Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 22

The Cubs tonight agreed to terms with second-round pick James Triantos, a 3B from Madison HS in Vienna, VA. Triatos got a $2.1 million bonus, which is well-above the $1.276 million slot value for his pick.

With Triantos signing, the Cubs have agreed to terms with all of their top ten picks. They also have deals with at least five of then next ten picks. There’s one more, Zach Leigh, of whom we haven’t gotten any word on but since he’s a fifth-year college senior, I would expect him to sign. The other four are high school players who have either expressed their desire to go to college or are extremely likely to go to college at this point.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were clipped by the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland), 4-3.

Joe Biagini started and allowed two runs on three hits over five innings. Biagini walked three and struck out five.

Matt Swarmer threw the next three innings and gave up one run on four hits. The one run scored on a solo home run. Swarmer kept the ball in play as he did not have a walk or a strikeout.

After the I-Cubs tied the game in the top of the ninth, Ben Leeper came on to try to force extra innings. He faced one batter, Trenton Brooks, who hit a walk-off home run off of him.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino went 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI single.

Second baseman Trent Giambrone was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Center fielder Ian Miller was 2 for 5 with an RBI single.

David Bote played the entire game at third base in a rehab assignment and was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 6-3.

Cam Sanders started and took the loss. Sanders allowed three runs on five hits, with all three runs coming in the bottom of the first inning. Sanders struck out an impressive ten batters while walking just two.

Right fielder Darius Hill was 2 for 5 and scored one run.

Shortstop Edwin Figueroa was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Center fielder Christopher Morel also had a 2 for 4 night with one run scored.

First baseman Nelson Maldonado went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks.

Center fielder Brennen Davis was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. He’s not perfect.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 6-4.

Matteo Bocchi started and pitched four innings without allowing a run. He surrendered two hits. He struggled with control as he walked four and hit one batter. Bocchi struck out four.

The win went to Brad Deppermann because Bocchi didn’t pitch five innings. Deppermann allowed one run on three hits over two innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Eury Ramos had a two-inning save. He gave up a run in the eighth inning on two two-out singles and a walk, but he retired the side in order in the ninth. Ramos’s final line was one run on two hits over two innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Catcher Dean Navarez made a big impression in his first game with South Bend. Navarez hit a solo home run in the second inning and added an insurance run with an RBI double in the top of the ninth. Navarez was 2 for 5.

First baseman Tyler Durna went 3 for 6 with one run scored and one RBI.

Second baseman Jake Slaughter went 3 for 4 with two RBI. He was also hit by a pitch.

Left fielder DJ Artis went 2 for 4 with two walks and one run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans rubbed the noses of the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) in it, 15-1. Just yesterday the RiverDogs beat the Pelicans 11-0.

Didier Vargas gave up a solo home run to the third batter of the game and that was the last time Charleston scored. Vargas got the win after allowing one run on five hits over six innings. Vargas struck out two, walked three and hit one batter.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu tied the game with a solo home run in the second inning. It was Nwogu’s sixth home run on the year. Nwogu later tripled and went 3 for 6 with three RBI. he scored twice.

Coming up right after Nwogu, DH Ethan Hearn homered to give the Pelicans the lead. It was the first time all season that the Pelicans hit back-to-back home runs. Hearn hit another solo home run in the third inning, the first two-home-run game of his career. Hearn was 2 for 6. He’s also the first Pelican to hit two home runs in one game this year.

In the fourth inning, first baseman Matt Warkentin hit a two-run home run, his second on the year and first with the Pelicans. Warkentin went 3 for 5 with three runs batted in and three runs scored.

Shortstop Ed Howard went 3 for 5 with a double and a walk. He also stole two bases. Howard had three RBI and scored once.

Second baseman Fabian Pertusz was 3 for 5. He scored two times and drove in two.

Right fielder Yohendrick Pinango was 2 for 6 and scored twice.

Catcher Pablo Aliendo went 1 for 3 with a double, a steal and three walks. Aliendo scored one run.

The Pelicans banged out 19 hits tonight. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Highlights:

ACL Cubs

Were losing 18-2 to the Rockies in the 7th inning when the rains came. They called the game after that.