DJ Herz (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Iowa 8, Memphis 5 (Completion of SUSP)

Memphis 7, Iowa 5 (10 Innings)

Game Recap

The Cubs quickly broke a 4-4 8th inning tie once play resumed on their suspended game. Jared Young hit an RBI double in the 8th, and Carlos Sepulveda knocked in two with a single to give them some breathing room. Young added another RBI double the following innings.

In the regularly scheduled game, Cam Sanders got knocked out early as Memphis ran up his pitch count to 70 before he could even complete three innings. Aneuris Rosario fared no better, and Iowa found itself behind 5-3 heading into the 6th. A two-run homer by John Hicks tied it up. It stayed that way until extras where Dakota Mekkes allowed a two-run walkoff homer in the 10th.

Who doesn’t love a good bat drop? John Hicks ties it up with this two-run blast! pic.twitter.com/0qHYBj1PGI

May 27, 2022

Top Performers

John Hicks: 3-5, 3B, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB (2) (.186)Trent Giambrone: 2-4, HR (2), 3 R, RBI, BB (.208)Robel García: 3-10, HR (12), R, RBI (.322)Zach Davis: 1-2, R, BB, SB (9) (.163)Dixon Machado: 3-9, RBI, BB, HBP (.293)Clint Frazier: 1-6, RBI, 4 BB, SB (1) (.148)Erick Castillo: 1-3, R, 2 BB (.333)Jared Young: 2-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP (.261)Narciso Crook: 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, CS (2) (.171)Carlos Sepulveda: 1-1, 2 RBI (.222)Brendon Little: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (W, 1-0, 0.00)Cayne Ueckert: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (5.09)Erich Uelmen: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (2.25)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Nick Madrigal will be beginning a rehab stint today.

AA

Tennessee 10, Rocket City 1

Game Recap

The Smokies struck out a bunch, but when they made contact they made it count. Levi Jordan, who is hitting the quietest .397 in the Minors, had three hits, including his 4th homer. Yonathan Perlaza and Luis Vazquez also homered.

When Yonathan Perlaza drops his bat, we share it on social media. pic.twitter.com/jHzyRe3krc

May 27, 2022

It has been a very good year for Javier Assad as well. He had plateaued a bit over the past couple of years, and it looked like his stuff was going to come up a bit short of MLB consideration. He’s throwing a good cutter this year and everything seems a tad crisper than I remember from last season. He’s reestablished himself as a potential BOR/MIR arm.

Top Performers

Levi Jordan: 3-4, HR (4), 3 R, 3 RBI, HBP (.397)Yonathan Perlaza: 2-4, HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB (.200)Luis Vazquez: 2-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (.195)Alexander Canario: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, HBP (.197)Matt Mervis: 1-4, R, RBI, BB (.320)Javier Assad: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K (W, 2-1, 2.90)Graham Lawson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K (5.51)

High-A

South Bend 5, Great Lakes 0

Game Recap

We are starting to see the Cubs stretch D.J. Herz out a bit. This was the third straight game he’s thrown between 70-80 pitches after being limited to <50 through his first six. He didn’t miss as many bats as usual, but it meant he could be a bit more efficient. Herz got through five shutout innings, allowing just one hit. It’s the sixth time in nine starts he’s allowed one hit or fewer. Opponents are now hitting just .128 against him on the season (14 H in 32.1 IP). Once he ramps up above 80 pitches, we could see the young left in line for a promotion to AA. His primary challenge in most of his starts is not the opposing batters but his himself. Whether he is throwing strikes or not he rarely gets hit, but the walks do get him into trouble on occasion regardless.

Hard throwing Sheldon Reed fired two scoreless in his first appearance at the High-A level. Brad Deppermann followed with two scoreless of his own to earn his first save and maintain the shutout.

All of the Cubs offense came via the long ball. Yohendrick Piñango, Owen Caissie, and Cole Roederer homered.

Yohendrick Pinango has officially learned what happens when you pull the ball in the air pic.twitter.com/HUmx0GK4Y9

May 27, 2022

Owen Caissie. Longggggg gone. pic.twitter.com/2DAgGZ6mvT

May 27, 2022

And so it begins…. pic.twitter.com/J4riALwHcc

May 26, 2022

Top Performers

D.J. Herz: 5 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K (W, 1-0, 1.67)Sheldon Reed: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (0.00)Brad Deppermann: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (S, 1, 2.45)Yohendrick Piñango: 1-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI (.263)Owen Caissie: 1-4, HR (4), R, 2 RBI (.231)Cole Roederer: 1-4, HR (1), R, RBI (.192)Scott McKeon: 1-3, R, BB, SB (4) (.200)Pablo Aliendo: 2-3, 2B (.228)Jake Slaughter: 1-3, R, BB, SB (7) (.240)

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 6, Augusta 2 (SUSP in 5th)