Right-hander Jozhan Oquendo was promoted to Double-A Knoxville from High-A South Bend.
Right-hander Luis Martinez-Gomez was promoted to High-A South Bend from Low-A Myrtle Beach.
Smokies right-hander Jake Brentz was released.
The deadline for signing draft picks has passed and the Cubs signed 19 of 20 draftees. As expected, 19th-round pick, infielder Caleb Barnett, did not sign. So far the first time in a few years, the Cubs did not spend to the 105 percent of their bonus pool, which is the maximum
a team can spend without draft pick penalties. They instead spent 104.7 percent.
As far as Hug Watch goes, every prospect who was scheduled to play played and no one left a game early. Except Miguel Amaya, but that was planned and routine.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost to Indianapolis (Pirates), 5-3.
It was an encouraging start from Kenta Maeda, who allowed just one run on four hits over six innings. The one run came on a solo home run by Cam Devanny. Maeda struck out seven and walked no one.
On the other hand, it was a bad outing for a rehabbing Porter Hodge. Hodge got rocked for four runs on two hits and two walks over just a third of an inning. Hodge did strike out one while picking up the loss.
First baseman Jonathon Long hit a solo home run in the second inning, his 16th of the lear. Long went 1 for 4 with two total RBI.
Miguel Amaya caught the first five innings of this game on a rehab assignment and went 1 for 2. He did have one passed ball.
The long arm of Jonny Long.
412 FEET FOR JONATHON LONG!
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 30, 2025
1-1 tie game pic.twitter.com/SoAMpZmsZK
Nice reflexes by Maeda.
WHAT A CATCH BY KENTA MAEDA! pic.twitter.com/svhj9oRAJn
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 30, 2025
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 13-6.
Sam Armstrong gave up a two-run home run to the second batter he faced in the bottom of the first, but then not much else after that. Armstrong’s final line was two runs on three hits over four innings. Armstrong struck out eight and walked just two. He did hit one batter.
Tyler Santana was awarded the win because Armstrong didn’t go five innings. Santana allowed three runs on three hits over two innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Catcher Casey Opitz hit a grand slam in the third inning, his third home run of the year. Opitz went 2 for 5 with five total RBI.
In the sixth inning, first baseman BJ Murray Jr. hit his 15th home run of the year with a runner on first. Murray was 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice.
Left fielder Parker Chavers doubled twice and walked once in a 2 for 4 night. Chavers scored two runs and drove home two runs.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas went 2 for 5 with a two-run double in the second. Rojas went 2 for 5 and scored one run.
DH Corey Joyce was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had one RBI and scored twice.
Second baseman Reivaj Garcia was 2 for 5 and scored one run.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were kidnapped by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 2-0.
Connor Schultz was the victim of non-support, as he got the loss after allowing just one run on seven hits over six innings. Schultz walked two and struck out five.
South Bend had three hits, all singles, and committed three errors. Shortstop Cristian Hernandez went 1 for 2 with two walks.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bitten by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 4-2.
Starter Ronny Lopez kept the RiverDogs scoreless over the first five innings, allowing just three hits. Lopez walked two and struck out two.
Luis A. Reyes came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and protect a 2-0 Pelicans lead. Instead, he got hammered for four runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman without retiring a single batter.
The Pelicans scored both of their runs in the seventh inning on doubles by center fielder. Leonel Espinoza and left fielder Jose Escobar. Both players were 1 for 4 with an RBI. Escobar drove home Espinoza.
Second baseman Ty Southisene was 2 for 4.
Espinoza’s double.
Leo for the lead!!!! pic.twitter.com/b0i7URzOE6
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 30, 2025
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