25-year old righty reliever made the Cubs’ pitching staff out of spring training but he didn’t get to stay to long. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs earlier this year and he was 0-1 with a 18.90 ERA and a 3.30 WHIP. Samardzija have up 5 hits and he walked 6 batters in only 3 1/3 innings with the Cubs so you can’t blame them for sending him to AAA. Samardzija has been pitching pretty solid baseball in AAA since his demotion. He has pitched in 25 games (5 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 6-1 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Samardzija has only allowed 34 hits in 53 2/3 innings in the minors and he has 52 whiffs showing he has good stuff. But, he has walked 35 batters and until he tightens his control a bit I don’t see the Cubs calling him up.

The Cubs are likely to put 21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brett Jackson on the fast track to Chicago. He played in 72 games in A+AA-ball this season and he is 92 of 286 (.322 avg, .956 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 8 homers, 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Jackson has now played in 125 games in his two years in the minors and he is 159 of 497 (.320 avg, .935 OPS) with 112 runs scored, 16 homers, 80 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Jackson is the Cubs’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s certainly showing why so far in his minor league career.

24-year old righty reliever/starter Mitch Atkins is pitching really well in AAA-ball right now. Atkins has pitched in 13 games (5 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He has only given up 33 hits in 42 innings so far this season as he is pitching very well. He made his major league debut in 2009 with the Cubs working in 2 games in which he worked 2 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit. Atkins should get a call soon if he keeps pitching well and the Cubs’ bullpen continues to stink with the exceptions of Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol.

21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brett Jackson came into this season as the Cubs’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why so far in his minor league career. Jackson has played in 30 games in A-ball so far this season and he is 38 of 115 (.330 avg, .872 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has now played in 83 games in his two years in the minors and he is 105 of 326 (.322 avg, .894 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 8 homers, 46 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. The Cubs are likely going to take their time with Jackson so that he isn’t overmatched at any level before getting the call to Chicago.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Thomas Diamond was once one of the brightest prospects in all of baseball before he started injuring himself. But he looks healthy right now in AAA for the Cubbies. Diamond has started 4 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He has only given up 12 hits in 21 innings so far this season while whiffing 19 batters as his stuff appears to be getting back to where it used to be. If Diamond keeps pitching well and the Cubs have a need in the starting rotation he might finally get his big chance in the major leagues.