Cubs Den

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Stewart punches out 9 as Iowa wins in extras; Pelicans earn first win

MLB

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

The Cubs placed Ian Happ on the 10-day IL with a rib contusion suffered in an outfield collision with Nico Hoerner earlier this week. To replace him on the roster, the Cubs purchased the contract of former A’s outfielder Nick Martini from Iowa. Martini is a left-handed bat capable of playing either corner in the outfield or first base. There is maybe a little surprise Martini was chosen over long-time MLB vet Cameron Maybin and Rafael Ortega, a younger outfielder who had a good spring and is also off to a hot start in Iowa, but this figures to be a very temporary MLB assignment, and Martini is likely to be DFA in the near future when Rowan Wick and/or Jonathan Holder are ready to come of the 60-day IL. The Cubs may have felt Martini had a better chance of passing through waivers than Maybin or Ortega.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Martini, the club designated Kyle Ryan for assignment. It was only a matter of time until Ryan lost his roster spot. With Rex Brothers and Justin Steele emerging in the MLB pen, Brad Wieck returning to strength at Iowa, and former Phillies reliever Adam Morgan back from elbow surgery and on a MiLB deal, the Cubs have enviable left-handed relief depth, even if Ryan gets plucked off waivers.

AAA

Iowa 4, Indianapolis 3

Game Recap

Iowa jumped ahead 2-0 on a two-run homer by Rafael Ortega in the 1st. It was his third homer already in four games so far this season. He wasn’t the only impressive performer early on in this game though, former top five pick of the Minnesota Twins, Kohl Stewart punched out nine men over five innings of one-run ball. After Indy took the lead 3-2 off Michael Rucker in the 6th, Adam Morgan and Jake Jewell shut the door the rest of the way, enabling the I-Cubs to mount a late comeback. Cameron Maybin’s solo hot in the 8th evened the score. And then in the bottom of the 10th, Andrew Romine scored on a walk-off passed ball.

Top Performers

Kohl Stewart: 5 IP, H, R, BB, 9 K
Jake Jewell: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (W, 2-0)

Rafael Ortega: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI
Cameron Maybin: 1-4, HR (1), R, RBI
Abiatal Avelino: 2-3, R, BB

P.J. Higgins: 1-2, 2 BB
Jose Lobaton: 1-3, 2B, BB

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Rafael Ortega has hit in all four games so far, and already had a two-homer game on Wednesday night. The 29-year old lefty opened some eyes in Winter League action, and was impressive this spring as well. His MLB career stats amount to an unimpressive .229/.287/.290 line with 3 homers in 410 at bats, but its possible the Cubs found a capable under the radar fill in should additional injuries strike.

Tennessee 13, Montgomery 8

Game Recap

You’d think that by racking up 13 runs the Smokies bats really exploded in this one. And they were pretty good, but Montgomery committed an incredible six errors to assist the Smokies as they dented the scoreboard in five consecutive innings.

Top Performers

Tyler Payne: 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI
Zach Davis: 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 SB (1, 2)
Jared Young: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB (1)

Christopher Morel: 1-5, HR (1), R, 2 RBI
Levi Jordan: 2-5, 2B, R, RBI
Andy Weber: 1-4, 2 R, BB

Erich Uelmen: 3.1 IP, 2 H, R, 4 BB, 2 K

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Shortstop Andy Weber (.417/.462/.500) has reached base twice in each of the Smokies first three games. A left-handed bat, Weber is still a little inconsistent on routine plays at short, but has average or better defensive tools. His bat has steadily improved as a pro, and it appears he is trending toward a MLB bench job, perhaps as soon as mid-2022. In time, Weber could potentially even claw his way into a platoon starter role.

Advanced A

Quad Cities 8, South Bend 6

Game Recap

The River Bandits jumped on the Cubs early in this one, as starter Derek Casey struggled with control (4 BB, HBP, 5 H in 3 IP). A rough night at 3B for Chase Strumpf (3 errors) didn’t help, leading to a pair of unearned runs. The Cubs made a game of it late, pushing across a two runs in the 7th and again in the 8th, but they were unable to keep the string going in the 9th.

Top Performers

Delvin Zinn: 2-3, R, BB, 2 SB (4, 5)

Cole Roederer: 1-2, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB
Jacob Olson: 2-5, 2B, 2 R
Chase Strumpf: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB

Bryce Windham: 1-4, R, BB
Cayne Ueckert: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Another game, another double for Chase Strumpf. The defense may still be a work in progress, but his bat looks really good so far. I haven’t seen enough yet this year to say where his defense truly is at, but in pre-draft and my looks in 2019 I felt he’d be fine at 2B. Not good, but good enough. Thanks to all the shifting that happens now, 2B is not as demanding as it used to be. I also felt he could handle 1B or maybe even LF. They tried him at 3B last night, which I never considered, but its worth a try despite the rough results on Friday.

A bundle of energy who always plays with a smile on his face, Delvin Zinn has already played multiple positions and swiped 5 bags this season. I’m not sure he’s got a MLB ceiling in his bat, but he is the type of player team’s love to have at the Minor League levels, and he’ll continue to get opportunities for a long time if he wants.

An interesting late round (27) arm in 2019, Cayne Ueckert has displayed plenty of life on his fastball and slider so far. I don’t have radar gun readings on him yet, but he looks to be around 93 to my eye. All six outs he recorded last night came via strike out.

Myrtle Beach 6, Charleston 4

Game Recap

Ryan Reynolds launched a solo homer in the 2nd, then drove in Ed Howard and Yohendrick Pinango on a triple in the 3rd. Howard was on after singling in a run and Pinango after doubling in a run earlier in the inning. Edmond Americaan also scored in the 3rd and then added an insurance run with a solo shot in the 6th.

It was enough of a cushion for the Pelicans to overcome a rough start by Richard Gallardo, who allowed six base runners and three runs in a 41 pitch 1st inning. Jose Albertos (2.2 shutout innings), who looks to be in great shape, and Jake Reindl (2.1 shutout innings) picked up the slack. In all, the Pelicans pen struck out 12 while allowing just 1 run over 8 innings.

Top Performers