Travis Klosinski

It was a breakout stretch across the Cubs’ farm system: Cristian Hernandez launched a moonshot, Owen Caissie kept slugging, and Pablo Aliendo nearly willed Knoxville to a walk-off. While South Bend ended its losing streak in emphatic fashion, Myrtle Beach staged a wild comeback, while Cade Horton continued to show why he’s the system’s premier arm. From clutch bombs to lights-out bullpen work, the next wave of Cubs talent is making noise. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Farm System at a Glance: Iowa Cubs (AAA): 0–3 vs. Louisville Knoxville Smokies (AA): 1–1 vs. Pensacola South Bend Cubs (High-A): 3–0 vs. Beloit Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Low-A): 0–1 vs. Kannapolis Triple-A: Iowa Cubs (6–6) Opponent: Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds affiliate) Series Record: 0–2 April 22: Loss, 8–4 The I-Cubs jumped ahead early behind solo home runs from Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, with Reese McGuire’s sac fly tacking on another. Javier Assad turned in a steady start, allowing two earned runs over four innings with four strikeouts. Despite drawing 10 walks, Iowa’s offense couldn’t capitalize late, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 runners on base. A rough eighth inning saw the game slip away as Louisville capitalized on free passes and miscues. April 23: Loss, 1–0 (11 innings) A day later, pitching ruled as Iowa dropped a heartbreaker in extras. Cade Horton dazzled in his second Triple-A start (4 IP, 0 R) earning him player of the game. The bullpen held Louisville scoreless through 10, but the bats couldn’t break through despite chances in the 10th and 11th. Will Benson’s RBI single in the bottom of the 11th walked it off for Louisville. Top Performers: Cade Horton (SP, Apr 23): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K Owen Caissie (RF, Apr 22): HR (4), RBI, BB Kevin Alcántara (CF, Apr 22): HR (2), RBI Moisés Ballesteros (C, Apr 23): 2-for-5 – One of the few consistent bats over both games Next game: Thursday, April 24, 2025 @ Louisville Bats Double-A: Knoxville Smokies (9–7) Opponent: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins affiliate) Series Record: 1–1 April 22: Win, 2–1 Knoxville’s bullpen delivered five shutout innings, and Jaylen Palmer’s eighth-inning RBI groundout pushed the Smokies to a hard-fought win in Pensacola. Hayden Cantrelle reached base three times and swiped two bags, while Parker Chavers notched two hits and played a role in both scoring innings. The Smokies relied on four relievers to preserve the one-run margin, with Zac Leigh and Wil Jensen slamming the door in the final two frames. Top Performers: Hayden Cantrelle (SS): 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2 SB Parker Chavers (LF): 2-for-3, BB Zac Leigh (RP): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0.00 ERA April 23: Loss, 4–3 (10 innings) Pablo Aliendo’s three-run homer tied the game in the ninth, but Knoxville fell 4–3 in extras. The Smokies struck out 17 times and were held scoreless through eight before the late rally. Will Sanders tossed five scoreless innings in his Double-A debut, but a wild pitch and error in the eighth gave Pensacola the edge. Top Performers: Pablo Aliendo (C): 1-for-5, HR (4), 3 RBI – Tied the game with one swing in the ninth Will Sanders (SP): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K – Strong debut for the Cubs' 2023 draft pick Jordan Nwogu (RF): 2-for-3, BB, SB – Reached base three times Jaylen Palmer (CF): 1-for-4, SB (5), R – Sparkplug at the top, added pressure on the bases Next Game: April 24 vs. Pensacola – Series continues High-A: South Bend Cubs (6–11) Opponent: Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins affiliate) Series Record: 3–0 April 22: Win, 8–5 South Bend returned to Four Winds Field and promptly snapped its eight-game losing streak, using a six-run fifth inning to take control in an 8–5 victory over Beloit. Carter Trice’s first home run at home—a three-run shot—was the exclamation point on the rally. Tyler Schlaffer struck out seven and allowed three hits over 4 and 2/3 innings, with a third-inning homer his only blemish. He faced the minimum in three of four full frames. Ivan Brethowr’s two-run single in the third extended his hit streak to five and on-base streak to 13 games. Cristian Hernandez gave South Bend the lead with a two-run double in the fifth, setting the stage for Trice’s towering blast. Chase Watkins, Kenyi Perez, and Vince Reilly closed it out from the bullpen, combining for 4 and 1/3 innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. Full game highlights here. Top Performers: Cristian Hernandez (SS): 2-for-5, 2B (5), 2 RBI, 2 R Carter Trice (1B): 1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, BB – Extended hit streak to 7 games Ivan Brethowr (RF): 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI Tyler Schlaffer (SP): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K – Career-high 20 Ks in three starts April 23: Win, 8–5 South Bend stayed hot at home, plating six runs in the first inning and holding off Beloit late to win their second straight. Ariel Armas crushed a three-run homer to cap a furious opening frame that included back-to-back doubles from Carter Trice and Reivaj Garcia. Cristian Hernandez added a 423 ft. solo shot in the second, and Ivan Brethowr homered in the fourth to extend the lead to 8–3. Luis Rujano started and worked into the fourth before the bullpen held firm behind Sam Thoresen, Marino Santy, and Johzan Oquendo. Carter Trice stayed hot with two more doubles and a walk, while Ariel Armas reached twice and drove in three to pace the offense. Top Performers: Ariel Armas (C): 1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI Carter Trice (1B): 2-for-3, 2 2B (4), RBI, BB Reivaj Garcia (2B): 2-for-3, 2B (2), HBP, 2 RBI – Doubled and scored in the six-run first Cristian Hernandez (SS): 1-for-4, HR (2) – Added a solo blast to his highlight reel Next Game: April 24 vs. Beloit – Scheduled to continue series Low-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (4–3) Opponent: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox affiliate) Series Record: 0–1 April 22: Loss, 8–6 (12 innings) The Pelicans trailed 6–0 entering the ninth but rallied to tie the game with six runs, highlighted by Cole Mathis’s solo homer and Christian Olivo’s game-tying three-run blast. Hayden Frank allowed six runs over five innings with a career-high six strikeouts, while Charlie Hurley and Brayden Risedorph combined for five scoreless frames to push it to extras. Myrtle Beach stranded the tying run in the 12th after Kannapolis pulled ahead with a double and triple, handing the Birds their second extra-inning loss of the year. Top Performers: Christian Olivo (LF): 1-for-6, HR (1), 3 RBI – Game-tying blast in the ninth Cameron Sisneros (DH): 3-for-5, R – Led the team with three hits Charlie Hurley (RP): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 K – Career-high strikeout night April 23: Postponed – Doubleheader Scheduled Wednesday’s game was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a seven-inning doubleheader on Thursday, April 24. Next Game: Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 5:05 PM EDT at Pelicans Ballpark. View full article

Andy Garriola caught fire in West Michigan, homering four times in six games to earn Midwest League Player of the Week honors. The 25-year-old outfielder is the second South Bend Cub in as many weeks to take home the award, following Cristian Hernández — and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Image courtesy of © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Despite a challenging outing against the Whitecaps, the South Bend Cubs didn’t lack for fireworks in West Michigan last week — one bat in particular caught fire. Andy Garriola was named the Midwest League Player of the Week after a dominant six-game series that saw him blast four home runs, including a stretch of three straight games with a homer over the weekend. Garriola becomes the second South Bend Cub in as many weeks to earn the honor, following Christian Hernández, who was recognized the week prior for his scorching stretch at the plate. The back-to-back selections mark a rare feat and highlight the early-season firepower coming out of the South Bend lineup. In his last five games, Garriola is 7-for-20 with 8 RBI, anchoring the middle of the South Bend lineup and supplying critical power in a road set where runs often came at a premium. His most dramatic moment? A towering shot out to right on Saturday night that turned a late deficit into a tied game. Through his first 13 games of the season, Garriola has launched four home runs, driving in nine while slugging .500 with an .783 OPS. The right-handed slugger has long shown raw power, and though his overall numbers are still climbing, his recent hot streak suggests the bat speed and damage potential remain very real for the middle of the SB Cubs lineup. Drafted in the 17th round out of Old Dominion in 2022, Garriola broke out last year with 21 home runs across two levels (Myrtle Beach and South Bend). Now at 25, he’s bringing veteran thump to a younger South Bend roster and showing that his bat still demands attention in a system stacked with high-upside infielders. As the Cubs return home for a six-game set against Beloit, Garriola will look to stay hot at the friendly confines of Four Winds Field. First pitch Tuesday is set for 7:05 PM. View full article

The Iowa Cubs didn’t just go deep on Wednesday: they practically sent baseballs into orbit. Their eight home runs combined for an estimated 2,909 feet of total flight distance. That’s not a typo: nearly 3,000 feet of raw power launched into the Des Moines sky. Image courtesy of © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images To put that into perspective, it’s like scaling the Sears Tower—twice. It's about the length of Navy Pier – which measures roughly 3,000 feet from shoreline to tip. The I-Cubs could’ve just about slugged baseballs from the base of the pier into Lake Michigan No matter how you measure it, the I-Cubs launched their way to tying a team record with their aerial assault. They turned Principal Park into a launchpad, matching a franchise record by belting eight home runs in a commanding 20-6 victory over the St. Paul Saints. After the team built a 7-2 lead through six innings, the seventh became an outright ambush. The Cubs hit five home runs in a single frame (a franchise first) and tacked on two more in the eighth to complete the offensive avalanche. Every home run had its moment, but collectively, the performance became a thunderclap echoing across the Cubs’ farm system. By the end of the seventh, St. Paul’s bullpen had been through the wringer. In a moment that felt less like baseball and more like batting practice, the Saints eventually turned to utility man Anthony Prato to soak up the final outs. His ERA may never recover. The Home Runs, In Order Moises Ballesteros – Solo home run in the 4th inning (his 1st of the game) Watch Ballesteros go deep Ben Cowles – Three-run blast in the 7th See Cowles crush it Carlos Pérez – Solo homer in the 7th Check out Pérez's bomb Chase Strumpf – Solo home run in the 7th (1st of 2) Watch Strumpf’s first shot Owen Caissie – Solo shot in the 7th Catch Caissie’s opposite-field blast Kevin Alcántara – Three-run homer in the 7th Watch Alcántara’s rocket Chase Strumpf – Two-run homer in the 8th (his 2nd of the game) Strumpf’s second homer is worth another look Moises Ballesteros – Two-run shot in the 8th (his 2nd of the game) Ballesteros wasn’t done yet Standout Sluggers Moises Ballesteros: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 5 runs — tying a franchise record for most runs scored in a game earning himself the Player of the Game. Kevin Alcántara: 4-for-6, HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 1 SB — perhaps his most complete game as an I-Cub. Chase Strumpf: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs — a much-needed breakout for the infielder. Carlos Pérez: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI — continuing his strong showing at the plate this season. Ben Cowles: His 3-run shot in the 7th helped kickstart the inning that turned into a blowout. Owen Caissie: Added his second homer of the year with a solo blast that barely needed elevation. Facts From the Game Iowa’s 24 total hits were the most in a game since 2019. Five home runs in one inning is a franchise first — no previous Iowa team had done that at any level. Eight home runs total tied the I-Cubs all-time single-game record (last set in 2008). Every starting position player recorded at least one hit. The I-Cubs scored nine runs in the 7th inning alone, essentially ending the game before the final six outs. And then what? Strumpf quickly proved that he wasn't done. On Thursday, his grand slam helped the I-Cubs win again, this time by a tamer 6-2 score. Friday night, the series with the visiting Saints will continue. We don't yet have a probable starter for the I-Cubs, but Jordan Wicks would be on full rest. View full article

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. 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. 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. View full article

The Cubs' farm system delivered a mixed bag this week, featuring explosive offense in Iowa, electric debuts in Tennessee and South Bend, and a bounce-back win from Myrtle Beach. Cristian Hernandez crushed a go-ahead home run, Grant Kipp spun five no-hit innings in his Double-A debut, and Carlos Pérez launched a grand slam to headline Iowa’s 14-run opener. While some affiliates stumbled out of the gate, timely performances across the system helped close the series strong. Here's a look at the biggest moments from April 8 through April 10. Image courtesy of © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cubs Minor League Report: April 8–10, 2025 Farm System at a glance: Iowa Cubs (AAA): 2–1 for the series, 5-4 for the season Knoxville Smokies (AA): 1–1 for the series, 2-2 for the season South Bend Cubs (High-A): 2–0 for the series, 2-3 for the season Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Low-A): 1–2 for the series, 3-2 for the season Triple-A: Iowa Cubs (5-4) Opponent: Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers affiliate) Series Record: 2–1 April 8: Win, 14–1 Opponent: Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers affiliate) Series Record (to date): 1–0 Game Summary: The Iowa Cubs opened the series in spectacular fashion, pummeling the Mud Hens 14–1 behind an early offensive explosion and strong pitching from Chris Flexen. The first inning set the tone as Carlos Pérez crushed a grand slam to cap a five-run rally, with Flexen and James Triantos adding pressure on the basepaths via steals and sharp baserunning. Flexen worked six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts, holding Toledo scoreless through five before exiting with a commanding lead. The offensive onslaught didn’t stop early—Jonathon Long homered and doubled in a three-RBI day, Greg Allen added a three-run homer of his own, and Moises Ballesteros racked up three extra-base hits, including a triple in the eighth. The Cubs racked up 17 hits, stole five bases, and walked six times, showcasing patience, power, and aggressive baserunning in one of their most complete performances of the season. Top Performers: Carlos Pérez (C): 2-for-6, HR (1), 4 RBI – Grand slam broke the game open in the 1st inning. Moises Ballesteros (1B): 4-for-6, 2B, 3B, 2 R – Three extra-base hits and a steal in a breakout game. Jonathon Long (DH): 2-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB – Crushed a two-run homer and added an RBI double. Greg Allen (LF): 1-for-5, HR (1), 3 RBI – Smashed a three-run homer in the 5th. James Triantos (2B): 3-for-6, 2B, RBI, 2 R, SB – Got on base and stayed in motion all night. Chris Flexen (SP): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K – Commanded the strike zone and worked deep into the game. April 9: Postponed April 10: Loss, 1–0 Opponent: Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers affiliate) Series Record (to date): 2–2 Game Summary: In a tightly contested pitcher’s duel, the Iowa Cubs couldn’t break through offensively and fell 1–0 to the Mud Hens. Cade Horton was sharp in his Triple-A debut, allowing just one run over four innings while striking out six. The lone run came in the 4th inning after Jace Jung and Bligh Madris singles, with the latter driving in the game's only run. The Cubs' bullpen kept the game within reach, with Gavin Hollowell and Brandon Hughes combining for four scoreless innings. Offensively, Iowa struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving six runners on base and going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Ben Cowles provided a spark with a single and a stolen base in the seventh inning, but the rally was short-lived. Top Performers: Cade Horton (SP): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K — strong debut for the 2022 first-rounder. Named Player of The Game on April 10th. Ben Cowles (SS): 1-for-3, SB — reached base and played a role in two double plays. Reese McGuire (C): 1-for-2, BB — productive at the plate, including a bunt single. Christian Franklin (RF): 1-for-3, BB — reached twice and made multiple plays in the outfield. Roster Moves: Ethan Roberts, RHP, was recalled from Triple-A Iowa following Justin Steele’s placement on the 15-day IL.] Double-A: Knoxville Smokies (2-2) Final Series Record: 1–2 Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) Series Record: 1–1 Game Results: April 8: Loss, 4–3 Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas Game Summary: Despite an early 2–0 lead and a solid start from Sam Armstrong, the Smokies couldn’t hold off the Trash Pandas in a tightly contested finale. Pablo Aliendo was the offensive standout, driving in two with a single in the first and adding a solo homer in the fourth to briefly tie the game at 3–3. The Smokies stranded key runners in scoring position late, and Cole Fontenelle continued to torment Tennessee pitching, doubling to lead off the eighth and scoring the game-winning run. A.J. Puckett took the loss after giving up the go-ahead hit, and the Smokies couldn’t mount a comeback in the ninth. Top Performers: Pablo Aliendo (C): 2-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI – Delivered nearly all of Tennessee’s offense. Jaylen Palmer (CF): 2-for-5, 2 SB, R – Stayed hot and remained aggressive on the bases. Ed Howard (SS): 1-for-3 – Clean single in the 7th and solid defense up the middle. April 9: Win, 6–1 Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) Series Record (to date): 1–1 Game Summary: The Smokies secured their first win of the season behind a dominant pitching debut from Grant Kipp, who tossed five hitless innings and kept Rocket City off-balance throughout. Knoxville opened the scoring thanks to a balk that plated Hayden Cantrelle following a leadoff triple. In the sixth, the Smokies struck again with RBI singles from Pedro Ramirez and Jaylen Palmer, who finished with two hits and three RBIs. The bullpen trio of Ben Leeper, Cayne Ueckert, and Zac Leigh combined for four strong innings to preserve the lead, while BJ Murray Jr. added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth. It was a wire-to-wire win built on pitching efficiency and late offensive pressure. Top Performers: Grant Kipp (SP): 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K – Electric Double-A debut. Jaylen Palmer (RF): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, SB – Key RBI knock and aggressive baserunning. Pedro Ramirez (2B): 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, SB – Table-setter at the top. BJ Murray Jr. (1B): 1-for-3, HR (1), BB – Crushed his first homer of the year. April 10: Postponed due to inclement weather. The doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, April 11th. High-A: South Bend Cubs (2-3) Opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) Series Record: 2–0 Game Results: April 8: Win, 5–3 Opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) Series Record (to date): 1–0 Game Summary: South Bend shook off a slow start in the freezing temps of Opening Day. The South Bend Cubs roared to life in the sixth inning, putting up a five-run rally to notch their first win of the season. Tyler Schlaffer kept things close early with a gritty outing, working around traffic and getting help from the defense—including a heads-up pickoff and a pair of double plays. Down 2–0 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Cubs' bats exploded. Christian Hernandez led off with his second double of the night and later scored on Andy Garriola’s RBI single. Then the floodgates opened. Brian Kalmer tripled home two runs to give South Bend the lead, Ivan Brethowr followed with an RBI single, and Reginald Preciado capped the surge with a line-drive RBI double. Peoria scratched one run back in the eighth, but strong relief from Yovanny Cabrera and a game-ending ninth from Vince Reilly locked it down. It was a much-needed comeback for South Bend, who showed resilience and timely hitting to secure their first home victory of 2025. Top Performers: Cristian Hernandez (SS): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R – Set the tone with two doubles and scored the first run of the rally. Brian Kalmer (1B): 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R – Crushed a go-ahead triple in the sixth. Ivan Brethowr (RF): 2-for-3, RBI, R – Collected his first hit of the season and drove in a key insurance run. Tyler Schlaffer (SP): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K – Gutsy effort with help from his infield. Reginald Preciado (2B): 1-for-4, 2B, RBI – Contributed at the plate and turned multiple double plays. April 9: Postponed (Weather) April 10: Win, 3–2 Opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) Series Record (to date): 2–2 Game Summary: In a gritty, grind-it-out contest at Four Winds Field, the South Bend Cubs battled through defensive miscues and late-inning pressure to come away with a narrow 3–2 victory. Pitching dominated the early frames on both sides, with Jaxon Wiggins holding Peoria scoreless through the first three innings while striking out four. Peoria got on the board in the top of the 4th on a throwing error by Wiggins, but South Bend responded in the 5th. After a walk to Ariel Armas, a wild series of defensive lapses allowed Reginald Preciado to reach and score, followed by Carter Trice reaching on another error to give South Bend a 2–1 lead. Peoria tied it 2–2 in the 8th, thanks to a catcher interference call and a throwing error. Still, Burl Carroway held strong to hold Peoria with bases loaded, only giving up one run due to a pitch clock violation on a full count. The Cubs’ bats responded in support of Carroway’s efforts In the bottom of the frame, Cristian Hernandez launched a go-ahead solo home run to left — his first of the season — to reclaim the lead. Sam Thoresen came in for the 9th and worked around a two-out double to shut the door with a game-ending strikeout. Top Performers: Cristian Hernandez (SS): 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R – Clutched up with the go-ahead homer in the 8th and added a single earlier. Reginald Preciado (2B): Reached twice, scored a run, and turned two double plays defensively. Brian Kalmer (1B): 0-for-2, 2 BB – Steady presence at first base and showed patience at the plate. Jaxon Wiggins (SP): 4.0 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K – Solid outing despite a costly error; kept hitters off balance. Sam Thoresen (RP): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K – Nailed the save with poise under pressure. Burl Carraway (RP): 2.0 IP, 1 R (unearned), 1 HBP, 1 BB, 1 K – Worked out of a wild 8th to preserve the tie. Notable: South Bend bounced back from a winless road series in Beloit to notch a strong home opener, enduring freezing temperatures for a crowd that battled alongside the team on Tuesday night. Thursday’s game was locked down thanks to Carraway’s ability to remain cool with bases loaded and persevere to work himself out of that jam in the top of the 8th, coupled with Christian Hernandez’s lead-off home run to start the bottom of the 8th allowed South Bend to take the lead over Peoria and solidify the South Bend Cubs “W” against The Peoria Chiefs. Low-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (3-2) Opponent: Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) Series Record: 1–2 Game Results: April 8: Loss, 0–14 Highlights: It was a tough night for the Pelicans, who managed just two singles in a 14–0 blowout loss. Starter Hayden Frank (0–1) was hit hard, surrendering eight runs on 12 hits over 3.1 innings. Charlie Hurley impressed in his pro debut, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts. Myrtle Beach went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 baserunners. April 9: Opponent: Carolina Mudcats (Brewers affiliate) Loss 9-2 Series Record (to date): 0–2 Game Summary: Carolina jumped ahead early, drawing four walks and cashing in with a three-run single from Luis Peña in the second inning. The Mudcats tacked on three more in the third, helped by another RBI knock from Yannic Walther, who would finish with four RBIs on the night. Myrtle Beach briefly responded with a run in the bottom of the third, as Christopher Paciolla singled in Michael Carico, but the rally stalled. Braylon Payne stole home in the seventh to push the game further out of reach. Walther capped the offensive output with a two-run double in the eighth. The Pelicans offense struggled against Carolina’s bullpen, striking out 12 times and managing just three hits. Their only other run came in the eighth when Leonel Espinoza drove in Angel Cepeda, who had reached on an error. Top Performers: Christopher Paciolla (3B): RBI single, 1-for-4, SB Leonel Espinoza (RF): RBI single, 1-for-5 Luis Peña (CAR): 3-for-5, 3 RBI Yannic Walther (CAR): 2-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI April 10: Win, 6–2 Opponent: Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) Series Record (to date): 1–2 Game Summary: The Pelicans struck early and never looked back, riding a five-run burst through the first two innings to secure their first win of the series. Matt Halbach opened the scoring with an RBI double, followed by a clutch two-run single from Michael Carico to make it 3–0 in the first. In the second, Leonel Espinoza added an RBI single, and Jose Escobar drove in another on a heads-up forceout, extending the lead to 5–0. Nazier Mulé was efficient through five innings, giving up just one run while striking out five. Despite a solo homer in the sixth by Filippo Di Turi, the Pelicans quickly answered with a sixth run thanks to Angel Cepeda’s RBI single and aggressive baserunning by Anderson Suriel. The bullpen held strong, with Yoendris Gonzalez and Brayden Risedorph combining for four innings of one-run ball. Defensively, the Pelicans turned a game-ending double play to seal the win. Top Performers: Nazier Mulé (SP): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K – Poised and in command from the start. Angel Cepeda (SS): 3-for-4, BB, RBI – Reached four times and provided a key insurance run. Anderson Suriel (LF): 3-for-4, R, SB – Energized the offense with hustle and consistent contact. Alexey Lumpuy (RF): 3-for-5, 2 R – Sparked both early rallies with base hits and strong baserunning. Michael Carico (C): 1-for-4, 2 RBI – Delivered a two-run single to cap the first-inning outburst. Matt Halbach (1B): 1-for-4, 2B, RBI – Kicked off the scoring with a liner to the gap. Yoendris Gonzalez (RP): 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K – Bridged the middle innings to maintain the lead. Brayden Risedorph (RP): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K – Locked it down late with a clean eighth and ninth. View full article