Jordan Wicks (photo by Rikk Carlson)

MLB

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Kyle Hendricks joins Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley, Drew Smyly, Alec Mills, and Adbert Alzolay as the 6th starting pitcher on the IL for the Cubs. Anderson Espinoza was recalled to replace him on the roster.

AAA

Iowa 4, Indianapolis 1

Game Recap

Down 1-0 heading into the 7th, it appeared the Cubs might waste strong outings by Luke Farrell and Sean Newcomb on the mound, but Jackson Frazier knocked in Greg Deichmann with a single to tie the game, and then in the 9th John Hicks untied it with a three-run blast:

John Hicks is your @EMCInsurance Player of the Game with this go ahead three-run shot! pic.twitter.com/cyZfjVUOou

July 7, 2022

Top Performers

Luke Farrell: 4.2 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K (4.08)Sean Newcomb: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K (7.20)Erich Uelmen: IP, 0 H, 0 B, BB, 2 K (S, 5, 2.93)John Hicks: 1-4, HR (8), R< 3 RBI (.249)Greg Deichmann: 2-4, 2B, 2 R (.240)Jackson Frazier: 2-3, RBI, BB (.212)Trent Giambrone: 2-4, SB (9) (.212)Darius Hill: 2-4, CS (2) (.376)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Veteran lefty Steven Brault, who originally agreed to a MLB deal with the Cubs this spring before his physical showed an injury which would keep him out the early part of the season, made his first appearance of the year. He allowed two hits, but no runs over one inning. If he stays healthy there’s a good chance we see him in Chicago to eat some innings after veterans are moved out at the deadline.

AA

Tennessee 8, Birmingham 0

Game Recap

Didn’t get a chance to review any of the action from this one yet, but it’s hard not to be encouraged when I see Riley Thompson toss three shutout innings. He’s one of the Cubs most talented starting pitcher prospects, but he got off to a rough beginning in Tennessee after missing all of 2021 with a shoulder issue. The Cubs moved him to the developmental list at the same time as Ryan Jensen in early May and brought him back at the same time last month. Jensen immediately took off since returning with a shorter arm path, but Thompson failed to get of the 1st inning in his first start back. It’s been more promising since then though, as Thompson posted back-to-back one run over two inning appearances, albeit with two walks issued in each. Yesterday he faced just one above the minimum over three innings. Hopefully this means he is on track for a strong 2nd half. He’ll be Rule 5 eligible in the offseason.

Samuel Reyes followed with three shutout innings of his own, then Bailey Horn fired two more. Jeremiah Estrada capped things off with a dominant 9th. The four pitchers combined to strike out eleven men while issuing just one free pass and surrendering just three hits.

My guy Jeremiah Estrada struck out two of three in the ninth to seal the deal for Tennessee. Also, the Heckler might as well be speaking for me pic.twitter.com/umOUZYCnl2

July 7, 2022

Top Performers

Riley Thompson: 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (7.91)Samuel Reyes: 3 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (W, 2-0, 2.75)Bailey Horn: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (4.80)Jeremiah Estrada: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (3.24)Matt Mervis: 1-4, HR (13), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB (.304)Luis Vazquez: 4-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI (.226)Bryce Windham: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB (.196)Chase Strumpf: 2-4, R, BB (.237)Bryce Ball: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, CS (3) (.270)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Matt Mervis (.321/.374/.638, 162 wRC+ and 20 HR in 70 games between SB and TN) is the first Cubs farmhand to reach 20 home runs this season. Last season, Trayce Thompson led the Cubs system with 21.

It worked! Matt Mervis destroyed this ball at that fan’s beckoning. pic.twitter.com/COHU3d7gTv

July 7, 2022

High-A

South Bend 3, Wisconsin 0

Game Recap

Jordan Wicks followed up his best performance of the season with… well, his best performance of the season. He fell behind some hitters early, and it led to some 1st inning trouble, with a walk and double, but thanks to some nice defense he escaped the frame unscathed. Pete Crow-Armstrong quickly tracked the ball down in the gap and got the throw in, and then Fabian Pertuz fired a strong relay home to nail the runner at the plate.

Another nice defensive play by PCA tonight (and Fabian Pertuz). pic.twitter.com/TJDreu0WIK

July 7, 2022

After that, Wicks settled in and began mixing his fastball, breaking pitches, and changeup to dominate hitters. He allowed just one base runner over his final four innings. The lefty works very quickly and looks to be pitching with a ton of confidence right now, as it appears he’s finally settled on a pitch mix and is getting comfortable with the new grips and approach.

Luis Devers piggybacked once Wicks exited after six Ks over five innings. He kept the shutout going with three dominant innings of his own. Eduarniel Nunez polished things off in the 9th.

Luis Verdugo and Yohendrick Piñango did almost all of the heavy lifting on offense. Verdugo reached base in all three of his plate appearances and Piñango blasted a double and homer to knock in all three Cubs runs.

Yohendrick Pinango’s solo put the Cubs on the board in the 4th!
He leads the team with 11 @hoosierlottery home runs. pic.twitter.com/xg9HEBVTxY

July 7, 2022

Top Performers

Jordan Wicks: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K (3.94)Luis Devers: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (0.00)Eduarniel Nunez: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, HBP, K (S, 1, 4.02)Yohendrick Piñango: 2-4, 2B, HR (11), R, 3 RBI (.270)Luis Verdugo: 2-2, 2B, R, BB (.280)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Twenty-one year old Luis Verdugo (.280/.341/.409, 108 wRC+) became a bit of a forgotten man after he hit just .187/.229/.294 in 62 games with Myrtle Beach last season, but the former high bonus signing out of Mexico has re-emerged as a legitimate prospect in 2022. His glove has never really been a concern, he’s always been a slick fielder at 3B, with a decent arm. Through the first couple of months he was putting together consistent, solid at bats, but the flashes of power he showed as a teenager were still few and far between. That has begun to change however. Over his last 17 games Verdugo is slashing .421/.468/.684 with an exciting .263 ISO, all while maintaining a walk rate above 8% and K rate just under 18%.

Man, Luis Verdugo is all kinds of hot right now. pic.twitter.com/zszMJ3RxGH

July 7, 2022

Web gem of the day by my guy Luis Verdugo pic.twitter.com/WVmQm09PId

July 7, 2022

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 11, Columbia 3

Game Recap

Ezequiel Pagan roped a 2nd inning home run on his way to a 3-for-4 day. A seven run 6th inning to propelled the team to a come from behind victory. Kevin Alcántara was pivotal in the inning, knocking in the first run of the inning on a single, then the final run on a sac fly as the Pelicans sent 13 men to the plate. James Triantos led off the frame with a triple, and then walked in his second plate appearance.

There goes that man.@PaganEzequiel hits his seventh home run of the season on a solo shot to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the second.#MBPelicans pic.twitter.com/1cFUNPgfDD

July 6, 2022

Top Performers

Ezequiel Pagan: 3-4, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB (.296)Kevin Alcántara: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, SF, HBP, SB (8) (.270)Kevin Made: 2-5, R, RBI (.267)James Triantos: 1-4, 3B, R, BB (.275)Juan Mora: 2-6, 2 R, RBI, CS (1) (.269)Ethan Hearn: 0-1, 2 R, 3 BB, SB (9) (.187)Alejandro Rivero: 1-4, 2 RBI, SAC (.333)Tyler Schlaffer: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K (W, 4-3, 4.21)Angel Gonzalez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (4.20)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Kevin Alcántara has been added to MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list, joining Brennen Davis, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Cristian Hernández.

DSL

Cubs Red 8, Yankees 6