Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Bote goes yard and 2023 draftees continue to impress

Iowa Cubs (AAA) (70-53)
Tennessee Smokies (AA) (68-51)
South Bend Cubs (A+) (51-67)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) (69-50)

Iowa Cubs (AAA) (70-53)

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Indianapolis Indians 2-1

For the second time in three days, the Cubs fell to the Indians 2-1. The offense simply hasn’t been able to get anything going as they only were able to put up two hits throughout the game and even though they didn’t allow an earned run they found themselves taking the loss against a team they’ve dominated for much of the season.

David Bote (3B) went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.

Shane Greene (RHP) started another game and lasted four innings. He gave up two runs (neither of which were earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out six.

Luke Little (LHP) went 1.2 innings and gave up no runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three.

Tennessee Smokies (AA) (68-51)

The Tennessee Smokies beat the Chattanooga Lookouts 6-5

Tennessee was down by two entering the fifth before tying it up in the top of the fifth only to give up another three runs in the bottom of the fifth. They tied it up in the top of the seventh and managed to score in the top of the tenth and hold the Lookouts scoreless in the bottom half to come away with the extra-inning victory.

Owen Caissie (OF) went 0-for-2 but he walked three times.

Jordan Nwogu (OF) continued to be scorching hot over the last couple of weeks. He went 2-for-4 with a home run, a single, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Scott McKeon (3B) went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

Blake Whitney (RHP) closed out the game by pitching a scoreless ninth and tenth inning while only allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out two to lower his ERA to 2.15 on the year.

South Bend Cubs (A+) (51-67)

The South Bend Cubs lost to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-1

This team has been bad this year, which is wild because they have so many individually good players. They got down 4-0 through two innings and never made it close after that as they only managed to rack up a total of four hits, only one of which went for extra bases. Hopefully this less than stellar team showing doesn’t have a detrimental impact on any of the individual players’ development.

Kevin Alcantara (OF) went 2-for-4 with two singles.

Luis Verdugo (3B) went 1-for-2 with a homer and a walk.

Michael Arias (RHP) has struggled since his promotion to High-A and yesterday continued that trend. He only lasted three innings and he gave up four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three.

Sheldon Reed (RHP) went two innings and gave up a run on a hit and two walks but he did strike out four.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) (69-50)

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans beat the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 7-1

This one was a solid win. The Pelicans jumped all over the Cannon Ballers in the first inning, going up 5-0 and coming away victorious. It featured a couple of 2023 draftees continuing to impress and potentially push for a call-up to a more difficult level of competition at High-A South Bend.

Pedro Ramirez (2B) went 2-for-3 with two singles and two runs scored.

Brett Bateman (OF) went 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI and two runs scored. He also stole two bases.

Jonathon Long (1B) hit another homer in this one as he went 1-for-3.

Sam Armstrong (RHP) lasted two innings and gave up one run on a hit and a walk while striking out three.

Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Bote goes yard and 2023 draftees continue to impress