Chicago Cubs: Minor league opening weekend was a fun affair for all

Chicago Cubs: New additions making waves in Iowa

While it is only the first weekend of the Minor League Baseball season, it is always good to keep tabs on who is starting their campaigns off with momentum. For the Iowa Cubs, that belongs to both Dixon Machado and Donnie Dewees, two players the team acquired shortly before the season began.

Machado was signed as a move to strengthen the infield depth for the Cubs and brought with him stellar defensive prowess. Not generally known for his bat, Machado is off to a great start this season, slashing .462/.500/.615 with a ridiculous 1.115 OPS through his first 13 at-bats. Machado has two RBI as well as a couple of extra base hits.

Dewees, meanwhile, has also begun his season on the right foot. Through his first 11 at-bats, he is slashing .364/.417/.818 with a home run and three RBI. Impressively, Dewees has yet to strikeout. Like many Cubs fans will remember, the club drafted Dewees in the second round of the 2015 Amateur draft. Dewees was traded by the Cubs to the Kansas City Royals in 2017, for right-handed pitcher Alec Mills, before they recently re-acquired him for right-handed pitcher Stephen Ridings.

Concerning the pitching, it was an up and down affair with some negatives and many positives. Duncan Robinson was the strongest of the starters, as he went 4 2/3 innings in his first start, allowing one run. He walked two and struck out three.

Relief pitcher James Norwood worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings, recording a save while Brad Markey, Rowan Wick, Dakota Mekkes, and Ryan Williams all worked scoreless outings themselves.

Unfortunately, it was a rough weekend for Duane Underwood Jr., who remains a player who could at some point find himself up with the major league club however it remains to be seen in what capacity that becomes for the young right-hander. Underwood went just 3 1/3 innings, giving up four runs with four walks and only two punch outs.