Cubs Minor League Report, April 15–16: Horton Dominates, Ballesteros Breaks Out, & Murray Makes History

[Travis Klosinski]

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games were rough on the Cubs’ farm system, with losses piling up across the affiliates. But standout efforts still broke through — Cade Horton earned his first Triple-A win, BJ Murray Jr. made history in Tennessee, and Moises Ballesteros erupted in Iowa’s 20-run outburst. Cristian Hernandez stayed steady in South Bend, and a few emerging names continued to make their case early in the season.

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Cubs Affiliate Overview (April 15–16)

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs
  Series vs. St. Paul Saints: Tied 1–1
  Season Record: 9–6

• Double-A Tennessee Smokies
  Series vs. Chattanooga Lookouts: Tied 1–1
  Season Record: 5–4

• High-A South Bend Cubs
  Series vs. West Michigan Whitecaps: Whitecaps lead 2–0
  Season Record: 4–7

• Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
  Series vs. Augusta Green Jackets: Green Jackets lead 2–0
  Season Record: 4–7

Triple-A Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 9–6
Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (6–8)
Series Standing: Series tied 1–1

April 15: The Iowa Cubs dropped a tight 2–1 opener to the St. Paul Saints. Right-hander Javier Assad, on a rehab assignment, pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts. Tyson Miller also contributed a perfect inning in relief during his rehab stint.

Offensively, Carlos Pérez led the charge with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and a run scored. Catcher Reese McGuire drove in the team's sole run with an RBI single. Third baseman Jonathon Long continued his strong start to the season, going 2-for-4 and raising his batting average to .320.

April 16: The Iowa Cubs dominated the St. Paul Saints with a 20–6 victory, highlighted by Cade Horton's stellar pitching. Horton delivered five innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit and striking out six, showcasing his command and velocity. The offense exploded with eight home runs, including two each from Matt Mervis and Chase Strumpf. Moises Ballesteros led the charge, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, and three RBIs. Kevin Alcántara also shined with a 4-for-6 performance, including two doubles, a home run, five RBIs, and a stolen base. Other home run contributors included Ben Cowles, Carlos Pérez, and Owen Caissie.

Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Season Record: 5–4
Series Opponent: Chattanooga Lookouts
Series Standing: Series tied 1–1

April 15th: Tennessee opened their first home stand at Covenant Health Park in style, earning a 5–4 win over Chattanooga. Grant Kipp was sharp across five innings, striking out six while allowing just one run.

BJ Murray Jr. made history by launching the first home run at the new park, a two-run shot in the third inning. He reached base three times in total, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Check out his historic at bat here: BJ Murray Jr.’s Historic Home Run. Catcher Casey Opitz added a go-ahead two-run homer, while Jordan Nwogu chipped in with a 2-for-3 showing that included a triple.

April 16: The Smokies fell 12–1 in a lopsided loss to Chattanooga. Starter Nick Hull gave up seven earned runs over four innings. BJ Murray Jr. drove in the only run with an RBI single in the first inning. The offense was otherwise quiet, managing just four hits on the night.

High-A South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 4–7
Series Opponent: West Michigan Whitecaps
Series Standing: Whitecaps lead 2–0

April 15: South Bend fell 2–1 in 10 innings despite a strong start from Tyler Schlaffer, who struck out eight over four innings. Cristian Hernandez singled, stole two bases, and scored the lone Cubs run, while Brian Kalmer reached base four times.

April 16: The Cubs hit choppy waters against the Whitecaps in a 17–3 loss as the bullpen was blown out, surrendering 14 runs in the final four innings. Ivan Brethowr extended his on-base streak to 10 games with two hits and an RBI, and Andy Garriola launched his first home run of the season. Hernandez added a single and turned multiple clean plays at short.

Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 4–7
Series Opponent: Augusta Green Jackets
Series Standing: Green Jackets lead 2–0

April 15: Myrtle Beach fell 4–1 to the Augusta Green Jackets. Leonel Espinoza provided the lone offense with a solo home run. Starter Hayden Frank impressed, allowing one run on one hit over five innings with six strikeouts.

April 16: The Pelicans lost 11–4 to Augusta. Cole Mathis went 2-for-4 with two doubles, and Matt Halbach added a two-run double and a stolen base. The pitching staff struggled, allowing 11 runs on 10 hits and seven walks.

Notable Promotions / Injury Notes

• Shortstop Jefferson Rojas was activated from the injured list and rejoined South Bend.

• The Cubs signed Corey Joyce and assigned him to Double-A Tennessee.

• Cristian Hernandez was named Midwest League Player of the Week after going 10-for-22 with a homer and three RBI last week against Peoria.

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System Standouts of the Week

Hitter:
BJ Murray Jr. (Double-A Tennessee) – 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB; launched the first home run in Covenant Health Park history.

Pitcher:
Cade Horton (Triple-A Iowa) – 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 6 K; picked up his first Triple-A win with a dominant outing in Iowa’s 20-run explosion.

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What to Watch Next Week

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs: Keep an eye on Moises Ballesteros, who recently delivered a standout performance, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, and three RBIs in a 20–6 victory over St. Paul. Additionally, Kevin Alcántara is showing promising form, contributing significantly to the team's offensive output.

• Double-A Tennessee Smokies: Monitor BJ Murray Jr., who made history by hitting the first home run at the new Covenant Health Park. His performance could be a catalyst for the Smokies as they continue their series against Chattanooga.

• High-A South Bend Cubs: Watch for Cristian Hernandez, who has been a consistent presence at shortstop and is contributing offensively. Also, Andy Garriola recently hit his first home run of the season, indicating potential for increased power at the plate.

• Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Keep an eye on Cole Mathis, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles in a recent game, and Matt Halbach, who added a two-run double and a stolen base. Their performances could be key as the Pelicans aim to rebound in their series against Augusta.

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