A week after losing former top prospectJefferson Rojas at the MLB trade deadline, the Knoxville Smokiescollected a series win before their Aug. 11-16 return to Covenant Health Park for a six-game series with the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
The new-look Smokies will face a former Vols pitcher in the series, as national champion Nate Snead returns to Knoxville with Rocket City for the first time since being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2025.
A 6-foot-2 right-hander, Snead has started 12 games (3-5) for the Trash Pandas this season and has a 4.36 ERA across 53.2 Double-A innings. He pitched 5.1 innings of two-run baseball June 10 in Chattanooga, his first game back in Tennessee.
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In addition to the
Rojas trade, the Smokies also lost shortstop Ed Howard and outfielder Jordan Nwogu to Triple-A promotions, along with pitchers Evan Taylor and Tyler Santana. Knoxville received the Cubs' No. 4 prospect, Kane Kepley, from High-A South Bend, as well as infielder Dom Krupinski and pitchers Jackson Brockett and Vince Reilly.
With Kepley immediately placed into the leadoff spot, the new Smokies helped lead Knoxville to a 4-2 road series win over Chattanooga last week. Kepley reached base eight times in three games, while Krupinski put together a two-homer game in his Double-A debut. Brockett earned a win in his first appearance.
In addition to Snead, the Rocket City rotation also includes right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner, the No. 2 pick of the 2025 MLB Draft. Bremner was called up Aug. 4 and has just one Double-A start under his belt: a four-run outing across four innings. He has tallied 69 strikeouts throughout 52.1 innings in the minor leagues.
With Rocket City leading the Southern League North in the second half, the upcoming series in Knoxville could be a divisional round playoff preview. The Smokies won the division's first-half championship, guaranteeing postseason baseball at Covenant Health Park.
Around the Horn in the Chicago Cubs organization
CHICAGO CUBS (MLB): The Cubs have gone 6-1 since the trade deadline, including a three-game sweep over the Dodgers to spoil superstar pitcher Tarik Skubal's first start with his new team. Chicago, 5.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, is led by former Smokies outfielder and NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong, who batted .360 over the past week with a 1.147 OPS. He also scored the game-winning run in an extra-inning affair with Toronto on Aug. 6.
IOWA CUBS (Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa): Iowa received a load of Smokies players after multiple minor leaguers were dealt to help the parent club. It opened the door for outfielder Jordan Nwogu to ramp up his return from the 60-day injured list with Iowa, where he recorded one hit in five games.
SOUTH BEND CUBS (High-A affiliate in South Bend, Indiana): Josiah Hartshorn, a 19-year-old phenom ranked as the top prospect in the Cubs' system, is putting himself in Double-A call-up conversations. Hartshorn batted .467 with a 1.504 OPS last week, reaching base 12 times in five games. Both Knoxville and South Bend have already clinched playoff spots, so Hartshorn should have an opportunity to be put in pressure situations regardless.
MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (Single-A affiliate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina): Ethan Conrad, a first-round pick in 2025, got his footing beneath him with a 10-for-25 (.400) week and two home runs. He finished the week with back-to-back three-hit performances against the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals) to win the series.
Extra, extra: Former Smokies outfielder Brett Bateman, who was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline, made his Major League Baseball debut Aug. 7. His first big league hit came on the first pitch he saw: a double off three-time MLB All-Star Zach Wheeler.
Smokies record in Southern League North
The Smokies have already clinched a playoff spot by capturing the first-half title and have fallen to second place in the division for the first time in the second half.
Southern League North standings
- Rocket City Trash Pandas (21-18 second half, 56-51 overall)
- Knoxville Smokies (20-19 second half, 58-50 overall)
- Birmingham Barons (17-22 second half, 43-65 overall)
- Chattanooga Lookouts (14-25 second half, 51-57 overall)
Southern League South standings
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos (23-16 second half, 59-49 overall)
- Columbus Clingstones (21-18 second half, 50-53 overall)
- Montgomery Biscuits (20-19 second half, 55-53 overall)
- Biloxi Shuckers (20-19 second half, 55-49 overall)
** Records reflect the standings as of Aug. 10.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Smokies are back in Knoxville and will face this former Vols pitcher
