The Cubs announced that they have signed all 21 picks from the recent draft. It’s the third time in the last four years the Cubs came to terms with all of their draft picks.
The Cubs have also signed the following undrafted free agents, listed with their college team.
Outfielder Michael Gupton Memphis
Catcher Jhoander Irigoyen Tampa
First baseman Blake Bevis Mississippi State
Catcher Colin Hynek North Carolina
Irigoyen has been assigned to Low-A Myrtle Beach. Hynek has been assigned to Double-A Knoxville.
The other two went to the ACL Cubs, whose season is over but they can still play in the unofficial games going on down there.
With those players under contract, it’s Black Tuesday for many others as the Cubs needed to make roster room for the new players. The following players were released:
Outfielder Edward Vargas
Right-hander Ben Johnson
Right-hander Henry Cone
Catcher Dillon Granadillo
Right-hander Kenton Egbert
Catcher Casey Opitz has retired. I wouldn’t be surprised if Opitz has a coaching job lined up somewhere, either with the Cubs or elsewhere.
Now for some movement.
Catcher Ethan Hearn was promoted from Double-A Knoxville to Triple-A Iowa.
Left-hander Luis Peralta rejoins Iowa from the Development List.
Right-hander Grayson Moore moves from High-A South Bend to Double-A Knoxville.
Right-hander Yoendris Gonzalez has been promoted to High-A South Bend from Myrtle Beach.
Outfielder Geuri Lubo has also been promoted to South Bend from Myrtle Beach.
Outfielder Jan Luis Reyes goes from the ACL Cubs to Myrtle Beach.
Shortstop Corey Nunez, the Cubs’ 14th-round pick, has been assigned to Myrtle Beach.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were run off the rails by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees), 6-3. It was the first time Iowa has played Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since 1990.
It was a very good start tonight for Jace Beck, who gave the I-Cubs five scoreless innings on four hits. Beck struck out two and walked no one.
The bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, however. Antoine Kelly grabbed the loss after pitching the eighth inning and allowing three runs. Kelly gave up four hits and no walks in his one inning of work, but he did hit a batter. Kelly struck out two.
Catcher Owen Ayers hit his first Triple-A home run with the bases empty in the fourth inning. It was Ayers’ 23rd home run overall. Ayers was 1 for 4.
First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
Right fielder Kevin Alcántara extended his on-base streak to 37 games, going 1 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. He scored one run.
Ayers home run.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies were extinguished by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins), 3-2.
Connor Schultz started, gave up three runs over 3.2 innings, and took the loss. Schultz gave up six hits and walked five while striking out four.
The Smokies only managed four hits. DH Miguel Useche went 1 for 1 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.
Catcher Ariel Armas was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored both Smokies runs.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were boarded and seized by the Lake County Captains (Guardians), 7-5.
It was a rough start for Mason McGwire, who took the loss after getting knocked around for six runs on five hits over 3.1 innings. Three of those five hits were home runs. McGwire walked four and struck out one.
Left fielder Kade Snell hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. It was Snell’s third home run this year. Snell went 2 for 4.
Catcher Logan Poteet got South Bend a run closer with a solo home run in the top of the eighth. It was Poteet’s second High-A home run and 16th overall. Poteet went 1 for 4 and scored twice.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was 2 for 5 with a steal.
Surprising power out of Snell here.
Poteet’s home run.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bitten by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 6-2.
The Birds got a solid start out of Hayden Frank, who scattered seven hits for one run over four innings. Frank did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Freddy Rodriguez’s Pelicans debut did not go well. He relieved Frank in the fifth and took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Rodrigue walked four and struck out three.
Pelicans had just four hits. Left fielder Eli Lovich had an RBI single in the sixth inning and then came around to score on a wild pitch. Lovice was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Lovich’s single and the wild pitch.
