Cubs Minor League Daily: Vogelbach, Zagunis, Edwards, Underwood Injury Updates

dan vogelbach smokies[Intro from Brett:] Although his was, perhaps, the most significant and season-ending-y of a recent rash of Cubs prospect injuries, Billy McKinney’s hairline fracture isn’t the only injury news on which to update you.

Dan Vogelbach has been working back from an oblique injury, and has now played in four rehab games with the Arizona Cubs. It seems likely that he’ll soon head back to Tennessee to finish out the year.

Also now rehabbing in games in Arizona: Duane Underwood. One of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects, who’d been shut down earlier this year with elbow inflammation is back in action, and could conceivably get back to Myrtle Beach before the end of the month and in time for the playoffs. Given his importance to the organization long-term, and the always unnerving nature of pitcher arms, though, there’s not going to be any rush.

Carl Edwards, Jr. has hit the DL at AAA Iowa after leaving a game earlier this week. It appeared to be a finger issue – I’ve seen it described as a callous problem, but I suppose it could also have been a blister – so it may not be serious. Given that the DL is just seven days, minimum, Edwards may not actually miss all the much time.

Outfield prospect Mark Zagunis, who hasn’t played since August 7 after taking a pitch off the helmet, has now been placed on the disabled list. The presumption there is a concussion, but nothing has been officially announced. Hopefully there’s just a little bit of extra rest involved here for Zagunis, 22, who is playing in his first full professional season, and has already appeared in 101 games. His 7-day DL stint is backdated, so he could, by the rules, return any day now.

First baseman Jacob Rogers took Zagunis’s spot at Myrtle Beach, coming back down from AA Tennessee, which could be what opens a spot back up for Dan Vogelbach. Now we’ve come full circle.

Scores From Yesterday

Iowa – Iowa kept it close, but couldn’t quite get the lead. They lost 6-5.
Tennessee – The Smokies were rained out.
Myrtle Beach – Myrtle Beach was also rained out.
South Bend – South Bend jumped to an early lead and made it last in this 7-2 win.
Eugene -The Emeralds gave up one big inning, and it cost them the game. They lost 5-4.
Arizona – Arizona did most of their scoring in the late innings as they won 5-3.

Performances of Note

  • [Iowa] Javier Baez finished 2 for 5 with no strikeouts.
  • [Iowa] Arismendy Alcantara also had a nice game. He finished 3 for 4.
  • [Iowa] Doubles from Mike Olt and Mike Baxter were the only extra base hits for the Cubs.
  • [South Bend] Ian Happ doubled, walked, and finished 2 for 3.
  • [South Bend] Jeffrey Baez finished 3 for 5 and stole his 28th base of the year. Rashad Crawford (2 for 4) doubled and stole his 20th, and Gioskar Amaya (0 for 3, 2 BB) stole his 15th.
  • [South Bend] David Bote finished 2 for 4 with his 5th homer of the year.
  • [South Bend] Erick Leal struck out 4 over 5 scoreless innings. He struck out 3.
  • [Eugene] Donnie Dewees finished 4 for 5 with a pair of stolen bases and 3 of Eugene’s runs scored. His theft count is up to 10 for the year.
  • [Eugene] Frandy Delarosa doubled for the Emeralds’ only extra base hit.
  • [Eugene] Carson Sands struggled in this start (2.2 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K), but Greyfer Eregua (2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB) and Pedro Araujo (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K) both pitched well in relief.
  • [Arizona] Duane Underwood struck out 4 in his 2 innings of rehab.
  • [Arizona] Ariel Ovando also struck out 4 over the final 2 innings.
  • [Arizona] Chris Pieters doubled twice and finished 2 for 3. Daniel Spingola doubled for one of his 2 hits.
  • [Arizona] Carlos Sepulveda also finished with 2 hits.
  • Other News

  • Thanks to a good infield defense and a steady supply of grounders, Iowa turned five double plays against Las Vegas.
  • Earlier in this season Eloy Jimenez was striking out just a little too often for comfort. Since sitting for a time with a minor injury, though, he has 5 walks and just 2 strikeouts in 8 games back in the lineup. That sample is much too small to mean much of anything, but it is a nice sign and has led to his season strikeout rate falling to 18%.
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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