Cubs Minor League Weekend Recap: Cristian Hernandez Slugs, Yency Almonte and Caleb Kilian Return

[Billy Reich]

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Cubs Affiliate Overview (August 9 – August 10)

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs
  Series at St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Loss 2-4
  Season Record: 55-58

• Double-A Tennessee Smokies
  Series vs. Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers): Split 3-3
  Season Record: 51-55

• High-A South Bend Cubs
  Series vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres): Win 5-1
  Season Record: 45-62

• Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
  Series vs. Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): Win 3-2
  Season Record: 54-50

Triple-A Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 55-58
Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins)
Series Standing: Loss 2-4

August 9: The Iowa Cubs were beaten by the Saints in devastating fashion. After leading the entire game, the Cubs blew a two-run lead to get walked off in the bottom of the ninth after closer Gavin Hollowell gave up three hits and three runs in just ⅔ of an inning of work.

The bullpen was handed a great position as starter Spencer Turnbull pitched five innings, striking out five batters without allowing a single hit. Things quickly went south from there as Tom Cosgrove and Luke Little each gave up runs in their appearances, and Hollowell just wasn’t able to shut the game down. 

The offense did its best to keep the team in the game despite only garnering five hits on the day. Kevin Alcantara started the team off with a three run home run to deep center field to score Jonathan Long and Carlos Perez.

The team went quiet from there until Owen Caissie pounded his 21st homer of the season to right center field to increase the lead to 4-1.

Caissie is now one homer away from tying his career high of 22 in a single season. While his strikeout rate is still higher than just about everyone would like to see, the 23-year-old slugger is putting up career highs in slug (.564) and OPS (.954).

August 10: The Iowa Cubs were struck down by the Saints once again in devastating fashion. After opening up to an early lead and then tying the game in the sixth, the Saints rallied to take the lead and shut the Cubs down in the home stretch.

Jordan Wicks took the mound for Iowa today and continued to show the consistency he’s displayed since coming back to the rotation on July 6. Wicks kept the Saints humble, throwing four and ⅔ innings while allowing only one earned run on three hits. His command was sharp, striking out four and walking none. Wicks has been on a nice run here, in his last eight starts since returning to Iowa, he’s never given up more than two runs in a start and his appearances are slowly getting longer. He’s managed to lower his ERA to 3.61 on the season and remind us of his potential despite his poor showing in the majors earlier in the year.

The Cubs took the lead on offense early thanks to a wild pitch that scored Jonathan Long in the fourth.

After coughing the lead back up, Long scores again by blasting a solo home run to right center field to tie the game back up. Long would finish the day going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Season Record: 51-55
Series Opponent: Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers)
Series Standing: Split 3-3

August 9: The Smokies got popped by the Shuckers, dropping the game on Saturday 4-2. Nick Dean took the mound for Knoxville and quickly gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in just two innings of work. Dean picked up his fourth loss of the season and raised his ERA to 5.90. The bullpen would settle in promptly after Deans hook, with Tyler Santana hurling three innings of no-run and one=-hit ball. Tommy Romero almost mimicked the line, going another three innings but giving up one run that could’ve been worse if it wasn’t for a spectacular play by third baseman Pedro Ramirez.

The offense tried to have some fight in them but ultimately fell short after mustering up just four hits and six strikeouts on the day. Jordan Nwogu would go 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the eighth at the bottom of the lineup, but the only other run scored would come from an RBI forceout later that inning from Brett Bateman.

August 10: The Smokies ride a hot inning and a solid day of pitching to a 3-2 win over the first place Shuckers. Tyler Schlaffer had a stand out game since being called up to Double-A a few weeks ago. Today Schlaffer went six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters. He gave up a homer and two earned runs, but lowered his ERA to 3.00 in his first season at Knoxville and notched a quality start for the team. 

The offense managed to do just enough today, getting hot for a three run fifth inning to give themselves a one run lead that would eventually hold for the win. Andy Garriola knocked an RBI single to lead off the scoring and load the bags. Jefferson Rojas would step to the plate and take a hit by pitch to drive in a run and tie up the game. Not to be outdone, Brett Bateman took a hit by pitch himself to drive in the winning run. It’s not fancy, but it’ll do.

High-A South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 45-62
Series Opponent: Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres)
Series Standing: Win 5-1

August 9: The Cubs out steeled the TinCaps to take home a 4-1 win. Starter Evan Aschenbeck continues to surprise for South Bend this year. He put up another quality start today, pitching six innings, allowing just one run on five hits and lowering his ERA to 2.65. Reliever Yency Almonte made his first appearance for the Cubs organization after suffering season ending shoulder surgery in 2024 after being acquired alongside Michael Busch in an offseason trade. Almonte looked good today, pitching two innings of relief, striking out three batters and walking just one without letting up a single hit. 

The South Bend offense only notched four runs, but they racked up 11 hits and consistently kept men on base. Cristian Hernandez kicked off the scoring with a two run blast in the third inning.

Reginald Preciado would tack on an RBI double the following inning to score Drew Bowser. 

August 10: The Cubs doffed the TinCaps with a 4-2 win and a resounding series victory. Yenrri Rojas continues to turn heads this season as he’s been dominating in his High-A start. In his last three appearances at the level he’s accumulated a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings of work and racked up 16 strikeouts. Today was no different—he logged five innings pitched, no runs, three hits, and six strikeouts on the day. Rojas has caught fire in his age 21 season after starting the year in rookie ball.

Caleb Kilian made a return to the field for the organization for the first time after wowing fans in spring training (again). This seems to be a carousel with Kilian: add new pitches/top speed, impress in spring training/the upper minors, get injured/blown up in the majors, rinse and repeat. Fans were excited to see Kilian take the mound today only to watch him threaten the win by giving up two runs on two hits in two innings.

The offense did enough to keep the Cubs on top. After an RBI ground out from Edgar Alvarez in the first and a fielders choice RBI from Ariel Armas in the fifth, the Cubs added some cushion thanks to a red hot Cristian Hernandez who added another home two-run home run to his stats this season to put the team up 4-2.

Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 54-50
Series Opponent: Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals)
Series Standing: Win 3-2

August 9: The Pelicans wings were clipped by the Nationals as they couldn’t hold on and ultimately dropped the series finale in the 10th inning 7-6. Ethan Flanagan struck out five batters in five innings, but took a step back from his recent dominance, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks. The team got two blown saves in a row where Charlie Hurley allowed a run on two walks and a wild pitch followed by Ethan Bell loading the bases with three walks in just ⅓ of an inning. Landon Ginn tried to clear the mess but ended up with the loss after walking two and giving up a sac fly to lose the game.

The Cubs put up a fight on offense and never rolled over, totalling 11 hits and six runs on the game. Angel Cepeda led off the rally with an RBI single in the second, followed by an RBI single from Justin Stansky that would score Cepeda and tie the game.

Matt Halbach added an RBI single in the fifth to retake the lead. Angel Cepeda once again played hero with a go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the seventh to boost the Pelicans to a 5-4 lead. Cepeda was the offensive MVP of the night, coming in clutch on multiple occasions, going 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and a run.

After falling behind again, Ty Southisene would tie the game up at 6-6 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, but the team couldn’t capitalize and would end up picking up the loss after the back and forth dogfight.

August 10: Today’s game was cancelled due to rain.

Notable Promotions / Injury Notes

• 3B Nicky Lopez assigned to Iowa Cubs

• SS Christopher Paciolla assigned to South Bend Cubs from ACL Cubs

• Iowa Cubs sent RHP Caleb Kilian on rehab assignment to South Bend Cubs

• ACL Cubs released RHP Wilme Mora

• ACL Cubs released LHP Miguel Cruz

• ACL Cubs released LHP Wilson Cunningham

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