Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Alvarez Homers, Caple Cruises, Rojas Extends On-Base Streak

[Travis Klosinski]

Image courtesy of MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE/USA TODAY NETWORK

Farm System at a Glance:

• Iowa Cubs: 0-2 vs. Toledo | Season: 13-17

• Tennessee Smokies: 1-1 @ Chattanooga | Season: 17-11

• South Bend Cubs: 0-2 vs. Fort Wayne | Season: 7-22

• Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 1-1 vs. Delmarva | Season: 11-17

Iowa Cubs (Triple-A) 
May 6: L 5-4 (10 inn.) @ Toledo 
May 7: L 2-1 @ Toledo
The I-Cubs dropped a pair of tightly contested road games despite standout moments from top prospects. On May 6, Owen Caissie launched his fifth home run of the season, while Matt Shaw drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth. Reese McGuire and Ben Cowles continued to find ways to get on base, and Jonathon Long tied things in the ninth with a solo blast before a walk-off HBP in extras ended it.

On Wednesday, Jordan Wicks took the mound for his 2025 Triple-A debut, tossing five scoreless innings and earning Player of the Game honors. James Triantos tied the game in the ninth with a clutch RBI single, and Carlos Pérez showed off the arm by cutting down a runner at second. Still, the bullpen couldn’t hold in the ninth as Toledo walked it off again.

Tennessee Smokies (Double-A) 
May 6: W 6-3 @ Chattanooga 
May 7: L 2-1 @ Chattanooga
Ethan Hearn provided the big swing in Tuesday’s win, crushing a three-run homer to right center for his first of the season. That capped off a six-run outburst for the Smokies, with Haydn McGeary also continuing to rake with multiple hits across both games.

In Wednesday’s matinee, Tennessee couldn’t crack Chattanooga’s pitching. Despite strong bullpen work and another scoreless frame from Ben Leeper, the bats came up short, stranding the tying run on base in the ninth.

South Bend Cubs (High-A) 
May 6: L 14-9 vs. Fort Wayne 
May 7: L 8-4 vs. Fort Wayne
A nine-run first inning doomed South Bend in Tuesday’s series opener, but the offense fought back with 13 hits, including a bases-clearing double from Ivan Brethowr. Jefferson Rojas extended his hit streak to seven games with a triple and now owns a 10-game on-base streak. Edgar Alvarez reached base five times and kept rolling into Game 2.

On Wednesday, Kohl Franklin returned to the mound for the first time in over a year and worked two grinding innings. Alvarez delivered again, launching his first home run at Four Winds Field—a no-doubt shot to right-center. Reggie Preciado and Rojas extended their respective on-base streaks to 11 and 10 games, but an early deficit proved too much for the Cubs to overcome.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A) 
May 6: W 3-1 vs. Delmarva
May 7: L 6-3 (Game 2 of DH) vs. Delmarva
Brooks Caple was dominant in Game 1, tossing five shutout innings with a career-high six strikeouts. Owen Ayers delivered the big hit—a two-run single in the first—and Ty Southisene made an impact in his Pelicans debut, reaching twice and scoring a run. Angel Cepeda opened Game 1 on May 6 with a leadoff walk and his seventh stolen base of the season, while Leonel Espinoza reached base multiple times again.

Game 2 looked promising early behind a solid outing from Hayden Frank and a brief 1-0 lead. But Myrtle Beach collapsed in the eighth and ninth, issuing five walks, hitting three batters, and allowing five runs across the final two frames. Overall, the defense felt loose and uncoordinated into the final frames. Having said all that, The Pelican’s Bat Dog, as always, was on point.

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Be sure to check back later this week as we continue to track standout performances from the Cubs' rising talent across the farm.

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