AAA

Iowa 5, Indianapolis 1

Game Recap

Veteran Joe Biagini held Indianapolis in check for 5.1 innings, while also going 2-for-2 with a run scored at the plate. Rowan Wick continued his rehab by recording two quick outs to end the 6th. After Dakota Mekkes allowed a run in the 7th, Ben Leeper came on to shut down the Indians over the final two innings.

Top Performers

• Joe Biagini: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K (W, 2-5, 5.40)
• Rowan Wick: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (19.29)
• Ben Leeper: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1.31)
• Abiatal Avelino: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB (.278)
• Greg Deichmann: 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB, CS (1) (.250)
• Nick Martini: 3-4 (.268)
• Edwin Figuera: 2-4, 2 R (.233)
• Joe Biagini: 2-2, R (.600)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Reilever Ethan Roberts finally received a well deserved promotion to Iowa. He was joined by infielder Levi Jordan.

Tony Wolters was released. The reasoning was likely two-fold. It gives the veteran an opportunity to catch on as a third catcher with a contender. It also seems likely Austin Romine is nearing a rehab stint in Iowa as he works his way back from the knee issue he encountered early in the season.

AA

Montgomery 6, Tennessee 

Top Performers

• Jared Young: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI (.321)
• Zach Davis: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, SB (11) (.261)
• Chase Strumpf: 2-4, 2B (.167)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

The Smokies received a couple of promotions from South Bend. Relievers Graham Lawson and Samuel Reyes joined the squad. First year pro Lawson has pitched really well in his short career, while Reyes was a Minor League Rule 5 pick last winter. He provides some multi-inning capabilities. It appears Andy Weber will be able to return to Tennessee soon as well, once his rehab in Mesa concludes, with Aramis Ademan another possibility. In the meantime, Reivaj Garcia returned to the Smokies roster to provide some middle infield depth.

High-A

South Bend 5, Peoria 4

Game Recap

Ryan Jensen and Jose Albertos formed a successful piggybak duo, holding Peoria to two runs over seven innings. All of the South Bend offense came in the 5th, when a pair of doubles preceded a two-run homer by D.J. Artis, and then after loading the bases, Bryce Ball knocked in the final two runs with a single to right field.

Top Performers

• D.J. Artis: 1-3, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, BB (.215)
• Jake Slaughter: 2-3, 2B, R, BB, 2 CS (5, 6) (.267)
• Alexander Canario: 1-3, R, BB (.375)
• Josue Huma: 1-3, 2B, R (.244)
• Bryce Ball: 1-4, 2 RBI (.178)
• Ryan Jensen: 3.2 IP, 3 H, R, 3 BB, 4 K (4.81)
• Jose Albertos: 3.1 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 4 K (W, 4-0, 9.12)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Lefty Scott Kobos (2-0, 0.48 across 13 G with MB/SB), who got off to such an incredible start to his pro career (17.2 scoreless innings) before hitting the disabled list, was activated prior to the game. He stepped onto the mound in the 8th with a three run lead. He did record 3 stikeouts, but also allowed the first run of his career on two hits and a walk.

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 6, Columbia 4

Game Recap

The Pelicans scored all six of their runs via home run, including a grand slam by Jonathan Sierra, but they were not the type of home runs you would expect…

Baseball, after 170 odd years, can still show you things you’ve never seen before. https://t.co/7whXlncKZs

— Michael Ernst (@mj_ernst)

August 4, 2021

Top Performers

• Jonathan Sierra: 2-4, HR (2), R, 4 RBI (.261)
• Fabian Pertuz: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (.237)
• Kevin Made: 2-5 (.261)
• Jordan Nwogu: 1-4, R, BB (.223)
• Pablo Aliendo: 0-2, R, 2 BB, HBP (.262)
• Matt Mervis: 0-2, 2 BB, HBP (.199)
• Jose Miguel Gonzalez: 5 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K (4.50)
• Gabriel Jaramillo: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (S, 2, 1.30)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

I’m not sure what the cause is, but Jeremiah Estrada has been placed on the 7-day IL. His pro career has been marred by two TJS, and after finally getting a chance to show his stuff over some impressive outings with the Pelicans, he’s on the shelf once again. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he can return to action soon.

Kevin Made (.261/.286/.322) recorded his third straight multi-hit game, and fifth over his last six games, which has raised his average from .200 to .261. His plate discipline still needs work, but we are starting to see his quick, line drive stroke pay dividends. When he is identifying good pitches, he is capable of putting them in play with authority. In the coming years he’ll begin filling out his frame, which should lead to increased power production. Made will probably not be more than 15 homer guy, unless he alters his swing, but he should become a doubles machine.

While Jordan Nwogu has gotten a lot of notice for his offensive improvements, it has likely gone unnoticed that he’s been getting more and more reps in center field and done pretty well with the opportunity. It is easy to see why the Cubs were so interested in him as a player. He is a terrific athlete, both powerful and relatively fast. If he can actually man CF, even on a part time basis it will greatly improve his prospects as a Major Leaguer. The Cubs now have two similarly toolsy RHB outfielders ahead of him in South Bend (Alexander Canario and Nelson Velazquez) who have both played some CF as well, but I believe Nwogu has a better feel for the position than either.

Jordan Nwogu. Athlete. https://t.co/3CpklT3AtT

— Brendan Miller (@CubsRelated)

August 4, 2021

ACL

Royals 6, Cubs 4

Top Performers

• Aramis Ademan: 2-3, 2B, 2 R (.294)
• Andy Weber: 2-3, R, RBI (.375)
• Jose O. Lopez: 1-2, 2B, R, BB (.132)
• Miguel Fabrizio: 1-2, BB (.345)
• Owen Caissie: 1-4, 3B, RBI (.373)
• Rafael Morel: 1-3, 2B, RBI, SF (.123)
• Luis Devers: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, BB, 7 K (L, 0-1, 2.63)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

The Cubs released IFs Oswaldo Pina and Nestor Heredia.

A slo-mo look at Owen Caissie‘s swing on his RBI triple:

#cubs @owen_caissie hits a triple off the centerfield wall at Sloan Park. Leading the ACL in OPS at 1.244 (2nd is 1.197) pic.twitter.com/tsKiKxxQxq

— John Antonoff (@baseballinfocus)

August 4, 2021

DSL

Rangers1 3, Cubs Blue 2

Cubs Red 6, Rangers2 5

A day after hitting his first professional home run, 17-year old Pedro Ramirez went 3-4, falling a homer shy of a cycle. The youngest player in the Cubs org, the switching hitting Ramirez has posted a .923 OPS through his first 16 games (the DSL average is .665 so far in 2021. He is 10-for-17 over his last 4 games.