup. He needs refinement, but the raw potential for success is here.
Jeffery Lorick: A six-foot, 195-pound lefty, Lorick was drafted in the 20th round in 2009 from the University of Virginia. He has spent this year in the bullpen at Low-A Rome, posting a 2.32 ERA with a 41:21 K:BB in 50 innings, allowing 42 hits. He has average stuff, but gets lots of grounders and is very effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .128 average this year.
Cubs trade Derrek Lee to the Braves for prospects Robinson Lopez, Jeffery Lorick, and Tyrelle Harris.
Tyrelle Harris: Harris is 23 years old, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander drafted from the University of Tennessee in the 19th round in 2009. He's quietly had a very nice season, pitching 49 innings combined between Low-A Rome, High-A Myrtle Beach, and Double-A Mississippi, with a 2.90 ERA and a 60:22 K:BB ratio with 38 hits allowed. He has an 88-92 MPH fastball and a very good slider, and projects as a middle reliever in the majors.
Robinson Lopez: The best of the three pitching prospects according to scouts, Lopez is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander from the Dominican Republic, just 19 years old. He has a 4.37 ERA with a 70:43 K:BB in 93 innings this year for Low-A Rome, with 84 hits allowed. Although his numbers are mediocre, Lopez impresses scouts with a low-90s fastball and a potentially above average curveball and changeup. He needs refinement, but the raw potential for success is here.
Jeffery Lorick: A six-foot, 195-pound lefty, Lorick was drafted in the 20th round in 2009 from the University of Virginia. He has spent this year in the bullpen at Low-A Rome, posting a 2.32 ERA with a 41:21 K:BB in 50 innings, allowing 42 hits. He has average stuff, but gets lots of grounders and is very effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .128 average this year.
