Two Ryan Williams posts in one day. Bet you didn’t see that coming.
But the big righty deserves it, after his pop-up promotion all the way from Low-A South Bend to AA Tennessee, and after being named the Chicago Cubs’ Pitcher of the Month for May. As we discussed earlier, Williams has been virtually unhittable at South Bend this year, so the honors were well-earned.
June is starting out well for him, too: he just pitched 5.1 innings at AA in his debut (against a very good team featuring Byron Buxton in the leadoff spot), allowing 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 earned runs, and striking out 4. When it’s your first start after skipping a level and reaching AA early in your first full professional season? Yeah, you’ll take that.
As for for the Cubs’ Player of the Month, it’s no surprise that it goes to Kyle Schwarber, who’s been hitting so well that his AA season is being compared – favorably! – to that of Kris Bryant last year. He’s very good, and he’s going to see AAA Iowa before too long.