With all of the full season teams either currently in first place or holding a tie for it, the minor league season has a chance to extend across the organization. While Daytona and Iowa had rocky or up and down starts, both have righted the ship, especially Daytona, who was a bad team in the season’s first half. Even more interesting about the fact that each team has a chance to compete in their league’s playoffs is that they all have the ability to do so in spite of a lot of mobility in players and fluidity in their rosters. If that speaks to anything, it is to the talent in the organization, being able to replace good players with more good players.
Injuries of Note: Cael Brockmeyer (7 Day DL), Hunter Cervenka (7 Day DL), Edgar Gonzalez (7 Day DL), Jonathan Sanchez (7 Day DL), Jose Arias (7 Day DL), Nathan Maldonado (60 Day DL), Brad Renner (60 Day DL), Danny Lockhart (7 Day DL), Anthony Prieto (60 Day DL), Austin Reed (60 Day DL), Julio Rodriguez (7 Day DL), Rubi Silva (7 Day DL), Yasiel Balaguert (7 Day DL),James Pugliese (7 Day DL), Will Remillard (7 Day DL), Nathan Dorris (7 Day DL), Lance Rymel (7 Day DL), Jeffrey Antigua (7 Day DL), Edwardo Figeroua (7 Day DL), Tony Zych (7 Day DL), John Andreoli (7 Day DL), Dae-Eun Rhee (7 Day DL)
Boise Hawks
Record This Season: 9-11; 3rd Place (-5.0) NWL South
The Hawks have been a short stay this season for some of the most promising young players in the Cubs’ system. The latest to be promoted out of Boise is Mark Zagunis, who was promoted to Kane County on Thursday afternoon. Zagunis ends his time in short season ball with a .290/.420/.414 with 2 HRs and 28 RBI.
Kane County Cougars
Record This season: 31-20, 1st Place (+ 1.0) MWL West; Won MWL West 1st Half Division Championship
Victor Caratini, acquired in the James Russell/ Emilio Bonifacio trade, has joined the Cougars as they push into the postseason. In his 8 games, he’s posted a .226/.294/.323 line since joining the organization. Of course, all of the small sample size caveats apply to Caratini’s brief stint in Kane County, and looking at his numbers this season as a whole (.274/.347/.398) shows that there is likely some adjusting going on.
Daytona Cubs
Record This Season: 29-20, 1st Place (+3.5) FSL North
As it is getting a bit old consistently talking about how well Billy McKinney has been hitting (.321/.420/.446) since joining the organization. Kyle Schwarber, after lighting up the Northwest and Midwest Leagues, has found some competition in the Florida State League. He has posted a very human .250/.389/.375 since joining the D-Cubs. Again, small sample size and the notorious pitcher’s league caveats apply to Schwarber here. His slash line shouldn’t raise any concern among fans…it merely shows, in part, that Schwarber was entirely too advanced for his early competition and he is now facing players who are more at his speed.
Tennessee Smokies
Record This Season: 26-26 1st Place ( — ) Southern League North
C.J. Edwards makes his third start since returning from shoulder inflammation on Thursday night, where he expects to throw roughly 80 pitches. He’s allowed 4 earned in 7 1/3 in two starts since returning from his lengthy absence from the Smokies’ rotation. Ultimately, the goal is to continue to keep Edwards healthy and throwing throughout the remainder of the Southern League season, and potentially into the Arizona Fall League to make up missed innings. The results, while not all that good in his first two outings, are to be expected against such advanced competition after not pitching for so long. Coupling those factors with the fact that it’s only been 7 innings, and there is nothing to worry about as it relates to one of the Cubs’ top young arms, as long as the arm continues to feel good after these outings.
Iowa Cubs
Record This Season: 66-60 1st Place ( — ) PCL American North
It took 55 days after Kris Bryant was promoted from the Southern League to Iowa to be caught in the home run standings. Scott Schebler, in the Dodgers’ organization, caught and passed Bryant this week. Like Bryant, Jorge Soler has been excellent since his promotion to AAA, as well. His .277/.390/.631 slash line, paired with his 5 HRs and 12 walks in only 21 games has been nothing short of a seamless transition from AA. The I-Cubs being in the mix for a playoff spot could keep Soler in Iowa a bit longer, but it is still a somewhat safe bet that Soler will make his MLB debut sometime this September.
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