Cubs Minor League Weekend Recap: Jaxon Wiggins Makes Triple-A Debut, Pelicans Prep for Playoffs

[Billy Reich]

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 6 – September 7)

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs
  Series vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals): Sweep 6-0
  Season Record: 71-66

• Double-A Tennessee Smokies
  Series vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Win 5-1
  Season Record: 65-65

• High-A South Bend Cubs
  Series vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers): Split 3-3
  Season Record: 56-75

• Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
  Series at Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Lose 2-3
  Season Record: 68-60

Triple-A Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 71-66
Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals)
Series Standing: Sweep 6-0

September 6: The Iowa Cubs kept their streak alive on Saturday as they outran the Storm Chasers 5-3. Jaxon Wiggins made his Triple-A debut for the Cubs as he took the mound to deliver another short but impressive outing against advanced hitters. Wiggins threw three innings, giving up just one run on two hits and struck out four batters. He looked sharp, throwing 46 pitches, with his only blemishes being one walk and a solo home run. Wiggins has rocketed up the Cubs’ system and has morphed from an injury ridden pitcher with relief potential into a bonafide top of the system starting pitching prospect. 

The offense started hot to give the team a lead and then coasted down the stretch. The team put up nine hits to score five runs, three of which came in the first frame.

Jonathan Long (1-for-4, RBI) led off the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning. Dixon Machado (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 BB) follows it up with a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-1 Cubs.

Nate Pearson continued his dominance and picked up his seventh save of the season with two strikeouts in the 9th inning to close the game and extend Iowas win streak to eight games.

September 7: The Iowa Cubs defeated the Storm Chasers on Sunday 5-3, extending their win streak to nine games and completing the sweep. Veteran Austin Gomber took the mound for the Cubs, pitching five innings of one run ball, allowing six hits and one walk to go with his four strikeouts. The 31-year-old lefty was a steadying force for a surging Cubs team, providing much needed depth late into the season.

The offense scored five runs on six hits, managing to get some much needed slug going to lift them past their 14 team strikeouts. James Triantos (1-for-2, 2 RBIs) got the scoring going with a solo home run in the third inning.

The Cubs would go long again in the fourth where Carlos Perez (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) would belt his 27th homer of the year to put the team up 2-0. Perez has been a massive veteran success for the Cubs, filling the hole left behind by Miguel Amaya and Reese McGuire to the tune of a team-leading .976 OPS.

Perez would do it again in the fifth with an RBI double to tack on the insurance runs and make it 4-1 Cubs. He likely would’ve taken home player of the game honors if it wasn’t for Jordan Wicks dealing in relief. Wicks stole the show by stopping the bleeding and pitching three innings of shutout ball where he struck out three and notched his second save of the season.

Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Season Record: 65-65
Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels)
Series Standing: Win 5-1

September 6: The Smokies took out the Trash (Pandas) with an 11-3 win on Saturday. Erian Rodriguez took the bump for Knoxville and has continued his impressive numbers at Double-A, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four. It wasn’t as clean as some of his past outings, but he got the job done and boasts a 2.87 ERA against the higher level of competition.

It was the offense that stole the show as they put up 11 runs on 12 hits as seven of the nine position players tallied at least one knock. Jordan Nwogu (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) led the team in hits and RBIs as he put together one of his best days at the plate this season.

Andy Garriola (3-for-5, 3 RBI) did his best to steal the spotlight from his teammate, driving in three of his own and launching his second home run of the season to give the Smokies a lead that they would run with.

September 7: The Smokies took the Trash (Pandas) to the curb once again on Sunday with a 3-1 victory. Yenrri Rojas continues to highlight the ceiling amongst the next crop of pitching talent for the organization as he pitched a gem in his start. He went four innings, allowing just one run on two hits, and struck out five batters, lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.25. Rojas has been a wild success story. After not making it out of rookie ball in 2022 or 2023, he got his first taste of Low-A ball in 2024 where he worked predominantly as a reliever. He started this season back in rookie ball before catapulting himself to Double-A. 

The offense wasn’t as explosive today as it was yesterday, but it didn’t need to be. They racked up three runs on six hits with most of the damage coming from the top of the lineup.

Pedro Ramirez went 2-for-4 and BJ Murray Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double, but it was Pablo Aliendo who stole the show and did all of the damage. With Ramirez and Murray Jr. on the bags, Aliendo launched his 13th long ball of the season to put the Smokies up 3-0, a lead they would hold for the rest of the game thanks to their pitching staff.

High-A South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 56-75
Series Opponent: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers)
Series Standing: Split 3-3

September 6: The Cubs were bit by the Timber Rattlers, dropping Saturday's game 6-4. Koen Moreno took the mound for the Cubs and pitched a messy three innings, but limited the damage to just one run as he allowed three hits and three walks to go with his four strikeouts. It was reliever Cole Reynolds who picked up the loss after giving up four runs in long relief. He threw 2 ⅓ innings, giving up four runs on three hits, two walks, and a home run. Reynolds advances to 1-3 on the season to go with his 8.31 ERA.

The offense was slow out of the gate today, putting up four runs on eight hits. Edgar Alvarez (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) gave the Cubs the lead early thanks to a two run double in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1 Cubs. The Cubs would go down 6-2, but Reginald Preciado (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) would spark some hope late by hitting his third homer of the season to cut the deficit to three.

Preciado would add an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to try and spark a rally, but the Cubs would go quietly 6-4.

September 7: The Cubs bit back on Sunday, taking down the Timber Rattlers 5-1 thanks to an unbelievable start from Kenten Egbert. After a rocky last outing, Egbert put on a clinic today, taking the mound and falling just short of a complete game shutout. He went 8 ⅔ innings of shutout ball before allowing his first run in the bottom of the ninth, missing the CGSO by just one out. It was a stellar performance from Egbert, who ended the South Bend season on a high note.

The offense didn’t need to do much, but the Cubs’ 2025 draft picks put up runs anyways. Logan Poteet, the Cubs’ 17th-round pick, went 2-4 with 3 RBIs as he launched the first home run of his pro career.

2025 fifth-rounder Kade Snell added on another with an RBI single in the sixth. Both rookies have started out slow but ended the season on a high note.

Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 68-60
Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals)
Series Standing: Split 3-3

September 6: The Pelicans doused the Fireflies in their final regular season game of the year, 10-5. Ethan Flanagan made a clean start, throwing three innings of no-run ball, allowing just two hits and striking out another two. Brayden Spears picked up the win in long relief; he tossed three innings and struck out five without allowing a run.

The offense showed the heart they’ll need to advance in the playoffs. After going down 5-0, the Pelicans surged back in the sixth. Alexey Lumpuy (1-for-4) continued his late season tear with an RBI triple to cut the deficit to three.

Matt Halbach (1-for-5) would add an RBI ground out and Angel Cepeda would score on a balk to bring the deficit to just one run. Rookie Kane Kepley (2-for-2) stays hot and tied the game with an RBI single. Ty Southisene would capitalize by ripping a three-run triple to cap off an eight-run sixth inning that would give the Pelicans the lead and the win.

The Pelicans gained some much needed momentum as they take the final game from the Fireflies—the same team they tee off against in a best-of-three playoff series tomorrow.

September 7: Game was cancelled due to weather.

Notable Promotions / Injury Notes

• SS Ed Howard assigned to South Bend Cubs from Knoxville Smokies.

• SS Rafael Morel assigned to Iowa Cubs from South Bend Cubs.

• Iowa Cubs activated SS Rafael Morel.

• Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Chris Kachmar to the Development List.

• Iowa Cubs transferred C Caleb Knight to the Development List.

• Iowa Cubs activated RHP Jack Neely from the 7-day injured list.

• Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Will Sanders to the Development List.

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