Richard Gallardo (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Iowa 4, Louisville 2

Game Recap

The Cubs didn’t get many baserunners, but when they did P.J. Higgins managed to knock them in yesterday. He went 4-for-4. Matt Swarmer and the pen didn’t need more than that. Swarmer is one of those guys whose stuff falls just short of MLB caliber, but he commands it well and knows how to use it, so he makes for an excellent pitcher to fill out your AAA staff.

Top Performers

Matt Swarmer: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K (W, 2-0, 1.08)James Bourque: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K (4.15)Erich Uelmen: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (S, 1, 0.00)P.J. Higgins: 4-4, 2B, 3 RBI (.294)Donnie Dewees: 1-4, 2 R, SB (3) (.323)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Clint Frazier has been placed on the 10-day IL with appendicitis, opening the door for Alfonso Rivas (who hit everything thrown to him in his brief stint with Iowa), to return to Chicago.

AA

Rocket City 8, Tennessee 3

Top Performers

Bryce Windham: 1-3, 2B, 2 R, BB (.238)Luis Vazquez: 1-2, R, RBI, BB (.276)Nelson Velazquez: 1-3, RBI, BB, CS (.283)Brandon Leibrandt: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (2.89)

High-A

Beloit 9, South Bend 4

Game Recap

After a long rain delay, the Cubs took early command of this game. Kohl Franklin got the start and looked comfortable on the mound. He’s still not stretched out very far, but he looked more crisp with his control in this than in his previous two outings. He struck out three, one on his 4-seam (96-97) and another two on his plus changeup. Franklin didn’t throw many pitches to get through his two innings, but he mixed in a few spike curves, one of which was good, another which he hung was lined into CF. The development of that pitch will a big key for him this year.

After a 1-2-3 2 K inning, this meeting is now in recess pic.twitter.com/LIy70Dfclp

April 23, 2022

This is good! pic.twitter.com/fU5J3EEDei

April 23, 2022

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs. Ed Howard delivered a two-run single, then Jake Washer knocked in Howard to put South Bend up 3-0. It would be all Beloit from then on though. All three relievers who followed Franklin surrendered multiple runs.

2 RBI single for Ed Howard. He is looking pretty good this week at the plate pic.twitter.com/Q9PkCJqQ5P

April 23, 2022

Top Performers

Kohl Franklin: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (6.23)Ed Howard: 2-4, R, 2 RBI (.209)Luis Verdugo: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB (.226)Caleb Knight: 1-2, R, 2 HBP (.167)Fabian Pertuz: 2-5, 2B (.279)

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 5, Delmarva 2

Game Recap

Richard Gallardo struck out five as he tossed five shutout innings to earn his first win of the year. He mixed pitches throughout his outing and seemed to keep the Delmarva hitters off balance (poor camera view so hard to give details).

The game remained knotted 0-0 until the 5th, when Pete Crow-Armstrong came through with a two-run single. Two innings later, with family and friends in attendance, Jacob Wetzel launched a two-run homer to give the Pelicans pen some breathing room.

IN HIS HOME STATE!

Jacob Wetzel hits a two-run homer for his first big fly of the season.

Pelicans 4, Shorebirds 1 in the middle of the seventh. pic.twitter.com/a66krIaMPd

April 23, 2022

Top Performers

Richard Gallardo: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K (W, 1-0, 3.55)Jacob Wetzel: 1-4, HR (1), R, 3 RBI, SF (.238)Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB (6), CS (1) (.265)Ethan Hearn: 1-2, 2B, R, 2 BB (.143)Juan Mora: 2-2, 2 R, BB (1.000)Peter Matt: 2-5, (.189)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Pete Crow-Armstrong (.265/.432/.529) has reached safely in 8 of his 9 games this season while compiling a .432 OBP out of the leadoff spot so far. He’s walked more than he has struck out (8-to-6) and has also been hit twice. The centerfielder is considered maybe the best defender in the system, and he’s also swiped 6-of-7 bases. A plus middle of the field defender who gets on, steals bases, and also flashes occasional power (4 XBH so far) as a leadoff man is one of those elusive unicorns that every team searches for, fans thirst for, but very rarely materializes. PCA has a chance to be that guy though.

https://t.co/yZKxXZ2Afx

April 23, 2022

Cole Roederer played CF in an EXST game yesterday, a good indicator he may be close to returning to full season ball following his TJS last season. My guess is the Cubs would ease him back into action in the warmer Myrtle Beach weather rather than the cooler South Bend temps, but we’ll see.