Cubs Insider Weekly Farm Report: 5/18 – 5/24

AAA: Iowa Cubs (4-1 record on the week)

Iowa got the bats going, scoring 36 runs in the 5 games played last week.

Javier Baez continued his improved play going 8-20 st the plate while smacking 3 home runs. Baez also drove in 6 and showed some patience, walking 3 times. His slash line at the end of Sunday sat .322/.404/.540.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva had a bit of an up-and-down week, including two 4-hit games and three hitless games. Overall for the week, Villanueva went 8-21 with a double and 4 runs scored.

Rubi Silva made an impact in a smaller sample. The Cuban outfielder had only 11 official at bats, but he sure made them count, going 4-11 with 7 RBI.

What’s an update without Donn Roach? Roach out-dueled one of the better pitching prospects the Dodgers have in Zach Lee to start the week off last Monday. He went 6 innings while surrendering only 1 earned run. Unfortunately, Roach only lasted 1/3 of an inning in his start on Sunday due to taking a come-backer to the lower body. According to Tommy Birch, he should be good to go for his next start. As of Sunday, the ground ball master is 5-0 on the season with a 2.13 ERA.

Hitter of the week: Javier Baez– 8-20, 3 HR, 2B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, SB, 7 R

Pitcher of the week: Dallas Beeler– 1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (1W)

 

AA: Tennessee Smokies (2-5 record on the week)

The Smokies struggled on the week, going 2-5.

Not a lot of offense from the Smokies last week, but Kyle Schwarber deserves a mention. The Indiana alum muscled his 10th HR of the season last Friday. Schwarber also walked a robust 7 times last week.

Willson Contreras doesn’t get the attention the other catcher on the roster does, but he has been quietly playing great baseball. For the week he went 7-26 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI. His slash line as of Sunday sat .305/.369/.461.

Corey Black returned from an 11-day absence and was almost perfect. He went 5 shutout innings allowing only 1 hit; he walked none and struck out 6.

Ivan Pineyro drew two starts last week, one great and one so-so, and was good enough to go 12.2 innings while surrendering only 3 runs. He scattered 10 hits and also struck out 10. Pineyro’s stock is on the rise and someone to keep an eye on.

Hitter of the week: Willson Contreras – 7-26, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 2 BB

Pitcher of the week: Frank Batista – 1 GS, 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (1W)

 

High-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (3-3 record on the week)

The Pelicans went an even 3-3 on the week.

Jeimer Candelario can be a force offensively. He showed some of that last Saturday blasting his first 2 home runs of the season.

Mark Zagunis did some more of what Mark Zaunis does: he got on-base. A lot. He went 7-19 with 4 walks.

Chesny Young continues to hit. Young had 8 more hits on the week, going 8-24. He also drove in 3 runs and walked 3 times and his slash line since the promotion as of Sunday sits .351/.419/.378.

Jonathan Martinez started for the first time in 10 days and picked up a win versus the Keys. Martinez had a “quality start” as  he went 6 innings allowing 3 runs. On the season, the starter sits at 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in 7 games started.

Tyler Skulina took a hard luck loss on Sunday, going 6 strong innings surrendering only 1 run. The Kent State alum scattered 4 hits and struck out 6. Unfortunately, the offense could not muster any offense to support a great start as they were shutout by Potomac.

Hitter of the week: Mark Zagunis – 7-19, 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 2 R

Pitcher of the week: Tyler Skulina – 1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

 

Low-A: South Bend Cubs (2-5 record on the week)

The Cubs were slowed last week going 2-5.

Jeremy Null finally showed he was human. He allowed 5 runs on 12 hits in 5 innings versus Lansing last Monday taking the L. Null then came back on Sunday and got back on track picking up the W. He went 6 innings allowing only 2 runs. He also struck out 4 and walked only 1. On the season, Null is 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 8 starts.

Ryan Williams continues to amaze, picking up another win by tossing 8 shutout innings. He allowed only 2 hits while he struck out 3 and walking none. Williams is now 4-1 with an unheard of 0.59 ERA in 8 starts.

Gioskar Amaya is starting to come out of his early season rut. Amaya went 7-25 with 3 RBI on the week. He also walked 3 times and stole 3 bases. Amaya is playing catcher this year, so that alone makes him interesting.

Gleyber Torres cooled a little bit last week. He went a modest 4-15 while driving in 2 on the week. I know, the horror. Trade him.

Hitter of the week: Cael Brockmeyer – 10-24, HR, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 5 R

Pitcher of the week: Ryan Williams –  1 GS, 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (1W)