Kevin Alcantara (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Iowa SUSP – T8 – Tied 4-4

Game Recap

I’ll cover the game more in depth when they complete it today, but it’s worth noting Robel García homered once again, his 12th already on the season. Caleb Kilian was the starter. He didn’t pitch great as his control faltered in the 4th and he began giving up some hard contact, but what should be of interest is that the Cubs will require an extra starter for their doubleheader next Monday and then again for a doubleheader next Saturday. Both of those outings line up with Kilian’s turn in the rotation.

It isn’t a guarantee we will see him make those starts, or even one of them, but the Cubs have to being weighing the possibility of making a 40-man roster move in order to give Kilian a shot.

The other possibility is the Cubs simply move Keegan Thompson back into the rotation to take those two turns, but it could depend on whether they need innings out of him from the pen this weekend.

AA

Tennessee PPD

High-A

Great Lakes 4, South Bend 3

Game Recap

Jordan Wicks flew through five innings in Wade Miley-like fashion. He was efficient with his 70 pitches and wasted no time on the mound between offerings. It is likely he makes his way to Tennessee in the next wave of promotions. His breaking stuff continues to improve and if he can consistently keep his velo above 93 in the coming years he should prove very difficult to hit considering his good control and plus changeup.

He did take the loss despite only allowing one run through five innings though as the South Bend bats were very quiet until a rally in the bottom of the 9th. Down four runs entering the frame, Yohendrick Piñango doubled in a run and then Caleb Knight hit a two-out, two-run shot to bring the Cubs within a run. The comeback attempt would end with the following batter however.

Top Performers

Jordan Wicks: 5 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 3 K (L, 0-1, 3.55)Caleb Knight: 2-3, HR (1), R, 2 RBI (.211)Yohendrick Piñango: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI (.263)Luis Verdugo: 1-3 (.227)

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 8, Augusta 0

Game Recap

Make it 10 straight wins for the Pelicans.

The big star was Kevin Alcantara, who doubled home three runs in the 3rd, smashed a two-run homer in the 5th, and then drove in a sixth run on a ground out in the 7th.

He did have to share some of the spotlight with the pitching though. Luis Devers continues to get the job done. The 22 year old is just super steady, consistently getting guys from the DSL to AZL and now in Low-A this season. He isn’t a high ceiling prospect but he has a starter’s frame and solid command his repertoire. I don’t easily see him making a big jump in velo from his current low-90s, but it is difficult to gauge such things anymore. He definitely still has room on his frame to fill out some.

Devers was followed by three relievers who maintained the shutout over the final four innings.

Top Performers

Kevin Alcantara: 3-5, 2B, HR (5), R, 6 RBI (.248)James Triantos: 2-4, 2 R, BB (.307)Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2-5, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB (11, 12) (.363)Ezequiel Pagan: 2-4, 2 R, SB (4) (.227)Kevin Made: 1-4, RBI, SF (.323)Luis Devers: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K (W, 4-3, 2.62)Chase Watkins: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (4.50)Frankie Scalzo Jr.: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (9.00)Adam Laskey: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (0.00)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

And this was before Alcantara, Triantos, Crow-Armstrong, and Made added to their numbers yesterday:

And let’s not forget the 20-year old OFs in Myrtle Beach and South Bend

Pete Crow-Armstrong: 362/455/567 (182 wRC+)
Yohendrick Piñango: 264/326/450 (119 wRC+)
Owen Caissie (in May): 333/394/567 (170 wRC+)

May 25, 2022